VJ

21 - What do you want?

VJ

“Can I sit down?”

“What do you want, Bones?”

I’m not interested in what he has to say right now. We haven’t spoken in weeks, not since he claimed my little sister. I can’t even look the man in the eye. I’m not scared of the cunt. Ha, the fuckin.g thought is laughable. However, this man was my best friend, and he had no fuckin.g right to touch my sister!

He sits beside me at the bar without waiting for me to say anything. I have to roll the tension from my neck to save me from snapping his.

“This can’t go on, VJ... Beer, Andy!” Barkeep nods and hands Bones a cold one. “Sophie is heartbroken that you won’t talk to her.”

That shi.t wasn’t intentional. I’ve been too damn busy running errands because I need something to keep my mind clear of wanting to hurt people. Then I’ve been doing some serious damage to people on Draven Vidal’s orders, or I’ve been fuckin.g Chloe, every chance I get. I even slept next to her the other night. I know, right, me sleeping next to a woman.

I know I did it the first night we met, and I still have no clue why. However, the other night, I just wanted to hold her close to me, which was fuckin.g weird as all hell for me. But fuc.k if it didn’t feel right holding her. Chloe clung to me, and we both slept peacefully.

Fuckin.g crazy or what?

I haven’t made her any promises of a relationship, but I must admit that there’s been no one else since the night I met Chloe. Not even on the nights I’m not with her. Now, that is crazy. I’ve always fucke.d every woman who’s shown the slightest bit of interest; even when she didn’t, I made sure she couldn’t resist.

So, what the fuc.k has gotten into me?

“Look,” Bones sighs like a damn woman. “Hate on me all you like, but don’t take this out on Sophie. She loves you, VJ. Whether you want it or not.”

“Fuc.k off, Bones.” I spit out with little effort.

“It’s Sophie’s birthday tomorrow.”

“I know when my sister’s birthday is, Bones. You don’t gotta tell me.”

He sighs again. “We’re throwing her a party. She wants you there as her brother and not just some asshole hovering around.”

Cunt!

I’m itching to punch him out. I swear to God, it’s like a gnawing in my gut to do so. But something inside my head tells me to calm down, not to blow up at this man, my friend.

Chloe has done this to me, dammit! I wouldn’t have second-guessed myself once in the past before meeting her. I would have just gone with it, but now I’m fuckin.g sitting here keeping my cool...

What kind of power does that woman have over me?

She’s gotten inside my head, and it’s driving me crazy. It is literally driving me insane! I want her gone from my mind, but I don’t want to let her go at the same time. I feel something for Chloe that I never thought I could feel, and I’ve only known her for a few short weeks.

I’m not claiming to be a damn saint. I’m not. Hell, I’ve fucke.d more women than I can count, but only being with Chloe since I was released from prison just seems right. It wouldn’t have bothered me in the past whom I slept with. It could have been three at once, who knows. However, since I met Chloe and tasted her, I can’t forget her.

Am I fucke.d?

I’m starting to think I am. I honestly don’t understand what the hell I’m feeling. I’m confused, and I hate being confused!

“If you wanna fight me, VJ, let’s get to it. Because this shi.t is doin’ my head in.”

“Is she happy?” That’s all I need to know. All I want for Sophie is her happiness. My sister deserves that.

“She’s always been happy, VJ, but yes, she’s happy with me, if that’s what you mean. I’d never hurt her. But she’s miserable thinking you’re disappointed in her and might kill me.” He chuckles, but he knows as well as Sophie that I’m unpredictable, and I have been known to attack when you least expect it.

But I don’t want to do that right now. This man is my best friend. Sure, we’ve fought and beaten the crap out of one another in the past, but that was nothing. I don’t seriously want to kill my best friend.

“You’re lucky I give a damn about my sister’s happiness. You shouldn’t have gone against me, Bones. You could have come to me and told me how you felt. I might not understand this shi.t, but I’m not dead in the brain.”

“I know this, Brother. Don’t you think I’ve thought about this? I have. I know I should have spoken to you, but I acted on instinct at that moment in time. I just needed Sophie to know how I felt about her. I love her, VJ. I really love her and have for a couple of years.”

“Why didn’t you say anything before?”

He shrugs. “Because I was an i***t, but I came to my senses. She’s safe with me, Brother. I’d fuckin’ die before I let anything happen to her.”

I know that. If there’s anyone I truly trust in this world outside of my family, it’s Bones.

I turn my head and look at him. “You ever go against me again, and I’ll kill you. No second chances, no warnings. You take care of my sister, and you make damn sure she smiles every fuckin’ day, and I’ll put this behind me.”

“Won’t be a problem. You have my word.”

He shouldn’t need to give it to me. I’m not Sophie’s father, but I am her big brother, and what I fuckin.g say goes, and I don’t give a shi.t what anyone says. My older sisters are thirteen and eleven years my senior, and I’d be exactly the same with them.

But Bones is right; it’s Sophie’s twenty-two tomorrow, and she deserves to have fun. If they’re throwing her a party, which I already knew about, then I’ll be there. I won’t make a scene. I’ll do the big brother thing and be nice.

“So, tell me what you’ve got planned for Sophie’s birthday.”

“Well...”

****

“Are you sure about this, VJ?”

I smile while tucking a strand of hair behind Chloe’s ear. I convinced her to come with me to Sophie’s birthday party. Max wasn’t too pleased when I came to collect Chloe, but I don’t give a shi.t what he thinks. He’s been on my back for weeks about leaving Chloe alone. Anybody would think he was jealous.

My Chloe is more beautiful than I’ve ever known. My little beauty has captured something inside of me that I never thought existed. Tonight, she’s wearing a flowing white dress with flat white shoes that make her over a foot shorter than me. Her height doesn’t even bother me a little bit. It would have in the past, but not anymore. Her hair is twisted up at the back of her head in some fancy style, with wisps falling around her face. Light makeup because I prefer Chloe to look natural, and she’s wearing the same perfume she wore the night we met. I love that perfume on her; it is sweet and floral, all Chloe.

“You don’t want to arrive with me, princess?”

“Of course, it’s just,” She sighs.

She’s wondering if we’re going in there as a couple or not. She doesn’t know what we are to each other. I can’t promise her that we’re in a relationship; I don’t do those. She’s my girl; I’ve made that clear to everyone around us. That will have to be enough for her.

I kiss her forehead. “Let’s get in there. Sophie will be wondering if I’m turning up or not.”

Chloe nods.

I take her hand in mine, entwining our fingers. I turn to lead us inside, but she yanks on my arm and stops me. I look at her with narrow, confused eyes.

“What is it?”

“When we go in there, try to remember that your sister is a grown woman. Bones is the man she loves, and he loves her in return. You’ll see them arm in arm, probably kissing at some point.”

I sigh. “Your point is?”

“My point is, try not to get angry. You’re Sophie’s brother; she loves you, but that doesn’t give you the right to dictate what she does, nor with whom.”

I let go of Chloe’s hand and fold my arms over my chest, a smirk trying not to break on my lips. This is what draws me to her, the fact she’s not scared to stand up to me and tell me like it is.

“What the heck are you smirking at?”

I grab her waist and hoist her against me, and she lets out a little squeal. “You have no idea what you do to me, woman.” I kiss her hard, and she moans into my mouth.

“I have a pretty good idea. Now let’s go inside, and you remember what I said, mister.”

I slap her ass and chuckle when she screeches. “Yes, ma’am.”

I feel lighter, somehow. Chloe makes me feel lighter. The weight that has always held me down loosens when she’s near me.

What the hell is this woman doing to me?