Page 76 of Vicious Sentiments

“Then why do your fingers taste like pussy?”

My bottom lip falls open with no rebuttal to give. I’m absolutely mortified as he lets me go and I scramble to pull up the blanket.

“Oh, no you don’t.” He pulls the blanket back and plops down next to me. “You need to be watched.”

I’m in shock as he grabs me and huddles me against him, pinning my hands to my chest with his grip. He pulls the blanket back over us with his other hand.

“Julian…” I whine.

“He’s right,” he sighs. “It’s not fair.”

I blink in disbelief as Cape tightens his arms around me and nestles his chest against my back.

“Are you serious?” I ask, a little halfheartedly, when I feel his hard dick against my ass.

“I’m afraid my hands are tied.” Julian shrugs. “I’m just the good brother.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Cape sleeps like a dog protecting a bone, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it. I’ve never slept in the arms of a man before, at least not arms that I felt safe in and I’m surprised how much my perspective on men has changed.

In a way, Cape and Julian are what I’ve always known about men. They are possessive and perverted, violent and short tempered, but they are controlled in their nature. They don’t take without care or behave cruelly without merit. They aren’t savage in their urges. I mean, at least Julian isn’t. I’m not sure what’s holding Cape back from pinning me down and taking what he wants, but they both still defy every expectation I’ve ever had.

Julian is patient with me while he teaches me to drive, even though the appointment is coming up fast, and doesn’t even laugh when I botch parallel parking. And while Cape is less patient in teaching me how to fight, which he insisted on regardless of my freshly broken rib, and less gentle than Julian, I know I don’t have to be afraid of him. There’s something in his eyes when he looks at me that says, whatever the demons tell him, he would never hurt me.

But Dillon makes whatever joy I find in them curdle. The couple of times I’ve bumped into him in the last few days has me dipping my head and staring at the floor. Julian assures me he has no idea about my dad, but Dillon looks at me like I’m a bug that has no businessmaking a home here.

Dillon’s demeanor completely changes if Margo is in the room, though. He perks up like a school boy with a crush, and I’m beginning to think that Margo is the only reason he stays here. That and Marney, who I know he loves. He always takes an interest in whatever trivial topic she brings up and shows genuine concern for any misstep she takes. And even though I know he doesn’t like being in the same room as me, gives in to Marney’s pleas for him to watch a movie with us.

Cape has actually started showing up for movie time when Dillon is involved and sits between me and Dillon’s side of the couch. Cape sits with his legs wide apart, as if trying to put as much distance between me and Dillon as possible. I haven’t said anything, but I notice Cape watching Dillon from the corner of his eye.

Marney is oblivious to the tension and is just excited thinking that Cape wants to watch rom-coms, but I know better. The statement Cape made when they needed to get rid of the body may be the only thing I’ve heard about not trusting Dillon, but that’s enough for me to know something is up.

But it’s overshadowed by my increasing worry for Julian. I don’t know what’s going on with the business but he’s taking more calls, and when he comes back he looks tired, as if something is draining him. I hate to say it but I think I would feel better if Cape took back up his half of whatever they do. Yet, while they get along when it comes to me, the topic of Madison and what happened is still too sensitive to get Cape back in the ring.

Don’t get me wrong, I know Julian can be just as fierce as Cape, but surely it’s hard when it’s all on just him. Margo may have some part in things, but she doesn’t seem like she gets her hands dirty anymore and is more just an advisor.

I listen to her now as I shovel in dinner.

“It’s loss. It’s a part of every business,” she says.

“A one-point-five-million dollar loss?” Julian rubs his temples, and she shrugs.

“Theft, damage… It comes with the territory. You can’t control everything.”

He sighs, “The point is to control everything. That’s the whole point. You’re the one that says we can’t show weakness.”

“Then go down there, do something about it.”

I pause with my fork in the air. He has to go again?

Julian tilts his head and grinds his jaw. “What’s the point of having people for this if I need to keep making appearances?” He flexes his fist around his phone and then releases, letting it clatter to the table.

“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” Margo absently pushes her plate away and pulls forward the casserole dish of what looks like peach cobbler.

“You guys could always let the whole thing go…” Dillon says under his breath. He’s at the end of the table where he’s pushing around his roasted potatoes.

Margo makes a sardonic ‘Hah’ and grabs a serving spoon. “When I’m dead and buried,” she says.

---