Chapter 6 Suspicious.

Stephanie McCain.

Marcus flashed me a smug smile before releasing my hair. I hunched my head over my body for a moment as I caught my breath.

He walked back towards the kitchen island and sat back down to eat his food again. I watched him under my lashes as I squeezed my jaw together.

How the fuck am I going to get anything from Hayden after the way Xavier threatened him?

Oh God.

I was about to burst into a heart wrenching sob because I didn't know if there was a way around this. And I know Marcus enough to know that he'd keep to his word. Boiling water isn't even as bad as some of the things he's threatened to do to me before. My knuckles and knees still remembered the feeling of crawling over shattered ceramics. It's a memory I'll never be able to shake. The pain stays with me everyday.

“Come eat, love.” He gestured at all the food sitting on the counter. “Don't want all these to go to waste.”

I stood in the same spot for a while but Marcus wasn't phased. He was more interested in the amount of food he could shove in his mouth.

I know I should eat something but I couldn't find the strength to stomach anything.

Hayden.

I needed to think of something. I have to earn his trust again even if he was touching me inappropriately in the club.

I never want to sleep with these men but I can't deny that it does get them to open up sometimes and I despise the fact that Marcus has basically turned me into a prostitute for his business inquiries.

He hasn't touched me since he started pimping me out, making it clear that he'd never come anywhere near me if I was out fucking different men that he doesn't trust, notwithstanding that he sends me out to these men.

But I always made sure a condom was involved, always. Except for Xavier because I just completely forgot myself with him. Thank God he didn't.

I leaned over the counter and grabbed a garlic bread before pulling it apart with my fingers. Marcus was too engrossed in his phone to look at me but in my mind, I was already thinking of yet another million different ways to kill him, since going to the police was no longer an option.

My eyes flicked to the kitchen counters. Everything was locked so I couldn't access the knives, scissors, or any sharp object I could use to hurt him, his workers or even myself.

Some days, I still can't believe that this was my life. That the man I once called the love of my life was now my greatest enemy.

Some days, I wondered what it was like to be dead instead.

Xavier Othello.

The bass from the speakers hit me the second I stepped into Jake's club with Collette my on and off girlfriend.

My eyes glanced over the room. It's a lot busier than most nights but that's certainly a good thing.

I spot Jake standing at the bar and talking to a man I didn't recognize. I made an instant beeline to him, greeting him along with his company. “Finally needed a night out, huh?” He joked.

I chuckled. “You could say that.” I said as I straightened out my jacket. “Thought we could discuss a thing or two. I've been coming up with some ideas.”

"I need to get in on the dance floor, baby." Collette drawled. "I'll come find you later." She said as she pecked my lips before leaving.

"You back with that bitch again?" Jake asked. He never liked Collette and I can't even say I do. I just love what she does with my dick in her mouth.

"It is what it is." I shrugged. "And you know that's not what I'm here to talk about."

Jake hummed as we walked over to the bar to grab a drink.

"Everything went as planned. Ricardo is never going to be a problem to you anymore."

A satisfied smile appeared on Jake's face as he leaned back on the bar stool he was sitting on.

"That's great, Xavier." He nodded, visibly pleased.

I shrugged as I took a sip of my drink, looking down at my hands. The same hands that ended Ricardo's life. That guy really thought he could get away with threatening my friend's business? A business I was a partner in? I had to let him know that I don't take kindly to betrayals.

Loyalty has always come first in my empire and if someone tries to go against me or any of my family or friends, it would most definitely end in an ugly way for them.

Ironic isn't it?

I was the one talking about loyalty between family after fucking my sister's best friend behind her back even while I had a side piece of my own.

Especially the way I left her after. I want to slap myself for doing such a stupid thing. I didn't understand why it bothered me so much. This wasn't exactly the first time I was cheating on Collette.

But I just can't get the feeling of Stephanie's body wrapped around mine out of my fucking head.

Her pussy was the best I've ever had. It felt like fucking heaven, so wet and ready for me. Her lips, her eyes, her whole fucking face was memorized in my damn head and how she wrinkled it when I entered her.

Oh, and the sounds she makes when I'm inside her. Damn it. Her moans were the most satisfying sound I've ever heard in my whole miserable life. I could cum just by listening to her moans while screaming my name to go deeper.

And I don't fucking get it. Why do I find this shit attractive? When I fuck a girl, I never want her to scream my name, moan it or whatever. I usually find it annoying so I make them shut up one way or another. Even Collette knows to keep shut while I ram into her pussy.

But with Stephanie, I'd listen to her moans all the time while I fuck her. It was like music to my ears.

I could feel my cock getting hard in the middle of this crowded club just by thinking about her.

Fuck. I'm so screwed.

My eyes glanced over the upstairs section, floating past women in little cocktail dresses and heels, men in suits drinking the finest and most expensive champagne. Until I saw a flash of long blond hair. I could recognize that color from anywhere.

I raised my glass to my mouth as I flicked my eyes to the man standing right beside her. He has a hand latched onto her waist, towering over her as he grins in the most predatory way.

My jaw began to tense when I looked at Stephanie again. It was obvious she was uncomfortable even though her facial expression was saying otherwise. She was beaming at him, nodding when he spoke and staring dreamily into his eyes.

But I could see past all that bullshit. Behind her eyes were a wall of strain and resistance.

It's more than obvious that she doesn't want to be standing right next to that guy, so why was she?

What the fuck was she doing?

I honestly didn't take her for a whore and after the way I treated her the other night, she might as well be. Regardless, I don't want no whore being best friends with my sister.

I cleared my throat and glanced at Jake. “Does she come here often?”

Jake swallowed his drink and then followed my eyesight. “Oh.” He hummed. “Yeah… sometimes. Actually, she's here quite a lot.”

“Always talking to a new man?”

He turned to me with a playful smirk on his face. “Jealous? Collette had better not find out. I can't deal with her drama."

I scowl at his words. “Shut up, man. I'm just trying to figure her out. She's Athena's friend and I need to know what's up with her.”

“Beats me.” He sighed. “She comes in, gets a drink and lets men swoon all over her. Who knows, maybe that's what she enjoys. Like a pastime, you know. We men like a good fuck. Why can't women too?”

Because I want to be the only good fuck she has.

But from her body language, she clearly doesn't want to be with this guy so why was she forcing it?

I shouldn't even be invested but with suspicious behavior like that, it makes me concerned especially since she's Athena's friend.

“Last time I was here, I had to literally drag a man off of her.” I said, excluding the fact that I was also buried deep in her pussy same last time.

My eyes remained glued to Stephanie's face as she stared up at this man. I glanced down at her throat. It clenched and wobbled for a second. Another fake smile. I might be over analyzing but it was all clear as day to me.

“Who?” Jake's voice snapped my head away from Stephanie's direction.

“Some asshole.” I grunted. “She was telling him to stop. He wouldn't so I yanked him straight off her. He's probably in his fifties, grey hair. I've seen him before but I have no idea who he is.”

Jake nodded at me before draining his drink. “Well, if you ever see him again, let me know and I'll revoke his membership. I'm not standing for that sort of behavior in my club.”

“Gladly.” I nodded.

He patted my arms as he nodded at someone from across the room. “Come see me in my office in about forty minutes. I've got something I need to take care of first.”

“Alright.” I said as he walked away.

When I took in Stephanie's face again, she was attempting to distance herself from the man in front of her. She pushed him away gently but he stepped forward again. My fingers tightened around the glass and I was so ready to pounce when she shook her head and the man paused.

She walked across the room to the other end and waited at the bar. I shouldn't have looked but I got a glimpse of her perfectly rounded ass in that tight black dress and heels that made her legs look never ending.

I groaned to myself, finishing my drink before slamming the empty glass on the bar. I've seen how beautiful that ass looks naked. I'm walking straight towards her because I couldn't help my curiosity. There's something about her that wasn't adding up in my head and I'm desperate to find out what.

My instinct has never failed me. In fact, it's one of the reasons I'm still alive.

“Are you stalking me?” She asked defensively and I could literally smell the anger oozing out of her.

Her eyes flicked between mine slowly and I tilted my head. "I'm just doing business…..” I trailed off. “Looks like you are too.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”