Chapter 5 Skel

T hree years earlier—

It had been four days since I brought Lacey home and left her at the penthouse with her father. I spent that time digging deep into the web, searching for information on Juan and Luis Diego. The brothers shared a rap sheet a mile long. They'd been in trouble since their teen years, and both had seen the inside of a jail cell numerous times.

That concerned me. Judge Maxwell had been targeted because of his reputation for being tough on crime. He was a notorious judge known for giving the maximum sentences to criminals. He already sent two of Luis Diego's associates to prison in the last year, including a cousin. That made Judge Maxwell an enemy of Luis and Juan Diego. By association, that also made Lacey a target.

Luis took her to prove a point. He could get to her whenever he wanted, and if the judge sent his brother away, he would go after Lacey—an eye for an eye.

Men like Luis only knew violence. It was their way of life, the currency they used to evoke fear, and how they remained in control. Power was everything to Luis.

I had to strip him of it. That was the only way Lacey would be safe. I had to ensure his business dealings fell through, his men doubted his leadership, and his associates got spooked.

With a few strokes of the keys on my desktop computer, I set things in motion, knowing I had just created a shit storm and placed myself on a hit list. It wasn't wise to get involved in this bullshit, but I couldn't walk away, not after meeting Lacey and finding her in that cemetery.

Luis Diego could have harmed her much worse than he did. He frightened and intimidated her, but he didn't rape or beat her. I knew his type. That would happen next if I didn't stop him. Men like him didn't back down until they got what they wanted.

I'd fucking kill that motherfucker if he touched Lacey again, which meant I was involved now, and there was no turning back. My years in the Marine Corps prepared me for dealing with my enemies. I faced men far more ruthless when I was stationed overseas. Luis Diego didn't scare me. He was a boy trying to fight like a man.

He would regret his choices.

I pushed away from my desk and stood, stretching as I headed into the kitchen to rinse an empty coffee mug. Now that I had set things in motion on my end, I needed to talk to Lacey. She would want to know how my research was progressing, and I felt she needed to understand that this mess with Luis would escalate before it was over.

I offered my services as a P.I., but that wasn't all I intended. She needed my protection. Her father was powerful but couldn't protect her from Luis Diego or his men. Luis would have to be put down like a rabid dog. If that opportunity happened on my watch, I wouldn't hesitate.

I didn't enjoy snuffing out a man's life, but sometimes there wasn't much choice. Some people were just evil.

I'd done vicious things in my life to protect innocents. Helping Lacey was just another mission. I wouldn't fucking fail.

I didn't have her number, so I decided to head back to her building, hoping I could get inside and take the elevator up to the penthouse. If I got lucky, she'd be home. I planned to ask her to dinner and to go over all of the information I had learned.

After a quick shower, I dressed in dark jeans and a black hoodie since the weather had grown cool and crisp. I stuffed my phone, wallet, and mask in my pockets, rushing out the door with a singular focus in mind. Lacey. She'd become almost an obsession since I met her.

A young woman far too vulnerable, in danger, and fucking gorgeous. All the traits that attracted a guy like me. I might not be a criminal, but I wasn't a saint either.

I lived my life the same way my old man did—a vigilante and outlaw, taking justice into my hands when necessary. The military bred me for war. My father prepared me for life. The combination? A ruthless, cunning, intelligent Marine who never backed down from a fight.

I retired from the Corps, but I never stopped training. The minute I ceased to use my skills, I'd become weak. That wasn't an option.

So, I wasn't sure what led me back to Lacey other than the need to keep her safe. I was too fucking old for her. Too set in my ways. I had nearly twenty years on her, and it should make me sick to think of her like I did. I wasn't.

Lacey intrigued me. She turned me on. But it was her intelligence and resilience I found sexy. She didn't cower or hide or break down when Luis took her. Some people shut down when confronted with extreme stress and violence. The shock proved to be too much. Lacey didn't. She stayed strong, persevered, and refused to panic.

She was fucking fierce. Goddamn, that made my cock hard.

When I rolled to a stop outside her building, I shut down my bike's engine and rose off the seat, eager to see Lacey. I didn't reach the entrance before she walked out, staring at her phone instead of paying attention to her surroundings.

We'd have to discuss that. She needed to learn situational awareness and how to identify potential threats or hazards. It was an important skill to master for making effective decisions and responding to danger. I could teach her all about it.

She didn't notice me yet, so I slipped my mask over my head. The advantage of being so close to Halloween was all the parties and costumes. People didn't alert to my mask around this time of year. It was easy to brush it off as a Halloween gimmick. It wasn't.

I adapted to civilian life after both my tours overseas and the twenty years I gave to my country. I learned to adjust my routine. But a part of me would always enjoy the anonymity of hiding my identity and observing from the shadows. It saved me the explanation or headache of dealing with the public.

Lacey finished texting whoever she messaged and slid her phone into her purse. Her head lifted, and she locked eyes with me. Or, more accurately, the mask. "Skel."

My name left her lips with a sweet gasp.

"Lacey. We need to talk."

She tilted her head to the side and bit her lip. "I've got to make an appearance at a Halloween party."

"Then I'll come with you."

She nodded. "Good. I could use someone with your skills."

My body stiffened, suddenly alert. "Have you received any threats?"

She smirked. "No. I just might need a reason to escape all the spoiled offspring of the powerful elite."

Ugh. "Why don't we skip and go for a ride instead?"

She seemed to consider it. "I wish I could, Skel. Or should I say Bran? But I promised my dad. It's not wise to piss him off when he's stressed. Besides, I don't want to add to his worry."

Good point. My gaze swept over her outfit, and I was glad she couldn't see my face. I didn't doubt that the lust trying to fog my brain would have been obvious. Lacey dressed in a French Maid costume.

Every young man's fantasy, including mine, with a curve-hugging dress, plunging neckline, a matching ribbon choker, and a headpiece. The skirt was too fucking short and the top too tight across her tits, pushing them together, or maybe that was just the type of bra she wore. I wanted to rip off the costume and find out. She wore fishnet stockings and black heels. Her blonde hair had been pinned back from her face and cascaded over her slender shoulders.

What a fucking knockout.

"You're wearing that?" I asked, trying to keep the grit and possessiveness from leaking through since I only wanted to shove her back inside and make her change. No one should be staring at her like she was a sweet treat to gobble up, including me. Fuck.

If any motherfucker tried to touch her tonight, I'd have to set them straight. With my fists, my boot up their ass, or whatever it took to send the message: Mine .

Well, shit. I didn't plan on growing so overprotective or needing Lacey as intensely as I did. This was fucked.

"What's wrong with my costume?" She spun in a circle, bouncing her tits in the process. They almost burst free from the top.

Fuckkkkkkk.

"Nothing," I growled. "Let's go. Ass on my bike. Now, Lacey."

She bit her lip, accurately guessing my issue. Not that I hid it well when my cock swelled and pressed into my zipper. For fuck's sake, I was growing hard just from staring at her like I was fifteen again and noticed a pretty girl in school.

"You okay, Skel?" She squeezed my bicep before she made a show of bending over to straddle my bike.

My hands clenched. I was almost panting, nearly salivating with the idea of fucking her right here, in front of the whole fucking City of Sin, and I didn't give a fuck.

Any good intentions I had vanished after that. Before the night was over, I'd be buried deep in her pussy. She'd know what it was like to be with a man, and I was damn sure I'd ruin her for any other guy.

She would know the truth before I brought her home. Lacey was gonna be mine.

The ride to the Halloween party was the longest in fucking existence. A torment I would gladly repeat if my dick wasn't throbbing with the idea of slipping a hand between her thighs and feeling the silky soft folds of her pussy. I bet she tasted sweet and tangy, forbidden and exotic.

"Skel? You keep growling," Lacey pointed out as we idled at a red light.

"I'm good."

She giggled. I wasn't fucking good. I was about to explode.

By the time we arrived and parked, I was jacked up, horny as fuck, and far too tense to do more than let her lead me inside. The banquet hall had been decorated for the spooky season, and the dim lights helped calm me as they somewhat disguised Lacey's assets. A fog machine pumped creepy waves of smoke into the massive room. Carved pumpkins were placed throughout, along with various Halloween decorations.

Whoever set this up didn't hold back. Music from various horror movies trickled through speakers while flashing lights and purple bulbs added to the mysterious, haunting vibe. One section had been draped with spiderwebs and black cloth. Several tables loaded with treats like pretzels, chips, sandwiches, and popcorn provided snacks for anyone hungry beyond the need for sugar.

A woman dressed like the bride of Frankenstein served punch from an enormous claw-footed bowl. The vampire beside her ladled lemonade from a cauldron into plastic cups. I spotted the bar and steered Lacey toward the adult beverages.

"Thirsty?" I asked, ticking my chin toward one of the bartenders. Several worked the crowd and wore costumes: a werewolf, a Jedi, and a grim reaper.

Two guys were running around wearing inflatable dicks. I slid my arm around Lacey's waist and hugged her against me.

She giggled. "Funny. Did you see one of them had white stuff on the tip?"

I did. "Yeah, Sweet Girl. What do you want to drink?"

"A Long Island iced tea."

I ordered hers first and then two shots of whiskey and a beer. When I spotted the attention that she was receiving from other men, I knew I needed liquor to calm down and attempt to relax. Not that it would happen. I probably wouldn't feel less keyed up until my cock was buried inside her.

I tossed back both shots after handing over her tea. Lifting my bottle, I steered her toward a table in the corner. If I could keep my hands on her, maybe I'd feel less volatile.

We sat, and I pulled her onto my lap, ignoring her gasp of surprise. She squirmed, and I stilled her hips, both hating and loving how her warm center pressed into my groin.

"Lacey. Stop, Baby."

She gave me a coy smile. "We both know that's not what you want."

Fuck. Little vixen. "You're playing a dangerous game, my bold little hellion."

"What if it's not a game?" She turned and wrapped her arms around my neck. "What if I want you as much as you want me? I can feel your erection, Skel. That bulge is promising to give me what I'm missing. Are you going to deny it?"

Fuck. Me.

"You know I can't."

"Then kiss me."

"Here? You don't want to go somewhere more private?"

I knew once I had her lips, I would want all of her. She would feel too damn good to stop.

My gaze swept over the table and the wall beside us. Tucked into the corner, we had plenty of privacy or we would in a moment. The strands of lights above our heads cast enough glow to light up our movements, but if I unplugged them . . .

I didn't hesitate to reach over and yank them out. We were plunged into darkness, the corner concealing anything we might do with so many others in the room. I shoved my mask upward, leaving it on my head.

Lacey's lips met mine as I tugged her closer, turning to face me as she straddled my lap. "It's just you and me, Skel. Don't hold back."

My girl liked to walk on the wild side. It turned her on to know that we could get caught. I had to admit it fucking made me grow harder just thinking of ripping into those tights and shoving her panties aside, thrusting my cock into her tight pussy while the party raged around us.

Her hips began to sway against me, and I gripped her waist, sliding my palms backward to cup her ass beneath the skirt. So fucking soft. So goddamn tempting.

I couldn't keep my hands or my mouth off her. She tasted like sweet temptation and hungry sin, like freshly picked apples and bourbon-laced caramel. I couldn't help comparing her to those store-bought candy apples that appeared every fall dipped in a sweet, thick sauce and rolled in peanuts—my favorite autumn dessert as a kid.

But she was even sweeter and more delicious.

"Sweet Girl, I'm going to fuck you. Right here at this party. You don't want that, it's your only chance to stop me."

Her breath hitched as her eyes widened. She panted as I rolled my body upward, driving my jean-clad cock into her core.

Say yes, my sexy little maid. I need to make you come.