8

ROSE

Levi looked like a ghost of the man I loved. For a minute, I almost didn't recognize who he really was. Hell, if he hadn't spoken, then there was every tendency that I wouldn't have recognized him at all.

Time seemed to crawl to a halt as I took him in. His eyes were bloodshot, and rimmed with a heavy, dark exhaustion that made my heart ache. Seeing him stand there, so broken by the loss of his mother while I stood flanked by the three men who had spent the night ravaging me, made me feel physically ill.

I felt like a traitor. A slut who deserved nothing more than to be hanged upside down.

"Rose?" his voice was a cracked whisper, and that was all it took to pull me back to reality. He looked at me once, something flashing in his eyes, then at the three titans surrounding me. "What are you doing here? Who are these men?"

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My throat was still tight, a lingering ache from Rowan’s size the night before.

What was I going to say? There was no way in hell I could tell them that I was now their slut and personal pet, just because I wanted to save my father, and because I liked it to.

"Not your business," Enzo snapped, his voice a cold blade that cut through the hospital air. For a moment, I'd totally forgotten that he was still behind me. Enzo didn't even look at Levi as he spoke. He just gripped my elbow, his thumb pressing into the bruise he’d left earlier. "Keep walking, Rose."

"Levi, I…I’ll call you," I managed to choke out, looking back over my shoulder as Enzo forced me away. "I have to go, I’m so sorry."

I could feel Levi’s confusion and hurt burning into my back. Once we were outside, the humid air hitting my face, I turned to Enzo, my voice trembling with a mix of fury and pain.

"I’m going home.” I let the words tumble out, scared that if I didn't say it now, that I was never going to say it. “I need to see my father. I need to know that he's okay.”

"Good," Enzo said, his eyes shielded by dark glasses. He looked down at me, a predatory smirk playing on his lips. "Enjoy your time with him, because by Tuesday, you’re moving in with us."

“What?” My heart stopped. Of all the things I expected him to say, best believe it wasn't that. I blinked a couple of times, waiting and wishing for him to tell me he was only messing with me and pulling my legs, but those words never came" Tuesday? What do you mean by Tuesday? That’s only three days away!”

“So?” Nathan chimed. If his response oozed anything, it was the fact that he was bored and probably tired of this conversation. “I don't see a problem with that.”

“But, I do.” I shot back, shaking my head furiously. My voice cracked as I spoke, but I didn't let that stop me. “I can’t…I have to look after my father. He just had surgery!"

"Not our problem, baby," Rowan chimed in, leaning against the car door. He reached out, his hand grazing my hip in a way that made my breath hitch despite my anger. "Hire a nurse. Or don't, we don't particularly care. But you'll be in our house by Tuesday evening. End of discussion.”

I stared at the men, breathless and confused. A million and one emotions rushed through me all at once, but I forced myself to push it down. I had no idea why, but for some reason, I actually felt Nathan would help me.

I thought that since he was the only one who hadn't actively supported Enzo, then maybe, just maybe he saw reason I what I was saying. Maybe he actually understood. Apparently, all it took to change my mind was for him to speak up.

“Stay safe, little one.” He purred, a seductive undertone in his voice. “By Tuesday, there'll be no place to run back to except our home.”

Without another word, they left me there, shivering in the cold. I watched them slip into the car, and even when they drove off, I still couldn't bring myself to move. I felt like my feet had been rooted and bolted to the ground.

If I was being honest, the thought of Levi coming out here and making me explain to him was the only reason I forced myself to move. I might not have liked what the brothers had to say, but I dreaded having a conversation with Levi even more.

I wasn't sure how I got back to the house, but it felt different. It felt smaller, and filled with the shadows of the things I was hiding. When my father saw me, his face lit up, though he looked frail in his recliner.

"Rose, you look exhausted, honey," he said, reaching for my hand. “Tell me, what happened? Are you okay?”

"I’ve been working all night, Dad," I lied, with a small smile on my lips, the words tasting like poison. Every time I swallowed, the soreness in my throat reminded me of exactly what kind of 'work' I’d been doing.

I'd been sucking dick and allowing three men fuck me from every hole possible. While the thought sent shivers down my spine, I also felt like a filthy secret, a high priced slut. But it was my job now, and it was the only way to pay for his life.

"You're working too hard for this family," he whispered, his eyes moist with unshed tears. "I'm so sorry I'm such a bother. You shouldn't have to be doing…”

"You're never a bother," I said, my voice breaking. “I would do anything to make sure you're okay, you know this.”

“But still….” he parted his lips to speak, but I didn't let him.

“Come on, have you eaten?” I asked instead, cutting him off softly. “Tell me, what did you have for breakfast?

“I already ate dear.” He let out slowly, while I headed inside. “You don't have to worry about me.”

I didn't answer. Instead, I went to the kitchen to cook, noticing the untouched pans and realization slammed straight into me. He hadn't eaten, and he'd lied about it too. I may not know why he did that, but the guilt intensified until I could barely breathe.

 I spent the rest of my afternoon meal prepping, and once I was done, I served a plate for the both of us. I watched the way he ate, like he hadn't eaten in forever, and the act brought tears to my eyes. 

“Slow down, dad.” I mumbled softly. “Or you'll hoke. We don't want you going back to the ER again.”

Luckily for me, he took my joke and gave me a small smile in return.

“Forgive me.” He took my hand in his over the table. “And you have tears in your eyes, why?”

“It's nothing.” I sniffed. “I’m sorry for not being here. I should have…”

“It's okay.” Father cut me off again. “I know school is hectic, and coupled with your job, you can only do so much. You did get it, right?”

“Yes, dad. I got the job.” I nodded. “Even if the company fell today, we would still be fine. You have nothing to worry about.”

Conversation flowed after that, and once we were done eating, I went back to my room, my mind racing. Thirty million dollars, that was the amount I owed them. How many nights of being split open, of being filled by them, would it take to erase that debt?

Something at the back of my mind told me I wouldn't like the answer, so I shoved the thought to the side. Maybe, just maybe I would come across an angel or a helper that would listen to my tears.

The last thing I remembered was muttering a prayer before falling asleep. When I woke up, I read a little, before getting dressed and going to work. I repeated the cycle for two nights, and things actually went well. From the little tips I got, I was able to get a few things done here and there. Things were going relatively okay, until someone just had to mess it up for me.

That night, back at the club, I tried to disappear into the routine. The lights, the music, the scent of expensive gin felt familiar, but I was moving slowly, my inner thighs still raw, and my pussy humming with a low, constant throb that wouldn't subside.

Everything went wrong when a regular, a man with too much money and zero respect, grabbed my wrist as I served his scotch. Before I could react, he yanked me onto his lap, his hand squeezing my bum with a disgusting, possessive grip.

“Come here baby.” He slurred in my ears. “You've got a nice ass, pretty lady. Has anyone ever told you that before?”

"Let go," I hissed, struggling against him. For someone that was drunk to pieces, he was incredibly strong. “Get your hands off me, right now.”

“Or what?” He grinned. "Come on, sweetheart, I know what you are."

I didn't get the chance to fight back before he chuckled into my neck, and then, the world exploded.

One second I was trapped, and the next, a roar of pure, unadulterated rage filled the air. Enzo was there. He didn't just pull the man off; he launched him across the floor. In the blink of an eye, I felt hands on my waist, firm, massive, and familiar. Nathan and Rowan held me from behind, their bodies a hot, hard wall against my back.

"Watch sweetheart," Nathan whispered in my ear, his breath hot, his hand sliding up to cup my breast through my uniform. "See what happens to anyone who touches what belongs to us."

I watched, frozen and strangely turned on, as Enzo turned the man’s face into a bloody pulp. The violence was primal, and almost erotic in its intensity. I'd never had someone fight for me before, and witnessing it play out in front of me had my pussy throbbing and aching for one of them to fill me up.

When Enzo finished, his knuckles were split and dripping sigh blood.

“Let's go.” He didn't look at the crowd, or the man struggling to remain conscious. He ddn't even bother wiping the blood on his wrists. “I don't care if your shift is over or not, you're not spending another minute here.”

I swallowed, not daring to speak or go against him.  They marched me out to the car and Enzo didn't say a word after that. He just wiped the blood onto a silk handkerchief. The silence in the car was thick with a dark, sexual energy that made my core ache. I wondered what they were going to do to me tonight.

When we pulled up to my house, my heart plummeted. Levi was standing there, pacing in the driveway.

"Who the fuck is that?" Rowan growled, the sound vibrating through the leather seat.

I swallowed hard. I couldn't lie anymore, because I knew they were going to find out either way.

“Um.” I mumbled. "He's... he's my boyfriend."

The air in the car turned tight immediately I almost choked on it, and I would be a liar if I said I didn't hear the audible snap of Enzo's jaw clenching. He turned to me, his eyes glowing with a terrifying light.

"Break it off," he commanded, not leaving a room for argument or refusal. "Tonight. Or we’ll do it for you."

I scoffed, slightly offended by his words. Who did he think he was to ask me that? "You can't do that." I argued, my voice rising. "Not only do I love him, but he’s grieving right now and  he needs me!"

“Do you think we care about that, little one?” Rowan leaned forward from the back seat, his finger circling a sensitive spot on my arm, sending a jolt of electricity through my body. "What do you think your little boyfriend will think of you, Rose? If he knew what a sweet, tight little slut you were for us the other night?"

My body went cold, the shame washing over me like ice water. I couldn't speak, I couldn't breathe, but Nathan smirked, his hand reaching over to grip the back of my neck, forcing me to look at the window.

"Why don't we just ask him? He’s right there."

He reached for the door handle, and my heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.