Page 67 of Broken

Liam

The sun was peeking up over the skyline. I had been driving all night to different locations in an attempt to locate Yara but was unable to. Nova was still awake, peering out the window in silent contemplation as the sky lit up. Even Val, my ever vigilant cousin, had decided to snooze for a few moments.

"Nova, I'm going to take us back to the house." Our eyes locked in the mirror.

She just nodded, looking tired.

I didn't have any siblings. The closest thing to a brother that I had was Valentin. If something were to happen to him, I would burn Chicago down in retribution. I couldn't imagine what Nova was feeling concerning Yara, but any fool could see the worry growing on her face.

I eyed the other sleeping passengers in the car, in particular Astrid and her daughter Lexi. Valentin hadn't seemed happy once he realized he knew her from somewhere. He had gone into the brooding mood we did so well, and any questions I had asked had received short and clipped answers.

The moment the car stopped, everyone seemed to wake up as if by magic. We exited and headed into the house. Valentin showed Astrid and her daughter to a spare room, while Des went into the living room and turned on the tv. Nova hung around for a few moments before leaving him to join me in my bedroom.

"You need to sleep," I suggested to her once the door was closed.

"No," she said and whirled on me. There was a spark in her eye.

It was unfamiliar and dangerous.

"Nova, you really need to rest," I restated.

"Don’t tell me what I need, damn it." She ran her hands through her hair. "I get it, you're Mr. Big Bad Bratva, but I was taking care of myself long before I fucking met you."

Shit,that stung.

I bit my lip. I wasn't used to anyone being, this direct and angry. No one would dare yell at me, but that was what had me drawn to Nova in the first place. She played by her own rules.

She came across the room and pushed me, angry. It was like watching a blueberry bounce off of concrete and steel. The frustrated grunt that escaped from between her lips hit my ears clear as a bell.

"You should sit." I gripped her arms to keep her from pushing me again.

"You should stop giving orders," she declared before jerking away.

"Nova, I know you're angry," I spoke trying to be gentle. "But you need to keep a clear head. We're going to find your sister."

She smirked, looking up into my eyes. "You don't know anything about loving someone else. You're sick and twisted way of saying you like someone is shoving your finger down a girl's underwear."

The dark side of me that I was trying to keep at bay had been baited. He reared his ugly head and before I knew it, I was on top of her, my hand at her throat, squeezing. Hard enough to let her know that I was in control, but soft enough not to leave a mark.

"Admit it," I said. "My fingers inside of you were better than stealing. You enjoyed having me push you up against that building...you would have let me push inside of you right there, out in the open. You would have let everyone walking down that street watch as I took you over and over again."

Her big brown eyes just stared up at me, challenging me. "I get it, you're the prince of the Bratva. All you know how to do is take."

The laugh she let out almost made my blood run a little colder than usual. Then I understood. She wanted to punish me. It was my turn to get a taste of my own medicine. My hand, still around her neck, traveled lower until it reached the pants she wore. They were off with little to no resistance as I eased in between her legs that Nova was squeezing so tightly together.

"I'm going to take it now, Nova. Either give it freely, or I'll take it by force," I whispered into her ear.

Her face turned away from me and her eyes snapped shut. No words came out of her pretty little mouth that I planned to make part, before I shoved myself inside of them.

Oh yes, I thought. I was going to force myself so far down her throat that even when she begged I wouldn't let up.

Unfortunately, Valentin took that moment to knock on my door. I hissed under my breath, spouting curses. Nova took that as a sign to scurry to the far side of the bed.

"We're not finished," I said before crossing to the door.

My cousin stood on the other side of the door, hair wet and freshly showered. A suit already covering his body. There was a glint in his eye, but I was unsure what it was from.

"What?" I asked.