Bitter Truths (Crimson Falls Duet 2)

But it didn’t stop her from getting turned on when I pinned her down. When I took her, even though I didn’t use violence, she wasn’t triggered, which I can only assume is because she enjoyed the darkness before the event at the frat party.

It’s one thing to have a kink, a fantasy, but it’s another to enjoy it even after suffering a trauma like that. And that’s what makes her interesting, what makes her so damn intriguing.

“We have to get to her now,” I bite out through clenched teeth. I look to Kahn, whose gaze narrows on me. He can’t read my mind, but I’m almost certain the jealousy coursing through me is painted across my face.

“We will. I promise you; she’ll be okay.” Even his assurance doesn’t calm me down. Why would it? I’ve always been jealous of my brother, and this time, he’s got something of mine. Something that means a hell of a lot more than some random woman I’ve been fucking for a few weeks.

The car weaves its way up the drive toward Shaw manor. The gates slide shut behind us as we near the monstrosity that is my home. Mine and Scarlett’s home. Knowing she’s not there waiting for me only makes me nervous.

The door opens and Gray walks out onto the tiled steps. The suitcase he’s pushing is mine, and I can’t help but grin. He’s already packed for me. I love that old man. More than I ever did my father.

The thought of my father brings back memories of what I’ve lost in my life. I don’t care what my brother does, but if he hurts Scarlett, I’ll torture him for weeks before I end him. He’s stolen from me, which needs to be rectified.

When he last took from me, I vowed to never let it happen again.

And now, it has.

This time though, I’ll kill him.

I will spill my brother’s blood and I won’t think twice.

9

Darius

“He’s on his way,” Howler informs me with a grin. We planned this perfectly. Lycan is coming here, and soon enough, we’ll come face to face. I want to tell him my plan. Once I learned my mother wasn’t Grace Bardot, something struck within me. There’s no shadow of a doubt that Lycan hates Horatio, which will leverage him on my side.

Taking that asshole’s money was part of the plan.

The other part was breaking the bastard down, until he admits to the crimes his parents committed. The truth is they killed my father, and if Lycan will sit down and listen, I can show him the proof. For years I’ve been searching. Grace and her husband were nothing more than ruthless fucking criminals.

Yes, Grace may have loved my father once, but the moment she said ‘I do’ to someone else, she broke her promises to Dad and the Shaw name.

Lycan has to believe me, there’s no other way. If we stand together for once, nothing will tear us apart. At least, that’s what I hope.

“Make sure you keep tracking the car. The moment he’s a couple of miles out, I want everything locked down. He has to request access.” Even though I’m giving the order, my brother will have a team of men with him, and he’ll be wanting his wife back.

“Will do,” Howler informs me with a grin.

Although, taking Scarlett was a highlight. Feeling her tremble against me only brought back memories of when Lycan and I shared her. The one woman who broke me. No other female had ever come close enough to do what she did to us. Lycan never recovered, and neither did I.

Pushing from the chair, I head up the stairs toward my bedroom. The compound is my home, the place I found myself after leaving Crimson Falls behind for good. Having a beautiful woman here, even if she belongs to my brother, unnerves me.

Usually, when I’m with a woman for the night, I go to their place, not wanting someone to spend the night at mine. Even the club whores know that I don’t kiss and cuddle afterward. Once the deed is done, you’re out on your ass.

When I push my bedroom door open, Scarlett’s asleep. Curled up on the mattress, the blanket haphazardly covers her body. Glimpses of flesh peek at me, and my cock thickens with need.

She’s not blood.

But she is my sister-in-law.

However, I’m not one to follow rules.

I step into the room, inhaling deeply, and I realize she must have showered because she smells of my soap. The spicy scent mingling with her natural feminine fragrance, which doesn’t ease the hardening of my dick.

I watch her sleep for a while. Her breathing is even, her dark red hair splaying across my pillows. The sight is foreign to me, but it’s also alarmingly breathtaking. This woman is nothing more than a siren sent to lure me to my death. Because if I touch her, if I were to claim her with my mouth, my fingers, or my cock, Lycan would kill me.