Page 53 of Blood Ties
Marcus grabs another one and pours the wax down Mario’s throat. He shakes and gasps, choking on the hot liquid already drying in his mouth. Marcus laughs and picks up another and pulls off the blindfold from his eyes, prying open Mario’s lids with his fingers, filling his eyes the same way he did his mouth.Mario convulses, going quiet, but Marcus doesn’t stop until his whole face is covered, his skin burning underneath the wax. He climbs off the bed, and pulls off his gloves, shoving them in his pocket. “What do you know? The guy can be quiet after all.”
I laugh, walking behind him. “You did so good, precious. I think you’ve earned that reward and so much more.” I slide my hand down his body, gripping his ass. “Not here though. Later, when we're alone in a place you feel safest.”
“Can you take me home now?” My heart squeezes at the thought of his safe place no longer being me. I kiss him on the cheek, whispering in his ear, “Not yet. I still need to woo you first.”
We leave the hotel exactly the way it is with Mario's dead body tied to the bed, covered in wax. We want his friends to know what we’ve done. We are the ones sending the messages now and I hope they hear every single fucking one.
Instead of getting in the car with his driver, Marcus climbs into mine. I tell Able to take us to The Rose Garden in Loose Park, knowing he'll enjoy being surrounded by his favorite flowers. Marcus stares at the window the whole time, never letting go of my hand. When Able stops the car in the parking area, I lift Marcus's fingers to my mouth, pressing a kiss to the tips. "We're here."
"Where's here?"
"You'll see soon enough."
"You're not going to knock me out again and then I wake up on a jet on the way to some secluded island?"
"No, but that's a good idea for our next date." I chuckle softly.
"So this is a date?"
"Si."
"I didn't even get asked the question this time."
"No, but you did come willingly. I think it's a step in the right direction."
He swallows hard. "It means I got distracted. Something I allow to happen too often around you which is probably not a good thing."
"It's not exactly a bad thing either, because at least now you get to enjoy a romantic stroll in the park.” He looks ahead toward the roses with bright eyes. "Instead of buying me flowers again, you bring me to them."
"It feels weird being at a place like this with you and how we are holding hands, enjoying something so simple together as if we were..."
"Normal?"
He smiles, squeezing my hand. "Yeah."
"Maybe in this life things can't always be rainbows and butterflies, but sometimes they can be whatever we want."
"Even that's better than never." He leans into me, kissing my lips and at this moment we really do have everything.
Then he finally asks the question I never thought I'd hear. "Come home with me."
And suddenly I have the whole fucking world.
Chapter 23
Miguel
The morning light coming through the window brightens the room. I open my eyes, unable to move my right arm. I smile when I remember why. Marcus turns over to his side, nudging his face into my chest subconsciously. I press my nose into his hair, inhaling his comforting scent. Most days I'm wound up tight and unable to settle, but whenever I have Marcus in my arms, my body is grounded and my mind quiet.
My phone buzzes under my pillow and I reach for it to read the incoming message. It's from a blocked number. Becoming more alert, I open it, knowing I may not like what I see.
Unknown: I know all the places your boyfriend goes when he's alone. It's not too late for you to come home. The longer you take, the more likely you'll find Marcus's body spread throughout The Rose Garden in Loose Park. I won't stop thereeither. I'll take your boys, sell them to the lowest bidder, and have you watch everything taken from you before slowly bleeding the life from your body. It's you I want, not them. It's not too late to make the right decision. Tick tock.
The message is from yesterday. I didn't notice it before. I grit my teeth, slamming the phone down on the nearby nightstand. The sun leaves a slight glow along Marcus's skin and my heart falls into my stomach when my gaze lands on his scarred back. With it being dark on the boat and his back being partially covered in the club, they didn't stand out to me as much as they do now. It's more noticeable in the daylight and I may have felt them before, but seeing them is an added stab to the chest. I run my fingers over the welts, and he stirs in his sleep. His eyes remain shut and he whimpers. "No, don't. Please." His words come out as soft whispers. I press a kiss to his forehead, stroking his back with my palm. "I got you, Mi Conejito. I'm right here."
He pounds his fists against my chest, shaking his head frantically. "Please don't hurt them. Kill me instead," he begs. Tears pour from his eyes and my heart rips in two. If only I could take his nightmares and pain away.
You were part of it. You're the reason he ended up in that cellar. You will soon be the reason he ends up dead.
