Chapter 1
EVAN
I’m about to kill this bitch. Nobody owes me 2.4 million dollars and hides from me. Where did she think she was going to go? I’d find her anywhere. I grab her dark graying locks and yank her head back. Blood and snot runs down her face as she trembles beneath me.
“Where the fuck is my money, bitch?” I hiss right next to her face. The face I’ve nearly busted wide open.
Her sobs annoy me. No amount of crying will play on my heartstrings. I’ve murdered people for less. Her murder would mean nothing to me.
“I’m not going to ask you again, Denise. Where. The. Fuck. Is. My. Money?!” I shout, yanking her head back and forth until she’s screaming.
Blood soaks the front of her expensive blouse. She probably bought this shirt with money. Taking the knife from my back pocket, I whip it open and slice at her blouse until it’s hanging from her battered body. She tries to hide her exposed chest, but I yank them behind her back after I release her hair. My knife goes straight to her throat, pressing dangerously hard into her jugular. She swallows against it, causing enough pressure to cut her slightly.
“P-please,” she begs on a sob. “Don’t kill me!”
“Well, I have to kill someone, Denise!” I scream, kicking my knee into her back. She slams forward onto the bloodstained concrete of my basement. I’ve lost count on how many people have lost their lives down here.
“I don’t have your money! All I have is your product!” Her screams come out muffled against the concrete floor. “It’s all there except... except for a hundred grand.”
I lean down, yanking her head back again. “Where the fuck is the money?”
Her bottom lip trembles as tears stream down her solemn, blood-soaked face. “I used it. Spent it on my daughter’s education. Please, I swear I’m being honest with you! I can get you the money, I just—”
“Did I ask you to fucking come up with an excuse?!” I scream. “How are you going to get the money? Huh? We both know you’re broke. We both know you sell for me because you’re broke. So, tell me, how do you pay me back a hundred grand?”
Her body shakes beneath me as she sobs harder. I think I like this bitch where she’s at. Dirty, bloody, begging for her life. But she isn’t telling me what I want to hear and I’m losing my patience real fast. She has something that might save her ass, though. That something is actually, and I want her bad. I’m getting a hard-on just thinking of her long brunette waves, the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. The last time I saw her, I was seconds away from yanking her head back and sucking her tongue into my mouth. I’ve dreamt about what that woman could do to me. On her knees, on her back, bent over my desk. I want her something fierce and I finally found my in.
“I want your daughter,” I blurt out.
“D-Devon,” she whispers, squeezing her eyes shut like that name hurts her to say. Mmm, Devon. I like that name. It’s sexy. A sexy name to match an equally sexy woman. She’s the very woman who had my older brother Greyson wrapped around her finger years ago. They were in love. It was disgusting, but I’m going to change that. He’ll never have the chance of having her again. Once she’s my wife and I’ve had my way with her, Greyson won’t be able to come near her. She’ll be too broken to be wanted.
“Yes. Devon. I want her.”
“No!” She sobs, trying to yank free from me.
I drop my knee into the middle of her back, holding her down. I’m not playing with this bitch anymore. There’s only one thing I want. If she doesn’t give her to me, I’ll murder her and take her daughter anyway.
“Either you give her to me in marriage, or I her and throw her into prostitution until the debt is paid off. Make your choice, Denise. You know the rules around here. Either you join the Germain’s, or we force you to.”
With her head hung low, her entire body shakes as she sobs out. Her daughter must mean something to her. Good. I’m going to fucking destroy anything Denise holds dear to her. She fucked with the wrong guy.
“Please don’t hurt her!” She begs.
I glance up at my two main guys standing along the wall with their hands behind their backs, watching on without emotion. “Oh, I’m not going to hurt her. I’m going to marry her, fuck her into submission, and make her mine. The Devon you know now will be gone when I’m finished with her. She’ll pay back your debt, then I’ll still keep her. Once she’s mine, I’ll do whatever the fuck I want to her.”
Denise shakes from her sobs again, dropping her shoulders in defeat. I’ve finally broken the bitch. She may be walking out of here with her own life, but I’m the one who’s winning. I get my money back through her sweet, sweet daughter. Dropping Denise’s hair, I stand and roll my white dress shirt sleeves down, clipping my cufflinks back into place.
“I want you two to go retrieve my prize. Not a single hair on her head better be out of place. Make it quiet, bring her to me in one hour. I’ve got a wedding to plan.”
I walk out of the basement cell with a victorious grin on my face. Devon will be mine by the end of the night. She’ll be screaming my name in no time, digging her nails into my back while I fuck her into submission.
DEVON
I sit with my girls, enjoying our favorite iced coffee in the park. I’m on break from my boring ass barista job, and they’re just getting out of class. It breaks my heart that I’m not able to attend class with them. Mom broke the news to me last semester that she wasn’t going to be able to pay my tuition anymore. I was forced to drop out and pick up work at the coffee shop. To say I’m embarrassed is an understatement. Both of my girlfriends come from old money. They’ll never have to worry about money for the rest of their lives. My life used to be like that but then my mother blew all of our money. On what? I can’t answer that.
This entire city is run by the Germain Brothers. They’re feared by every single person, even the police. Growing up here, you learn to either join them or stay as far off their radar as you possibly can. I’ve seen the brothers in the newspaper before. They’re both the most gorgeous men I’ve ever seen in my life, but they’re still terrifying. I choose to stay away from them for obvious reasons. It breaks my heart to see that Greyson Germain is no longer the man I loved all those years ago. Every passionate kiss I remember is now tainted. He’s the enemy now. He has been since he broke my heart.
“I can’t believe you’re not in school anymore, Devon. We miss you terribly,” Tisha says, pouting her bottom lip.
I feel the same way, but I’ve lied to them all. There’s no way I’m letting them know about our dire financial situation. I’m already embarrassed. I don’t need them looking down on me. It already hurts me that I have to work at the coffee shop. I’ve lied and told them it’s for charity. They bought it.
“I miss you girls, too. Trust me.” I’m about to say more when two men in charcoal-colored suits step in front of us, blocking the sun. I take in the size of them, swallowing hard when I see the Germain Family crest pinned to their jackets.
“Which one of you is Devon Kimble?” The taller, more good-looking one asks.
I don’t give myself up that easily, but the girls do, pointing right at me. What the fuck?! Even though this is one family you don’t want to piss off, I’m angry that they gave me up like it was nothing.
“What do you want?” I ask, setting my iced coffee down.
But neither of them says a word. They grab me and haul me to my feet, making me scream out. One places a black hood over my head while the other ties my wrists behind my back.
“Help me!” I scream, but I know nobody will. There isn’t a soul in this city that would try to stop this. You don’t mess with the Germain’s. I don’t understand what they want with me though. I’ve literally done everything to stay off their radar. When Greyson broke up with me, I tucked my tail and hid in the shadows. Or at least I thought that’s what I did.
They drag me away roughly. I keep tripping on my feet so one of them hikes me over their shoulder. I’d try to slap and punch my way out of this if my arms weren’t tied behind my back. They continue to stay silent, walking for what feels like forever. Then I hear a car door and I’m thrown in, landing with force.
“Why are you taking me?!” I demand some answers. You don’t just take someone from a park bench without explanation.
“You’ll know as soon as we arrive back at the estate.” The door is slammed shut and the blood drains from my face. Estate?! That means they’re taking me to one of the Germain’s. Shit.
I try to get comfortable during the drive, but it’s no use. My arms are tied tight behind my back and the hood over my head makes it hard to breathe. I honestly don’t know why I’ve been taken or if I’m even going to be alive long enough to find out. When the Germain’s take you, you don’t normally get to walk away from that. You join them or you’re dead. I was lucky to get away from Greyson in the past, but I don’t think I’ll be that lucky to get away a second time.
When the vehicle comes to a stop, I realize we’re here. The door opens and I’m yanked out forcefully. I land on the gravel so hard the pebbles puncture into my flesh. It stings like a bitch, but I keep myself from crying out. They yank me to my feet and guide me along. I can’t see anything.
“Well done, men,” a man with a rough voice says. I don’t recognize it. Then I’m shoved down in a chair and the hood is finally removed. My hair sticks to my face as I whip my head back and forth. “Welcome to your new home, Devon.”
I stop fighting my hair and look through the long messy strands at the man who makes my blood cold. Evan Germain. Ruthless to the core. Dangerous to all. Sexy as sin. He’s Greyson’s little brother, and not someone I ever want to piss off. When I was with Greyson, I saw Evan beat a man to death twice his size.
“What the hell am I doing here?” I ask, adjusting in the seat until my shoulders stop burning.
With a heart-stopping smirk, Evan Germain leans over me, pinning me against the chair as he grabs the armrests. He licks his lips seductively, trailing his gaze down over my chest, neck, and breasts. I won’t deny how excited this makes me. Evan Germain is looking at me like I’m his next meal, and I’m not about to starve him. He’s always been a sexy man, even back when he was a kid.
The office door whips open, breaking my eye contact from the powerful man above me. It’s the first time I’ve truly had a moment to look around. We’re in a large, fancy office with dark wood walls that screams expensive. I’m in the chair right in front of a long desk cluttered with paperwork and... Is that a pile of cash?! There has to be thousands just sitting there in the wide open.
“The dress you’ve ordered has arrived, Mr. Germain,” the woman who barged in says, keeping her gaze on the floor. She’s an older woman, probably in her sixties with graying hair and wrinkles in her forehead. “Would you like me to help the young woman prepare?”
Evan smirks again when I look at him. Dress? Help the young woman prepare? I’m the young woman, aren’t I? What are they preparing me for?
“What’s going on? Prepare me for what?” I ask, demanding answers all over again. Evan didn’t answer my question earlier, so I’m not surprised when he gives me a cryptic answer.
“To prepare you for your wedding, of course.” He licks his plump bottom lip again, and I hate how much I like it. He’s a Germain. A dangerous man. I shouldn’t like it him. But why the fuck am I thinking about his lip right now?! Prepare me for my wedding?!
I let out a strangled laugh. “My wedding? Is this some kind of prank? Did my friends set this up?” Shaking my head, I laugh again. It wouldn’t surprise me if they did this. They sure threw me under the bus quickly and...
“Not a prank. Don’t know your friends. This is as real as it gets, baby doll. You will be Mrs. Evan Germain in ten minutes. Don’t be late.” He shoves himself away from me and marches out of the office, slamming the door behind him.
All the blood drains from my face as I sit here confused and terrified. I can’t marry Evan Germain! I don’t even know him! He’s a dangerous man, and the little brother of the man I used to love. A man who I’ve avoided this far in my life. What the hell is going on here?! But before I have time to think, the two burly men are ripping me out of my chair. We follow the older woman into the next room and a gorgeous white flowing wedding gown adorns a tall, skinny mannequin. They cut the restraints from my hands as the blood rushes from my head straight into my fingers. The room spins and I fall flat on my face, blacking out when I realize this isn’t a joke.
