BittenandDefiant (8 page)

“I know. It would have been on your mind though and you
would have been debating about it. Aren’t you glad I heard it without you
needing to say it? Just this once?”

She considered his words. “Well I suppose I am. It’s so
hard.”

“Yes, but I’m here for you. Always. As I’ve said I want to
hear everything about your family so I share your memories. They’ll always be
with us.”

Frankie fought back tears. “Thank you.”

“No need for that. We’re together now. I want them with us
too.”

For a moment Frankie stood and let him hold her. She
accepted what he said. She also knew Kate and Amber wouldn’t want her to give
up everything for them. In fact she was pretty sure Kate would have been
furious at her decision to take on Valdez. Even so, it was something she’d
started and had to see through to the end. Best to get on with it.

“I should go in.”

“Now?” Kellen seemed surprised. “The night’s almost over.”

“Oh. Yeah.”

“Up to you of course, but it might be better to wait until
tomorrow. You can surprise him by being there when he’s ready to turn in. Give
yourself some time to taunt him if he doesn’t try to get rid of you right
away.”

She considered it. “All right. That does make more sense.”

“Come on. Let’s go home,” he suggested, urging her to sink
farther into the shadows so they could leave unseen by the guards at the gate.

Leaning against the windowsill while waiting for Valdez,
Frankie spent the time thinking. It had been three weeks since the first time
she let him shoot her. Three weeks and four times. Kellen was right. It did
hurt like hell though each time was getting easier. Probably because she knew
just what to expect.

The first time had been downstairs in his study. He’d shot
before she had the chance to say much of anything. The bullet had ripped
through her chest, tearing and burning her flesh, leaving a huge hole in her
torso. As soon as the pain registered she’d passed out. Kellen told her he’d
only let the men who were to dispose of her drive around the corner before he
delved into their minds and had taken her from them. He’d planted the
suggestion that they tossed her from the trunk into the same ditch where they
threw her niece.

In reality they’d done nothing more than drive around for a
bit while Kellen took her home and talked her through the process of healing
herself. Even before she came to she must have heard him deep within her mind.
By the time she was aware of what was going on her flesh had been well on the
way of sealing the gaping hole. It still burned but not like it had the instant
after he pulled the trigger.

It was the same the other two times as well. She sighed.
Perhaps she should just abandon her quest to have Valdez admit that he was
involved in Amber’s death and get on with her new existence. Not that Kellen
was pressuring her. No, he seemed to have all the patience in the world and was
willing to wait as long as it took. She was the one growing restless.

Before Kellen there was nothing in her mind but the need for
revenge. All she’d wanted was for the dealer to take responsibility for what
his drugs had done to her family. It was still there but things had changed so
much. Though she would miss them for all eternity and hate how their lives had
ended she could now see beyond that. There was more to her existence thanks to
Kellen’s love.

She sighed. Even though she now had Kellen and all they
would share to look forward to she still had to see this through. She had to
make him admit his guilt, even if just to her. For Amber. For Kate. For herself
so she could finally lay them to rest in peace within her mind.

When she heard footsteps on the stairs she sank into the
shadows in the corner of the room. Kellen had been teaching her how to shield
her presence and this would be the true test to see if she’d grasped it.

One of the security men flipped on the light and scanned the
room. He crossed to check the closet and the bath. “All clear, sir.”

Valdez dismissed him with a nod. Frankie waited until he was
settled in bed before willing herself to be seen. She chuckled to draw his
attention.

“You!” he barked. “How’d you get in here?”

“I walked, same as always,” she stated, approaching as he
fumbled for his handgun. Frankie perched on the edge of the bed. “This is
getting old. Haven’t you figured it out yet? I’m not going anywhere no matter
how many times you shoot me. Why not save the trouble of cleaning up my blood
and talk instead?”

“Who are you?”

“I would have thought that was one thing you already knew.
Amber, the girl you had thrown in the ditch, naked and so full of your drugs
they killed her, was my niece. You saw the pictures that day with your mother.”

“I didn’t kill her.”

“Perhaps not directly. But she was here at one of your
parties. The drugs were yours. You gave them to her then let her die without
attempting to do anything to help her once you saw she was in danger of
overdosing. Didn’t you? To me that makes you responsible. And because of her
death her mother, my sister, couldn’t go on. So you killed them both.” She
paused, staring at him with all the loathing she felt showing openly. “For that
you must pay.”

“How? There’s money in the safe. I’ll get it for you.”

He started to get out of bed but she stopped him. “Money?
You think that’s what this is about? That makes you even more despicable than I
thought.”

Her declaration combined with her expression had him shaking.
“What do you want from me? You’ve already done damage. It is you who has been
stealing drugs from the corners and turning them into the police in my name,
isn’t it?”

“Actually no, that’s all been done by a friend of mine. He’s
helping but he’s agreed to let me deal with you personally.”

“Then I don’t understand. Deal with me how? Are you here to
kill me? Is that why you keep coming back?” he questioned as all the color
drained from his face.

Frankie laughed. “Don’t you think I would have done that by
now if that’s what I was after?”

“If you don’t want me dead then what do you want?”

“Simple. I want you to admit your guilt. I want you to say
that you are responsible for the deaths of my family. I want you to acknowledge
the harm your business does to innocent people. I want you to say out loud what
scum you are.” She stared pointedly at the gun still clasped in his now-shaking
hand. “And I won’t stop returning until you do. I swear you can shoot me as
often as you desire but I will not stop until you confess.”

Frankie was watching him intently and knew he was about to
shoot her again. The gun went off just as she leaned to the side. Instead of
shooting her in the chest as he had on the previous occasions the bullet caught
her arm. Instantly her mind sought Kellen’s, letting him know that it was minor
and she was fine. Once she was certain he’d heard her, she concentrated on
forcing the metal from her flesh.

Valdez looked on, horror showing clearly on his face. She
plucked the bullet from her flesh and held it out to him. She extended her arm
so he had a better view of it healing over.

“I told you not to bother.”

The door swung open, revealing the same man who had checked
the room earlier. With all her newly developed might Frankie flung the bullet.
It hit the door an inch from his head and stuck.

“Out,” she commanded, focusing her wrath on the startled
man. “Now.”

He turned and ran, his footsteps pounding on the stairs. A
moment later Frankie heard Kellen chuckling within her mind. He must have kept
running once he reached the street. That meant there was another man for Valdez
to replace. The others, who thought they disposed of her after she had been
shot, refused to stay once she returned. Sooner or later tales would spread and
he’d run out of willing help.

When she turned her attention back to Valdez she saw he was
crying. “Ready to give in?”

For a moment he stuttered, no words coming out. Eventually
he managed to ask, “What are you?”

“Your worst nightmare. Or I will be if you don’t stop this
now. Just say it!”

“I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt me. You’re right,” he sobbed.
“I did give your niece the drugs. I did have her dumped in that field. I didn’t
try to help her. I am responsible for her dying. I did it. I killed her. And
because of that the other one died too. I’m sorry. Oh God I’m so sorry.” He
broke down completely, muttering the words over and over again.

“Enough,” Frankie barked, snapping her fingers to gain his
attention. “There now, don’t you feel better?” she asked sarcastically. With
that she stood and left his home for the last time.

Suddenly it was enough that he’d admitted it to her. She was
weary of the pattern that was developing, her confronting him, him shooting
her. This time she’d gotten to say what she needed to. And his confession
indicated that he’d actually heard her. Perhaps the next time an underage girl
took too much at one of his parties he’d have her dropped at the hospital while
there was still a chance to help her instead of throwing her in a ditch.

She decided she’d reached the point where continuing on with
her original quest would do nothing but hurt her emotionally. She had his
admission. It was time to move on and begin to heal the pain of losing her
family.

Kellen was waiting by the front door. Apparently the other
men on duty by the gate had run off with the man from inside. He pulled her
into a hug as soon as Frankie reached him. When her tears started to flow he
held her tightly against him. It took some time for her to cry herself out.

“It’s done,” she finally whispered.

“I know,” Kellen told her. “When you opened your mind to me
this time it stayed open. I was with you for all of that.”

“So I don’t have to tell you.” She sighed. “Good.”

“Let’s go. You look beat.”

“I am. Why don’t I feel anything, Kellen? Other than sadness.
I thought there’d be something, I don’t know, more since he admitted that he
was responsible. He said it, but nothing’s really changed. They’re still gone.
His admission doesn’t make that hurt any less. There’s no satisfaction in him
saying he was responsible. I thought there would be even if he only said it to
me.”

“I think you’re numb at the moment. Come home and rest. See
how you feel about things tomorrow before you decide whether or not to do
more.”

Kellen guided Frankie home, walking slowly, letting her
clutch him as they went. His heart broke for her. She’d done what she set out
to do. Without that to continue focusing on, the hurt she’d been holding inside
would come pouring out. All he could do was be there for her and help in
whatever way he could.

By the time he got her to the third floor Kellen was growing
worried. Frankie had remained silent the entire way back. She’d closed her mind
as soon as they were together. He knew she was hurting but without knowing what
she was thinking he didn’t really know what to do.

When she immediately stripped he was surprised but quickly
followed suit. Stretching out beside her, Kellen once again held her close. He
would continue to do so until Frankie asked him to release her.

“Love me, Kellen,” Frankie requested softly.

“Always,” he stated.

Over and over Kellen bestowed the gentlest kisses. He kept
it up until Frankie sighed in his arms. When he felt the tension leave her body
he realized how contained she had been since their meeting. Even when they were
fucking out of control she hadn’t let herself go as much as she was in that
moment. He also realized that their joining had never been tender and decided
that this time he would try to show her all the love he felt.

Still kissing her Kellen let one hand roam. He caressed
everywhere he could reach, returning often to her breasts. He gently teased her
nipples into stiff peaks. He continued his slow, loving touches until she was
trembling with desire. She was so soft, so delicate even with her newfound
strength. Her skin was nearly luminescent. She was beautiful and she was his
mate. His forever.

His fingers finally found her core. She was ready for him,
but that didn’t prevent him from continuing to excite her. He teased her clit,
stroking her slit fully, dipping into her pussy until she was shivering in
need. Breaking the kiss, Kellen lifted his head. Frankie’s eyes were huge as
she watched him move over her. She didn’t even blink when he sank his cock in
deep. Slowly and steadily he penetrated her, thrusting his iron shaft into her
silky wetness. He was where he belonged and where he would happily remain for
the rest of his existence. He could tell from her expression that her thoughts
echoed his own.

Their eyes remained locked the entire time. When Kellen felt
Frankie’s sheath pulsing around his shaft he could see all the emotions he was
feeling reflected back at him. Her orgasm triggered his and they came together.
Kellen had never known such peaceful pleasure and felt sure it was the same for
Frankie.

By the time dawn approached he had lost track of how often
they’d loved each other. What began as soon as they were home lasted throughout
the night. They were both exhausted and well satisfied but that still didn’t
seem to be enough. Kellen’s last thought before he gave himself over to sleep
was that he would never get enough of the amazing woman who had given her life
to him.

* * * * *

Frankie was jolted awake by Kellen’s whistle. Looking around
the room, she saw him at his desk.

“What?” she asked, drawing his attention from what he had
been reading on the computer.

“You have to see this.” He waved her over to him, his eyes
twinkling with merriment. “You’re going to love it.”

“What?” she repeated her question as she rose from the bed.

Kellen slid his chair back and pulled her in front of him,
urging her naked form onto his lap. “Read it for yourself.”

“Oh wow!” Frankie exclaimed, twisting to see his face,
giggling when Kellen surprised her with a noisy kiss. “I did it! I really did
it. I’d decided to quit after he admitted his part in their deaths to me. But I
stopped him.”

“Yes, you did,” he declared, echoing her grin.

“I don’t believe it,” she said, rereading the headline,
Local
Businessman Confesses to Being Major Player in Drug Ring
. The article went
on to detail how Valdez had turned himself in to the local police shortly after
2:00 a.m. and provided all he could on his operation and those individuals he
associated with.

“I was ready to give up.”

“I know.” Kellen kissed her again.

“That’s wonderful!”

“Yep,” he agreed with another kiss.

“He won’t hurt anyone else, ever again.”

“Nope.” Kellen laughed as she kissed him this time. “You did
change things. You did make a difference.”

“I did,” she said happily, squirming on his lap. She
couldn’t help but notice how Kellen’s body responded to hers. “Mmm,” she
murmured, turning more fully in his arms. “Kellen.”

Without her needing to say it Kellen seemed to know what she
wanted. She started to giggle when he stood and carried her to the bed. When he
tossed her onto it she was laughing so hard she couldn’t speak. Instead she
held out her arms to him. He bounced beside her, laughing as hard as she was,
kissing her nonstop. Before she gave herself over to the playfulness Kellen had
begun she acknowledged that she truly had made a difference, that her family
hadn’t died in vain and now because of that she and her mate could embark on
their happily ever after for all eternity.