FangGiovanni was no longer a boy, that much was perfectly clear. He was a man, a young man, but a man nonetheless. It wasn’t just the width of his shoulders, it was something in the way he held himself. The sure, confident way he spoke.Gio was no longer a boy playing a man's game, he was cool, calm and confident without being too cocky. He also supplied me with fifty-year-old scotch, so that was a point in his favour. It was all very dignified, something his family hadn’t shown in years.“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Fang.”There was no condescension in his voice as he steepled his hands together on the table between us. I stared for a moment at his perfectly manicured fingers. The nails were square and clean. Still a bit of a pompous asshole then, I grinned to myself. A man’s hands should be rough from a hard day's work. Not primped and polished like a woman’s.“No worries.” I shrugged my shoulders non-committedly. I didn’t want to say too much before I knew what this
GypsyJesus Christ on a cracker, my head hurt. It felt like someone was drilling into my brain.I squinted, opening my eyes just a touch. I didn’t want her to realise I was awake if I could help it. Not straight away anyway, because I remembered everything. Right up until Melanie had smashed my head against the window for the third time. She had taken me by surprise, but it was her betrayal that stung the most. I had trusted her. And so had my dad. There was no way on God's green earth he would have sent her if he didn’t. My father had many faults, but he loved me. I half expected to see a lone light bulb swinging over my head, figuring that’s how those situations usually played out. The attacker would take their victim to some dimly lit, one lightbulb warehouse, all creepy and shit.But there wasn’t a lightbulb. Instead, I found myself staring at a ceiling painted cream not that far above my head. My eyes flew open. A cream ceiling with a smudge of footprints on it. Small footprin
FangI looked down at the note in my hand for the hundredth time and frowned. Screwing it up, I tossed it into the corner of the room. I didn’t believe a word it said. I wouldn’t have even if Giovanni hadn’t passed me the file on Gypsy's crazy ex-fiancé and his equally fucked up sister. It didn’t matter if the note said my sunflower was going home to her father, I knew the truth. Gypsy wouldn’t leave me. The thing between us was volatile as hell, but there were real feelings there. On both sides. If Gypsy wanted to leave me she would have told me to my face. She wasn’t that much of a coward. Which meant the note in my hand was a fake. “Someone fucking find her now,” I growled out.“Fang?” Hansel took a step forward, his eyes beseeching. “If the girl wants to go then you have to let her.”I didn’t turn to face him. Instead, my eyes bored into Pope. He appeared to shrink but met my gaze unflinchingly. “Are you sure she wrote this?” I waved the offending piece of paper in my hand.“Ye
GypsyI was lucky to survive. Everyone told me so.The nurses, the doctors, my dad - everyone thought I was lucky.But I didn’t feel lucky. I felt empty. Like there was nothing left of me anymore. Melanie had carved out my soul when she carved into my body with her knife. I wasn’t sure if the empty feeling would ever truly go away. Fang was a big part of it. The emptiness.He had come for me when I thought no one would, cradled me bleeding and dying on his lap and whispered plans for our future as Monster drove like a maniac to get us to the hospital. I could dimly remember it. I needed him. But I couldn't see him.Three weeks after being brought to the hospital clinging to life, I still couldn't bring myself to be in the same room as him. Every time he tried, I turned my face away. Until he stopped trying. I knew he was out in the hallway. He never left. And I needed him, but I just couldn't face him.Fang might have thought I blamed him, but it couldn't have been further from
MonsterThe club was jumping.The music, the flashing lights - it was all meant to say, come on in and have a good time.And I’m sure to anyone else it would have. But not to me.I saw past it all, just like I always did. It was a mask to hide the seedy underbelly of the city of sin. I knew all about masks; I wore one myself. One that I used to hide the monster I was underneath my charming smile.Looks could be deceiving, and that sure as hell was true of the place I stood in. It looked like an upscale kind of place, full of beautiful people, but I wasn’t fooled. The place stank of desperation.Reeked of it.There was no difference between the women there and the girls back at the clubhouse who would happily drop to their knees and suck my cock without being asked twice. At least the club girls knew what they were. They didn’t feel the need to put on airs and graces.They didn’t pretend.I knew that I could’ve had any one of the women gyrating in front of me if I’d wanted to. That was
Monster“Is it done?” As usual, Fang didn’t mess around with polite greetings. Usually, I was all for his bluntness but there was something about the way he asked that grated on my nerves. What did he think I was? A total amateur? Of course, it was done. “Yeah, it’s done.” I flopped down on the chair opposite him, his giant clutter-filled desk between us, and ignored his raised eyebrow. “What did you think I was doing, partying on club dime and not doing my fucking job?” The words slipped from my mouth before I could stop them. Chatting shit to Fang was always a dangerous move. And usually, I showed him the respect he deserved as my club president, but sometimes I slipped up. “Wasn't the club paying for your little holiday, Monster.” Fang’s voice was unusually calm, almost cheerful sounding, and it was my turn to raise an eyebrow at him. If I didn’t know better, I would have said he was happy. His lips kept trying to do this strange thing that I suspected was a smile.Fang happy?
AngelaI knew I looked good. I didn’t need the appreciative looks from every guy that walked past my sunlounger to tell me that. But it was always nice to have people stare, even the bratty girlfriends who glared at me were rewarded with a smile. I could afford to be nice to people. On the surface anyway. I was on holiday and had just spent the night with a man who had literally blown my world apart. More than once.Even the memory of his tongue against my inner thighs had me squirming. Jesus, he sure knew what he was doing. It was just a shame that I hadn’t caught his name. Throwing back my head, I laughed, drawing even more attention to myself. Who was I kidding? Not knowing his name was part of the fun. He would always be the mysterious man I had shacked up with in Vegas, the one with the magic tongue and the monster dick. I didn’t need to know his name because I was never going to see him again. And that was exactly how I liked it.Nights like the one I had spent with him were
MonsterI didn’t get nervous, not ever, but as I slipped through the gate and into Fang's backyard, I felt something twinge in my chest. I just wasn’t sure why. I had been to dozens of these gatherings. Sure, back then it was only the older generation that had families to bring, but still, it wasn’t like I was an outsider.I knew everyone there.It was just…it seemed everyone had a partner but me. Not true by a long shot, but that’s how it felt. I had always maintained that I was happiest alone but that wasn’t exactly true. I was happiest with my brothers. They were the only family I had. And now I had to share them.My feelings were childish. Angrily, I brushed them aside, plastering my face with a smile. It was a forced one that didn’t quite reach my eyes. Social gatherings were always hard. I couldn't always keep the mask in place. But I would have to. I didn’t have a choice. There were women and children milling around everywhere. Heading straight for the cooler where I could see
Gretal“You’re home.” In an instant I was off his bed and rushing towards him, yanking his head down to mine so I could kiss his lips greedily. It was instinctive, the kind of greeting I had given him in the old days when I had missed him every second that he was away from me. Before things had all gone wrong. Hansel untangled himself with a small chuckle. “Of course I’m home. I said I wouldn’t be long.” Even as our lips parted, his hands were closing around my waist, keeping me close to him. “I like the way you say it, by the way.”Craning my head up to look at him, I arched an eyebrow. “How I say what?”“Home, that I’m home. Although I wouldn’t call the clubhouse our home, not unless you want to live here of course.” His eyes crinkled as he smiled.“Anywhere you are is home, Hansel.” The words left my mouth before I could stop them. Not that they weren’t true. They were. I was tired of being away from him. Sure, we had a lot of shit to sort out, but we were older now, wiser. I knew
HanselHow was it possible that Gretal had disappeared into thin air? I knew it wasn’t possible, but that’s what it felt like. Like she had literally vanished. I knew it wasn’t the case but that’s how it seemed, The club was out in force, scouting the streets, making calls to any and all contacts that could help, and so far, there had been nothing. Not one damn sighting. And I hated to admit it, but I was losing hope.No Gretal and no Pope. It weighed so heavily on me that I found it hard to breathe. Slowing the bike, I ripped the bandana from around my chin and nose, sucking in a deep lungful of cool night air. It still wasn’t enough. Was it possible to suffocate from panic? That’s what it felt like. Like someone was squeezing the life out of me. That’s when I saw it. If I hadn't slowed, I wouldn’t have. Squealing to a stop, I snapped my head back, looking over the hedge to the parking lot. Pope’s bike. I was sure of it. How many years had I ridden alongside it? I would know it a
GretalPulling my phone from my pocket, I ignored the barrage of messages from my husband that flashed up on the screen the moment I switched it on. He was worried about me, mostly because he knew I was about to do something stupid. Except it wasn’t stupid. It was justice. Keeley deserved to be avenged, so did those other girls.So did I. Swiping passed them, I clicked on the camera option, checking my face out. I looked good. My lips were ruby red and glossy, my lashes thick with mascara, my hair curled around my face in soft waves. I looked good enough to eat.And I hoped Pope would think so as well. After all, if he didn’t take the bait then all of this was for nothing. He would fall for it though; I knew he would. Men like him always did. They thought they were superior. That they could take what they wanted without asking. And Pope wanted me. I had seen it in his eyes in the way he had looked at me. I had thought he was just being overly friendly, trying his luck a little. Bu
HanselIt was growing dark when we pulled up outside the Son’s compound. I had ridden without stopping all day, desperate to get back to them. To tell Fang and the others what I suspected. No, not what I suspected. I knew it was true. I didn’t need Sylvie to tell me. The evidence was written all over her face. It dripped from the agony in her voice.“Off the bike, love.” I wanted to be patient with her, but time was already running out. I needed to get her somewhere safe and then I needed to get to The Otter, I would have gone there first if the clubhouse hadn’t been nearer. I hoped to find him inside. And I could exact my revenge without having to worry about my wife and her whereabouts “Hansel, please.” Sylvie was back to begging, she had been nagging in my ear for hours. And she would have the exact same response to it as I had given her before.Nothing.I tugged her off the bike. The prospect who had been lounging by the front door smoking a cigarette straightened as she gave ou
HanselMoney swapped hands easily enough. I had done these kinds of drops often, so it was no big deal. What was a big deal was the fact I was miles away from Gretal and she wasn’t answering her phone. I had been calling her pretty much nonstop. It was one thing The Judge telling me she was fine but I wanted to hear her voice. To see her in person would have been better, but I could tell if she was really ok by her voice. I knew her well enough. Leaning heavily on my bike, I fished my phone out of my pocket. My fingers pressed the redial button without looking. I didn’t expect her to answer, so far she hadn’t, so I was surprised when she picked up. “Hansel.”She sounded breathy, like she had been crying and was trying to hide it from me. “What the hell is going on, Gretal, are you crying?” Doubt ripped through me. She was upset. I had been right when I thought something had happened but I had taken The Judge at his word that he would protect them. Had I been wrong to do that? “No
Gretal“Is she ok?” I raised my eyes wearily as Gypsy came into the small living room. She flopped down on the chair nearest the window with a sigh, her fingers plucking to move the drapes away so she could look down at the dark street below. “Yeah, she's alright. I gave her a mild sedative. She will hopefully sleep until morning.” She sighed again. “There's some…” She swallowed hard, and I could tell by her face that she was reliving her own attack. I had heard briefly what Gypsy had been through. And it had been horrific. “There's some tearing and bruising. A condom was used so we don’t have to worry about pregnancy or sexual transmitted infections. Not that it makes it better, but at least she doesn’t have to worry about that.” Yeah, I agreed with her silently. At least she didn’t have to worry about that. “God, I need a drink.” Darcie was on her feet, her voice shaky. “Yeah, a drink sounds good.” We all deserved one. And being above a bar we were in a perfect place for one. O
HanselThe clubhouse was oddly quiet when I emerged the next morning. I had expected there to be at least some girly chatter. Since Gretal had come back, the common room seemed to be filled with girly chatter. But there was none and it made me feel oddly ill at ease.One look at Fang who was pacing the length of the room, like some agitated bearded squirrel, and I knew I had every right to feel worried. Making my way over to him, I swung him around to face me. “What's happened?” One glance at his face and I knew something had, his face was twisted in misery. “Where's Gypsy?” Another look around and I was sure she wasn’t there. None of the women were, not even the club girls had surfaced yet, the whole clubhouse felt like it was grieving. There was only one thing to put that kind of misery on his face and it was if something had happened to Gypsy. “What's happened? Fang talk to me.”“She rang and said she wasn’t coming home for a few days. She sounded…” His voice broke and he cleare
GretalIt was worse than anything I could have imagined. Maybe because I had known Keeley since she was eighteen years old - the sweetest, most pure soul I had ever met - it hit me harder. She was huddled on the floor behind the counter and one look around told me she had put up a hell of a fight. There were shattered plates and glasses all over the floor. A smear of blood on the floor. A tiny amount of blood but it seemed to stand out in stark contrast. And then my eyes found her. And it was worse than anything I had ever seen before. And I had seen a lot of bad shit.Keeley half lay, half sat in the foetal position in the farthest corner. Her whole body was shaking. Her usually silky blonde curls lay limp against her wet cheeks. There was an ugly bruise on her left cheek and around her throat. Like someone had wrapped their hands around it and tried to squeeze the life from her. But it was her eyes that hit me.They were wide and haunted. I knew the look on her face because I ha
GretalLying in bed with a man who wasn’t Hansel, when I could still feel the wetness of my orgasm against my panties was pure torture. It didn’t matter that Gio wasn’t touching me, simply being next to him felt like a betrayal.All of these years apart and I was still worried about betraying my marriage vows. Sure there had been other people, for both of us, but that was because we were apart. Being back under the same roof as him was bringing up feelings that I thought I had buried. And I was good at that. Burying my feelings for him. When I had been forced to work at The Candy House, when I had been forced to sell my body, I had turned my feelings of love into those of hate. I had thought he had forsaken me, but then he came back. He had literally knocked me off my feet again, like some avenging hero and made it all better, and all the hatred evaporated. Because I loved him. I had always loved him and I always would. “You seem tense, Gretal?” Gio’s voice spoke from the darkness.