Keep Me (Broken Heroes 3)

“Okay,” I whisper softly, pulling back.

Xander guides us out of the restaurant and the limo is once again waiting for us along the curb. There’s a chill in the air, and it settles deep into my lungs with every breath I take.

“All right, Mouse, it’s time to see if that sister of yours is alive,” Xander whispers into my ear as we climb into the limo. I settle into my seat, my hands in my lap.

My response to Xander’s comment dangles on the edge of my tongue. I want to tell him that she’s strong. Naive, yes. Young, yes. But she’s a fighter, and she’ll persevere through anything, even the darkness.

I never considered her not being alive, because that would mean this was a lost cause, but either way we weren’t just here for my sister. Xander wanted to find his father. I’d known this since the moment I met him, and I’d bet anything his father had everything to do with my sister disappearing, so wherever my sister was, Xander’s father wasn’t far behind.

“I’m taking Keira back to the hotel. This has been far more than enough fun for her, I think.” I peek up over at Damon through my lashes and notice Keira is in his arms and unusually quiet. She doesn’t even look my way. In fact, her face seems to be burrowed into Damon’s suit jacket. I’m going to guess she is also not used to seeing people get stabbed with forks.

“We’ll drop you off.” Xander motions something to the driver and the limo starts moving.

We stop a few minutes later at the hotel where Damon and Keira get out. “Be careful, and call me if you need anything, and if you find him…” I catch the look in Damon’s eyes. It promises murder, mayhem, and pure chaos.

“Of course, brother, we’re a team. If I find him, it’ll be with you.” Xander’s voice holds promise, and I realize that even though he doesn’t truly show it, he loves his brother.

Damon closes the door a second later and as soon as we are alone in the limo, Xander pulls me into his lap. I cuddle into his chest, burying my face into the crook of his neck, inhaling his unique scent. It’s crazy how safe I feel in his arms, knowing the same hands and body that makes me feel safe and pleasured are the same ones that kill and destroy people’s lives.

“Do you always stab people with cutlery?” I whisper into his skin, my hands making their way underneath his suit jacket. I feel his muscles tighten beneath my hands and wonder when he gets the time to work out.

He sighs, his hand stroking my head. “Only the ones who try to touch you.” His response makes me smile, and I place a kiss over his throbbing pulse. I’m positive I’m falling head over heels in love with him… and the scariest part isn’t that he’s a murderer, or that he’s thinks he’s a monster. The scariest part is that I know there isn’t a damn thing that can stop me.

I’m in deep… falling into darkness, hoping to find his hand.

Chapter 14

Xander

“Where is this auction at?” Mouse asks softly. With her small body in my lap, cuddled up to my chest, I can feel the warmth of her body clinging to mine. It makes me want to bend her over the seat and fuck her. But I know how important this is for her, being close to me, so I rein in my need, saving it for later tonight.

“It’s at a high-end strip club a ways out of town. They have a basement with by-invite-only events. Tonight’s auction is one of their most popular.”

It’s not long before we pull up to the large square building. It has no sign on it, making it look like an old abandoned warehouse to any unsuspecting outsider. But to men like me, it’s a playground for the rich and powerful to buy and sell in the flesh.

“My sister might be in that building.” Excitement shows in her features as she pulls away, gazing through the window. “I just want to run in there and call out her name, see if I can find her.”

“I know, but you can’t. We must remain as inconspicuous as possible.”

Mouse shivers in my arms, and I know she can hear the warning in my voice.

“If you do anything… if you step out of line once… I’ll have to do something that neither of us are going to like. There are worse people than me in this world and most of them are going to be in this room.”

She moves off my lap and I let her, missing the warmth of her body as soon as it’s gone. “I understand. I just want to find her. That’s all. I won’t do anything to draw attention to us.”