The Day She Cried Read online

  “Shhh,” he coos. “Don’t cry, sweetheart.”

  Mr. McConnell has never been kind or gentle. Sharp. Severe. Hard. That is the Jackson McConnell I know and remember. While I sob against him, he rubs comforting circles on my back, his fingertips brushing along the swell of my ass. I stiffen and he settles his palm on my butt.

  “When did you grow up?” he murmurs, his hot breath tickling my hair.

  My stomach roils with nerves, but I don’t move. He’s just trying to soothe me, not feel me up. Mr. McConnell isn’t like that. He probably doesn’t even realize his hand is on my ass.

  “I’ve had to do too much growing up in the past year,” I choke out, my voice shaking.

  He pulls away and removes his hand from my butt. His brows are furrowed together with worry, once again calming me. Of course he wasn’t being inappropriate. My mind is a frazzled mess.

  “I’m sorry Whitney hasn’t been a good friend,” he says with a hint of disapproval. “She’s having some problems of her own. I hope the two of you can work things out again.”

  I force a fake smile. My cheerleader smile. If there’s anything I don’t want to do, it’s try and repair my friendship with Whitney. Whitney sabotaged and exposed my relationship with Raven. She was the catalyst for a series of events that destroyed that poor girl’s life and nearly mine in the process.

  “Maybe,” I lie.

  His thumbs swipe across my cheeks and he cleans away my tears. When I shiver, his palms slide to my shoulders and down the outside of my arms. “We keep it cold in here,” he says with a smile as his eyes drop to my chest. My nipples are indeed sticking out from the cool temperature, but the fact that he’s staring at them through my tank has me shivering from nerves instead. “Here,” he says as he shrugs out of his jacket. “Wear this so you don’t freeze, sweetheart.”

  I feel awkward putting on his jacket, but it’s still warm from his body heat. “Can we, um, talk?”

  He nods, a frown marring his handsome older face. “Let’s sit.”

  I’m guided over to a small leather sofa near the windows of his office. I sit down and he sits close enough that the outside of our thighs touch. He wraps an arm around me and pulls me against his side. All the sudden affection has my heart hammering in my chest. I feel uneasy about it, but then I worry I’m overreacting. Instead of freaking out, I relax against him.

  “Spill what’s bothering you,” he says, his voice holding the authoritative tone I remember growing up.

  I let out a sigh. “I was wanting to talk about Raven.”

  He stiffens and I look up at him in question.

  “Raven Murray?” His jaw clenches and his gaze finds the window. “You know we shouldn’t be talking about this. You’ve already been sentenced and served your time. There’s not much more to discuss.”

  I don’t like being wrapped up in his side hug when he loses the softness in his voice. It’s as though I’m a trapped animal and the predator is trying to decide if he’s hungry or not. I start to sit up, but his hand on my thigh stops me. My breath seizes up in my chest. He doesn’t do anything with his hand, just settles it on my flesh near the hem of my shorts.

  “Um,” I start but lose my courage when he gives my thigh a squeeze. My heart rate hammers in my chest. “Um. I just wanted to ask you a question.”

  “Go on, sweetheart,” he encourages as his hand starts rubbing my thigh. “What’s your question?”

  “Raven had your card. Why?”

  When he doesn’t respond, I look up at him. He’s invading my space and creeping me out, but I want answers.

  “I have no idea,” he replies, a flicker of dishonesty in his gaze. “You look just like your mother. You both have those same lips.”

  Embarrassment heats my flesh because now he’s looking at my mouth the way Rome looks at my mouth. Like he wants to eat it.

  “Mr. McConnell—”

  “Jackson,” he mutters, his head lowering to mine.

  When I turn my head, his fingers bite into my thigh hard enough to startle me. I jerk back, my mouth open to ask him to stop, and then his lips are on me. Hard and demanding. I’m so shocked that it takes me a moment to realize Whitney’s dad is trying to shove his tongue down my throat. I cry out and push at him.

  His lips are wet and red and his eyes are flaring in a slightly manic way. “If you wanted me, sweetheart, you didn’t need to come in here with an excuse. I don’t play the coy games. You’re an adult. We’re both consenting adults. Adults don’t need an excuse to fuck.”

  I jerk away from him and stand abruptly. “Y-You’re married,” I stammer out in horror.

  He rises to his feet, his erection obvious in his slacks, and towers over me. “What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Just like what Whitney doesn’t know won’t hurt her. It’s been a long time coming, you and I.” He smirks. “Like I didn’t notice all the dirty, sexy looks you’d send my way when you weren’t even legal. Such a naughty girl.” He winks at me as if we share a secret.

  “You have it all wrong, Mr. McConnell—”

  “Jackson. Although when you say my name like that, it’s a turn-on.”

  “I think you’ve misunderstood,” I breathe, my hands held up as if that will keep him from advancing.

  But it doesn’t stop him and he steps into my space, pressing his chest against my palms. “Oh, come on, Courtney. Everyone saw pictures of you riding that man’s cock. Word on the street is that you are into older men.”

  His hand finds my hip and he rubs his hardness against my stomach. I’m so horrified, I’m unsure of what to do.

  Sheep.

  Rome’s voice in my head is mocking.

  It ignites the fire within me.

  I am not a sheep.

  I am a wolf.

  With a hard shove, I push him away from me. “D-Don’t touch me like that,” I hiss. “You’re way out of line, Jackson.”

  The sultry looks he was giving me instantly harden to a furious glare. “Touch you like what?” he demands.

  “Kiss me and grope me,” I snap back, my voice shrill.

  He crosses his arms over his chest and levels me with a glare. “Give me my jacket.”

  I shrug out of it and toss it to him. With his eyes on me, he slides it back on and buttons it.

  “Where shall I send the bill?” he asks, his voice cold. “I’m sure your mother already told you my hourly rate.”

  I gape at him. “W-What?”

  “When you come see an attorney to discuss suing the Murray family for emotional damage, you must pay for our service.”

  “What are you talking about? I never said anything about suing!”

  His eyebrows lift. “I know you’ve always had a thing for me, sweetheart, but there’s no need to throw yourself at me. I’m a married man, for crying out loud. It’s inappropriate.”

  I gape at him as hot tears well in my eyes. “You’re making all this up.”

  “Making what up? I’m not the one who showed up barely clothed in an attempt to seduce an attorney into getting free legal advice.” He shakes his head as if I disgust him. “I’m disappointed in you, sweetheart.”

  “You’re disgusting,” I choke out. “A lying pig.”

  He stalks over to me and lowers his face to mine. “Get out of my office before I call the police, whore.”

  I am a wolf.

  I slap him hard across the cheek. Surprise registers in his features before he nearly turns purple with rage.

  “I could have your ass arrested right now.” He seethes. “One call and you’d be out of here so fast in cuffs, you wouldn’t know what hit you. Are you sure you want to do that to your poor mother again?”

  I lift my chin in defiance and call his bluff. “Maybe you should call them. I’d love to let them know what a sicko you are.”

  A muscle in his jaw ticks as he narrows his eyes at me. With lightning quick reflexes, he snags the phone from his desk and dials a number. My heart stops in my chest.

  “Se
curity? Yes, this is Jackson McConnell. I have a woman needing to be escorted from the property. She’s making threats and has already caused bodily harm.”

  He hangs up and regards me with a smug stare.

  “This isn’t over,” I spit out at him as I start out the door.

  “Oh, sweetheart,” he says in a condescending tone he no doubt taught Whitney, “but it is. Goodbye and don’t come back. Ever.”

  Rome

  “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” I ask as I stir the noodles on my stove.

  Courtney absently pets Harvey Benjamin but jerks her head up at my question. Guilt flashes in her blue eyes as she stands. “What?”

  “Ever since I picked you up earlier, your head has been elsewhere. You didn’t even respond to my dick pic.” I smirk at her. “Did it stun you speechless?”

  A smile tugs at her lips. “It’s a nice looking dick, for sure.”

  “The nicest.”

  “Definitely the nicest.” She lets out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I had a bad day.”

  “Getting groceries was traumatic?” I tease.

  “I ran into Whitney.”

  I turn and regard her with a frown. “Was she being a bitch again?”

  She nods. “She was. And then I went to see her dad.”

  “Why?”

  “Well,” she murmurs, her lip wobbling. “I’d seen his business card when I was looking in Raven’s notebook. I wanted to ask him about it.”

  My chest tightens at the mention of my sister. “Who cares why she had his card? Why are you so worried about it?”

  Hurt flashes in her eyes. “I don’t know. I was just curious…”

  “Stop,” I bark out. “She’s dead, Courtney.” My words come out harsh and accusing and not at all how I meant to deliver them.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispers.

  I grit my teeth and keep from yelling at her again for apologizing. “Let it go, please. For all you know, she could have just found his card somewhere. You’re making shit out of nothing. And quite frankly, I’m tired of you rummaging around in her belongings every chance you get.”

  Her nose turns pink and her nostrils flare. “I haven’t been in her room since that night.”

  That was the night I decided I wanted to keep her.

  “Good. Now drop it. I’m tired of fucking hearing about it,” I grumble as I turn my back to her.

  She doesn’t make a peep. When I turn around to look at her, she’s gone from the kitchen. A door slams within the house and I can safely assume she’s locked herself in the bathroom.

  Harvey Benjamin whines and cocks his head at me.

  “Don’t put your guilt trip on me, man,” I gripe. “She’s being ridiculous. You’re just partial to her because she plays with you and lets you lick her. Women are complicated.”

  He lets out a loud bark as if he disagrees.

  “I’m simply trying to save you some heartache,” I tell him as I turn off the stove.

  He barks as if he really thinks he’s speaking to me.

  “I’m not going to apologize,” I argue.

  He cocks his head again and then lets out a disgusting-ass fart that has me fleeing the kitchen. “Okay, you win, HB,” I holler over my shoulder. “Goddamn, your ass stinks!”

  The bathroom door opens as I reach it. Without hesitation, I grab Courtney’s hips and pin her to the doorframe. My lips brush across hers and I trail soft kisses to her ear.

  “I’m sorry, sheep.”

  “I am a wolf,” she snaps back, her body rippling with sudden anger.

  I grip her jaw and crush my mouth against hers. Her fury dissolves as I kiss her hard, my erection stabbing into her. I’ve missed her today and I don’t want to fight over stupid shit. Apparently she seems to agree because when I start to pull her shirt up, she lifts her arms. Her shirt gets tossed away, and while I work at the button on her jeans, she runs her fingers through my hair. Fuck, I love when she does that. I nip at her breast and revel in the sharp breath she exhales.

  “Rome,” she whimpers. “I need you.”

  I yank at my shirt and throw it into the hallway. Greedily, I pull her jeans and panties down her thighs. My mouth latches onto her pink clit and her whimpers become more desperate. I pull away to unfasten my jeans so I can grip my cock, when I see them.

  Purple.

  Round.

  Five.

  “What the fuck is this?” I demand, my fingertips delicately brushing along her thigh. “Did I do this to you?” When I jerk my head up to look at her, the worry is back in her gaze as she bites on her plump bottom lip.

  Don’t lie to me, sheep.

  “It wasn’t you,” she breathes, her voice barely audible.

  I rise to my full height, rage bubbling inside of me as I look down at her frightened face.

  “Who?” I seethe. I’m feeling the need to punch the fuck out of whoever touched her like they thought she belonged to them. Is she cheating on me?

  “Mr. McConnell.”

  I blink in confusion. “Whitney’s dad did this to you?”

  Heavy tears roll down her cheeks and her brows pinch together. It’s then I realize she didn’t want whatever he did to her. Black rage blinds me and I stumble backward, my brain on one mission: kill that motherfucker.

  “Stop,” she hisses. “What are you doing?”

  “Did he…” I can’t even bring myself to say the words.

  “No, he didn’t. He just bruised me and stuck his tongue down my throat,” she murmurs, her fingers biting into my shoulders as she tries to keep me from blasting from the bathroom on a hunt for that man. She kicks off her jeans and then leans into me, her bare breasts smashing against my chest.

  “Why didn’t you call the police?” I demand, my voice husky now that her fingers are trailing down my sides.

  She pulls slightly away and unfastens my jeans that I never got to. With determination, she pushes them down along with my boxers, freeing my still-hard cock.

  “He beat me to it. He’s a lawyer. I’m a convicted felon,” she says with irritation.

  “Sheep,” I grumble, but then she’s gripping my dick, causing me to hiss in pleasure.

  Her blue eyes blaze with a mixture of heat and fury as they meet mine. She licks her lips and my cock jumps in her grip. “I am not a sheep,” she purrs. “I am a wolf.”

  I quirk a brow at her until her thumb swipes across my tip. I groan and lean into her touch. “How are you a wolf, Goldilocks? You don’t seem very ferocious.”

  Her perfect golden eyebrow arches as if she’s challenging me. She kneels before me, a queen before her king, and licks those fucking lips again. “I slapped him. I told him he was a sicko.”

  I don’t even get to praise her before she’s wrapping those pretty lips around my dick. My hand finds the doorframe to keep from wobbling and the other tangles in her messy blond hair. She sucks my cock as though she’s been dying to for a long time. All I can do is emit sounds of pleasure and relinquish control. She is very much controlling me from her knees. With every lick of her tongue, every scrape of her teeth, every bob of her head, she’s owning me.

  Fuck.

  “Jesus, Courtney,” I groan. “You’re fucking perfect.”

  She hums against my cock and I lose it. I grip her hair tight, slightly thrusting my hips to urge her to go faster. Her fingernails dig into my flesh as she blows me. The moment I feel my nuts tighten like I’m going to come, I drag her to her feet by her hair. Her eyes are wild and manic as I lift her and set her on the bathroom counter. In the next second, my wet dick is buried deep inside her tight cunt. Our mouths crash together as I fuck her hard. All it takes is one stroke of my fingers against her clit and her body is contracting around mine. I groan against her lips and spill every bit of my love into her.

  Love.

  It’s making me crazy.

  I stare at her ass as she strides through the shop like she owns it. It’s a far stretch from how she was not even a few weeks ago. B
ack when she was broken and mentally beaten, just drifting through the motions. Now, she sparkles with life and there’s pep in her step. She’s brave, but most importantly, she’s happy.

  Throwing myself into figuring out what’s wrong with a new client’s Mercedes, I try not to focus on the fact that she’s counting inventory in the other room. I haven’t fucked her at the shop before, but there’s a first time for everything. My cock thickens in my work pants, eagerly on board with that idea.

  Ignoring my urges, I think about how much more vocal she’s been lately.

  “We should go through her things. It’s been over a year, Rome. She’d probably hate the idea of you preserving her room like it’s some Goth museum.” She smiles. “Okay, well, maybe she wouldn’t hate that idea.”

  Anxiety claws at the inside of my chest, but I’m smiling. My sister. Our town’s very own Wednesday Addams. But she was sweet. Gothic as fuck but sweet. “One day,” I tell Courtney and kiss her eyebrow. “I’m not ready, but when I am, I want you to help me.”

  She tilts her head up and regards me with a soft expression. “I’ll be there whenever that time comes.”

  “Um, hello?” an annoying voice snaps, jerking me from my thoughts.

  I set my wrench down and turn to lock eyes with Whitney McConnell. Fucking viper. She’s dressed like the rich bitch she is today. A fancy dress. Expensive-ass shoes. And way too much makeup on for the middle of the day.

  “What are you doing here?” I demand through clenched teeth.

  She rolls her eyes. “You’re the only mechanic shop in this town. Something is wrong with my Range Rover. I need it fixed.”

  I clench my teeth. “Get out of my shop.”

  She sneers, “Careful, freak. I have a lot of pull in this town. Would be bad for business if your faithful patrons discovered you were turning away the McConnells.”

  I hate that she’s fucking right. “Jamal,” I bark and snap my fingers.