Rose In Bloom (26 page)

“How can he be out of town unless… Do you think he’s taken Skylar somewhere else then?”

“At first, I thought that, but when I asked him to explain the texts I’d been getting from Maverick’s phone, I knew I’d made a point. He even tried to call him while I was standing there and couldn’t get him to pick up the phone. When I asked where Brandon was, he said he was staying with some new chick. Brandon’s got Skylar, Sebastian. I just know it!”

“Why would Maverick involve Brandon on all of this and not Michael?”

“Trust me, he wouldn’t! It would be too risky, and Brandon would be the last person he’d involve. I think Brandon killed Maverick, and is posing as him. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

Everything slows down around me. Lucas’ words echo in my ear.

Brandon has her.

My knees go weak. Images of the knife in the ultrasound picture flash before my eyes.
Our baby.
My chest feels like the air has been knocked out of my body. Dropping to the floor, I fight to breathe.

“Please, Lucas, please help me bring my family home.”

Lucas

Witnessing Sebastian Thorne on his knees, begging me to help him is something I never thought I’d ever see. Thing is, he doesn’t have to beg me for this. There isn’t anything I won’t do to bring the woman I love… that we both love, back home.

The message he sent Sebastian is chilling. Not only does he have Skylar, he knows about the baby.

“I think he’s planned all of this from the beginning. Think about it! When I made the deal with Maverick to bring you down, it never involved Skylar. He made sure to mention that he wanted Brandon to have no part in that because he didn’t want him ending up back in prison. I think Brandon somehow found out about all of it, and that’s why he took out his father.”

“I don’t think he could get away with that though. It would be damn near impossible to pull that off without someone else knowing about it,” Sebastian replies.

“Michael said that Brandon had been the last one to talk to Maverick before he left town on some emergency business. There is no emergency business. Brandon’s just stalling until he gets what he wants from you.”

“He has her! What more does he want? Money? I’ll give him everything I have.”

“This isn’t about money or Skylar, Sebastian,” I reply, trembling.

“What is it about then?”

“Revenge,” I reply, choking on my own fear.

Brandon

Walking back into the open space, I spot Skylar curled up on the bed reading a book. Since she’s been here, we’ve spent a lot of time talking. I want her to know the real me. She has listened to every detail about what it was like for me growing up as Maverick Larson’s son. The son that always failed him. I’ve even told her things I’ve never told another living soul. I’d been terrified to admit to some of the monstrous things I’ve done over the years, but she never once flinched at a word of it. Better yet, there is no sympathy in her eyes or judgment cast upon me. Something about this girl makes me want to confess everything and be a better person.

When I’d finished confessing most of my sins, I did what I should’ve done the minute I was released from prison. I got down on my hands and knees and begged her for forgiveness for what I did to her that night in the parking lot. I never want her to be scared of me again. I want her to see that I’m a changed man and that I want her to be mine forever. Shaking like a leaf, I’d sat there waiting on her to lash out, but instead my gorgeous Skylar forgave everything.

She’s really digging this place, I can tell. I’d planned on staying in Austin once all of this was over and living in Pops’ penthouse, but now I think we need to start over somewhere far from here, just the two of us.

Skylar wants to have the baby and then give it away just to torture Sebastian. I’m beginning to love this woman even more. I can’t believe the lengths she will go through to make him pay for keeping us apart so long. As much as I love her idea, there is no way I’m letting that kid destroy her perfect body any more than it already has. As much as I want to be inside of her, I haven’t done anything more than kiss her. Every time I see her bump, I become enraged.

She doesn’t know it yet, but after I demand Thorne liquidate all of his assets and wire them to my off shore accounts, we’re terminating the pregnancy. I’m even going to send the remains to Sebastian as a final present. Yes, I plan on completely leveling this man. I’m going to take everything away from him, just like he tried to take away everything from me. I will do whatever it takes to destroy Sebastian Thorne, including walking away with the woman he loves… the woman who really loves me.

My father’s phone starts vibrating in my pocket.

Damn it!
Mikey’s calling Pops’ phone again! Pushing the end button, I send the call to voicemail. I’ll listen to it and deal with it later. My phone begins ringing in my pocket, and I know it’s him.

“What’s up, Mikey?” I answer.

“Hey, Lil Bro. I’m trying to get up with Pops. It’s really urgent. Have you talked to him lately?”

“No, dude, the last time I’ve talked to him was right before he flew out of town.”

“Did he say where he was flying to? I already checked and his jet hasn’t left the airport in over two weeks. You and I both know that Pops ain’t flying commercial.”

Our father had grown up poor and refused to do anything the cheaper route. Flying on a commercial airline to him was like asking him to ride on a donkey across the country. It is equal to a slap in the face to him.

“No, he talked like it was a really big business deal, so I guess he flew out with the other person he was meeting with.”

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right. It’s just not like him not to check in on things. You know how obsessive he is with having to know every detail behind what’s going on. He’s never left us in charge of the business for more than a few hours before. I just think something’s up. I mean, he didn’t even take one of his men with him.”

“Everything is fine, Mikey. You know no one is stupid enough to mess with Maverick Larson and besides that, he can handle himself. If something were wrong, we’d know about it before now. If he didn’t take any of the guys with him, then he’s probably with someone he knows pretty well. Stop worrying, Bro, I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”

“Well, until he does, I’m going to need you to pull your own weight. I know you got this new girl and all, but I can’t manage all of these jobs on my own. You think you can help Dex out uptown? He’s having trouble collecting our cut from that contractor we funded last year. You remember, the one up near the Overton Complex?”

“Yeah, I remember. I’ll run out there this afternoon and see what’s going on, shake some things up a bit.”

“I’ve got to deal with that shipment coming in from that pharmaceutical company, so I’ll be in and out until we get that in storage. Pops wanted the deal to work out and so I want it to go off without a hitch.”

“You take care of that and I’ll take care of the contractor.”

“Sounds good. Let me know if you hear anything from Pops. I guess I’ll just keep trying to call him,” Mikey replies.

“I will. Later, Mikey.” I say, ending the call. Mikey’s not stupid and if I don’t do something soon, he’s going to fuck everything up. If I’m going to make this plan work, I’ve got to get my shit together. First things first, I got to score some blow, quick.

Double checking the room, I know there is no way she can escape.

“Please don’t handcuff me to the bed,” she begs.

I hate doing this to her, especially now that we’re doing so well. Handcuffing her is the only way I can make sure she doesn’t do something stupid while I’m out.

God, if she only knew how much I wanted to fuck her senseless right now. Seeing her handcuffed to the bed is torture for me. I want her so fucking much, but when I think about the demon spawn growing inside her, I want to cut it out myself. Once that kid’s out of her, I’m going to give that pussy a cock beating. She won’t be able to walk for a week once I’m done slamming myself up in her.

“I’m going out for a bit. You just be a good girl and watch TV or read something,” I say, kissing her lips. God, she tastes so good.

“Are you meeting Sebastian? Is that why you’re leaving?”

“I’ve just got shit to take care of. Don’t worry about it, all right? I’ll be back later and bring you something to eat then,” I say, placing some water and a leftover sandwich next to the bed. I watch the metal of the cuff pull at her delicate skin, and I feel my cock twitch.

God, I’ve got to get out of here before I lose it.

Three lines later and I’m throwing my head back against the headrest of my driver seat. Madison, one of the girls from the strip club downtown, has followed me out to my car, begging for a hit of blow. Leaning down beside of me, she takes her hit off the mirror and then wipes her nose, smiling as the high rushes over her. The wild look in her eyes tells me all I need to know. These girls pay for things they want the only way they know how… with their bodies. I’m still so worked up over not being able to fuck Skylar just yet that I think my cock is going to explode.

With a devilish grin, Madison begins unfastening my jeans and tugging them down to allow my feverish cock to spring free. Grabbing a head full of her stringy blonde hair, I force her head down on it.

“Come on! Suck that cock! Take it all, you fucking whore!” I demand.
Goddamn, this woman knows how to give good head
. Pumping my hips up, I force her to meet my pace. She gags a few times, and I can’t help but smile. I want her to strangle on my length. Finally, I let her come up for air and she maneuvers her body like she’s going to straddle me, but I push her back down to finish what she was doing.

“Don’t stop. I said to fucking suck, you cunt!” I scream, tugging her hair hard, yanking a handful out in the process. She likes it rough, but I’m stepping way over the line. I don’t care, I need this.

Picturing Skylar, I feel the release coming hard. “Fuck yes, Skylar!” I yell as I feel the thick jet of cum shoot into Madison’s mouth. Opening my eyes, I’m reminded that it isn’t Skylar and anger fills me. Holding Madison’s head in place, I refuse to let her come up for air.

“Swallow it all, you bitch!” I demand and she obeys me. Looking at me with her eyes opened wide, I know I’ve just scared the hell out of her, but damn do I ever feel better. Now that I’ve got my hit and release, I can go check on that job for Mikey. The last thing I need is him on my back or snooping in on my business.