All thoughts of revenge fall out of my head with her here in my arms. The weight of her body entangling with mine fills my head with what I want to do to her. How desperately I want to make up for lost time. My little doe deserves to be spoiled. Worshiped. Fucking given whatever her heart desires. I just hope I’m included in that. She has to see how crazy I am about her. I fell in love with Hazel at just seventeen, and that’s only intensified now that I’ve had a taste of her. Running my tongue over my lips, her essence is still coated on me. Dulled but still just as full of her. Like the sweetest dessert I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating.
Her eyes heat, knowing exactly what I’m doing. Smirking down at her, she just shakes her head at me, and lets me spin her. As she twirls back into me, our eyes locked on each other, a hush falls over the room.
We both still and look to what everyone is reacting to.
What I see, I didn’t prepare for.
Walking in with who could only be my brother, is an unmasked older figure who I know all too well.
My father.
CHAPTER 23
HAZEL
27 YEARS OLD
The roomonce full of fornication and frivolity is now at a standstill. Every person is either covering themselves up or looking on in anticipation, wondering what he’s doing here. I recognize him immediately as the Senator of New York. Kyle and Ace’s twisted shit of a father. The senator’s build is one that looks as if he spends most of his time in the gym, even at his age, he’s strong. Intimidating. Though he’s gone completely gray since I last saw him, he’s still just as handsome. That is one quality that’s worked in his favor, hiding his true nature beneath a flashy smile and well-placed features. But those eyes, they hold a cruelty that tells me that a monster lurks beneath the surface.
There’s one man where his seed fucked up when it came to procreating. His sons may be hot, but they’re twisted just like him. But each in their own fucked up ways. Whereas I don’t mind Ace’s broken parts, Kyle’s are cruel and selfish… and downright dangerous.
I can feel that danger now being only a few feet from them. It doesn’t escape me that the Senator feels immune to any backlash being so brazen to be the only one not wearing a mask. He thinks he’s untouchable.
And why wouldn’t he think so? He’s gone this long getting away with his crimes. That kind of mentality transferring over to his son. The fear, the immediate shift in energy around the room is palpable. It’s clear the senator has a commanding presence that inspires a sense of respect. And it’s also clear, that Kyle desires that kind of reaction for himself.
I know which one in the group is him immediately. The devil horned mask does little to cover his arrogance.
Years may separate us, but the moment his eyes land on me, a shiver runs the length of my spine. Nausea claws at my neck and flips around in my stomach.
I thought I could push through and face seeing him, but I feel frozen. The rage that has been churning in my veins has turned to fear. Somehow, with Ace by my side, I’ve been able to stave off the clawing anxiety that I’m so used to following me around. Using the dress and costume like a shield against the world, but it’s just a facade. Deep down, I’m still just as broken. Just as frightened. There is no easy fix, no matter how much I wish the act of showing up here, acting brave, would turn a switch on in me.
Dread coils around me as they make their way closer. Kyle, not taking his eyes off me, gaze prowling the length of my body as if I am his prey.
When Ace did the same earlier, I felt alight inside of my soul, but now I just feel as if my insides have turned to ash.
“What do we have here?” His voice slides over my skin like a film. “Fresh meat?” He grabs a lock of my hair with his gloved hand, and I instantly feel Ace tense beside me, his hand still attached around my waist. Kyle brings the lock of my hair up to his nose and I watch as his lips twist into a cruel smirk.
Being this close to him when I want nothing more than to wrap my fingers around his thick neck and squeeze until he turns purple.
“Bring her with us, we don’t have all night.” The senator commands, stopping right in front of us. He doesn’t spare me a second glance, but his eyes are boring into Ace’s.
It takes me a moment to realize that the senator is talking about me as I’m forcibly removed from Ace’s side. Frantically, I turn to look at Ace, but I notice too late that he’s being held back by two beefy looking security guards that vaguely resemble Gaston, times two.
“You didn’t think I wouldn’t notice my own son arriving in my club, did you?” Two men now have Ace by the arms, though he’s fighting their hold. The senator rips Aces mask from his face, causing Ace to spit in his father’s direction. The bead of spit lands on the senator’s black shirt.
“Such a pity. You had so much potential.” The senator raises his fist, and punches Ace right in the stomach. “Take him below. I’ll deal with him in a minute.” Ace is hunched over, clearly in pain, but his face is full of rage and a promise to come for me.
I’m pressed into Kyle’s chest, his hands roaming down the length of my body. Heart beating erratically, my thoughts race with how to escape.
“Don’t take too long.” He instructs to Kyle.
The club sparks back to life as Ace is dragged away. People part for them as he’s led to the stairs, and I’m stuck with a man who wants to see me dead.
“Let’s go have some fun of our own, sweetheart.”
Legs wobbling, I have no choice but to be pulled into a dark room with the man who killed my best friend.
CHAPTER 24
