Lethal Temptations (Tempted #5)(23)

If anyone f*cks with you, shoot them. Don’t f*cking think, just shoot them.

“Lacey!” Someone shouted in the distance.

I ignored my name being called, closed my eyes, and allowed the memory to drive my courage to pull the trigger.

“No, no, no,” my dad cried. “Lacey, call 911!”

I remained perfectly still, watching as my dad held my brother’s lifeless body in his arms. Blood poured from the back of his head, staining my father’s jeans as he rocked him softly and screamed up at the sky for help.

“Lacey? Baby is that you? Where are you?” My father’s frantic voice shouted, pulling me away from my memory, away from my demented head. He already watched one child die. This was my chance to do something for someone I loved. This was my chance to save him and spare him the mess of my death. I lowered the gun to my side and kicked the door over and over again until it flew open.

I wailed, charging out of the closet, tripping over my own feet as I tried my hardest to get to my father. He turned around as I ran from the master bedroom and into his arms.

I was out of control, out of my mind, hanging on by a thread.

“It’s okay, daddy’s here,” he said, soothingly. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he promised.

Blackie.

I pulled back, trying to gain control, sobbing hysterically as I rambled.

“They took him. He was here and I wouldn’t listen to him…I told him to leave…that I didn’t want to see him but then they broke into the house. They took him,” I shouted, mixing the events from earlier when he came and with the visit that just transpired when he handed me the gun. The gun I was poking into my father’s chest.

I glanced down at the gun, spreading my fingers wide and allowed it to drop from my hand.

My dad’s eyes remained on me as he kneeled down and retrieved the gun.

“Slow down,” he coaxed, lifting the gun. “Blackie gave you this?”

“Yes,” I said through my sobs. “He gave me the gun and told me to go hide in the closet.” I dropped my head into my hands, groaning as I relived the horrific sounds of Blackie signing over his life to some faceless monster. “I heard him tell them no, I heard him beg them not to put the needle in his arm and then I heard nothing.” I dropped my hands from my face and stared at my father. I wanted him to tell me it was okay that Blackie would be okay and that he would make things right. But staring at him, seeing the look of defeat, the same look he had as he held my brother’s body, I realized this was just another day in the life of Jack Parrish. He was used to the turmoil, the violence and, the death. This all came as naturally as breathing did.

I stared back into my dad’s eyes.

Dark.

Unapologetic.

This was the life of the Satan’s Knights.

Welcome.





Chapter Seven





“I Christine, take you, Dominic, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part,” she vowed, her eyes shining back at me as she smiled.

I couldn’t stop staring at her. She always looked beautiful whether she was wearing sweats or nothing but my cut, but put a wedding dress on her and she was the most gorgeous girl I ever laid eyes on. And me? I was the lucky bastard who got to marry her.

“I Dominic, take you, Christine, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part,” I said, glancing at priest. “Can I kiss her now?”

The best day of my life.

A new beginning.

The beginning of the end.

You wanted me to visit you, but I’ve never really left you have I? How could I when you won’t let me…

I heard her voice but couldn’t see her. I needed to see her. I needed to look into her eyes just one more time so I could memorize all the features fading from my memory. I heard muffled voices, a man and a woman bickering, then I felt the sting on my cheek. I knew that burning sensation— someone was f*cking with me, laying their hands on me.

Christine’s voice sounded in my head.

Open your eyes.

“Isn’t that right? Tell her how you’re a * who can’t bring himself to take his own life,” the man said. “Tell her,” he shouted.

I matched the voice with the face and forced my eyes open. I could barely hold my head up as I tried to focus my eyes on him.

“I’ll tell you whose life I’m going to take,” I slurred.

Fight!

It was like we were sixteen year olds and I was fighting some punk ass kids in the school yard, while she stood behind the gate, shouting at me to fight.

I tried to grin but I couldn’t feel my face. Still, I kept my eyes on Jimmy Gold as I promised to kill him.

“Yours,” I promised.

And I would kill him. I’d f*cking make it my life’s mission to make this motherf*cker suffer.

“Feeling bold are you? Maybe we should fix that,” Jimmy crooned.

Fuck you.

I closed my eyes to stop the room from spinning and I heard Christine’s voice calling out for me.

Blackie, I want you to listen. For once in your life please listen to me.