Jagger (Blood Brothers) (14 page)

“And where did you learn this?”

“I saw it on TV.”

“Well, I do intend to marry Camryn. I love her very much.”

Jaxson looked like he was thinking it over, then nodded. “I guess that’s okay then.”

And Jagger believed it. Everything would be okay from now on.

<><><><>

Maggie had decided to throw a party. GianMarco’s partner, Oliver, had shown up, and Maggie’s friend, Montana, was also there. GianMarco knew his mate was up to another one of her matchmaking schemes, and although he had to admit that Oliver seemed quite smitten with the outspoken Montana, how things went between them remained to be seen.

This was the last night the entire family would be together. Everyone would be going their separate ways in the morning. Niccolo and Sasha were headed back to L.A. sans Jagger. Romeo and his family were going back to Boston to tie up loose ends before they returned to go house-hunting in the area.

Jagger was sticking around for a few more days and then he was going back to Atlanta with Camryn. Niccolo owned a club in that area and Jagger was going to manage it while he found a house for him and Camryn. Indeed, the fact that the two of them had settled their differences had been the biggest surprise to GianMarco.

Since the night after Jagger had nearly succumbed to
la morte dolci
, his nephew and stepdaughter couldn’t seem to keep their hands off each other. He was relieved Jagger was over his suffering; having experienced it himself, he wouldn’t have wished it on his worst enemy. GianMarco was equally happy his stepdaughter had finally stopped fighting her attraction to his nephew. He’d always suspected she reciprocated Jagger’s feelings, but hadn’t thought it was his place to bring it up.

As for his mate and child, Maggie was radiant as ever, and he adored his new baby. Everything was perfect, except Dante wasn’t here. GianMarco hadn’t heard from his brother in days and it tore him up inside.

“Is everything okay?” His wife came from behind him, carrying Gianna.

GianMarco smiled at his two favorite girls. He was quite pleased about having a daughter and loved every hair on her little head—and didn’t care who knew it. He’d always remember his little boy, but having his
bambina
helped ease the pain.

“Let me hold her. She’s wants her papa, don’t you, Gia?”

Maggie carefully handed the baby to him. “She’s been fidgeting all day. I’ve fed her and just changed her diaper, but I don’t know why she’s so restless.”

“Probably from all the stimulation around her.” GianMarco kissed Gianna’s curly hair and stroked her back. She gurgled. “See. I told you she needs her papa.”

Maggie smiled, patting his shoulder. “Seems like you’re her favorite tonight. She only wants Mommy when she’s hungry.”

“Well, you’ve heard the expressions, ‘mama’s boy’ and ‘daddy’s girl.’ When we have another child, we’ll probably have a son, but Gia’s all mine.”

Maggie grinned. “Well, I guess you can change her diaper when she does number two.”

GianMarco lifted his daughter in the air, contorting his face for the baby. “I don’t mind. I’ll cherish every second with her. They grow up so fast.”

Maggie rested her head against his back. “I miss him, too,” she said softly, seemingly at random.

“Yes, well, I suppose he had his reasons for not being here, but wherever he is, I hope he’s happy.”

“He is. He’s very happy, and he’s very sorry for not coming sooner.”

GianMarco and Maggie whirled around to see the eldest Grimaldi brother.

“Dante!” Maggie exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms. Dante whirled her around and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.

“You look lovely as always.” He placed her back on the floor. “Congratulations on your new arrival.” GianMarco noticed there was a difference in the way he’d greeted Maggie. That tension no longer hung in the air between them. Something had definitely changed.

“Thank you.” She beamed at him.

Dante turned to GianMarco. “I suppose this gorgeous
bambina
is my niece?”

GianMarco’s first impulse was to demand where the hell his brother had been, but he was so happy to see him that he bit the question back. Besides he wanted to show off Gianna instead. “Yes, she is beautiful. Would you like to hold her?”

Cobalt eyes twinkled with longing. “May I?”

“Gia, this is your Uncle Dante.”

Dante smiled at the baby. “What a day. I got to meet a new sharp-as-a-tack nephew and two precious nieces. Gia is definitely a beauty, Marco. Just like her mother.” He held the cooing baby against him.

“I’m going to see to the other guests.” Maggie smiled at him again before leaving the two men with the baby.

“I’m sorry for staying away, but I had to get my head together. There were—

GianMarco was so happy to see his brother he didn’t care anymore about why he’d kept himself away. “Dante, you don’t have to explain. I’m just glad you’re finally here. You seem rested.”

“I am. I stayed at Paris’s house in the Hamptons; Persephone and her friend… Isis, entertained me.”

GianMarco didn’t miss how he’d emphasized Isis’s name. He wondered if that was the reason his brother seemed different but he figured his brother would tell him when he was ready. “I’m glad your time was relaxing.”

Dante shook his head. “Actually, I ended up having quite an adventure with some Hunters. Seems Gage is back. Once we deal with this
il Diavolo
,
il Demonio
mess, we may have to look into the situation. I’ve sent some agents out to investigate further.”

“This sounds serious. Are the Kyriakis’ all right?”

“For now, but I believe they’ll have some rough times ahead, similar to what we’re going through now.” Dante looked down at the baby again. “She’s asleep.”

“Here, let me take her.”

Dante transferred Gianna into her father’s arms. “Congratulations, again.” He took a deep breath, then looked into his brother’s eyes. “I’m very happy for you and want you to know I’m sorry for how I acted. While I was away, I realized what I felt for Maggie was infatuation, pure and simple. She touched a part of me I thought had died, and I mistook it for love. I obsessed over it until it drove a wedge between us. I never want anything like that to happen between us again. I love you, Marco, and I promise, no matter what happens, we’ll work out our differences before I act like a jackass again.”

“I appreciate that very much. Of course you’re forgiven. We’re brothers. Nothing will change that.”

“Thank you. That means a lot to me. I wouldn’t have come between you and Maggie, you know.”

“I know. I’m just glad to have you back.”

“Hopefully these next few days will be quiet so I can enjoy spending that time with the family. Maybe our enemies are taking a break as well.”

Speaking of
il Diavolo
, have you heard anything on that front?”

“No, and it’s worrying the hell out of me. I have a bad feeling about this. We’re going to have to be very careful.”

GianMarco’s grip tightened on his daughter. Unfortunately, he had the same foreboding.

<><><><>

“Can this all really be happening? I mean, is it really true?” Camryn wrapped her arms around Jagger’s waist when he walked into her bedroom and shut the door.

“It’s true, but I’m wondering if I should be the one asking that. I’m the one who feels like he’s in the middle of a dream.” Jagger’s hands slid down her back and cupped her bottom in his hand, then squeezed. Instant arousal tingled between her legs.

She kissed his jaw, a feeling of happiness she’d never felt before soaring within her. “Are you sure you’ll be okay moving to Atlanta with me? It will only be for a year till I finish school. Then I’ll apply for a job closer to my mom so we’ll be around the family.”

“
Milaya moya
, I’ll go wherever you lead.”

“I love you, Jagger. So much, but I’m still afraid this won’t last.”

“Well, whenever you think such a thing, just remember this: I wanted you when you were acting like a horrible brat, so if I didn’t run then, I certainly won’t leave you now.”

She slapped him playfully on the shoulder. “I was not a brat. I should be offended by that remark, buddy.”

“Oh, you know you were a brat. There’s no use denying it. Even Uncle Romeo calls you that.”

She sighed in mock exasperation. “Maybe, I was a little difficult,” she conceded.

“A little?” He quirked his lips.

“Okay, I was more than a bit difficult, but I’m here now, and I’m so in love with you, Nikolai Jagger Romanov-Grimaldi, that I don’t know what to do with myself.”

He grinned that devilish grin of his. “You might not know what to do with yourself, but I certainly do.”

“Oh? And what’s that?”

“I’m going to make love to you.” Without preamble, he began to unbutton her shirt, placing kisses against her skin as he unfastened each button. Camryn was suddenly flooded with a burning desire as well. Her hands fumbled with his clothes. She wanted to feel his naked flesh against hers.

“You’re so beautiful,” he groaned when their clothes had been discarded. He lifted her into his arms and took her to bed.

Gently, Jagger covered her with his body. Love shone within the depths of his amber eyes. Camryn’s heart was so filled with emotion for him, she could barely contain it all.

She opened herself for him, ready to take each inch of his delicious cock. She sighed with relief as he slid his hard shaft into her. Lifting her hips to take him deeper into her hot box, she whispered, “I love you, so much, Jagger. I don’t know why I waited so long to admit it.”

“I understand, my darling. Sometimes we’re afraid to listen to our hearts, and you hadn’t had a shining example of what love is.” Jagger slowly pulled out, then slid back into her. The moment was so tender, tears swam in her eyes.

“Please kiss me.” She cupped the back of his head, pulling it down until their lips touched. Their tongues met, twining and dancing in a gentle, explorative demonstration of their love for each other. Her nipples ached deliciously as they rubbed against his chest hair, the friction sending scorching balls of fire through her system.

“Camryn,
ya tak lyubyu tebya
. I love you very much.”

“I love you, too.” She clung to him, their bodies moving and grinding together. Her heart felt as if it would overflow with love for him. No matter what happened in the future between them, she would always have this moment. She’d trust in him and their love.

When her climax came, she screamed out her release. “Jagger! love you!”

“And I, you,
milaya moya
.” When he peaked, her pussy muscles tightened around his cock, milking him of every drop he had within him. Finally, he rested his head within the crook of her neck.

Camryn ran her fingers along the along his spine. “Jagger?”

“Yes?”

“Remember when you came to my school, you said something to me in Russian? You told me you’d tell me when the time was right. Is the time right, yet?”

“Most definitely. I said, ‘When I first met you, for the first time, I understood it’s forever.’”

And she believed him.

Epilogue

Invite me in.

Camryn sat up in bed, startled. She’d had the strangest dream of a woman with red hair. She’d knocked on the door and Camryn had answered it. She remembered the woman asking questions and feeling compelled to answer each one. Before her eyes, the woman had turned into a monster and then, she woke up. She let out a sigh of relief to learn it had all been a dream even though it had felt so real.

She noticed her hand was really sticky. Bringing it to her line of vision, she let out a piercing scream. Her hand was covered in blood!

Jagger wasn’t in bed with her. Her heart plummeted in terror as she looked around the room to see blood not only saturating the bed, but spread on the carpets and smeared on the walls. Was this some kind of crazy nightmare? Was she still dreaming?

She slid out of bed and grabbed her robe, miraculously blood free, from the foot of the bed. The sun was just beginning to rise.

“Jagger!” she screamed his name as she sprinted through the halls and banged on every bedroom door in the house, shouting frantically. Dante was the first one out of the bed. His eyes widened when he saw the blood on her hands.

“What’s happened?”

“I don’t know. Jagger wasn’t in bed when I woke and the room is covered in blood. I think it’s his.” Tears ran down her face. This couldn’t be happening.

Niccolo whirled her around to face him, face more pale than usual. “What’s happened to my son?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered.

Sasha raced to the bedroom where Camryn and Jagger had spent the night. “My baby!”

Another scream filled the house, followed quickly by another. The men took off to investigate, Camryn on their tails. She looked into a bedroom to see Romeo and Christine tearing the room apart. They looked as panicked as the others.

“Jaxson isn’t here.” Romeo said as he ran out of the room. “I’m going to check Adrienne’s room.”

Camryn had a sinking feeling. Jagger was missing, and now Jaxson and possibly Adrienne. She gasped. Mom!

Camryn ran to the nursery to see her mother lying in a heap, sobbing in hysterics. GianMarco had lost all color and looked to be in shock.

“Not again. Not again,” he muttered over and over again.

“Mom?” Camryn was too scared to check the crib. She slowly moved toward it and sucked in a breath when she looked in. Only a crumpled bloody blanket lay there.

She passed out.

<><><><>

Dante tore through the house searching for his nieces and nephews even though he had an awful feeling they were no longer there. He ran outside to seek out any clues he could find. There had to be something.

This was his fault. He shouldn’t have stayed away from his family for so long. He should have been diligently working to track Adonis down. Instead, he’d allowed this to happen. Because of him, the children were missing and possibly dead. Hadn’t his brothers suffered enough without this? How had the rogues gotten into the house? Though the rooms were soundproofed, surely someone would have heard the children being taken? And judging by the quantity of blood in Jagger’s room, why hadn’t Camryn woken up?

This travesty had Adonis written all over it. Dante knew if the children didn’t make it, his brothers would never recover.

This was the final straw. They’d fucked with the Grimaldis for the last time.

It was time the rogues felt the full weight of his wrath.

Dante: Blood Brother’s Book 5: Coming soon!