Any Means Necessary

by Lila Herron

“Apologies”

When Ricky speaks it’s in Italian, the words coming out sounding slimy and unsettling. I’d bet money that whatever he’s saying is a combination of derogatory and explicit. His gaze moves over me again, making my skin crawl. Even his eyes are handsy. In three long strides, Callum’s in front of him. His large hand clamps around Ricky’s throat, forcing the injured man to look him in the eye. Callum’s expression is dark—murderous—as he leans in to speak. Responding in the same language, Callum’s words are spoken with a tone of violence. I wish I had a translator right about now, I’d love to know what he’s saying. Giving the injured man’s throat an extra squeeze, Callum switches to english before continuing.

Callum reaches his hand out for me. When I walk closer, he barely steps back—instead standing over the patient. Over me.

Reaching forward to assist him, my arm bumps Callum who seems to have inched closer.

“Can you give us some space?”

Easing the wounded arm from the sleeve, I pause to meet the gaze I can feel burning a hole through my skull. Callum’s eyes connect with mine...

“I’m fine, Callum. I need more room to s...

When he doesn’t budge I flash a sugar...

“Pretty p...

“Nobody’s gonna hurt your nurse, Cal,” Gio says behind us. Callum stares me down for another minute, his serious expression set in stone as his eyes search mine. Finally, he b...

But you? You’re just his type.”

“Oh really? And what’s that?”

“Fat, blonde, big tits.” The way he purses his lips while his eyes move over me says he doesn’t get what Callum finds attractive about fat bodies. “Even before, he’s always had a thing for the big bitches.”

“What did he threaten to do to you when we first walked in?”

“To put a bullet through my head if I don’t play nice.”

“I’m sure her giant tits have nothing to do with your decision either.” Marcus’ grin widens, the fucker. “You always did like ’em big and blonde.” My jaw tightens, shoulders tensing slightly. I don’t like him looking at Lexie’s tits, let alone talking about them.

my love”

Marcus, however, admires her work openly, boldly. Too fucking boldly. “Damn, that’s impressive,” Marcus says. “What’s your number? I might need you to stitch me up one of these days.” I’m about to tell my brother to shut his fucking mouth and stay away from her—that he doesn’t get her phone number because she’s not his to talk to or think about. But Lexie’s response beats me to it.

“I work for Callum, you know how to reach him.”

Her answer soothes some of the hostility raging inside me, and my shoulders relax slightly when she glances up at me. Th...

“Can I finish bandaging h...

“Go ahead...

I say, nodding towards the Made Man. Ricky’s been surprisingly silent since I walked into the room. He can keep glaring at me as long as he keeps his mouth shut. I’ll be talking to Roscoe to see how we...

You’ve got it in your head that emotions get in the way of every decision, and you’re almost right. But sometimes acting on your feelings is the difference between staying alive and actually living.”

Feeling my eyes, she turns from the window to meet my stare head on—something she does a lot. She doesn’t get flustered or cower under my gaze. Instead, she stares right back.

“What?”

Her brows knit together slightly ...

“What are you th...

The need to know what’s running through her mind is too strong to resist. Reading the emotions as they...

“That I usually make a guy at least take me to dinner before ...

she teases good-naturedly, making me sup...

“You’re handling this rea...

“You know, you have a habit of sounding surprised when you compliment me, Callum. Someone with a smaller ...

She’s not of...

“I would never want to offend yo...

I assur...

“One of these days I might need you to ...

“You’re right, it’s never a good idea to insult the person...

she a...

“Smart man, always one st...

“You have no...

She doesn’t, but she ...

Either unaware or unfazed by my mood, Lexie turns to me with another dessert on a plate. With her blonde hair spilling over her shoulders, girly apron cinched in at her waist, and a big smile as she presents the baked good—she’s the picture of sweet perfection. And it’s aggravatingly arousing.

her arms crossing under her breasts.

She wants to be friends. We’re not fucking friends. With Lexie, it’s either more or nothing. And we can’t be more.

Turns out, being on the receiving end of Lexie’s cold shoulder bothers me more than I thought it could. And it’s only been one damn day. I can’t seem to keep my eyes off of her. Since we’ve met, Lexie’s drawn me in like a moth to a fucking flame. Her energy is unapologetic and irresistible. With the way she collects admirers wherever she goes, I know I’m not the only one who feels it. Half of me—the twisted selfish half—feels the primal urge to snuff out that beautiful light of hers when she’s sharing it with other people. I want to be the only one who gets to bask in her rays. That smile should only ever appear for me. If I can’t harness it and own it, it shouldn’t exist at all. It’s a possessive and sick way of thinking, but it’s always a temptation residing just below the surface. Luckily the other half, the one I tend to listen to—to act on—doesn’t have it in him to steal that glow from her. Her lovely, addicting glow that radiates with everything she is. I’m self-aware enough to know this part of me is selfish too. If her light’s gone, my life dims with it. Her ability to scatter the shadows lurking with my demons vanishes. And I’m not willing to give that up. Not willing to give her up.

I hadn’t decided to take Lexie along. But now that I’m standing in front of her, I want her with me.

“Put on a dress, we’re going to dinner.”

The words slip through the cracks in my self-control far too easily. Her face floods with surprise and confusion, but she stands to go change anyway. Telling her to put on a dress was a mistake, one I regret as soon as she emerges in a little black number that leaves so much but very little to the imagination. Thin straps, open square neckline draping across showstopping breasts, accentuated fleshy waist. The hemline that stops just above her knees is made less modest by the slit on one side that flashes creamy thigh. Her glittery black heels click on the floor as she walks towards me, sleek ponytail tossed to one side while she struggles to clasp a gold necklace. Fucking hell. Not a distraction, she’s a devastation. A tornado of beautiful chaos determined to leave my life in ruins. And I’m nothing short of a storm chaser praying for disaster. Christ.

Stepping into the elevator, I avoid looking at her reflection as the doors close. The last thing I need is to take this meeting with a raging erection, and one glance at her like this will have me rock hard. Roscoe catches my eyes, his brows lifting to communicate that he notices my discomfort. My glower in return only feeds his amusement. Fucker.