Sinful Hands (Chained Hearts Duet 3)

“If you want to give me the names of those you’ve fucked, I’d be happy to put them out of their misery.” He turns away from me, starts the car, and drives off.

“You can’t just go around killing people.”

“And why not?” he asks. His hands—strong, sexy hands—clench the wheel and he side-eyes me for a moment. “Do you plan to stop me?”

“I won’t tell you any of them, and you won’t find them either.” I smile.

“I have my ways.” He slows down as he gets to my street. When he pulls up at my apartment building, he looks up to my window where the lights are on. Brody doesn’t sleep with the lights off, so I know he’s home.

“Invite me up?” he asks.

I cough. “Are you asking now?” The shock is now evident on my face by my wide eyes and slightly open mouth.

“Yes. It won’t happen often.”

I get out of the car and look down at him before I shut the door. “That’s a hard fucking no. Go to your own place and don’t come back.” I slam the door and throw my hand in the air, giving him a wave. “Thanks for the ride.” I practically run up the stairs to reach my door.

Brody is curled up on the couch, asleep with the television on. He wakes when I pour myself a glass of water. “You’ll be home by yourself this weekend,” I announce. I sit in the chair across from him and that’s when his black eye becomes evident.

“Chanel.”

“What happened?” I ask.

He shakes his head, not wanting to answer me.

“You need to stop doing stupid shit and think with your fucking head before you end up like our parents,” I seethe, then angrily storm off to my room and slam the door going to bed angry. How could he be so silly after everything we have been through.

13

Lucas

“When are you going to get married?” my mother asks in Italian.

I shake my head, release a huff, then speak to her in English. “Never.”

She hits me on the back of the head before walking to the kitchen. “I didn’t arrange your marriage like them other boys, so you should be thankful.”

Yes, I am, because it’s one less person I would have to kill. I couldn’t handle being told who I’m meant to marry. Even Keir thought he could do it but that failed, and here he is married to someone picked by him and not his father.

I was the lucky one. My father wasn’t as deep into this world as I am. He married my mother in Italy, then moved here when they had me. He worked for Keir’s father up until the day he left my mother, and I only see him when he needs something. It’s my mother and Keir’s father who are related.

“I want you to be happy,” my mother says, putting food in front of me. I try to see her once a week, I’m an only child and I know how lonely she gets. The problem is, my life is busy.

“I am happy, Mama,” I tell her, picking at the bacon in front of me. My phone starts ringing and I see Chanel’s kid brother’s name flash on my screen. “I have to take this. Sorry, Mama.”

She waves me off and goes back to making a coffee.

“Yes.”

“Sorry, sir. I wasn’t sure if you wanted me in today.”

“No. Where is your sister?” It’s the weekend and I figured she would be home.

“Um...”

“Brody,” I warn.

“She went away for the weekend.” My back straightens at his words.

“Where? And with whom?” I snap.

“She asked me not to mention it.”

“Okay. Well, who did she go with?”

“Her boss.”

I hang up and take one last bite of bacon, kissing my mother on the cheek and telling her I’ll see her again next week. She asks me to stay, but I can’t. I have a feisty little bitch I need to find.

“I was wondering when you were going to arrive.” Joey stands out the front, his arms crossed over his chest. “Figured it wouldn’t take you long. But, to be honest, I was hoping you wouldn’t show up.”

“Shit out of luck, then, aren’t you?” I look behind him. “Where is she?”

“What’s your fascination with her?” he asks. “I’ve never seen you this interested in a woman before. Let alone someone like her.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You have a type,” he states.

“What would that be?”

“Prissy bitches you like to dominate.”

Well, he isn’t wrong. It’s always fun bringing a bitch down a notch or two as they so effortlessly fall into my trap.

Chanel, though, this woman intrigues me. And I’ve never been intrigued or held hostage by someone until her.

I want her.

This much I know.

But in what respect? I have no idea.

I’ve never once dreamed of settling down with someone or staying with someone longer than necessary. All those in relationships I see around me, outgrow each other. And I seem to outgrow people quickly. So why waste my time?