She didn’t say a word. Antonia wasn’t going to accept any man taking control of her life or claiming guardianship. She was going to fight it tooth and nail. She was vulnerable right now, and fragile. She sure as shit didn’t need Brooklyn’s problems coming down on her and placing her in danger. This had to end, and she didn’t know how, but Brooklyn needed to end it quickly.
* * * *
“This is the plan,” the Chief addressed all of them as they sat in the living room at Brooklyn’s home. Antonia and Brooklyn were side by side, holding hands and looking completely exhausted. The incident had happened a little before four o’clock in the morning and it was now five a.m. No one there had any sleep and they were all on edge.
“We need to make sure that the two of you are being watched over at all times. That isn’t going to be easy to do with your work schedule, Brooklyn.”
“I’m safest at the restaurant with all the people around, and Antonia was going to start coming in with me this week to learn the business. She’ll be helping out more and hopefully taking a position as a manager very soon,” she said to her sister and gave her a reassuring smile. The Chief could tell that the two were close and they were all each other had, as far as he knew.
“Well, the evenings are going to be tough. You work very late most nights and we’ll have to work out a schedule to see who can stay with Antonia and then the two of you once you’re here,” the Chief said.
“They can both move into our place. We have the additional rooms upstairs for both of them. We leave the restaurant because of the construction at the end of the day, but one of us at least could bring Antonia back to the house and stay with her until Brooklyn and the others arrive,” Finnian suggested.
“Is that really necessary?” Brooklyn asked.
One look from Finnian and Jagger and Brooklyn was nibbling her bottom lip and shifting on the couch. Antonia whispered to Brooklyn and the Chief wondered what it was about. He couldn’t exactly say that he would watch over Antonia, even though he wanted to and would be anyway. As the Chief, he needed to be really careful in making a move like guardianship. He glanced at his brother Damon, who’d decided to stay and help out. He’d taken a liking to Antonia immediately and even now watched her. He was sure they would be talking more about her when he finally got back home.
“I guess there’s no use in arguing. I mean, if you really think we can’t remain here in our home, then accepting Finnian’s offer is our only choice.”
“Don’t make it sound so terrible, Brooklyn,” Zeke said to her with his arms crossed in front of his chest and a firm expression on his face. It was obvious to Cesar that the men had finally made some progress with Brooklyn. He would need to talk to them about guardianship, although it seemed to him they were already making that claim, just not letting Brooklyn know. Perhaps they didn’t want to scare her, since she had been a victim of assault a few years back. She really went through hell. That thought made the Chief wonder what Antonia’s story was and whether any trouble could eventually make its way to Repose. One situation at a time, he supposed.
“Why don’t you two pack some things? Aero and Jagger will get some wood to patch up that window and secure it. We can come back whenever you need anything else,” Finnian suggested to them. Both women got up and walked out of the room.
“Anything you men care to inform me about?” the Chief asked Zeke and his brothers.
Jagger looked down the hallway to make sure the women were gone. “We’re making some progress, Chief,” he told him.
“Sure as shit didn’t need that phone call early this morning. We may be taking some steps back,” Aero said to them. The Chief squinted at him.
“Why is that, if she was at your place?”
“She wasn’t here for Antonia. You should have seen her reaction when she found out what happened. She started saying that it was her fault and she never should have left Antonia alone,” Jagger said to him.
“I’m sure she was just upset. Now that she sees she’s okay and is going to be staying with you guys at your place, it will work out fine. Brooklyn is stubborn and has tried really hard to act like she doesn’t need anyone. This is different. This guy may be obsessed with getting his hands on her,” the Chief told them.
“How are we going to stop this guy? He knows we know who he is, yet he comes back here and tries to break into Brooklyn’s place to assault her again. She and her sister can’t live like this and with such fear,” Aero said to them.
“We’ll handle it. Damon wants to help, too,” the Chief told them.
“Well, isn’t that real friendly of ya?” Finnian teased Damon.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Damon asked very straight-faced.
“Maybe it has something to do with a gorgeous, green-eyed brunette and the fact that when she was scared and in trouble, instead of calling emergency services, she called the Chief’s personal cell phone number?” Jagger said and chuckled.
Before the Chief could say anything more, Brooklyn and Antonia returned, carrying a suitcase each. Finnian took Brooklyn’s and Aero took Antonia’s and they headed outside.
“We’ll go fix that window real quick,” Jagger said and walked out. He looked at Antonia, who appeared exhausted.
“I want you to get some rest. You’ll be safe with the Cartwright men and feel better being with your sister,” the Chief told her.
“Oh, shit, let me go grab my laptop and the charger. I’ll be right back,” Brooklyn said and walked back to the bedroom.
Antonia stood in front of the Chief and Damon. “Thank you for, well, for everything, and you, too, Damon, for sticking around. I’m sorry I ruined your night.”
Damon shook his head. “Don’t apologize for anything. I’m just glad you’re safe and also that we finally got to meet,” Damon told her. She gave a small smile.
The Chief placed his hand on her shoulder and she tightened up and held his gaze. He didn’t know why, but every time he touched her she did that. It was like she was fearful. Except when he’d first arrived at the house when the intruder took off—she’d held on to him so tightly it was like she was inhaling his scent and the feel of being in his arms and it made her feel safe. That affected him big time.
“I want you to be sure to rest and then we’ll talk later in the day.”
“Okay. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
“I won’t be able to help but worry about you, Antonia,” he said and then released her shoulder and held her gaze.
Brooklyn came back into the room. She thanked them for helping her sister and for making arrangements to keep them safe. They all headed out of the house together, locking everything up. As he watched the trucks leave with the women, Cesar couldn’t help but think about how he wished it was him watching over Antonia.
“I don’t know, Chief, I’m feeling a little jealous,” Damon said to him. They got into the truck and Cesar exhaled.
“I know what you mean.”
“Do you, now?” Damon asked and they stared at one another. He knew what Damon was hinting at. Cesar was drawn to Antonia just like Damon was, but Fox and Gino were complicated men. Their brothers meant everything to them, but they were still active duty, still living on the edge and not exactly interested in settling down. Damon and Cesar would wait until they were ready. Even if it did mean missing out on the perfect woman for all of them.
Finnian watched Brooklyn work. She was all over the place tonight. It seemed extra busy with a lot of locals coming in to make sure she and Antonia were safe. Word had spread quickly about him and his brothers staking claim to her. His brothers Jagger and Aero had made a point of kissing her frequently throughout the last several days so people would know. He, however, was feeling a bit uncertain. Well, maybe not uncertain—it was more like resistant to the strong feelings he had for Brooklyn already. He watched her now, wearing a flared black skirt that tapped against her thighs as she walked in those sexy, red high heels. The strapless red top she wore had beading along the chest, but it was how fitted it was and how it accentuated her large breasts that made her looked hot, sexy, and damn stunning. She wore hardly any makeup, she was so naturally beautiful.
What he seemed to love most about her were her eyes. Not just that bold green color, but how she showed emotion in them despite her efforts to hide that.
She stopped and took a few breaths as if she was really needing a break from the chaos. It was nearly midnight and she hadn’t even stopped for a drink.
“Ledger, can I get a club soda with lemon for Brooklyn? I think she needs a little break,” he said to him. Ledger smiled.
“Good luck with that. I think the stress of everything is getting to her.” He poured the club soda into a pint glass of ice and then added the fresh lemon.
Just as Finnian took the glass into his hand, Brooklyn was heading his way. He stood up and grabbed her around the waist and redirected her toward the hallway and her back office.
“What are you doing?” she demanded to know.
He wasn’t surprised that she snapped at him and he firmly held her around the waist and guided her. “I need your help. Don’t worry, Ledger has things covered,” he said and looked at Ledger, who gave him a wink and a nod and then shook his head, laughing. Seemed Ledger didn’t think he could get Brooklyn to take a break.
They unlocked her office door and got inside. He handed her the drink and then he reached back without her noticing him locking the door.
“I don’t have time for this. It’s been chaotic all night and the kitchen should have closed an hour ago. Now, suddenly, people are so thrilled with the additional late night snack menu that we have to keep the kitchen open longer.” She took a sip from the glass and then a longer sip. She placed it down onto the desk and then gripped the edges as she leaned back.
“Just relax a few minutes. Take a breather,” he said and admired her beauty, taking in the sight of her curves and the flush to her cheeks.
“What?” she asked him, noticing his stare. He squinted at her and slowly stepped closer.
“What’s wrong? Oh, God, did Zeke call or the Chief? What?” she demanded to know. He pressed up against her, ran his hand under her hair, and pulled her toward him, kissing her. In his mind, he thought about how powerful this thing was between them. How he wanted her every moment and needed her. The past few days, one of them would sneak into her room and whisk her off to his bedroom to make love during the night and not wake her sister.
He ran his hand along her ass and squeezed it. She moaned into his mouth and then rubbed her hands under his shirt and then up against his chest. He lifted her skirt and brought her leg up as he smoothed his palm along her thigh to her ass, right to the crack. He stroked her pussy and then her anus. She pulled from his lips.
“Oh, God, Finnian. What you do to me should be a crime.”
“Why, baby? Why, when it feels so right, so fucking good?” He stroked his finger into her pussy and she gasped.
“You’re so fucking wet. You need it, too. You want me right now, right here. Tell me.”
“Oh, God, I do but it’s so busy out there. What if they need something?”
“They’ll handle it.”
“There’s not enough time.” She panted and he stroked faster, deeper, and she pinched his nipples and tugged.
“Fuck.”
He pulled his finger from her cunt and then turned her around and bent her over the desk. She gasped.
“You’re going to pinch my nipples and make me wild? You need a quickie? I’ll give you a quickie, baby.” He lifted her skirt and slapped her ass once, twice, and then shoved her panties down.
“Open for me. Show me you want it. Show me how badly you need my dick in that cunt.”
She stepped her legs wide and looked at him over her shoulder. Like some goddess, a woman so sensual and needy for his cock, she licked her lips. “Fuck me, Finnian. Right here. Right now.”
He undid his pants and then lowered, shocking her by licking her cunt to her anus. Back and forth, he explored both holes and gave her ass a few more smacks. He was hard, rock fucking hard, and the sight of his woman lying over her desk, offering her cunt and ass to him, was insane.
“Fuck, you’re a God damn sin, Brooklyn. A fucking sin.”
He grabbed his cock, aligned it with her pussy, and slid right into her. She gasped and tightened and he smacked her ass again as he stroked into her pussy. The desk was rocking and she was moaning and saying his name. He stared at her ass, the way it dipped out, and he stroked a finger down the crack and right to her anus.
“When I get you home later, I’m going to fuck this ass good and hard. Watching you in this sexy, short skirt all night, the material flapping against these luscious thighs, was too much, Brooklyn. Too fucking much watching other men want what is mine and my brothers’. There’ll be hell to pay, woman. Hell,” he said and pressed his finger into her ass. Brooklyn cried out her release and that was it for him, too. The feel of her pussy spasming around his cock and how giving and sexy she was overwhelmed him. He thrust again and again, pulled his finger from her ass, gripped her hips, and stroked so hard that their bodies slapped against one another and he came. He grunted, teeth clenched, trying not to roar like some lion and beast, but Brooklyn did this to him. “I love you, baby. I fucking love you,” he said to her.