Camouflage (Predator and Prey #1) (21 page)

He gripped my bare breast with his teeth and bit down hard before sucking it deep into his mouth. I clawed the crown of his head, pushing him away as he pounded into me without mercy, my body tightening to the point of pain before I exploded my release. I heard the sound of our sex as Daniello flexed and moved inside me, never slowing, never stopping. Our bodies covered in sweat, we exchanged needy tongues, fueling our hunger.

On the floor minutes later, my back screamed at the feel of the rough carpet. Daniello moved inside me, fucking me, owning me.

I heard his grunt as he pulled away from me sharply, fisting his cock and spewing his hot cum all over my chest. He brought his soiled hand to my lips and I licked it clean as he rubbed his orgasm all over me.

“Beautiful,” he rasped out as he circled my nipple with his drenched finger. “You are the only woman I see.”

A large part of me melted in that moment as he looked at my body in awe. His fingers drifted down to my sex as he again pushed them inside of me. I moaned in protest, sore from his brutal cock, as he began to kiss me. Minutes later, I shuddered with release as he fingered me to the point of orgasm,
twice
.

We showered together, and for the first time, bathed one another with gentle hands and shared long tongue filled kisses. We toweled each other off with soft smiles and spent the night in the dark motel, confessing from our separate pillows, my leg wrapped around his torso.

“Home is in Italy,” he murmured as his fingers strummed my thigh. “Barga.”

“I know it must be beautiful,” I whispered, close to sleep with the steady movement of his fingers. He pulled my thigh up to get a better reach as he whispered.

“It is home and yes it is beautiful. It is the only place I do not feel pressure, expectations.”

“From who?”

He stiffened at my question, but for the first time gave me an answer. “My work, Rocco.”

“Why do you deal with him? Just get rid of him. All you seem to do is argue.” I felt his chest move with his chuckle and pulled my head back from him slightly to study what I could of his face in the dark room. The cold air whirred through the vent and I pulled the cover over us and burrowed into his warm body.

“If I ‘got rid’ of all the people I argued with, we would not be sleeping in this bed.”

“Threatening to kill me again?” I rolled my eyes as he pulled me to him tightly.

“I will make you the promise that I will never say those words to you again.”

“Oh, well, thank you for that,” I said sarcastically.

“That does not mean I will not kill you,” he chuckled as I pinched his nipple and twisted hard.

“Fuck, woman,” he bit out in pain, pinning me to the bed, his hips spreading my legs as he made his way between them.

I felt his hard stare on my face as he spoke next. “If I trust you with this tomorrow, you will not get a second chance.”

“I know,” I whispered.

We spent the rest of the night whispering back and forth as he told me of his home in Italy, of his one sister, Tula, and her nine children. He’d even confessed his love for airplanes and told me he owned a small one he flew at home. I only put a word in here and there as he told me stories of himself and a younger, less angry, Rocco, who was his cousin. The last thing I remembered was a caress of lips on my collarbone before I drifted away.

I woke up just as the sun was peeking through the motel blinds and went back to Amber’s room, lying down next to her, watching her sleep. She shook and twitched, clammy, and covered in a thin veil of sweat, but remained asleep. I used to watch her for hours when she was young, worried that one more abusive hit or word from my mother would break her. But every day she’d wake up, ready to face her. It was if she mentally prepared herself in the few minutes from the time she woke up before she went downstairs.

I wondered how’d she’d conquered her stammer and lisp. She’d spoken perfectly last night, without pause. I assumed my mother’s death had a lot to do with it. I turned to stare at the ceiling, contemplating how to get out of my predicament with Laz without more blood-shed. What I did know was that money talked in these parts and it spoke volumes. I could give him enough to start a new life somewhere. It wasn’t too late for him. I realized last night, no matter how much he hated me, how much he wanted to hurt me, I wanted different for him.

Seeing him last night had physically hurt, though I didn’t let it show.

But his choices were his own. I wasn’t responsible for the way his life turned out. Life after Dyer was anything but easy for me. I had struggled long after I left, at the hands of Ray, at school, at life. And why the hell was my sister so tied up with Laz? She could’ve left like I had. She could’ve done whatever it took to get out of here like I had.

“I have a son,” my sister whispered, startling me. “They took him a week ago.”

I turned to her with question. “His grandmother, she found I was using again. I can’t deal without him. I’ve tried to get clean so many times, but it may be too late.”

“How can I help you?”

“I have to show I’m capable. I have to get clean, have a stable home for him to come back to. It’s legal now.”

“What’s his name?” I asked, curious.

“Joseph. He’s two.” I imagined a ginger baby with brown eyes just like hers and a sweet smile. “I cannot live without him, Taylor. I fucked up. I’ll do whatever it takes. I can’t be this person anymore.”

I nodded, knowing this I would help her with, for however long it took. “Why didn’t Laz help you?” Even as I said the words, I was glad she’d contacted me.

“He’s a well-known drug dealer, and even if he gave me the money, Dyer isn’t where I want to raise my son. Laz never wanted me smoking and he never gave it to me. I started on my own. He lied last night to get under your skin. He’s not the monster you think he is.”

I shook my head. “Then why all the theatrics last night, Amber? What the hell is wrong with him?”

“I think he loves you and hates you in equal measure. I never thought he would pull shit like that when he called you. But I’m guessing he didn’t plan on extra company.” She nodded her head in the direction of the motel room next to us as her lips began to shiver involuntarily.

“Yeah, about him,” I said as I eyed her, “let’s not air our business in front of him. He already knows too much and he wants Laz dead.”

“Who is he?” she asked, pushing her auburn hair away from her forehead.

“Good question. Go shower, clean up. I have to talk to Laz and we’ll get you back to Charleston.”

“Charleston?”

“Yeah, I live there. It’s ...so fucking far from here.” At my remark about the distance, Amber began to crumble.

“Joseph,” she whispered, closing her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I can’t leave him.”

“You aren’t. You
are
just getting your shit together.” She nodded slowly, got up and made her way to the bathroom.

“Laz is a good man,” she assured me. “He has always been good to me.”

“No, he’s not. He’s a could’ve been.” She pulled the door shut and I pulled some spare clothes from my bag and stuck them in the bathroom for her. It amazed me she could think of Laz that way when the situation I’d entered last night was anything but wholesome. He was getting his cock sucked by a zombie and she was being forced to watch.

My sister sure had a contorted image of good. Then again, this was all she knew.

I changed into a t-shirt and jeans and made my way next door, expecting to find Daniello gone. I was surprised when I found him dressed and waiting.

I smiled and he didn’t. I wanted to go to him, run my fingers through his hair. My sex pulsed at the thought of us repeating last night. I wanted him every minute I was with him. I wondered if he felt the same. He’d been so open last night. It was obviously a fluke because he was slightly closed off this morning.

“I think—”

“Don’t you dare. You cannot change your mind. This is not your decision!”

“Do you know who he is?!”

“Yes! I’ve known him my whole life. And now, apparently, someone got an update while I was next door. How the hell did you even find me, anyway?”

“Why even question how?”

“Because you invade my life! You demand my body and demand answers and give nothing in return!”

He moved to stand in front of me, his eyebrow quirked. “Nothing?”

I blew out all the air in my lungs as he smirked. “You like seeing me this way, agitated and pissed off,” I concluded as I put my hands on my hips.

“I like you other ways, as well,” he murmured as he slid his hands underneath my t-shirt and caressed my skin with his fingertips.

His thick lashes shadowed perfect golden eyes as he studied me. “Just let me try this my way, if not, we can do it yours.”

He nodded and took a step back just as Amber knocked on the door. I opened it and noted that Daniello made himself busy loading his bags and bringing them to the trunk. Apparently, he didn’t want an introduction. So I didn’t give him one.

I handed Amber my phone, asking her to text Laz and have him meet me at our place. She had a question in her eyes but did as she was told. Driving into Dyer, there was an eerie quiet in the car. Daniello didn’t miss anything as he surveyed the ghost town and caught my eyes in the rearview. We past what would have been the town square, which was just a few buildings opposite of the other, all abandoned and crumbling brick. The further we went, the more the dread in my chest built. It was everything I’d remembered it to be: desolate, deserted, and forgotten. Desperate to escape the town I’d fled, I gripped the wheel tight as Amber stared out the window emotionless. This was all she knew.

Daniello remained quiet as I slowed past our old farmhouse to study its state curious about my father.

“He died a few years ago, heart attack.” I nodded, knowing that it had everything to do with meth and wondering why fate had taken so long to take him. Daniello’s stare burned a hole through me in the rearview as he caught my eye, no emotion in my face. I concentrated on Laz as I pulled to a stop on the dirt road that separated our old houses. I looked at Daniello then back at Amber.

“There is forty grand and a cell phone in my bag in the trunk. Use it to start over, Amber, get Joseph back and leave. I have a friend named Cedric programmed in the phone who knows about you. He will get you to Charleston.”

“I will get her to Charleston,” Daniello spoke up. “You do not need to go alone.”

“Please, we agreed,” I pleaded. Daniello glanced out the window and nodded.

I gave him a long look, memorizing his features, and he refused to look at me. I could see the tenseness in his body. He was fighting with everything in him not to end this on his terms.

I made my way down the dirt road toward our pond, a thousand memories hitting me like painful bricks. I took a deep breath as I saw the truck that Laz had driven last night.

“He with you?” I heard as he rounded the truck bed and looked past me.

“He’s in the car,” I answered. “So is Amber. I’m taking her home with me, to get clean, for her son.”

Laz stood a few feet away, his features showing exhaustion.

“Thank you for taking care of her, for being there. Laz, I’m sorry about what happened. I’ve—”

“Bullshit,” he snapped. “You didn’t give a shit about me then and you don’t now. You just want a clean getaway.”

I took a step toward him. “I want that, yes. That’s all I’d ever wanted, Laz. I’m sorry.”

He pushed a rock around with his boot then without hesitation met my green eyes with his blue. I couldn’t help the familiar pain that spread through me as I remembered better days at this pond. I could see the recollection in his eyes, too.

“Pretty smart asking me here.” He grinned menacingly. “Take your sister and leave.”

“That’s it, no more games?”

“If I decide it that way.”

“Laz—”

He reached for my throat with both hands and squeezed hard as he bit out his words. Clawing at his hands, I felt the burn from lack of oxygen as my head pounded and realized what a fool I’d been.

“You fucking owe me, Red, more than you will ever know. And
when
and
if
I feel it’s time to collect, I fucking will. You and that man you decided to bring to my fucking house won’t be able to do shit about it. Now get the fuck out of here before I change my mind.”

I gasped as I fell to the ground, seconds from unconsciousness, tears welling in my eyes. He kicked me solidly in the chest and I felt a rib crack under the weight of it. I reached for the gun behind me and pulled it around as Laz kicked it from my hand then backhanded me. Blood immediately started pouring from my nose as I stood slowly and glared at him, ready to fight tooth and nail.

“If you think you would’ve ever won with me, bitch, you are sadly mistaken.”

“No,” I hissed through my pain. “I lost with you a long time ago.”

No matter how much time had passed, here at our place, memories of soaking up the sun with the blue eyed boy I loved ran through me like waves, forcing the point of loss home. My Laz was completely and utterly gone and replaced by a monster I didn’t recognize, and that I refused to surrender to.

He smirked as he watched me wince in pain and I took a step full of contempt toward him, chin lifted, ready for war. I knew I would lose but not without inflicting lasting pain. I heard Daniello’s shout from a distance and saw Laz grip the gun in his pants before leaving it where it sat on his hip and walking toward his truck.

“I’m not doing this for you,” he hissed as he ripped his cab door open.

“I know,” I said, looking back to see Daniello coming toward us full force, eyes blazing in anger, his gun pointed at Laz.

“Get him the fuck out of here, Red,” Laz bit out as Daniello’s first bullet ripped through the metal in the side of his truck. I saw their eyes connect and the hate that ran between them and stepped in front of Daniello’s next shot. He roared in anger as Laz sprayed gravel with his departure.

“Goddamn you, woman!” Daniello yelled as he caught up with me, fury all over his face. He ran after the truck, cursing in every language he knew while unloading his gun.

“I know, I know, no one can abuse me but you.” He moved toward me and gripped my head, his eyes roaming what I was sure was a purpling neck. I pulled my head away as he inspected my nose. “I’ll let you strangle me next time, okay? Can we please just leave? It’s over.”

“He will be dead by morning,” he promised, glancing over my shoulder for the long gone truck.

“NO!” I didn’t know how to make him understand. “Please, it’s over,” I lied. “Promise me. Promise me right now, you will not hurt him.”

“You ask too much of me.” He closed his eyes as I wiped the blood away from my nose and onto my t-shirt.

“It’s over. Take me home.” He nodded.

“This I will do.”

“Promise me.”

“No.”

He gave me a deadly glare as he checked over my appearance and seemed satisfied I was in one piece. We walked silently back to the car, Daniello glanced in my direction every few seconds with what I thought was concern. Amber was waiting next to the car door, fidgeting nervously.

“Let’s go,” was all I said as I rounded the driver’s side. “I drive,” Daniello muttered, pointing to the passenger seat. I got in without argument as we made the bone aching drive back through Dyer. Daniello routed us back through without needing any direction and slowly drove through town, taking it in for a second time.