Soft Tissue Damage (Deadly Hearts #2)

by Lilith Vincent

Elena’s head rests on my shoulder, and as she sleeps, I whisper into her hair, “Who’s Daddy’s good girl?” I say the words just to know how they’ll feel in my mouth. They feel illicit. Forbidden. And absolutely delicious.

Do you want to come downstairs and have some breakfast with Elena?” “Lay-na.” “That’s right, I’m Elena. And what’s your name. Is it Rosie?” “Rosie.” “You’re Rosie, and I’m Elena.”

There’s a half-naked stranger in the kitchen wearing only a towel low on his hips. He’s turned away from me, doing something on the counter. He’s tall, and his broad, muscular back is covered in tattoos. There’s more ink snaking down his arms. He dominates the room. His presence screams danger.

“It’s my fault. You didn’t know I was here, and I scared you. Those were good instincts, going for the panic button when you were afraid. Are you all right? Did you hurt your ankle?”

The names Rosie and Leon are inked among the snakes, flowers, and scrolling patterns.

“It’s all right, Elena. Rosie was a surprise, and I talked my ex-wife into having the baby. We decided to divorce while she was still pregnant. She was always adamant that more children didn’t fit in with her lifestyle. So I asked for sole custody, and Rebecca agreed. She takes Rosie for a few days a month.”

“My ex thought I was boring, and maybe I am. But I have my moments.”

“We do?” I say, confused for a moment. Of course, one of the baby monitors is pointed right at the nursery chair. I smile at the camera and wave. I hear a soft chuckle from Mr. Grant. “How’s the poker game?” I ask.

“Seeing you two safe in my house makes me happy. I’ll be home in a few hours. Get some sleep.”

Did he just throw Leon out of his truck? I hear the engine race as it picks up speed.

“He was being argumentative and wasting time. I’m coming to get you.”

My pretty girl needs to know how far I’m willing to go for her. Kill him.

before I can blindfold her, Elena pushes away from the wall and rushes into my arms. Both her arms are tight around me and her face is pressed against my chest. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Grant.”

“You should have heard what they were going to do to me. They deserved it.”

“I won’t tell anyone what you had to do to save me,” she promises. “Not even Leon.”

Leon may have seen her first, but I’m the one who went after her when she was in danger.

“You feel really safe,” she whispers. “Elena, I just killed four men.” “I know. Thank you.”

My son’s girlfriend is achingly beautiful. Not only that, but she also stabbed a man and struck another with a lamp. I think she might be perfect for me.

Elena has better instincts than she realizes. She’s smart. She’s a quick thinker. She’s so fucking beautiful.

never imagined that anyone would care enough to come to my rescue like you did. Thank you, Mr. Grant.”

“Do you see me?” Elena’s eyes rove over me, taking in every detail. The blood that spatters my cheeks. The darkness in my eyes. “Yes,” she breathes.

This is all I’ve ever needed, for a woman to see who I really am and still want me. I’ve always kept my bloodlust tightly under control, but I can feel my darkness rising and flexing its muscles as I go on kissing Elena. My tongue strokes lovingly over her lower lip, and she whimpers. I could push this seat back and pull her astride me. I’m aching for her as I capture her lower lip in my teeth and bite down.

I want her, but I also want to be a good father to Leon, and my children always come first.

“Excuse me?” I raise an eyebrow. My children do not swear at me.

“Your mother and I waited until we were married.” That’s a lie. “We carefully planned for you.” Not true at all. I was surprised when Rebecca found out she was pregnant, and she was as well.

“Abstinence is the only fail-safe form of contraception.” One hundred percent correct. “You’re sounding really churchy right now, Dad. We’re not church people.”

“Elena will be waiting for marriage.” If Elena needs a man to marry her and make getting her pregnant to be his full-time job for the sake of her mortal soul, I can be that man. I’d carry mountains on my back to be that man. A boy like Leon isn’t ready for that kind of commitment.

try to be a good father to both my children. I provide for them, protect them, love them twice as much to make up for their mother’s disinterest in them. Stealing my son’s girlfriend is pretty high on the list of things that a good father would never do.

Jealousy surges through me. Elena’s Catholic. She can’t be on birth control or want pre-marital sex. It was the one thought keeping me sane, that my son isn’t getting what I desperately want.

Cullan: I’m having a midlife crisis. I’m a fucking embarrassment.

Tyrant: You’re the best infiltration expert on the West Coast, but I’m guessing this is not about work.

Tyrant: Come over. We’ll drink bourbon until you can’t remember your own name, let alone hers.

Cullan: Change of plan. We’ll catch up next week. Tyrant: Why? Cullan: I’m following my dreams.

If I get caught, I’ll lose everything. My children. My freedom. It’s not like crime is new to me. If all my misdeeds were discovered, they’d amount to hundreds of years behind bars. But this crime feels different. More visible. Sensational. My recent crimes haven’t hit the papers, but this one probably will.

“Did you ever forgive yourself?” I whisper in his ear. “I didn’t.”

glare in disgust at those words, offended that something is messing with Elena’s ability to conceive. Her precious body is being chemically and hormonally meddled with. I fantasize about going to her apartment right now, ripping the patch from her skin, and giving her a stern talking to.

I’ve reluctantly gone on birth control for my boyfriend, but I would happily go on birth control for Cullan. Who am I kidding? I would happily go off birth control for Cullan. Peel this patch right off my shoulder and throw myself into his arms.

I wonder if he wants more children.

baby with Cullan. A chance for a real, loving family with a man who would do anything for me and his children. A heart-poundingly gorgeous man who has me tossing and turning in bed at night as I long to feel his hands on my body.

Randomly? All Leon’s thinking about is that his girlfriend’s birth control just kicked in. Elena isn’t fooled by this “surprise” visit either.

If I ever heard that tone from a woman while I was trying to make her come, I’d throw myself off the nearest building. Leon doesn’t seem to notice there’s anything wrong. Elena looks more miserable than ever.

these patches will deliver vitamins to nourish her body.

I can wait for Elena to be ready for sex as long as she needs, but the birth control is another matter. I throw her contraceptive patches into the bin and put vitamin patches inside the box in their place. Soon, Elena’s fertility will come back, and when the time comes, when she’s ready, I’ll make love to her knowing her body is all mine. I get hard just thinking about it.

Once she’s my woman, I’ll be able to pat my thigh and invite her to curl up on my lap with my daughter in her arms. She’ll snuggle close to me and let me protect her. Love her. Adore her.

“Not the big prize. That one’s still eluding me, but I’ll get it. I’m determined.”

I burn with anger as I listen to my son lie to Elena, telling her he spent hours in the library this afternoon.

While they talk, I send a message and a series of photos to Elena’s number from an anonymous burner phone.

Hi, Elena. You don’t know me, but my name is Angie, and I know ...

“Leon, what’s this?” Elena asks in a shaky voice. “Who’s Angie?”

With my back against the wall, I close my eyes. I hate hearing Elena in pain.