Marcus’s expression turns stony and he slams his fist to his chest like an old soldier.“You have my word, Maria,” he says in his familiar accent.“Tomorrow, we begin the search for your Sunny,” he says.“I promised her the protection of the club, and Iama man of my word.When you are recovered, we will go out in force if need be.No holding back.”
I close my eyes and exhale, bringing one hand to my heart as if I’m having trouble catching my breath.“All right,” I concede, stubbornly keeping my eyes fixed firmly on my toes.“Just today, we wait then.But I want burritos and a bottle ofAmerican Honey,” I say, offering my brother a wry smile.“I’m going to need my strength to kick some mafia wannabe ass.”
Marcus nods, brotherly affection twinkling in his eyes.“There’s thehermanaI know and love,” he says.“As you wish, Maria.Enjoy your rest and I’ll be back at 7:00 in the morning to make plans.”
I grimace and reluctantly open my arms, pouting my lower lip like I did as a kid.“Thank you,Marco,” I say, using the pet form of his name.The one I’ve used during private moments between us like this since I was a little girl.My gut churns at my intended dishonesty, I don’t like lying to my brother, but I maintain my ruse.I have to do this for Sunny.She needs me!
Marcus eases himself out of my arms before righting my blanket.“I’ll see you tomorrow, sea star,” he says, alluding to the meaning of my name.“Dinner won’t be long.”And then he leaves, closing the door behind him without another word.
In the nearby distance I hear his custom-modded Harley roar to life, and he takes off down the long driveway of our humble home and back into the heart of Jacksonville.
I smile to myself as I count the number of Sons I can see guarding the perimeter outside.“Tonight, I make my move,” I whisper with a smug smile.“I’m coming for you, baby girl.This bodyguard doesn’t take prisoners when it comes to matters of the heart.”And soon, Luka is going to learn that the hard way.
Chapter Nineteen
Sunny
Fuck me.Pain throbs from my forehead, pulsing along to the steady beat of my heart.I groan, giving up any pretense that I might still be passed out.“Luka!”I call out, trying to blink away the rhythmic pulse in my head.“Let me go!”
“Hey, pudding cup,” my ex answers.“I’m afraid I can’t do that.You see, I’ve invited some friends from work around.They’re here to ...sample the goods, so to speak.”He snickers maliciously, making the silence that follows in its wake feel even heavier.
I struggle to open my eyes, and it’s immediately apparent that my situation has gone from bad to worse since the last time I was conscious.I’m strung up, each limb secured to one of the bed posts.I’m more vulnerable than I’ve ever been and I’m afraid.Every inch of me wants to curl inside itself to escape the horror of what awaits me.Several pairs of dark eyes watch me, their collective gaze locked on my body the way a predator zeroes in on its prey—when it’s ready to strike and make the kill.
“Luka, no.Please don’t do this,” I say, not beneath begging for my dignity and safety.“We can just go our separate ways.I won’t say anything to anyone—ever.Just let me go and we can work something out.”Hot tears roll down my cheeks as the higher ranked mafiosos take their cocks out and start stroking themselves, relishing in my fear, in my resort to submission, bargaining, and begging.I cringe in the depths of my very soul and take a deep breath, trying to calm myself.I know I don’t think clearly when I’m in a blind panic and I can’t afford to lose this game.“Luka, whatever they’re offering you, I can get you more.I’ve made some very powerful friends.Don’t you know who you killed last night?”I accuse.
Luka shrugs from against the wall, perfectly at ease in a room full of strangers jerking it to his hostage ex-girlfriend.“I doubt that, sugar plum,” he says with an ugly grin.“These fine gentlemen are inviting me to join the inner circle.I’m going to meet the Don and make a name for myself.”
“Do the Sons of Sin mean anything to you?”I bite back, drawing out the conversation, regardless of how humiliating it feels to be cable-tied to my own bed as a bunch of mafia psychos yank it in crisp suits.
Luka’s gaze darts to his colleagues and the mood in the room shifts palpably.Hands still on cocks, and throats clear uncomfortably.“What about them?”he asks casually, though I see his Adam’s apple bob up and down by sheer force of will.
“How can you be so fucking dumb, Luka?”I can’t help but let my head fall back as I cackle out a laugh.“Seriously?”I ask.“You just murdered notorious Killface’s VP.A storm is coming for you!”I don’t know where the words come from, but they feel true.I know that Bones might be gone, but Marcus won’t rest, I know that much.He might hate me for getting his sister involved with the mafia, but I know above all else he’ll honor her memory, authority, and power as a female Vice President in a male dominated world.He’ll come for me because of what I meant to her...
My ex—a fucking contract killer—squirms in his own skin under the very calculated and unflinching gaze of the mafia.“She’s talking shit,” he reasons, gesturing at me dismissively.“It’s nothing that a bit of cock in her mouth won’t fix.”
But his lame excuse for a crude joke falls on uninterested ears.The situation has changed.I’m no longer in their sights.The mafiosos were not expecting a war with the Sons of Sin or a woman with half a brain it seems.“What proof do you have of these accusations, girl?”one of them asks, tucking himself away like he wasn’t just masturbating to the thought of raping me.The rest of his men follow suit, and the air feels like ice in spite of the cheerful and homely cottagecore décor that surrounds us.
