Double Vexation ( A Harper's series. book 11)

I've Got You

HELLO MY LONG, LOST FRIEND'S.  YES, IT'S BEEN A LONG WHILE SINCE YOU'VE HEARD FROM ME AND I APOLOGIZE BUT LIFE CAN HAVEV A WAY TO INTERFERE SOMETIMES BUT I'M STILL HERE AND WELL! I HOPE YOU ARE TOO! WELCOME BACK (AND I HOPE ALL MY LOYAL READERS ARE STILL HERE) AS WELL AS ANY NEW ONE'S. NOT ONCE HAVE I FORGOTTEN YOU OR THE BELOVED HARPER SERIES YOU LOVE SO MUCH! I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU AS WE DIVE BACK INTO THE STRANGE AND CRAZY WORLD WE'VE GROWN TO KNOW SO MUCH.

We had been in the air on Duel's family's private jet for about twenty minutes and couldn't help but notice how unusually quiet he was. I stole a peek at him from under my lashes and seen that he a look of unease, possibly nerves about him.

With a coy smile on my lips, I slid from my seat and straddled his lap. Instantly his arms wrapped around my waist and I welcomed his touch. Placing my forehead against his I looked deep into his eye's and trailed my index finger along his cheek. The worried look he had worn seemed to vanish under my touch and he released a sigh of contentment.  "Does my Melon want to join the mile high club"? He teased with mischief in his voice.

Placing a series of kisses along his face, I looked into his eye's.  "Even though that sounds intriguing I'm more worried about you".

Giving off a uncomfortable smirk he shrugged. "There's no need to worry about me. I'm good".

Not allowing him to brush this aside I became serious. "There's no need to hide anything from me anymore Duel. I accept all of you, even your worries and insecurities, your goodness and badness. I want to carry it all with you. Open up to me".

I knew this was a hard task for him. I'm sure he viewed it as a sign of weakness, to complain or vent his worries. Trying to break through to him, I gently pleaded. "We are starting fresh Duel and I think it's time we air everything out so there is no surprises in the future. Let me inside your world so I can better understand".

He shifted uncomfortable beneath me and gave a shrug.  "You know who I really am now. What more is there to tell?"

"Plenty Duel". I stated matter of factly. "I want to know everything.  When was your first kill? How the family operates? How it all work's".

Duel took a deep breath in and lifted me from his lap. Placing me back in my seat, he turned toward me with all seriousness. "I can tell you some thing's  but not all. Not because I'm trying to hide anything but it's for your own safety".

Obviously my face registered a look of confusion because Duel ran a hand through his hair and explained. "If we are going to be together I guess I should be upfront with you Melon. Just you knowing me puts you in danger. You being my girl even ups those stakes. There are people that would do anything to hurt me, my family or anyone I care about just for revenge. The less you know about the business the safer you are. These type of people would go to no ends to get information from you if they got their hands on you".

Duel paused as if debating to say more and to make sure I understood the repercussions of being with him. Giving me that dark, ruthless look he spoke. " I know because I've done this to them. I've placed inhumane amounts of lingering torture on individuals just to gain info or inflect revenge. Nothing would stop them from doing the same to you".

He looked at me long and hard awaiting my reaction. I knew he was expecting to see fear and yes, I can't deny that a new seed of fear bloomed within me but I refused to show it. Looking back at him I said with conviction.  "True but that will never happen to me".

"Never be so sure". He spoke sternly.

"But I am sure". I paused for a second before finishing.  "Because you would never allow anything to happen to me".

Suddenly a burst of possessiveness overcame him as he pulled me close with a tight grip and growled. "Not on my life. I'd give my life for you over and over again".

After a few moments he spoke again. "Over the next few weeks I'll fill you in on thing's you should know but nothing more. As well as start your training".

"Training?" I asked with arched brows.

"Yes. You will need certain skills and knowledge in case anything of the sorts ever takes place. Plus you need to be able to defend yourself."

"I can defend myself". I said defensively.

Duel smirked and patted my head. "OK, calm down butterfly".

Feeling a bit insulted I spat. "I can give a mean titty twister".

Proving my point I quickly reached over and gave his nipple a brutal, pinching twist. "Damn Chell". He gripped his chest in pain. "That fucking shit hurt girl".

Laughing, I sang out. "I told you so".

Still rubbing his tender skin he rolled his eye's. "Yea, your a brutal beast".

Still laughing,  I sat back in my seat. Moments passed in silence until I spoke again. "Tell me about your dad?"

"What's there to say?". He mumbled.

Tilting my head to look over at him I spoke.  "It just seems you two have a complicated relationship."

"You could call it that. In my Pape's eye's I'm no good. A fuck up. Nothing I do is good enough. True I have did some dumb shit but when I do something smart it kills him to give me credit or even show an ounce of pride." Duel revealed.

After a moment he spoke again in a soft almost painful voice. "I've always wanted to be accepted by him. Just once I'd love to hear him tell me I did good, that he's proud of me. Sometimes I feel like he'd be relived if I was taken out. He wouldn't have to bother with me at all then".

My heart hurt for him. "I don't like your dad". I spat.

Duel laughed. "You along with many others."

"I promise you Duel as long as I'm around he will never treat you badly". I snarled 

Duel smiled sweetly at me. "I'm sure you will but leave it between me and him. Never go against him". He said with a hint of a warning.

The remainder of the flight he begin to divulge little pieces about his family. Nothing in the business sense but more or less who each individual was and their title. His family was so large it was hard not to get it mixed up. Then he spoke through laughter.  "As a matter of fact I'm not even supposed to be out of our building right now. There is some issues going down and it's for safety reasons. Pape is going to lose his shit when he finds me gone".

"What will he do?" I asked with a tinge of worry.

"More than likely hunt me down. We will go a few rounds. He'll call me little shit, dumb shit among other thing's. Theaten to banish me or kill me". Duel spoke as if this was normal family behavior and my heart ached for him.

A new found anger boiled inside of me for his father. No one will make him feel this way in my presence. With a bit of ferocity in my tone I spat. "I've got you".

Duel smiled just thinking I was being cute but no, I meant it with every fiber of my soul. Our conversation came to an end as the pilot announced our arrival. We were back to where it all began.