Konrad by LeAnn Ashers
3
Etta
I can barely keepmy eyes off of the mirror. Konrad looks way too good driving behind me, and I can’t stop the thrill at the fact that he’s following me.
My phone rings, and I’m so lost in my thoughts that it scares me for a second. It’s from a number I don’t know.
“Hello?”
“Hey, sweetheart. I’m going to have the prospect bring us some takeout for dinner. What do you want?”
Holy shit, I guess the date is still on?
I panic, not knowing what to say. “I like all food, just whatever you want.”
He chuckles. “I’ll just tell him to pick up random shit. See you in a bit, darlin’.” He hangs up before I can say anything back.
Those damn butterflies are making themselves known in my stomach. He is so gorgeous and intimidating.
The drive back to the compound is way too short because I’m internally freaking out, but I’m also saddened by Robert quietly sniffling in the back.
His whole entire world has been flipped upside down. I want to tell him so bad that I’m going to find his mother, but the disappointment isn’t worth it if I can’t.
I’ll have to talk to Techy later to give him the information on Robert’s mother. I know right now that Henry is in the pit and he is going through some kind of hell and that’s something I will never regret.
I’ve never been in the pit, but I know that the guys dish out their own kind of justice down there and I don’t have any ounce of sympathy for those who have been there.
Including my own father. He was so horrible to me and Lynn, but it was nothing compared to Vinny and Danny’s experience. That was a different kind of hell.
The things done to me do haunt me, I feel those wounds, but it’s nothing compared to knowing what happened to my siblings.
That is a whole different kind of hurt. My mother is out there somewhere and I do feel sorry for her because she was forced into that life also, but she allowed everything to happen. That is hard to forget.
I pull to a stop outside of the main house where I live, and before I can put the car in park, Konrad opens my car door.
“Thank you!” I say, putting my hand in his so he can help me out.
Looking at Konrad, you’d never think that he was such a gentleman. I open the back door. “Come on, little man.” Konrad unbuckles Robert and lifts him out.
“How do you feel about a burger?” Konrad asks him, taking his hand. He’s holding mine in one hand, the other holding Robert’s.
Robert smiles. “A burger for me?!” He gets so excited and my heart melts at the precious little boy.
Inside the house, I spot Rosa, one of my main helpers. “I need you to find him a room to stay in and I need someone to watch him.”
She waves her hand forward for Robert and he leaves with her. I text Techy the information about his mother. Honestly, I would be surprised if he doesn’t already know about her; he has done a lot of research on our cult.
One thing about it is, it’s huge. It spreads out all the way across the USA and it’s growing daily.
“Are you okay?” Konrad asks when I put my phone back into my pocket. I push my hair out of my face and behind my shoulders.
“I’m exhausted. So much has happened today, it’s catching up with me,” I confess.
“Darlin’, I can see that written all over your beautiful face. You were so brave today protecting your family.” He cups my face slightly, his thumb brushing my cheekbone.
I hold my breath, the feeling of him touching me overwhelming. I’m not used to that.
My face burns from his touches. I know he can feel it. The doorbell rings and I look over to see a younger guy holding a huge bag. “Takeout is here.” Konrad walks to the door, takes the food and shuts the door, locking it behind him.
“Where do you want to eat?” he asks.
“Do you mind if we go to the apartment upstairs?” I ask, but kind of regret it because it’s my home, it’s my personal space, but I just need to be in my own space where I feel safe.
He studies me for a few seconds, looking to see if I have any second thoughts. “Show me the way.”
I lead him up the stairs to the main floor of the house. I unlock the door and push it open. “This is home.”
He walks in studying everything. He sets the bag onto the counter. “So I had him pick up burgers, some pizza, Chinese, and other random things.”
Here I am freaking out about him being in my space and what he thinks, but all he’s worried about is food.
“I’m going to take one of the burgers down for Robert, then I’ll be right back.” He squeezes my hand for a second before he slips out the door.
The second he leaves I let out a deep breath. I can’t help but be on edge. I’m used to being around men all of the time, but this is different.
He’s making me have feelings I’ve never experienced before. He makes me nervous and so happy at the same time. I need to wrap my head around it.
No matter how nervous I am, I want him here. I want to experience this. Without a doubt I feel safe with him.
I just need to get my heart to calm down to catch up with my head.
Breathe in, breathe out, I tell myself over and over until I’m better, my breathing back to normal and my heart slowing down.
I walk over to the bag of food and get everything out, along with some plates, some beers, and soft drinks.
“Want me to pay you back?” I ask once Konrad comes back.
He gives me a look. “Thanks for the offer, but if you’re with me I pay for everything.”
I huff at him being an alpha. He sets the plate down, giving me a look. “What was that, darlin’?” he asks.
I laugh, giving him back the same look. I reach behind me and take out my gun, placing it on the counter. “Wasn’t a damn thing.”
He bursts out laughing, holding his stomach. “Damn, better not fuck with you, huh?”
I wink. “Now you’re getting it”
He licks his lips, moving closer to me until he’s practically touching me with his whole body. “Good thing I love danger,” he whispers into my ear, his breath tickling the side of my neck, chilling me down to my very core.
The person who is dangerous here is him.
He doesn’t move, just lifts his hand above my head, taking out a glass. His eyes stare deep into mine. I swear he can feel my heart beating so hard.
His eyes move to my mouth, then back up to my eyes. Is he going to kiss me? I lift my hand and press it against his side. I can feel the muscle beneath my hand.
“You’re so fucking stunning. I can get lost in you,” he tells me, his voice husky.
He steps back, leaving me breathless, then he gathers all of the food and takes it into my little living room.
I pick up my beer, taking a long pull, trying to ease my nerves. He sits down onto the couch and I sit down beside him, grabbing the remote and turning on the TV to fill the room with noise.
Konrad
She sits next to me,and I try to not look at her shaking hands. She is so fucking brave, the way she protected her family today. I was in awe of her.
But one thing I know is, she needs someone to protect her with the same ferocity that she protects everyone else.
She did not hesitate to protect her niece, nor did she hesitate to take Robert under her wing and bring him here.
I can see how fucking independent she is, the way she’s used to doing everything for everyone, saving them and taking care of them.
She deserves that same kind of shit, I want her to feel safe with me, I want to know what put that fear in her eyes. I have caught that darkness at random times today and I will not forget the look on her face when they mentioned the cult.
“Do you like true crime?” she asks, breaking me from my thoughts.
I smile. “Yeah, I thrive on that shit.”
She rolls her eyes, giving me attitude. “Yeah well, let’s watch this documentary about this serial killer.” She raises the remote to turn on the tv, before she stops looking at me. “If you want to.”
“I don’t give a fuck what we watch. I doubt I'll be staring at the TV much anyway,” I flirt, and her face changes so much in a split second before she realizes I’m flirting with her.
I don’t dare look away, loving every single second of her face changing so many different shades of red.
“You’re staring at me,” she mumbles before taking a bite of fries.
I look down at my plate, smiling. “I told you, the movie is not what I’ll be staring at.”
She shakes her head, grinning ear to ear. “You’re not so bad-looking yourself,” she tells me, looking me up and down.
I harden at the look she’s giving me. “Darlin’, you look like an angel compared to the way I look.”
Etta
I amthe opposite of him. I’m all blonde hair, blue eyes and he is just completely covered in tattoos, which I think is very attractive.
“Looks are only skin deep. The nicest-looking men can be the worst,” I point out, speaking from experience.
The men in our cult are clean-cut and always dressed nice, but look what kind of men they are—the worst that humanity can bring.
“You’re right,” he agrees with me.
“Do you have any siblings?” I ask.
“I was an only child; both of my parents are still together. You have Vinny, Lynn, and Danny. I’ve met all three, but I never met you until today.”
Honestly it is kind of weird that we never met until today as he met everyone else in my family. “Kind of weird, isn’t it?” I point out.
He nods. “Every time it was my time for a mission, my mom or dad seemed to get sick so I had to rush off to see them.”
My heart aches. I’m sure it’s hard your parents being sick. “Oh no, are they okay now?” I ask.
I can see the pain on his face at the mention of his parents. “They’re older. Time is the worst fucking enemy you can have, isn’t it?” I can almost feel the pain.
I can’t resist the urge to reach over and squeeze his hand. “I am so sorry. If you need to go to them, I really understand. I’ll be fine here.”
I hate the idea that I’m keeping him away from his parents who need him. His face softens in a way I have never seen before.
“Darlin’, just you offering means a lot to me. The nurse is there right now, so now I’m all yours.” He winks as he says the last part.
I snort. “You’re just a big flirt, aren’t you?”
He shrugs his shoulders. “Darlin’, it seems that you bring out the worst in me.”
Lord, I wonder what the best of him is, and why do I have a feeling that he is really great at it?
I look away, afraid that I could give away my thoughts.
He doesn’t let go of my hand, rather he holds on tighter, intertwining our fingers together.
“How about you slide that ass over here so I can cuddle you like a sappy fucker?” he asks bluntly.
Oh God, my body is screaming because I’m going to be so close to him, pressed against him, but I don’t hesitate.
I scoot against him. He lets go of my hand and wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me to him.
Next my blanket is thrown across my lap. He wraps it around me, making sure I’m warm.
I’m stiffer than a board and I don’t know what I should be doing. Do I lay my head on his chest?
I am twenty-four years old, I had never held a man’s hand before until today and this is the first time I have cuddled someone.
He slowly glides his hand up my arm until he cups the side of my face, gently laying my head on his chest, and with his other hand he brings my left arm across his stomach, totally taking control.
I am completely, totally pressed against him and it’s the best thing I have ever felt in my life.
Honestly, this is so small, but before this my PTSD stopped me from being in the same room as a man. They terrified me.
But now I feel safe, completely safe, and that is a rarity for me. I scoot even closer, bringing my head right under his chin, and he does the best thing ever.
He wraps both arms around me tightly, holding me to him. His arms are like steel, daring something to tear me away from him.
I want to say so much, I want him to know how huge of a deal this is and he just broke down some walls of mine.
I just stay quiet, enjoying this moment. The sound of the TV in the background and the feeling of being warm and safe lure me to sleep in minutes.