Rigger's Mistake (Sons of Erebus: Reno, NV #1)

by Misty Walker

She sees me and rushes over, jumping into my arms. Out of reflex, I catch her, and before I realize what’s happening, her lips are on mine. She’s taking liberties she doesn’t deserve, but it’s my own damn fault.

“What’s wrong, Rigger?” she asks with a pout. “What’s wrong is you thinking you mean more to me than you do.”

“We’ve been sleeping together for six months,” she whines. “No, we’ve been fucking for six months.” I shrug. “You were a good lay, but honestly, it’s getting stale.”

She wants to be an ol lady so bad

Ray grunts, and I feel him flood my insides with his vile seed. He didn’t bother with lube, and I sure as hell wasn’t wet, so it stings, and I know I’ll be sore later, not that he cares. I purse my lips tight as I’m hit with a wave of nausea. Good thing I’m flat on my stomach because if I had to look at him right now, I’m certain I’d puke.

I avoid my reflection in the mirror as I turn the water on in the shower and sit on the toilet to expel him from my body. I can’t look at myself like this, or I might start to believe I’m weak and pathetic like Ray says I am. This is the part I hate the most: when I can still smell and feel him all over me. Once I cleanse him from my body, I’ll be born again, and only then can I look myself in the eyes. Steam billows out of the glass enclosure, fogging the mirror. It’s my cue that it’s safe to get off the pot and into the shower. My skin crawls as I dump an insane amount of body wash into my palm and begin the arduous task of scrubbing him off me. I don’t cry. Not anymore. I’m numb and have been for years. The only thing that seems to bring any emotion out of me are thoughts of my escape.

So deep for me. I remember this feeling.

“I’m serious. Let me go.” She shoves me, but I don’t budge an inch. Vivi might be tall, but she’s skinnier than a beanpole. Not that she doesn’t look good, because she does with her gentle curves, mile-long legs, and the perfect handful of tits. Maybe it’s wrong to notice, but I give myself grace since I didn’t know who she was when I first saw her at the brothel. What’s your excuse for checking her out now, asshole?

Separating her from the little girl he knew.

“Stay out of this!” He stops walking long enough to backhand her, sending her crashing into the wall. I rush over, crouching next to her. “Are you okay?” “Fine, honey. I’m fine,” she whispers as she tries to right herself. I stand, blocking her with my body. “That’s enough!” “I’ll say when it’s enough!” He throws a punch that I attempt to block, but it still connects with my jaw. “Apparently, you haven’t learned your place.” Pain shoots through my face. I need to find a way to diffuse this. I can’t show up tomorrow black and blue. “I do. I know my place, and I’m so sorry. I spoke out of turn.”

“No, Mom. I will not let him fuck me in exchange for living in a house where we’re emotionally and physically abused,” I say through gritted teeth. “It’s disgusting you’re even asking that of me.” “It’s not that bad, and Ray’s done a lot for us. We shouldn’t be so selfish. Don’t you remember what our life was like before?”

My brothers might know how I grew up, but I haven’t told them about the deal I made with the devil in the form of monthly payments for Vivi’s safety. In the fifteen years I’ve been gone, I’ve paid that man over fifty grand, and from the sound of it, I deserve a refund.

“Nothing. Should we go inside so you can show off your little sister?” “About that.” I lead her toward the entrance. “What?” I take a breath, readying myself for this. “I don’t think I’m gonna mention you’re my sister.”

“You don’t think they’ll get the wrong idea?”

I’m betting on it.

“What always happens?” Her tone is clipped, not something I usually hear from her. “Ray lost at the casino last night and came home in a pissy mood.” “And I wasn’t here,” I fill in.

Somewhere along the way, I claimed this woman. Not that I’ve made any declaration or anything. I didn’t even know it until this very moment, but nothing has ever felt more right. Navy is mine. Now I just need to convince her of it.

His voice is a whisper, rough with emotion. “If you don’t want me to do this, I won’t, but please know that I want to. I want to wash him from your body, make sure all of him is gone, and then I’ll make damn sure you never so much as hear his fuckin’ voice again.”

“Morning-after pill, preventative STI pills, an antibiotic, and this one”—I hold up an oval-shaped pill—“is for pain. Monroe also got me up to date on all my vaccinations.” “Shit, Navy.” I quirk a brow with a smile. “You’ve been calling me Navy. Guess that means I need to call you Rigger.” “It’s a good way to start over.” I nod. “It is.”

<3

He stayed. Despite finding out my darkest secrets, he stayed.

“Not tonight,” I say, stopping her. “But you haven’t. . . you know.” “Come?” I fill in the word while I adjust the rock-hard erection in my pants. “No, I didn’t, and I’m not going to. Not tonight. Tonight was all about you.” She screws her lips. “I don’t feel right about that.” I pick her clothes up off the ground. “I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.” “But why?” True concern is etched on her face, and I wonder if I fucked up. Setting her clothes down next to her, I place my hands on her hips and say, “I don’t want to fuck it up, and Danielle said go slow. So this is me, going fuckin’ slow.” “Do you not want to?” I take her hand and place it over my cock. “Baby, I can’t wait to fuck you stupid, but your idea of using the rooms sparked my imagination, and now I have a plan. You don’t want to ruin my plan, do you?”