This Is Love, Baby (War & Peace #2) (24 page)

I nod in vehemence, as if I wholeheartedly agree with him. The bile in my throat is sour and stings. I’m seconds from throwing up everywhere.

Breathe.

Observe every move.

Take out your opponent.

There’s only one pawn standing between you and your king.

Taking several calming breaths, I wave toward the bathroom door. “Could you grab me a towel?” I ask in the most level tone I can muster, hoping I can distract him long enough to implement part two of my plan. All I need is a few seconds’ distraction.

His eyes narrow and he runs his finger along my bare calf. “But you look so pretty with this blood all over you. His fucking blood,” he snarls as if the very thought of Brandon disgusts him. “You should wear it proudly, baby. It makes me want to suck on your clit until you wake the neighbors with your screams.”

I tremble and hold back my tears. I should have known I couldn’t outsmart Gabe. He’s like the black knight, anticipating all of my moves before I even make them.

I am not a weak pawn.

I am the queen.

Quickly devising a new plan, I peel the blood soaked hoodie from my body and toss it away. Brandon’s blood is beginning to dry on my throat so I quickly smear it down over my bare breasts.

Gabe’s eyes darken and he growls. “Jesus, you look so fucking hot right now, sweet girl.”

I flash him a shy smile. “I should be trying to run,” I whisper. “But all I can think about is having you inside me.”

He groans and crawls onto the bed beside me, taking Brandon’s spot. “Straddle me. My body hurts too fucking bad to do this any other way. I want to play with your pussy while I watch that blood run down your tits.”

I sit up, sliding my palm across the bed, I make contact with my saving grace, and do as I’m told. My hand fists the wondrous piece and I twist my arm behind my back, pushing my tits forward to dazzle him with. All done in a graceful, fluid motion. The bandage on his nose has me halting my movement. “I don’t want to hurt you,” I lie. Truth is, I want to sit on his face and smother him with the pussy he seems to adore.

“Oh, baby. Such a sweet girl. You just sit there and look pretty—I’ll do all the work.”

Nodding, I ease myself down to straddle his waist just above the top of his jeans, my naked body vulnerable and shaking. I close my eyes and think of War. His gorgeous smile. His moving lips as he counts my breaths. His gentle and loving touch.

Breathe.

I can do this.

For War and our baby.

Gabe grips my thighs almost brutally, which has me jerking my eyes back open. This monster has always thought he owned my body. Making me come against my will. I want to make him pay for hurting War, causing Brandon to get lost in the darkness, for the role he played in the deaths of my parents.

I could almost get off on the idea of Gabe’s death.

Over and over again, I think about his neck being spilt open from ear to ear. His blood, responsible for the deaths of everyone I love, will pour from him until his heart stops beating.

I’ll leave this nightmare he dragged me into. I’ll go to college. I’ll raise this baby in a loving home with War in peace. I’ll go on and live when it was Gabe’s plan to take it all away.

I’ll spit on his grave and laugh all the way into the sunset of my own twisted happily ever after.

T
HE THOUGHT OF
Gabe’s death is responsible for an all-consuming nearly orgasmic shudder that ripples through me like never before. It’s not sexual though, it’s a buzzing, electric adrenaline I’ve never experienced. My body responds with anticipation to eradicate him once and for all from my life, not the feeling of his filthy tongue on my clit as he’d like for it to be.

The rage festers inside me, fueling me. Egging me on. My grip tightens around my sanctity in my fist as I wait for the perfect moment.

“You’re something else, baby. So sweet and innocent at times, and fucking naughty as hell at others.” He sits up on one elbow and drags his gun along my bare belly. I try not to recoil in disgust and flash him a seductive smile instead.

“Thank you.”

His dark eyes widen in surprise. “For what?”

“For getting rid of him,” I say with a shiver. “He was different. Scary different.”

He drags the still warm barrel of the gun to my sex and teases my clit with it before letting it trail back up. “I’m kind of pissed off you find him scarier than me. That boy was always a pussy. Maybe,” he murmurs as he pokes the gun almost painfully into my lower belly just above my pelvic bone, “
I
should scare you a little more.”

My widened eyes meet his and he grins. If this were six months ago in my living room and he were poking me with his finger, that grin would have been charming. But not now, now it chills me to the bone.

“I’m not scared of you,” I tell him, my voice level. “Because I love you.” Those words fall out easily too, but they’re a big fucking lie.

“I love you too, sweet girl,” he tells me, his dark eyes warm like melted chocolate. His thumb slides over my belly just below my navel and he winks.

I make my move and lean forward to kiss him.

I’m coming for you, black knight.

As soon as our lips touch, he groans. Before he can deepen the kiss, I jerk away from him and swing my arm around. I’m clumsy with the weapon that feels too big in my slender hand, but it’s my only shot. I let my anger strengthen me as I stab downwards into his chest.

“What the fuck?” he roars. “What did you do to me?”

Despite his weakened state, he slings me away from him and I bang my head on the headboard. The devil rises from the bed, his malevolent presence scorching me with his eyes. He drops his gaze to Brandon’s knife which now sits firmly wedged to the hilt in his chest.

Blood.

So much.

Seeping and seeping at a rapid rate from his wound. A wound I gave him.

His shaky hand attempts to pull it out, but it won’t move. He darts his eyes all around as if to pull answers from the air on what to do next. But it’s too late. Too late for the devil. This avenging angel already took his choice away from him.

“Baylee,” he rasps and uses what little bit of energy he has to lunge at me.

Screaming, I try to push him away from me but he grabs onto my hips and presses his warm mouth to my belly kissing me reverently, almost sweetly. Possessively even. My stomach roils in disgust and I choke down the bile threatening to spew out at any moment. His warm blood pours from him and runs down between my legs, soaking the bed below my bare ass.

But just when I think I can’t take anymore, it’s over.

Quick.

Painless.

Finished.

His body stills and remains unmoving as I slide out from beneath him.

“Checkmate,” I whisper and shove his lifeless body away.

My teeth are chattering from the adrenaline rush and all I can think about is getting out of this house.

But I stop for a moment to admire my handiwork.

Gabe. The damn devil.
Dead.

With shaking hands, I drag my yoga pants on without panties. I grab Brandon’s bloody hoodie from the bed and tug it over my head.

I’m done with this life.

It’s finally over.

Those bastards aren’t coming for me anymore. I can take my time. But I’m ready to put my past behind me and start over with War.

I need order.

I need simplicity.

I need to feel safe again.

My heart races in my chest and I can’t seem to get it to slow. If War were here with me right now, he’d press a thumb to the pulse at my throat and count each rapid beat.

God, I need him.

With a deep breath, I open the front door and inhale the fresh scent of freedom.

“Bay.”

I jerk my gaze to the heavenly voice that somehow thunders through the madness in my head and blink in confusion to see the man approaching me slowly.

Beautiful but flawed.

Weak yet so strong.

Mine.

“War.”

I’m afraid to move. Afraid to chase off the vision of him. He seems so real. So close. So present. I want to thump myself in the head to remind myself that War is in the hospital.

“Are…are you okay?” His voice cracks and his hands tremble at his sides.

Land materializes from the behind him with wide eyes and I put a palm to my chest as if to still my pounding heart. “You’re really here.”

War winces but takes several more steps toward me, not deterred by my shuddering body.

“Bay, beautiful, please tell me you’re okay.”

Tears stream down my face and my knees buckle. Blackness eats away at my vision, causing me to sway. “I am
not
okay.”

And darkness envelopes me.

But with it comes a warm, all-consuming strength. It embraces me and keeps me safe. I unravel inside of my own head and let the warmth overtake me.

“For the love of God, Bay,” he chokes out, “
Tell me
you’re okay.”

The deep, husky voice parts through the gloom in my mind and I reach for it. I blink my eyes open and inhale a scent that belongs to my lover. My friend. My equal. My War.

“You’re really here right now with me,” I sob, “and we’re
going
to be okay.”

His hand strokes my blood-soaked hair as I cling to him. He flinches when I touch the left part of his chest where he was shot, so I settle for the right.

“I was so scared.” My tears drench his shirt and he continues to hold me.

“I was fucking terrified when I realized you were gone,” he says, his words muffled somewhere in my hair. “As soon as I realized what happened, I left the hospital to come for you. Your watch was fitted with a tracking device—in case Gabe ever came back for you. But when he did come for you, you weren’t wearing it. This time, though, I was going to find you and save you.”

“You did save me,” I whisper as I pull slightly away, searching his stormy eyes.

He smiles and his gaze skitters down my throat. “Bay, you saved yourself.”

His eyes become fixated on my flesh and realization washes over me like slick oil. Suddenly, a thought overwhelms me to the point I nearly vomit.

Blood.

So much blood.

I’m dripping in War’s worst nightmare.

Shit!

I try to peel myself from him but he grips me tighter. “Warren, I’m covered in…I’m covered in…”

He grips my hair and tugs my head back. “I see, beautiful. Believe me, I see.” Our eyes meet and his perfect mouth quirks into a half-smile. “But love’ll make you do crazy things. Like do absolutely anything—slay any dragon, even the imaginary ones in your head—for a chance to have the one you love in your arms once more. You own me, Bay, and you always win when it comes to battling my heart against my delusional mind. I love you.” He gives me a small smile. “I’m going to kiss that dirty mouth of yours now.”

I half sob and half laugh as his mouth descends upon mine. Our lips connect and he devours me as if he needs my love for nourishment. So I feed it to him. Every part of me, I give to him in our kiss. The promise of my love. Children. Loyalty and friendship. My heart.

“Kiss me again,” I order.

He smiles and dives back in. “Anything for the queen.”

The sound of the sirens grows louder as the police get closer. War, Land, and I have been sitting on the front porch waiting for them to arrive and deal with the situation. Land has been on the phone, answering questions from Detective Stark. She asked him to keep us out of the house until they arrived. Something about contaminating the crime scene and disrupting evidence. I didn’t care, though. I was perfectly content sitting next to War on the porch swing with his heavy arm draped around me.

I haven’t said much, and have let War’s whispers soothe me. He’s been counting and muttering since we sat down. I know he’s still with me because every so often he presses a kiss to the top of my head. But he doesn’t stop. It’s as if he’s found a way to cope with the blood and the insanity. I don’t dare disrupt that. I don’t need to ask him if he’s okay, I know he’s weak and exhausted. Aside from his muttering, he’s not moved much.

When a black Crown Vic comes bouncing down the drive, red and blue lights flashing, I let out a sigh.
It’s almost over.