MY SISTER WAS everything to me and more. She was my best friend. The only person in my life who knew about my past and didn’t judge.
She had been best friends with Sienna and put some of the blame on her shoulders over what had happened to her. But it wasn’t her fault. None of it was.
The more time I spent with Creena, the more I realized that I needed to tell her what happened. She had revealed so much to me in the short time we started sleeping together. She showed me the vulnerable side to her and laid out her fears. I took care of her, letting her know that it was okay to give up control sometimes. But then why the hell was I having difficulty doing the same?
Aria was right. I needed to settle down.
“Hey.” Creena gripped my hand. “She’ll be all right. Your sister’s strong.”
I heard her words but as I white-knuckled the fuck out of the steering wheel, I couldn’t help but doubt every single syllable leaving her mouth.
After Aria’s husband, Rowan, called me, my stomach twisted into knots. A tightness squeezed my chest to the point it was hard to breathe.
My brother in-law was a dick and if I found out he had anything to do with—
“Stone,” Creena’s bark of my name snapped me from my thoughts. “I’m strong but you’re going to break my hand.”
I loosened my hold on her fingers and swore under my breath. “Sorry.” I kissed her knuckles, rubbing my face into her palm. That small touch eased some of the anxiety slicing through my nerves.
“It’s fine,” she muttered, releasing me, and placed her hand on my knee instead.
Once we arrived at the hospital, I took a breath and then another. I knew if I didn’t calm down I would end up attacking Rowan before I got the answers I needed. If he touched one hair on her head, I would kill him.
Creena squeezed my knee. “Whatever happens, I got your back. Just tell me when and where and I’ll help you bury the body.”
Somehow, I knew she wasn’t kidding. I shoved a hand through my hair and blew out a slow breath. “My brother in-law is a douche. He’s good to their kids but I don’t like him for her.”
“Is that only because you feel no man is good enough for your sister?”
“I …” I sighed. “Yeah.” I left the vehicle.
“It’s okay, Stone.” Creena shut the passenger door behind her. “I get it. My brother has threatened many guys I’ve been with.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Many guys, huh?”
“Um …” Her cheeks reddened. “Not that I’ve been with a lot of guys or anything.”
“No?” I cupped her nape and kissed her hard on the mouth. “We’ll continue this conversation later. You will tell me just how many guys you’ve fucked, Creena, and then I’ll make you forget every single one of them.”
***
(Creena)
What Stone didn’t realize after he made his idle threat was that I had already forgotten about the men I had been with. They were nothing compared to the man I was now sleeping with. A man I wanted to give my all to. A man who had taken nothing for himself but had given me so much already.
After he placed a soft peck on my forehead, he grabbed my hand and led me into the hospital where his sister was. I prayed with everything in me to whoever would listen, that she was fine and that she wasn’t put there by the hands of her husband. I was telling Stone the truth when I promised him I would help hide the body. He just had to tell me when and where and I would be right by his side. No questions asked.
Once we reached the floor Aria was on, a large man approached us.
“Vince,” came his deep greeting.
“Rowan,” Stone grumbled, his hand giving mine a light squeeze.
So, this was the brother in-law. I squeezed Stone’s hand back, letting him know I wasn’t going anywhere.
He looked down at me, something dark flashing behind his eyes.
I couldn’t quite place what it was but I released his hand and gripped his arm instead. Giving my head a small shake, I tried with everything in me to make him not do anything stupid.
“Tell me what happened,” Stone demanded, meeting his brother in-laws gaze.
“I came home.” Rowan took a deep breath. “I found her on the kitchen floor. The kids—”
In a quick move, Stone released me and had him against the wall with his forearm pressed into his jugular.
“Fuck, Vince.” Rowan struggled against him but Stone’s grip only tightened. “I didn’t do shit, all right? I wasn’t there.”
“Where the hell were you?” Stone bit out through clenched teeth.
“I was at work. Fuck, man, get off me.”
“Tell me who the fuck went after her,” Stone demanded, his face mere inches from Rowan’s.
“Get off me and I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“Stone.” I gently touched his arm. “Let’s go to the waiting room and you guys can talk. I’ll go grab a coffee or—”
“You’re not leaving,” Stone said, his head whipping around.
“Okay.” I swallowed hard at the desperation in his voice. “I won’t.”
He nodded once, released Rowan and grabbed my hand, dragging me down the hall to the waiting area. “You’re not leaving,” he repeated.
“I won’t.” I cupped his hand. “I promise.”
He slumped onto a chair, dropping his head in his hands. “This is my fault.”
“How can you say that?” I touched his shoulder, my gaze snapping to Rowan’s. “Tell us what happened.”
“And you are?” Rowan raised an eyebrow.
“I’m the woman who is one step away from letting Stone kick your ass.” I cupped Stone’s shoulder. “Now tell him.”
Rowan swore under his breath. “I don’t know shit. Nothing helpful anyway. I came home and found Aria on the kitchen floor. She wasn’t moving but after a couple minutes, she opened her eyes for me. The kids were with my parents thank fucking God. I don’t know what happened.”
“How bad are the injuries?” Stone lifted his head when Rowan didn’t respond. “Tell me.”
“She has a couple broken ribs. She’ll be sore and stiff for a few days but she’ll heal. She’s strong, Vince. You know as well as I do how fucking strong she is.”
“Anything more? Tell me there isn’t more,” Stone pleaded, reaching for my hand.
I grabbed hold of it.
“No,” Rowan sighed. “Nothing more.”
Stone’s tense body relaxed.
“The police think it’s a repeat.”
“Fuck.” Stone scrubbed a hand down his face. “It’s been over a year. Why now?”
“Yeah, well, someone isn’t happy you stopped them.” Rowan rose to his feet, clapping Stone’s shoulder. “She’ll be fine but right now, she needs to stay away. From you.”
My eyes widened.
“I know.” Stone kissed my hand. “But I need to see her first and then I’ll leave her alone until this shit is done.”
“Fine.” And with that, Rowan left the room.
“He can’t do that, Stone,” I insisted. “It’s not right. And what the hell was he talking about?”
“We’ll talk later.” Stone kissed my hand again. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Wait for me?”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
***
(Stone)
“How are you doing, Aria?” I asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
She shrugged, pulling her hair up into a messy bun. She winced, breathing slowly through the pain those fuckers caused her.
“Talk to me,” I raked a hand through my hair, letting out a slow breath. “Please.”
“They knew you, Vince,” she said, her gaze hardening. “And they knew Sienna.”
“I already figured that much.” With Sienna’s history, I knew it would come back to bite me in the ass. I tried giving her a better life. Drugs, weapons, sex. She would do anything to make a quick buck, all in the name of providing for our daughter.
“The police are looking for them but we both know they won’t find them.” Aria shook her head. “They were going to do to me what they did to her, Vince. But Rowan came home and they left. I don’t know why. They could have taken him on and finished the job but they didn’t.”
“Don’t try and question their motives and reasons for doing the shit they did. It will only drive you fucking crazy.” Just like it was doing to me.
“But it doesn’t make sense,” she cried.
“Why would it make sense?” I asked, my voice raising. “None of this shit ever makes sense. It’s my fault. If I would have ended this …” I should have killed the bastard when I had a chance but instead, I got greedy and was waiting for him to lead me back to his boss. And now my sister was attacked because of it.
“No.” Aria’s face softened. She patted the bed beside her. “Sit.”
I did as I was told.
“Hey.” She touched my arm. “There’s nothing you could have done. They were searching for something. I don’t know what but when they couldn’t find it, they took it out on me. We didn’t have anything they wanted. Why would they look at our house, Vince?”
I kept my gaze on my hands. Too many damn secrets.
“Did you hide something at our house?” Aria asked, her voice trembling.
I swallowed hard. She knew me well.
“What the hell did you hide?” Aria smacked my arm. “Vince, tell me dammit.”
“Money,” I finally said.
“How much money?” Rowan demanded.
My back stiffened. I almost forgot he was there. “A couple hundred grand.” Bile had risen to my throat at my confession. It had never been something I talked about. Not with anyone besides Sienna.
“Was that money stolen from those guys?” Aria asked, her voice small.
“No, not in the way you think. Sienna was owed that money. Her dealer beat her. Stole from her. I’m not sure what else he did but after what happened, I wouldn’t put anything past him.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “The day before she was murdered, she came to me and handed me a duffle bag filled with hundred-dollar bills. I didn’t ask questions but she told me it was hers and rightfully so. She wanted it put aside for Luna.”
“How the hell did you hide that much money at our house?” Rowan boomed.
“I would keep your voice down if you don’t want the cops called.” I glared at him. “I’m sorry,” I said to Aria. “I shouldn’t have put that on you but after what happened, I was desperate and wasn’t thinking clearly.” I grabbed her hand, holding it tight in my own. “I’m sorry.”
“How did you hide it?” she asked, sitting up higher in the bed.
“I had it changed into those diamond earrings Luna wears and that first edition leather-bound nursery rhyme book. I figured if one was stolen, you had the other.” I shrugged. “I know it wasn’t the smartest move on my part but I had no idea what else to do. I’ll make sure to take them out of your house. I’d rather they come after me.”
“Too late now, isn’t it?”
I ignored my brother in-law.
Aria sighed, cupping my hand. “Is that why they attacked Sienna in the first place?”
I swallowed hard. “Yes, and after the one fucker got away, I’m surprised something like this hasn’t happened sooner.”
“Fuck, Vince.” Rowan shook his head. “That’s some serious shit and you bring it into my home and put my family—”
“No.” I shoved to my feet just as he rounded the bed and got in my face. “You know I would never do anything to put my family in harm’s way. I was desperate. It was right after Sienna died. I couldn’t think straight. I know it’s not an excuse but it’s the fucking truth.”
“Fuck you.” Rowan shoved me. “This is my family too. Those are my kids and my wife. You brought this on our damn doorstep.”
“Rowan,” Aria said. “Please stop.”
“No, it’s fine,” I told her. “Continue, Rowan. Tell me how you really feel.”
His brows narrowed in the center. “You should leave.”
“Like fucking hell I’m leaving,” I threw back at him.
“Vince,” Aria said softly. “He’s right.”
I looked between my sister and her husband. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
“It’s for the best.” Her voice wavered. “It’s to protect your daughter.”
My chest tightened. Without saying a word, I left the room and almost barreled into Creena.
“Sorry.” She took a step back. “I heard shouting.”
“Let’s go.” I grabbed her hand and started walking back down the hall. “We’re leaving.”
“Stone.” She ran beside me. “Wait. What’s wrong?”
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Greyson. “I need you,” I told him when he grumbled a greeting.
“I always enjoy being needed from you, Stone.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Don’t roll your eyes,” Greyson chided.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I remembered that the guy had eyes everywhere. He was good. “I need your boys to protect someone for me.”
“Who?”
It had been the same conversation since the last time I asked him to watch out over Creena. His crew was good. They blended in. Although they wore their leather cuts during meetings and the such, put them undercover and they were just a mailman or a gardener or even a store clerk. Greyson had his hands in everything. I was surprised his siblings didn’t know about it.
I told him who I needed watching and he told me to keep my mouth shut. We ended the conversation the same.
Same shit. Different day.
I liked the guy and I respected the hell out of him but even he made me nervous.