SWNOVELS Brutal Savage: Chapter 8
I still can’t get over the fact that he’s Brody’s adoptive parent. I knew there was something familiar about him when I saw him after school the other day, but he was surrounded by other parents and I was too busy to really pay attention.
Lying in my bed, I replay his job offer in my head. Can’t believe I’m even considering it.
How can I do this and possibly risk my job? What if the school uses that as a reason to let me go? I’m only a sub. I’m replaceable. Then I’d lose the only source of income and fulfillment that I have.
How will I pay my rent or pay for my grandpa’s home then? Though a thousand an hour is a lot. It’s more than I make, that’s for sure.
Yet can I accept dirty money? Can I work for a dangerous guy?
For men like Tynan, nothing is ever enough. You give them a little, and they demand more.
Then what? I do what he says or die? Where will it end?
I can’t put myself in that situation.
I wish I had someone to talk to about this.
My grandma isn’t an option. I love her, but the woman has a big mouth. If I tell her, the whole town will know, and so will the school.
Groaning, I throw a pillow over my face, and when I close my eyes, it’s him I see. That vivid hue of his green eyes, the way he smiles. And when he does, it’s like a meteor shower, rare and beautiful.
Scolding myself, I focus on what matters: my grandparents, keeping my past in the past. I can’t think about the attractive dad of the boy in my class.
But when I tell myself not to, all I do is think about him even more.
Remembering the way he put his large, heavy hand on my thigh in the car, how good it felt to be touched again…
Jesus. I should just fuck someone to get it out of my system. It’s been too long. And now that my body has clearly decided it wants Tynan Quinn, I’m afraid my needs will not relent.
A pulsing sensation hits between my thighs, the desire coiling and wanton until my hand languidly slinks beneath my yoga shorts. I slip a finger inside me, sliding it in and out, swirling it around my clit while images of Tynan serve to inspire.
Him ripping my blouse open, buttons scattering across the floor as he spreads my legs on the edge of the desk. His face drops between my thighs, his tongue swirling, mouth sucking me where I touch. Those fingers, thick and hard, thrust inside me until stars erupt before my eyes.
“Oh God, Tynan, yes!” I moan, knowing he can’t hear me. No one can.
The release comes fast and hard, and I ache for him to take me harder, bent over my desk, my hair in his fist, his cock driving deeper into me.
“Yes…” I continue circling my fingers around my already sensitive flesh.
I can’t seem to stop, my need climbing again until I spiral into another orgasm, harder and faster, making every inch of me convulse.
Images of his muscled, naked flesh, him pounding inside me like he’s lost his mind for me play on repeat. It’s what I want, even though I’ll never admit that to him.
My body sags, and I groan at what I’ve just done. I can’t believe I was thinking about him while I did that. I’ve gone insane.
This is why I can’t accept his job offer. Tynan enjoys toying with me too much, and I’m only human. A lot can happen when you’re stuck in a house with someone you’re attracted to. Even when that person is the last thing you should want.
On the other hand, I can’t in good conscience pass up a thousand dollars an hour. That money could do me so much good.
I slap a hand over my eyes.
How do I continue to get drawn to men who are bad for me? I liked Jerry when I met him. He was always nice to me every time I saw him with my father over the years. I thought he worked for my dad, crunching numbers in his restaurant business.
But I was very wrong.
What I didn’t know was that my father wasn’t just a restaurant owner. He was a criminal, and Jerry wasn’t exactly working for my dad. He was working for an organization who was in competition with my father, someone my father owed lots of money to. Money he couldn’t pay back.
In exchange, he sold me to Jerry’s father, the head of the gang, and Jerry forced me to work for their organization, doing horrible things.
And there was nothing my piece-of-shit dad could do about it. Unless he was willing to die for me, which he wasn’t.
No one but Jerry knows I killed him. That asshole helped me bury the bodies. I had no one else to call except him.
Of course, he swore that if I tried something, if I didn’t continue working for the gang, he’d make sure I rotted in prison.
So I had to run. If I hadn’t, I’d have ended up dead, and so would my grandparents.
I can’t go back, and I can’t end up in prison.
I still remember the day I realized I was engaged to Jerry and who he really was.
I always knew my father didn’t love me.
But to do that?
It was unforgivable.
TWO YEARS AGO
From my handbag, I retrieve the keys to my parents’ home, wondering why my father asked me here today. He doesn’t care much about spending time with me. Never has. This must be important.
Two cars are parked in the driveway.
Cars I don’t recognize.
A chill creeps up the back of my neck. I don’t know why, but it’s there, like it’s warning me of something I don’t yet understand.
My father has always had people by the house, though. Even when I was younger and lived here. He’d say they were there to help him run the numbers for his business or deal with orders for the restaurant. He’s made a good living doing it for over fifteen years. It’s honestly all he ever cares about.
The door screeches as I start to open it.
“Hey, Dad, I’m—” The words die in my throat.
Three men I’ve never seen before—scary-looking men—stand around the foyer. Black shirts, tall, tattoos on their necks. They give me hard stares, and I gulp down my own fear.
“Um, do you know where—”
One of the men cuts me off and points to his left, toward the kitchen. Muffled voices grow louder as I head in that direction.
“Whatever you want!” my father tells someone.
My stomach knots from the fear in his voice.
As soon as I appear, a man in a suit, about the same age as my dad, stands behind him, lowering his gun out of view. But I saw it, and it was pointing at my father’s head.
Every limb on my body trembles. Dread like I’ve never known zaps through me.
My eyes land on my father’s. He’s just as scared.
I want to run. I want to get help.
This man is either robbing us or something else is going on.
“Sweetheart!” My father attempts to jump from his seat, but the man shoves him back down by his shoulders.
“You stay here,” he tells him, cunning dark eyes landing on me, a devious grin on his face.
Footfalls from the adjacent living room grow nearer, and from the side of my vision, I find Jerry walking into the room. His face is unreadable at first…until a touch of smugness crosses his eyes.
A heavy feeling sinks into the pit of my stomach.
I don’t understand what’s happening.
What the hell is Jerry doing here? It’s been maybe a year since I saw him last at my father’s restaurant, and as far as I know, he still works there.
“What’s going on? Why am I here?” I ask Jerry.
His response is nothing but a glare.
My pounding heart raps across my ribs.
“That is a good question,” the man in the suit says. “I’m Isaac. I’ve heard a lot about you from my son, Jerry.”
His son? Oh no…
Terror prances across my skin. I’m unsure if I’m going to live through whatever is happening.
My eyes connect with my father’s, and in them, I witness shame.
He did something. He had to have. It’s why they’re here, isn’t it? I’ve seen enough movies to know how this plays out.
They’re here to kill us.
But what could he have done? Does Jerry even work for him at the restaurant? Did my dad borrow money from them he couldn’t pay back?
“I know you must be afraid,” the man goes on. “But I promise you have nothing to fear, Evelyn.”
He starts to approach, and I back up a step, glancing behind me to find two more men closing in on me.
I’m surrounded.
There’s nowhere to go.
My heart pounds so loud, I’m afraid it’ll rip out of my chest.
“What do you want from us?”
He chuckles, taking another step toward me. “Well, you see, your father and I had a business going, and he’s failed his end of the deal. I do consider myself to be a fair man, but one thing I do not forgive is someone who can’t pay their debts.”
I hold back a scream as another man shoves a gun to the back of my father’s head.
“I’m sorry it took us so long to meet.” He reaches his hand for mine, forcing me to shake it in my clammy palm. “I do hate that you’re being dragged into this, pretty thing like yourself.”
He gives my dad a passing glimpse over his shoulder. “But your father? Well, he thought he could outsmart me. He promised to pay me for something I delivered, and he hasn’t.”
Nono! I can’t let them kill my father. No matter how he’s treated me, he’s still my dad.
“Maybe I can help?” I’m shaking, yet I can’t just do nothing. “Maybe I can pay you what he owes. How much is it?”
I have ten grand saved up. Maybe that would be enough.
His laughter is as harsh as his eyes. “You’re a good daughter to try to get your father out of this mess, even though he doesn’t deserve it. You see, your father has already provided us with a workable solution. It’s why you’re here.”
Goose bumps prickle my skin.
“Me? How would I be the solution?” Panic clutches my throat, choking me. “Dad?”
He doesn’t say a word. Can barely look at me.
Jerry comes forward, throwing an arm around my shoulders.
My gut gnaws. I never disliked Jerry…until now.
“I’ve always had a thing for you, Evelyn,” he drawls.
My lungs grow heavy with the weight of my frozen breaths.
“So when your father offered you as payment for the five hundred K he couldn’t pay back, I couldn’t say no.”
“What?” A sudden weakness hits my knees and my head spins, but he holds me up. “No, please!” I shake my head, begging him not to do this to me. “I’m not some object you people can barter with!”
Do I mean so little to my father for him to offer me as payment?
“You don’t have a choice in the matter,” Isaac says. “The deal has been made. It’s the only reason your useless father is still alive. You’re leaving with us. So don’t fight it.”
He runs his knuckles down my cheek, and my insides curl.
“But don’t you worry. Since I’m a good man, I’ll let you continue working and become the teacher you’ve always dreamed of becoming. Nothing will change.”
Yet that’s a lie.
Everything already has.
The room spins, my heart physically hurting.
“We’ll arrange for your things to be picked up from your apartment today.”
“No! I won’t go with you!” Unspeakable agony engulfs me, swallowing me whole.
This can’t be happening. I look to my father for help, and he lowers his head instead.
“How can you do this?” I scream with a cry, but he continues to ignore me. “Do I truly mean so little to you?”
“He didn’t even put up a fight,” Isaac adds, digging the betrayal in deeper. “He offered you to us in whatever capacity we wanted to use you, just so we’d spare his life. And I am a man of my word, so I will let him live.” He grabs my jaw and glares. “But one disobedience from you, and I will kill your entire family. Do you understand?”
I nod, tears dripping down my face, knowing I can’t fight them.
Isaac palms my shoulder and squeezes. “My son has a gift for you.”
I want nothing from them. Nothing except my freedom.
Jerry reaches into his pocket and retrieves a black jewelry box, and my eyes grow. When he opens it, a large solitaire diamond shines through.
“I don’t understand…” I whisper.
“Oh, we forgot to mention the other part of your father’s deal. In exchange for letting him live, my son will marry you.”
He tugs my hand in his, and I wince.
“I can’t wait to welcome you into the family.”
I hate reliving one of the worst days of my life.
Of course, marriage wasn’t the only thing they wanted. They took more from me in that year I lived with them than I could’ve even imagined.
Jerry never loved me. I don’t think he even liked me. I was just a toy to use for his own needs.
I want nothing to do with that world anymore. I want a normal life. A normal husband. A family. I want to be happy. And I can never be happy with men from the belly of the underworld.
Men just like Tynan…
Though marriage isn’t even in the cards for me. If Jerry or his people ever find me, I’m fucked. They’ll kill me for leaving, and they’ll kill my family too just because they can.
Staying single and on the run is what I have to do.
But accepting Tynan’s job offer doesn’t mean I’ll have to stay here in Massachusetts. If I have to go, then I will. Tynan won’t be able to stop me.
Leaving my grandparents worries me, though.
But Jerry would think they went with me. He knows how close I am to them. I’d never leave them behind.
I reach into the drawer of my nightstand and pick up the gun I left home with. Untraceable and mine.
Well, not mine. Jerry’s.
If it ever came down to it, I’d give up my life in exchange for my grandparents.
I’m not my father’s daughter. I protect those I love.