Deceit in Bloom (The Love Unauthorized Series Book 1) Read online

  “I suggest you get the fuck out before this continues. Take your friend with you on your way.” The three guys look to each other for response or approval. A few glances around at each other, and they make the smart decision. The savages, who were so thirsty for a bloodbath seconds ago, cast their vision down to the ground. The three stooges help up their friend and have to carry him from the house, and I follow their exit with my gun in hand.

  A few phone calls tomorrow, and they’ll be blacklisted from every party and seedy business interaction in the county. People won’t so much as acknowledge them in passing, if that’s the way I want it. When you control so many people’s income, they tend to listen to your demands.

  The girl from my bedroom snakes by me, her dress torn and her eyes filled with tears as she holds her clearly broken nose. Blood covers her on-display cleavage, and she doesn’t speak a word to me as she runs from the house and off into the night. Before I’m even back inside, the music has been turned back on. The partygoers are high off the show. Women gossip with their hands to their mouths. Men relish in the excitement with their buddies.

  Every eye in the house is on me as I return inside. Teagan is back from her hiding spot upstairs, sitting on the couch with Kai and inspecting his hands while he tries to calm her down between swigs of beer. Securing my weapon back in its holster, I flop back down to the couch, ready for this night to be over. The number of people inside has significantly slimmed down since the disturbance, but this party will go all night. More people will come to replace the ones who left. Alcohol will be consumed in excess. Drugs will flow freely. What happened tonight isn’t the first time these people have seen violence and aggression. I’m sure it’s not the first time they’ve seen someone pull a gun, either. The party will continue and everything that happened will be old news by the next drink. I’d much rather be upstairs finishing that drawing, but there is no way I’m leaving Teagan down here alone.

  Paisley

  We’ve been at the party for about an hour, and so far it’s been fine. Although, I think something went down before our arrival, because I hear pieces of passing gossip as we work our way around the room. Drinks in hand, we sip as we roam the house. I try to be the fun flirty girl I was yesterday, but it’s proving a lot more difficult in a house full of this many people. I’ve come across as more awkward than flirtatious. The way Brae makes a face at some of the things I’ve said tonight proves my theory, but at least I’m out of my comfort zone. It’s a start.

  Brae’s attention drifts from our current circle of partygoers to the good-looking john from yesterday. The one who saw me face down and ass up during my most graceful moment. He’s sitting with a pretty girl and another man, who looks none too happy to be here. A man who instantly grabs my attention. Crowds of people circle them, as if they’re the life of the party. In reality, they are just sitting there, casually drinking while having a quiet conversation amongst themselves, yet men and women alike gawk at the trio as if they’re some kind of God-like creatures. The man next to Johnny looks anything but sent from God. He’s sitting, but it’s obvious he’s tall—maybe slightly shy of Johnny’s height. His build is leaner than my peep show friend’s as well, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t muscular. He’s not bulky, but he has muscles for days. His hair is also closely shaven to his head, but it’s dark. He’s too far away for me to see the color of his eyes, but they are more intense than this house felt when I first walked in. If I were to describe my ideal man, it would be him, at least physically.

  His eyes rise to mine, and it’s like I can’t do anything else but stare back at him. We stand connected for longer than I’m comfortable with before he returns to his conversation. My palms sweat as the instant attraction to him hits me. I let out a breath, realizing I’ve held it the whole time his eyes were locked on mine.

  The girl in their trio must be related to him. There is a strong resemblance in their features. However, that’s where the similarities end. She’s animated when she talks and smiles so wide it looks painful. Her eyes dance around the room, and she looks genuinely happy to be spending time with those two. He seems to be her opposite in this regard. His lips are drawn hard in a fine line, as if his skin would crack if he even tried to form a smile. His eyes move around the room too, but it’s in a leery, dissatisfied way. He looks as if he would rather be anywhere but where he is.

  Brae advances in their direction. While I really want to be closer to the unknown man, I’m not quite brave enough. So Instead of following her, I quickly veer off in a different direction, deciding to look for a bathroom. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, but approaching him is more like setting my limitations on fire, with the added bonus of a crowd of people to gawk at the spectacle. I do my business, wash my hands, and then leave the room. I don’t immediately head back to find Brae, opting to take a lap around the house.

  I stay down on the first floor for my expedition, not sure if visitors are welcome up to the second. I wonder who the hell owns this place and if Brae even knows them. I’m amazed at the contrast between the outside and inside of the house. My wanderings eventually bring me back in sight of Brae, who is sitting on the lap of the john from yesterday. I find it odd. She’s neither affectionate with, nor does she spend much time outside the bedroom with, her clients. Is Brae developing feelings for this guy? Normally, she’d have already worked her magic and had him naked in a dark room somewhere in the name of the only thing that’s really important to her. Money. But I’ve been gone for at least twenty minutes, and there she sits, comfortable on his lap without any sign of hustling him into a bedroom.

  With nowhere else to go, I close the gap between me and them. I have to push through the herd, and people give me nasty looks and attempt to block my way. I’ve never been to a concert, but this is what I imagine trying to get close to a rock star backstage would be like. Once I make my way, I stop short. I fought through, but now what? Brae is known for leaving me behind when she sets her eyes on something. Being left without Brae with this group does not sound appealing in the least. Maybe I should ditch the party and head home. While turning and bracing myself to head back the way I just pushed through, a familiar taunting rings out. “Lunar! So nice to have you dropping by my home this time! Can I expect another showing of the moon tonight?”

  Well, it looks like I won’t be going unnoticed. I turn, and four sets of eyes stare back at me. The john’s eyes look playful. Brae’s are missing the shine they normally have. They are more curious with a bit of worry mixed in. Mystery man’s eyes haven’t changed from what I was able to see from across the room, still hard and intense. I have an immediate physical reaction to him.

  “Lunar. Funny. I didn’t get it before. Aren’t you clever? Hope you had a good look, because you’ll never have any lunar eclipse sightings, or any other types of solar system sightings, from this girl again. Br—” Brae shoots me a heated look. I was about to call her by her real name, and that’s a no-no in front of clients. It’s hard for me to remember. “Stas, I’m going to head out.”

  She won’t argue with me. She seems content right where she is, and for some reason, she didn’t want me here in the first place. Without waiting for a response from her, I get the hell out of there. It’s much easier pushing out of the circle than it was pushing in. Women laugh at me as I leave, probably thinking I was cast aside by this group of people everyone seems to want to get closer to. Sure, they’re good-looking, but those two men do not seem like the type of people I’d want in my life. I have work in the morning anyway. It’s time I put my adventure to rest for the night. I head home with my tail between my legs and my sex pulsing wildly for a man who never spoke a word to me.

  Burke

  Those eyes. Those lips. Fuck. The way she looks up at me with her mouth full of my cock is addicting. Her jaw seems to practically detach while she works hard to take me deeper into the back of her throat. I yank on her long, dark hair in an effort to keep her eyes directed at me. Everything about this
has me worked up. The suction of her cheeks. The swirl of her tongue. The desire clear on her face. Everything about this girl has me ready to release myself in her talented mouth.

  The alarm on my phone goes off, and I groan because it’s early, I feel like shit, and I’ve lost the amazing visual before finishing in my dream. My dick is hard as a rock. A lot more intense than typical morning wood. That girl from last night. The one who showed up with Kai’s whore snuck her way into my head while I slept. Why the fuck am I dreaming about her? I need a cold fucking shower. I need to fucking come. I don’t know what it is, but the way she looked at me while she practically swallowed my dick was something I can’t get out of my head, and it’s not even real. It’s time to shower in order to take care of my throbbing dick and then head to the gym.

  It seems stupid to shower before working out, but I need the extra pick-me-up this morning after the late night. It has the desired effect, and I manage to get myself motivated, even though my body fights against me. My muscles ache. My head seems weighted, not to mention the pounding within my skull. The light seeping in from the windows is brutal punishment. Cruel and extreme torture. While normally my sanctuary, today my gym is anything but, and my body revolts against the physical activity. Up and down on the pull-up bar causes sweat to pour from my skin and drip to the floor from the less-than-full-paced workout I’m getting in.

  That party was a bad fucking idea. Kai and I will be having words about it when he gets his ass out of bed, which will be soon. We may have had a late night, but we still have business to fuck with today. If he’s not up soon, I’ll be tossing him out of bed once I’m done punishing my body to rid myself of the hangover. Finished with the pull-up bar, I head over to the free weights and pick up two fifty-pound weights and start reps.

  We’re expecting some sort of delivery coming in soon. The guy was a little sketchy about it over the phone. I’ve dealt with him a few times, and he’s not someone who’s easy to work with. He’s usually paranoid, and more often than not, whatever he brings isn’t worth my time. I think he’s a junkie, my least favorite type of criminal to deal with for UT, and I won’t be dealing with him again if he doesn’t bring me something valuable today.

  My business may not be completely legal, but I’ve worked as hard as any blue collar earning an honest living. The bills are paid, and we’re respected in our field, probably even feared. Unauthorized Thrift, or as we call it, UT, is basically an illegal pawn shop. Except we don’t take in junk merchandise and we don’t take stuff in for loans. People bring their stolen shit because they know we’re not going to ask for papers or receipts. Then we sell it online on an underground website. We buy and sell all kinds of high-end items and keep them stored in the backroom or in the small warehouse we own. It’s a pain in the ass, but it brings in a shitload of money.

  The other business we own is a tattoo shop, Needle and Ink. This business, unlike UT, is completely legal and the one I actually enjoy. Teagan and I both do ink at the shop. Both businesses are family grown and owned. The family being myself, Kai, and Teagan. Although, my sister isn’t involved in running UT because I don’t want her involved in that world.

  After finishing up with the weights, I grab a towel to wipe my face. I’ve been at it for about an hour. My workout was only half-assed, but I call it a day. It wasn’t my intention to go hard; I just needed to sweat out some of the beer and blow. I leave the room in search of the kitchen. Water and food are my next priority.

  Teagan already sits at the kitchen table working on a sketch for an appointment today. A half-eaten bagel and a cup of coffee rest to the side of her project. You’d think we live in the tundra from the bundle of layers she has on, but I like it cold inside the house. I ruffle her hair as I walk by. She shoots me a nasty look for disturbing her while she’s in the zone. She’s the only one who could get away with that look aimed in my direction. I love that girl more than I ever thought possible.

  Freshly eighteen and sharing some two-bedroom apartment in town with Kai, we thought we were on top of the fucking world, living in a shitty apartment and making money for the sole purpose of partying. When Teagan was ten, our parents were on their way home from some party and were hit by a drunk driver. The asshole took off and left them for dead. I had to fight to gain custody of Teagan and soon she came to live with Kai and me. Her falling into our laps caused us to grow up quick and get our shit together. If we hadn’t, we’d have been locked up for selling drugs or stealing whatever we could get our hands on. That wasn’t what I wanted for Teagan, and we couldn’t support her living the way we were. The whole thing made the three of us extremely close. We’ve been living together ever since. I’m twenty-nine now, and I think Kai and I did all right by Teagan. She’s twenty-one, graduated high school, and is fast becoming one of the best tattoo artists I’ve ever seen.

  Teagan watches with disgust as I put my head under the faucet and then stand, letting water run down my chest faster than I can towel it off. Cooled off, I head to the fridge for some water.

  “We have showers, you know? In this big house of ours. There are actually five of them. You could clean yourself off in any one of them except mine instead of running your head under the kitchen sink.” Teagan takes a bite of her bagel while I wrap my lips around a bottle of water and drain it with a few large gulps. I ignore her disgust with me. I’m hot and hungry, and I’m more than aware of the showers in this house. I’ve already been in mine today, accompanied by thoughts of the girl from my dream. Plus, food comes before showering.

  “Good morning to you too. How’s the sketch coming along?”

  “Pretty good. This is actually a second sketch. I did the first one exactly as the client asked, but this one has a little twist to it that I think will make it better. I’ll see which one the girl prefers.”

  I mindlessly nod my head at her while preparing a bagel and coffee for myself. Kai walks into the kitchen without a word or a glance in either of our directions. He looks like hell. His skin is an unnatural shade of white, which makes the dark circles under his eyes stand out in drastic contrast. Not wanting to make his morning any easier—he was the one to invite the hordes of people over last night after all—I try to make as much noise as possible. I slam the drawer filled with silverware and the utensils inside rattle as the drawer closes with a bang.

  Kai’s large frame hunches inward as I continue making unnecessary noise. He’s slouched over at the table. My sister shakes her head at me while she tries to hide her growing smile at my antics. She has a soft spot for Kai, and I shake my head back at her as she gets up from her seat to take care of him. I don’t think he deserves her kindness this morning, but I also know her instinct to coddle him can’t be reasoned with.

  Kai looks up at me as I scrape the chair adjacent to his out from the table. My plan slightly backfires as the screeching noise doesn’t do much for the pounding in my own head, but it’s still worth it to watch his face contort in annoyance. He groans like the biggest child I’ve ever laid eyes on, and I relax into the chair to eat my breakfast and enjoy my coffee. I don’t know what he got into last night, but I’d wager it was more than the beers we casually drank on the couch. Probably has something to do with that whore he’s been bringing around. They were in and out of his room all night until I saw her come down from upstairs without him and leave shortly after. I didn’t see Kai again.

  Teagan sets pain medicine and water in front of Kai, but his head is back down on the table so he doesn’t notice. I take the opportunity to smack him in the back of his head to show him. My sister squeaks as my hand connects with his scalp, but Kai doesn’t even flinch. He doesn’t move or react at all. Teagan scolds me while she works on preparing food and coffee for my friend who might have stopped breathing at the table in front of me. Damn. What in the hell did he take last night?

  Slowly he rises, bringing his head off the table. His eyes are slits, barely open as he reaches for the two small pills and water. I second-guess whether he’l
l even be able to deal with whatever we have coming in from the junkie lowlife. Maybe I’ll be handling business solo today.

  “What in the hell did you do last night that has you looking like death warmed over?”

  Kai throws the pills into his mouth and drains the glass before rubbing his temples as his face strains like he’s trying to remember the events of last night. His voice is hoarse and clipped when he replies. “Fuck. I . . . We . . . I don’t remember.” His words stumble out as confusion sets into his face.

  “You don’t remember? You don’t remember what you took, or you don’t remember anything from last night?”

  Continuing to baby him, Teagan places buttered toast and some cut up banana directly in front of Kai. I didn’t think it was possible, but his face pales even further. He takes the coffee from her, pushing the plate of bland food farther away from his sense of smell. Teagan takes her seat back at the table.

  “I don’t remember much. Only bits and pieces from early on in the night. A blond grinding on my dick, some guy screaming at a girl, Stassi showing up. The last thing I remember is her riding my face like a champion bull rider. I was covered in the smell of her pussy this morning when I woke up alone.”

  Teagan’s chair makes about as much noise as mine did as she hastily stands. She grabs her shit and is almost out of the room before she calls over her shoulder, “That’s my cue to leave. Later, boys! I’ll be down at the shop.”

  Kai tries a small bite of the toast, but the look on his face tells me his stomach doesn’t agree with the choice.

  “Bro, you overdosed on pussy?”

  “I don’t know what happened. I remember Stassi telling me she brought some molly. I don’t remember taking it, but I must have, because I feel like fucking death today.”