Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

" W hat are you doing here?" Ledger draped an arm around Nikita's shoulders, the touch casual yet somehow possessive.

It was tempting to lean away, but Nikita caught himself before he could make such a dumb move, stilling in Ledger's hold. His mind was still trying to catch up with what had just transpired between them anyway. Never in a million years would he have ever guessed he'd get a hand job from one of the infamous Devils.

When Ledger had first suggested he pay with his body, he'd been certain he was kidding. That was why when he'd changed the rules and said he'd hit him instead, there'd been no surprise. Him wanting to hit Nikita had made a hell of a lot more sense than wanting to fuck him. And yet…

His gaze dropped to the come—his come—still on the mat at their feet, and he swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. Had Flix noticed it from where he was standing?

"Did I interrupt something fun?" Flix asked, ignoring Ledger's question. "Didn't realize you brought your toys here when no one else was around, Ledge. What? Your brother's club not good enough for you? Thought Pavel had a flavor there for everyone."

Nikita's chest felt tight, but he kept his mouth shut and watched as they casually spoke to one another as though there wasn't a crying man in the same room with them. They probably didn't care. The Devils weren't exactly known for being kind, and Flix…Nikita shuddered, but the movement somehow caught Flix's attention.

A vee formed between his brow. "Hey, wait a second. Don't I know you from somewhere?"

Ledger tensed. "You two are familiar?"

Flix thought it over and then snapped a finger. "The Docks. You owe me money, isn't that right?"

"I…" His brother owed it, but Oran had signed Nikita's name to the bets, and no matter who he'd tried to speak with about it, no one would help him.

The Docks were known as one of the best places in the city for gambling and was where illegal street races happened at least once a month. As far as he understood things, Flix didn't have a hand in running the events, but he was frequently there, and Nikita had spotted him a time or two before.

"Overheard him talking about it with some of Madden's guys. What are you doing with him?" Flix turned back to Ledger. "He owe you too?"

"Yeah," Ledger stated without skipping a beat. "His life."

Nikita closed his eyes and waited, figuring now that it was out there, Ledger would finally deliver the killing blow and this could all be over. He'd lost, after all. So what if Ledger had played with him a little first? He'd gotten a fantastic, if not a bit unsettling, orgasm out of it. As far as final wishes went, he couldn't really complain.

He'd probably feel that knife any minute now, and then Ledger would tell his friend he'd caught him trying to steal from them.

"Smile, Tiger," Ledger's voice pulled him out of it and he opened his eyes just in time for the flash of the camera on the Devil's multi-slate—the rectangular body borne device that acted as a computer and phone—to momentarily blind him. He'd taken a selfie of the two of them.

Was it a memento? Did he typically take photos of the people he killed?

"Call Madden. Tell him we'll settle anything he owes tonight," Ledger surprised him by saying to Flix.

Nikita's eyes went wide.

"Pretty sure you've got two working hands," Flix stated. "Why don't you call him yourself? I don't even know this guy's name." He gave Nikita another look and grunted. "He's totally your type."

Ledger quirked a brow. "In what way?"

"He's got that whole wounded animal vibe going for him. You're a sucker for that shit."

"I am not," Ledger sounded unsure.

"Whatever." Flix ran a hand through his platinum blond hair. "Why are you willing to settle things for him anyway? He that good in bed?"

Nikita wondered if this was a regular thing for them. If maybe they swapped debts between them all the time. That was probably it. It wasn't like Nikita was special. And if he was that curious about sleeping with him, Ledger didn't have to clear his debts to do it.

If he'd been capable of feeling shame at this stage in his life, he might have over his physical reaction toward the Devil. Even now, only moments after he'd already come, he could feel his body heat at just the thought of Ledger touching him intimately again.

"I'm doing this because," the corner of Ledger's mouth tipped upward, and Nikita's breath caught in his throat, "then I'll own him truly. What do you say, Tiger?" He slipped a finger beneath the collar of Nikita's faded black t-shirt and tugged. "You want to be mine, or would you rather?—"

"Yours," he cut him off before he could finish, not daring to allow himself to hesitate in his decision. "I'd rather be yours."

No matter what Ledger's true motive may be, Nikita had already tried everything else on his own. Breaking in here had been his final attempt to get Oran to set things right for him, and even then, Nikita wasn't na?ve.

He'd known his brother wasn't serious, he just hadn't had any other option but to play along. That's why he'd hoped to steal something and run. How was spending a night in Ledger's bed going to be any worse than the fate in store for him now that he'd failed at both?

At least with the debts taken care of, that would be one less thing to worry about. Then he could focus on how he was going to appease Oran long enough to get away. His brother was going to be pissed when Nikita didn't show him proof he was in Friction.

"You do realize what I'm asking, right?" Ledger insisted, holding his gaze firmly with a dark look.

"You want to have sex with me," Nikita said, blinking when Flix laughed at him.

"Sure he's worth it?" Flix cocked his head and ran his eyes down Nikita's body pointedly. "He's racked up quite a lot of debt. It'll take at least a year to pay it off. Not sure you'd want to keep him around that long. Why don't you just ask Madden to deduct some of it for you? Save you some coin."

"Nah," Ledger waved his comments off.

"Madden doesn't run a redlight district, Ledge. He's not going to let the guy off the hook just because you're screwing him."

"Like you give a shit what I do with him or how Madden reacts."

"Fair."

Ledger's multi-slate went off then and he took a second to read the message before rolling his eyes.

"What?" Flix asked.

"Kelevra sent me here to find something for Rin, only they just found it in the car."

"Typical."

Without warning, Ledger latched onto Nikita's wrist and tugged him toward the edge of the mat. He jumped down first and then held the ropes open, motioning for him to follow when Niki hesitated. "Let's go, Tiger. I'm exhausted as it is."

"What?"

"It's way past his bedtime," Flix said, grinning when Nikita turned his frown his way. "What? Don't you know how much sleep that guy needs to function?" He glanced to Ledger. "How long have you two known each other?"

"Long enough." Ledger helped Nikita down and then started for the door, motioning to Flix over his shoulder that they were leaving. He kept his steps steady, hand back on Niki's wrist. The second they stepped out into the night air, he let go, still walking forward without a word.

Nikita followed Ledger to the parking lot in the back of the fight club. He kept quiet, his arms wrapped around himself comfortingly as they made their way toward a cobalt blue hovercar. It was a sports model, but he couldn't identify it past that. Cars had never been his thing. Mostly because he'd never been in a position to afford even a clunker, let alone something that cost that much.

"Get in." Ledger hit a button on his multi-slate, and the doors to the vehicle clicked open. "Well? What are you waiting for, Tiger?"

This was it, probably his last chance to make a break for it. There was no one else out here, and Flix was still in the building. Nikita could make a run for it and?—

And…what?

Go back home where his parents treated him like second-rate trash? Or where his brother could find him? That's where he'd been less than two hours ago, sleeping on the ratty couch in their basement, better known as his bedroom. Oran had come storming down the stairs, screaming his head off about how he'd lost another race and it was up to Nikita to deal with the fallout.

Nikita had secretly daydreamed about stealing something from Club Vigor for months now, but up until tonight, that's all they'd been. Daydreams. Fantasy. A means to escape his shitty existence. When Oran had offered to make a bet with him instead of having him pay outright, Nikita had taken it. He'd stupidly believed his luck was finally changing, that he'd gotten a break and the universe was giving him an out.

"Are you going to kill me?" he asked, voice low. A gust of wind blew by and he shivered from the chill, only then realizing he'd left his jacket hung up over the ropes of the ring. He risked a glance over his shoulder back toward the door but decided not to bother making a fuss about it.

"It's not even the end of summer and you're cold already?" Ledger scowled at him. "Get in the car, it'll be warmer inside."

He hadn't answered his question, but Nikita gave in anyway, reaching for the door handle. The Devil was right, in any case. As soon as he slid into the car and settled against the cushy leather seat, he found himself instantly warming up. He expected to feel confined and trapped as soon as the door was shut, but instead, he felt…safe.

Cozy almost.

He snorted at himself. He was losing his damn mind, that was for certain.

Ledger didn't immediately follow him in, making a call instead. His voice was too muffled for Nikita to make out what was being said or who he was talking to, but he figured it wasn't any of his business anyway, so he sat there and waited quietly.

A light pattering of rain started then, tiny drops splattering against the windows, causing the lights from the streetlamps to glitter in bursts of gold. They were pretty, and Nikita leaned forward, watching them, thinking back to the last time he'd felt this calm.

And he was calm.

Whether or not Ledger planned on killing him, Nikita found he'd meant what he'd said back in the club.

He didn't really care.

The door opened, and Ledger finally got into the driver's seat and started up the car. "Sit back and buckle up."

Nikita quirked a brow but did as he was told. Seemed like an odd demand from someone who planned on killing him, but okay. "When will you do it?"

"Do what?"

"End it? Oh. Probably after we've had sex, right? Is that where we're going now? Somewhere?—"

"I can spread your thighs around my waist?" Ledger interrupted. "Unfortunately, fucking is going to have to wait. There's something else on the agenda first."

He frowned. "Are you really going to sleep?"

"No. Flix was just messing around. We've got more important things, Tiger."

"Such as?"

"Those bruises look fresh," Ledger replied. "Don't think I didn't notice the ones painted all over your left side earlier. Does it still hurt?"

"Only when I breathe." Nikita chuckled and dropped back into his seat.

"Not sure why you're laughing."

"Because it's funny?"

"What is?"

"All of this?" Nikita spun a circle with his finger in the air. "I'm sitting here with you, a Devil of Vitality, after getting the best hand job of my life—potentially my last as well—and you're asking about the beating my brother gave me?"

Ledger's eyes narrowed. "Something else I should be asking you about?"

"Anything?" Nikita risked meeting his gaze. "Why do you even care?"

Because he did. Nikita could tell, mostly because Ledger wasn't doing anything to hide that fact. The second he'd mentioned his brother was the one who'd pushed him to the edge, something had changed in Ledger. Everyone knew about the amazing relationship he had with his adopted brother Pavel. Was that why?

"Are you just curious why my brother and I don't get along?" Nikita asked. "Is it hard to understand because you and yours do?"

"Not as empty up there as you seem," Ledger flicked the center of Nikita's forehead. "So?"

"So?"

"Where is he."

"Where is—" His eyes widened. "Wait."

"Why? You said the deal was you had to show him proof, right? Let's go show him the picture I just took of the two of us on the mat."

Nikita reached to undo his seatbelt, sucking in a sharp breath when Ledger's hand slammed over his, stopping him. "Please. I can just text it. We don't have to…" He shook his head.

The calm he'd been so content in feeling only a moment prior was effectively shattered. His heart was thumping wildly in his chest, and he could feel his skin turning clammy.

"Hey." Ledger cupped his cheek. "You weren't scared when you thought I was going to slit your throat. What's there to fear now?"

"Please." If he showed up with a Devil, he'd never hear the end of it. Oran would be pissed that Nikita had gotten that type of attention. He'd always been one of their groupies. Last week, he'd tried to hit on Yuze, a member of the Brumal mafia, and gotten his nose smashed in for the efforts.

It'd taken all of Nikita's willpower to keep himself from smirking when he'd heard. But if Ledger showed him that picture, the only person who'd be hurt next would be Nikita.

"He didn't break anything this time because he wanted me to be able to sneak into Friction," Nikita said. "He won't hold back if we go there. Especially if he finds out you also intend to clear the debts for me."

"Break?" Ledger's expression turned frigid. "Tell me we aren't talking about bones here, Niki."

He pulled away, glancing out the window.

"How many?" The Devil settled a palm over his thigh. "Tell me."

"I don't know." It wasn't something Nikita had ever wanted to keep count of. "A few?"

"List them."

"Ledger, I really?—"

"What was the worst? Give me that much, at least. I need to paint a picture of how bad it was for you."

"Why?" He turned back and frowned at him. "Why does it matter?"

"It just…does." Ledger sighed. "I don't know why either, okay?"

He seemed genuinely frustrated by that fact, which was probably why Nikita found himself giving in. There really hadn't been too many times where things had escalated to the point Oran had severely injured him.

There was the time when he'd been seven and Oran had pushed him down the stairs at school. He'd knocked his chin against the banister and had shattered his lower jaw. That had been pretty bad, he supposed, but he couldn't really remember much of that year or the pain he must have been in, so he wasn't sure if that counted. Besides, Oran had been too young to really be held accountable.

When Nikita was eleven and they'd gone shopping at the mall as a family, Oran took one of the metal tools for sale and swung it at Nikita. He'd dodged and protected his head that time, but he was hit in the leg after because Oran wasn't happy with him evading it. The fracture wasn't so bad. He hadn't even really needed to go to the hospital.

Then there was that time Nikita was fifteen…and sixteen. And seventeen.

The older Oran got, the more violent he became.

"He broke two of my fingers last year," Nikita said. Considering all the other horrible things he'd just recalled, it didn't sound all that bad, only… "I'd just gotten a job with this orchestra helping Vail students train for live performances. I play the piano. Taught myself and everything." That was actually something he was really proud of. "It meant a lot when I passed the audition. The job was steady, with good pay, and after a year, I would even qualify for a music scholarship to the school."

"Your brother knew all of this?" Ledger asked.

He nodded. "I tried to keep it from him, but he figured it out somehow. Showed up to one of the practices and made a scene. Nothing bad enough to get him in any real trouble, but enough that the woman in charge pulled me aside after and reminded me that guests weren't allowed. He was the one heckling the musicians, but because he said he came to see me, I was at fault."

"What's her name?"

Nikita stared at him, searching his expression before realizing, "You're upset."

"Yeah. Who wouldn't be hearing something like that?"

"Most people, actually. Most people wouldn't care. Especially not—" he caught himself and clamped his mouth shut.

"Not a Devil?" Ledger filled in the blank for him. "It's okay. You aren't wrong. We don't exactly have good guy reputations." He patted Nikita's thigh. "So, Oran broke your fingers to ruin it for you, that it? Why? Jealousy?"

"Probably," he agreed. "When our father found out I was selected to perform with some of the students, he told me he was proud of me for the first time ever. Of course, Oran was present for that and heard."

"He couldn't stand you getting any sort of positive attention from your parents," Ledger said.

"He even waited until the night before, so it was too late for my boss to find anyone else to take my place. The show had to be rescheduled, and I was fired. They claimed it was because I needed to be out for four months to heal and would fall behind, but I knew they were upset with me and just didn't want me around."

Nikita sniffled and quickly wiped the tears away, laughing morosely. "You must think I'm super pathetic, huh. All I've done is cry in front of you. Are you sure it's worth it? Buying my body in exchange for paying off the debts? I might be a terrible lay."

"Oh, I doubt that, Tiger." Ledger smirked at him, but any sign of playfulness was gone a second later when he demanded, "Tell me where your brother is right now."

Nikita opened his mouth to argue but…Why? He couldn't even win against his younger half-brother.

What made him think he stood a chance against a Devil of Vitality?