Page 17 of Pain and Possession

The sizzle of burning flesh mixes with the whoosh of my heartbeat in my ears as I let the pain wash over me. Distracting me from every confusing emotion raging in my heart, leaving blissful numbness in its wake.

I roll my head back further in my chair, my eyes glued to the bullet hole that still graces the wall from that day.

So much has changed since then.

Charlotte was born she's sixteen years old now, loves classical piano and riding horses. So much like the father she never met. I was made head of the family. Alliances have come and gone, so has people we love.

James passed away last year from a heart attack, it nearly destroyed mom. I think if it hadn't been for Charlotte, she wouldn't have survived it. Camilla turned out to be every bit the vulture I thought she would be. She's currently being groomed as a capo for the Riviera Family, and the family has never forgiven me for breaking off the engagement after her father's death.

Little do they know I was the one that executed him.

Her uncle took over after, he's ruthless and stupid. Hot headed and ill mannered, hence why their family has been in and out of conflict constantly since he took over. The alliance between our families is thinner than ever. Now that the world didn't end, I suppose that's a problem that should get my utmost attention.

Instead, she has it.

I run my hands down my face before leaning up and fishing a first aid kit from my drawer, I've been like this ever since I can remember. Looking to pain to cope with, well basically anything. It didn't start making my cock hard until I was in my teens though, now it takes ages to come without it. After I clean the wound, I pick up my phone calling Hock back in. I've got to deal with this shit now, because later it seems I've got a date.

Chapter five

Rebounds & Revaluations

Olive

I do another once over of myself, second guessing the outfit Laney scowled at the entire time she was over here earlier. That is after she stopped screaming when I told her some vague details aboutmy first time.I didn't mention what he did at the restaurant, or that fact that he gets off on pain. It just seemed too... personal.Despite my best efforts my mind keeps going back to Noè, the way my name sounded on his lips, the way my core aches for his touch. Nothing a little time can't fix; he took my virginity after all its only normal for me to think about him after. Even if he is a monster. Not to mention the fact that he humiliated and assaulted me, something that's still got my mind twisted up.

My phone beeps, I quickly shuffle over to the window ledge where it sits jerking it from the charger a little too hard.

Trent: I'm here

I lock the screen shoving it into my bag as I adjust my oversized t-shirt dress and chunky tennis shoes. All thrift store finds. The t-shirt dress is technically just a 4XL, so the hem lays weird making it come out a little short on me in the back but in the last few days there’s been a… shift in me. I'm not as timid as I was about my body before Noè. He lit something in me, a tingle.

A need.

I want to be touched again, the way he did. Rough, brutal, but also sweet and all consuming. I need someone to wash his memory from my skin so I can rid myself of him once and for all. Hence why I'm meeting up with a guy that I've dodged for months. By the time I reach the lobby a thin line of sweat forms at my hairline, naturally the AC is out in the building. Not that it works great anyway. I spot Trent's old Pontiac a little way down the road, throwing my long chestnut hair up in a loose ponytail as I walk to it.

"Hey! Sorry it took me so long to come down the elevator is still out."

"No problem babe, you look great." I cringe inwardly at the casual use of the pet name while I buckle my seatbelt. Trent is cute, I've always kind of liked him just never enough to actually go out until now. We've hung out a ton but always with other people, mainly Lane and Jackson. What little I can stand to be around that chauvinistic pig. Always pestering me to come work at the club with Lane, saying he'lltake good care of me.It always starts a fight between them, but he rarely cares. They are both as toxic as it comes with each other. Trent reaches over and lightly tugs at my ponytail playfully, "I like your hair like this." I give him a small smile before turning up the radio.

Anything to avoid small talk.

Overwhelmed by Royal and the Serpent

He's a nice enough guy at least as far as I can tell, he works primarily as a promoter for local clubs and bars. Despite the stereotype that goes with that he's always pretty laid back.

And always high.

Which is part of the reason I agreed to come tonight, I need a distraction. Some altered state to take my mind offhim. Alcohol so far seems to have the opposite effect. I almost feel bad for using Trent but he's doing the same to me. He's an attractive, relatively well off, single club promoter in New York city and well known for flipping through women like he changes his underwear.He pulls up to a small internet lounge cafe, no doubt a place he's promoting. Even though this seems a little low key for his usual taste.

"Edible my lady?" He asks brandishing a bag of pot gummy bears.

"Thank you, good sir." I say opening my mouth and letting him pop two on my tongue. I know what I'm doing, I've watched Lane at work enough to have picked up a lot. His eyes heat as he takes two for himself. I don't pull my eyes from his deep brown ones; they look nearly black in the dimly lit car. The only light coming from outside aside from the faint glow from his stereo. He leans in, putting a hand on my bare leg lightly. Trent is handsome in the way that a polished man is, everything cut and in its place. He leans in lightly pressing his lips to mine, I kiss him back waiting for the heat that never comes. There's nothing, no tingle, no tightening in my core.

Maybe I just need to warm up some more.

I break the kiss, turning to get out of the car. He follows quickly behind me, probably confused at my sudden exit. A black SUV pulls up suddenly to the curb making me jump as we enter the lounge. Now that I notice it there's two of them parked nearby. Probably drug dealers or self-proclaimed pimps like Jackson. There are a lot of lounges and bars in this area.I've honestly never understood why these few blocks need so many.

The smell of cinnamon wraps around me as soon as we walk in, making my mouth water. Trent must notice as he chuckles, putting his hand on my lower back as we walk to the counter.

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