Sociopath's Revenge (17 page)

"You okay, man?" Connor was suddenly by my side, his hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah." My mouth lifted in a half smile. "Nothing a good massage or a hot bath won't fix." As much as I liked pushing my body to new limits every day, sore muscles were a fucking bitch, so I learned to like all those baths.

"Are you cleared for such an intense workout though?" His questions and concern got on my nerves. I faced him as my voice lowered in pitch, displaying how I felt about the whole situation.

"Connor, instead of worrying about my exercise sessions, how about telling me where my woman and child are? If you care so fucking much about my well-being, that's a hint where to start to highly improve it." No matter how much I tried, my anger at Connor didn't go away.

It had been almost two years since the accident, but he hadn't given me any information about her whereabouts. So many times I wanted to say fuck it and find her myself, but any traces I might have left could have endangered her or the baby's safety. I was going insane thinking of her hurting because of me when I actually lived and breathed.

Although life without her was not living, the only thing it could be called was existing. So every time Connor refused to speak about her was one more motivation to drive me forward with my rehabilitation. Having control over my body again after the medical treatment I'd received calmed some of the hopelessness that ate at me from the inside. I still took medication and checked with the doctor once a week, but mostly I was back to my normal self.

Connor exhaled heavily but shook his head stubbornly. "I can't, Damian. Now is not the time. If S finds her—"

"He won't! He doesn't even know who the hell I am. She needs to know I'm alive. That she isn't alone. That I kept my promise. Let me soothe my woman, and I'll be back in New York first thing." The possessive and obsessive sides of my personality longed to gather her in my arms, to give her my safety and warmth. I knew my woman; this whole thing was destroying her heart.

"She is doing well, Damian. Sapphire writes books, raises her child, and works. Her life is stable, and she has friends. You show up and what? For one night, shatter the peace she has and then disappear into the night. Where do you think it'll leave her, huh?"

"She is a writer?"

Connor cursed, probably realizing he had already said too much. "Yes, she is. Damian, she is moving on, okay? I understand you are obsessed with her. But she wasn’t obsessed with you, right? Let her live her life."

"Are you telling me to give up on my woman?" I growled, taking a step toward him, but he didn't even budge.

"I'm telling you to put her needs first like you always did. Both of your girls are healthy and protected." His words calmed some of the rage running through me until he added more. "Plus, she might meet someone, Damian, and fall in love. Other men—" Just like that, the beast inside me awakened, roaring loudly in my ears so that I barely heard what Connor said.

No man was touching what belonged to me. Mine. She was mine.

Mine. Mine. Mine.

Without thinking, I pulled my arm back and punched Connor right in his fucking surprised face. His nose made a cracking sound when my fist connected with it. He stumbled back, blood spilling from it, and then he punched me too.

In a second, we were both struggling for power on the floor, each of us pounding blows to the other.

It was hard to win when both men were pros at street fighting where there were no rules. I tried to remember he was my friend, but the idea of some man touching Sapphire wouldn't let me stop.

Female screams stopped our movements as we both turned our heads toward the door where Rosa stood, holding an apple and some medical book in her hands. The short break allowed me to feel the pain running through me for the first time, and an unwanted groan slipped from my mouth.

Connor quickly glanced at me and distanced our bodies. "Shit, man, I'm sorry." He rose to his knees, as I lay on the floor. He helped me to lift myself up. Heavy footsteps sounded, and then Luke's frame filled the doorway, his eyes narrowed as he snarled in disgust.

"Two grown-ass men fighting." Connor and I tensed, neither of us wanting to hear his speech. Shit, no matter how old we were, fear of disappointing Luke never went away. "Fix it." He pointed his finger at us, and then his eyes softened as they landed on Rosa. "Come on, sweetheart. We have that cake to finish." She watched us dumbly, and then her eyes filled with excitement.

Fuck.

Not good.

"Can you teach me how to fight like that?" Luke sent us one more dirty look, took her by shoulders, and escorted her downstairs.

Connor had been a little tattletale and called Luke immediately after I arrived at the hospital. The old man wasn't happy with everything that happened, said he retired for a reason but told us we would live with him anyway. He preferred to stay in Houston; there, he had a huge-ass mansion with one of the best security systems in the world. The man made enough enemies through the years as a mercenary, and although I didn't have much love for the town, I couldn't disrespect him by saying no. Plus, with me healing, it was safer for Rosa to stay with him than endanger Juanita, with whom I'd had a long talk on the phone. The woman wanted to drop everything and rush to me, but I wouldn't let her. With all the scolding I got from them, you'd think Luke and Juanita considered themselves my parents.

Truth be told, I had no business hiding, but it was better to get strength first.

"Of all the people who helped you, it had to be some crazy chick," Connor complained.

"Hey."

He rolled his eyes. "Please, you know I'm right. Last week, she wanted to learn about using knives. The chick needs to get some friends. Send her to a university; no one would recognize her now." His words held truth, but I didn't want to talk about Rosa.

"Never mention another man and Sapphire in the same sentence." He opened his mouth, but I cut off whatever he wanted to say next. "Never, Connor. I'll play by your rules for my girls." He finally nodded, and then winced as his fingers inspected the bridge of his nose.

"Fuck, man. Did you have to break my nose?" I didn't even bother covering up the smug smile on my face.

"Absolutely."

Damian

Sapphire shifted once again at my side as my hands played with her silky locks. God, how I missed these moments with her, where there was only me and her in bed, and the outside world didn't exist. I craved them more than sex;
this
was the real connection.

"What's wrong, baby?"

She placed her hand on my chest and pushed up with the other. Her crystal-blue eyes held nothing but adoration and love, something I'd missed during all her hostile greetings. "What are we going to do now?"

I dreaded her questions, but I couldn't lie to her. "You're going to stay here and take care of Kristina. Rosa will be with you too." I searched her eyes for an uncomfortable reaction, but none was given. Thank God, because the girl was like a sister to me. "Once everything is over in New York, I'm all yours." I expected tears and a fight, so I had to blink in surprise when she leaned forward, and her mouth landed on mine.

Her kiss was soft and gentle and finished too soon for my liking. "I agree with you," she whispered, nipping my jaw. "Taking Kristina and Rosa there is dangerous and unnecessary. Evil like this can't touch their lives." She licked my neck and then bit me lightly, not enough to leave a mark, but enough to send shivers to my cock. It hardened more and more with her displays of affection. "But I'm going with you." Before I could protest, she kissed me again. Once we were breathless, she let go of me and climbed on top of my thighs. The sheet she held slid down, leaving her full and mouthwatering breasts open for my adoration. "I don't want to hear any protests, Damian. You know with me, it'll be easier to find him, and no matter how much you want to keep me safe, I'm never safer than when I am with you." She started to play with her pink nipples, pinching them as little moans escaped her.

"That's doubtful, considering I didn't protect you the last time." My words came hoarsely, as I grabbed her hips and lifted her up, closer to my mouth, but she protested.

"No, Damian I want you inside me."

"Oh, you'll have me, honey. Grab the headboard," I said, scooting down a bit to have a better position to savor my treat as I latched my mouth to her wet heat, almost coming from her taste as she gasped above me. Her thighs closed around my head as I gently nipped and then sucked on each of her lower lips, while my tongue dipped inside, licking and probing as she pushed against me to get better friction. My hands traveled up to her perky nipples, touching the sensitive peaks gently, and came back to grip her perfect ass cheeks.

She rocked above me, pushing back onto my face as I rubbed my beard against the inside of her silky thighs. My cock leaked, as it painfully waited for its turn to have her. Without being able to wait any longer, I focused my attention on her clit, sucked it deeply, and she came all over my face as I licked her clean. I spread her legs open and moved into position to thrust my cock into heaven. "Yes," she moaned, thrashing her head on the pillow from side to side.

"Do you like when your man gives you pleasure?"

She moaned, but I gripped her hips harder, drilling deeper, until she sobbed, "Yes."

"Yes, who? Who do you belong to?" I increased my thrusts, her legs wrapped around me tighter, and I felt the familiar tingling sensation in my spine, signaling my body had reached its limit.

"You," she gasped, clenching around me so tight I had no choice but to follow her.

Afterward, I cleaned her up, tugged the blanket around us, and we slept peacefully until morning.

Airport, Moscow, Russia

My hair and coat flew up from the wind as I moved toward the private plane. Vitya and Michael strolled next to me, each one of them holding suitcases. I didn't bother bringing anything with me but a laptop, as my apartment at our destination had everything I needed.

"Why the hell did you bring so much, Michael? We aren't going to explore the city," Vitya bitched, not that I could blame him, considering Michael took five suitcases. I chuckled, and Michael glared at us both.

"Laugh all you want, but I didn't take clothes with me. Half of it is my photography equipment."

Vitya's mouth snapped open. "
Blyat
, really? We could have bought it there."

"No," Michael argued. "No need to spend money on something I already have." We weren't known for being cheap, and rarely did anyone count their money. Whatever Bratva members wanted, if they had the money, they bought it, even if it meant having identical items in several different countries. Michael was another story; he saved every penny he made and spent it wisely. The only indulgence he had was his photography.

My phone vibrated inside my pocket, distracting me from the couple's argument, and I pushed forward for more privacy to talk. The caller ID didn't really surprise me.

"Connor, my flight to New York is not negotiable. So save us both time and keep to yourself whatever you want to say to change my mind." The man on the other end of the line huffed annoyingly and, of course, didn't listen to my advice.

"What's with both of you? You shouldn't come now. It's ten more days before the grand ball. The last thing we need is their suspicion and distrust." I quickly entered the plane and lifted a chin to the captain who saluted me. Throwing my jacket on the seat, I ignored the brightly smiling stewards and marched right into the cabin. Closing the door was a neon sign to my crew to leave me the fuck alone.

"I have unfinished business in New York." The strained laugh grated on my nerves

"Don't we all? We're not ready."

"I didn't mean the gala. No one will assume anything because they were the ones who delivered the information to me on a silver platter."

"What is it?" Connor's voice grew suspicious.

"None of your business, Connor."

"If it has to do with the investigation—" God save us all from those FBI agents who thought they ruled the world.

"Connor, whatever you need to know, you already do. This is a personal matter. I decided to help you, but don't think you will control me. I won't deal well with it." My voice became cold and harsh. Connor took a deep breath and agreed.

"Fine. Fuck, you and Damian give me a headache." Somehow, the idea of having similar qualities as my brother despite the seventeen years we'd spent apart brought warm feelings to my chest and a smile spread on my face.

"We're twins after all, aren't we?"

Connor laughed. "That you are," he agreed, right before hanging up.

Once the call ended, I allowed myself to return to the main cabin in time to fasten my seat belt before the plane took off. My heart beat rapidly and a shiver ran down my spine.