Killian presses a button and his window slides down about halfway. He pulls a manila envelope off the dashboard and hands it to the man who peeks inside at the contents.
“Bringing hookers to your jobs these days, Kill?” The man chuckles and peers in the window at me. I feel the bile in my stomach rise. I straighten my skirt and curse myself for not wearing jeans today. “Oh, she’s sweet,” he says as his eyes rake up my body to settle on my face.
I brace myself for Killian to join in, taunting me along with him. But he doesn’t. Instead, his hand finds my thigh just above my knee and slides clear up my skirt, marking his territory.
“Shut the fuck up,” Killian snaps at the man who instantly straightens and averts his eyes from my body.
“I just assumed…”
“Don’t fucking look at her.” I silently say a little prayer, thankful that he didn’t try to scare me anymore with the promise of giving me to other men.
The man hands Killian a bag and I know enough from my time growing up with him that it contains money. He doesn’t say goodbye to the man, but instead revs the engine before pulling away. He tosses the money in my lap.
“Count it.” Nostalgia whips through me and, as if muscle memory takes over, I count the stack of cash. Instinctively, I spread my legs a little as Killian squeezes my thigh and moves his hand higher, brushing over my panties. I glance at his profile and he looks absolutely livid as we head back to our side of town. He squeezes and strokes the sensitive skin of my thigh, letting his fingers brush my panties once in a while, but not taking it any further.
“Ten thousand. Even.” I tell him once I’m sure I haven’t miscounted, and he finally looks over at me. “You’re doing business with our…” I cut myself off and try to correct my mistake by amending, “your rivals?”
“It pisses them off when we do deals on their turf.” His voice is monotone, like it isn’t ridiculous what he’s telling me.
“Where are we going now?” I ask him when we pass our school.
“Home,” he clips out. He must see the relief on my face because he adds, “My home. You’re staying with me now.”
“What? No! I can’t. I want to go back to my—“ I’m cut off by his fingers digging into my thigh.
“Your what? Your sad little couch in that stranger’s basement?” He laughs and what he’s saying hurts. I’m alone. I’ve never had any family aside from the bond I had with Killian and Kai. And he’s made certain that I don’t have any friends now that I’m older.
“I need to go home.” I’m not giving in on this one. Living in close proximity to Killian is a terrible idea. I’m already having a hard time sorting my feelings out.
“You don’t have a home. No one will even notice you’re gone.” He snaps at me and when my eyes meet his, I see the hurt there. He’s angry at me that I don’t want to go to his house.
“You’re hateful,” I accuse, trying to push his hand off my leg, but that only makes him dig his fingers in deeper.
“Only to you.” And I don’t doubt him. Killian is coldblooded. He’ll take someone’s life if they double cross him, but there’s no hate or any emotion involved there. He feels nothing, except for the rage that boils in his veins for me.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask as he pulls up to the home I grew up in with the boys and their grandmother. It’s an old, black Victorian mansion and I know I won’t survive if I have to spend the night here. My memories, the ones that haunt my dreams, will swallow me alive.
Killian doesn’t answer me and it’s only when he’s out of the vehicle that I realize we’re parked behind Kai’s car. My door opens and Killian hauls me out, and is dragging me up to the front door before I can protest.
When we get inside, I notice a dark haired girl named River that I recognize from school. I knew her boyfriend was part of the Vipers, but I didn’t realize she was, too. She doesn’t bat an eye as Killian drags me behind him into the kitchen.
“Ava!” Desiree calls when we enter. I realize she’s bound in a kitchen chair with a belt securing her arms behind her back. Kai is leaning against the kitchen counter and appraises me with disgust. Killian pushes me into a chair next to Desiree and my stomach flips when he rips his belt off from around his hips.
“Are you okay?” I ask her as Killian secures my arms behind my back and Kai approaches us.
“Don’t fucking speak until you’re told,” Kai snaps at me and, out of habit, I immediately look at Killian. “He won’t help you this time, Ava.”
“Enough.” Killian cuts in, yanking me by the shoulders to turn my chair toward him. “How the fuck do you know this bitch?” He nods his head toward Desiree.
7
Desiree
“I don’t know her, Killian. I’ve already told you this. Ms. Haynes asked me to show her around on the first day. Neither of us know each other,” Ava says, irritation lacing her tone.
“And I can’t believe a goddamn word that comes out of your mouth,” Killian seethes through clenched teeth.
“Why do you have such a fucking stick up your ass, Killian?” I spit the words at him. “Why are you guys giving me so much power? What exactly do you think I’m capable of?” My chest heaves and my body is hot all over with the height of my anger. It feels like there’s a balloon inside my chest and it’s about to pop.
Killian gives me a death glare and I give him one right back.
