Page 16 of Rage

“Come with me, darling,” Daniel whispered, and we exploded together, light bursting through me as I floated away on a wave of euphoric bliss. I collapsed onto the ground, and he collapsed on top of me, before rolling to the side and allowing me to breathe.

“Fuck,” I breathed, my limbs weak and shaking as aftershocks rolled through me.

Daniel laughed quietly. “I’d forgotten how fucking mind-blowing sex with you is, sweet woman.”

Chapter 3

Ilay on the ground, breathing hard as one of the men gently wiped between my legs. It had to have been Elias, because Daniel and Akinade had always been utter shit at aftercare.

Shaken by the power of my reaction to these men, I felt around in the dark until I found my panties and my jeans. Silently, drowning in hurt for all our past betrayals, I dressed in the dark.

Akinade scooted himself behind me until his legs were on either side, and his torso pressed into my back.

“In a hurry to leave again?” he asked, hurt echoing in his voice.

I closed my eyes, not quite willing to let go of the delicious pleasure that still thrummed in my veins, not sure what to say to these three men. I leaned back against him, letting him wrap his arms around me.

Daniel crouched at my feet and slid my socks and boots on, lacing them up with gentle touches that reminded me of all the good times we’d spent together.

“Why are you all here?” I asked again.

Elias dropped to the ground beside Akinade. “We’ll be able to head out in a few moments,” he whispered.

I blinked. “The assault was you. It was a distraction. So you could rob the vault.”

Akinade nodded against the back of my head as the dots connected in my head.

I drew the key to my personal safe deposit box out of my pocket and set it in his palm, wrapping his fingers around it. I wouldn’t cry. I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t let these assholes crash back into my life and break my heart all over again.

“No need. The deed to the house is in my box. I imagine the jewels are still buried on the property. The money’s long gone. I donated it to an organization that helps women get back on their feet after prison once I got out.”

“Keri,” Daniel whispered from where he kneeled before me, drawing my name out. “We didn’t expect to see you today.”

I sniffled, letting the tears fall silently. No, they thought they’d fucking rob me and then disappear back into the night, the same as they’d done when I went to prison by myself all those years ago.

Elias took my hand, stroking his thumb over my knuckles. “This doesn’t have to be goodbye, love.” He kissed my fingers, pressing his lips hard into my skin, as if that would change my mind.

“Elias,” I answered, my voice dry. “I know I give mind-blowing blow jobs, but that’s a bit much, don’t you think?”

He leaned in to kiss my cheek. “These boys speak of nothing else, think of nothing else. I know you as well as I know my sister, and I’d like you to know me just as well.”

“Please, Keri, let us make it up to you,” Daniel pleaded, his voice cracking in the still air of the closet. “One quarter of the jewels are still yours.”

I closed my eyes. Could I do this again?

Akinade bent his head to whisper in my ear, “Sweet Keri, leaving you behind was the greatest mistake of my life, and I swear that if you let me, I will never leave your side again.”

“Okay,” I said, making up my mind.

“Yeah?” he asked, squeezing his arms tight around me, a lightness in his voice that hadn’t been there before.

“Yeah, okay,” I repeated, my heart soaring with joy. God, I’d missed these fuckers.

Daniel lowered his head to mine and kissed my forehead. “Okay,” he affirmed.

Elias chuckled. “You emotional fuckers are ridiculous. Ready to go?”

I reached over and drew him down for a hard kiss. Our lips moved together, and suddenly I was absolutely sure I’d made the right decision.

I smiled against his lips. “Elias, we haven’t worked together before. Daniel and Akinade already know I’m in charge. That gonna be a problem?”

He shook his head, his nose brushing against mine. “No problem. All we have to do is stand up, walk out of this closet, and pretend we were among the hostages.”

We clambered to our feet, a disjointed mess of limbs, desperate to keep our laughs silent as we got in each other’s way, peppering each other with kisses and soft caresses.

I reached for the door. Was I really going to do this? Yeah, yeah I was. I pushed down on the handle and let the light back in.

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