Chapter 19

Erik

"Come here, Kitten. Wrap your arms around me, okay?" I reached down and got her out of the car, ignoring how fucking good she looked in her tight silky top and short skirt. What the hell had she been thinking going out to the club like that?

There was no way in hell a million men weren't going to hit on her, and it wasn't the one that offered her a drink that bothered me so much. It was the bastard waiting in the dark to snatch her up and use her sweet body all night for his pleasure.

I ignored the fact that I was very much that bastard in most aspects.

"Almost there." I turned and bent my knees to type the code into the panel on the front door before pushing the door open and walking into my place.

Grace felt good in my arms, right. She curled up and snuggled against me, making a soft sound of satisfaction.

I walked to the back bedroom and laid her down, taking off her boots and socks and tucking her into my sheets. It took everything inside of me to walk to the door and not strip her down and wake her up. I wanted to make love. To feel what the fuck it felt like. Just once in my life. Was it different from fucking?

It had to be. It was in the books.

I walked out into the living room and ran my hands through my hair as my insides ached. My father was right about her. She was a good woman. The best.

After making myself a quick sandwich, I dropped down on my couch and leaned back, letting the conversation with Cole and Nate run through my head. The bastard was only watching out for me. Both of them were. Fuck, all of them were.

"What choice did I have?" Cole leaned toward me menacingly.

"You better back up, mother fucker." I took the last step between us, pressing my chest to his and growling.

"Hey, guys. Fuck. Come on." Nate pulled us apart. "Cole wanted in and now he's in. You know as well as I do that being part of this shit doesn't mean he listens to you or me. He belongs to your old man like the rest of us do."

"Why would my father have you watching me like I'm a goddamn fifteen-year-old kid?" I barked and put my finger in Cole's chest.

"Because you're acting like one." He swatted my hand away and narrowed his eyes. "Grow the fuck up. Women come and they go. This one is no different unless you make it this way."

"This is none of your goddamn business, cop."

"Erik." Nate moved in front of me. "You're not a hired hand, dude. You're not a disposable asset that can be replaced. You're the next Don after your father. The old man protects his shit like no one I've ever seen. Why the hell wouldn't he protect you?"

He had a point, and yet being a grown man and having another man trail me left me on edge.

"Stay outta my shit." I pointed to Cole and turned to walk back toward the club. Grace was inside, and even if it was my last night with her, I was getting in her panties one more time.

"Grow up and I will."

Bastard. He was lucky he had my father's protection. I reached for my gun and laid it on the couch beside me. The sound of Grace crying out had me on my feet. I jogged to the bedroom to find her on her back, her beautiful face contorted.

"Hey. It's just a dream." I dropped down beside her and wrapped my arms around her.

She blinked a few times, lost in a haze from what I could tell. Her bottom lip poked out, and my heart broke in half. I was in love with her.

"It was horrible," she cried.

"What was, baby?" I pressed my chest to hers and kissed the side of her neck, taking in the sweet smell of her perfume as my body hardened.

"We were finally married, but you didn't want me anymore." A sob lifted out of her, and I hated myself. "You didn't love me anymore."

I squeezed her tightly and kissed her ear. "It's just a dream. Let it go."

"Don't leave me. Please." She gripped the back of my t-shirt and continued to cry against my neck.

After she calmed down a little, I shifted and laid down in the bed with her. She curled up against my chest as we laid on our sides and fell back to sleep.

I laid there for hours, running my fingers through her hair, memorizing the sweet curve of her hip, the long line of her thigh, the way she whimpered when she slept.

Fuck me for wanting a normal life. The only way to get it was to kill my father, which wasn't happening. I loved the old man and still respected him. He was all I had left of my mom and Delaney. Grace would find another man. One worthy of her time, her attention, her body.