Valor

Chapter 8

The car ride back to my place felt like it took a million hours which is ironic considering Dame has zero consideration for road laws. I swear he was going over 100 miles per hour, swerving around cars, completely ignoring all the horns that are most definitely directed at him.

As soon as we pull up to my building, I am throwing open the door and jumping out. Honestly, the car wasn't even in park, but all I know is that one more second in that car with that man is already a second too long. As I open the door to the building, a hand comes out to hold it open and when I glance back i see Dame smiling at me.

"You don't have to come up." I say clearly aggravated by his actions.

These men just take and take with no consideration into how it makes me feel. Ok, a small part of me loves the attention, but the smarter part of me knows that associating with these brothers will only drag me back into a life I swore I did not want Lilah to be involved in. Lilah has a good life here with Casey, but now that the valor brothers are involved, the lines between Ghost and Lilah are starting to blend and it scares me way more than it should. They're putting me at risk, but I don't think they care that much.

The one thing I know is that there is something that they need, regardless of how many times they tell me they don't. There is only one reason why those brothers would keep harassing me and it has nothing to do with my "gorgeous body." I internally roll my eyes at the thought knowing how insane my mind is being.

"I'll get rid of Kai's," he pauses and smirks, "present."

I huff under my breath and stomp up the stairs until I am at my apartment door, Dame hot on my heels. I open the door and make my way to my bedroom, grabbing the box of hands. I stare down at the book, thinking about giving it back because of the principal of it all, but I just can't. There is something about all of Kai's crazy that gets to me more than it should. Maybe I've lived through too many fucked up things that now even his brand of insane makes me feel something. Sure he gifted me a set of hands, but the book wasn't something he had to do. How did he know about my love for books? How did he know they were my safe space?

I turn around and make my ways towards the kitchen, the thought of Kai still on my mind. I mean, I did just beat the shit out of him, but he seemed to enjoy it. Does that make us both equally fucked up?

"Here's your box." I say, my voice slightly agitated as I slide the box across the counter where it meets his hand. He places his hands on the counter and leans forward, the muscles in his forearms straining under the pressure.

I take a deep breath and hold it in my lungs, hoping it will be enough to shake the sudden dizziness from my head. His aura is enough to make my knees weak, and then his natural musk makes my head spin even more. One minute, this guy is laughing and cracking jokes, the next he is looking at me with hooded eyes like a predator stalking his prey.

What is it about these men that makes me feel this way. I swear if Dame asked me to get on my knees right now, it would take every ounce of self control not to.

We are both shaken out of our stareoff by the sound of keys in the door.

Casey.

The sweet melody of her voice along with a lower murmur sound from the door as it swings open. Casey comes inside laughing, followed closely by Samuel. Both of them have bright smiles on their faces, and i can't help but smile back at them. It makes me happy to see Casey so laid back, after everything she's gone through she deserves to not have to worry.

"Oh, sorry Lilah, I didn't know someone else was here." Casey says as she finally makes eye contact with me, a suspicious glint in them as she looks to me then Dame. On brand with the rest of his brothers, Dame has a stoic look on his face, one that honestly scares the crap out of me.

I clear my throat, "Casey, Sam, this is Dame. He's," I pause looking at Dame whose eyes are fixed on Sams, "a friend."

"Dame, this is Casey my sister, and Sam my friend and neighbor."

Sam, being the amazing human being he is, smiles and holds his hand out to shake Dames. "Pleasure to meet you, Dame."

Dame glares at Sam, then at the outstretched hand, before turning back to me, a murderous hue drenching his blue eyes. I gulp under his look, but I can't seam to look away, that is until Sam clears his throat.

"I just wanted to drop off the invitation to the gala. You're still my plus one right? No cold feet?" Sam asks while smiling his big toothy grin. I chuckle a little and reach out to grab the invitation.

"Of course not. I'm looking forward to it, Sam." I say as our hands meet and they brush as I grasp the thin paper. Sam and I have an odd relationship. According to Casey, I need to 'lock him down,' but everytime I try to think about a future like that, all those thoughts come back like a tidlewave. It doesn't stop the attraction though—maybe I'm just horny.

Dame's growl cuts through the silence, getting both my attention and everyone else in the room.

"All right, everyone out! I need to talk to Lilah about womanly things. Periods, boobs, vaginas..." Casey rolls her eyes, "unless you would all like to talk to me about my changing body."

I chuckle underneath my breath as Sam's face reddens. He gives me one last smile and heads for the door.

"That means you too, pretty boy." Casey says her eyes meeting Dame's. She gulps and her eyes widen, "...or not."

What the fuck?! Casey mouths at me as she stalks off towards her room. The distinctive sound of the door slamming shakes both Dame and I out of our dance.

"Who the fuck was that Lilah?!" Dame growls, his voice a deep low. Gone is the comedian, and the way he is looking at me right now, makes me wonder if he ever existed in the first place.

"He's a friend. He lives in the building." I say while shrugging and grabbing a soda from the fridge.

"You're going out with him?" Dame says in reply, his voice so cold that it sends a shiver over my skin.

I whirl around to face him. I've had enough of the Valor brothers and their bullshit. They just confuse me more and fuck with my head. "We're going to a gala on Saturday, not that it's any of your business. Now," I shove the box further across the counter until Dame has to place his hands on it to prevent it from falling onto the floor. "Get out Dame. I've had enough of the Valor brothers for a lifetime." I round the counter anf shove my hands against his chest, towards the front door. "No more presents from Kai or visits from the rest of you. I mean it."

Dame's back hits the door as I lean down and unlock it. He grabs the handle and twists it open, a wide smirk on his face. "You won't be getting far from us once I tell them what happened here today sweet Lilah." He purrs at me with a wink, and then hes out the door and I am standing there wondering what the fuck I just did. I do what only normal sane person would do: I scream.

There is only one person to blame in all of this and it is myself. Myself for getting involved with these brothers. Myself for going back to their house after Kai's gift instead of ignoring it. Myself for allowing Dame to invade into my space. It's all my fault, but not anymore. These brothers do not exist to me anymore.

If only it was that easy to get them out of my head.