Luca (I Love the Way You Lie #1) (29 page)

“As much as I’d love to see you take my load in that sassy mouth of yours, this morning’s load is going into you. I want you to feel me all fucking day long as I leak all over your panties.” His words were enough for me to reach my orgasm and I came with a cry. “That’s right, pretty girl. Wring my cock dry.” He leaned into my ear, now easing us onto the bed. He found the side of my mouth, thrusting his tongue in as his cock continued to twitch inside of me. Each time it did, he pushed a little deeper until he was spent. Our heartbeats eventually slowed and our kiss broke. He slid out of me, gathering me up into his arms like I was the most precious thing in the world to him. “I love you, fancy face. I always did, and I always will.”

I smiled. My heart felt full—content. “I love you, too.”

~~~

The building was positively buzzing, and I was glad we moved forward with the celebration. Today was great day, and tonight was going to be a blast.

Melissa walked around with her clipboard, checking off things as she went along. “Do you think I should have ordered more food?”

The catering company pulled up thirty minutes ago and was setting up the tables—more tables than I thought we needed for food. They had stations all set up and a cheese table. A cheese table! This was supposed to be finger food and cocktails. “Maybe more cheese?” I said, unwrapping one end of the tray and stuffing a piece in my mouth.

“You think?” she asked, biting on the end of her pen, obviously not getting my joke because she was in full party-prep mode. The girls were blowing up black and silver balloons, tying them off with ribbon. I didn’t necessarily think balloons were appropriate. Personally, I thought they were juvenile. However, Mel went off about how it’s not a celebration without balloons. She wasn’t budging and, honestly, I didn’t care enough to argue.

I continued working on my evaluation for our Jane Doe’s custody case. We didn’t use her name openly since she left her husband. She put the fear of god into us, and we all agreed it would probably be for the better not to use it. Now that the case is before the court, both parents have to be evaluated on any physical or mental health issues they may have. My job was to gather all the records into one brief for the court. After already meeting with the children at length and the mom, today was the father’s session with me. And I wasn’t looking forward to it. Today, of all days, I could do without any drama.

Melissa walked into my office. “He’s here. The father. Umm, Mr. Adams,” she said nervously. “You want me to sit in?”

I closed the folder and placed it in my desk drawer. “No, I’ll be fine.”

She looked at me questioningly. “Okay, I’ll be right outside. I’ll bring him back.”

I organized my already-neat desk until I heard the click of Mel’s heels and the soft step of a man. I stood up, straightening my skirt and moved to the entrance to greet him. My eyes quickly perused him. He was dressed in a dark grey suit, a clean, crisp tailored shirt, tie, and his jacket was buttoned. He had light brown hair that was parted cleanly to the side with gel. “Mr. Adams, I’m glad you could make it,” I said, extending my hand.

He didn’t shake it, but smiled darkly as he moved into my office. I shut the door, noting his rudeness. His tight smug smile was still on his face. “So, where’s my family?” he asked, unbuttoning his blazer.

I pulled out a fresh sheet of paper, laying it flatly on my desk. “I have no idea where they are, Mr. Adams. I’ve just been appointed by…”

“I think you’re lying.” He slammed his hand on my desk.

I jumped, instantly gripped with fear. But I refused to let him rattle me. “I’m not. And may I suggest you calming down? I’m here to help.”

A sinister look crossed his face. “This is what you call help? Taking my family, butting into someone’s business, talking my wife into taking my boys from me?” He leaned forward. “Has anyone taken something you loved and held valuable away from you.” He looked at my diploma on the wall for my name. “Allison Anderson? Can you imagine what that would be like…to come home and find your life as you knew it gone and you have no idea where or when they will be back…”

I sat back, fighting the urge to bite my nails.
Fuck, he’s a crazy bastard
, I thought. “We’re not here to talk about me. We’re here to talk about you,” I said, leaning forward in my chair.

“And, you have no business using distractions and threats to manipulate this session.”

He laughed angrily and his eyes darkened. “I’ll manipulate whatever the fuck I want when it comes to
my
family.”

“Okay, clearly this isn’t going well. I suggest you leave.” I stood up, grabbing the doorknob.

He grabbed the back of my arm. “Allison, you just brought a knife to a gunfight. Not such a wise decision.” His voice was raspy and raw against my ear.

I swallowed the ball in my throat and pulled my arm free. “Don’t you dare touch me or threaten me. I’m an officer of the court. Please leave,” I said, pulling the door open with a bang.

His sinister laugh floated down around me, forcing my hair on end. “Let’s see how much you enjoy someone poking in your life, analyzing you, fucking with
you
and
yours
. Let me know how that works for you,” he said, walking out.

I watched him walk until he was out of the building, completely rooted in place, sick to my stomach. My skin was left crawling from the effect of his words.

Melissa and the girls came quickly down the hallway. “What happened?”

“He’s crazy, and I’m telling you right now. No way can he find out they’re here.”

“He won’t, Al. He won’t,” she said, rubbing my back. “Come up front and eat some lunch.” She pulled me into the hallway.

“Nah, I’m going to work on the report some more. I need to think anyway,” I said, expelling a breath I’d been holding. I left the door open, took the file out of my drawer, and sat down again. I looked up at my diploma on the wall, and picked up the receiver to call the police. He threatened me. Actually threatened me. A normal person at least would try to fake his way through a forensic exam. He didn’t even try. I had my theory about him, and planned on sealing his fate in the report. So I hung up the phone and spent the next few hours accessing Mr. Adams and my short visit with him…

My blood was my sacrifice.

It was a beautiful July night, and the early star-lit sky was shimmering beneath the summer moon. I grabbed my keys, a bottled water, and met Archer at the car parked below my building. We were meeting the jeweler here. Meetings kept me from picking up Allison’s ring myself. And it wasn’t something I wanted to send someone else to do. We got into the car, started it, and pulled out of the spot, looking for the town car the old man drove. Finally spotting his black, late model car, we pulled alongside it. I relaxed, rolling down the window and smiling.

“I appreciate this,” I said, taking the elegant bag out of his hand. I peeked inside, making sure the black velvet ring box was there. It was.

“Anytime,” he said but looked nervous—awkward.

Archer was playing with the radio. I quietly put my hand to his, stopping him. He did.

“Something wrong?” I asked.

He didn’t answer, but my attention was pulled to the tinted rear window of his car as it began to roll down.

“As a matter of fact…” A tall, brown-haired man shot out from the dark back seat of the jeweler’s car. I put the bag on the floor and released the door stepping out into the space between both vehicles.

“Who the fuck are you?” I ordered as the other door slammed shut. As Archer rounded the car, so did the man’s associate, who was also in the back seat. I looked to the Jew, who now had his hands over his face in worry. He was no stranger to violence, but too old to be involved in it these day.

I looked at his thick, angry eyebrows and it dawned on me.
Bonono.
Archer turned white. He knew before I did.

“Ah, you finally figured it out. What’s a matter…you didn’t remember me? We used to play together when our father’s had business.” His voice was ice-cold.

I put my hand in my pocket, feigning disinterest. “What can I do for you, Jimmy?” I asked, widening my stance.

“My people are upset… You show me no respect and you’ve disrespected your family,” he said, pulling out a pocket knife. He opened it and started cleaning beneath his fingernails. Intimidation.
I don’t fucking think so.
I sized up the other bruiser who was smoking a cigarette. Fuck, I could go for one.

“Since when is me respecting my family any of your business?” My fists opened and shut as I started the mental countdown.

He shrugged. “You’ve been disrespectful and, suddenly, I’m making it my business. You were warned to let the deal go. And yet you chose to move ahead anyway. Maybe I was told something similar, but I’m choosing my own course of vigilante justice.” He waved his hands in an
oh fucking well
attitude.

“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to, cocksucker? You can’t fucking touch me, and you know it…” I stepped forward. Archer was immediately at my side, looking around for people walking by.

Jimmy smiled grimly and he pouted his lip in a mocking gesture. “True, but…I can touch
Allison
.”

Fear.

Anger.

Despair.

Revenge

“Ya see, this is a two-fold issue: one being you, two being her sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong. Imagine my surprise when I found out she was attached to you. Two pretty birds… Me”—he pointed to himself—”the ugly stone that ends them…”

“You! You’re the fucking wife-beater?” I snarled. “Why am I not surprised you put your hands on a woman? You’re old man used to beat your mother.
In front of you
. You’re a sorry motherfucker you know that?”

“She’s a pretty little thing. I was with her this afternoon. Nice little do-gooder she is. You must be proud.” His sarcastic smirk was going to be wiped off his fucking face.

My vision began to blur and the world covered in red hunger. I round-housed him, kicking him to his knees. Archer hit the other with an uppercut to the face, knocking him backward and on to the asphalt. My hands gathered around Jimmy’s shirt as he opened his mouth and spit in my face. My fist became a mallet. Fist after fist hit his cheek before he could even check my punch. He got off one uppercut. Shocked and awoken by the pain, I turned to find Archer on top of the other guy, grabbling for a knife.
Fuck
.

Jimmy pulled himself to his feet, meeting me with a left-jab-overhand-right combination.
Fucking boxer
, I thought. I needed to get him on the ground. I lunged forward, planting my left shoulder into his belly and ramming him. With my arms around his waist, I lifted him off the ground. He went up and I slammed him onto his back with a sickening thud.
Swoosh
. The air left his lungs. Fire ripped through me, lighting every nerve ending in war. He was protecting his throat. “That’s right, motherfucker; you know what’s coming next. There is no protection from
me
,” I spit though my teeth.

I hit him with a few knees to the ribs, trying to get him to drop his arm. Finally, getting my own knee on top of his arm, I pressed my right forearm on the side of his throat and my hand to the back of his neck. Unable to affect this move, I pulled, squeezed, and willed every ounce of power forward until he stopped struggling.
Dead.
The goal of a choke is to put our opponent down for a short nap. However, Jimmy’s abusive-smirking-prick self would no longer be a problem for me, Allison, or his family. And there wasn’t an ounce of remorse in me about that fact. I leaned forward, letting his head drop to the ground and whispered, “You didn’t tap-out, asshole.”

“Fuck, Luca. He’s fucking dead.” Archer railed his fingers through his hair. I looked to see how his guy was fairing. “Napping, not dead, Luca.” He began to pace.

“What’s the problem? It was self defense,” I said, wiping the blood off my mouth with my shirttail.

“Except for him…” He pointed to the jeweler.

“Fuck!” I screamed. I knew what the issue was. Jimmy was a
made
man. A made guy (which I was) couldn’t order the hit of another made guy without the okay from the boss, which I didn’t have. I lit a cigarette and leaned against my car. “I’m sorry old man, but you can’t leave.” He nodded grimly. He knew it wasn’t possible. Then I called my father…