Arranged love

BONES

TITAN PULLS INTO the back of Glass. Getting out, we both walk up the metal stairs to the second floor, and I use my key card to unlock the door. Pushing it open, we step into the hallway, and I look over the blood smeared across the carpet.

“Fuck,” Titan hisses, letting the door close behind him.

“Haven told us that he was unconscious when she found him.” We spoke to her the entire time on the way to the hospital. She was all alone and terrified. We wanted her to know that we were on our way. She told us that she found him lying facedown in the hallway. As if he had crawled across the floor. Which doesn’t make any sense. Why not call one of us? What was he going to find in the hallway to save him?

We follow the blood smear into the office and see the massive blood stain in front of the desk. We’ve dealt with blood all of our lives, but it’s different when you know it belongs to someone you consider family. The fact that whoever it was, was looking for me makes it worse.

“Blood splatter on the desk,” Titan observes.

“Maybe he was standing in front of it,” I offer. By the way the blood covers the carpet and desk, you can tell he wasn’t sitting in his chair.

“Where was his weapon?” Titan walks around the desk and starts opening drawers.

“It was on him.” I spoke to the detective that showed up at the hospital when we arrived. He promised he would find out who did this, but we all know that the police won’t be able to do shit. They can’t control the Mafia. Plus, they are easily bought. I told them to stand down, move along, and stay the fuck out of our way. He looked more than happy to oblige and accept the stack of cash we handed over. “Haven took it from his holster and gave it to me while at the hospital. It’s in my safe at home.”

Titan nods. “Did he get a shot off?”

“Nope.” I checked. There was still one chambered, and the magazine was loaded, safety off like always.

Titan sighs, running a hand down his face. “Lane said that the bullet in his leg entered from behind. But the one in his chest entered through the front.”

I nod, crossing my arms over my chest.

“So maybe he was standing, facing the desk. Someone came in and shot him in the leg. He turns around, and they shoot him in the chest.”

“Makes sense. But if they already had the advantage, why wait for him to turn around to shoot off the one in the chest? Or why go for the leg and chest at all? A shot to the back of the head, and he would have dropped dead.”

“Maybe they didn’t want to kill him?” he suggests.

I shake my head. “No. I think they wanted him dead. But I also think they wanted Luca to see who they were and suffer. Like a last fuck you.” I flinch at my own words.

Titan notices and sighs. “This isn’t your fault,” he offers.

I give a rough laugh that holds no humor. “Of course, it is. They were here for me.”

“We don’t know that.”

“Jeremy-”

“Jeremy was a piece of shit, and we can’t trust a damn thing he said to us,” Titan interrupts me.

“But what if he was right? What if this doesn’t have anything to do with Mia?” I offer. “And everything to do with me.”NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

He shakes his head. “It’s too coincidental. It has to be connected somehow. But I’m afraid only Luca can help us figure it out.”

I spoke to Haven earlier, and he’s still in his drug-induced coma. They ran some tests, and I’m waiting to hear back from her regarding brain activity.

“What are you going to do about the club?” Titan goes on.

“I have a crew coming first thing in the morning. It was closed today and will be closed tomorrow as well. They said they could get everything ripped up and replaced tomorrow afternoon. Then It’ll be open as of tomorrow night again. Right now, nothing has been released about what happened to Luca. I’d like to keep it that way. If I shut down the club for too long, people may start to ask questions. Plus, I can’t do that to the girls.” Exotic dancers choose Glass because we take care of them. Some have children, sick parents to take care of, or are paying their way through college. I won’t let this hinder their income.

He pushes up off the chair and stands. “I’ll help you. Just let me know what I need to do and when I need to be here.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it,” I say, knowing damn well I’m not going to let him help me. If this has to do with me, I won’t put anyone in danger. I’m still standing, which can only mean one thing-whoever it was will come after me again.

TITAN DROPS ME off at home, and I enter the house to find it silent and dark. I make my way down the hallway to my master suite and slowly open the door. She has the curtains open to the sliding glass doors, the back porch lights giving the room a soft glow.

Unable to stop myself, I walk around the side of the bed and see her sleeping, the covers pulled up to her chin. Her lips are slightly parted, and a few strands cover her pretty, porcelain face. I reach out and push them away, letting my tatted knuckles feel her soft skin.

“Dillan.” She moans my name, and my cock strains against the inside of my jeans.

Fuck, I haven’t had sex in almost four months. It was before I watched that video of her in my office. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve jerked off to the thought of her since I left her in California. It’s pathetic, really.

“Yeah, I’m back,” I tell her, expecting her to open her eyes and wake up, but she doesn’t. Instead, she sucks in a deep breath and starts gently snoring.

She’s out.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out to see it’s Titan telling me he’s showering and then heading up to Kingdom.

Deciding I need to do the same, I turn my back on her and head to the bathroom. It’s almost four in the morning. I have a long day ahead of me and don’t have time to be distracted by her. I know she’ll be here when I return because she has nowhere else to go.