War for Love

CH 1: Secret Night Out

With my suitcase in my hand, I closed my dorm room and headed to the parking lot to meet one of my older brothers. I have just been hit with a curve ball, and don't know what to do. So, I decided on a mini vacation from school, and to go home for a few days. Maybe get into some trouble, a few fights, just simple things I love to clear my head.

"What do we have going on tonight?" I asked Jeremiah when he climbed into the driver's seat of his new Maserati after putting my bag away.

"You're staying at Isaiah's tonight." He started the car, and it purred to life. I never really liked the soft sounds of some engines. I prefer they roar to life like a live beast. I get my taste of cars from my mother, my father preferred foreign.

"I can't stay there!" I objected. Isaiah is the oldest, the one most like our father, and is the most loyal to him. He would sell me out to my father in a heartbeat to keep our old man's approval. "He can't keep anything from father, and I told you, father can't know I left college for an unscheduled break."

"Well, then hide at the big house. Father will never know you're home."

"You have something planned!" I accused him. The middle of us, Joel and Jeremiah, are always getting into something exciting. Of course me being the only girl, and the youngest, I was never allowed to be with the guys when they were going somewhere ‘uncivilized’. "Tell me!!" I yelped in excitement, but he wouldn't give in. "Come on, please tell me."

"Fine. Tell me why I'm picking you up from campus in the middle of your semester. What happened that you're running away in the beginning of your last year of law school."

"Get a few drinks in me and maybe I’ll spill.” I shrugged.

Jeremiah was quiet for a while, thinking about his decision. Taking me with him somewhere that father wouldn't allow is a risk, but he also likes to drive our father crazy. "Joel and I are going to an underground fight. We have a heavy bet on a friend and we can't miss. I swear if father finds out, I'm selling you out to save my own throat. You're his only daughter, his muneca, he has two other sons to spare." (doll)

I've heard my brother's talking about underground fights, clubs, and gambling. Father doesn't like to be associated with such things since he believes that they are tastleless. However, it's a thrill for my brothers. Father probably knows they go to these things, but as long as they pay their own debts without dipping into his pocket and without embarrassing him, he doesn't care. I'm excited to finally be able to do something fun. Being the only sheltered kid out of four is really boring. I haven't even gone to a frat party because I am too scared my father will find out and guilt trip me with his 'great plans' speech.

I'm just as strong and independent as my brother's. I excelled in my school work, while getting expert in marksmanship for rifle and handguns. I can fight hand to hand just as well as my brothers. My hit isn't as strong, but I'm faster. I can be a part of my father's business, get in the dirty, but because I'm a girl, he'd rather have me be a lawyer and fight using the law when they need me. Because I'm a girl I can't have fun. In our circle, 'boys will be boys' but girls who have too much fun have no respect and bring shame. Mom wanted me to be just as strong and respected as the men, but that's just not how things are.

Jeremiah lightly pushed my shoulder. "You can stay with Joel and I at our place, but again if father finds out-"

"I know." I chuckled. "You'll hand me over on a silver platter."

"With an apple in your mouth."

We both laughed and for the remainder of the ride home, he let me know his long list of rules for tonight. Basically everything is 'no'. My brother's buy my drinks, I don't move an inch without one of them. Jeremiah gave me a strict dress code for tonight, which I plan on ignoring. I thought this was going to be fun hanging out with my older brothers, but it sounds like they're going to be babysitting me.

"So, just because father has been keeping me out of the mud, doesn't mean I can't take care of myself. I know you want to protect me, but please don't act like father and expect me to be a quiet shiny doll on the shelf. To be seen and admired, and not to be heard."

"Father just wants to make sure you never get hurt." Jeremiah sighed. "How many times have you seen us come home bloody and f****d up after he sends us on a job? We're soldiers. But you, little sister, he can never see you like that. It would crush him." Maybe Jeremiah was right, but it doesn't mean I have to like it or change who I am. "Okay, we're finally here! You're such a drag on road trips."

"Says the one who gets car sick after an hour." I teased.

Jeremiah got my bag while I ran into my big brother Joel's arms. "We're harboring a fugitive! How exciting! Can't wait to get some scratches on father's little muneca!" I punched my brother in his ribs and he bent over. "Okay." He coughed slightly. "More like GI Jane, got it."

After getting settled in Joel's room, he was taking the couch, they left to get food while I started to get ready for tonight. After I showered I stood in front of the bed with a towel wrapped around me, looking at my outfit choices. There was three. Completely follow the rules, slightly bend them, disregard them completely. I smirked and chose option number three. After styling my long curly hair, I pulled the top half of it out of my face and secured it into a messy bun. I went light on my make up, since the outfit was going to say plenty.

I heard the door opening, and went to find my brothers, but was surprised to see someone else walking in the door. "Who are you?" He asked rudely with barely a sideways glance. "Joel or Jeremiah's flavor for the night?" He scoffed and rolled his eyes with barely a glance in my direction. He looked so different from the last time I saw him. He was all muscles, tatted arms, and damn did he get tall. The man in front of me is far from the boy I remember when we were teenagers.

Deciding to have fun, since he doesn't recognize me, I answer. "You should learn your place, soldier."

He snapped his head up quickly and stared at me. "Good to see you too, Ezra." I sauntered passed him into the kitchen to serve me a glass of wine. When I picked it up to take a drink, he smacked it out of my hand, and it shattered on the floor. "What the fu-"

His hand wrapped around my throat possessively and he pinned me against the wall. "Alessandra." The way my name rolled off his tongue in that sexy latin accent did things to me. He looked over my body in the tight black jeans over the olive lingerie teddy I wore. My black high heels made me just a little short of his height. My nips were covered, but the tattoos on my sides were completely visible through the lace. "What the f**k are you wearing?" Ezra's voice was thick with lust and anger.

The look in his eyes I should have proceeded with caution, but f**k it. I said I wanted to get into some trouble. "What?" I bit my bottom lip. "You don't like drooling?" He squeezed a little harder. "Mmm." I moaned. "Harder." I leaned into his hand. He released me, but didn't move away.

Ezra leaned forward, his elbows and forearms resting on either side of my face. Then the tip of his nose ever so slightly trailed across my jaw up to my cheek. "Change."

"No."

He bent down, lining his eyes up with mine. Our noses were touching, lips brushing against each other. "Change, Alessandra. O no te gustara lo que pasa." (Or you won't like what happens.) He warned. But damn do I like playing with fire.

I licked my lips, my tongue barely touching his lips and he breathed deeply. Then, I leaned in and whispered in his ear, my breasts against his chest. "Castigame. Podria disfrutarlo." (Punish me. I might enjoy it.) When we heard my brothers just outside the front door, I nibbled his ear and giggled. He was about to do something, but he had to jump back as they unlocked the door. They looked between us, skeptically. "So, you have random bimbos in your bed? Ezra mistaked me for one of them. I don't think I should sleep in your room, Joel." I joked to lighten the mood. I stepped over the glass and looked at Ezra. "You dropped something." When my brothers started unpacking the take out I whispered to him. "It's with your jaw on the floor." I winked as I passed him, and he grabbed a broom and mop.

I smiled and went to the table to serve myself dinner. Both my brothers urged me to change, but I refused. I wasn’t a little kid anymore, I was twenty five years old! It’s time they stop treating me like a child.

Throughout us eating, I could feel Ezra watching me when my brothers weren't paying attention to him. His eyes were dark, making me squirm in my chair. Finally, the tables are turned. I was always the loser little sister he couldn't get away from, and now he can't keep his eyes off of me. This is something I can definitely have fun with on my little vacation. But I shouldn't. Because I know my heart will get in the way.

"So. We had a deal." Jeremiah took a sip of his beer and he gestured to the wine glass in my hand. "Spill. Why did I pick you up from college?"

"an we talk about this later?" I wanted to have a good time tonight, but this coversation would bring down the mood. Joel shook his head, and I sighed in defeat. "Joshua, the son of father's business friend he set me up with." My brothers nodded. "He proposed to me two days ago."

"Well, fathers going to be thrilled." Joel said sarcastically. "I vote 'no'. How did mom say it? Mi sangre no le sienta bien." (My blood doesn't sit right with him.)

After we finished our beer and food, Joel and Jeremiah went to wash up and get ready for tonight. I stood on my brothers’ balcony with the wine glass in my hand, and I could feel Ezra behind me. Then, I saw his hands grip the railing on either side of me, his chest brushing against my back. His warmth was so enticing, his scent invading my senses, daring me to get closer.

Ezra's hands moved to my hips and he turned me around. He looked in my eyes and then at my lips. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Surprise me." I smirked.

"Here?" He raised an eyebrow. Then leaned closer to whisper in my ear. "Now?"

"Scared?"

Ezra leaned back to look me in the eyes again. "Of you? I'm terrified." He kissed my neck and I stopped breathing. "If only you knew about all the things I want to do to you. I bet you've thought about it too."