Valor

Chapter 5

Driving with the guys is a weird experience. I'm not used to working with others so having them tag along to my apartment makes me antsy. Them knowing where I live puts anonymity out the window and I wonder if I should've fought a little harder to prevent them from coming.

The sun is low in the sky, reminding me it must be sometime around ten in the morning. I can't believe these assholes chained me up in their basement all night, that's such a rude thing to do to someone who just offered some pretty helpful information. Whatever, all I have to do is give them the name and then they'll leave me alone. I have other jobs to do, and Casey's little request has put a dent in my plans.

I'm cut off from my thoughts by the ringing of a phone from somewhere in the car. I recognize the ringtone right away as Casey. I groan internally, already knowing how difficult this conversation is going to be.

I grab my phone from Maverick's hand as he holds it out for me and accepts the facetime.

"Hey I forgot to feed Manson, sorry, I was late." Casey says while using her phone camera to put mascara on.

"Not like I've been gone all night." I say sarcastically which draws her eyes to my face. There's no doubt my makeup from last night is smeared on my face.

"Holy shit Lilah you look terrible!"

I narrow my eyes at her. There goes not telling these assholes my name. "Sorry I was out doing YOU a favor you bitch." I grunt.

"Oh right! Did you kill him?" She asks, not even phased by the idea of me murdering someone.

"You asked me to help him Casey."

She shrugs, "You were either going to kill him or fuck him, it was a 50/50 shot."

I hear a snort from the front seat, but focus all my energy on the girl in front of me. "Why are those the only two options!?"

"I guess you're right. There are a few you've fucked and killed, but that's so unlikely I choose not to include it most of the time." She says so matter of factly. I'm going to assume she doesn't know I'm in a car with four assholes right now. All I can do is groan and slam my finger on the end button, crossing my arms over my chest and brewing in frustration.

"So..." Kai starts to say, but I cut him off.

"Take a right here, then we're there."

Onyx pulls up in front of my apartment building, and I jump over Kai to get out of the car. There is nothing I want more than to put space between the five of us. They already know too much shit about me and somehow hearing me talk to Casey feels too intimate.

I unlock the front door, then make my way up the flights of stairs to my apartment. I'm aware of the series of stomps on the stairs behind me, but I block them out. These men are about to see where I live. After this they will know more about me than anyone else–other than Casey. They could kill me or sell my information if they wanted to. It terrifies me, but it's not like I can get out of this now.

As I unlock the door to my apartment, Manson starts barking and jumping on my legs, his tail going crazy. He starts going wilder when the men follow me into the apartment.

"Some guard dog." I murmur as Kai and Dame get on their knees giving Manson scratches and pets, cooing to him like a little baby.

Before the door is even closed, Onyx is speaking. "The name, Lilah." He says my name like a taunt which only makes me angrier.

I let out a huff of anger and stomp into my room, throwing on an oversized t shirt and sleep shorts then walking back out to the living room with my laptop. I fall onto the couch, crossing my legs and opening my messages to find the name they men so nicely asked for.

"You're such a good boy, aren't you Charlie Manson." Kai coos from the floor.

"You named your dog after Charlie Manson?" Maverick asks amused.

"Casey found him on the street and begged me to keep him. Talk to her if you have problems with his name." I snark, not bothering to look up at him as I sort through the messages on my computer.

"Gregory Brands." I say matter of factly, closing my laptop and looking up at Maverick and Onyx.

"Fuck."

"Shit."

The curses fly from their mouths, and it doesn't take a genius to know that the name means something to them.

"I would ask why that name has got you all so pale, but I think we've already gotten a little too personal for now." I say while shooting off the couch and making my way to the door. No one moves as I open the door.

"Right." Finally Maverick stands and makes his way out the door, not even bothering with a goodbye. I guess it shouldn't make me upset, but it hurts my heart a little. I don't know what I was expecting from these men, but it reminds me that the industry we work in is not for making friends. If anything, it's for making enemies.

Dame follows the other two out the door with a wink in my direction, but when Kai passes, his hands grip my waist and he pulls me into his body, my hands coming up to land on his chest. He bites my bottom lips between his teeth, hard enough to draw blood, then lets it go. He then drags his tongue along the crimson liquid, savoring the taste.

"Can't get rid of me that easily baby." he growls against my lips. It sends a ping of arousal straight through me and there is nothing more that I want other than to slam my lips to his and grind my body against every inch of his.

Before I have a second to think on that, Kai is down the stairs and the door is slamming behind him, leaving me in shock.

Fuck.