27

Rule

I needed some time to get my bearings, so I left Laikyn and Jinx at the house with the assurance that I would come back. I sensed that Jinx didn’t believe me, but I was determined to prove to him that I wasn’t the same man I’d been two and a half months ago.

I drove around aimlessly for an hour before I went to the beach. The same one I’d taken Laikyn to on our first date. I walked, and I kept walking until the sun was low in the sky. I replayed everything that had happened since the night Laikyn called me with Monica’s request for help.

That was when it started. This shift. The one that I would’ve said was impossible before then. That brief call, her fear-filled voice, had triggered something. I couldn’t explain it, but even if I could, it wouldn’t matter. It wasn’t like I could change it now. It happened when I wasn’t paying attention. I’d fallen in love with Laikyn, and my love for her had cast a spotlight on my feelings for Jinx. My love for him wasn’t new, but I’d never acknowledged it. At the same time, I’d never denied it either. I simply hadn’t recognized it for what it was.

Now I needed to figure out what I was supposed to do about it. Was I supposed to cut open a vein and prove to her that everything I’d done up to this point had been for her? Would she even believe me if I did? I’d dumped a lot on her already. It couldn’t be easy to learn that your own mother had spent two years attempting to stage your kidnapping, and when she finally succeeded, it had gone awry. Laikyn was good at pretending her mother’s betrayal didn’t hurt her, but deep down, she was.

As I drove back to the house, I pulled out my phone and dialed a familiar number.

“Hey, brother. How are you?” Creed answered on the first ring.

“I need to talk,” I blurted before I could think better of it.

There wasn’t a second of hesitation when he said, “I’m at the house. Come by. Journey’s out with Nick. Hawk and Garrison are … otherwise preoccupied.”

That admission made me smile. I couldn’t deny I didn’t understand their relationship, but it seemed to work for Creed, and that was all that mattered to me. Even after all these years, I considered him the closest thing I had to a brother. Nothing would change that. Not time. Not distance. And apparently, not love.

“I’m on my way,” I told him as I flipped on the blinker to make a U-turn.

“See you in a few.”

That was about how long it took for me to wind my way to Creed’s new house. I’d been here once before, back when it was undergoing renovations after they purchased it. Creed had called me out of the blue, wanting to talk. He knew that wasn’t my favorite thing to do, but he’d had things he wanted to get off his chest. After what happened, after I’d killed the man who had intended to kill Creed, he wanted to ensure I was okay. With the exception of Jinx, no one in my life had ever cared whether I was okay. It had been weird, yet strangely satisfying.

I parked my car in front of the monstrosity that Creed now called home with his four business partners, who also happened to be his partners in life. Three were his best friends, and one was the woman they all loved. I admired Creed. Hell, sometimes I was envious. He’d made something of himself by pulling himself up by his bootstraps and forging ahead. His start in life was eerily similar to mine, yet he wasn’t like me in the sense he wasn’t waiting for the next person to leave. He didn’t care. I did.

The front door opened as I was standing there, staring up at all the windows.

“Get your ass in here,” Creed rumbled, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I took a deep breath and resigned myself to telling him the truth. About everything.


Forty-five minutes later, Creed stared at me like I’d sprouted another head out of my neck.

“Knox Montgomery is her brother?”

“Half-brother. Yes.”

“And you know this for a fact?”

“I already told you I’ve got the DNA results.”

“And you’re just telling me this now?”

I frowned. “I didn’t realize I was supposed to keep you apprised.”

“He’s a friend of mine.”

“Yeah. So?”

“Jesus Christ, Rule. You can’t just spring something like this on someone.”

I wasn’t sure if he meant Knox or Laikyn, but I figured it was a little late for that.

“I need to talk to him,” I told Creed. “He needs to know.”

“The hell he does. He’s thirty-five fucking years old. You don’t just waltz in and surprise him with a long-lost sister who now wants a stake in his fortune.”

“She doesn’t know about the money. Not yet.”

Creed’s expression was dubious. “Really? You’re telling me Jeremiah Montgomery’s daughter doesn’t know she’s an heiress to a fortune?”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you,” I said firmly. “Because she doesn’t know she’s Jeremiah Montgomery’s daughter. Fuck. Haven’t you heard a fucking word I said? I haven’t told her.”

“You said she found the DNA test. It doesn’t have his name on it?”

“No.” I moved to the balcony railing and stared out into the night. “I had it done discreetly. I didn’t want it logged into some DNA database and Knox find out about it before I could talk to him.”

“He’ll want to do his own test,” Creed said with a huff.

“He’d be an idiot not to, but I needed to know for sure. It’s not like I want to waltz in and upend his life on a hunch.”

“But you don’t have a problem upending his life?”

I stared at Creed, confused by his animosity. “You realize life’s not solely about money, right? I mean, I get that you’re richer than God, but shit, Creed.”

He barked a laugh. “Don’t pretend you live paycheck to paycheck.”

I glared at him. He was right. I didn’t. But it was different. He flaunted his money with the big house and the fancy cars. Mine was locked in vaults because the government wasn’t aware I had it. It wasn’t like I could take a payoff and deposit the check in the bank. The Feds would have a field day if they knew who paid me. They were nosy enough as it was.

I held my ground. “Sometimes it’s about family.” At least where Laikyn was concerned, anyway.

Creed’s attention shifted to the house, but I could tell he wasn’t looking at the structure. He was seeing something else.

“You’re right,” he finally said with a sharp exhale. “And you went about it the right way.”

I didn’t need his approval, but I was grateful for it. When I set out to do this, I had one objective. To protect Laikyn from her mother. I’d failed her in the beginning because I’d given up too soon. I’d taken Monica’s lack of action as a sign that she had reconsidered her idiotic plan. Laikyn had been kidnapped because I’d become complacent.

It didn’t matter to me that Laikyn wasn’t ready to find out who her father was. I refused to do this half-ass. She needed to have all the information. Once she knew who her brother was, they could settle the family estate however they wanted to. And I would know I’d done everything in my power to make her whole.

“So, what do you need from me?” Creed asked.

“Three things.” I turned to face him, holding up one finger. “Use of your jet on Thursday.” I added a finger. “The nicest suite Knox has in that fancy-ass Vegas hotel.” I held up a third finger. “And three, a meeting with Knox Montgomery.”

Creed stared at me for a long time before he finally nodded. “Done, done, and done. But there’s one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m going with you.”

Great. “I suppose you’re bringing your entourage.”

He grinned. “It wouldn’t be a party without them.”

“Fine,” I told him. “But my one condition is that you let me talk to him first.”

Creed’s chin jutted out, and he gently nodded his head. “Fine.”


By the time I got home, I felt better and worse for what I’d done.

Once again, I was going behind Laikyn’s back, manipulating her life. I wasn’t used to feeling guilt. It wasn’t an emotion I was acquainted with. I did what I did without concern for the consequences. At least until her. Now I worried that this would blow up in my face.

Was I supposed to warn her ahead of time? Or did I surprise her? With Creed and the gang coming along, I could easily play it up as an impromptu vacation, a way to shake up the monotony of life. But then what? If Knox was open to meeting his sister, and I sprung that on her while in Vegas, Laikyn was bound to get pissed. I wouldn’t even blame her.

I exhaled as I opened the door and got out of the car.

I had a couple of days to figure it out. For the moment, I needed to assess the status of my relationship with her. And yes, I knew it was a relationship. It was certainly more than a couple of signatures scribbled on a marriage license. It wasn’t a facade, no matter what I tried to tell myself. I’d let her in, I’d opened myself up to her, and she’d slipped under my skin when I least expected it. I’d gone my whole life without worrying that I would fall in love because I didn’t think I had it in me. Then Laikyn came along, and I’d been relieved of the notion.

I was surprised and disappointed to find the house dark and closed up tight. A glance down the hall told me Laikyn and Jinx had gone to bed, both of their doors closed.

With a sigh, I headed upstairs but stopped when I heard movement. I slowed my pace and let my eyes adjust to the darkness.

“Waldo?” I crouched down where he slept by my bedroom door. “Jinx kick you out or what?”

He gave a soft, doggy grunt before dropping his head to the floor again.

“All right then.”

I went into my room and pressed the switch. The lamps beside the bed came on, bathing the room in soft light and letting me see I wasn’t alone like I thought.

Jinx and Laikyn were in my bed, right in the center, as though that was where they belonged.

Was it? Did they belong right there beside me every night? It was difficult to want them anywhere else, so perhaps it was.

Laikyn was curled up against Jinx, her head on his shoulder, eyes closed. Jinx was wide awake, watching me as I moved into the room.

“What’s this?” I asked, attempting to sound nonchalant even though my heart was currently donkey-kicking in my chest.

His eyebrows popped, which translated to what do you think it is?

“Have you said anything more?” I asked because I couldn’t help myself.

He shook his head.

“That’s too bad.” I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it to the bench at the end of the bed. “Maybe you need someone to persuade you.”

His head tilted, and a sexy grin pulled at his mouth.

As I toed off my shoes, he pushed the blanket down, uncovering his steel-hard erection.

“Don’t pretend that’s my doing.” I pulled my socks off. “You’ve got the sexiest woman in the world next to you. She’s the one responsible.”

Jinx pulled back and looked at Laikyn. She was still breathing deeply, so unless she was a good actress, we hadn’t woken her yet.

I followed the shift of his arm down to where he was stroking his cock. It was a leisurely motion meant to entice me. It worked. I was open to the idea even if I was uneasy about where things stood between us. For the first time in my life, I was hesitant. I didn’t want to make any sudden moves that might shake the precarious foundation of my existence. There was no forging ahead without concern for the consequences of my actions. That was how I knew this was different. That I was different.

I stripped off my jeans, enjoying the way Jinx’s eyes glazed over, his passion and desire for me on full display. I’d always known it was there, and admittedly, I’d taken it for granted for a long time. Sure, I gave him what I thought he needed, what I thought had been all I was capable of giving. He’d hungrily accepted everything I offered, and never once had he asked for more. Was that because I was giving him more without knowing? Things felt the same between us, only … more potent. Everything was in Technicolor now. No more shades of gray cast over everything. Even the wings on my sweet butterfly appeared more vibrant.

“What now?” I asked, perching on the edge of the mattress and putting my hand on Jinx’s thigh.

He breathed in deeply, a soft gasp escaping. Had he always done that when I touched him? I’d never noticed.

I glided my hand over the hard muscle of his leg, letting the hairs tickle my palm. He hesitated, his hand stilling as he watched me. I saw it in his eyes. It was surprise. He wasn’t expecting this from me.

“I don’t know how to do this,” I admitted. “I don’t know what to expect, either.”

My hand inched higher, and I shifted to my knee before joining them on the bed. I stretched out beside him, propping my head on my hand and staring down the length of his body as I touched him. I couldn’t recall ever touching him before. Not like this. There was a sexual undertone, but it wasn’t the objective. I was content to simply lie there, to watch Laikyn sleep, and to feel Jinx’s presence.

Time stood still as we remained like that. I could feel Jinx watching me, and I wondered what he saw, but I didn’t ask. He couldn’t tell me. Maybe one day, he would be able to. Maybe one day, when he felt truly and completely safe, he would be able to speak. I wanted that for him. Hell, I wanted that for us.


I didn’t remember falling asleep, but I recalled the second my brain came online. I registered Jinx’s presence. And Laikyn’s. I was in my bed, and they were both there. Only now, someone was watching me sleep, and there was a callused hand sliding over my chest and a much softer one gliding over my stomach. Slowly, gently. As though they wanted to rouse me but not abruptly.

It was working. I was definitely roused. Not to mention aroused.

“Keep doing that,” I muttered, keeping my eyes closed.

The side of Laikyn’s finger brushed the head of my cock. It could’ve been an accident, but I didn’t think so. I knew it wasn’t when she did it again, my cock stirring, filling with blood as it grew thicker with every beat of my heart.

As I shifted my legs to stretch out more, I realized I was no longer on the side of the bed. I was now in the middle, sandwiched between Jinx and Laikyn. It shocked me enough to have my eyes opening. The room was dark. Almost too dark to see anything more than their silhouettes.

“For right now, we’re going to forget everything else,” Laikyn whispered, her lips brushing my shoulder. “Only this.”

I could live with that. I didn’t want to think about the rest of it anyway.

“Only this,” I echoed.

As soon as I did, Jinx tugged the sheet down, and Laikyn curled her soft fingers around my shaft. A second later, Jinx’s fingers joined them, covering her hand, guiding it. My head remained on the pillow because it was too heavy to pick up. The pleasure hit me in waves. They were both touching me. At the same time. A maelstrom of sensation flooded my body, and my brain cataloged every stroke of their skin against mine. I fought the urge to pump my hips because I wanted this. For one moment in time, I wanted what they were offering. I didn’t want to take control because I didn’t need to. For now, they were in charge. They were responsible for me. I’d never surrendered myself to anyone, never put myself in their care. Not since I was a kid, longing for some sort of security that would keep my world on its axis.

Jinx and Laikyn were giving me that.

“Oh, God,” I groaned, my hips bucking when a tongue grazed the head of my dick.

Another one followed and I gasped.

They kept going, alternating. First licking, then sucking until I was gearing up to control the amount of pleasure they were allowed to deliver. But the moment I moved my hand, eager to press down on their heads and force them to finish me, I was restrained. Jinx held one wrist against the bed, Laikyn the other. I could’ve overpowered them if I wanted to, but I didn’t.

This was…

Fuck. I’d never been as vulnerable as I was in that moment. I hated the feeling. I detested having my control removed, even the illusion of it. But I trusted them. I trusted no one else, but I trusted them.

They tormented me with pleasure, sucking my cock, fondling my balls, driving me closer to the brink.

“Sit on my cock,” I growled. I didn’t care who. I simply wanted to be buried inside one of them, and I wanted it now.

Laikyn was the one to move, shifting over me. Her skin was cool and soft, her breasts crushing against my chest as she straddled my hips. Her hands slid upward so she could keep my wrists down. Jinx’s big hand was between my legs, and a moment later, he was guiding my cock into the tight, hot clasp of Laikyn’s body.

My head tipped back as her slick heat enveloped me, sliding over my dick like a satiny caress. She was in complete control, rocking her hips, fucking me slowly. I gasped and moaned, focusing only on the pleasure as her pace quickened with every passing minute until she was using my cock to get herself off.

When she sat up and pressed her hands on my chest for balance, I grabbed Jinx, curling my hand behind his neck. He leaned in, and I kissed him, mimicking the thrust of my cock with my tongue. He kissed me back, and I was cognizant of them overpowering me. Mentally, emotionally. It was enough to have me jerking back and crying out, my orgasm ripping through me.

“Fuck yes,” Laikyn cried out, her cunt milking my dick as she came with me. “Oh, God, Rule!”

As I lay there in the dark, attempting to catch my breath, I realized something.

If they left me, it wouldn’t be like when my parents dumped me at a police station and someone renamed me, attempting to turn me into someone else.

If there were a next time … there wouldn’t be anything left of me to matter.