Chapter 19

19

NIKOLAI

" T his is so fucked." I shuffle through the photos of the missing girls. "You think Angel's brother is responsible?" I knew he was off, but I didn't think it went this deep.

"I don't think. I know. The girlfriend too." I'm not the least bit surprised about that. If I had to guess, the blonde is more fucked up in the head than Brent. It's in the eyes. There is nothing there.

"Why were you even looking into this? How is he on your radar?" Is it one of the missing girls or something else entirely? It can't be good when Church is mixed up in it.

"Does it matter?"

"Yeah, it fucking does." I drop the photos down on the worn wood table in the middle of the warehouse. "Riley has been in contact with them, so I want to know everything." I take a step closer to Church so he knows how fucking serious I am right now.

"It's the sister," Church grits out, pissed about it but everything pisses him off.

Well, shit. Now a few things are clicking together. Him asking me about the picture the other night. Her name was the first thing out of his mouth when I got here. This is over a girl. Of course it is. I'm not judging in the least cause I know exactly what he's feeling. Still, I'm shocked. I didn't think Church cared for anyone. Male or female. But what the fuck do I really know about Church?

"So what's your plan here?" He must have one. Why else would he have called me here?

"I'm taking the girl."

"The sister?" I want to be real clear here.

"Yes," he grunts.

"Why? Do you think Brent would go after his own twin sister?"

"Don't know. Don't care. It doesn't change the outcome."

"You're still taking her." He doesn't answer, but it's not really a question either. I know without a doubt that Church is going to follow-through. And God help anybody that tries to stop him.

"Giving you a heads-up."

"That's awfully nice of you."

"I needed time to get things ready. Now I'll take her." I run a hand down my face.

"And do what with her?"

"That's not your concern."

"Jesus Christ," I mutter. "How do you think that's going to work out for you?"

"Again, not your fuckin' concern." I can see Church is losing his patience. "I know your girl has been around Angel. The brother is around her. I'm putting you on notice of what he's capable of. You're welcome."

"I'm welcome." I bark a laugh. "You've lost your mind."

"Long ago."

I pull out my phone. If Angel disappears without a trace, people will notice. Her father is a senator. Riley will be alone at book club. I know her. She'll ask me to look into it. But I can't stop Church. Matteo might be able to, but I doubt it.

"You have the blocker on?" I ask when I see I've got no service.

"Shit." Church reaches under the desk and flips the switch. Both of our phones start going off.

"The fuck!" I shout when I see Riley's text. I also get an alert for the tracker I have on her.

When she turned eighteen, I left her a birthday gift. It was a necklace with a tear-shaped diamond. Behind the diamond, there was a tracker. I don't think she even knows it was from me. But she's been wearing it since then. I don't think she's tried to take it off either, because the latch locks into place. I would say any guilt I had about putting it on her would now be justified, but I've never felt guilt over it. Especially when I see it hanging around her neck, knowing it belongs to me.

"Your girl is over at Angel's."

"Are you tracking Riley?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Then how do—" Never mind. He's probably got eyes on the house. The less I know, the better. "I've got to go."

"The blonde girl and Brent are home." I hear Church's words from behind me, but I'm already sprinting toward my car. I get in and floor it.

I start spam-calling Riley over and over again. When I can't reach her, I call Zero.

"Here," he says when he answers.

"I'm going to pull up to a gate. I need you to open it," I tell him. He'll track me and figure it out. I can hear him clicking away. I see the gate in front of me, and it's already opening. "Cut all camera feeds and clear out the last five hours." I don't want anyone knowing Riley was ever there.

"Done."

"Thanks." I end the call flying through the gates. I come to a screeching halt in front of the house. Sal jumps out of his car.

"The fuck?" I ignore him, heading into the house. The second I open the door, I hear a scream. My blood turns to ice. I could pick out Riley's voice anywhere. Fear runs through me for the first time in a long time.

I take off on a dead run, following the sound. When I burst through the bedroom door, I lose my ever-loving mind at the scene in front of me. As I lunge for the motherfucker, everything bleeds red. I don't stop my attack until Riley is screaming my name and pulling at my arm. It snaps me back to reality.

"Holy fuck." I hear Sal say something, but my attention goes to Riley. My hand cups her face.

"I'm okay," she reassures me. I realize there's blood on my hands and now on her as well.

"Take her and go." Sal says it calmly.

"The warehouse," I tell him, glancing down at both Brent and the blonde from school laid out cold on the floor. Another scream sounds in the house.

"Angel?" Riley tries to take off, but I snag her around the waist, stopping her. There is no way she is stepping foot out of my sight.

"Let me." I place her behind me. When we make it back to the front of the house, I hear tires screeching. I rush out, seeing the taillights of Church's vehicle.

"Where is Angel?" Riley wraps herself around my arm.

"Church has her." I lead Riley toward my car. "Get in," I tell her, opening the passenger-side door.

"What about Angel? My bag."

"You trust me?" I want to touch her face again, but I'm not putting any more of their blood on her.

"You know I do."

"Then get in."

"Okay." She nods, slipping into the car. I shut the door behind her, taking a deep breath and trying to calm myself. I glance back at the front door, wanting to go back inside to finish what I started, but it will have to wait. Sal will handle it. Right now, I need to take care of Riley.

When we make it back to the condo, I lead her straight to my bathroom. Riley doesn't stop me as I strip her of all of her clothing before removing mine. I pull her into the shower with me.

"Nikolai." Riley runs her fingers down my chest. There are lingering scars from my childhood. Hell, some aren't that old. But I hadn't lost my shit in a while. What I had never done before was black out. It was all a blur, but more was starting to come back as I calmed.

"I love you," I tell her, taking her face in my hands.

"I love you too," she says back between kisses.

I take my time soaping up every inch of her, trying to wash away what happened earlier tonight. Focusing on her is the only thing that's keeping me calm. She needs me right now.

"I'm okay, Nikolai. I promise. You don't have to treat me with kid gloves." I finish rinsing her hair and turn the water off.

"I need to do this right now, Riley. Let me take care of you." I grab a towel, wrapping it around her. I grab another, drying myself off real quick before I lift her in my arms and carry her over to my bed, placing her down on top of it.

"I need you, Nikolai." She looks so fucking sexy yet vulnerable at the same time. She lets the towel I wrapped around her fall, leaving her completely naked. Her eyes are trained on my hard cock. Her hand reaches out, wrapping around me. I swear my vision blurs for a second as she begins to stroke me. It's only been my hand for years, and feeling her softness there is unlike anything I have ever experienced.

"You're not ready," I grit out, barely being able to maintain my self-control as she continues stroking me. "Lie back and spread your legs for me, sweetness." I want nothing more than to pounce on her, but I'm going to do this right. It's both our first times, and I won't rush this. I know we'll have a million more, but this one will always be remembered.

"You never let me touch you," she pouts.

"If you keep touching me like that, I'm gonna lose it, and I want to be inside you when you make me come. Isn't that what you want, Riley?" Without another word, she scoots back on the bed, spreading her thighs to show me every single inch of her. My girl, giving me what I need. That's what she is. All mine. No one else will ever have this.

Her pussy is glistening with arousal, begging for my mouth and cock. I climb onto the bed until I'm wedged between her legs. I lean down, taking her mouth in a gentle kiss. I want to savor every second of this. To brand it in both of our minds.

I break the kiss, my lips trailing down her neck until I reach her breast. I tongue her nipple, her little moans spurring me on. Her fingers grip my hair, her hips lifting off the bed, her greedy little pussy wanting more. I smile around her nipple, releasing it.

My mouth continues its journey, kissing each of her soft curves as I make my way down. She is perfect, every single inch of her. I settle myself between her thighs. They lift off the bed, but I pin her down.

"You need something, sweetness?" I run my nose along her pussy, inhaling her scent. Always so damn sweet.

"Please," she begs. She doesn't have to ask me twice. I bury my face in her pussy, licking and sucking until her legs are shaking and she's screaming my name as she orgasms. But I'm not done with her yet.

"I need another one." This time I work my fingers into her, getting her ready for me. My girl doesn't disappoint; she gives me exactly what I asked for. Her orgasm rips through her, flooding my mouth. I drink every last drop of it down before placing a kiss on the inside of each of her thighs.

"Nikolai. I need all of you." With those words, my last thread of self-control frays. My cock begs me to take her. I rise to my knees between her legs, wanting to be connected in every way with her. I line my cock up with her entrance.

"I love you," I say before I slowly push all the way inside of her, loving the way she feels but hating the pain I have to cause her.

She feels like heaven. That's the only thought I have as her pussy grips my cock. I don't move, giving her time to adjust to me. I have no clue how I'm holding on, but I do know I don't want to hurt her. All I ever want her to feel is pleasure from my touches. I know that's what all of hers give me.

It doesn't take her long to start wiggling beneath me. When I don't immediately move, she grabs my ass, trying to get me to give her what she wants.

"More," she commands. I do exactly that, thrusting in and out of her until we are both going over the edge. As my body jerks, I lean down and kiss her mouth, spilling deeply into her. Connecting us in every way.

"I love you," she whispers into my ear, her soft fingers running up and down my back.

"Then you'll marry me." Riley giggles at my clear order, making her pussy clamp down around my cock, which is still hard inside of her. "Riley?"

"What? It wasn't a question." She laughs harder. I pull out of her and thrust back, making her gasp.

"You'll marry me." I repeat my order while gazing down at her. Fuck, is she beautiful. Those green eyes that see deep into me in ways no one ever has. Her red hair spread out across my bed. Her cheeks are still rosy with pleasure, making her freckles light up.

"Nikolai." Her whole face goes soft. "I'd do anything you wanted me to." A smile tugs at her lips. "Because, like I said, I trust you."

I trust her too. I trust her in ways that I will never trust anyone else. It's why she'll be the only one to ever get all of me.