Page 74 of Their Domme

He led the way toward a parked van hidden by the trees. It definitely looked like it had seen better days, and when I pulled open the passenger door, I saw the interior was littered with trash, guns, and papers. In the back were a shit ton of computer bags, a sleeping bag, and some other things I wasn’t sure I wanted to ask about yet. The passenger seat looked like it was held together by more duct tape than fabric, and Atlas was tossing takeout bags and coffee cups into the back with abandon.

“I know she looks a bit rough, but she’ll get us where we need to go.”

“She’s awesome,” I told him with a grin. “Even if I now know what you’ve had to eat for the last two weeks.”

Atlas laughed, smiling at me. “At least you get it. Wulfric won’t come near my van at all.”

“Which one is Wulfric?” I asked, shutting the door and buckling myself in.

“The older one who looks like he’d kill you just for irritating him.”

“Ah, the suit guy.” I nodded. “He and Sacha could take notes. I swear I’ve never understood the appeal.”

“People are fucking lucky I wear clothes most of the time,” Atlas agreed. “Though it does make them more comfortable if I have something on. At least usually.”

“Because they don’t want to see your dick just hanging there?” I quipped.

“That, and other reasons,” he replied cryptically. “Now, where are we going?”

He started up the van, and we began going down the driveway. My cell phone vibrated in my pocket a few times, so I took it out.

Bodhi:Nic said you were going.

Bodhi:Be safe and hurry back.

Bodhi:Love you.

Oliver:Love you too.

Then I turned off the cell phone and slipped it into the backpack at my feet.

“It’s not on a map or in a town. I’ll direct you as we go.”

Atlas switched on the radio. Guess he was happy to let me give him directions as needed. Classic rock filled the van, doing little to stem the underlying awkwardness between us.He was pleasant enough,thiswas pleasant enough, but it was odd sitting in a van with someone who may or may not be my brother. The possibility was crazy to me. I couldn’t even recall my brother’s face, his name, or mine. No matter what Blake did, a DNA test wouldn’t make him my brother.

Blood only got you so far.

Ansel

Friday

Joe had gone into hiding after his wife was killed and his son was taken away. But after meeting up with my contact and getting Christopher’s assistance, I was able to track him down fairly quickly. That was a good thing because my mind was whirling with everything Nicholette right now like her revelation that I called her for sex on the anniversary of my wife’s murder and the fact that despite everything, like her pregnancy and the fucking harem of men that coveted her, I was still interested in being with her. I wouldn’t say I loved her because I didn’t, not right now, but it was disturbing to think that I eventually could.

Nicholette sat on my lap, her blue-green eyes calm and steady. She was waiting for me to talk first, trying to exert her control over the situation without even saying a word. She wasn’t anything like Iris. Iris had been strong in her own way, quiet, reserved, and submissive. The moment I saw her as a young teen, I knew I wouldn’t ever let her go, and I’d apologized to her for it every time I saw her. Every moment of pain I put her through. The apologies ran out when I fully claimed her as my own and later married her. She only ever argued or stood up to me when it came to the kids, asking me to wait, not to train them like I had been trained, at least not yet. She knew as well as I did that there was no escaping the Family obligations they’d inherited, but it had been a dream of hers that they manage to have some kind of childhood.

I had loved her. Istillloved her. My body and soul ached with missing her even though I knew she was probably happier without me beside her. Loving her had been easy on my part, though I doubted whether she’d ever really loved me.

No one could love a monster, and that was exactly what I was.

But then along came Nicholette.

Fearless.

Reckless.

Broken.

She was a breath of fresh air, this woman who never flinched away from me when I showed up with blood on my hands. She only asked for more details or for more pain. She craved the demon inside of me, basked in the darkness of my soul, and accepted me in a way no one ever had before. It was terrifying.

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