Beautiful Beast (Gypsy Heroes #3)(54)

‘You’re mine,’ he says, and pushes that last tiny bit deeper into me. And at that moment I feel him tense, his nostrils flaring as he climaxes hard, so hard he leaves fingerprints on my waist.

‘I claim you as mine,’ he growls gutturally in my ear.





Thirty-one


SHANE

I am jerked awake by the sound of the doorbell. I look at my watch. It’s nearly two o’clock in the morning. Snow, too exhausted to fully awaken, stirs beside me and mumbles something.

‘Go back to sleep,’ I whisper, and vault out of bed.

I pull on my jeans and, with my heart hammering, I sprint to the door. I did not expect retaliation so soon. I’m not ready. I switch on the security video camera and see Jake standing there. For a second I blink. What the f*ck is he doing here at this time? And then I know. I buzz him into the building and run my fingers through my hair. I really didn’t want to deal with this now. I hear a soft rap on the door and I open it.

My brother comes in and he looks as fresh as a f*cking daisy.

‘Want a whiskey?’ I offer.

‘Yeah,’ he says, and leads the way to the living room.

I pour us both large doubles. I down mine in one and move towards him with his.

‘Is it true?’ he asks.

‘Is what true?’

‘You’re going with Lenny’s girl.’

I sigh. ‘Who told you?’

His mouth twists. ‘Would you believe, one of your dancers?’

‘Good old Nikki,’ I say.

‘Do you know I didn’t believe it? You’re going out with Lenny’s girl.’

‘Stop f*cking calling her Lenny’s girl. She’s not his girl. She’s mine.’

My brother stands and paces the floor. He seems barely able to keep his cool.

He turns suddenly to me. ‘I never expected this from you. From a hothead like Dom, maybe. But you! You’re too smart to pull a stunt like this. For God’s sake, Shane. What are you thinking?’

‘It’s done now,’ I say quietly.

‘No, it’s not. Walk away and I’ll work something out with him.’

‘No,’ I say firmly. I have never said no to my brother. My respect, loyalty and love for him is so great I would truly lay down my life for him.

He frowns. ‘Is she worth it?’

‘Yes.’

He stares at me with disbelief ‘Do you even realize what this means? You take his woman and you are declaring war. He’s not going to ask you to put your hands up for a bare-knuckle fight. He’s going to hire someone to knock you off when you least expect it.’

‘I’m prepared to die for her,’ I say seriously.

His eyes flash angrily. ‘You’re prepared to die for her?’ he rages. ‘What the hell, Shane? You’re a f*cking kid. You haven’t even lived yet and you’re prepared to die for her? No woman is worth that.’

‘Would you die for Lily?’ I ask quietly.

He starts and then he closes his eyes in defeat. ‘How long have you known her?’

‘A few days.’

‘Right,’ he says sarcastically.

‘I know what I want, Jake.’

He sighs tiredly. ‘All right, Shane. Leave it with me. I’ll sort it out somehow.’

‘I don’t want you or Dom to get involved.’

He stares at me in surprise.

‘This is my shit and I’ll sort it out.’

I see a flash of temper in his eyes. ‘Now you’re really behaving like a kid. You can’t handle Lenny on your own, Shane. He’s a f*cking snake. He’ll clap you on the back and sincerely congratulate you for winning his girl and then bash your head in with a hammer two days later.’

‘I have a plan.’

His eyes betray his disbelief that I could actually have a workable plan. I guess I’ll be his snot-nosed kid brother forever.

‘What’s the plan?’ he asks slowly.

‘I’ve already said. I’m not involving you or Dom in this.’

He stands in frustration. ‘Now you’re being ridiculous. We’re a family. When we fight as a family we’re stronger.’

‘Not this time. This time I go it alone.’

‘Why? What are you trying to prove?’ he asks with barely controlled impatience.

‘Jake, ever since Dad died, you’ve been fighting all our battles for us. You put your own life on hold to keep this family together. Don’t think I don’t know how you used to come home and cut that cross into your own body. You did loathsome things so we could all eat. But now you have a family of your own. And for the first time you’re happy. And I’d rather die than take that away from you.’


He sits down suddenly and gazes down at the floor. ‘I can’t let you deal with him on your own, Shane. You don’t know what he’s capable of. I do.’ He looks up into my eyes. ‘I used to work with him. And I know you can’t take Lenny’s girl and walk away unscathed.’

‘He doesn’t love her, Jake.’

‘I know he doesn’t love her, Shane. He’s a psychopath. He doesn’t love anyone but himself. But it’s a pride thing. He’ll take great pleasure in hunting you down and parading her on his arm in all the places where he’s known.’