Menace (Scarlet Scars #1)

by J.M. Darhower

He winces, clutching the bridge of his nose. “Nothing to say? Speak now or forever shut your mouth.” Nothing.

“So, nice talk,” I say, lowering my gun, aiming it at the floor. “My condolences on your club, but it wasn’t her fault. It was yours. Maybe if you weren’t so fucking weak, Georgie, people wouldn’t do this shit to you all the time.”

“What gets you out of bed in the morning, Seven?” “My family,” he says quietly. “They have needs. It’s my responsibility to make sure they’re taken care of, no matter what.” That’s the answer I expected. “Do you know what gets me out of bed in the morning?” He doesn’t even hesitate before saying, “Leo.”

“Hope that maybe today will be exciting,” I say. “Maybe today I won’t be so goddamn bored. Maybe, if I get my ass out of bed, something will actually happen. Maybe something will get my blood pumping and I’ll feel things instead of wasting away in tedium. Maybe, just maybe, today will be different and I’ll finally find a real reason to get out of bed in the morning. I don’t begrudge you your purpose, Seven. I respect it. You do what you have to. But don’t walk in my house, questioning what I’m doing, because if you step on my toes, I’ll shoot yours off. You got me?” “Yes, boss.”

My fingertips are tingling, my heart pounding hard. The adrenaline, as it merges with the anger, is one hell of a rush. It almost makes me sick to my stomach, the way it takes over my insides. God, I want to shoot this woman...

Because it’s easier, you know, to forget the heart exists at all. But I’m getting the idea that her heart may be what gets her out of bed in the morning, so I won’t begrudge her that. To each their own.

I’ve seen the man in the throes of passion. I’ve seen him excited, and agitated, and dangerously cold. I’ve watched his emotions fluctuate the spectrum, but I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen him calm.

And I kind of like the guys, you know, what I know of them. Not a single one has ever made a pass at me, thinking because I’ve done certain things obviously that’s all I am. Men that treat me like a person… what a concept. So I’d rather them not lose their lives because I’m here.

“I don’t need a shrink. I just need someone to give a fuck about me.”

“I’m heading home, boss,” Seven says. “Wife is making lasagna for dinner, if you want me to bring you some.” “I appreciate it,” Lorenzo says, “but I can fend for myself.” Pfftt, fuck that. “You can bring me some,” I call down. “I’m not dumb enough to pass up home cooking.” Seven laughs, waving toward me. “I think I’ve done enough for you today, Morgan.”

“I swear to fuck, Scarlet, if you don’t watch yourself...” “Yeah, you’ll kill me,” I mutter, grabbing ahold of him, my hands framing his face, trying to force him to look at me but he’s stubborn as shit and goes to pull away instead. “I’m serious, Lorenzo. Stop being so fucking pigheaded and just look at me.”

“You’re softhearted, Scarlet. Soft in the fucking head, too. It’s dangerous. You’re dangerous.”

“You’re insatiable,” he says, his mouth trailing along my spine. “You’re just addictive,” I whisper, “and I’m turning into a junkie.”

“You don’t understand.” “You’re right,” he says. “I don’t. The guy terrifies you, and for the love of fuck, I don’t know why. What’s he got on you, huh? What is it about him that has you wound so tight that you’re standing in my hallway, half naked, shaking, not wanting me to go blow his brains out so you’ll stop? I mean, do you like this? Is that it? Are you having the time of your life pissing your pants over this asshole? Because if that’s the case, carry on, baby. Don’t let me stop this game you’re playing.”

“Yes,” Aristov says. “Mister Scar is our guest.” “He laughed at me!” “I laughed at your eye,” I correct him. “I don’t really find you funny, Baloo.”

“I swear to God, if you throw yourself off this roof, I’m jumping after you, and I’m going to catch you.”

“I’ll catch you,” he says again, his face so close to mine I can feel his breath on my skin, “because in those few seconds before you hit the ground, I’m going to fucking choke the life out of you for doing that shit. You got me?” “I got you,” I whisper, surprised I can even speak.

“I got you,” he says, his voice low, serious, and I think at first he’s just echoing what I said, until he raises his eyebrows, emphasizing them. “I got you. It’s okay.” I blink rapidly, my eyes burning, a lump in my throat that I’m struggling to swallow back.

This chapter tho 😭

For the first time since I’ve met this man, he’s letting his nerves show, his guard lowering just enough for me to see it. I can tell he doesn’t want to be doing this, but he’s doing it, and that’s not something I ever expected from him. He doesn’t owe me anything.

“But she shouldn’t have to be,” I whisper. “She doesn’t deserve this. She’s… perfect. She’s smart, and beautiful, and so just good. There’s this kindness inside of her that is so pure, like they took the sunrise and stuck it in this fierce little body. She’s walking sunshine. And ten months is a long time for the sun to go without shining. It’s a long time for her to go without being shown she’s loved. And I don’t know how much longer it’ll be, and all I can think is... will she even remember me? And I think that’s what terrifies me most, that when my story ends, the very last words will be, ‘and she never saw her again’. Because that could happen.”

💔

“I get it. You’ve made your point.” “I don’t think I have,” he says. “Six, I like you.” That one catches me off guard. “You like me.” “Yeah, I mean, you’re a pain in my ass sometimes, but you’re not half-bad.” “I’m not half-bad.” He gazes down at me, a slight smile on his lips. “You’re gorgeous, and smart, and funny... you eat the whole orange and don’t just suck the juice out and throw it away like other people. That makes you a catch in my book.”

“Just one more,” he says, squatting down in front of me. “Reason number twelve, you’ve got a mini-me out there somewhere, and I kind of want the chance to meet a little Scarlet.” “You don’t like kids,” I point out. “True, I don’t,” he says. “But she’s your kid, which means there’s a decent chance she’s not half-bad, either.”

Lorenzo 🫶🏼 .. can’t cope!

Sometimes, when I look at him, I see the dangerous, cold-hearted criminal, the one that has killed at least two men since we met two months ago, but other times I see a man with a deep soul, generous and warm, the kind of man a woman could fall in love with if she wasn’t careful. But I have to be careful.