Page 11 of Mobster's Home

“Years and years.”

“We’ve been partners for a long time,” I nod, adding, “You must be wondering why I brought you here.”

He shrugs his shoulders and he’s been looking fatter rather than muscular lately, slacking on his duties, slacking on fucking everything...almost as if his loyalties lie somewhere else.

Leaning over the table, I rasp. “Remember our good friend John boy?” I say and he turns into a rock in front of me, as if he thinks I won’t pay attention to him anymore if he keeps still. I circle my finger around the rim of my glass. “You were supposed to get rid of him.”

“I did, Derex...”

“Without it being known,” I grit. “You were supposed to be discreet and yet you might as well have shouted out our business from the rooftops.” A muscle ticks in my jaw. “I want the truth. Who paid you off? Who’s bribing you...?”

His pathetic explanation doesn’t surprise me. He was bribed by the local MC gang to keep John alive but things got out of hand since mixing allegiances like that never turns out well. Hertz starts muttering an excuse but I cut him off.

“Unfortunately for you, my woman isn’t home. If she was, I would’ve reconsidered but I want you to pay and it’s not just about your treachery either.” I inhale. “You’ve put me in a tricky situation. Lunareadsthe newspaper and she found out about John.” I reach for my gun. “And you’re the reason why she’s been looking at me with distrust ever since.”

An aggressive look flashes Hertz’s face as if he’s willing to fight me but I pull the trigger under the table, the soundless bullet hitting vital organs and Hertz drops off his chair. I rub my eyes in annoyance at the mess but don’t regret it. Well...at least there’s that taken care of.

Stabbing my fingers through my hair, I get up. I’ve been worrying about Luna finding out the truth about me before the stage’s right but she won’t be home in hours yet and there’s plenty of time to clean up. I need to find something to put him in and I look around when I hear a mousy squeak. My muscles tense at the sound, my senses on edge and I whirl around. It came from behind the shelf and my heart begins pounding when I pull a shaking Luna from out of there.

Regret nearly renders me unconscious.No, no, no...not this. This isn’t what I wanted, never wanted her to found out about it like this, never wanted her to see my true nature with her own eyes before I got a chance to explain myself.

She stutters my name, her gaze glassy and I let out curse after curse, covering her eyes while dragging her out of the office and I’m in a vile mood. “What the hell were you doing in there?” I snarl and she wheezes, stumbling after me.

“What are you doing? You just killed a man, Derex. In broad daylight, in your office, you just pulled the t...trigger.” She gulps, looking up at me as if I’m once again the man she once was wary of. “You’re dangerous.”

I stop and clasp her shoulders. “Not to you. I’m not dangerous to you.” I drag a breath and fiercely hold her to me. “You weren’t meant to see that but you’re a strong girl, you will adjust to this, adjust to me as I am now.”

Her lower lips trembles. “I wish you’d told me.”

“It doesn’t change anything,” I growl, as my heart sinks. “I’m still me and you’re still you and we’re still us.” But I’m furious she witnessed the brutal deed and I go cold when she doesn’t reply, staggering against the wall. “You hate me now, don’t you?” I rasp, watching her in horror. “You hate me now that you know the truth about my nature.”

The redness on her face turns to white. “Why would you think that?” she quivers. “I could never hate you. How can I hate a man like you? After all you’ve done for me, after all you’ve made me feel...”

Ferocity explodes in me, the need to keep her chained to me making me crazed. “And what is it that I have made you feel?” I snarl, yanking her to me and she gasps. “Tell me what I’ve made you feel other than fear and the feeling of being deceived?”

Her eyes turn reflective and she shoves at me. “How dare you say that?” She puts her soft, trembling hand on top of her chest. “You have stolen my heart from my body, claimed me and provoked emotions in me I’ve never had!”

“And what have you done to me!” I bellow as my pulse pounds with fervor in my temples and I rake my fingernails down my face before stabbing my hand through my hair. “You have bound the darkness in me and now it’s your slave!”

“Stop saying you’re dark, dammit!” she cries, falling to her knees. “You’ve changed my life.” She gasps for a breath. “Don’t you understand there’s so much more to you? Why can’t you see what I see?”

“Because I don’t see the world through rose-tinted glasses!” I growl, slamming a fist on top of my chest. “I don’t have the innocent eyes you have, the goodness, the decency.”

Clasping my hands, she holds them to her. “Then let me be your eyes,” she pleads. “Let me show you the man, I think you are.”

I look down at her, glum and grim and I’m pissed off to the nines that she witnessed the murder. I’m taking it so hard, she has a tough time calming me down. “And what man would that be?”

“The kind that told a lie because he was afraid the truth would push away his girl, the kind who makes little kids laugh and plays with them because it makes them happy, the kind who protects the people he cares about no matter what.” Lowering her face, she rubs it against my callus hands. “Please,” she begs. “don’t be so hard on yourself. I forgive you for lying, now forgive yourself...”

She trails off when I let out a snarl, cupping her neck. “Why must you breathe with so much sweetness?” I growl. “How can you breathe when I no longer can?”

“I’ll breathe for you, Derex,” she gasps, clutching me with all her strength. “I will always breathe for my man, even when the hour is bleak and the world is nothing but ice and shadows. I will always stand by your side!”

Words from a dream, dreamt a thousand times by those who deserve it the least and yet remain hopeful they one day will hear them from pink lips, poured out from the softest of hearts.

“Aren’t you fucking brave,” I growl, slicing her mouth in a kiss, “and you speak my language, my bold girl.” I throw her over my shoulder, stomping into our bedroom and steam rises from my pores. I’m no longer just rime but warmth because of her and I toss her onto the bed, our clothes coming off in a haze and I take in what’s mine, wanting her so damn bad.

Her elfin body wriggles around and I want to throw a fit of rage because we can’t be joined at all times. That frustrating fragility of hers is mesmeric and a rumble bursts through my throat at how much she’s changed me. My sheets aren’t even black anymore but fucking lavender silk and it’s another small thing where she’s brought more color into my life.

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