So I don't. I sit on the edge of the bed and watch her until her breathing finally slows. When I'm sure she's asleep, I stand and walk out, shutting the bedroom door behind me and heading straight for the gym.
I need something to take the edge off. I didn’t kill that man but he was barely breathing when we left. My brother texted me to tell me so. He should be dead but it’s probably better he isn’t. They’ll send him to my sister and she will take care of it. My eyes scan the gym and settle on my punching bag.
‘A decent distraction,’I think as I land hit after hit.
I'm shaking when I finally stop. My hand drips blood onto the mat and I watch as it spills. Leaning against the wall Iremember the look on her face. She was afraid of me, that much I knew. But she wanted me before that. She was jealous when that girl touched me in the club. I squeeze my eyes shut and let the image of her take over. The way her mouth dropped open in surprise and anger. The way her eyes flashed with jealousy. How pouty her lips were.
My cock is hard and I’m not even surprised. I shove down my pants and wrap my bloody hand around myself, stroking hard and fast. The blood provides the perfect lubricant as my hand glides up and down my shaft. I picture her on her knees, lips red and swollen, looking up at me with tears on her cheeks and spit on her chin. I picture her on our bed, legs spread wide, begging me to fuck her and hating herself for wanting it. I imagine myself pushing between her thighs into her wet heat and look down to see my bloody cock in my hand. I groan as I remember stealing her innocence, the sight of her virgin blood, sending a thrill through my body. I don't last long, not with that image. I explode violently and watch as jets of cum and blood spill onto the floor at my feet. I stay like that for a minute, my head spinning as I come down from the high I created. Then I clean up, wrap my hands, and drag myself back upstairs.
She's still asleep when I slip into bed beside her, but I can tell from the furrow in her brow and the tight clutch of her fists that she isn't dreaming sweetly.
I reach over, brush a strand of hair from her face, and whisper, "I'm sorry."
She doesn't answer and maybe she never will.
Chapter Thirty
Rio
The familiar clanking of metal is the only thing holding me together right now. I’m supposed to be recovering from the last few days, but the truth is, I can’t stop replaying every second in my mind. The bastard’s blood on my knuckles, the flash of Liana’s terrified eyes, the way her small body trembled as I peeled her from the backseat. The feel of her shaking in my arms and even how she asked me not to leave. The fear in her eyes when she looked at me afterwards might have been the worst. Not because she was scared of me, but because of how hard it made me. It took everything in my power not to bend her over that car in that dirty back alley and fuck her while covered in that man’s blood. I wanted to show her who she belonged to. I wanted her to understand exactly who she belongs to now. I wanted to fucking hurt her…but I wanted her to feel good too.
The weight in my hands is nothing compared to the one sitting on my chest. I rep out another set on the bench, barelyfeeling the burn but sweating just the same. My wrists ache, and my split knuckles keep opening back up, leaving streaks of red on the grip tape. I don’t give a fuck though because the pain means I’m still here.
My phone buzzes and I glare at it. I don’t want to answer it. I don’t want to talk to anyone right now. I just want to smash something else…anything. Instead, I watch as the screen lights up with Leo’s name. I sigh and answer, bracing for more bullshit.
“Yeah?”
“It’s handled, hermano,” Leo says, ignoring my short answer. He’s not one to waste time on small talk anyway. I don’t respond so he continues to speak.
“The guy from the alley…he wasn’t just some random person. He was MC, Rio.”
“Whose?” I growl out
“A Rebel. No one high up but that isn’t the point. They sent him there after the wedding hit failed.” Leo’s quiet for a second. “Word is, they were working with another gang and now they’ve got a bounty out for the both of you.”
I grunt, setting the bar back with a loud clang. “Let them come, then. It won’t be the first time someone tries to come for me, brother.”
Leo ignores that, or maybe he’s used to my posturing by now, but it’s the truth. I’ve lived my whole life being a target. That’s what happens when you’re the eldest son. An heir to the cartel.
“We’re putting extra men on your house. Nobody leaves unless you say so. Rio…” he hesitates, which is rare for him. “You need to lay low. This isn’t like before. Something more is happening.”
“Fine,” I reply, annoyed with the conversation. There’s always something happening. I wipe sweat and blood from my face, flicking it onto the towel like it’s just anotherday. “Keep me posted. If anything changes, I want to know first. Where is this guy being held anyway?”
Leo chuckles for a second before answering me.
“Our dearest sister has him.”
I don’t get a chance to respond because he hangs up without a goodbye. The poor soul is stuck with Nicci. I wonder how long he will last? I flip on the surround sound speakers before tossing my phone onto the mat and rolling my neck.
By my third set, my vision is tunneling and spots are floating across my eyes. I should probably hydrate but the rush is addicting. I’m about to push through one more when I hear footsteps behind me.
“Do you ever take a break?” Liana’s voice cuts through the air.
I turn around and, fuck me, she’s standing in the doorway in nothing but those tiny black yoga shorts and a white crop top. The shirt barely hits her ribs, the hint of her tattoo peaking out from beneath it. Her skin is glowing, and her hair is up in some messy bun that makes her look sexy as fuck. My cock stirs instantly, screaming to be buried deep inside something wet and warm.
“I don’t get breaks.” I say, dropping the weights. They hit the mat with a dull thud. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”
She shrugs, stepping inside, eyes looking everywhere around the room except my face.
