Hailey's Truth (32 page)

“Just trust me.

She huffed out a breath. “See, there you go again. You give me pieces, then you evade. I want real answers.”

“I’m asking you to trust me. I know that’s not fair—”

“No, it’s not.”

“Hailey, just for a little while.” Austin took her face in his hands, rested his forehead against hers. “Please, I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

She sighed. “I know.” Her fingers gripped his wrists and he relaxed. “I’ll stay away from Donte.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She pressed her lips to his. “I won’t be patient for those answers forever.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“You also know I love you, right? I’m only interested in
you
.” She snagged his lip between her teeth.

“That isn’t what this is about.”

“I only want you, Austin.” Her eyes heated as her voice thickened with desire. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted.”

He stared, captivated, as Hailey said what he’d been thinking himself. “Move in with me when we get home,” he blurted.

She dropped her hands. “What?”

Pulling her against him, he locked his arms around her waist. “I said move in with me. Let’s live together.”

“Uh…I’m…wow. You want to live together?”

“I’m pretty sure that’s what I just said.”

“I’m trying to catch up.” She beamed. “I can’t believe this. I can’t believe this is really happening. Okay, yes. Absolutely. I’ll move in with you.” She kissed him quick. “I’m so happy.” Hailey threw her arms around him in a hug.

He stroked his hand down her back, relieved. “Me too.”

She met his gaze and brushed her fingers through his hair. “I love you, Austin.”

The heat was back in her eyes, in her sultry voice. She was knotting his stomach with need. “You should probably show me.”

“Mmm, I probably should.” Hailey sunk her teeth into his chin, bringing pleasure and pain as she pulled at the snap on his jeans and tugged on the zipper.

Ready to explode, Austin yanked Hailey’s t-shirt over her head, threw it to the floor, had her bra following seconds later. He walked her back to the wall as his mouth captured her perky breast, savoring her sweet taste, the feel of her taught nipple against his tongue.

Whimpering, her fingers tightened on his hips, kneading.

“I have to have you,” he said, his declaration muffled against hot, soft skin. “I have to have you right now, Hailey. Right now.”

She dragged at denim, at boxers, until he was free.

Cool fingers clamped around him, stroking. He groaned against her neck. If he didn’t take her, he would erupt in her hand. In defense, he snagged her wrists and lifted them above her head. He yanked the snap on her shorts, at the zipper. Khakis slid down her legs. “I want to be in you.” He snuck two fingers under her panties and shoved them deep.

Hailey gasped, stiffened, moaned. He took her mouth, swallowing the throaty sounds of her orgasm. He wanted to hear her scream the way she had in the cabana, but the group was just down the hall. Even so, he continued to play his fingers in a steady rhythm as his thumb pressed, circling, sending her flying again. Pouring, she contracted around him, tensing and letting out a strangled cry.

He strained against the need to fulfill them both, but held out. Who knew how long it would be before he had her like this again.

Austin picked her up, and Hailey twined her legs around him. He tortured them both by shoving himself into her heat.

They groaned in unison.

Clutching her hips, he rammed, once, twice, leaving her on the brink as he set her on the edge of the counter. He craved to keep going until Hailey was satisfied, until he was empty, but instead he pulled out.

“What-what are you doing, Austin?” she strangled out with hurried breaths.

In answer he got on his knees, yanked her to him, finishing her off with his teeth and tongue. Fingers clutched in his hair as her head fell back. Despite her desperate attempts, she cried out.

“Austin… Austin…” she panted. “I—“

“More, Hailey.”

He stood again, ravaged her mouth as the need to bring her higher consumed him. Pulling her from the counter, Austin set her on her feet and turned her until they both faced the long mirror. “Watch. I want you to watch,” he huffed against her ear.

Bending her forward, gripping her shoulders, he shoved himself up, staggered by the whippy thrill as Hailey’s brows furrowed, and her mouth opened to let out a shuddering moan. Thrusting, Austin pressed his hands to her breasts, played, massaged aroused nipples as Hailey stared back in the mirror.

Her legs trembled, her head rested against his chest as she clasped her arms around his neck, gulping for air.

“More.” Austin took Hailey’s hand and moved it to her front, used his fingers to press hers to herself, circling, until she sobbed, until she went rigid, her eyes glazing as she pulsed against them both.

“Oh my God, Austin,” she gasped. “Oh my
God
.” She sunk against him as her legs buckled, as she quivered, spent. “Austin, please, please go over. I—I can’t take anymore.”

“Not yet.” But it was a struggle. Watching Hailey lost in ecstasy brought him to the brink. This wasn’t how he intended to finish. He’d brought them both to fevered pitch, but he wanted her slow and long. “Not like this, Hailey.”

Yanking their towels from the chrome bar, he laid them on the bathroom floor and took her hand. They kneeled on the green cotton of his towel, the white of hers. He kissed her, gently, tenderly this time, changing the mood of their lovemaking. There was always so much flash, so much fire, but there was another way that he hadn’t shown her often enough.

Austin laid Hailey back, his mouth never leaving hers. Her hands skimmed up his waist, over his shoulders, along his neck, into his hair.

Staring into her eyes, he brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “I love you.”

She smiled slowly, beautifully. “I love you too.”

He touched his lips to hers again, pushed himself into her. Hailey’s fingers clutched at his back as she gasped. He clenched his jaw from the rush of staggering sensations.

Each thrust was unhurried, each brush of lips full of meaning. He clasped his fingers with hers and rested his arm beside her head.

With every push forward, she rocked, until she moved faster, her body taking over. Hailey urged him to hurry as she wrapped her legs around him, but he refused.

His breath caught in his throat as he slid against her tight, wet smoothness, unable to hold back. Heat coursed through him as Hailey let herself go. He followed, coming as she came, swallowing her moans as she swallowed his.

“Same as before, homie,” Mateo said, as he turned over the ignition and shot out of the bar parking lot.

Jeremy sat back in the passenger seat, ready, more relaxed than the last time.

Donte was getting tired of the playmates they brought him last month. He was ready for fresh meat.

Jeremy had watched their newest picks grind against several men while they tossed back shots of tequila. He’d fought his erection for two hours, fantasizing about his turn with the eager hotties.

Hopefully Donte would give them first dibs this time. It would be his pleasure to initiate one of the Zulas’ newest prizes. He would be sure to do it right—gentle at first—show her he wasn’t going to hurt her. Let her relax, let her get juicy, then turn up the heat.

That’s what he’d learned to do with the ladies they had now. The girls still screamed and cried when the guards used them but he was pretty damn certain he made Angelica cum this afternoon. All it took was a little finesse; something his partner here sorely lacked.

Jeremy shook his head, growing more intolerant of his “mentor.” Donte needed to wake up and buy a clue. He was so much better at this shit than Mateo. Maybe he would talk to Donte, convince him he was ready for more responsibility.

“There they are.” Mateo slowed as he turned down another deserted, rundown street. “Shit. Who the hell are those two?”

Jeremy leaned closer to the windshield, scrutinizing the men walking with the soon to be Zulas women. “Beats me. They weren’t at the bar.”

“New plan. We’ll take them out, then grab the girls. Be careful not to leave marks. That’s for Donte.” Mateo smiled.

That was the plan? “How’re we taking them out? Which one am I grabbing?”

“What the hell kind of question is that? Fucking shoot ‘em. Grab the taller one. It ain’t rocket science.”

As Mateo muttered his disdain for the ‘newbie,’ Jeremy freed his gun, struggling not to press the barrel to Mateo’s temple right then and there. If Mateo wasn’t so well-liked by Donte, he would do it; he really fucking would. The whole organization would be better off.

“Let’s go.” Mateo traveled past the group and yanked the car to the side, tires screeching. Jeremy and Mateo stepped out, guns raised, firing, as the two men reached for their own weapons.

“Anton! Emilio!” the girls screamed as the men fell to the ground.

“Get ‘em in the car,” Mateo ordered, yanking on the shorter female’s arm as she shrieked for the men—their brothers.

The tall girl crumbled between her siblings, clutching at their limp hands. “Anton!” She shook the older of the two men as his wound stained his t-shirt red.

“Come on. Let’s go.” Jeremy grabbed her under the arms and pulled as she gripped her brother. She wasn’t very big, but grief made her strong.

“Hurry up, homie. She’s making a fucking racket.”

“I’ve got it. Get in so we can go.” Jeremy shoved the tall one in the back and forced the cuffs around her slender wrists before he slammed the door, quieting the din inside. “What’re you doing?” He looked over the roof of the vehicle as Mateo stared at him. “Get in. Let’s fucking go.”

“Don’t tell me what to do, homeboy. Remember who’s in charge here. Go make sure they’re dead.”

Jeremy glanced at the pools of blood surrounding the motionless bodies, shaking his head. “They couldn’t be any deader, man.”

Mateo raised his gun and pointed it at Jeremy. “I said go fucking check.”

Sweat bloomed against Jeremy’s skin, dripping in a cold line down his spine, as he stared at the barrel of Mateo’s gun. The hard glint in Mateo’s eyes made it clear he would be more than happy to pull the trigger. Anger bubbled up, roaring, pulsing in his head. Jeremy yanked his pistol from the holster and pointed it at Mateo. “No.”

Mateo fired, missing by inches. “Go check on those bodies, or I’m pulling this trigger. Then I’ll find your sister. I’ve been fantasizing about getting all up in that pussy. I wonder if she’ll taste as sweet as she smells.” He smirked.

Hand shaking, Jeremy holstered his weapon. If he missed his shot, not only would he be dead, but so would Hailey—and she would suffer first. Mateo would
pay
for this. Stuck, Jeremy pivoted away from the car, walked to the bodies, and gave them a solid kick.

Nothing.

“See? They’re gone. We shot ‘em in the fucking chest.”

Mateo opened the trunk and pulled out a machete. “Cut off their heads.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re the newbie. You do what I want, homie, and I want you to cut off their heads.”

Why did everything have to be so damn gory? Jeremy yanked the knife from Mateo’s hand, holding the handle like an ax. Using his rage, he bent over and hacked until the head rolled from the body. “You satisfied?” he spat.

“Nope. Next one.”

Jeremy crouched over the next corpse, chopping, listening to the muffled screams and pounding from the sisters in the backseat. “They’re gonna break the fucking glass, man. We’re gonna to get caught.”

“You let me worry about that. I’ll let you worry about dealing with Donte when I tell him his newest member doesn’t know how to take orders.”

Jeremy’s eyes snapped to Mateo’s. “What, you worried,
homeboy
?” He spit one of Mateo’s words back at him. “Donte wants my sister. He’s not about to hurt me, not when I can help him get her. Hailey thinks he’s fucking prince charming.”

“Just finish.”

Jeremy made his final slice, then stood, covered in blood. Staring down at himself, he smiled. “Looks like I’ve done all the dirty work tonight. Wonder what Donte will think of that?” He leaned down again and cut the shirts off the men. “If we’re doing this, we’re gonna do it right.”

Crouching, Jeremy carved deep, branding the chests with a huge “ZU.” The stench of raw, bloody flesh choked the air, and he struggled not to gag. Finished, he stood back and examined his work. “Hell, yeah. The Zulas were here. Let’s go.”

Jeremy tossed the knife in the trunk and looked once more at the mess he made before opening the passenger side door to the shuddering gasps of the bereaved girls.

Had to do what I had to do. Gotta stay alive.

Jeremy took his seat, free of the guilt that typically plagued him. He stared at the smaller sister in the rear mirror, horror in her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. She was his tonight; he would demand it.

Chapter 21

A
USTIN SHUT THE DOOR AFTER the last member of his group walked into the air conditioning. Damn, it had been a long one. Fifteen hours of manual labor in ninety-five-degree temperatures left everyone weary and eager for their turn in one of the three showers.

Austin walked to the fridge, pulled a water from the shelf, drained the entire bottle within seconds.

“Feeling better?” Jackson asked, standing on the other side of the counter.

“I might feel human again after my turn in the shower.”

“Hot day today. How’s the rebuilding going on the northern point?”

“Good, considering…” He glanced around the room at members of their two teams lazing about in front of the television or sleeping where they had dropped on the rug. “Where’s Hailey?”

“Do you have a minute?” Jackson gestured to the glass doors leading to the porch.

“Sure.” He tossed the plastic bottle in the trash.

They stepped outside. Jackson shut the door.

“What’s up?” Austin could already tell he wasn’t going to like it. “Where’s Hailey?”

Jackson leaned against the rail and casually folded his arms. “She’s in the bedroom. Jeremy stopped by again. He’s been here a couple hours.”

Yup, he definitely didn’t like it. Austin steamed a breath out his nose. “Why? Twice in a week? What does he want?”