Dark Passion (The Dark Brother Series Book One) (15 page)

“Grosse,”
he groans, biting my lower lip. “I taste like crap.”

I giggle,
“A little.”

“Come on hoover,
let’s go to bed.”

I laugh as he
attempts to pull me out of the shower. He still has a real swagger about him, and I know he will pass out fairly quickly when we hit the sheets. I dress and dry, and then we slide into bed together. He rolls me so his chest is pressed against my back and his arms are wrapped around me.

“So, I
bet you’re glad I came back now?”

“Maybe…
”

He tickles my ribs and I squeal with laughter. “Alright, I’m glad!”

“Did you miss me?”

“No.”

He tickles me again. “Ok, ok, you brute! I missed you.”

“You know I’m dangerous, don’t ya?”

“I laugh in the face of danger, ha ha ha ha!”

He snorts a laugh and pulls me close.

“You’re changing everything I taught myself over the years.”

“Yeah well someone has to change you,
you’re an ass.”

He pokes me and then begins stroking my arms until my eyelids are heavy and drooping. For the first time in weeks, I fall asleep completely content.

~*~*~*~*

“You animal,” Ava whispers to me as I pour myself a coffee the next morning.

I stare at
Angel sitting in the lounge flicking through the television while Ace snores lightly on the floor. Big tough men my ass. Jagger’s still asleep, and Ava’s giving me the ‘You dirty troll’ speech. She heard us early this morning, I can’t help it; Jagger knows how to make a girl scream. That mouth of his, my God.

“I’m
not dirty,” I say, sliding my butt onto the bench. “We have a connection.”

“Yeah, it’s call his dick in
your…”

“I can hear you!”
Angel yells, smothering a laugh. I smile at Angel’s new personality. Living with him is bringing out the fun side to Angel. I didn’t know he had one.

“Sorry
Angel,” I giggle and lower my voice. “Seriously though, I know it’s crazy to you but I like him Ava, he makes me happy.”

“He’s an angry ass
, but if he makes you happy...”

“
He does and besides, if he hurts me, I’m sure you’ll kick his ass.”

“Damn right I will,
” She grins, putting up her fists. “But seriously, if you’re going to bang him, keep it down.”

I choke on my coffee and kick her lightly. “Wear earplugs.”

She rolls her eyes just as Jenny walks into the kitchen, pouting.

“There’s a fucking skid mark in my toilet.”

Ava and I burst out laughing, causing Ace to bolt upright from his spot on the floor. Jenny frowns at us, but moments later she’s laughing too.

“I can’t believe we have to live with three men!”

“They aren’t so bad.” I grin, shaking my head.

“Well, at least they’re nice to look at.” Ava mutters, staring at the two men.

Angel
stands, wearing only boxer shorts. When he smiles, he has a killer grin. It’s quite nice to look at. Ava flushes when he stares at her and winks.

“Did he just wink at you?” I giggle.

“Don’t even go there, I was walking to the bathroom last night and I slammed into him AGAIN. This time though, he was naked…and hard. I’m sure he’s doing it on purpose,” she whispers, flushing.

“Oh my
God, you copped a feel of Angel’s dick.”

“Shut up Willow!! This is all your fault!”

Just then Jagger walks in, his hair all ruffled and his body hard and firm. We all stop talking and stare as he runs his hands through his hair in an attempt to straighten it up.

“Take a picture ladies, it lasts longer,” he mutters.

We all burst out laughing. He grins and walks over to me. He nestles himself between my legs and pulls me in for a kiss so hot Ava groans and makes a gagging sound. When I pull back, flustered and hot, Jagger turns away.

“I’m hungry, make me some food woman.”

I slap him hard on the chest and he makes a loud oomphing sound.

“Don’t be rude Jagger, or I’ll starve you.”

He grins, “I have plenty to eat if you don’t get me food.”

“Oh
Grosse!” Ava whines, covering her ears. Jenny rolls her eyes and plods off to her room to get dressed.

I flush
and slap Jagger’s chest again. In this moment, it almost feels normal - almost. I dig through the cupboards and fridge until I find bacon and eggs, I start cooking. It’s a big job to feed all of us, but I’m used to it now after cooking for Jagger back at his house.

“Smells fuckin’ amazing,
”

I feel hard arms go around my wai
st and I grin, “So do you.”

“Want me to bend you over right here? Coz’ I will.”

I groan when he thrusts his erection into my ass, and pinches my nipples through my thin shirt.

“I’m going to have you here one day,” he murmurs, thrusting against my ass again.

“Oh no, you’re not…”

“Am too,
”

“Not.”

“You’ll see baby, and you’ll love it.”

“I’d rather you didn’t go there, it’s not made to play Jagger.”

“You’re wrong; it most certainly is made to play.”

He
slaps my ass and walks off, I huff but I can’t wipe the grin from my face. My phone rings beside me, and I stare down at it. I got a new phone that didn’t have Jagger’s number in it after he dropped me back; though I still have my old one. I see it’s my Mother’s carer and confusion fills me.

“Hello?” I answer.

“Willow, it’s Sarah.”

“Hi Sarah, is everything ok?”

“It’s your Mother, she’s lost it. Willow, she had a visitor yesterday and now she’s beside herself. Something’s really upset her and she keeps asking for you.”

My blood runs cold.

“Was it a man that visited?”

“I believe so, yes.”

“His name?”

“
Kane,”

I swallow and shudder. My
Father visited my Mother, just like Jagger predicted. Oh God, a woman with a mental illness seeing someone she thought was dead. I know how that must have gone down in her brain.

“I’m coming, give me two hours.”

“Thank you.”

She hangs up and I slam my phone down. “Fuck!” I hiss.

“What’s wrong?”

Jagger walks into the kitchen, fully dressed and gives me a narrow eyed stare. How can I tell him? My
Mother won’t talk with him around, I need to go and see her on my own. What if this is a trap? Oh God, I don’t know what to do.

“Jagger, I have to go out.”

“What? Where?”

“To visit my
Mother, that was her carer, I forgot my visit was today.”

“I’ll take you.”

“Can you not come in; she doesn’t deal well with unexpected visitors?”

“Yeah, I’ll wait
outside.”

I quickly plate up breakfast, and while they’re eating I rush into the room to change. I can’t think. I don’t know if I’m walking into a trap and I don’t know what my
Mother wants me for. I don’t know anything, but I need to find out before I tell Jagger. Even if it ends badly. When I’m done, Jagger and I head to the car and start the hour’s journey to my Mother’s home.

“Everything ok?”
Jagger asks.

I’m staring out the
window; so many things are going through my mind right now.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem fine.”

“I haven’t seen her for over six month’s Jagger.”

“Why is that?”

“She was getting better and trying to make things right, i
t’s very hard for me to feel forgiveness towards a woman who tried to take my life.”

“Yeah, I get that.”

“Part of me knows it wasn’t her, it was whatever was in her head at the time, but it still hurts you know?”

“I know, believe me.”

“Your dad?”

He nods briefly. “He beat me so many fuckin’ times I can’t count. I’m sure he tried to kill me numerous times.”

“Is he alive?”

“
I don’t know.”

“Oh.”

“And my Mother killed herself when we were younger, I hate her for that.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, well, it’s life right?”

“I guess.”

We pull up at the home and Jagger says he will wait out front. He finds a seat and plonks down on it. I give him a brief smile and then proceed to sign myself in and wait for Sarah. She arrives ten minutes later and looks frazzled. I stand and give her a hug, and she returns it with full force.

“You look well
, honey.”

“Thanks. How is she?”

“Better knowing you were coming.”

“Well, let’s see what the problem is.”

She walks me through security and down the peach colored halls. The rooms are all secured with key pads and in the more serious sections, guards. When we get to my Mother’s room, Sarah punches in the code and opens the door. We step inside and I stare at my Mother sitting by the window staring out. She’s lost weight since I last saw her, but her radiant red hair is glowing.

She turns when she hears us and her eyes fall on me. I give her a weak smile. We have the same eyes, that sparkling emerald green. We all share the same
porcelain skin too. She stands and walks over, taking my face in her hands. I close my eyes; I don’t deal well with my Mother touching me. She pulls me in for a hug like always, and I let her. I don’t really hug her back, just pat her weakly.

“Mom, it’s good to see you.”

“Sarah, may I speak to her alone?”

“Yes, of course.”

Sarah leaves and I sit down at the table, my Mother joins me.

“So, tell me what’s going on? He came to see you, didn’t he?”

Her eyes widen and her lip trembles. “I thought he was dead.”

“So’d I.”

“I saw the news…about you going missing. I was so worried Willow. Your Father said you were taken by a gang, and that you weren’t safe.”

I snort. “He’s the one who caused it all in the first
place; and they aren’t exactly a gang. Besides, they only took me to find him.”

“He gave me some things,” she whispers, looking around the room, “and told me to give them to you.”

“What did he say?”

“He said I had to give to you this package and that you needed to follow the instructions for your own safety. He said you weren’t safe with that man you’re with. I was hysterical, I didn’t get much more.”

“Where’s the package?”

She stands and ruffles through her draw
ers to return with a yellow manila envelope. She hands it to me and I open it. The first thing I pull out is a note.

Willow,

I know I don’t deserve your trust, but I need it right now. You’re in serious danger. Willow, you have something they want and you don’t even know it. I need to see you. They will come after you, and when they do it will end badly. Contact me on 9954 2474 as soon as you receive this. Don’t set Jagger onto me, it will only end badly. He’s using you to get that information. I made the mistake of telling him you have it. I hope you trust me enough to know I did what I did to protect you. Call me, as soon as you can.

Dad

I’m angry, no, I’m beyond angry. He hasn’t bothered to contact me for years, but he can manage a note when it suits him? And he wants me to trust him? I feel my fingers trembling. I think about the words he wrote about Jagger. What if he did only come back because my Father told him I have information? I’m so confused; this whole situation is messed up. I need to think.

“I will deal
with this,” I say to my Mother. “Don’t sink yourself over him.”

“I can’t believe he’s still alive,” she whispers, staring at her hands.

“Dad isn’t who we thought he was.”

“Won’t you tell me what’s going on?”

“Mom, it’s not the best information for you to have right now. Leave it with me, I’ll sort it.”

“I know you don’t trust me Willow, I don’t blame you but…”

“Don’t,” I whisper, putting up my hand. “Don’t make me hash this out with you again Mom.”

“I just want forgiveness.”

“You tried to kill me.”

Her face
goes a horrible shade of white. “I wasn’t thinking, my mind was in a very bad place.”

“I know that, but it’s not something I can just forget…”

“You don’t even try,” she whimpers.

“Mom, stop, please. I’m glad you’re better and I hope you get out soon, but right now I can’t deal with this.”