In Fury Lies Mischief (Midnight Mayhem, #2)

by Amo Jones

I’ve always loved my girls a little fucking damaged, that way when I inflict more pain on them, they’d be used to it. They’re the only ones who can handle me. I was built for war, not for love. I don’t want to break people. I want them already broken. I don’t want to feel that way, but I can’t help it.

Saskia Royal is complicated as fuck, but the hurdles that she is throwing out at me is only training my stamina, and when I finally reach that finish line, she better fucking run.

Beauty only neutralizes the evil in a person. It blinds people with its surface to conceal the darkness that swims beneath it.

You can’t treat everyone the same because not everyone deserves all of you.

“Don’t mistake those sinfully good looks for a good man, Showstopper. The glistening teeth that sit behind that grin are the very same that rips flesh from bone…”

Love is not guaranteed, and the hardest thing the human heart will withstand is dealing with the loss of someone who is still alive.

“Killian…” I warn, squeezing the towel around my body.

“I know,” he slurs slightly, walking farther into the room. “We shouldn’t do this, right? Because it’s fucking bad.”

“There’s only one thing wrong with that.” He comes toe-to-toe with me, his breath tainted with potent whiskey. His fingers flex around the top of my towel as my eyes come up to his. “I am bad. How the fuck are you so fucking beautiful?”

“Well then choose Callan.”

He stands, makes his way toward me and hooks his finger under my chin, tilting my head up to face his. “I’ll never choose Callan.”

“Don’t bother showering. I like smelling me all over you. Get changed.” Then he disappears out of my room, allowing me to release a long, pent up breath.

There are too many people who would rather torment you with your weakness, than acknowledge you for your triumphs.

“If you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, then you better use that weight as the material in which you build your life with.”

His eyes sparkle in mischief. That’s Killian. Mischief. Only his mischief is a ploy to distract you, because below that surface lies fury. I’ve seen an inkling of it exposed a few times now, and I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of his wrath—ever.

“So why did you kill him?”

“Because I want you more.”

He groans, his arm hooking around my back, pulling me into him more. “I need to bury myself in you right now.”

“You take one more step near him, Callan, and I will fucking drop you.”

“You’re mine, Little Dragon, even when you don’t want to be, and especially when I don’t want you to be.”

“I don’t like her, Killian. You want to get mad? Fine. Get mad. I don’t expect anything out of whatever the fuck we are because I’m not on the market for a boyfriend and I’m pretty sure you’re not on the market for a girlfriend, but you go near that bitch again and she’s not the only one who is going to get hit.”

“Baby, I don’t want Callan. You’re right, I’m not on the market for a girlfriend and shit, I might never be. It’s never been something I wanted or planned for, so I won’t make any promises. But I’ll stay away from Callan. You have my word on that.

“People are only lost because they don’t have anyone willing to find them.”

“I’m so lost, Kill. I’m—I remember everything, Killian. What he did to me. I’m stuck with him. This is all I really know.”

“Fuck what he did to you. You were a victim. Just like all the others, which is why we needed to bring them down. You think you’re the only one who has been on the end of his dick? You’re not, and he’s had younger. If he’s n...

“Save me?” I ask, not sure how those words taste on the tip of my tongue. “I’m messed up in the head, Killian. The girl you knew for the past few months is a little different to the one I am now, now that I have my memories back.”

“What you went through, Saskia, it was fucked up. I know that. Just because you were abused, fucking raped and taken advantage of, doesn’t mean shit up against what you mean to Mayhem. Like it or not, we’re your family, and that’s not just because you’re a Dragavei.”

My Killian. I don’t know why I’m feeling possessive, but a rush of power rolls over me at that realization that Killian is and always will be mine. Forget the stars aligning, Heaven and Hell moved when we were born. I just don’t know how this is all going to end…

“What do you want from me!”

“Isn’t it obvious?” The corner of his mouth tips up, his dimple sinking into his cheek. “You.”

“I know I’ve done fucked up shit in my life. Shit, you don’t even know the half of it. I killed your dad, I did, but I was a fuckin’ kid that was being raised with an AK as a damn pacifier. I was born a killer. We all were. If you want me to stand here before you and tell you that I’m sorry for killin’ your dad, then I can’t do that. He was a piece of shit for allowing Patience to come for you. For running as soon as your mom wasn’t here anymore to stop him—because you know that’s what happened, right? And if you don’t believe me, I have fucking proof.”

“Saskia was mine the day she was born, Perse. That was inevitable. When she came in as a Royal, and if she had stayed a Royal, she would have been wife’d already, but then Dragavei was revealed and Patience happened. I tried to fight my impulses at every turn because to be honest with you, I didn’t trust her. Her intentions. Patience is manipulative and toxic, and I wasn’t sure exactly how much of that was sewn into her—but the day I found out that she was my Saskia, it all made fuckin’ sense to me. Even if I didn’t trust her.”

all makes sense now, right? The you and I, the bond, but I can’t help but think about the same bond you also share with Maya. I’m a jealous person, Killian. I can’t share anything.”

“I’m not done.” Her thumb presses against my lip, and I have to fight with all of my instincts that are telling me to suck the fucking thing into my mouth and bite on it. “On top of that, you need to be a good friend to her. She needs you. It’s not in my nature to be selfish and take you away from her.”

“Fucking be selfish, baby. Take me. Hell, just tell me where the fuck to go and I’ll follow willingly. You don’t have to be selfish with anything else, Saskia, but you will always be selfish with me.”

“Because I’m yours.”

“Thought you weren’t into monogamy.”

“I wasn’t, until I met someone who made me not want to be...

“I can’t promise you that I won’t make mistakes. I’ve never had a girlfriend before, and well, my relationship with my mother is fucking fragile. Those are red flags alone, and I know that, but—” I need to fucking breathe, but my chest isn’t working. She inches closer, waiting for my next words. “And I know that I’ve done some fucked up things. I will do more fucked up things in the future too, because this is who I am, and I won’t change. I can’t change. You don’t have to forgive me right now for your dad, or even for Hope, but I still need you to know that I’ll wait.”

“I’ll fucking wait for you for as long as I need to, because time doesn’t tick unless you’re in my arms.”

“Don’t…” I whisper, kissing her softly on her lips while swiping away her tears. “You wouldn’t be the girl I fell for if you didn’t make me work for it.”

“Now’s not the time to play with me, Killian, did you just—

“Admit that I’m in love with you? Yeah, fucking aye I did. What, you think I’d go through all this trouble for a chick I just want some ass from? Have you seen this face? I can get ass anywhere—”

“You love me?”

“Yes, Saskia. Of course I fucking do. Wouldn’t put up with your shit otherwise.”

“Killian…” she warns, and I take in this moment to acknowledge just how fucking beautiful she is. I mean, she’s fucking flawless.

“What?” I smirk with a quirked eyebrow. “One more. Once. More. And then I’ll leave you alone and give you that space I told you I would give.”

She giggles, and the laugh was enough to render me fucking speechless. I’d never heard her giggle, and fuck me. Fuck. Me. What I would give to hear that sound for the rest of my godda...