Page 26 of Filthiest Of Them All

“Okay, calm down. I can get on a flight and be out there tomorrow afternoon. Does that work for you?” I sigh and nod.

“Yeah. I’m honestly at a loss at what to do. They have stonewalled us and I don’t know what the hell to do anymore,” I admit, feeling like an utter let down.

“Tatum, this isn’t your fault. These things happen and we just have to roll with the punches.”

“Yeah. I guess so.”

“The guys and I will fly out after I hand in my paper. So… will I just be seeing you or…”

I groan and hate the sound of her laughter. “Yes, Vivian. The Aztec god is gone and I’m fucking thrilled to be rid of his overbearing ass.”

“Hmmm.”

“What the hell does that mean?” I snap, then cringe when I remember she’s my boss and I shouldn’t be giving her attitude.

“It means you don’t sound like someone who is happy to be free and you’re the one who called him a god, not me.”

“Argh, I’m going, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I end the call as soon as she starts laughing. I toss my phone on the bed and stare at the burner phone resting on the bedside table. I picked up a new one today with the plan to call Nexus but… I haven’t. It has nothing to do with what Alexander said about his sister, it's the fact that when I did call him he implied I should use my body as a way to get Alex to spill his secrets. I’ve never told anyone what happened to me as a kid except for my brother. Him knowing what happened and still suggesting what he did makes me feel sick.

I nibble on my bottom lip, debating if I should just push through my reservations and call him to at least let him know I’m okay and… free. I feel weird even thinking that I may have been his prisoner but I never really felt like it. I wasn’t chained up or tied to a bed and hurt. Well, I got my ego fucking torn apart in the end and lost my virginity to The Butcher.

“Argh,” I growl into the empty room as I scrub a hand down my face. Guys complicate everything and this is the reason why I have always been grateful that I have never felt intense attraction toward the opposite sex or ever had the urge to throw myself at someone until, Alexander–The fucking butcher—Denver!

Jesus Christ!

The moment I saw him enter Lividica my body felt like it was on fire, and my world stopped spinning for a split second when he met my gaze. He became my focal point and no matter how hard I tried not to look at him I couldn’t control myself. My eyes kept darting across the room to catch a glimpse of him. I loathe to admit I even felt envy toward my boss when she threw her arms around him and hugged him. I don’t know what it is about that fucking man that has drawn me in. Rationally I know I should be terrified of him and I was until I met him. Everyone has heard the rumors about the infamous Butcher, tales of his actions spread like wildfire. Of course each time a story was told it would change and people would put their own spin on it, but none of that mattered to me when I was with him.

“Cut your bullshit, Tate,” I scold myself. I need to keep my head on straight and prepare myself for Vivian and her guys to arrive tomorrow. I decide to take a quick shower, then call it a night. I need to get some sleep or I’ll be up all night obsessing over the construction and paperwork I need to sort for the other locations. The closer we get to the builds being almost complete means my work load nearly triples. Vivian is going to have no choice but to hire more people to run each individual club with me overseeing them all. I can’t be in every place at once and I have to admit, I need the help because this shit is a lot for one person to deal with daily.

I feel slightly less tense after my shower. I snag one of my oversized shirts from my suitcase and pull that on. The shirt is big enough to reach my knees, I love not being restricted when I sleep so I forgo panties. I climb under the covers and sigh. God, I didn’t realize how tired I was until now. I yawn and close my eyes ready for this day to be over and fall asleep almost instantly.

I begin stirring, I can’t shake the feeling I’m being watched. I’m woman enough to admit that I’m fully awake now but I refuse to open my eyes. I may be a bad bitch in the streets but I’ve seen enough horror movies to wonder if ghosts are actually real! I keep my breathing even and remain still as I strain my hearing. I hear nothing but that doesn’t mean something or someone isn’t in here with me. I wait another minute before I slowly open my eyes, keeping as still as possible, waiting for a sound or fucking anything really but I get nothing. I still have the feeling of eyes on me. I know now it isn’t a ghost in here with me. I exhale and slowly sit up. Once I’m in a seated position, I slowly look around my room only to freeze when I see a silhouette sitting on the chair in the corner of my room. My heart bangs against my ribs trying to escape in fear. My breathing turns choppy as I wait for whoever it is to kill me.

“I never said you could leave, Miss Lawson.” Call me fucking crazy but I instantly relax and release a long exhale at the sound of his voice.

“I don’t recall ever asking for your permission, Butcher,” I bite back.

I watch as he leans forward and looks directly at me, I hate that it's too dark to make out his features. I may not be able to see him clearly but I know without a doubt he’ll have a scowl on his face. “Are we playing a game, Tatum?” The level tone of his voice sends a shiver down my spine. I expected him to be mad and frothing that I escaped but instead, he just sits there talking calmly like we’re old friends.

“No. I’m not a toy for you to play with and discard when you get bored, Butcher. I don’t want to be the center of your attention. I don’t want to be anything to you. Stop breaking into my hotel rooms and following me?—”

“Which one?”

I frown. “Huh?”

“Which. One. Told. You?” This time his tone isn’t calm, it's edged in darkness.

“Why does it matter who told me that you have been breaking into my hotel rooms and watching me?” I snap, my tone laced with accusation and I refuse to cower to this bastard.

“Here’s the thing, Tatum.” He slowly climbs to his feet and I scoot back against the headboard, keeping as much space between us as I can. Alexander Denver is an enigma, he is someone women fantasize about because they think they can handle the bad boy, but they’re foolish. He isn’t someone who can be owned or molded to fit into society. He will never blend in amongst normal people. The aura that surrounds him pulses with predator energy and that is the reason he will always be set apart from everyone else without even trying. “My motives don’t need to be explained to you.” He takes a step toward the bed and I brace myself.

“W-why not?” I stutter.

He continues stalking toward me and I hate that my body begins to hum with awareness at his close proximity. “Because I will take whatever the fuck I want and have no regrets about it. Don’t try to psychoanalyze me, you will never figure out what makes me who I am.”

“Alex—” I clamp my mouth closed when he snaps his arms out and grips my ankles. I scream when he yanks me down the bed toward him. I claw at the sheets but it’s no use, I just pull them from the corners. He releases me when I’m at the edge of the bed with him standing between my legs, my chest rising and falling in rapid pants.

He reaches down and trails his fingers around my throat. I inhale sharply. “I never meant to encounter you or ever meet you.” I shiver as he continues to trail his fingers down my body. “I was just meant to watch from afar and never interact with you.” My breath hitches when he gathers the hem of my shirt and pushes it up, exposing my bare pussy to him. The deep growl in his chest has me trembling, I may not be able to see in the darkness but he clearly can. “You were just supposed to lead us to your brother.” I tense but then he skirts his fingers along my inner thigh, my body temperature skyrockets and my breathing turns ragged as he skates those fingers to my pulsing core. Fuck, I’m already wet for him and that makes proving my point a lot harder when my mouth tells him tofuck offbut my pussy begs him tofuck me.

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