Conviction: Devine (5 page)

I
SMILED, ISLA’S SOFT
snores the most perfect sound I had ever heard. Once, when I was young and stupidly staring at her in class, I had imagined what it would feel like sleeping beside her. Would she snore? Would she grind her teeth? Would she twitch in her sleep?

I hated lying to her. My heart clenched again, my stomach twisting with all the dishonesty. She would never understand and I wasn’t willing to take the risk.

Fuck, I needed a hit.

I hissed when my phone rang. Isla moaned and pulled a face at the intrusive noise. Quickly snatching my phone from the nightstand, I swiped the screen and answered quickly as I walked into the bathroom and shut the door.

“What’s up?”

Kris sighed and I rolled my eyes. His attitude lately was driving me insane, his moods at their worst. Kris had always struggled with his past but I’d thought he was slowly moving on, yet now I was positive something was haunting him, his anger and need for carnage the fiercest they’d ever been.

“Deal went south.”

“Fuck. Why?”

“You sent that blonde bitch, didn’t you? What the fuck did you expect?”

“Simmer down, Kris. Gen is good at what she does. Don’t blame her for Trev’s inability to take the stick out of his ass!”

“Fuck, Jake. The stupid bitch screwed the bastard!”

“Yes.” I sighed. “That’s what she was supposed to do.”

Kris laughed but it was far from humorous. “And did either of you bother to find out what the crazy fucking bastard liked?”

I stilled, my heart rate increasing. “What do you mean?”

He scoffed and I could picture him shaking his head. “Trevor Everett likes it rough Jake. Very—fucking—rough!”

“Shit. Is Gen okay?”

“Yeah, luckily. You stupid twat. You’re buried so deep into Isla that you’re losing it.” Only Kris would dare talk to me like that and I closed my eyes, letting it ride. “This isn’t you, Jake. You’re renowned for doing your homework!”

“I know.” Raking my hand through my hair, I gritted my teeth. “Where is she?”

“She’s at Beverley’s. Because she fought back, Trev went back on our deal.”

“And the money?” I asked, feeling my own rage climbing higher and higher.

“Oh, you can say goodbye to that.”

“I don’t think so, mate.” Walking back into the bedroom, I snatched up my clothes. Isla was awake and watching me warily from where she was propped up on the bed with an elbow, her delicious tits heaving over the top of the duvet. My dick jumped in excitement at the sight of her large plump nipples, taut, firm and ready. Diverting my gaze with a disappointed sigh I yanked on my shorts. “Get the guys ready. Trev needs to learn who he doesn’t mess with.”

Kris laughed, this time with more glee. “I’m already booted up. Where we meeting?”

“Adam’s.”

Ending the call I leaned over the bed, taking a kiss from Isla before my mind slipped into insanity. She moaned, raking my hair through her fingers as she pushed her firm breasts against me. I groaned, pulling away and willing my cock to stop its incessant throb. “I have to go.”

The disappointment on her face nearly caused me to flip her over, mount her like an animal and fuck the life out of her. “I can’t,” I muttered as I softly stroked her cheek. “Something’s come up but I’ll pick you up at eight tonight. It’s Keegan’s birthday and he’s having his yearly barbeque.”

“Oh.” She smiled widely. “You want me to come?”

I stared at her, perplexed for a moment. “Of course I want you to come.”

She grinned wider. “Do you want me to pick something up? A present, alcohol, salad?”

I couldn’t help but smile at her. Nodding, I kissed her forehead, “All of the above would be good.”

She rolled her eyes and laughed, passing me my watch that was sat on her bedside table. “You’re telling me you haven’t bought your friend a gift?”

I shrugged. “Sweetheart, I don’t
buy
anything. I have staff for that shit.”

Her jaw dropped and she blinked at me. “I hope I’m not included in that!”

“What?” I smirked, shoving my feet into my shoes. “That I don’t buy for you or that you’re now staff because you’re doing my shopping?”

She gasped and grabbed a pillow, throwing it across the room at me. “Both, Mr Devine!”

Winking, I opened the door as I turned back to her. “Sweetheart, if I could I would buy you every damn diamond on the planet and every single flower that grows on this polluted globe.”

Her face softened and she smiled. She blew me a kiss then flopped down onto the bed and opened her legs wide, her sweet pussy glistening for me. “For that I’ll give you a glimpse of the goods.” She winked back.

Shaking my head, my hand twitching on the handle as I struggled with the need to bury my face in her and eat her until she couldn’t remember who the fuck she was, I shuddered and ordered myself to step through the door. “Christ, Isla. You’ll soon learn that teasing gets you punished.”

She smirked a dirty smile, making her eyes darken. “Oh, I hope so,” she whispered. I hesitated, looking back at her with a need that was becoming uncontrollable. However, she laughed and waved her hand at me, shooing me off. “Go, the guys need you. I’ll be ready for eight.”

I grinned at her and shook my head. “Make it naked and on the bed for seven forty-five.”

She snorted. “Nah, make it seven fifty-five. That gives you loads of time!”

“You cheeky. . . .” I chuckled and turned as she poked out her tongue at me.

“See you later, lover,” she shouted as I closed the door.

I grinned all the way to Adam’s, even though my stomach was in knots with the worry that she would find out. If she ever found out I knew she would never forgive me. Fuck, I couldn’t forgive myself.

I’d gone too far this time but my heart had ruled my head. Something I’d sworn in my life to never allow. Yet, Isla had this hold on me, a hold that seemed to warp each and every thought in my head until the wrongs seemed right and the rights seemed wrong.

Gen had a lot to answer for and I knew I should have listened to Adam. But she was virtually family. I couldn’t just abandon her, chuck her away like an old plaything. But Isla would never see it that way. I swore to Gen that I would protect her. She was the only one who could get me an in with Freddy and whatever happened in the future, I needed the security he could offer.

I was going inside for a long time and although I wasn’t afraid of being locked up, I was a man, and I was willing to do whatever it took to make it an easy stretch. Freddy could guarantee me a comfortable sentence and when everything came out, I would lose Isla anyway. Twenty odd years inside was a lonely time, and I had to think about that now. For the first time in my life, I had to be selfish. It was the fact that I knew it would cripple Isla that tortured my soul.

For the first time in my life I had everything I ever wanted. And as was custom in my life, it was about to be crushed underneath the shit and lies.

J
AKE WAS AT MINE
for seven forty-five on the dot which didn’t come as a surprise. At eight forty-five we pulled up to a small but tidy house on the outskirts of London.

Keegan opened the door with a huge smile for Jake and a hug for me.

“Happy birthday!” I kissed his cheek, holding out the salads and gift as Jake scurried through to the kitchen with the crates of beer and various bottles of wine.

“Thank you, love.” Keegan grinned appreciatively, adding the gift to the mounting pile on the side before leading me out into the garden.

My nerves ramped with the sight of all the people either stood around drinking, talking and laughing or dancing and singing to the rock music blaring from some huge speakers at the back of the garden.

Keegan, sensing my nerves, planted his arm around my shoulder and pulled me tight against him. “Don’t worry. They’re all house trained.”

“Well most of us,” a voice came from behind us, making me jump.

“Seth!” Keegan turned and hugged a large blond-haired guy who looked familiar. I watched them, confused for a moment before it hit me that Keegan and Seth were twins. Gawping at the pair of identical men, Keegan turned to me and laughed at my expression. “Isla, this is Seth, my brother.”

“I gathered.” I chuckled as Seth leaned over and placed a light kiss on my cheek. I didn’t miss the way he lingered a little too long. I also didn’t miss the way Keegan twitched nervously and his eyes flicked Jake’s way where he stood in a throng of men.

“So, Isla,” Seth started as the three of us walked towards where the few women were stood in the shade underneath a huge tree. A small child also sat on the grass making daisy chains with a teenage girl. “Who are you and what do you do?”

“She’s Jake’s!” Keegan cut in quickly, both Seth and me turning to stare at him after his rude interruption.

“Kee,” I warned, “I’ve had this conversation with Adam before. It didn’t end well.”

“So you’re not Jake’s girl then?” Seth asked with a raised brow and a sardonic grin.

“Well, I’m in a relationship with Jake but I’m . . .”

“Mine!” Jake snapped behind me. I rolled my eyes, already fed up with how people had to interrupt from behind instead of having the decency to actually face me when they spoke.

Sighing and not even bothering to argue with him, I turned to scowl at him. He glared at Seth. Seth just chuckled then turned back to me. “Catch you later, beautiful!” He winked and sauntered down towards a pack of men playing football farther down the lawn.

“Sort your brother out, Kee, before I find a nice spot for him in St Luke’s cemetery,” Jake growled as he stepped up to me and grabbed my hand.

“Really?” I scoffed when Keegan nodded and sloped away. “I’m not your property, Jake. He was only being friendly.”

“Seth doesn’t do friendly. Don’t be fooled by that pearly white smile.”

Rolling my eyes, I pulled away and made my way to the makeshift bar—eight barrels of ice with various brands of beer shoved deep within—situated under a veranda to one side of the garden.

Jake’s arms slipped around my waist as his lips brushed my neck. “Trust me, sweetheart. Although Kee and Seth are twins, they’re nothing alike. Seth runs Birmingham and the south. He’s wanted to rule London for an era, and hates it because I own it. This is the only day we call a truce because of Kee.” I wondered why Keegan worked for Jake and not his brother if that was the case. However I kept those thoughts to myself.

I stared at Jake for a long moment, slightly stunned by his depiction of how the ‘underworld’ worked. “You’re not bloody royalty, Jake. I don’t understand why all the criminals in the world can’t get along. Surely things would run a lot smoother for all of you if you helped each other out.”

It was Jake’s turn to stare at me. I must have said something utterly idiotic or hilarious because as soon as his stare vanished, hysterics came. He bent before me, holding his belly as he hooted and laughed, tears streaming down his face. A few people scattered about also turned to look, their eyes shifting to me with smirks on their faces. The women looked over, each one displaying a disgusted curled lip as their deadly gazes gave me the once over.

“Fuck you,” I spat at Jake as I turned on my heel and stormed back up the garden, my cheeks heating furiously as the men whooped and catcalled.