Redd

––––––––

I was quiet for the rest of the night. What was there for me to say?

The vehicle in the parking lot had left before Vicki came back out, driven by a man who was waiting for a woman carrying one small child and a bag of groceries.

Focusing on anything other than Bijou's words was unmanageable. It was as if fate had played a trick on me, dangling this delicious treat in front of my face, only to fool me into doing something good.

She was what I was searching for the entire time. . . Fucking shit.

Bijou and Vicki worked side by side in the kitchen, making a good dinner and giggling together. It made me happy to see Vicki smiling that way.

I just couldn't stop my head from going to the dark side. I had fucked up, I had fucked up and it wasn't just going to cost me my life, there would be three of us getting buried together in a mass grave.

Bijou was his prized possession, she was his jewel.

It was so hard for me grasp the reality of that. I had expected cash or valuables, not a woman.

“Redd, I'm going to bed.” Vicki walked up to me and kicked me in the shin. “The kitchen is clean and my homework is done. Bijou helped me with my math tonight, so you're off the hook.” Kissing my cheek, she sent me a smile and headed towards her room.

“Night, little one, see you in the morning.” Forcing a smile, I did my best to not let her see how I really felt inside.

I was a bomb about to go off, ready to storm that guy's house to make him suffer for every bruise, cut, and scar he had ever given to Bijou. I was ready to make him pay for past, present, and future pain he would have a hand in.

Digging my fingers into the arm of the couch, I clenched my teeth behind a fake smile, as endless rage filled my muscles.

He's not going to get away with this. I won't let him.

“Night,” she said, stopping in the hall and turning her head over her shoulder. “Night, Bijou.”

“Night, Vicki.” Bijou stepped into the doorway of the kitchen and living room, wiping her hands with paper towels.

I felt her turn her eyes to me, standing in silence, fully aware of the challenge I was up against.

“I know what you want to say,” I said, leaning forward and pushing my head into my hands.

“Oh yeah, and what do you think I want to say?” Walking to my side, the paper towel bumbled between her fingers, until she finally balled it up and held it tight.

Growling lightly, I scrubbed my head with my nails, scratching at my scalp. “That I'm a fucking idiot.”

“You're not even close.”

Throwing my body back, I gripped my thighs. “Well that's what I feel like. I fucked up big time.”

Bijou dropped to my side, laying an open hand on my leg. “You're not an idiot, you saved me. Do you have any idea what that means to me?”

Letting out a deep chuckle, I rubbed my chin with my thumb. “It will mean nothing if that man finds you.”

Squeezing my leg, she smiled. “Then let's fix it. . . Together. I know his habits, I know how he works. I didn't spend all that time watching him and not learn shit. I watched so I could end it, so I could end him. Let's end this, Redd.”

Veering my stare, I snapped. “And what happens if we fail? What will happen to Vicki if I die?” Pushing her hand away, I laid my head back and shut my eyes. “My mother didn't give herself so Vicki would end up alone.”

“We won't fail.” Standing up straight, she cocked her leg out and glared at me. “I won't fail.”

“What if we leave? What if we all just leave right now?” Staring up at her, I reached out and took her hand. “We could run and he won't find us. I've been able to avoid the police for years, I'm sure I can avoid him.”

She wanted to ask me why, why had I been running from the cops. And if she had asked, I would have spilled my guts to her. I didn't want to hold anything back, not now. I had to let her in, I had to tell her who I was and what I had done so she could understand.

Under hooded lids, her expression hardened. “I'm not running, Redd. I won't let him do this to another girl.”

She never asked. I wasn't sure if she hadn't heard me or if she just didn't want to know. Either way I wasn't going to hide it, but she had to ask. I wouldn't let it just spew from my mouth if she wasn't looking for an answer.

Maybe she figured it out herself.

Jumping to my feet, I curled my hands around her waist. “I can't risk something happening to you.” Tugging her into my chest, I pressed our bodies together. “If something happened to you—I'd never be able to live with myself.”

Arching her neck, her head tipped back. My eyes drifted over her face, stealing glances at her lips and throat.

And even with the danger surrounding us, right then all I could do was think about making her mine. I wanted her in every way. I wanted her mind, body and soul.

Maybe it was watching her cook dinner, maybe it was the feeling of building a family, a real family where we shared laughs, tears, and everything in between. Maybe this was the reason I had found her to begin with, to give Vicki a home that was meant to share.

Our lives were so similar that together we could find peace and understanding, balancing on a common ground where we could hold each other up.

I wasn't going to choose between her or my sister. That wasn't even a fair choice to have to make. What would make one life deserve safety over another?

Yes, Vicki was my sister, but Bijou, she had stolen something from me too. She stole my breath, she stole my head and my body. . . This woman had stormed in, stealing my heart.

I never believed in love at first sight, I always thought it was a crock of shit. Until I looked into her eyes. I didn't need months or years to know what I wanted.

I wanted Bijou.

Lowering my lips to her ear, I nibbled the lobe, gently plucking it with my teeth. “We could both start over. A new place, a new life, no looking over our shoulders, wondering when the gavel will fall.”

I felt a shiver run through her body as I whispered in her ear. Goosebumps jumped across her skin, starting at the base of her head and working their way down.

The control I had to conjure up was beyond difficult. Every inch of my body wanted to tear her fucking clothing off thread by thread.

I'm not a romantic, I'm not a loving man—I take. That's all I know, that's what I'm good at.

But right then, it wasn't about me. It was about her—this was for her.

I was going to make her see what I already knew; that we had found each other in this fucked up world for a reason. Bijou filled a hole in my heart, she made me feel complete.

And maybe all these years I had really been searching for her.

Gently, I slipped my hands beneath her shirt. Her skin was hot and her muscles shook, but she didn't ask me to stop. I could see in her eyes she wanted this too, she just didn't know how to say it.

My fingers inched up her ribs, slow and precise, coming to a stop just below the tender curve of her perfect tits. Stroking my thumbs up and down, I grazed her soft flesh with the tip of my thumbs, feeling her chest jump into my palms.

Her nipples pebbled and she let out a weak gasp, falling into my chest. My cock thickened, painfully pushing into my zipper, ready to tear through my jeans.

For every second of agony I felt not taking what I wanted, was a victory I wanted Bijou to have. I wanted her to know that she owned some of the control, that I wouldn't do anything unless she permitted me to.

No matter how much it killed me inside.

Peering up at me, her lip trembled, teeth nibbling the skin. Her eyes flashed with uncertainty, lost and confused.

“Don't be afraid, I'm not going to hurt you. I won't do anything you don't want me to.”

Nodding, she stayed quiet, losing her voice. Holding her chin, I tipped her head higher, not allowing her eyes to drift away. “You have all the control here, Bijou. So take it.”