I savor the last sip of my whiskey. Celebrating Creed’s downfall and my angel’s return home. I'm going to fucking love showing her how much I missed her.

Especially knowing all the threats are finally over. Catching that motherfucker by complete surprise, he barely mounted a defense. Nick’s penchant for blowing up what's most precious to his enemy, ensured absolute and complete devastation. Leaving only Creed’s brother, Sebastian, as a problem. Who I was able to convince, surprisingly easy, to submit to me, expanding my territory to include all of the mid-west. Another success to keep my family safe.

The garage door lifting rattles from the front of the house. Thank fucking god they’re finally home. Pushing off my leather chair, I force myself not to run like a pussy ass who still hasn't found his balls. But I don’t get the welcome I expect.

Eli’s sprawled on Ty’s shoulder, almost completely out. But it’s the expression on Molly’s face that makes fire shoot through my veins. So blank and empty. Devoid of any emotion. For me. All her feelings gone.

Keeping her head down, she follows my brothers. Mistakenly thinking I'll fucking let her pass without speaking. “What’s wrong?”

She jerks away from my grip on her arm, and I let her go. Terrified to push her too far. That she won't be able to come back from.

“I know.”

God damn son of a bitch. The thread holding my sanity starting to unravel. “What?”

“Everything. The secrets you’ve been hiding.”

Which ones? I keep up the façade. Shoving down the panic threatening to explode inside me. Forcing a confused expression on my face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sean…”

Motherfucker.

A huge sob escapes her mouth, gutting me right in the stomach. My world crumbling right in front of me, and I can’t fucking catch the pieces before they slam to the ground.

“They investigated you. He said that you bought them off about attacking Hunter so no one could prove it was you. That you bribed the loan officer and took my Dad’s money. You're some kind of mafia boss.”

She cries so hard I can’t make out the words any more. But it doesn’t fucking matter what she says. All that fucking matters is how she looks. Disgusted. Disappointed. Done.

Her delicate hand tugs at the rock on her finger.

"I can't marry you."

The dynamite finally ignites. A fast flame to detonation in my body. I lunge toward her, trying to stop the platinum from sliding over her knuckle. "Don't you fucking dare take it off."

“You tricked me and manipulated me. This was all just a game.”

Her accusation rips through me like daggers. So fucking wrong. But the words don't matter. Only now matters. Only us being together. With Eli. As a family. That's what fucking matters. “No it wasn’t. I love you.”

“Oh my God, Luciano. This isn’t love! This isn't how marriage is supposed to be. You’ve lied to me the whole time, and I’ve been so stupid to believe you."

“No.” I have her pinned against the wall. Like a fucking crazy man. Like a man sucking in his last breaths because his life is slowly ending with each tear that falls from her gorgeous blue eyes. Dim now. All the light I wanted to redeem myself in gone. Because of me. “This is not over. We are not over.”

She can only turn her head. Long hair brushes across the blazing skin on my arm before hiding her face. Unwilling to look at mine. "Please angel."

The only time I've ever fucking begged. For anything or anyone. But this time I can't get what I want. I'd drop on my knees if I thought it would help. It's too late. She's already gone.

"You're scaring me."

“You’ve got to let her go, Luc.”

I ignore Ty’s sympathetic tone behind me. Almost as if he feels sorry for me because of how badly I fucked this up. Well, fuck him. Fuck everyone who doesn’t think she belongs with me.

“Both of you need to calm down and then you can talk.”

When the fuck did he become the voice of reason? I don’t want to fucking talk. I don't want to fucking do anything but hear her say she forgives me. To say she understands everything I did was for her, and she’ll never doubt me again.

His words have the opposite effect. She cries harder, twisting away from me. Giving up on me. On us. If I touch her, I’m afraid I’ll hurt her. Fucking squeeze her too tight, trying to keep her. So I force myself to step back. To let her go.

“I can’t do this. I can’t be here with you any more. Not after what you've done.”

“What?”

She gasps, and whips around from Eli’s anguished cry. He clutches the door frame, bawling from her threat.

“You’re making her leave?”

Terror darkens his expression. All the memories of Dad and Harper flooding across his blood red face. He flies toward me. Tiny fists pounding my legs and stomach. I don’t deflect the blows, painful only to my heart. I did this. I fucking broke this family after I swore to fucking god that I wouldn’t.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. I’m not leaving.” She pulls him off me, and clutches him to her. Stroking over and over his black hair, with a shaking hand. Whispering her soothing words against his neck. Still so fucking strong to put him first after I devastated her. “I promise. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Really? You’re not leaving me?”

“No, Eli, I would never leave you.”

His death grip loosens while his sobs turn to soft cries. The panic replaced with the realization of what he almost lost. Of what my selfishness almost stole from him.

After a few minutes, she scoops him up and carries him out of the room. Both of them. Away from me. Leaving me too fucked up to do anything but slide down the wall. My ass hitting the floor harder than my broken heart shatters.

* * *

Heat blazes through my body when Sucker for Pain blasts through the quiet conversation in our leadership meeting. I haven't heard her ring tone in more than a month. Thirty-three days to be exact. Yeah, I'm a motherfucking pussy who knows. I don't even have to fucking count. I just remember when my heart beat last.

Unaware how fucking sexy she was lying across my bed, jacking around with my phone. Looking up times for the movie Eli wanted to see that afternoon. Sprawled on her stomach wearing only little silver boy shorts, her cute ass peeking out from underneath the lace. I couldn't fucking resist crawling up her body, kissing the silky skin of her back and biting her shoulder. Ready to pull her up to her knees and sink into her sweet pussy. I'd never taken her from behind before, and my cock was curious to see her reaction.

Giggling instead of moaning was the not the response I wanted when I ran my hand up her rib cage to cup her heavy breast. I roll the nipple between my thumb and forefinger, kissing along her jaw line, unable to resist smiling at her cheek lifted from her own grin. "What's so funny?"

A delicate finger taps the screen and a seductive beat fills the air.

I'm just a sucker for pain

I wanna chain you up

I wanna tie you down

I'm just a sucker for pain

"That's the song you have for me?"

"Yeah, you don't like it?"

Hesitation steals her humor. "I cause you pain?"

"Only to my cock." I glide her panties down her hips and finally get the groan I want. That I need. Her body arches toward me, her narrow hips pushing back into my thighs. "You own me, angel. You must know that you're the only person who could ever hurt me."

"I never will."

"I know."

“Sir? Your phone?”

Jon’s confused voice yanks me out of my pussy daydream. Molly and I've handled everything via text and through Kurt and Tyson. Unwilling to be anywhere near me unless absolutely necessary for Eli. Clipped conversations in his presence, with her locking herself in her room every night once he’s in bed. Living like fucking strangers in the same damn house.

What the fuck is making her call now? I don't want to answer because I know hearing her voice will fucking break me. But I can't stop myself from weakening to the woman who has my balls and my heart. "Molly?"

"Luc?"

The fire turns to fury from Eli's frightened tone. No one fucks with Molly or him. I push off my chair and stride to the door. Forcing my tone to be casual even as I plot to destroy whoever the fuck has been fucking stupid enough to scare my brother. "Hey little man. What's up?"

"We were...new shoes...and some man...Molly...grabbed her arm...she told me...back to Build A Bear...where she is..."

I blow down the hallway. My director of finance almost dropping his tablet from side stepping out of my way so quickly. With my cell jammed against my ear, I try to comprehend his almost incoherent explanation. Barely catching any of it except that someone fucking touched my woman, and now he's alone.

Without bothering to knock, I shove open my brother's door. His secretary sits on the corner of his desk, a flirty giggle contrasting with her ringed fingers playfully pushing away his wandering fingers. So fucking obvious she doesn't want his hands anywhere but on her.

Autumn's head swivels toward me, eyes wide from me storming in. Yeah, she fucking knows who the real boss is and should be worried. I don't have time or patience for any bullshit. She hops off the black lacquered top and nods like a bobble toy from my thumb jerking over my shoulder. Should have fired her gold-digging ass a long time ago. Why is my brother so fucking blind?

Once she's gone, I snap my fingers at Ty and point to his lap top. "Find Eli and Molly."

The same rage pouring through me reddens his face, and he pounds on his keyboard, searching for their trackers. No need for further explanation. When it comes to their safety, Ty never hesitates to follow my orders.

Silence on the phone. Fuck! I'm so fucking distracted I never noticed he stopped talking. "Are you by yourself Eli?"

"N-no. The lady is with me."

Thank fucking God. If I can keep her from calling the cops. Don't need them on my ass. I keep my calm cadence. "Everything's going to be fine. Can I talk to her please?"

Ty taps his own cell. "Get the car ready. We're going to Water Tower Place, and I need Bennie to pull a team together. Ground and air. Molly's headed north on Kennedy. I don't have details yet, but be ready for a fight."

"Damn it Ty. They have to be careful with her—"

"Sir?"

An uncertain tone breathes into my ear, and I take my own deep breath as I jog out of here and through the lobby. Kurt better be fucking ready. "Thank you for taking care of my brother. Sounds like his babysitter flaked on him. I can't believe she let him down again."

Please God believe the lie. It's all I've got to keep her sympathy, and on the line with me, instead of protective services. I loosen my grip on the case when her tsk of shame comes through the line.

"He's just a little boy. How could she do such a thing?"

"I don't know." I sigh hard. Not that it's disingenuous but normally I wouldn't show my emotions to a stranger. Now I'll do whatever I have to do. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."

"It's Aimee. I work here...I waited on them earlier."

"Thank you Aimee. You are a godsend."

Which is the fucking truth. I punch the elevator buttons, grateful for the private elevator that goes directly to the parking garage.

"Well...I...I mean of course. I love kids, and he’s such a sweetie."

I swear to fucking god I can hear her blushing through the phone. Probably like Molly. Lava pumps through my veins again. Fucking a, my brother better hurry the fuck up. I glace over my shoulder and catch sight of him striding toward me. Still barking orders into his phone.

"I hate to ask Aimee, but could you please stay with him until I get there? I know you're busy, but he's scared, and I don't want him to get stuck with some jerky security guard."

"Um...I'm not really supposed to..."

I stay as mute with her as I am with Ty on the ride downward. The perfect technique to sway a person scared of uncertainty, afraid of silence. Please be that person, Aimee. Please be that fucking person.

"I guess so...I mean I think I can."

"Thank you." I emphasize each word with as much gratitude as I can muster with the anxiety squeezing my chest. Molly's right. I am a fucking bastard who manipulates people when I should just be honest. "I appreciate it. I'll be there in fifteen minutes max."

"O-okay." A rustling I can't identify comes through the phone. "Your brother wants to talk to you again, Mr..."

I guess we'll find out if Molly's really right. "Ellison. Luciano Ellison."

"Luc Ellison, the mob...Oh...um...yeah okay...Here's Eli."

Fucking shit. At least she didn't drop the phone. Or start screaming. Luckily she's probably too terrified to kick him out now.

We hit the bottom floor, and I bolt as soon as the doors open. Nodding at Kurt through his open window, I slide my ass onto the leather. Ty doesn't even have his door closed before the chauffeur takes off. Understanding the severity of the situation.

"Luc?"

"I'm on my way, okay? You stay with her, and I'll be there in a few minutes."

"I'm scared."

His voice cracks, gutting me like a blade. "I know buddy."

"Molly said she was sick, but I think that man was hurting her. He was squeezing her arm really hard. She was sad."

Fucking motherfucker. So many people are going to die. Slow, agonizing deaths from my own hands. Already flexing. Aching to make them pay. Ready to beat the audacity out of anyone who thinks they can fuck with me. "I'm sad too. But everything's going to be okay. I'm going to make sure Molly is okay."

"You guys won't be mad at each other anymore?"

The city whizzes by. A blur of colors, random brightness flashing through the dark windows. Just like her and me. The goodness to my evil. "We've never been mad."

Hurt. Disappointed. Guilty. But never mad.

"Make up, okay? And be friends again."

If she's not dead. Son of a fucking bitch. I refuse to go there. I cannot accept anything but her being all right.

I've got to get my shit together. I've played these games before. They won't kill her. She's the bait to catch me. Has to stay alive long enough to get me there.

“Friends are like flowers. They bloom even brighter with attention and love.”

More of his teacher's words of wisdom. If it could only be that simple. "I'll try. I really will."

Only a few more minutes and we'll be there. "Tell me what you see Eli. What kinds of toys do they have there?"

"There's a big, huge yellow bear on a bicycle but I got a skate board instead. Molly said she'd teach me..."

I kick Ty's leg, and when he looks up from his phone, I roll my finger forward. Needing an update while Eli's distracted.

"She's in old beater truck. Driver’s a big dude, red hair. The guys said she’s slumped over. Looks like she’s unconscious.”

Fucking mother fucker. Hunter. I was so fucking stupid to let him live. Why the fuck did I let Franklin sway me? Now that bastard really will die. Just like me if something happens to Molly.

* * *

"He escaped when the guards were on a shift change. Stupid fucker didn't wait for the next guy to arrive before he left. What the fuck?"

Ty's explanation means nothing to me. Doesn't matter how the fuck Hunter got out or how he got here. Only that he has her. And I let it fucking happen. Too fucking smug. Too fucking cocky, thinking with my dick instead of my head. Because of her. Because I love her so fucking much I can't even fucking think straight.

I knew all along this woman would fucking be the death of me. I just never thought I would fuck up so bad it might kill her too.

Stupid bastard swerves again, his tires scraping the curb and bouncing off hard enough to cross back over the center line. Forcing us to chase him into the residential neighborhood he's leading us through. Probably thinks we won't do anything with all these houses around. Motherfucker thought wrong.

My phone buzzes, and Ty swipes the screen.

"They're back. Kurt said Eli seems okay. Mrs. Benson's feeding him tacos."

Thank fucking god the woman really does love him. I clench the wheel tighter as we sail over the speed bumps, bottoming out the Escalade. Not that I give a fuck about the car or the damage.

Now I can give all of my attention to this bastard knowing that Eli is safe at home, after relinquishing him to Kurt at the mall. All too brief of a reunion, but little man's as desperate as we are to get Molly back.

"Bennie's coming from the east on the next street."

Good. I gun it, pushing eighty as I ram his bumper. Loving his head whipping forward from the force. Fucking hating her flopping against the seat belt. Hold on, baby girl. I'm coming for you.

Hunter jerks again, but he has no place to go with Bennie pushing against the truck bed. So fucking grateful he avoided Molly's door. We shove him into the empty parking lot of a recycling center. Luckily closed for the day before we go to war. Hunter breaks hard to the left, skidding around to face us. A fucked up version of the game of chicken. Except he's going to be riddled by a bullet rather than a car.

The driver side door kicks open, and he comes out shooting, as erratic as you would expect from a guy with only six fingers. A motherfucking sawed off shotgun. Powerful but ineffective. Especially with four guys trained on him. But he doesn’t give a damn. He only wants me. Wants me to suffer as much as he did. Which he ensures so effectively, dragging her out by the hair. Burning fury deep in my bones with her fragile body limp, flopping against him like a rag doll.

My palm flies up, ordering my men to stand down with a single hand raise. They obey my every command, making any sacrifice necessary to support the business. But, this time it’s personal. With a motherfucking bastard desperate for revenge. Which is exactly what I’m going to give him. My life to save hers. Because I know she’ll take care of Eli even when I’m gone. Which is all I ever wanted before I fucked up both of their lives. “Trade Hunter. Me for her.”

I chin bob to Bennie and his team fixed on the asshole. “They won’t do a damn thing to stop you.”

His vengeful laugh, sharp and reckless, crosses the asphalt. “I know they won’t. Toss the gun.”

Hunter nods, a crazed smirk glowing on his face from my Glock sliding toward him. I follow the same path and take a step forward, while he tosses her to the ground, ready to reach for me. Motherfucker. My body pulsing to be so close to saving her from this bastard.

A primal yell rips from my mouth when he twists, sweeping the barrel from me to her when her hand claws at the concrete trying to lift herself up.

“I told you to stay down you stupid bitch.”

Hell the fuck no. She will not die. I race forward and ram into him, but not before he pumps a damn slug into my leg. Son of a bitch that hurts.

But I’m high on rage and love, and the pain can’t even fucking touch me. All I see is the hatred on his demonic face. The contempt for her goodness that I will not allow him to destroy.

Shock widens his eyes when I pull my weapon from my back waist band and press the tip to his forehead. “See you in hell motherfucker.”

His body, slick with sweat and agony, spasms underneath me when the bullet pierces his brain, and I shove off. Using the last bit of my strength, I crawl to her. Leaving a smeared trail of blood across the sweltering pavement. I somehow make it up onto my ass, and clutch her against me. Ignoring all the commotion of my guys rushing to eliminate the proof of our crimes. Blocking out the rest of the world bustling around me, except her sweet face. Soft with relief for both of us before her eyes sink shut and she’s out again. I cup her cheeks and kiss her anyway. “I love you angel.”