She owned him.
He would do anything for her.
For now, all he wanted to do was fuck her, make her his, and keep her all to himself. Pulling out of her tight heat, he slammed in again, watching her, feeling her tight walls surround him. He wasn’t going to last long.
Belle was everything he ever wanted, and soon, she would belong to him as she was going to become his wife.
He would never let her go, and she’d never know fear or pain again.
Chapter Twelve
Drago had been in retirement for years. He’d come out because of her. Part of Belle felt guilty for putting his life in upheaval, but another part welcomed back the monster. The dark side he’d buried had come out for revenge. Because of her and Ava. For the first time in her life, she mattered to someone. And his darkness didn’t scare her.
“I tried to do things the legal way. Detective Vent was too scared for his family to make waves and reveal Donald Ford’s checkered past to the media or take down your father by the book. I don’t blame him. He would have ended up dead if things were traced back to him,” said Drago.
“And now?”
Belle lay on the bed, half covered by blankets as Drago dressed. She loved his body, hard, strong, and experienced.
“My turn.” He pulled a long-sleeved black shirt over his head, then sat on the edge of the bed. “When I retired, I lived a simple life. I stopped hiding in the shadows and played by the rules. But I’m still the same man I’ve always been. Playing house, trying to fit in with the neighbors—it always felt off, like I was trying too hard. When you’re raised the way we are, seen the things we’ve seen, you’re never going to be normal. No matter how much you wish you could erase the past from your head.”
She only smiled. “We have Ava back now. That’s all that matters. The rest of it is only noise.”
“You’re tough, Belle. That’s what I love about you.”
Drago strapped on a bulletproof vest and slipped on a gun harness. She sat up, her mood shifting. “Why do you need all that?”
“It’s just precaution, Belle. You and your daughter are safe, so relax, baby. I told you this bullshit ends today. It’s time to tie up these loose ends so we can live in peace.”
His tone suggested he may not come back alive. It was not okay for her and Ava to live happily ever after, and Drago sacrifice himself.
“You’re not doing this alone. That’s crazy.”
“Carlos is downstairs, and we’ll be meeting up with a couple others who are on board with ending your father’s regime.”
“I want to be a part of this. You know how much that asshole hurt me,” she said.
Her father had used her for money. The people who were supposed to protect and nurture her had sold her out, destroying her childhood by forcing her into the ring. Their greed knew no end.
“Then what will happen to Ava? Think about it, Belle. If we both go, there’ll be no one left to raise her if things go bad.”
He was right of course, but that didn’t make it any easier. “I can’t lose you, Drago. Please don’t play with your life like it’s disposable.”
“Trust me, I have something to live for now. We complete each other. I want to come back to you tonight. To this same bed.” He sat close and leaned over to pull the blanket off her shoulder. It slid down her side, exposing her breasts. “I love these tits.”
She licked her lips. “Do you?”
Belle didn’t want Drago to leave. She wanted to forget the world, run away, anything to ensure they could be a family. The people he was going after wouldn’t think twice before killing him and ending a problem. It wasn’t much different than fighting in the underground—life and death, darkness, and crime. But Drago’s skills with his fists wouldn’t matter today. He said he’d lived a life of crime for years and knew what he was doing, but that still didn’t comfort her.
“You have no idea.” He suckled her nipple into his mouth. She closed her eyes and mewled. He knew exactly how to use his mouth. Her body instantly thrummed to life, her pussy throbbing in anticipation.
“Drago…” She held his head against her, but he didn’t stay long before pulling away. “No, please don’t go.”
“Stop it. You’re killing me right now,” he said.
She was angry. And selfish. “You said you couldn’t play house, so how will things be different with me and Ava? Will you walk out when you tire of us?”
“You’re playing games. Cut it out.”
She scowled. He knew her too well.
Belle knelt on the bed and beckoned him closer. The dominant tone in his voice turned her on. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips. The kiss deepened, slow and sensual, until she forgot the world. She wanted to love him, to be what he deserved, but part of her couldn’t imagine a world where she came out on top. Everything about her life was a tragedy. Belle hoped things would be different after today.