Bound by Love's Gravity (31 page)

Watching her carefully, Deke shook his head. “Why don’t you get out and we can run and get some?”

Gavin narrowed his eyes on her. “Deke, you go and relax. I’ll get the wine and then take care of Sarah.”

“I insist,” Deke murmured in a persuasive voice. “You shouldn’t have to do everything.”

Gavin furrowed his brow, appearing to be thinking. “We can compromise. You handle Sarah. I’ll take care of the wine.”

“That works,” Deke replied easily with a seductive smile. “Just give me a little time with my sub. She’s in trouble.”

Nodding, Gavin slipped out.

“What a dumbass,” Deke said as he grabbed Sarah and hoisted her out of the water. In a rush, he untied her and threw his jacket around her nude body. “You go downstairs.” He buttoned the oversized coat over her. “The place is surrounded. If you get outside, Hale and the other guys are waiting for you. Reed and the police are here, too. They’ll take care of you.”

When she opened her mouth to disagree, he snarled, “Don’t.” Realizing his harshness, he tipped her chin back and softened his voice. “I need you to get out of here. I can’t protect Adam if you’re in danger.”

Boy, he knew how to go for the jugular. “Fine,” she snapped. Although, she wasn’t sure if she was only agreeing for the sake of agreeing or not. She wasn’t convinced that she could walk out of this house without them, no matter what they said. “Go.”

He gave her the Dom stare. “If you disobey me in this, I will spank your ass.”

She nodded. “Okay, okay.”

As soon as she’d finished her words, he was gone.

“I’ll look forward to my spanking then.”

In a hurry, Deke descended the stairs then tore down the hallway leading to the wine cellar. When he got out of here, he was going to kiss Sarah for the hint she’d given him. Only his Sarah would be able to practically map out Adam’s location within a minute of his arrival. Hell, if she had put an
X marks the spot
, it wouldn’t have been more obvious.

At this point, his only concern was the fact that BR probably realized what she’d done, which put Adam and Sarah even more in harm’s way. But he didn’t have time to dwell on it. He had to get down to the wine cellar, as long as he could find it. Then he could worry about getting them out.

Turning down another hallway, he easily found the wine cellar. The fact that Gavin hadn’t shut it all the way helped him immensely. As he jerked open the door, he heard Adam groan. His body screamed out for his partner, and he hauled ass down the stairs.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he asked before he’d even reached the landing. “Have you lost your mind, BR?”

Shocked, BR swung his body around. “Why aren’t you with Sarah?”

Are you kidding me?
“I think that is pretty fucking obvious,
Gavin.
”

BR’s eyes flared. “You know.”

“Of course, I know,” he retorted. “It took me some time to find out, but you’re not nearly as smart as you think you are.”

BR sniffed. “It took you a year. I think that means you’re not as smart as you think you are, either.”

Bristling, Deke strolled over to one of the numerous wine racks. As he pretended to inspect the bottles, he frowned. “Why would you do that? I don’t get it. Why lie? Sarah would have fallen for you without the masquerade.”

With a snort, BR explained, “Don’t you know? I did it for you. I did everything for you.”

Deke couldn’t stop his gasp. “What?”

“He’s in love with you,” Sarah announced as she joined them. “I don’t know who this BR is or how well you know him. But I know Gavin loves you.”

Oh my God.
All the pieces in the puzzle fell into place. BR had followed him around in high school, but he’d barely registered on Deke’s radar. But then, they’d wound up at the same college together. And after that, BR had moved back to Kansas, even though his degree wasn’t really beneficial here. He’d even joined The Edge.

“This was all about me?” Deke asked in complete shock. “You kidnapped Adam. You lured Sarah into a relationship then nearly killed her. And it was all because of me?”

A slow smile stretched across his face. “Yes, my love. I did it all for you. But I did so much more.”

“Excuse me?” Deke blurted out. “What more could you have done?”

BR chuckled. “Back in high school, I helped Chloe realize she wasn’t the one for you. The little bitch wasn’t willing to share you with me. So I got rid of her.”

His high school girlfriend had broken his heart and crushed his pride. And up until now, he hadn’t known why. He’d assumed she’d done it for the hell of it.
That apparently wasn’t the case.
“How did you get rid of her?”

“I paid her off, of course. Daddy’s money is helpful with gold-digging whores like that one.” He sighed. “That Megan was harder to get rid of.”

Deke felt the world crash in on him. “What did you do?” he asked suspiciously.

“I helped her die.”

This time, Adam was the one to ask the questions. “How did you help her? She killed herself. Daddy’s money wouldn’t convince her to do that.”

BR rolled his eyes at Adam. “It’s easy to force someone to commit suicide. I held her at gunpoint, dumbass.”

“And she just played along?” Adam pressed.

BR barked a harsh laugh. “Yes, I made her transcribe the note I wrote. Then I told her she could kill herself or I could kill her. When I shared what I had in store for her, she was only too happy to off herself.” He shrugged carelessly. “That bitch was no fun. She was such a pussy.”

Again, Deke couldn’t get a grip on what BR had revealed. “Why in God’s name would you do that? She didn’t even know you.”

“Ha!” BR exclaimed. “I fucked your sub for over a year. She knew how to give it good. Hell, I hated to see her die. If she hadn’t gotten so possessive of you and pushed me away, she would still be with us instead of spending quality time with dirt and worms.”

This guy was certifiable.

Obviously, Adam agreed. “You’re crazy.”

“Not as crazy as you’ll be when I’m through with you,” he said as he spun around and slapped Adam. “If you hadn’t interfered at that frat party and every day since then, I wouldn’t have to kill you now.” He punched Adam and leaned forward until he was in Adam’s face. “I wouldn’t have to punish you because I would have been with Deke, and you would have been with someone else. And everything would have been perfect. But no, you had to be a greedy son of a bitch.” Abruptly stopping his rampage, BR spit in Adam’s face. “You had to whore yourself out for Deke’s affection. And you had to be a whipped pussy for Sarah’s. It’s actually kind of sad to see a man like you debase himself for a couple of pieces of ass.”

“You asswipe,” Adam snarled. “I’m going to beat the living shit out of you.”

BR raised his eyebrows. “Want to bet?” he asked then hurled more spit at Adam. “I’m untouchable now. I won. I got the man and the girl. Don’t you see that?”

Anger exploded inside Deke, and he charged for BR. Before his enemy had time to react, he was on him. Throwing BR to the ground, Deke flipped him onto his back and started punching him—over and over.

In a fit of rage, Deke kept going, each strike growing more aggressive. At first, BR fought back. But he didn’t last long. Within a minute of wrestling, he was flat on his back once again. And Deke was still beating the shit out of him.

“Deke,” Sarah whispered tremulously. “Don’t. Please.”

When he heard the fear in Sarah’s voice, he paused, staring down into the face of the man who’d killed a person he cared about, who’d abused the woman he loved, and threatened the man who was his partner in love and life. And he knew he couldn’t do it. He wanted to kill him. He wanted to make him hurt. But he didn’t want to look in Sarah’s eyes afterward and see a monster in the reflection. She deserved better than a cold-blooded killer. And while he might never feel worthy of someone as sweet and kind as her, he would be damned before he did something to lessen the love she miraculously felt for him.

With one last punch, he dropped his head until he was face-to-face with BR. “I would kill you, and I wouldn’t regret it for a second. But I won’t—for Sarah’s sake. You’re not worth hurting her.”

BR’s eyes widened. “I wish you would kill me. If I can’t have you, then I’d rather be dead.”

“That could be arranged,” Hale ground out as he stalked into the wine cellar. “I know plenty of people who want to see you dead. We just have to decide who gets you.”

As Hale came to his side, Deke rolled off BR. “I vote jail.”

“Me, too,” Delancey sneered as she descended the stairs then went straight for BR and kicked him in the nuts. “A pretty boy like him would be in high demand.”

Within a few seconds, the entire room was flooded with his and Adam’s staff, some of their friends, members of their families, and several police officers. But he didn’t care about them. He ran for Adam, falling to his knees in front of him. Quickly, he untied his partner. Then he was kissing him—his mouth, his shoulder, his abdomen. If a body part was nearby, he kissed it.

“I’m so sorry…I’m so sorry,” Deke whispered, repeating the words reverently against Adam’s skin.

Sarah wasn’t much better. She was running her hands all over Adam, checking and inspecting each bruise. “Me, too. I tried so hard to keep him away, but he still got you.” Tears seeped from her eyes. “I–I–I didn’t do a good job protecting you, but I promise I will do a good job taking care of you.”

Adam chuckled. “On that note, I think we should get out of here. I’m apparently going to get some TLC from my woman. I can’t turn that down.”

“You’re going to get it from your man, too,” Deke murmured. “I’m going to spend weeks making this up to you.”

“You don’t have to do that.” Adam grinned. “Although, being taken care of by the two of you has possibilities.”

A week after his kidnapping and subsequent assault, Adam was ready to scream. He was so over it. Sarah’s constant smothering was driving him nuts. And the disconnect between him and Deke was breaking his heart. Between the two of them, he practically lived in his damn office so he could avoid all the emotional bullshit.

Since the day after the attack, Deke had shut down on him and Sarah. He’d buried himself in work for the first twenty-four hours, swearing he was trying to get all of the red tape out of the way. But after BR was in jail and all the paperwork was done, Deke still didn’t come around. And Sarah wasn’t much better. She seemed to be overcompensating for Deke.

Restless, Adam couldn’t concentrate on his work. He was too wrapped up in all the angst going on. So he gave up.

Standing, he strode to the closet where he kept a few spare suits and some clothing. He opened the door then snagged his sneakers and jogging pants. But before he could change, a soft knock came from the door followed by a sweet voice. “Adam, are you in there?”

Fuck. Sarah.
“Come in, sweet pea,” he called out.

As soon as he invited her in, the door flew open. Instead of the sweet voice he’d just heard, she came at him. “I’m so fucking tired.”

Fucking?
He opened his arms for her, but she warded him off with a wave of her hand.

“No. This is ridiculous. You’re hiding from me—again. Damn it, Adam. That’s all you do anymore. Hide.” She put her hands on her hips. “I don’t get it. Why did you and Deke even ask me to move in? Neither of you will give me the time of day.”

That was an easy enough question
.
“We want—”

Sarah swiftly cut him off. “My ransacked apartment is far more appealing than dealing with you and Deke right now. I can actually clean that mess up.” Pausing, she sucked in a quick breath. “Speaking of Deke…do you know what he did?” Tapping her toe, she didn’t let him speak before answering herself. “Nothing! That’s what. He’s being a total donkey.”

Lost, Adam shook his head and stepped toward her again. “Sweet pea—”

Yet again, she warded him off. “No,” she growled, interrupting him. “I tried to seduce him. I dressed in this…this, whatever it is.”

When she pointed at what she had on, he felt his knees weaken. A sheer baby-doll gown adorned her body. With bows, beading, and ruffled straps, the sea-foam-green lingerie was cute and flirty. But the silhouette of the matching G-string was downright sinful.

“Damn.” He whistled.

Huffing, Sarah cast him a withering look. “I’m tired of being sweet Sarah. I want to be bad, and you’re going to help me.”

Adam arched an eyebrow. “Oh really?”

Sarah nodded. “Yes really. I want you to sneak me in the club again.”

“What?” he breathed. “Are you crazy?”

“I’m going into The Edge’s dungeon tonight—with or without your help.”

She was confusing the hell out of him. “Why?”

“Because I realized something this morning.”

He chuckled. “And what was that, sweet pea?”

She growled. “Don’t patronize me, Adam Blake Stanton.”

“I wasn’t,” he replied. Immediately, his face flushed as the truth hit him. She was right. He sounded patronizing. He certainly hadn’t meant to be, but he was.
Damn it.