Her Heart

Chapter 26

Riley's POV

"Are you okay?" Nadia asks me gently as the car is driving us to one of the safe houses.

"No." I simply say.

"You didn't know." Emily tells me.

"Deep down I knew."

Nadia grabs my hand and squeezes, "You just need to breath."

"Breathe? We have the Italian Mafia on our ass. What do you mean breathe?" Emily snaps, but Nadia's glare immediately makes her stop.

"She'll never forgive me."

"You don't know that. Carter seems like an understanding person."

I sigh. "I held a knife to her throat."

Silence fills the car, the weight of my actions pressing down on me. My mind replays the moment over and over. I can still feel the knife in my hand, cold and unforgiving, pressed against her skin. How did it come to this?

"Riley, you did what you had to do," Nadia says softly. "We were outnumbered and outgunned. You didn't have a choice."

"I always have a choice," I mutter, staring out the window. "I just keep making the wrong ones."

"We'll figure this out," Emily says, her voice trying to be reassuring but tinged with uncertainty. "We always do."

"Uncle will find me now. It's a matter of time."

"We'll figure that out too just don't think about it."

The Italian Mafia is relentless, and now they have a personal vendetta. And Carter... I don't know how to fix whats been broken between us.

As the car winds through the dark streets, I close my eyes and try to focus on the sound of the tires on the pavement. I need to clear my mind, but all I can see is Carter's face, the hurt and confusion etched into her features. My heart aches with the weight of it all.

"We're here," Nadia says quietly, bringing the car to a stop in front of a nondescript house.

We quickly exit the car and make our way inside. The safe house is small and bare, but it's secure. Nadia and Emily immediately start checking the place, making sure there are no unwanted surprises.

"Make sure Maya has everything while Brandon takes care of her." I tell Emily and she nods.

"Don't worry she'll be safer with him."

I slump onto the worn couch, burying my face in my hands. "What do we do now?" I ask, my voice muffled.

"We lay low for a while," Nadia replies, coming over to sit beside me. "Regroup, figure out our next move. We certainly can't kill them now.

I nod, though my mind is elsewhere.

"You should get some rest," Nadia suggests. "It's been a long night."

"Yeah I'll do that." I lie.

"We'll keep watch." They say and make their way outside.

There isn't a single noise but my own breathing. I'm so worried about Carter. Her heart to be exact. I don't know if she'll be able to take this.

A noise make me sit up on the couch.

"Is anybody there?" I call out but nothing,"Nadia? Emily?"

I hear something break and within seconds a body is on top of me holding a knife to my neck.

"Pay back is so sweet isn't it Ry." Carter says.

"What did you do with my friends?"

"They're just passed out."

I take a second to look at her. Her body is completely on top of me. Her knee between my legs.

"How did you find me?" I ask her. Her eyes are so puffy because of how much she's been crying. 

Carter drops the knife, "Just shut up and kiss me."

For a moment, I'm frozen. Carter's command hangs in the air, heavy and unexpected. I can feel her breath on my face, her tears still glistening on her cheeks.

"Mi Vida..." I start, but she silences me with a fierce look.

"I said, kiss me."

There's a desperate edge to her voice that cuts through my hesitation. Tentatively, I reach up and cradle her face in my hands. Her skin is warm and damp from crying. Slowly, I bring my lips to hers, the kiss soft and hesitant at first. But then something breaks inside both of us, and the kiss deepens, filled with all the unspoken words and raw emotions we've been holding back.

Carter's hands move to my shoulders, then slide down my arms, leaving a trail of tingling sensation in their wake.

She tugs at my shirt but I stop her, "Maybe we should talk first." I tell her breathless.

"You want me or not?" She asks.

It seems like she needs this and so do I so I let her take my shit off, our lips finding each other again. Her touch is both gentle and urgent, as if she's trying to memorize every inch of me. I return the gesture, my hands exploring the curves and lines of her body.

Her knee presses harder between my legs and I let out a small moan.

"I see your body still remembers my touch." Carter murmurers against my sensitive flesh.

Her hand slid lower, fingers stroking my stomach before hooking into the waistband of my jeans. She doesn't waste anytime and takes it completely off

"Carter I'm sorry." I moan out as her fingers itch closer to where I need her.

"Shhh less talking." She immediately sinks two fingers inside of me.

I let out a cry of pleasure.

"You broke my heart." She says her fingers going slow, her mouth biting at my skin.

I can't even think properly when she's curling her fingers like that, "I'm sorry." I manage to get out.

Carters finger start moving in and out of me faster. I give in to her and let all my moans out.

"I love you clenching around my fingers." She whispers.

That pushes me over the edge and I come all over her fingers crying out her name.

Carter slowly withdraws her fingers and brings them up to my mouth, "Lick them clean for me baby."

God she's so hot. I can see my green eyes reflecting off her grey eyes.

I take her fingers in my mouth suck them clean.

"You had your turn Mi Vida now it's my turn." I flip us over so now I'm hovering over her.

I start kissing every inch of her body and I stop by where her heart is.

I can't help but laugh, "This is new." I trace the lines of the tattoo. It's a tattoo of a heart where her heart is.

She smiles genuinely, "Just a little reminder for myself."

I lean down and leave a long lasting kiss on it.

"Please taste me." She commands.

I don't need to be told twice. I plant a soft kiss on Carter's swollen lips, then flicked my tongue out, tasting her for the first time in a long time. Fuck it's just as good as the first time.

Carter's hips buckle as I continue, the sounds of her pleasure filling the room. "Fuck, yes," she breaths out, her hands tightening in my hair. "I've missed your tongue."

I slip two fingers in crooking them to hit that special spot, and soon had Carter screaming her release.

As she came down from her high, she smiled down at me, a softer expression on her face.

I sit up and so does she grabbing her clothes and putting it on so I do the same.

"Since I'm already sleeping with the enemy might as well hear out your story." She says now fully clothed.

"It's a long story."

"I have time. And Riley make it good or I'll have no choice but to kill you."