Bad Decision: The Carter Brothers Read online

  I kiss her gently on the lips and say huskily, “I’m going to move inside you now and it may feel tight. Move with me, babe.”

  Slowly, I pull out a little and then move back inside. She meets me as I thrust inside and her gasps of pain soon turn to ones of ecstasy as she allows me to do what I’ve wanted to ever since I saw her that first night. I feel the silkiness of her hair in my hands as I hold her in place and claim my woman. I mark my territory like the wild beast I am and as I sink balls deep into Summer, nothing else matters. The only thing that does is quivering beneath me and the thought I’m finally home where I belong makes me come so hard, I think I see stars.

  Tonight, was also my first time because I didn’t just fuck like I have countless times before, I made love and it felt amazing.

  21

  Summer

  Feeling Max inside me is everything I knew it would be. I always knew he was the one and giving him the part of me I’ve protected for so long felt so right and inevitable.

  Feeling his hard body against mine brings out the wanton woman in me. The sight of those strong arms holding me so tenderly causes my heart to flutter and the desire to spark inside.

  Then, when he entered me, it felt right. It hurt, of course, it did but it was the kind of pain that’s fleeting. I never imagined being with a man like Max. He’s so different from the type of men I usually go for. Rough, rugged and powerful with a sexy edge. I don’t know why I have this overwhelming urge to be with him; it came out of nowhere. Even if things don’t go as planned, I will always have this moment. This experience will never be repeated and will be seared in my memory for eternity. If fate delivers another harsh blow, I’ll regret nothing. I was waiting for him and now I’ve arrived, I’ll hold on to him for as long as I can.

  He holds me tight and I hear his heart thumping against mine. The sweat from our bodies combines and my body feels so alive. He whispers in that husky voice that’s sexy as hell, “Are you ok?”

  I squeeze him tighter and whisper, “I’ve never felt better. Thank you, Max.”

  He pulls back and raises his eyes, “Thank you?”

  I grin. “Yes, thank you. I know you tried to put me off, but I didn’t make it easy for you. I just want you to know I meant every word I said. I want you and if that doesn’t work out there are no hard feelings.”

  He strokes my hair gently and says gruffly, “Whoa, back up a minute. You sound as if you think this is just sex.”

  I look at him shyly, “Isn’t it?”

  He frowns as he grips me even tighter and says roughly, “This is forever, babe. It is in my book, anyway. What we just did was the beginning of the rest of our lives. I don’t care what you think I am but I’ll never leave you. I thought you knew that.”

  His words make my heart dance and it must be reflected in my eyes because he laughs and says softly, “You don’t get away from me that easily. The only obstacle in our way now is a certain father we share. If we can win him round, then our future is set. You belong by my side, Summer. I know you feel it too and if it makes me sound like a complete pussy, I don’t care. It’s you and me now, it always has been.”

  His words touch me deeply and ignite a simmering heat. I feel the desire flooding through me as I pull his mouth to mine and taste the future. I feel him grow inside me as we cement our decision. We will face this fucked up situation together as a team and it begins right here and now.

  Max kisses me so sweetly as he moves inside me. The world spins as my body adapts and welcomes him inside. I never knew love would feel this good and now I’ve sampled its power, I am determined to hold on to it.

  I’m not sure how long we explore each other for but the sunlight streaming through the windows reminds us the night is gone and the harsh reality of the day is calling. Sighing, Max pulls me up and says softly, “Go and take a shower then grab some sleep. I’ll use Charlie’s and then try to get my head back to business.”

  Nodding, I turn to leave, then say hesitantly, “What happens now, Max?”

  He smiles and I watch his eyes sparkle. “The rest of our lives. Do you think you can bear to start that journey with me by your side?”

  Running toward him, I jump in his arms and wrap my legs around his waist. I snuggle in and say huskily, “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

  He hugs me tightly and buries his face in my hair, saying huskily, “Like I said, I’m about to start a war for you and if I lose, it won’t be because I haven’t given everything to the fight.”

  I whisper, “We won’t lose this one. I’ll make sure of it.”

  Reluctantly, I head to the shower and as I wash away the burn between my legs, it reminds me of where he’s been. Max has claimed much more than my virginity tonight and now the only cloud on the horizon is my father.

  I head back to bed and see Tracey still sleeping soundly. As I crawl beside her, I lie for a moment reliving every touch, kiss and declaration. Sleep comes a lot easier now than it has done since my family died. I’m not alone anymore and I’ve found the man I was always meant to find. We will deal with the problems that brings later but right now, I need sleep and fast.

  Maxwell

  Once I’m showered and changed, I can’t stop the stupid grin from spreading across my face. Summer was everything I dared hope for and now I’ve made that step, I’m not going back. Almost as if he knows, the phone rings and I see my father’s calling.

  With a sinking heart, I answer the phone.

  “What’s up, Pops?”

  “Is Summer with you?”

  “Yeah. It got late, so we crashed at the club. The girls shared my bed and Charlie had his. I stayed up working.”

  There’s a brief moment of silence as I hold my breath, just grateful he can’t see the expression on my face.

  Then he says gruffly, “Then wake your brother up. I’ve had a call from Jason Manners. He’s got information that I think you’re looking for and wants to meet face to face at the Connor club.”

  My heart starts racing and I say gruffly, “Is it concerning Melissa?”

  “Yes. You should have called me the moment you found out, Max. I could have helped and now I’m playing catch up.”

  “It was late, you wouldn’t have appreciated it.”

  He barks. “I don’t care what the time was, you should have called. By the sound of it, this is going to get messy and we’ll need every man we can get.”

  I feel my chest tighten at his words. From the tone of his voice, this is serious and whatever he knows has set him on edge.

  Then he says roughly, “I’ll meet you at the club and we can head out together.”

  He hangs up and I start clearing away every trace of what happened last night. Knowing my father, he will guess what happened here last night the minute he steps through the door.

  As I start straightening the couch and binning any evidence hanging around, Charlie walks in bleary eyed.

  “Man, I need a coffee and as many pain killers as is safe.”

  Shaking my head, I growl, “You need to shower and change. Pops is on his way and he’s not happy.”

  Charlie looks at me sharply, “Don’t tell me you fucked Summer and he’s found out.”

  I stare at him angrily, “Don’t talk about Summer like she’s some sort of cheap whore.”

  Charlie groans. “You went there, didn’t you? For fuck’s sake, Max I told you to keep away. This is bad, very bad and now I’m caught in the middle.”

  Glaring at him, I snap, “You’re not in anything. I’ll deal with this shit but that’s not the reason he’s coming. He’s had Jason Manners on the blower and he’s got information.”

  Charlie’s expression hardens. “Melissa?”

  I exhale sharply. “I think so and I’ve got a terrible feeling it’s not good news.”

  He shakes his head and says softly, “I’m sorry, man.”

  I make a fist and growl, “Not as sorry as the bastards who’ve taken her will be when I lay my hands on them.”
/>
  Charlie flicks the kettle on and says “What about the girls? Do we leave them here?”

  I shrug. “May as well. They can sleep it off and then we’ll take them home later.”

  Charlie nods and heads off to get ready while I try to get my head in the game. This is business and there is no room for sentiment. Melissa needs me to be the machine, not the man and I won’t let her down.

  Half an hour later, the door opens and Joey storms into the room. His eyes narrow as he sees me waiting and barks, “Where’s Charlie?”

  No sooner have the words left his lips, Charlie heads into the room and he lowers his voice.

  “Where are the girls?”

  Charlie says in a low voice. “Sleeping in Max’s room. I’ve left a note telling them to stay put until we get back.”

  Joey nods. “Good. They don’t need to hear this.”

  He pulls out his phone and holds it out to Charlie. “Take a look, is this her?”

  I feel my heart thumping so hard it threatens to burst a hole in my chest. I watch the disgust spread across Charlie’s face as he turns white and spits, “Yes.”

  I don’t think and grab the phone and when I see the picture, I hear nothing but the blood rushing around my head. Melissa is spread out on a bed with her hands and legs tied. She is naked and the bruises on her face tell of a hard beating. Her eyes look glassy and I’m not sure she even knows where she is because it’s obvious, she’s drugged up to her eyeballs. I almost retch as I see the blood trailing along her upper thigh and see the evidence of a brutal attack. Closing my eyes to the image, I growl, “Who sent this?”

  Joey growls, “Jason was sent it when he started asking around. The guy who sent it is afraid for his life but is caught up in something he can’t walk away from. He wants us to take them down and keep him out of it.”

  Charlie says roughly, “Do you have a name?”

  Joey says in a rock-hard voice, “Florin Amadi.”

  We share a look and my heart sinks. Great, the last person I ever wanted to go up against. Florin has been causing trouble for a couple of years but has always kept out of our business. We’ve heard rumors of his dealings with prostitutes and illegal activities but all the time he left us alone, we offered the same courtesy to him. This is different though. This is trouble with a capital T because now its personal.

  We head across town to meet Jason at the Connor club. It’s a members only club that is carefully screened and as private as they come. It's open 24/7 and as we approach, the door opens as if by magic and a respectful assistant says courteously, “Good morning, gentlemen. Mr. Manner’s is waiting for you in the dining room.”

  We head up the plush carpeted staircase, passing the oil paintings of many well-heeled members of the past. This place is steeped in wealth and held together by tradition. A constant in an ever-changing world. The calm before the storm because as soon as I see Jason waiting for us, my head snaps to business.

  He nods as we approach and there are no pleasantries. We wait until the waiter has served coffee and taken our order before Jason says in a whisper.

  “Word is, Florin’s pissed. You busted his operation and killed his men. The whores were taken into custody and are singing like birds. Questions are being asked, and he wants revenge.”

  Charlie shrugs. “So what if the evil little fucker lost a day’s takings? There are many more of those houses around town and yet he had the cheek to operate on our patch. What did he expect?”

  Jason shrugs. “He’s been expanding fast over the last few months. Targeting young, vulnerable, girls and grooming them. That guy your girl was seeing was one of them. They sweet talk a girl until they trust them. Then they slip them drugs and lock them up until they cooperate. Most of the time the girls are whored out in these suburban houses. Some are sold on the black market to wealthy businessmen who have particular tastes and some are shipped overseas. Your friend was probably targeted because of her connection to you. These pictures have been circulated as a warning to you to back off. Retribution for stepping on their toes and the promise of a war if you don’t comply.”

  I feel sick and say harshly, “Where is she? Is she even still alive?”

  Jason shakes his head. “I’m working on it. I’ve got word of an address where this Christian guy lives. One of my men is staking it out and will call when he returns. We know that Florin operates out of a back room at a Romanian supermarket near Hackney. You will need an army if you take them out because those men have no value for life, theirs included.”

  Charlie looks worried. “We can’t just let him get away with it. We need to get Melissa back and then destroy his operation.”

  I nod as Joey snarls, “Fucking immigrants. Coming here and taking over my town. Treating our women like they are filth. Well, I’ve had enough. I want Florin Amadi dealt with - for good.”

  Jason leans back and regards us coolly. “You’re talking of starting a war which may bring more trouble than you can deal with. Are you sure you want to stir this shit up?”

  Joey growls. “Of course, I’m sure. We gather as many of the guys as we can. Plan this operation out to the letter and go in hard. Charlie, you have a word with Tony to set up the alibis. Jason, you get me the locations and the intelligence on their operation. Max, you pay this Christian geezer a visit with Charlie and make him talk. I’m going to make a few calls to rally the troops.”

  The breakfast arrives but I’m not sure any of us have an appetite for it. Shit just got real and despite the sinking feeling inside me, it sits alongside the usual adrenalin rush that this fucked up life of mine provides. As I think of Melissa in that room my heart hardens. Bring it on.

  22

  Summer

  It must be early afternoon when we finally surface. Tracey stretches and groans. “I’m getting too old for this.”

  Laughing, I hit her with the pillow. “You’re only 19 for god’s sake.”

  She props herself up on her elbow and fixes me with a knowing look.

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d say someone has a tale to tell.”

  Feeling myself blush, I say blankly, “I don’t know what you mean?”

  She grins wickedly. “I heard you get up last night, and you didn’t come back for hours. You’re a naughty girl, Summer and I demand you tell me everything.”

  Hugging my knees, I can’t stop smiling. “Is it that obvious?”

  She shrieks and then her hand flies to her mouth. “Sorry, was it good, was he good, I bet he was rough. Ooh, rough and dirty, yes, I’m guessing he was sexy as hell. Oh my god, just think of the babies you’d have. You did use protection, didn’t you? I mean, that man must have dipped in every pool in London.”

  I groan and she says apologetically, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that in a bad way.”

  Laughing, I push her playfully, “How can that be said in a good way?”

  She scoots onto her knees and says with excitement. “Come on, tell me everything.”

  I can’t help but fill her in because if I don’t talk to someone, I think I’ll burst. She listens with her eyes wide and says slowly, “I can’t believe it. That’s huge, Summer and I’m not talking about the size of his love stick.”

  “Love stick!”

  She grins. “It’s a term I like to use. Anyway, what happens now?”

  I laugh softly. “We carry on. I don’t know about you but I’m starving. Shall we see if they’ll take us out for some breakfast or lunch as it probably is now?”

  We quickly dress in our clothes from the night before and Tracey shakes her head. “Wow, this is the walk of shame if ever I saw one. Look at us dressed in our party wear. We’ve got to walk out of this club looking like a couple of whores.”

  We share a look and burst out laughing and then Tracey sighs heavily. “At least you got to play. I wish I had been so lucky.”

  Shaking my head, I follow her outside and immediately note the surrounding silence. Tracey spies a note on the side and sighs. “They’
ve gone out with Joey for breakfast. They said to wait here and they’ll take us home when they return.”

  Thinking of my father sends a dart of worry to my heart. This is going to be awkward and I’m not sure I’m ready to face him yet.

  Tracey groans. “I need food though. Shall we see if there is any?”

  Nodding, I help her rifle through the cupboards and the fridge but all we find are a few cans of soup and some bread that’s turned moldy.

  Sighing, Tracey grabs her purse. “Let’s go and grab something. There’s a café not far from here and we’ll be back before they know it.”

  We scribble where we’re going under their note and head outside. It seems strange being in the club with nobody around. It feels eerie and empty and the echo from our hushed voices gives us the giggles. We reach a door to the street and Tracey shrugs. “I suppose it will lock after us. Maybe there are cleaners here or something?”

  We head out into the sunshine and blink at its brightness.

  It feels strange walking through London in our clothes from the night before but inside I feel happier than I have a right to be. Last night was memorable in so many ways and it’s with a new spring to my step that I walk beside my cousin.

  Today feels different. Even the air seems purer enabling me to breathe easier. I never knew I would find such a man when I came here but Max has turned out to be someone worth traveling across the world to find. I’ll make sure that nothing stands in our way and if I have to defy my own father, I will.

  We reach a pleasant looking café nearby and settle into our seats looking out over the sidewalk outside.

  London is busy 24/7 and I watch with interest the people scurrying past and marvel at the diversity of it all. All shapes, sizes, colors and nationalities, crowd the streets and the buildings that surround them groan with history and tales of the past.