Sweet Agony (Angels Halo MC Next Gen Book 2) Read online

  “Flick went to pick up the kids from school,” Raven commented. “But when she gets back, she can help you with your hair if you want.”

  “Thank you, but it’s fine. I’ll just let it air-dry.” And I wasn’t going to care if it got frizzy or turned into a mop. It wasn’t like I had anyone I needed to impress with straight hair that didn’t look like a pack of rats lived in it. Least of all Theo.

  “I’ll help you,” he offered in his deep voice from right beside me, causing me to jump. I hadn’t expected him to be so close, and when I turned my head, it was to find him less than a foot away. He lifted one of his huge hands, touching my towel, and for a moment, my heart skipped a beat. But then I remembered I hated him and jerked my head back. “I know how much you dislike letting your hair go untamed.”

  “It’s fine,” I repeated between clenched teeth. It wasn’t so much that I didn’t want to accept help; I just didn’t want to be a bother.

  But Theo helping me could not happen, no matter what. I couldn’t let him touch me. Every brain cell in my head seemed to go on vacation when he was close enough to touch. If his hands were on me, even innocently helping me dry my hair, I would melt for him like a popsicle dissolving into a sticky mess on the sidewalk in August.

  I couldn’t let him have that much control over my body when I was still weak from being shot.

  Chapter 12

  Tavia

  The back door that led into the kitchen opened. I turned to find a beautiful girl, no more than fifteen, walking into the house. Her hair was long, a lighter brown color, and her eyes the same shade of gray as Willa’s. Dressed in jeans and a pastel pink shirt, she looked sweet and innocent.

  In her hand, she was carrying a Victoria’s Secret bag, which she placed on the table. “I got a few different styles. You didn’t say who it was for or why, so I didn’t know which ones would be more comfortable,” the girl said in a voice that was musically soft.

  “Thanks, honey,” Willa said, continuing her chopping. “Tavia, this is my youngest, Monroe. Mon, this is Tavia.”

  A shy smile lifted at her lips, and she waved. “Hi,” she murmured in that voice that made me want to sit down and just listen to her talk for hours.

  “Hi,” I greeted. “Thank you for the bra selection.”

  “So, they’re for you,” she said with a brighter smile. “I thought they were going to be for one of Max’s girlfriends or something.”

  Raven snorted. “Like he would bring one of them home.”

  “True,” Monroe agreed with a laugh. “But you never know around here.”

  The back door opened again, and I had to blink a few times when another girl walked in. This girl was the same height and build as Monroe, her eyes the same shade of gray, and there was no mistaking that this was Monroe’s twin. They looked so alike it was disconcerting. But even though I suspected they were identical, it was very easy to tell who was who.

  The new girl’s hair was jet-black, no doubt dyed, although it looked good on her. She had a distinctive style, a kind of punk-rocker vibe going on with her shredded shirt and distressed jeans. Where Monroe’s face was devoid of makeup, the other girl’s eyes were heavily made-up, making the gray stand out more. Her nails were painted black, and several leather and beaded bracelets dangled from her wrists.

  “Mom, Maverick said he was going to be late,” she said as she walked to the fridge and pulled out a can of Diet Coke. Closing the door with her hip, she popped the top and tipped back the can, drinking it thirstily.

  Willa sighed heavily. “Of course he is. That boy is going to make me a grandmother if he’s not careful,” she grumbled. Shaking her head, she tossed her chopped peppers into the pot on the stove. “Tavia, this is my other daughter, Mila. I would like to introduce you to their brother, but apparently he’s somewhere dicking around.”

  “With River,” Mila told her, a wicked gleam in her eyes.

  “Ah fuck,” Willa groaned, while Raven laughed.

  “Told you,” was all the blonde said to the other woman before wiping her hands on a clean dish towel. “Girls, take Tavia upstairs and help her dry her hair. She’s still sore, so she needs some assistance with the hair dryer.”

  “Sure thing, Aunt Raven,” Monroe readily agreed.

  Mila eyed my hair in the towel then shrugged. “Yeah, I don’t have anything else going on. Let’s go play hair and makeup.”

  I wanted to protest, but Monroe took my hand and started tugging me toward the door. “Mila, grab the VS bag. Tavia can try on all the bras I brought over for her.”

  “So, they’re for her? That’s cool. I thought maybe they were for one of Max’s slutty girlfriends or something.” She picked up the bag and followed us out of the room. “Mom jokes and says Maverick is going to get River pregnant, but I think Aunt Raven is the one who should be worried about becoming a grandmother before her dumb-ass son finishes high school.”

  “I don’t think Mom is worried as much about Mav and River getting pregnant as she is about Uncle Colt killing Maverick for having sex with his daughter,” Monroe told her twin.

  “True. But River is only fourteen. She shouldn’t be having sex anyway.”

  “Maverick is only fifteen, and neither should he.”

  “Wait.” I stopped and turned to face them both at the top of the stairs. “Aren’t you two fifteen?”

  “Yup,” Mila confirmed.

  “We’re triplets,” Monroe explained. “Maverick is the oldest.”

  “By three minutes,” Mila muttered. “And he doesn’t let us forget it either. I swear, he acts just like Dad, not letting us do anything fun.”

  “Our definitions of fun are totally different, Mil,” Monroe told her.

  “Staying locked in the house all the time is not fun, Mon. I don’t care what your definition is.”

  Laughing at the two of them bickering, I led the way into my room. There was a hair dryer in the cabinet under the sink, and Mila pulled it out before grabbing the brush. “Let’s see what we have to work with, Tavia,” she said as she plugged the dryer into the outlet beside the bed.

  I took the towel off my head and shook out my hair, letting it fall down my back.

  “Well, hell,” Mila said with a shake of her head. “No wonder you need help. My arms would get tired having to dry all of that mess too, and I don’t even have a gunshot wound to deal with.”

  “Mil,” Monroe scolded.

  “What?” the other girl grumbled. “It’s not like she thought we didn’t know.” Her gray gaze went to me. “Don’t worry, though, Tavia. We haven’t told anyone about you. We know better than to talk about MC business to outsiders.”

  I sat up a little straighter, but I gave her a small smile. “I wasn’t worried.” And for some reason, I wasn’t. Oddly enough, I trusted everyone in this house, most of whom I hadn’t even really met yet.

  It took a while, but the two sisters did a great job on my hair. After they were finished, my hair felt softer and thankfully wasn’t a static-filled wreck that resembled an angry cat that had just been struck by lightning.

  Monroe stood in front of me, straightening up the mess the two had made while blow-drying my hair. When she bent forward to pick up the towel off the bed, her necklace fell forward, and the charm she’d kept tucked under her shirt came out. It was a silver medallion, but I couldn’t make out what it was.

  On instinct, I reached out, grasping it so I could take a closer look.

  “It’s Saint Michael,” Monroe told me, pulling the chain from me and tucking the charm back into her shirt.

  “It’s from her stalker,” Mila commented, making me look at her in surprise. “And she never takes it off.”

  “Mila!” Monroe hissed at her.

  “What? Like Mom doesn’t know you wear that thing as a talisman.”

  “But she doesn’t know where I got it,” Monroe muttered.

  “Neither do you. Anyone could have left that thing for you,” Mila shook her dark head. “A serial kille
r could have given it to you, for all you know.”

  “He’s not a serial killer,” her sister defended. “Why would a serial killer give me a medallion that is supposed to protect me?”

  “I’m not arguing with you over this. I’ve told you over and over again you’re insane for not telling Mom and Dad you have a stalker, but you never listen.” Muttering to herself, Mila left the room.

  Bemused, I watched the door close behind her.

  “Tavia…” Monroe’s hesitant voice pulled my gaze back to her. “Please don’t tell anyone what Mila just said. He’s not really a stalker.”

  I didn’t know if I should be amused, concerned, or frightened for her. But there was a real plea in her voice, and I didn’t want to let her down. “He?”

  “I don’t know his name, but he left me this necklace about a year ago. I came home, and it was just lying on my bed. There was a note that told me to always wear it and I’ll always be protected.” Her lips pressed into a hard line. “Something had happened not long before that, and we lost some people. My dad was freaking out and wouldn’t let Mila or me even leave the house without him or one of my uncles with us. So, I started wearing the necklace. It sounds weird, but it’s actually saved me a few times already… Well, not so much the necklace as…him.”

  “Who is he?” I asked, lowering my voice because hers was so quiet.

  Her mouth snapped shut, and she shook her head. “I’ve already told you too much. Please…just don’t say anything to my parents or Aunt Raven. None of them would understand. They wouldn’t even try.”

  “Are you sure you’re safe, though?” She looked so upset that I didn’t want to push her, but I liked her and I didn’t want anything to happen to her.

  Something changed in her. I wasn’t sure what it was, but something in her eyes was different, her smile softer. It was almost as if she was suddenly glowing. “He would never let anything harm me. If nothing else, I know that.”

  “But your sister—”

  “Is just as bad as my dad and brother. Just because I’m the baby—and only by two minutes—they all act like I can’t do anything without someone holding my hand.” Frustrated, she blew out a heavy sigh and sat on the edge of the bed beside me. “I’m not helpless.”

  “They just love you,” I tried to soothe, and I surprised myself when I put my arm around her. “They love you and can’t stand the thought of something happening to you. You’re very lucky, Monroe.”

  “You’re lucky, too. Theo obviously cares about you a lot. I overheard him talking to Lexa on the porch the other night. He said he didn’t know what he would have done if you’d died. He wouldn’t have wanted to live if you had.” Her hand went to her medallion, holding it through her shirt. “I hope a guy loves me that much one day.”

  Chapter 13

  Theo

  “Ivan stopped two of Petrov’s men from taking Sofia this evening.” Pops’s voice was low, menacing. Deadly. Considering what he was telling me, I wasn’t surprised.

  Rage was twisting my gut, making my blood boil. I wanted to wrap my hands around Adas’s throat and squeeze until I saw the life fade from his eyes.

  The bastard couldn’t find Tavia or me, so he was targeting the only other person who might possibly know where his prey was hiding. My baby sister.

  “She snuck out to go to a party, and luckily, Ivan followed her. Petrov’s men were watching the compound, waiting for their chance, and they nearly fucking had it.” The last words ended on a roar, but I just sat there, unflinching and waiting.

  “Ivan took a bullet to the shoulder,” he continued after a few deep, calming breaths. “He will be fine. Sofia is unharmed, but shaken. Both she and your mom are now very much aware of how dangerous the situation currently is.”

  “No chatter on if Petrov suspects where Tavia is?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” he confirmed. “How is she?”

  I glanced at the ceiling, picturing Tavia asleep in her bed. She’d had a lot of physical activity earlier in the day compared to the previous week. But by nine o’clock, she’d been exhausted and had crashed while watching television with Raven, Felicity, and Nova on the couch in the living room. I’d carried her up to bed and tucked her in, but after getting the cold shoulder from her almost all day, I left so as not to upset her more if she awoke and found me staring.

  “She’s feeling better,” I assured Pops.

  “Good to hear. And how are you doing, son?” he asked after a pause.

  I scrubbed a hand over my face, fighting my own exhaustion mixed with frustration and lingering rage after hearing about Sofia’s near miss.

  How was I?

  I didn’t fucking know the answer to that question.

  Blowing out a frustrated exhale, I told him what was eating at me the most. “I feel like I’m a pussy hiding from the enemy, Pops.”

  “That’s bullshit. A man has to know his priorities, Theo. Loving his woman, protecting her, that has to be his number one. Fuck everything else.”

  “Eliminating Petrov is the only way to really protect her. Staying here is not solving anything. The longer he’s breathing, the longer she’s in danger.” I stood and paced the living room. Everyone else was in bed, but I couldn’t sleep. Most nights, I walked around the first floor of the house, making sure it was secure. I rarely slept, catching an hour here and there whenever Tavia had a nightmare and wanted me to hold her.

  “What do you want to do then, son?” he asked.

  “I’m coming back,” I told him, having already made up my mind. “Tavia will stay here, where it’s safer. But I have to take care of Adas myself.”

  “You’re right,” Pops admitted. “I’ll arrange for you to get back.”

  We talked for a little longer and then said goodbye. Ten minutes later, I got a text telling me the jet would arrive first thing the next morning. Dropping down onto the couch, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.

  I had to return to New York. Taking care of Adas, making sure Tavia was safe, was the only option. Letting others do what was my job and mine alone, even if it was Pops handling it, wasn’t acceptable. But leaving her here, being away from her, was going to tear me apart.

  Scrubbing my hands over my face, I stood and climbed the stairs. The lamp on the nightstand was on, casting a soft glow over her and the bed. She was sleeping on her side, one hand tucked under her cheek, making her look young and innocent.

  The oxygen was turned off and the machine pushed to a corner of the room, along with the IV pole she hadn’t needed. Raven had taken the IV out of Tavia’s hand the day before since she was doing so well and didn’t need the extra fluids the doctor had provided for her.

  Kicking off my shoes, I climbed in behind Tavia and carefully wrapped my arms around her, not wanting to disturb her sleep. She sighed peacefully, then turned over, her face burrowing against my chest.

  “Theo,” she murmured softly without opening her eyes.

  Touching my lips to the top of her head, I closed my eyes, savoring the feel of her in my arms and storing the memory for while I was away from her. I didn’t know how long it was going to take to deal with Adas, but I couldn’t return for her until he was taken care of. Only when I knew it was safe for her to return to New York would I see her again.

  “I have to go, krasotka,” I murmured into her hair, knowing she wouldn’t hear me but needing to speak the words aloud. “I have to ensure your safety.”

  She sighed again, snuggling deeper into my warmth.

  “When I return for you, we will finally be able to begin our future together. Until then, always remember that I love you.”

  “Theo?” she whispered, her lashes fluttering upward to show me those darker-than-espresso eyes. “What did you say?”

  “Nothing, krasotka,” I told her, kissing her brow. “Sleep, baby.”

  “Okay,” she yawned delicately. “Goodnight, Theo.”

  I held her for hours, refusing to close my eyes even for a second, wanting to soak
up every moment of this for later. But when I heard people moving around in the house, getting ready for work, I knew it was time to let her go.

  For now, I reminded myself as I carefully untangled myself from her and stood. But I will return for her. Soon.

  Letting myself have one more moment to gaze down at her, memorizing her features all over again, I forced myself to turn and walk away.

  Chapter 14

  Tavia

  Yawning, I turned over in bed, stretching carefully. When I came into contact with nothing but the chilled other half of the bed, I opened my eyes.

  A feeling of déjà vu hit me, and my heart contracted painfully as sadness began to press down on me. I didn’t know why, because it wasn’t like it was the first time I’d woken up alone after Theo had held me during the night. But I couldn’t remember having a nightmare, so I didn’t know why he’d been in bed with me this time.

  The morning I woke up after Theo and I made love all night in my dorm room, I’d felt a sense of loss as soon as I opened my eyes. I hadn’t known right away that it was the last time I would see him for weeks. I’d just thought maybe he hadn’t wanted to wake me up before leaving for work.

  I’d told myself it was sweet, but in my heart, I knew better. Waking up alone in bed the morning after giving yourself to a guy was not a good thing. Later, when I’d tried to call him and he’d sent me to voice mail, I’d told myself it was okay. He was just busy and would call me back when he got the chance. No way he could make love to me so passionately, as if he couldn’t get enough of me, as if it were killing him because he couldn’t get close enough, and not feel as strongly as I did.

  I told myself that for weeks, my heart breaking a little more with each passing day that he didn’t do as I wanted—needed—him to do and call or text. Anything to let me know I meant more to him than a one-night stand. Another notch on his belt. Another conquest that was quickly forgotten as he moved on to the next easy lay.

  Upset with myself for letting it get to me again, I got out of bed and dressed. Downstairs, the house felt oddly empty as I walked through the living room and into the kitchen. Flick stood at the sink, doing dishes and humming to herself. When I entered the room, she turned, a smile on her face for me in greeting.