Page 73 of Brutal Knight

Connor yanks my shirt off and a button pops, pinging to the corner of the room. He pulls my bra off and rolls my nipples as he grinds against me from behind, whispering in my ear about how good I’ll feel, how wet I must be.

And I do get wet as he talks to me, then even more so when he pushes my oversized shirt up and rips a hole in my leggings. I don’t know why I chose to wear them today, but I know it’s hot as fuck when he pushes my panties aside and thrusts into me.

I hold onto the edge of the desk as he fucks me, the wood biting into my palms as I grip it harder. Connor whispers into my ear and makes me come, and then he keeps going. He fucks me through the orgasm and then finally finishes, and I come again too, hot with the feeling of him inside me.

We find time to slip away as often as we can. Sometimes, it’s just a heated kiss. Other times, it’s rough and fast. Connor is just as willing to push me into a closet as he is to carry me up the stairs and into the bed. I love it both ways.

With each time, I feel more and more at home with him. I start to experiment, meet his energy, try things differently just so I can feel what I want. Connor encourages me. He follows my every move and makes me forget that what I’m doing is new, foreign to me.

It’s not just stolen moments, either. I come home to the same bed as Connor every night, and it’s perfect. Some nights we’re both so exhausted we fall asleep, and others, we have time for just one more moment together.

He shows me how to trust him in bed. He tells me what to do—how to lift my legs, where to touch myself. I follow every direction and each time, it’s perfect. It feels like I’m getting a little piece of myself back.

Because it’s not just the business that I’m reclaiming. It’s my power, my sexuality. My trust.

I can trust again because it’s Connor. I feel desire again because it’s Connor I want, and I know he wants and trusts me just the same.

It’s like a dream. I have the kind of life I always wanted, and I have even more. I have the Raven Syndicate. With every new decision I make, I bury Dmitri even deeper in the dirt. I won’t leave a trace of him behind. This belongs to me now, and I’m going to make it mine.

Mine, and Connor’s.

It takes time to get all the affairs in order, but eventually, we get there. The businesses are in control and Connor is at my side.

Now it’s time for the hardest thing.

I have to take control for good. I have to end the jockeying for power among the men who once worked for Dmitri.

I know what I have to do. I call a meeting of the higher-ups in the old Raven Syndicate. I know the names and have all of their information, and I’m almost certain they’ll come when I call. They’re probably all thinking I want to give the syndicate up, or maybe redistribute power.

They’re very wrong about that.

Connor is there, his brothers with him. They’re backup, and I’m grateful. I know it would be impossible without help. If it were just me, there’s a high chance someone would try something.

I’m terrified as I stand waiting in the old meeting room Dmitri used to use. But even the terror I feel isn’t enough to drown out the knowledge I have or the way I’ve grown since I left Dmitri.

And Connor is with me. His confidence in me gives me strength.

The men mill around the room. I can tell they’re watching Connor and his brothers, gauging what might happen. Some of them already look displeased. They probably know they won’t be getting control today.

“I’m taking over the Raven Syndicate,” I announce. I can’t believe how firm my voice is. “I know there’s been infighting. I’m here to stop it.”

The gathered men exchange glances. I can see their expressions, and although none of them look happy, it seems as if they’re grudgingly going to accept. They have no choice. As much as they want this for themselves, they’ll never have it. Not while I’m here.

But that’s not all there is.

“Oh. And you’re all out,” I add calmly. “You are no longer Ravens.”

“You’re joking,” one man snarls, getting to his feet.

Finn shifts beside Connor, ready to act. It calms me to know that there are people on my side, so I don’t flinch. I keep my feet planted despite the way my heart is racing.

I prepared for this. I knew what would happen, but I needed to do this.

“This is ridiculous,” another man spits. “What right do you have?”

“You can’t do this.”

“Do you seriously think we’re going to sit back while you do this?”

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