Trapped in his End Game (Series)

“I-I came to your house. I wanted to come back to you. That’s how they found me.”

He pulls me into his chest, his long arms wrapping around me as sobs rack through my chest. “You shouldn’t have come back,” he sighs.

No, I shouldn’t have. Now Tommy and I are going to die, all because I didn’t listen to him.

“I’m sorry, this is all my fault-”

“No,” he says in a hard voice. “It’s mine. I thought you would make a deal with the feds.”

“I-I couldn’t.”

He pulls back from me, and the smile on his face trembles. “You must have a death wish.”

Even so, I feel so much better in his arms. This is where I’m supposed to be, I’m sure of it.

“Sometimes I think that, too.”

“Why couldn’t you just leave town and find a normal man who doesn’t have this shit in his life, huh?”

The ease with which he’s willing to push me away hurts me. It’s like a hot needle impaled in my chest.

“You don’t think I second-guess myself? That I wonder if I’m going insane?”

His face softens. “Then why do this? Why be with me?”

The air shakes through my chest. “I love you, Tommy. I couldn’t just leave you.”

The pain of leaving him strikes my chest suddenly, the needle becoming a knife. The edges burn into my flesh, even worse when he gives me that sad look.

Soft lips gather my mouth in his, a barely held back hunger burning from his skin. I lean into him as his tongue gently brushes over my bottom lip. Heat spreads over my skin like the sudden flush of alcohol, and he trails his fingers down my arms, kissing the tender spots on my face and holding me close to him.

“No one’s ever said that to me before-not even my own mother.” He breaks off for a moment, gazing into the distance. “I don’t know what love is.”

His attention turns back to me as I slowly deflate. Rough hands slip under my shirt, teasing around my back. “I always thought that the part of people that felt love and affection was just missing in me. Everything was just stripped away when I was so young, and after that there was nothing but rage.”

My insides boil when I think of Jack, mentoring a young Tommy to maim his victims. Slimy piece of shit. I take his cheek in my hand, gazing up into his deadened eyes.

“You are capable. You’re a good person-”

His laughter rings down the hallway as he shakes his head. “I’m not, Melanie. Don’t make any fantasies about me. I’ll always be a rotten bastard, and that’s okay. I’ve made my peace with it.” The humor disappears from his face. “All I know is that when I saw them hurt you, they had to die. I’ve never done that for anyone.”

A small laugh shakes out of my lips, warming the chill he gave me. “Well, I think threatening to kill a boss of the family for me means something.”

He gives me a humorless smile. “It wasn’t a threat.”

“What?”

“He’s going to send some guys to kill us. Probably soon.”

My heart slams against my chest as I hear his calm, detached voice. “So what the hell are we waiting here for?”

He lifts his shoulder in a shrug. “They’ll find us no matter where we run, sweetie.”

“So you’re giving up?” I ask with an edge in my voice.

“Like hell. I’m going to kill the bastard first.”

Kill a boss?

I thought that was unforgivable. Admittedly my knowledge of the Mafia extends to Godfather I and II, but I thought that it was impossible to kill a boss-and stay alive.

“How exactly-?”

I squeal when he lifts the shirt from my head in one swift motion, his hands suddenly twisting at the bra clasp behind me. Cold, I cover myself and stare at his grinning face, wondering if he really has snapped. Maybe I shouldn’t trust him so easily.

He yanks down the bra straps, raising an eyebrow when I continue to cover myself. That devious look is back on his face, the monster desperate for play. I back against the wall as he corners me, running his hand down my arms.

“I owe you an apology, sweetheart.”

The gritty voice hissing over my ear hardly sounds forgiving.

“I should have never let you think that I was capable of letting you go. I can’t. It’s not in my nature to be selfless.”

His fingers send heat all over my skin, but I can’t be distracted from imminent death. “How are you going to do this? Why can’t we just run?”

“Run?” He frowns as if the idea never occurred to him. “I’m no coward. Besides, this isn’t something you can run from.”

His hands then grope my tits, slowly fondling the flesh. The devilish smile spreads into dimples. He knows how much this affects me. “But-hold on-shouldn’t we?”

“I’ve been way too soft on you,” he groans in a voice that makes the hairs on my back stand to attention. The fist in my hair suddenly clenches and I wince as he pulls my head back. “I’m in charge-not you. I’ll make the decisions.”

“I get a say in the decisions.” I grit my teeth.

Suddenly his face darkens. “Do you love me?”

My insides flutter. “Yes, I do.”

A small smile crosses his face, and he slacks the grip on my hair, tracing my bottom lip with a faraway look in his eyes. “I would never ask you to do anything like what I’m doing for you now.”

My cheeks burn. “I know-I still can’t believe what you did.”

“I’m not trying to make you feel guilty. I have no regrets.”

I don’t see how that’s possible. My chest swells with a leaping feeling, a smile twitching on my face.

He loves me. He must.

“Would you do anything for me? Anything to keep me safe?”

Puzzled, I return his solemn gaze. “Yes.”

“Then you’ll do as I say for both our sakes.”