Chained Desire

Chapter |11|

K N O X ‘ S P. O. V

I never thought I would meet a woman who could infuriate me so much.

Even now, simply watching her through the shadowed window above and flickering lights, there's something that enraptures me. Something that sets me on edge, especially as she whispers into their ears, making them laugh and smile.

I f*****g want that. I want to make her the sweet lull of her voice, the very same I fall asleep to every night.

She talks in her sleep, nothing more than hushed murmurs, but it drifts from the bedroom through to the living room, infusing my dreams with her.

The silent treatment she’s been giving me is justified, I’ll admit that. I was an asshole for what I said to her but a week of it seems a little excessive. Somehow I have to make it up to her, but christ, I have no idea how.

“How’s my girl doing?” Again, I reign in my anger, forcing control I don’t usually possess.

With a tight smile, I answer him. “She’s good. Just as I expected.”

Geneva smirks, “Good, I want the best for my most important customer.”

I don’t really want to know the answer, but not knowing is burning at my mind. “Have you ever hit that?”

“What Lilliana?” He laughs, “I like my girls willing, and none of the incentives I offered her ever struck her fancy. I even put a grand on the table for her to suck my d**k. She didn’t even hesitate before walking out. Be careful with that, she’s tricky. Too smart, but when you find that one weakness it’s easy to get them crawling.”

“And what’s her weakness?” He leans closer even though there’s no-one else here.

“That little friend of hers. The loyalty between them is stronger than just friendship. Manipulate that and she’ll do anything.”

“So why haven’t you?” He shrugs, but something dark clouds in his eyes. “Sometimes she reminds me of someone. Anyways, can we finish this business we’re conducting? I’d like to have all the paperwork formalised before you leave today.”

“Of course, that’s why I’m still here. Business.” Naturally, my gaze drifts to her. Her body becomes a silhouette cast by sharp spotlights as she grinds against the pole. I struggle to keep my d**k at bay, sliding down a little to adjust my pants.

Damn it. It’s clear that the one thing that cannot happen when we go back to New York is this s**t. Kiara would sniff out my attraction to Caitlin in a heartbeat and then everything would go to hell.

***

“Did it all go to plan then?” I throw the wrapper in the bin as I move back to lean against the wall. Drunks filter in and out, more people push in and the music strains my ears even from out here.

“Yeah, he took the bait. It’ll be easier to tie him to everything now.” Aaron is smart, but his wife is f*****g talented. She came up with a way of securing Geneva’s business share whilst breaking a deal with Nevada PD that would get Geneva and his hoard of idiots arrested.

Part of me wonders where it would leave all these girls though. Back on the street, addicts again.

“Hey, maybe we should keep the strip clubs open for a while?”

He laughs, “Getting hooked on the expensive p***y?”

“No! I just mean these girls rely on this s**t you know, he exploits them. It’s not fair they should lose everything too.”

“Does this have anything to do with that girl? Is that why it’s so complicated? She’s one of the hookers so you don’t know if it’s real?”

“Forget about her, okay.” Jesus, I really shouldn’t have opened up about Caitlin. He could sense something was wrong and I needed an excuse for the money I borrowed from Tristan. Aaron was a little hurt I guess that I didn’t ask him, then I needed to give a reason why.

Pretending to be infatuated with this girl I was housing seemed like a sensible excuse. And the closest to the f****d up truth that I could offer.

“Bring her back to New York with you. We could help her out if she needs rehab or s**t, but I don’t think getting involved with an addict will help with the smoking.”

“I’m fine with that. Honestly, I barely think about it here.” I guess that’s because Caitlin is occupying my brain ninety percent of the time. The one ten percent is dedicated to business.

“Okay, I’ll talk to Kiara about the clubs. Not sure if she’ll go with it though, you know she’s trying to push the business towards legitimacy.”

I laugh, peering around the building corner to make sure no-one can listen. “She does know she's a fourth generation mafia right? No way that s**t will ever happen.”

“You know my girl when she puts her mind to something. By the way, Anastasia has a request for you to try and watch a professional cage match whilst you’re in Vegas. Apparently even the fifteen year old knows that you have no social life.”

“Tell her it’s a business trip, and I’ll dry her down one day so we can watch it together.”

“I don’t know how I feel about my daughter loving bare knuckle sport so much.”

“Relax, it’s good for her. She needs to blow off steam, got too much anger inside of her.”

“I know, she’s like me in that retrospect. I’ll try talking to her again.”

I sigh, knowing how that will play out. Stasia is in the rebellious stage right now and I know it’s the same age as when Caitlin began to pull away from Aaron. He’s scared of the same thing happening again, but if he holds on too close, she’ll have no choice but to break away. “Just don’t push too hard.”

“I won’t, thanks. Oh hey, what happened the other night?”

My brows furrow as I try to think back. “What are you talking about?”

“I called you and the call was picked up so I assume you answered, but then it just ended.”

“When was this?”

“The same day we talked about getting Tristan that dirt bike for his birthday.”

Oh f**k. I remember seeing a call from Aaron, assuming it was a butt dial or something. It was the same day Sapphire fell asleep in the back so I carried her up to the apartment…and Caitlin was left alone in the car with the phone.

“What exactly did you say?”

“Not much, just mentioned about that girl and…” Caitlin runs out of the building like the place is on fire, climbing into the taxi that rolls up.

“s**t man, Geneva I gotta go.” I end the call abruptly, shoving the phone into my back pocket as I try to reach the car

The f*****g thing sets off before I can, but I manage to make out the licence plate despite the obscured lighting.

Sapphire walks out a narrow cigarette held between her fingers. “Hey, you know where she went?”She flashes me a drunken smile, fumbling for a lighter in her bag. “Here,” I lit it, quickly moving aside to avoid the enticing chemicals.

“She went to meet up with that rich guy. You know, Ryle…Rain..Rhet…”

“Rhys.” How could I forget that bastard’s name?

She bursts out laughing, “Oh yeah, him. Hopefully she bones him, Caity deserves some good s*x you know?”

Jesus, the universe really knows how to screw me over. “Do you know where she’s meeting him?”

“A fancy hotel I think. Belgrave.” That’s only a few miles downtown. I could easily catch up to her.

“Knox, I don’t feel too good.” Then she throws up all over the bouncer’s shiny black loathers.

“f*****g,” He spits.

“Hey, watch it!” Shooting us a glare, he storms off inside.

Saph groans, clinging onto my arm. “I think I accidentally drank too much. Uh, I need my bed.”

I know there’s no way she can go back inside and work. The bouncer can vouch for that, and I don’t trust anyone will give her a safe ride home. f**k okay, new plan.

Offering her a tight smile, I guide her towards my car, helping her inside. Caitlin said it was a work function, that she trusted this guy, so unfortunately I’m gonna have to place trust in her. I’ll make sure Saph gets home safe and then find Caitlin.

Maybe make sure this guy knows they’re not friends anymore.

***

There’s still a little vomit on my shirt that lingers. Reaching back, I grab the only spare clothing I have. A worn out hoodie that’s a little too tight around my muscles now. Christ, I must have worn this back in highschool.

I almost bump into at least four people as I try to make my way towards the Belgrave. It’s a posh hotel with a casino attached to its rear end, but still, it doesn’t exactly settle my nerves at the thought of Caitlin here with that guy alone.

I guess it being a work function isn’t much of a stretch. I barely manage to make it inside before security stops me.

“Do you have a room card sir?” I look down at myself, and the shitty clothes I’m wearing.

“Does it look like I could afford this fancy s**t? I’m just trying to find a friend.”

“Well, you can’t do that here. Sorry,”

I try to glance behind him into the restaurant that is overflowing with people. He steps in front of me, blocking the view. “Look man, I don’t want any trouble. Just let me check if she’s in there and then I’ll go.”

“You’ll have to buy a drink to be admitted into the bar area.”

I’m reaching for my wallet, “How much is that?”

“Cheapest is the water. 15 bucks a bottle.”

“Jesus, what the hell is in that s**t?” I throw the bills at him, waiting as he hands it to a waiter in exchange for a large bottle of cold water. Clutching the neck, I storm ahead, shoving the security guard aside. “f*****g hell,” I murmur.

By the time this trip is over, I will only have pennies to my name.

I take a seat at the bar that overshadows the dining area, but have no idea where to f*****g find her. Now I realise while I hate Vegas so much. Everything is just a means to an end, driven by money and greed. There’s little loyalty or morals here.

Take Geneva, he would sacrifice anything and anyone if only to hold onto that little power he has.

I chew the cap off the bottle and spit it out. Might as well chug this now, better be the best damn water I’ve ever had.

Raising the bottle to my lips, I pause for a second when I hear laughter. I set it down, looking back over my shoulder. I catch a glimpse of blonde hair behind an obscenely large potted fern and hear that laugh again.

That sweet soothing sound that acts as a balm to the scars I bury deep.

I try to shake off that feeling of warmth that casts over me, and channel the anger I’m supposed to feel instead.

She f*****g lied to me, she could have been hurt.

I don’t know why I keep pressing to help her, protect her when she clearly doesn’t want saving.

Moving closer, I shift to press my back against the pillar behind them. “You didn’t need to lie, you know. You could have just told me it would be us.”

“I was afraid you wouldn’t say yes otherwise.” Jesus, I f*****g hate this guy. Who tricks a girl onto a date? I feel like it’s a bad time to interject and say I told you so, to Caitlin. If anything, she doesn’t seem mad, but calm.

“My occupation makes it kind of hard to date.”

“I understand that, but I also know you don’t want to do this. You have to, and if I can offer you a way out, offer you help, then I want to at least try to do that.”

“Rhys, I’m not a charity case, and you don’t have to do this. I can take care of myself, thank you.” I hear her chair scraping as she moves to leave. Good girl.

“Wait,” Motherfucker. Peering around the side, I grit my teeth when I see him clasp her dainty hand. “I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s not often I meet a girl like you, a girl I actually like speaking too. There’s something about you that I can’t stop thinking about, and I know it’s tricky, I want to see where this can go.”

“You really just like me? I’m a stripper…and an escort. I doubt your business partners would take kindly to that.”

He scoffs, “f**k them. This is about me and you, and I want you.”

Christ, she’s not really going to fall for this bullshit. “Okay, we can try, but I need to slow.”

He raises her hands to his lips, kissing them delicately. “Whatever you need, baby.”

Fuck. I see it in her eyes, hope, excitement. She likes him, wants to be with him and I…shit, it twists me up inside because the thought of her with anyone else…

“I’m just going to step aside for a moment. I’ll be back.” I wait and watch as she slips out the side exit, turning right towards the alley.

This prick is busy on his phone, allowing me to follow her easily.

I fall back into the shadows, eyes fixed on her as she pulls out a cigarette from her tiny purse. Lighting it easily, her head falls back against the stony grey wall and smoke exhales from those soft lips in perfect spirals.

“That’ll kill you, you know.” Nothing registers on her face as I make myself none. Her eyes remain fixed on the stars overhead.

“This coming from the guy who used to smoke a pack a day.” My c**k grows harder as she presses the stick to her mouth again.

The two vices that I’m trying to resist. Christ, whoever’s up there isn’t making it easy for me.

“It was actually your nephew that convinced me to stop. You remember him?”

“Of course I do.” She bites out, letting the cigarette fall so she can crush it into ash beneath her heel. “Don’t think that there’s a day that goes by that I don’t miss them.

I slam her up against the wall, pinning her back with my hand firmly wrapped around her throat. “Then why the f*****g charade Caitlin? Why are you pushing to stay? Why are you playing games? Ignoring me? Running and hiding and playing house with that f*****g i***t in there?”

Her eyes narrow, seductive even though she isn’t trying to be. “Why do you care so much? I’m not worth the trouble, you could easily tell Aaron that nothing happened here, forget about me and move on. Why are you so angry? Did you see us there together? Did it piss you off that he actually liked me? That you were wrong about him?”

I should let her go, leave her here in this tight dress with that poster boy and drive back to New York.

Instead I hold on tighter, relishing in the soft moan that slips from her mouth as I press my body against hers.

It did make me angry, but not because I was wrong, not because he actually cared for her, but because he could offer something I can’t. He offered her the truth, plain and simple.

He wants her. The problem is, so do I.

“Knox,” She murmurs, fingers trembling as they reach up to clutch mine.

“Shh sweet girl, you should be careful what you wish for.” For once, I’m giving in to desire. Even if it destroys us both.

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A/N: I can’t wait to share the next chapter!! What do you think Knox and Caitlin will do?