Текст книги "Beautifully Loyal"
Автор книги: Nicole Edwards
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Текущая страница: 23 (всего у книги 25 страниц)
Chapter Fifty-Three
Time to put an end to this shit once and for all.
Nearly three hours after Leyton had assured him that they’d found Jase and were taking him back to Leyton’s for a while, Max had known what he needed to do. For the past week, he’d been waiting for Ace to do the job he’d been hired to do, but somehow Moroso had eluded him.
Then, after Rock had called to tell them they were on their way because Ashlynn’s house had been hit and Derrick and Sal had been killed, Max had done what he’d been holding off from doing all along. He’d had Moroso’s sister and nephew grabbed. With one phone call, he’d engaged the two men he had watching their house, giving them the go-ahead. Although the sister and nephew were probably scared, he’d ensured that they were being holed up in a fucking hotel, being given everything they wanted. He wasn’t his father, after all; he had no intention of hurting a woman or a child, but he needed Moroso to understand he was fucking serious.
Unfortunately, Max should’ve done it when he’d originally planned to instead of holding off, hoping like hell it wouldn’t come to that.
And because of that, the unthinkable had happened. Two of his men had been killed in a fucked up attempt to kill Ashlynn. As much as he was grieving their deaths, Max knew she’d been the target and Derrick and Sal had been collateral damage, but that didn’t fucking matter to him. The people who worked for him, especially someone as loyal as Sal, were as much family as his own brothers and sisters. Then again, if Ashlynn had been killed…
Max didn’t want to think about that.
Regardless, Moroso’s last move was the same as signing his death warrant. It was the last mistake the bastard would ever make.
Max was done fucking around. It was time to do what he should’ve done all along. Which was why he’d placed the call earlier, once they’d realized Jase had disappeared. Max had known Jase was seeking vengeance, going out on his own to try and take Moroso down. And maybe he could have, but Max wasn’t willing to take that chance. For the first time in all of her life, it seemed as though Ashlynn had finally found what she needed. There was something different about her, and that wasn’t a bad thing.
When the phone rang, Max knew who was on the other end before he even glanced at his phone.
“Yeah?” he gruffly answered.
“I found him,” Danielle said simply.
His cousin Danielle, daughter of Nick Adorite, Max’s uncle—the man who’d previously been second-in-command of their family before a stroke had pushed him into retirement—had called him back after he’d left her a message instructing her what he needed. For the past three years, Dani had gone off the grid, heading overseas to go to school in France, of all places. It hadn’t been until her return a few short months ago that he’d learned she hadn’t simply been pursuing an education and dealing with some personal issues as Genny and Samuel had led him to believe. She’d actually been running.
Ironically, she’d been running from the Kogans—Courtney’s family—after she’d seduced, then fallen in love with Courtney’s brother Hunter during her attempt at getting close to them as instructed by Max’s father.
Obviously, Samuel had been far more obsessed with the man that Genevieve had supposedly been in love with—who coincidentally happened to be Courtney’s father—more than four decades earlier. So much so that he’d forced Danielle to get close to one of Courtney’s brothers in an attempt to get dirt on Casper Kogan. It hadn’t worked, because Dani had a conscience. She’d never relayed any information to Samuel, and in the end, she’d walked out on her own wedding, leaving Hunter at the altar.
Fucked up all around, it was. But now she was back, and she was doing him a favor by using her technological skills to locate Marco Moroso.
“Where is he?” Max asked.
“The dumb fucker’s still here,” she said with a snort. “He thinks he’s underground, but turns out, he’s not the only one who’s willing to turn on the people he works for.”
“Someone ratted him out?” Max didn’t tolerate rats. Regardless of their reason, or whether or not it benefited him, they couldn’t be trusted, and he’d just as soon put a bullet between their eyes as look at them.
“Yeah. Low-level enforcer who works for him. Said Marco thinks you’re bluffing about his sister and her kid. Plans to wait you out.”
“You get an address?” he asked, not wanting to know more about the asshole who’d sold out his own boss. Why the fuck couldn’t people be loyal anymore?
“Yeah. I’ll text it to you.”
“Thanks,” Max said. “And Dani, I know things aren’t exactly goin’ smoothly for you right now, but I do want you to know that we’re here.”
“I know.”
“Oh, and before I forget, we’re havin’ Thanksgiving at our house this year.” She didn’t say anything, so he continued. “We want you here.”
He didn’t bother to share with her that Hunter would also be having Thanksgiving with them. Where would the fun be in that?
“Is it really that easy to be so casual about all this?” she asked, sounding frustrated.
“About what?” He knew she wasn’t referring to Thanksgiving, but he wanted to hear her say it. His cousin had been born into this world the same as Max had. And yeah, to him, it sounded as though she’d fallen in love with the enemy, but then again, so had he. And if he could deal with it, she could, too. She knew who he was, what he did, and never had she questioned him before. Although he wanted her to be happy, he wasn’t going to sit by and allow Dani to pretend she wasn’t an Adorite as she’d apparently been doing for … for who knew how long.
“Never mind,” she grumbled.
“Thanksgiving, Dani. No excuses. Send me the address.” With that, he hung up.
While he waited for the text, Max called Leyton. When Leyton’s deep voice came on the line, Max told him to be ready. He would know what that meant.
It was time to put an end to this shit. Once and for all.
Chapter Fifty-Four
If you want the honor, it’s yours.
Leyton had been waiting for Max’s call. He’d almost given up hope, but he should’ve known that Max would come through. After spending the last few hours pacing the floor, checking on Jase, tending to Ashlynn, and damn near going stir crazy, Leyton was glad the time had come. After all, Leyton had promised Jase they’d find Moroso, and that was exactly what Leyton intended to deliver, even if it meant they’d had to dangle Moroso’s sister out there as bait.
Though taking care of Moroso wouldn’t bring Derrick or Sal back, it would hopefully give Jase some closure.
“You ready?” Leyton asked Ashlynn when she appeared in the living room a minute later.
Her eyes widened slightly, and he saw the moment she realized what he was referring to. “The warehouse?”
He nodded.
“I’ll get Jase.”
“Are you sure you wanna do this?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she answered brusquely. “That bastard deserves everything that’s comin’ to him.”
Leyton didn’t disagree, but he had to make sure. Tensions were high, everyone was rightfully pissed, but… It wasn’t as though she hadn’t seen a man die, even at her own hands, so Leyton wasn’t sure why he was worried. Perhaps he only wanted to make sure nothing happened to her. He’d do anything to keep Ashlynn and Jase safe, and he’d be more than willing to do what needed to be done.
Yeah, he was sure that was what it was. He wanted to ensure their safety. He’d prefer that neither of them go, but it wasn’t his place to tell them that, so he didn’t say anything more as Ashlynn walked away.
While she got ready and informed Jase, Leyton doubled-checked his weapons. He’d need them tonight, because one way or another, Marco Moroso was going to die. And should he be given the opportunity, Leyton was going to gladly put a bullet in the bastard’s brain.
Granted, he wasn’t sure Jase would give him the chance, but he was still going to be ready.
Fifteen minutes later, Rock was behind the wheel of the Escalade, Jase and Ashlynn in the backseat and Leyton in the passenger seat. Behind them were two additional vehicles, both carrying more men whose sole job was to protect Ashlynn. While they’d been waiting for Marco to make a mistake and show himself, they’d stocked up on protection for her, ensuring that the tragedy that had taken place at her house didn’t happen again. There would be people out looking for Moroso and his sister. His people. Moroso’s disappearance wouldn’t go unnoticed, which meant they were running out of time to get this over with before all hell broke loose.
The warehouse was a good forty-five minutes away, but Rock made it in record time. Clearly he was as interested in the outcome of this as the rest of them were. This asshole had taken down two of their own, and it was time he got what was coming to him.
After circling the building twice to check it out, they pulled inside the building, via the loading dock at the back. Rock parked alongside Max’s Escalade, then closed the bay door before they got out.
Leyton waited for Ashlynn, took her hand, and held on to it as they met Jase at the front of the SUV. Not once did Jase turn to look at either of them. He was focused on one thing and one thing only. Ready to get this over with, Leyton led the way toward the five men now standing around the man of the hour. Marco Moroso.
Max, Brent, Victor, Dane, and Snarly circled the bleeding man chained by his neck to a pulley in the ceiling. They’d obviously started the proceedings before their arrival, and they’d done a number on Moroso already. It was a gruesome sight but one Leyton didn’t mind seeing. Every time he thought about Jase’s brother and Sal, he wanted to tear something apart.
“Kill me now,” Marco demanded, snarling at Max.
“Not yet,” Max replied casually. His tone reflected that deadly calm he was known for; his body language said he was holding back. “I’m not done with you yet. I’m waitin’ for an answer. Where’re my guns?”
Marco spit in Max’s direction. Snarly pulled on the chain, lifting Marco off the ground enough that he had to stand on his toes to keep from suffocating.
Jase took a step closer, as though he wanted a front-row seat to the event. Leyton remained where he was, holding Ashlynn’s hand while Rock stood behind them, keeping an eye on the entrance. Leyton watched as Max interrogated Marco, never getting his hands dirty. That’s what he had Snarly for. And Snarly was a crazy, sadistic bastard who clearly didn’t have a problem with the dirty work. In fact, Leyton was pretty sure the guy enjoyed it.
For a solid ten minutes, Max continued to question Marco while Snarly did what he did best.
Finally, when it looked as though Marco had had enough, Max came to stand in front of him. “Last time,” Max stated, his voice low. “You give me an answer, or when I walk out of this place, I’m gonna pay a personal visit to your sister. And she ain’t gonna be too happy to see me.”
Marco’s eyes widened. “Leave my sister alone.”
Max reared back and punched Marco square in the face, causing Marco’s head to snap back as though his neck were made of rubber. “Like you left my brother alone?”
“Don’t touch her,” Marco seethed.
“Where’re my fucking guns?” Max asked, his tone lethal.
When Marco didn’t respond, Max glanced over at Dane. “We’ve gotta take a trip.” But before Max could get two steps away, Marco was pleading.
“No! I’ll tell you where they are. But you have to promise to let them go. Unharmed.”
Max pivoted back around to face the battered, bleeding man. “You tell me where the guns are, and you have my word. I won’t hurt them.”
Marco must’ve believed him, because he was suddenly cooperative, grumbling an address.
Max grabbed his phone, dialed, and then waited until someone answered. He repeated the address to whomever it was on the other end. Leyton had no idea who Max had pulled in for this, but he knew that Max wouldn’t let it go until he got what he wanted out of the man. And trusting Moroso to tell the truth wasn’t an option.
Silence reigned for the next ten minutes, but then Max’s phone rang. He answered, seemed pleased by the response he received, then instructed the caller to do what was necessary to collect the guns.
And then, when he hung up the phone, Max’s attention turned to Jase. “If you want the honor, it’s yours.”
Leyton didn’t move, kept his fingers firmly twined with Ashlynn’s. He already knew how this would go down. If Jase needed him, Leyton knew he’d ask for his help. But Leyton doubted it would come to that.
Before Marco had a chance to beg and plead for his life, Jase was standing before him, his shoes causing the thick plastic sheeting that’d been rolled out beneath Marco to rustle while the barrel of his gun rested dead center in the middle of Marco’s forehead.
“Kill me,” Marco grumbled.
“It’ll be my pleasure,” Jase said, his voice as even as his hand. “A woman once asked me whether or not I’d kill a man if I had to. The answer to that was easy. That woman was the one you put a hit out on. The woman you planned to take from me.
“You killed my brother, took the life of a man I respected, and almost killed someone else close to me. You deserve to die, but more importantly, you deserve to suffer.” Jase pressed the gun closer, denting the skin on Marco’s forehead. “The woman you ordered the hit on … she wasn’t simply Max’s sister. She’s the woman I love, the woman I intend to spend the rest of my life with. You’re just damn lucky you didn’t get the chance to take her from me, because not only would I put a bullet in your skull, I would force you to watch me gut your entire family and leave them for dead.”
Marco’s eyes slid up to Jase’s face, but he didn’t get a chance to say anything before the chain pulled taut once more, lifting Marco off the ground. He thrashed around for a moment, gasping for the air that wasn’t filling his lungs. And then he was back on his feet once again, hacking as his lungs filled once again. Jase didn’t move from his position as Snarly did this several more times, dragging out Marco’s torture. After Snarly put him on his toes one last time, he moved out from behind Marco.
“While you’re in hell,” Jase spat, “I want you to think about me. The last fucking person you ever got to see.”
Jase pulled the trigger.
Chapter Fifty-Five
It’s not over yet.
Jase was still numb.
Although he hadn’t flinched from killing Moroso, hadn’t felt an ounce of remorse for taking the bastard’s life, he hadn’t felt the relief he’d hoped he would. Killing him hadn’t brought Derrick or Sal back, and nothing he did ever would, either.
Thankfully, Leyton and Ashlynn had been there afterward. They’d gotten him back in the Escalade, held his hands while Rock had brought them back to Leyton’s and had even gotten him inside.
But now, as he looked around Leyton’s house, some of the fog was disappearing, leaving him with an empty feeling.
“Mind if I take a shower?” Jase asked when they were inside. He had Moroso’s blood on him.
Leyton nodded toward the bathroom.
Jase didn’t hesitate, making his way through the master bedroom and directly toward the shower.
Leyton’s bathroom had the same masculine décor as the bedroom. Dark wood, rubbed bronze fixtures, and brown slate tile on the floors. The walls were tiled in the same slate, and a single wall with openings on either end split the room. Jase walked around it and found the shower. Turning on the faucet, he then proceeded to strip.
The water hadn’t warmed completely by the time he stood beneath the spray, but the numbness that consumed him alleviated the sting of the cold water. Resting his forearms on the wall, Jase placed his head against his arms and stood stone still, trying to clear his mind as he stared at the ground, watching the water as it circled the drain, then disappeared.
Bare feet appeared in his line of sight.
Not red-tipped, dainty feet. Big feet. Feet that didn’t belong to Ashlynn.
Jase didn’t move.
Leyton took a step closer, his hand resting on Jase’s back.
“What’re you doing?” Jase asked, keeping his voice low.
“I don’t know.”
Jase knew Leyton meant those words. Everything as they knew it was so fucked up, so convoluted. Even though Moroso was dead, his world hadn’t righted itself. Not yet. That would take time.
“I don’t need your sympathy,” Jase admitted, closing his eyes and blocking out Leyton’s bare legs.
“I know,” Leyton agreed, stepping closer, his chest sliding against Jase’s back, his thick arms wrapping around Jase’s chest. “But I can’t seem to leave you alone right now.”
Telling Leyton he didn’t need to be there would’ve been harder than simply giving in to the comfort he found in Leyton’s touch, so Jase kept his mouth shut. The water heated as they stood there, neither of them moving. Jase felt Leyton’s heart beating against his back.
After several minutes passed, Jase stood straight and Leyton released him. Turning, he came face-to-face with the man who’d infiltrated every one of his fantasies for the past year, fulfilled something inside him he’d been longing for, latched on to his heart and wasn’t letting go. “I need something to take my mind off this,” Jase admitted.
Leyton nodded. “Use me.”
Jase swallowed hard. And when Leyton’s rough hand gripped his cock, Jase hissed. “Are you sure you want this?”
Another nod from Leyton.
“I asked you a question. I want an answer.” Jase wasn’t sure where the dominant streak came from, but he couldn’t hold it back. If he had to guess, it was the anger pushing him, or remnants of the adrenaline that had fueled him for the past hour.
“It’s what I want,” Leyton admitted, his tone hard, his green eyes darkening.
“I’ve wanted this for a long damn time,” Jase told him.
“I know.”
“I won’t be gentle with you.”
Leyton’s gaze dropped to Jase’s mouth. “I don’t need you to be gentle with me.”
Jase spotted a bottle of lubricant on the shelf, but before he reached for it, Leyton surprised him by going to his knees. Staring down the length of his body, Jase watched as Leyton took his semi-hard dick in his mouth.
Spreading his legs wider in order to steady himself, Jase slid both hands into Leyton’s hair, darkened by the water. He gripped him firmly but not too roughly as he guided Leyton forward, forcing his cock into the hot cavern of Leyton’s mouth. The overwhelming sensation allowed Jase to temporarily push everything else aside, focusing only on Leyton.
“Suck me,” he commanded, his tone harsh.
Leyton allowed Jase to stuff his cock into his mouth, his cheeks hollowing as he sucked him in. Jase retreated, using Leyton’s mouth, pressing forward, pulling back. He rhythmically fucked Leyton’s mouth, enjoying the sensation of Leyton’s touch. Where Ashlynn’s hands were smooth and gentle, Leyton’s were rough and strong as they gripped the backs of his thighs. Where her mouth was soft and hesitant, Leyton’s was firm and confident. Leyton didn’t hold back, obviously not afraid to hurt Jase, and that was just what he needed.
“Fuck, you’re good at that,” Jase growled, yanking Leyton’s head forward and slamming his cock deep into his mouth. “But I’m not gonna come. I want your ass for that.”
Leyton’s eyes met Jase’s, backlit by that same steely determination Jase admired.
“Get up,” Jase ordered, freeing his cock from Leyton’s mouth.
Once on his feet, Leyton took a step closer, his mouth hovering over Jase’s briefly. When Leyton’s warm lips pressed to his, he was suddenly lost again. He hadn’t expected the gentleness of the kiss, not with all the violence brimming just beneath the surface, but he welcomed it. Sliding his arms around Leyton’s smooth back, Jase grabbed hold, pulling him forward until they both stumbled, Jase’s back colliding with the tiled wall. The kiss was fueled with fury and need, both of them releasing the pent-up emotions that had been keeping them going for the past few hours.
“I need to fuck you,” Jase groaned. “I want to feel your ass grip my dick.”
The tension in the shower jumped a couple of notches when Leyton pulled back.
“Bend over,” Jase commanded, spinning Leyton so that he could use the wall to prop himself up.
Trailing his hands down the rigid contours of Leyton’s back, Jase briefly fingered the numerous scars that marked him, then squatted down behind him, separating his ass cheeks before spearing him with his tongue.
Leyton groaned, his hips thrusting back to meet Jase’s tongue. “Holy mother of… Fuck.”
Jase penetrated him several times with his tongue, then licked the puckered skin, enjoying the way Leyton’s moans echoed in the tiled area. Unable to wait too long for fear he’d come before he ever got his dick inside Leyton, Jase spent far less time rimming Leyton than he would’ve liked before he stood. With several squirts of lube on his fingers, Jase eased one inside Leyton, then two, fucking him slowly as he leaned over Leyton’s back, pressing his lips to Leyton’s wet skin.
“Tight,” Jase muttered, feeling Leyton’s body clench around his finger. “Relax.”
Not wanting to cause Leyton too much pain, Jase fingered Leyton’s asshole for long minutes, continuing to trail his mouth over Leyton’s skin, until he could slide three fingers inside, scissoring them to open him up.
As he applied a generous amount of lube to his dick and more down the crack of Leyton’s ass, Jase panted with a desperation that pierced him deep. He needed to feel Leyton wrapped around him, gripping him.
“I won’t be easy,” Jase reminded him.
“Don’t need easy,” Leyton grumbled. “Just fuck me, Jase.”
Jase gave Leyton exactly what he asked for. He pushed inside, giving Leyton’s body time to acclimate to the intrusion before gripping Leyton’s hips and pounding him furiously. He lost all sense of time as he fucked Leyton, driving inside deep, retreating, then slamming in again and again. Their groans echoed, the sound of the water like white noise, soothing Jase as he took what he needed from Leyton’s willing and eager body.
“Harder,” Leyton pleaded, his hands pressed against the wall as he thrust back against Jase. “Use me, baby. Fuck me.”
Jase was having a hard time sucking air into his lungs, his sole focus on taking out his aggression on Leyton, letting the pleasure drown out the emotions that swamped him. But that term of endearment had his heart clenching tightly in his chest.
Digging his fingers into Leyton’s flesh, Jase let himself go, his release surging through him. “Coming! Fuck… Leyton… Fuck.”
Leyton groaned, his hand stroking his own cock furiously. “That’s it. Come inside me.” Leyton’s hand stilled. “Fuck.”
Unable to hold himself up, Jase pulled out of Leyton, then leaned forward and wrapped his arms around him, fearing he would never be able to let go. Leyton’s arm cradled Jase’s. They remained just like that for several minutes.
“It’s okay,” Leyton assured him as he somehow managed to get free of Jase’s grip, turning to face him.
But rather than leave, Leyton simply pulled him into his arms and held him tightly as they stood there under the water, neither of them speaking. Jase took the comfort Leyton offered, holding on to him, burying his face in Leyton’s neck as he battled the emotions that he’d fought to keep buried.
Although Moroso was dead, it wasn’t over yet. The hard part was still to come, because Jase had to bury his brother, he had to say his final good-byes to Sal. No, killing Moroso had been easy compared to that.
That didn’t mean, while he geared up for the worst part, he couldn’t embrace what Leyton was willing to give.
