him over the edge. I observed, ensuring he saw the pleasure he gave me by his willingness to do everything I instructed. A startled cry escaped him as he came, his legs buckling. When he pulled out and stepped back, I took over.
“Look at me,” I commanded Auberon.
His head lifted, eyes meeting mine as I slammed into him again and again, holding his gaze as I fucked him ruthlessly. I didn’t hold back, ramming in hard, retreating, driving in again. Minutes ticked by as I let the pleasure wash away the anger and frustration from earlier. Auberon’s moans mingled with my rough groans as I worked us both to that blessed peak.
“Come,” I bit out.
Auberon’s asshole clamped down on my cock, milking me as his cock spurted.
Then it was over.
With my atonement complete, I headed to bed.
TWENTY-FIVE
Monday, January 4, 2021
RANSOM
I’d slept better last night than I had in a long time. And that was despite the discomfort of my healing body. I’d spent the entire night wrapped tightly around Jasper, secure in his warmth. Content for the first time in … too damn long.
Unfortunately, the night hadn’t been endless, and I woke to find Jasper gone. Initially I’d been upset that he hadn’t woken me, but then I’d read the note: Have something to take care of, then home for a shower. Thank you for last night, Titan. I’m looking forward to the next.
Those words had made it easier to get out of bed.
Now as I sat at the small table in the breakfast nook, sipping coffee and skimming news articles coming out of Chicago, I felt my tension rising. The news of our “deaths” had gotten out, the bodies Zion had planted in my house discovered. The cadavers he’d appropriated from God knows where had been burned to a crisp, unrecognizable, as was how he’d wanted it. Or so he’d told me when we discussed how it would all play out yesterday afternoon when he’d summoned me to his office. Evidently, he had a friend who owed him a favor. Must’ve been a big one for someone to want to get tangled in my mess.
According to Zion, the objective was to set the scene so that the medical examiner wouldn’t look too closely. The news was reporting that a space heater had ignited a blaze and my sister and I—our identification handily nearby—had been the unfortunate casualties. To top it off, someone had leaked a few details to the media because they’d already tied Ransom and Braelyn Bishop to our original identities: Salvatore and Teresa Bianchi.
Zion’s doing, I was sure.
But that was pertinent information. After all, if my parents didn’t realize Ransom and Braelyn Bishop were, in fact, their children, faking our deaths seemed moot.
I honestly hated that I had to do this to my sister again, had to end one life and force her to start another all over. She’d been through so much already.
A soft knock on my door had me shoving the iPad away before pushing to my feet. My ribs groaned rather than screamed in protest. The pain was lessening; that was all that mattered.
I opened the door to find Braelyn standing on the small porch, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, no makeup, paired with a white sundress making her look so very young. Then again, at twenty-four, she was young.
“Hey,” she greeted, her eyes warming instantly.
I stepped back, motioned her to come inside.
“How’re you feeling?” she asked as I closed the door behind her.
“Better.” It wasn’t a lie. I was better, I just wasn’t good. Yet. “You want coffee?”
“Desperately,” she answered with a small laugh.
While I poured her coffee and retrieved milk and sugar, she took a seat at the table. I thought nothing of it until I was carrying everything over and I noticed she was reading the article on the iPad, her mouth hanging open.
Son of a bitch.
Her eyes shot up, tears glistening.
“I’m so sorry,” I muttered, setting everything down and easing into the chair beside her. “I didn’t mean for you to find out like that.”
“You killed us off?”
“I had to, Brae.” I reached for her hand, squeezed. “There was no other choice.”
“You said we were going to discuss it. You didn’t—” Her eyes widened in horror. “What about Zeke? Does he know? Does he really think…?”
I nodded. “There was no other choice.”
She swallowed and a tear escaped, sliding down her flawless cheek. “He’s got to be devastated.”
More than anything in this world, I hated to see my sister