Chapter 19

Soren

"Is that the last one?" Jose asks, huffing out a breath when we lower another body near the edge of water.

"For now." I smirk and whistle out toward the water. Not that I need to stay and make sure she does her job, but I like to check on her all the same.

"How is the resistance going?"

My eyes glance from Jose to the water, debating my answer. Although, tomorrow he'll be an official member, he still has a few hours until his initiation.

"We knew it would take longer than overnight to change everyone's perspective. I'm weeding out the snakes while Steffan works to rein in everyone else. It's all about a show of power right now. Power we have, and the control we're taking over. Our allies are strong, but there are a few members who are misogynistic assholes stuck in the fifteenth century like their predecessors. It's fine if they want to keep that mindframe, but we refuse to acknowledge it," I explain the best I can. Jose nods his head in understanding.

"Chanda said it's already spreading that families can no longer make deals, or show power by using their female relatives. She cried." Jose chuckles to himself.

I give him a wordless shake of my head. "Chanda crying usually means she wants to kill someone, so if it was happy tears, I don't know what to tell you."

Not that I care much. Chanda has always walked to the beat of her own drum, but I do like hearing that the news and awareness is spreading. For Steffan, Lee, and myself, graduation is right around the corner, and we'll be taking our rightful places in The Illicit. Well, Steffan and Lee will be doing all the diplomatic things. I plan to keep doing what I've always done. That, and keeping my little mouse safe, which has been proving to be a full-time job. I caught her yesterday trying to stand on the counter to reach a bowl. I grabbed her before she got the chance, but she was frustrated. I had to remind her of the baby, and she rolled her eyes.

Taylor has another year left of college, but has agreed to finish online so we can all be together while raising our baby. After the weekend, only Jose will be here until he's done. Chanda is continuing to teach for now, but it's only a matter of time before she leaves as well. I know she has been talking with Steffan about creating an all-girls school for daughters in the families of The Illicit who want to be more than a pretty face. And by that, I mean she wants to train them to be assassins for The Illicit.

"Lots of things are changing and things are ending," I finally say to him.

In the distance, Allison's eyes reflect in the water, and the current around her massive body indicates she's getting near.

"How long do alligators live? I'm not going to have to worry about her dying on me next year, am I?" Jose's eyes are also on the massive beast moving toward us.

"She has a good fifty years on her, at least, Succo." I level my gaze at him. "If you fucking kill my alligator, I'll come back and kill you too. Her family can enjoy your insides."

The man pales slightly from my threat, but he says nothing. We watch in silence as Allison swims near enough, and grabs her prey. I swear I see her tail swish at me like a wave of thanks on her way back into the murky, dark water.

"Let's go."

We drive back and plan out the next round of interrogations I can't wait to be part of. I like to play with our prisoners, giving them a few days grace so they think the worst is over. They're better off just admitting everything to me upfront instead of prolonging the torture. It just shows that we are truly cleaning out the weakest and most despicable idiots.

The house is dark when we arrive. Jose gets out and makes his way up the stairs before disappearing down the hallway. A few of the floorboards creak under my footsteps while I climb my way to our sets of rooms. The copper smell of blood clings to me, as well as sweat. I'd like nothing more than to slip in and spend some quality time with my little mouse, but I need to shower first. Usually she doesn't mind blood, and I like making her dirty, but only when it's hers or my blood. I don't want the filth of the ex-Illicit members to touch, or taint, her skin.

My hand twists open the door to my brother's room, and sure enough, she's snuggled deep in his arms. Lee is on the other side, his arm draped across her waist. The spark of jealousy I normally feel barely ignites before sizzling out and disappearing. I'm not sure whether it was his sacrifice or brush with death, but Lee is less on my nerves these days. Even though I want all of Taylor's attention on me always, I hate Lee a little less knowing he is fine with what she has to give him. And that she isn't leaving me for either of them. We truly are our own little fucked-up family now.

I close the door and duck inside my own room to shower. There are a few hours until sunrise, and the rest of the day begins. Initiation Day has always been my favorite. My fingers run over the scar from my own initiation. Back then our fathers came to deliver our blood sacrifice until Steffan became in charge. That was one of the first things he changed. He gave me my scar, and in turn, I gave him his. Good times.

I check on Taylor one more time before climbing into bed and settling in. My muscles finally relax. I can't wait to stab some fucking scabs tomorrow.

"You are awake," Taylor's soft voice says from inside my door. I glance at her in the mirror and practically salivate over how sexy she looks in just a plain, dark blue dress. The material hugs her in all the right places, and her tits look fucking edible, all pushed up and begging for my hands.

"Just getting ready," I tell her, never taking my eyes off of her.

Her cheeks turn pink under my gaze while she bites her lip adorably. "You didn't come see us when you got in."

"It was early this morning. You looked peaceful snuggled between my brothers."

She walks into my room and my body grows taut, wanting her touch, needing to feel her skin. Carefully, she leans up on her toes and presses her lips to mine. I accept her kiss, waiting to see what she does next.

Taylor pulls back, her dark, chocolatey eyes meeting mine. "Steffan wants us to head down, so we're not late."

She turns to walk away and my control to let her lead snaps. My hand grips her arms and I spin her to face me, my hands diving into her hair, cradling the back of her head while my mouth devours hers. My little mouse always tastes so good. My favorite treat. The most edible dessert.

Her hands clutch my shoulders, her little nails like pinpricks. I grunt from the pain, and she moans in response. I run my tongue along her lips before slipping into her mouth. She pulls back breathless, her lips swollen. "We'll be late."

I smirk at her before kissing her again. "We have plenty of time."

"Soren…" She says my name like that and I think it's meant to keep me on track, but all I hear is please fuck me.

My fingers unbutton the shirt I just put on, and I slide it off my shoulders. "Dress on the floor, Little Mouse."

My command sends shivers across her flushed skin as her fingers work the material off her shoulders. Her hands reach around the back for the zipper. I unbutton my pants and let my cock spring free, my eyes never leaving Taylor as her dress slips farther and farther to the ground until it lays in a pool on the floor. "On the bed."

She moves quickly, a needy little whimper falling from her lips. My eyes stay on her hips and her ass when she walks past me, falling to the bed. She lies down and opens her legs until I have the perfect view of her glistening pussy. I pump my cock and pre-cum leaks from the tip, wetting my palm. Fuck, I want her.

Her eyes grow heavy and stay locked on me as I move toward her, dropping to my knees until I can smell her arousal. This woman is sweet as honey. I dip my head and place hungry kisses on her delicate flesh before teasing my tongue over her needy clit. Taylor's hips lift and a breathy moan falls from her lips. "Soren."

I could feast on her all day. Skip the initiation. All I need is her, and the taste of her on my tongue. My cock jumps with each moan and thrust of her body. My tongue slides through her, teasing over and over before sucking her little bundle of nerves. She throws her head back and I watch as her mouth parts. "More."

A growl is ripped from my chest while I plunge two fingers into her tight pussy. Her body clenches around them, threatening to drag them as deep as possible. "Oh, yes," she pants with every thrust of my fingers. I watch her in awe while her body tenses, her lips parting and her eyes slam shut.

"Ah…oh, Soren."

I grin when she calls my name again, making no move to make her be quiet. I want the whole house to know what we're doing. I want the entire class of pledges to take notes before their initiation on how the real Illicit takes care of their women.

Her body relaxes and I withdraw my fingers before climbing over her. Our lips meet, and my hand grips her leg, pulling it high up on my waist before sliding inside her. I don't go slow, I don't let her get used to me. I bury myself in her to the hilt, loving the way she's impossibly tight after her orgasm. Her muscles and warmth grip my cock, and I could come from the sensation alone. I need more, though. I want to keep her this way the rest of the day. Under me, over me, doesn't matter, as long as I'm inside of her.

"Fuck. So fucking good, Little Mouse," I groan and she places kisses all over my neck, my face, my lips. We're starving for each other. My hand glides over her soft skin and up to her heavy tits. My mouth finds her pebbled nipple as I begin sucking and biting while I roll my hips over and over, savoring the feeling of being inside of her. Wetness floods between us, and she tries to buck her hips into me. "Please, Soren."

She begs and my control snaps fully. I plunge into her deeper with every stroke. Her pussy clenches round me so tight it forces my cock to swell. My lips slam over hers, taking every cry and moan from the force of our orgasms. I keep rocking into her while my cum shoots deep inside of her so hard, I swear my vision goes black. The love and obsession I feel for her grows and expands until I think I can't contain it. She's mine, ours, the reason I live and breathe.

Our chests heave while I flip us to the side, cradling her in my arms. "We're going to be so late."

"Anytime with you is worth it." I smirk in her hair, inhaling her scent and pressing her tighter to my body. My phone dings on the nightstand. I reach over and pick it up.

STEFFAN: Dick.

"We need to go," Taylor announces after reading the message. She gets up and cleans herself as best she can before sliding her underwear back on. For some reason, I like knowing my cum will be leaking down her legs while we initiate the scabs violently into our world.

"Zip me, please." Taylor spins her back to me, and I help her zip the material back into place. I throw my own clothes back on and run my hands through my hair, taming down the mess she created.

Our eyes meet and a shy smile tugs at her lips. "I look like I just got fucked."

"You did, baby." I kiss her softly. "And they're going to be so jealous it wasn't them."

Taking her hand, we walk down the hall to the stairs and reach the door to the basement. Lee is waiting, and one look at Taylor and he's glaring at me. "Seriously?"

My shoulders lift. "It could have been you, but you like to be on time and listen to my brother more."

Lee rolls his eyes while dropping a kiss on Taylor's cheek. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you," she answers, giving him a smile. "I didn't really know what to wear for an initiation."

"You're perfect as always," I tell her. She loops her hand through my arm, her other hand in Lee's as we descend the stairs to the dungeon.

The scabs are all lined up, their glowing masks in place, chests bare and ready for their marks. Tied up, front and center, is a man with a bag over his head, and a large red X painted on it. He's bound and gagged under there and waiting for his execution.

I hand Taylor over to Chanda, who is also watching from the side before Lee and I join Steffan on the stage. I take my place by Jose, ready to get this party started.

"The blood of The Illicit runs in our veins. Tonight you will bleed in sacrifice and shed the blood of a traitor. Only then will you be a sworn brother, a member of the new Illicit," Steffan speaks and all eyes shift to him. They are all handed a weapon and told to aim for the enemy. None of the pledges flinch or waver before delivering their bullets to the man in the bag. His body slumps to the floor and the crowd cheers.

Steffan comes back to stand in front of Jose. A Succo to be initiated, the first in over twenty years. Steffan hands me the knife and I turn to the scab. His eyes flick to mine before looking beyond me, trusting me to do what I have to.

"Say your pledge," I tell him.

"In Delta Phi Theta we become a brotherhood that is sworn to pledge your loyalty, smoke the enemy, crave The Illicit, bleed for the brotherhood, die for the family. It is our oath to The Illicit. Our blood promise. Danger is sweet."

My hand glides forward, and I thrust the knife into his chest, watching as the blood spills out.

"Welcome to the brotherhood."