Chapter 37

Sadie

A fter Keelan returned to the house, we made love and fell asleep in each other’s arms. The following morning, I awoke with a feeling of peace despite the impending confrontation with my father at the party. The only thing that helped me relax was Keelan’s warm body, clinging to me like it was our last night in each other’s arms.

It could very well be if this goes south and Keelan gets taken away.

A cold, sick feeling danced in my chest as I sat up from the pile of pillows. Keelan was still sound asleep beside me, his face the image of perfection. Smiling, I leaned down and planted a kiss on his lips, savoring that warm softness.

“Keelan,” I whispered. His eyes fluttered open, and his hand trailed up my arm.

“Hey, baby,” he murmured, pieces of his disheveled black hair sticking straight in the air. It was too adorable .

I dragged my right hand up his neck, pressing my fingers into the skin. He shuddered under my hand, and I grinned wickedly before biting my bottom lip. I loved the effect I had on him.

Then I scooted closer, pressing my lips against his jawline.

“Mm, your lips feel nice, baby,” he purred.

Smiling, I continued to give him soft kisses straight down to his bare collarbone. “It’s been so hectic these last few days. I need to touch you.”

Not that he didn’t want to be physical, but I could see the resistance every time we were close, and I would involuntarily flinch from his touch because of my wounded body. Though I hadn’t fully healed, I needed him like I needed air.

I didn’t care anymore if I was still tender; only he could make me feel like myself again.

“Your obedient hostage hasn’t been taken roughly in a few days,” I said, taunting him. “You haven’t even ordered her around. I think she needs it.”

The fire in my gut ignited a raw, untamed lust, and I knew by the look in his eyes it awakened something inside him, too. I needed to touch him and for him to reclaim my body as his in return.

Suddenly, he reached over and wrapped his hand over my throat, gripping and restricting my breath slightly.

It looks like he’s ready to play.

Keelan quickly moved forward, hovering over me now and squeezing his thighs over my hips as he caged me in. I moaned and slipped my fingers under his boxers, my nails brushing against his straining cock. His eyes rolled in the back of his head as my fingers ran over the tip, probing further down .

“You never got it re-pierced,” I stated in a low and husky voice, my fingers touching his warm shaft.

“You know, that takes a bit to heal. I couldn’t risk not being able to fuck you when I was ready,” he bit out right before lowering his mouth to my shoulder and nipping at my skin.

I readjusted my fingers around his cock, slowly stroking again.

Even with the angle that my arm was in, I was able to grip him fully, gliding my fist up and down his entire length.

As I stroked him, Keelan reached down with his other hand and slipped it inside my pants, finding my soaking wet pussy, and stuck two fingers inside in one violent thrust. Heat tore through my body, igniting in my head and coiling low in my stomach.

While he touched me, my hand began moving up and down again, rougher this time, pulling on his thin skin. I swallowed a moan as he leaned against me, urging me to move faster as he ran circles with his thumb over my clit.

God, I am so fucking wet.

“Keelan,” I moaned, his fingers sliding in and out of me at a faster pace. “Oh, God. I … I’m—!”

Keelan’s head fell forward as I pumped his cock two more times right before he spilled his heat into my hands. Thick ropes of cum splashed against my fingers and his boxers, leaving us both breathless and lightheaded as my orgasm soon followed.

“Fuck,” he panted.

My thighs squeezed against his hips, and I smiled, settling myself back on my pillow while wiping my hand against the blanket to clean it. Keelan’s fingers were still in my pussy, wet and ready for him again. He knew exactly what I wanted. His fingers pulled out and started prodding at my entrance, teasing me. My entire body tensed. I moaned as he began pumping in and out, his thumb rubbing circles over my clit.

Slowly, I spread my legs a little wider for him, making my point. One he clearly didn’t miss. “She wants a kiss.”

A wild smile stretched across Keelan’s face as he pulled his fingers away. He placed one kiss on the side of my jaw, and then he crawled under the blanket, nestling between my legs. I felt his mouth trail across my skin, teasing me before he settled right above my pussy, which was already aching for him.

“Oh, fuck …” I murmured, sliding my hands beneath the blanket to grip his hair. I needed to make sure he wouldn’t pull back.

Slowly, he found my bundle of nerves and began to suck, his tongue trailing across the sensitive spot to stimulate me further.

“Yes,” I breathed, my body curving as I held onto his hair, arching my hips upward to grind myself against his face. He knew all the right places—all the ways to pleasure me and fill the cravings that continuously roamed through my body. “Right there. Please, yes …” The words tumbled out of my lips, one after another, though I had very little control over any aspects of myself.

His tongue snaked inside me, prodding deeper, no matter the resistance I gave in return. There was so much pressure now, and I bit my bottom lip, feeling a wave of flutters spread through me. Keelan pushed his tongue deeper inside somehow, reaching all the tender spots.

Jesus.

I spread my legs further apart while one of his hands slid up my right thigh, grabbing my unmarked ass cheek. He squeezed my hips, pulling me up and adjusting my position. Keelan’s movements were urgent, as if he desperately needed me as close as I needed him. The desire to be pressed against each other overcame everything else, to the point where I was practically grinding against his face, smothering him with my need.

Positioned like this, his lips brushed against my clit while his tongue continued to thrust in and out of me wildly. Keelan moaned, the pleasure humming in his throat. The sound vibrated through me, sending more tingles that only got me closer to my peak. I barely had any control over my body as I trembled against him, lost in the waves of sheer ecstasy that had me whimpering and quivering. Fuck, whenever he touched me, my body would surrender to him. Every time he took me, that claim became clearer.

It was nothing short of ownership. I. Was. His.

“Jesus, Sade. You taste so fucking good,” he purred, the heat of his breath moving over my skin. I gripped harder on his hair as I rolled my hips into his mouth. I was so damn close to rising to that bliss, drowned in endless euphoria with every flick of his tongue.

“I’m coming,” I said, my breath heavy. I tried to warn him, but the words barely made it past my lips before my orgasm struck me. Hard and fast.

“Keelan!” I practically shouted his name as I dripped all over his tongue. The sudden wave had me flinching backward, but he held me tightly in my place. He continued in a sweeping motion with his tongue to draw out my orgasm. My back arched, and my head pressed deeper into the pillow, his name repeating on my lips as I gasped.

It took a while for me to wind down and finally catch my breath. When I did, he flung the sheets back and moved over me, his mouth claiming mine as we shared my taste in a passionate kiss .

“I love you,” I said after he pulled back, his palm resting on my cheek. A small smile curved his lips, and his eyes lit up.

“I love you, too. So fucking much.”

Keelan placed his head on the pillow and looked into my eyes. His smile made my cheeks flush. I had never seen him look so happy before.

“Well,” he said, his smile now reaching his eyes. “That was a nice little treat for the morning.”

Keelan placed his hand on my arm and rubbed it gently with the back of his fingers.

“I don’t know. That was more of a treat for me,” I said with a teasing wink.

“Oh, I’m not complaining,” he said before leaning in and gently kissing me again.

“I’m gonna wash my hands and then head downstairs to make some coffee in that fancy kitchen down there,” I said. “Do you want a cup?”

Keelan nodded and sat back up, scratching his neck and back. “Yeah, with a generous amount of milk, please.” He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my left ear. “I need to shower first, though. I’ve got cum all over my thigh.”

“Poor baby,” I smirked.

I kissed him again and slid from beneath the soft red covers of the king-sized bed we slept in. I quickly washed my hands and threw on a T-shirt and pajama shorts before heading out the door and down the stairs.

The kitchen was way bigger than mine back in Vermont. It had dark cherry wood cabinets, cool gray granite countertops, and, luckily, a coffee maker next to the gas stove. After a few minutes of searching for coffee grounds and two mugs, I pulled out the milk we had delivered yesterday from the fridge and began brewing the desperately needed liquid of life. The coffee tasted heavenly on my tongue as I took a sip.

My ears picked up the sound of the shower turning on. As I debated joining him, there was a noise by the front door. I stood up slowly and entered the entryway leading into the living room but flushed my body against the wall, keeping out of view from the window.

When I peeked around the corner, I saw the movement of two silhouettes behind the door’s frosted glass window. Armed with only a piping hot mug of coffee, I waited.

“Sadie! Kee! Open the door!” Gavin’s muffled voice called out, and my shoulders instantly relaxed. I hurried to the door, unlocked it, and stepped aside to allow him to enter.

“Gav! You scared the shit out of me,” I scolded, setting my mug on an end table. “I almost doused you in coffee. I didn’t want to make that sacrifice.”

Gavin laughed as he placed two black duffle bags by the door. “Sorry. I texted Keelan five minutes ago that I was almost here, but he didn’t reply.”

Yeah, he was busy getting jacked off and eating me out.

“My brother was always notorious for ignoring my text messages when you were around, Sade,” a cheerful, feminine voice chimed from over Gavin’s shoulder.

“Oh, my God!” I cried out. “Mia!”

Keelan’s sister pushed past Gavin and ran into my arms, her thick blonde hair brushing against my face. Her hair, now cut and styled into a chic bob, framed her oval face perfectly and had a couple of bright pink streaks along the front. She had even added several floral tattoos on her chest. It must have been a recent addition. The last time I saw Mia, she was only seventeen.

She’s so tall now, at least five-foot-nine.

Mia Blake was Keelan’s younger half-sister and the favorite of his siblings. I loved her like she was my little sister, and we used to spend hours playing together. The last time I saw her was during the trial when she looked over at me from the benches with hurt and confusion in her eyes. Back then, I felt so distraught and guilty that I ignored her. Given how tight she hugged me, I didn’t think she hated me for what I did.

“What are you doing here?” I asked when I released her. “I thought we were all supposed to meet at the party.”

She straightened out her green V-neck graphic T-shirt that complemented her sapphire-blue eyes and black jean shorts. “I have to help Keelan cover the tattoos, and I brought you a dress. The doormen won’t let you in if you’re not dressed appropriately.”

I nodded because that made more sense than the plan I had in my head and flashed her a smile. “God, Mia, it’s crazy how much you’ve grown in just a year.”

Mia nodded as I grabbed my coffee, and we walked into the kitchen. “Yeah, I started working as an apprentice at the tattoo shop about six months ago. Gav says that I’ll get to work on my first client soon. The tattoo on my calf is one I designed myself.”

She turned to show me the back of her leg. There on her light beige skin was a colorful peacock feather that looked like it had been snatched up in a breeze. The colors were vibrant, and the detail was near-perfect. My heart filled with pride. Mia was going to be an accomplished artist, just like her brother .

“Mia,” Keelan called from the stairs and entered the kitchen. His wet hair shone under the lights, and he looked damn delicious in his black tank top and jeans. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Keelan,” I snapped. “Come on.”

Keelan’s eyes softened, but he still looked pissed. “Gavin, why is my sister here?”

“Relax, Keelan,” Mia said, laughing. “Were you honestly going to march into the mansion looking like that? I’m here to help you get ready for Dad’s party tonight. Gav told me everything, and I want to help you. I brought all of my cosmetics and a fake mustache that I bought from a friend who does costume makeup in Hollywood. I’ll go grab it.”

Before Keelan could speak, Mia left the kitchen to grab one of Gavin’s bags. I bit my cheek to keep back the laughter in my throat and took another sip of coffee.

Keelan glared at Gavin before grabbing the mug of coffee I made him. “Brian called when I got out of the shower. He’ll be here tonight at five to go over the next phase of this shitstorm,” Keelan said. “His ‘clean’ superiors have received the files and are reviewing them today. Once that’s done, they’ll get a warrant to arrest Finn. The best we can do now is hang low at the house until we hear more.”

“Does this shitstorm include Dad?” Mia asked him when she returned with her bag. Despite her serious expression, there was also a flicker of relief in her eyes, a sign that she was okay with the fact he’d be locked up.

Keelan walked over to her and slung his arm around her shoulder. “Yeah, Dad’s going to prison after all this. His association with Finn over the years will drag him down, along with Aiden and Logan.”

“Fuck those two,” Mia said. “They’re the reason Sadie got kidnapped and hurt. Besides, those fucking bullies never accepted the fact that Arthur married my mom and had another kid. As far as I’m concerned, you and Sadie are my family.”

“I’ve missed you, too, Mia,” I murmured, sitting at the kitchen table and leaning back in my chair. “I feel guilty for leaving, but I did what I had to do to survive.”

“Yeah, I was kind of pissed when you testified against my brother, but I was naive,” she said. “If Gavin hadn’t pulled me away from the family and helped me see things from another perspective, I wouldn’t be here. I’d probably view my father in a completely new way.” She folded her arms and leaned slightly into the doorframe. “Well, in any event, I’m glad you’re home now.”

“Yeah, me too,” I said, and for the first time, I meant it.

When five o’clock came, Brian was on the front porch. Gavin answered the door, which was the wise choice because I wasn’t sure Keelan wouldn’t try to kill him on the spot. Brian walked into the kitchen, carrying a black bag. He avoided eye contact with me as he set it down and started unpacking the contents. Gavin stood in the doorway, watching to ensure Brian didn’t do something stupid while Mia worked on concealing Keelan’s tattoos on his hands and upper neck. It was the only part of his skin that would be showing once his suit was on .

While I sat at the dining room table, savoring more wine and the pizza we had ordered, I asked, “So, the pink color corrector cancels out black ink?”

Mia nodded as she dabbed a large makeup brush into the pot of pink makeup. “Yeah, a neat trick I picked up while doing my friends’ makeup in high school. Watch this.”

After applying the rest of the corrector, she took a concealer as close to Keelan’s skin tone as possible, which I found funny since there wasn’t much skin tone that wasn’t ink. She started applying and blending it into the tattoos, letting it dry down. Next, she used another brush to apply a thick, waterproof foundation before setting it with translucent powder. I was floored when she finished covering the last part of his neck.

“I would have no clue you even had any tattoos under that makeup,” I said. “I almost forgot what you looked like under all that. The last time I saw you without ink was in high school.”

The way Mia blended the makeup over his hands and neck, you would have to get extremely close to see any hint of black ink on his flesh.

“There! Now I need you to sit still while the foundation dries,” she explained. “If it oxidizes in a darker shade, I’ll have to add some brightening concealer. Once that’s set, Sadie, I’m doing your hair and makeup next.”

Nodding, I turned slightly toward the kitchen, where Brian and Gavin were setting out tonight’s supplies. I watched Brian shuffling around the kitchen, doing all he could not to look over at me.

Keelan must have threatened to end him if he did .

As I watched him, though, there was a tiny twinge of pain in my heart. This man spent eight months lying to me, making me believe he was an ordinary guy who cared. As much as I wanted to hate him, I didn’t have it in me. But I knew I needed something from him.

“Keelan, I need to talk to Brian for a minute,” I said, setting down my wineglass and standing up. Keelan’s hand immediately wrapped around my wrist and pulled me back onto the seat.

“Sit your ass down,” he growled. “You’re not going anywhere near him unless I’m right beside you.”

I huffed and leaned toward him. “Look, Brian lied and deceived me on my father’s behalf. I understand why he did it. But I need to talk to him; I need closure on this.” Keelan’s eyes searched mine, his anger dampening. “What exactly do you think he’s going to do inside this house with you glaring at him with your deadly, psychotic eyes from across the dining room, threatening violence?”

Though Keelan was right about keeping me away from him, I needed to close this chapter of my life if we were ever to move on with a clean slate. He rubbed his thumb over my wrist before letting go, and Mia smiled reassuringly at her brother.

“She’ll be fine, bro,” she said, interrupting us. “Sadie’s got this.”

Smiling, I rose and headed to the kitchen, swiping Keelan’s hand away as he tried to reach out and grab me again. Gavin and Brian looked up as I entered, and Brian’s eyes widened.

“Don’t worry. Keelan said it’s fine.” I watched as his shoulders relaxed. “Gavin, can you give Brian and me a minute?” I asked.

Gavin hesitantly looked over my shoulder at Keelan, who must have given him the okay. He nodded and walked out of the kitchen. I went to the island and pressed my hands over the cold granite .

“We need to talk,” I said, my throat tightening.

Brian set down a black radio and leaned against the counter, his bloodshot blue eyes finally meeting mine. He had brushed his hair into its usual style, but the confidence that once radiated from him was gone.

Brian nodded but said nothing. So, I did.

“For eight months, you lied to my face about everything—your job, your past—and you faked feelings for me so I’d trust you. Against my better judgment, I let you into my life, my home. Maybe it was because I craved someone so normal that could help me leave my old life behind. But that wasn’t the case; my old life was sleeping in the bed next to me. God knows what you did in that house while I was at work, going through all my personal shit, trying to find files that weren’t there. Then, when you took me hostage, you hurt me. You assaulted me when I didn’t give you what you wanted.”

Brian’s cheeks burned red with shame, his eyes downcast. “If you only knew the shame I felt over what I did to you in that building—”

“Bullshit. You knew what you were doing.”

“Yeah, and I’m sorry. Nothing I do or say will ever clean my hands of the awful shit I did to you. Though it was my job, I fell for you. I didn’t find pleasure in lying, Sadie. I thought what I felt was real. Trust me, though, it hurts like hell. Keelan shooting me was justified, and I don’t blame him for a second.”

I narrowed my eyes at him and crossed my arms over my chest. “That sounds like a pathetic apology to me, and that’s okay. I don’t need to forgive you because you don’t deserve it. I just had to speak my piece, I guess. You chose money and protection over decency. ”

He leaned forward and rested his arms on the counter, his glassy red eyes rising to my face.

“You and I are done,” I said. “After tonight, we will never speak again. You will honor your agreement with Keelan and me by helping us escape. It’s the least you can do.”

Brian flinched at the coldness of my words.

“I hope one day you can become the sincere man I met in the bookshop and do something good with your life.”

With that, I turned on my heel and returned to Keelan in the dining room, slamming the door on my relationship with Brian Danon forever.

Mia had finished and gone upstairs to get dressed. When she came down, she was wearing a long purple gown and fastened a silver bejeweled clip shaped like a flower in her hair. “Alright, Sadie, you’re up next. Go grab the dress out of my bag. It’s in your favorite color, of course.” She grinned at me. “Then, we gotta head out. My dad expects me to greet the guests, and I have to be able to sneak Keelan in through the back door.”

Keelan walked over and held something fuzzy in his hand.

“Oh, right. Let me do this first, and then I’ll do your makeup and hair at the table,”Miasaid. “The bathroom upstairs is way too small to work.”She grabbed the false mustache before facing Keelan and lining it up above his lip to check the best placement. She used some spirit gum to adhere the hair to his upper lip and a moist towelette to clean the excess glue.

“Note to yourself, Keelan. Never grow a mustache. You look creepy, but Dad probably won’t recognize you from afar.”

“Where will everyone be?” I asked Gavin, who leaned back against the island and folded his arms lazily across his chest .

“While Mia keeps most of the guests occupied, I’ll take Keelan to the main living quarters to prevent Arthur from approaching him and introducing himself to the unfamiliar guest.”

I nodded and looked back at Keelan, noting how ridiculous he looked, and she hadn’t even put his wig on yet. Despite the urge to laugh at the fucked up situation, my hands were shaking.

“I’m scared,” I said, and he nodded subtly. As I climbed the stairs, clutching the pink dress, I kept my eye on the two men lingering near the door.

“Brian,” Keelan said, turning to him. “If you don’t protect her, I’ll not just blow off that remaining big toe of yours, I’ll put a bullet through your skull. Do you understand?”

Brian swallowed and nodded quickly. “Yeah, I believe it.” He started to walk to the living room.

“Oh, and Brian. One more thing.”

Brian turned around again to face Keelan.

“Listen, I need you to do me another favor.”

Brian folded his arms. “Sure. What’s up?”

“Do you remember the name Andrew Wright? He was put behind bars for the death of Director Luis Rodrigo.”

Brian nodded almost immediately. “I didn’t know him, but I’m familiar with the case. It was out of my jurisdiction.”

“I need you to look into it. He didn’t do that shit, and I think by now, you know how easy it is within the Bureau to make things go away.”

Brian grimaced but nodded in agreement. “Alright,” he said. “I can’t promise anything, Keelan, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“See that you do, or I’ll shoot off the nine toes you have left.”