“The devil always offers a man a deal because he reeks of desperation. There’s no way he’d say no.” – Grinder

 

 

 

“Boss. Should I teach him more lesson to shut mouth?” assface one asked. “I make him cry like baby.”

“You will keep your greasy hands off him, look at what you did already!” his girl defended.

Grinder tried to block out the noise and the turbulence. His boys wouldn’t know where he was, this shit was on him to get out of, he had no phone on him for Lawless to trace his GPS. He was literally shit out of luck.

Fuck him to hell.

He did what he did best and took stock of the bigger picture, assessed everything through a filter of crimson red.

Nothing went unseen, he’d weighed up the only possible exit strategy, counted the men, listened for footsteps passing by, noticed the number of vehicles outside. He was fucked and trussed up like a Macy’s parade balloon, but it didn’t stop him working through plan A B C D E F to try and get them free. Hate this. Hate that she’s here.

The path was dangerous, he’d known that for weeks and ignored the signs. Mobsters were not going to let a matter of theft disappear, not without retribution, he’d known this and somehow a man like Grinder who always thought in terms of three steps ahead for everything had let his guard down. And now he’d given them an IN with the club.

His mistake.

This only had one ending.

“Nyet. I think our guest is ready to cooperate.”

Seeing Luxe standing next to Grigori was murdering his soul.

Get away from her. She’s mine. I’ll get you out of here, baby.

His eyes swept over her, trying to index if she was hurt in any way. The rigidness of her spine and the way her chin was high in the air, lines across her forehead and the tightness in her fist told him she wasn’t hurt. She was pissed.

Oh, his girl was angry and she never thought rationally when she was in a temper.

He had to bring the attention back to him. Maybe he could bleed out, the Russian’s wouldn’t want a dead member of the RS on their hands, no matter their blustered threats, this wasn’t about murdering him, but about getting the RS in line like obedient dogs.

Fuck that. And fuck them. He didn’t bark for no fucker.

"Touch her and I'll kill you." Grinder spat out between hissing teeth, he didn't care about the blood dripping into his eyes or the flow that didn't feel like it was stopping at all. He wouldn't pull his gaze from Luxe. Stay strong, baby, I'll get you out of here soon, I swear it. Grigori glided forward, laughing with all his teeth on show. "If you know anything about me and my club you know this is a fucking promise."

"This is what I like about you Americans, steel balls like monkey, da? what will you do if I touch her, my friend?" he asked slimy, deliberately yanking Luxe forward to stand inches from Grinder, giving him front row seats to watch his girl being touched, the arm going around her waist to cage her to his side and Grigori’s hand slid across her belly and down to cup between her legs. The frayed white jean shorts were no protection at all.

She yanked herself away but it was already too late. Grinder’s brain went fucking nuclear with rage. He didn’t even hear his roar.

“You were smart, kotik, but not too smart.” The Russian expressed to Luxe. Smiling at her like he wanted to lick her from top to toe and shower her in flowers.

Grinder didn’t see red, his whole damn vision blinked out with fury, pain blooming the whole of his skull, half of his eyesight had already checked out leaving behind patchy black spots.

"Get off her, you commie fuck." An unleashed animal clawing at the inside of his chest, he couldn’t stand it, every injury was forgotten like it hadn't happened, pain drifted away, his only thought was getting those Russian's hands off his old lady. He breathed through the dizziness inflicted on seeing her manhandled.

“What is it about men kidnapping me, dios.” Irritation stained Luxe’s tone and it was what checked his brain back online, and if not for his mouth split to hell he would have laughed for her bravado. That’s my girl.  “Detained, love.” he husked, her eyes glued to his, he tried to smile at her. And she tried to smile back at him.

The chains were going nowhere, no matter how he tried to yank them almost to the point his shoulder sockets were ready to pop out, veins standing out on his throat, he would kill that motherfucker twice.

"Such displeasure for a suka you claimed no allegiance to."

“Suka? I’m assuming that’s an insult. And you didn’t claim me, Nathan?” she plucked at the leg of one short. Her scowl was for every male there.

Goddamn, now was not the time for his girl to get on her high horse and gallop around the stables. He filled his lungs, garnering his will, the chains yanking the ball sockets out of his arms were heavy as shit and everything on his body hurt, his goddamn knees were unfeeling now. And his woman was taking a huff over the fact he tried to distance her from him so they wouldn’t harm her. Fuck him now. “Luxe.” He warned as if to tell her to shut her gorgeous mouth.

“Well don’t you listen to him----” she addressed Grigori directly, her little stubborn chin high in the air. Christ alive, was it a wonder he loved her. His crazy spitfire woman was amazing. But he wished she’d shut the fuck up.

“Don’t listen to her.”

“----he belongs to me----”

“She doesn’t know what she’s saying.”

“----and I belong to him, so if you’re impeding him from leaving then you’re keeping me, too. I already told you I stole from you. I can give you minute by minute specifics of what I did and when and where I sold them. Just get him down from there, it’s fucking barbaric, I thought you were a corporate man?”

“LUXE!” Heart in his goddamn throat, his emotions were like a torrential rain, he’d never been so terrified of losing anyone before, he roared overriding everything she’d just told the mobster who only looked slyly bemused at their exchange. “Get her out of here, Grigori, and I’ll tell you what you want to know. I took your shit, only I know where it is.”

At last he spoke. “Oh, comrade, you presume this is about a few measly art items that are not even pocket change to me? Nyet. I forget them already. We have, how you say? Bigger fishes to grill.”

Was that a good sign the mobster wasn’t about to cut off his fingers because of the robbery? Nah. He’d known already Grigori had the greater deal in mind. The robbery, fuck him, was just the catalyst they’d needed to open the door to having Grinder’s club bow down and accept the Russian’s on their turf.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

He’d have to show signs of cooperation, no other choice.

When the only woman he’d ever loved was in imminent danger Grinder would have offered up his stained soul in exchange for her safety. His life meant nothing without Luxe and seeing her stubborn chin upturned yet her face pale and worried was a kick to the gut he couldn’t stand. He knew without a shadow of a doubt or a firearm close to hand that he was using the only way necessarily, by fair or foul means, to keep his girl safe.

“Choices, Mister. Frazier.” The murky tone in Russian came from the left and grated on Grinder’s nerves. Asshole was so enjoying having the upper-hand. “It’s quite simple, da? She can walk free this instance, the matter of stealing from me ancient history, and -----”

“Do it. You let her go.”

“No!” his girl screeched. “Nathan, don’t----”

“Let her go,” he growled again, eyes on the Russian.

Grigori gave the impression he was a reasonable man. When in reality, he was a viper.

“Da. I recognize a man’s weakness.”

“You’ll give me a minute with her first.”

The Russian inclined his head, again, a show of gentlemanly agreement, knowing fine well he had all the cards in this game, he pushed Luxe forward. Grinder held onto his fury, eyes blazing. “Privately!” he insisted. Grigori cackled and stepped back a few paces, turning his back to speak low to his men.  

Grinder’s eyes implored Luxe to come to him.

He could endure anything, even death, if he only knew she’d get out of here undamaged. He felt the broken pieces of his heart stir with hope.

Thank god.

He was getting his girl to safety.

 

******

 

 

Seeing him made her ill.

He’d deprived her of the ability to function physically or mentally seeing him so badly beaten he could be unrecognizable if not for the beard, the silver rings on his fingers and the deep-rooted way her body would forever come alive around him, no matter what.

There was a second when her knees cracked against the cement of the floor to put them on the same level, that she was sure her heart had stopped beating, she wanted to cry, and Luxe was not a crier. She took her fingers to Nathan’s neck, where his pulse was steady on the tips, his life raced beneath her hand then the world fell away. There were no enemies surrounding them, or danger waiting in the darkness, it was just Luxe and Nathan.

His eyes clung to hers and she saw everything he felt for her.

“Oh, god. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, chico.”

Thrumming wildly and fueled by adrenaline and fear, her heart pounded. Unlike hours ago, when her heart thudded for a more pleasurable reason in Nathan’s bed.

His bloodshot eyes were haunted but what did that big dummy go and do when he managed to lift his head? he smiled at her so beautifully she wanted to weep. Oh, this man. Her lovely, possessive bossy man smiled at her, surrounded by danger he smiled.

Please don't die. I can't be without you now. Life would be colorless without you.

It was no longer about ledgers and numbers in the plus column of her checking account. Everything she’d ever stolen came back in a hot rush to sit like concrete in her chest, gurgling her shame, her guilt. If not for her stealing, this man, her beautiful man wouldn’t be tied and beaten until he looked minutes from bleeding to death. She’d asked him to steal for her, hadn’t she? And he’d gone along instantly with it. Used his own guilt against him, knowing on some level the attraction between them would sway him into agreeing and look where they both were now.

Nothing mattered more in those moments. Nothing. “Nathan,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I’m so sorry. I wish I hadn’t----”

“You’re not to blame,” he murmured between his split lips throwing an exhale to the ceiling. “Make my own choices, love. You have to get out of here. I’m going to fix this.”

God. Even now he was trying to take care of her. Besides Mimi no one had ever gone beyond and above for Luxe, certainly not the mother who didn’t know from one day to the next if Luxe was alive and whoever her father was she had a feeling even if he did know about Luxe he wouldn’t care, not like Nathan. The pressure in her heart increased until she thought it would strangle her windpipe.

“I won’t leave you here.”

“You have to.”

“No,” their whispers mingled. “I did this. I’ll get the art pieces back and---”

“Luxe. Listen to me. This is bigger than the stuff we stole. They don’t want it back. It’s about my club. What they want from my club. So, you see, you have to go and let me handle this. You’ve gotten caught up in my mess, that’s all, not your fault.”

Luxe’s mouth was so parched she couldn’t swallow.

Being kept in a back room for an hour, sitting on her own staring at four blank walls, not knowing what was going on or how the Russian mafia would make her pay, she’d been scared, not gonna lie, she’d been pee her pants scared, how would Mimi know she was dead? Who would tell her? Who would organize her funeral? It all floated through her mind. But that was nothing in comparison to the moment they’d dragged her out and down to the basement to face Nathan.

Seeing how they’d treated him. Her heart stopped and hadn’t restarted yet.

“Please. I can’t leave you here. I have money, I can give them money. The risk is worth it. I won’t leave without you. I’ll get more money. Anything they want. I’ll steal for them.”

“Are you crazy? Your life is at stake here. I’m not chancing that for fucking anything.” His words hushed and weak, his growled intent clear. His big chest heaved and he let the inhale out slowly, she felt branded by his gaze. “Love, you have to and you will.” His arms must be so sore, she wanted to rub his muscles, she wanted to tend to every cut and welt, her fingers reached out to touch and paused, not knowing where he wasn’t hurting, she wouldn’t make it worse. “Touch me.” He croaked.

She laid her hand on his neck, his pulse was rapid and he angled his head to somehow stroke his blood soaked bearded against her wrist. “Nathan, I’m so sorry. If I’d known this would happen. I should have stayed away from you, never asked you to---.”

“No.” he growled. “Never that. You’re mine. I don’t regret a fucking thing.” Eyes like steel held hers and that choking emotion crawled into her throat, her knees shuffling an inch closer, all too aware of the men behind her listening and waiting.

They’d played it well, she thought. Since Nathan wasn’t denying who she was to him, oh, though he’d tried to distance her from him, that big dummy trying to protect her, she’d gotten so angry he didn’t claim her as his. Irrational anger for them being a team no matter what.

“I forgive you. I forgive you. It’s what brought us together, Sí? So please don’t die, okay?” feelings landed like hard rock in her throat.

He smiled at her so stunning she leaned forward and pressed their foreheads together.

It felt like goodbye.

And that just killed her.

“You mean it?” He asked. He smiled as though they weren’t buried in risk, instead sitting on his couch at home. She stroked his blood-soaked face, using the hem of her shirt she tried to stem the harsh cut over his eyebrow that was causing the flow down his face.

Why had she waited? She should have told him weeks ago it was forgotten, that there was nothing to forgive, that she was so inherently grateful he’d done what he had, because it meant he was in her life.

And she hadn’t felt truly alive until that moment.

How he got there was just inconsequential details and now it appeared too late to tell him. She’d held out, every time he’d asked Do you forgive me yet, Luxe? She’d held him off with a teasing smile and a sassy tongue. Not yet, kidnapper.

Dios, why didn’t she tell him sooner?

“There’s nothing to forgive, Nathan, there never was. Por favor…” she didn’t know what she was pleading for, only she did it fervidly. Her man so bruised, his one good eye barely able to open.

“You just make sure you get to my club, okay? Don’t think about me.”

Aching, like he’d hit her, she pulled back. “How can you say that?”

“I mean it. The second you get outside you don’t look back. I need you to get to the compound, can you do that? The boys will make sure you’re safe. And I want you to tell Rider,” dropping his head, she met him halfway and listened to his whispered message. Then he asked. “Is your car here?” She shook her head. They’d piled her into a blacked-out vehicle almost before she’d even stepped out of hers at the liquor store.

“We’re not far from the main road, far as I could tell. They’re going to let you walk out of here, I’ll make sure of it.”

“But----”

“Just head south until you can find a cab, okay? You don’t turn back, Luxe. I mean it. I’m handling this.” A mixture of impatience and dread and indignation blazed from her eyes, oh she felt it in her belly, too. It went beyond her to ever let a man, let anyone, handle her trouble and she was about to tell him so, they were in this mess together, because of her, she wasn’t about to throw him to the wolves to be eaten while she happily flagged down a cab and went about her life. No way.

But then.

“Please, Luxe. I will go mad if you’re not safe.” His sigh gusted against her face and she wilted, shoulders dropping, anger fading. She’d do anything for him.

“Wrap it up, comrade. We have much to discuss.” Grigori called out.

“A fucking minute.” Hissed Nathan. She had to give him his due, he didn’t show fear at all to the intimidating man.

Underneath the metallic scent of blood was his lingering cologne and the smell she knew was uniquely Nathan, a smell she was addicted to. She had to tell him, before it was too late. Something to make him live, to come back to her.  “Nathan … I lo-----”

His eye pinned her. And he spoke louder than they had been. “Not here, baby. Not here, you don’t give me them here. You save those for me when I see you again.”

“Nathan….” emotion so strong swelled until she couldn’t say another thing. Nuzzling any part of his face that wasn’t battered, she clutched his shirt front and tried hard not to bawl her fucking eyes out. What could she do? She was a thief, not a thug, and no match for a whole tribe of mafia.

But this was her man. Her man. She had to do something. She was sick at the thought of leaving him chained and abused. These men didn’t care a dot about Nathan, whether he lived or he died. They could snuff out his life and go about their daily business and not care. Whereas Luxe would cease living without him.

“I’m going to get your boys to kill these bastards.” She murmured to him in Spanish hoping he understood. “And I love you, fuck them, I’ll say it whenever I want because those words are ours, Nathan. You’ve been everything to me, you are what happiness was made for, so it’s going to work out, it has to, I can’t live in a world where you aren’t here. I gave you little pieces of me and now you have all of me, so you have to be okay, because without you I won’t be okay.”

“English!” Snarled a rough voice from behind her and she felt a kick contact to her back shoving her forward into Nathan who groaned in fresh pain. “Don’t fucking touch her!” he roared.

Her eyes were pure hatred pivoting on her knees to stare at the man. “Go suck a dick, you, crazy fucker. How’s that for English?”

Tears clouded her vision. Despair like Luxe had never felt before tagged her from all sides. “Oh, god. I can’t leave you.” She was ill over it.

“You can and you will,” he breathed out. “Once you’re outside you don’t look back.” He told her again.

“Why did you do this? They would have let you go had you let me take the blame.”

Nathan shook his head. “You’re my queen, remember that. A man protects what is his. Go now, baby. I’ll see you soon, I swear it. I love you, Luxe. I love you, remember I love you.”

She’d never thought it possible her heart could break and soar at the same exact time.