Deception (Reckoning Book 3) Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Deception

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  More From Joy

  From Joy

  Deception

  Reckoning Series, Book Three

  Joy Blood

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2016 Joy Blood

  All rights reserved.

  Deception:

  Noun-

  The act of deceiving; the state of being deceived

  Something that deceives or is intended to deceive; fraud; artifice

  My definition: everyday

  One

  His voice creeps into my very soul sending a cold chill up my spine but at the same time, my mind tells me I love this man. "Avil. What happened?" I ask wanting to go to him. He gets a strange look on his face, one I can't place and walks to me.

  "What is it that you remember baby girl?" he asks now standing by the bedside hands casually in his pockets. I think hard for a moment trying to pinpoint the last memory I have.

  "You sent me a dress. I met you on the steps." I smile and blush at the next thought that comes to mind.

  "You remember me proposing?" he asks still not sitting on my bed. I nod as his smile grows. "Anything else?" I try but get nothing. Slightly shaking my head I tell him no.

  "What happened to me Avil?" I question him once again.

  "You were kidnapped. Taken from me by a bad man. One whom I thought I had dealt with long ago." He tells me finally sitting down onto the bed taking my hand into his. "He took you with the help of some bikers. Do you remember any of this?" he questions. Only getting a head shake from me.

  "Did we get married?" I ask getting a brow raise. He looks over to Ava who is still in the room busying herself with the sheets she stripped from the bed. She just smiles and walks out of the door leaving us alone. He looks back at me still smiling.

  "Yes. I'm sorry you can't remember it. You were beautiful." He leans forward bringing his face to mine. He still looks the same as if no time has passed since the night I met him. Clean cut and piercing blue eyes that still swallow me whole.

  "Do we have children?" I question before his mouth reaches mine causing him to jerk back.

  "Why would you ask that?" He asks in almost a harsh tone.

  "I have a... c-section scar." I squeak out the last part not wanting to say it at all.

  "Oh baby girl." Hie face gets sad and voice changes almost instantly. "You were with child. But when they took you..." he drifts off hurt contorting his face. "Or son. We lost him because of them." He tells me leaning forward to clutch me to his chest. I know right now I should be sad but it is strange to be upset over something I can't remember even happing.

  "Anthony," I whisper causing him to pull back.

  "Who baby?" he asks.

  "We were going to name him Anthony. Right?" I say making him scowl for a brief moment but it quickly washes away.

  "Yes. We were." He tells me then gets up off of the bed. Remembering I have a best friend who must be worried sick about me I grab his hand to stop him from leaving.

  "Dawn! Where is she? She has to be going crazy wondering where I am." I tell him in a panicked voice.

  "She is gone too." This tone isn't as soft as it was when he told me of our son's fate. "She was with you when you were taken. They didn't want the baggage." He tells me taking his hand away. "Get some rest. You have been through a lot." He tells me then walks to the door stopping right before walking out. "Don't go trying to remember things baby girl. No good can come of it." He tells me and walks out the door. Leaving me alone to my blank memories.

  Two

  I have spent three days in bed and I'm going stir crazy. "Can I please get out today?" I whine to the doctor that was brought in to examine me.

  "Well, it looks like the swelling has gone down significantly. How is the memory?" he asks shining a light into my eyes. I think of what Avil told me.

  "No memories. Just a big blank space in time." I lie to him. I have only remembered bits and pieces that I can't place.

  "They may come back to you or they may never return. Things like these take time best take it slowly and don't push yourself." He is a tall lanky man clean shaven with a freshly trimmed haircut to his dark brown hair.

  "I won't. Promise. Now can I get out of bed?" I ask sounding like a child.

  "Yes but don't over do it. When you start to get tired sit down, take a break." He tells me.

  "What about sex?" Avil's voice booms from the door causing the doctor to jerk his head in his direction.

  "If she feels up to it." The doctor states putting his flashlight looking thing into his pocket.

  "Good. We will see you again next week for another check up." Avil tells him walking up to my side effectively pushing the doctor away from me. "Good day doctor." Avil dismisses him then looks at me. "Let's get you dressed. My sister-in-law and her new baby are here." He tells me all but pulling me up to my feet and dragging me to the bathroom. "I will grab you some clothes. Get showered." He tells me and leaves me to it.

  I get into the hot steam of the shower and wash away the sleep from my body. My hands linger on my stomach where my scar is engraved into my skin. A picture of a man with several scars flashes through my mind. He is so familiar but I can't understand why. This time, he is washing me in a shower and kissing my scars so tenderly. I know he is someone special to me but Avil's warning about not trying to remember holds me back from asking who he is.

  I finish my shower and step out to grab a towel finding Avil there holding one out for me. I walk to him and let him engulf me in the large fluffy blue towel. The color seems to be everywhere. He told me it was my favorite color but I know for a fact it wasn't. I keep going along with it though knowing that if I don't keep my secrets something bad will be sure to happen.

  "Still so beautiful." He tells me taking the towel back. "Raise your arms baby girl." I do as he says and he grabs a baby blue sundress from the vanity and pulls it over my head. I do the rest putting my arms through the straps and straightening it. Another sun dress.

  "Panties?" I ask with a smile.

  "No. I like to know you are ready for me. Sort of a game we played." He grins reaching for my behind and squeezing it lightly before grabbing my hand to lead me out the door.

  We walk out into a beautifully decorated landing. Two other doors are across from us. Large paintings of landscapes and buildings line the walls along with a bouquet of fresh white roses on each table next to the doors. I look over to see my door has one too.

  "Ava has a thing for white roses," Avil explains as we reach the stairs. The carpet looks like crushed red velvet like we are walking the red carpet for an award show. "This is our wing of the house. A spare room there." He points to the door furthest away. "My room is there." He points to the last door.

  "Why don't we have the same room?" I ask.

  "Well, we don't really live here. Our home was burnt to the ground. We are just staying until I find us the perfect place once again."

  "Burned? Oh my good
ness." I fake concern.

  "Yes. Just another thing those people did and as for the room situation." He stops and looks to me. "I'm very busy and seem to be up all hours of the night. I will come to you frequently now that you are healed." He smiles bringing his face close to mine. A flash of him slamming his mouth down onto mine and forcing his tongue into my mouth makes me jerk my face away just a fraction before I can stop myself. "What is it?" he asks me in an annoyed tone. Come up with a lie Ellie.

  "I forgot to brush my teeth after eating breakfast." I lie. "I could have oatmeal stuck in my teeth." I smile. He must believe my little white lie because he shrugs and pushes his lips to mine. It's soft at first then he pushes his tongue into my mouth much like the memory but I go with it reaching my arms around him. Keeping him in the dark.

  "Now let's go she is probably waiting." He tells me as we continue down the stairs.

  "Well, there you two are. Avil dear introduce me to your wife." A tall blond woman with bright red lipstick comes walking toward us as we enter what must be a sitting room of some kind. This place is huge. After we got to the bottom of the stairs we took four more hallways to get to this room. Well, maybe not four but it's still huge.

  "Cynthia. This is Ellie. Ellie this is my brother's widow Cynthia." Widow.

  "Oh, I'm so sorry," I say taking the extended hand she gives me.

  "Oh thank you but no need." She tells me then a baby cries drawing my attention away from her strange comment. There sitting in a carseat on the floor is a small baby covered in blue. Blanket, clothes, and carseat all blue.

  "How has he been?" Avil asks walking over to the infant and taking him out of the seat. He has dark wispy hair and chubby hands. Looking at him makes me clutch my stomach.

  "He is adorable." Is all I can choke out. They both ignore me and fawn over the baby. I'm glad for this so they can't see my mini breakdown.

  "Did you get your things all moved without a problem?" Avil asks her pulling me from my sadness.

  "Oh yes thank you for sending the help, William and I only had to take the drive over." He strokes her shoulder and hands her the baby, William, I guess his name is. He doesn't look like a William though, more like...

  "Ellie. Did you hear me?" Avil snaps at me.

  "Hmm? No, I'm sorry I didn't." I confess looking from the baby to him. His scrunched face which I have now classified at the pissy face snaps back to his loving face. This man has so many different sides it gives me whiplash. For some reason, I don't think that this is the first time I have thought so.

  "I said Cynthia and little William here are moving into our wing, right across from us. Since my brother was killed she now has to live with the family until we chose a suitable husband for her." What did he say? He must notice the confusion on my face because he explains further. "It goes back years and years in tradition. If a woman is widowed the family she marries into will care for her. Tradition normally goes she marries the eldest brother left in the family but in this case, it won't work because of you and I being already married." He states.

  "That is interesting. I never heard of such a thing." I tell him. What a strange family.

  "Well yes. Too bad for me." She lets out a nervous laugh calling for someone. "Patrice." She yells and a short round woman with dark hair pinned in a bun comes scurrying through the door.

  "Yes miss?" she asks in a heavy Spanish accent.

  "I think he needs changing." Cynthia passes William to Patrice brushing her hands together after the baby leaves them.

  "Yes miss Cynthia." She tells her and scurries back out the door grabbing the seat and diaper bag to take with her.

  "I think I need to go lie down," I tell them faking a small dizzy brace on the back of a green velvet couch. What is it with all the different shades of velvet?

  "I will walk you." I start to decline Avil's offer but stop when I remember that I probably won't find my way back to my room. I slip my arm into his outstretched one and follow him out. Both of us saying our goodbyes to Cynthia who shoots me a disgusted look when I glance over my shoulder at her one last time. I already knew we wouldn't get along but now it is certain. I think she has some secret agenda.

  "You doing okay?" he asks on out way through the maze that is this mansion.

  "Oh yes, I think it has passed. What is this room?" I ask when we pass a set of double doors. I wanted to ask the first time we went by but he seemed so determined to get to Cynthia and the baby I didn't dare.

  "Ah. The Library. You want to see?" this is playful Avil now. I don't think I see this one much.

  "Yes please." I smile and we walk through one door leading us into the biggest library I have ever seen. Well in a home that is. Books are everywhere. "This is beautiful," I whisper.

  "So are you." I hear his voice directly behind me. I shiver and turn to face him not wanting my back to be vulnerable to his approach. He backs me up to a desk sitting in the middle of the room slowly pushing me to sit on it.

  "Avil what..." he cuts me off with his mouth meeting mine and sliding his hands up my legs. Instinct wants me to shove them, keep him out but I push it away. Instead, I open them further for him to fit himself in between. I get a moan of pleasure from him in response.

  "Missed you baby girl." He tells me against my lips licking them once before he pulls back and strips the straps of my dress down to expose my breasts. He groans and laves at my nipples sending pleasure spiking throughout my body. His hands have gotten to my core and are now starting their assault on my clit. He is rubbing circles with both thumbs over my sensitive nub then dipping into my pussy with his two fingers. Just when I start to lose it he pulls away and I hear a jingle of his belt. I can feel a memory try to come back but I refuse to let it instead I wrap my arms around him and rake my fingers over his scalp squeezing my legs around him tighter when I feel his freed cock. He lines himself up and slowly pushes inside me taking his time. It frustrates me.

  "Oh, how I have missed this pussy of yours baby girl. So fucking tight." He tells me and pushes in the rest of the way groaning in pleasure as he pulls out and thrusts back in. He continues his slow assault on my body still sucking my breasts and now needing my ass. "Fucking close baby girl let me feel it. Let me feel your pussy squeeze my cock." He grunts out. Something takes my mind somewhere else and I feel him start to come inside me. Oh shit. I let out a moan trying to sound genuine. I'm afraid of what he would do if I don't come or if he knew I was faking it. "Missed you baby girl." He groans out in my ear pulling out letting his release fall from my body. He lifts me up off of the desk and rights my dress then leads me back to my room. Promptly leaving me afterward.

  Three

  Vin

  "Got chapters in Illinois spreading out. They got a bead on him. Also got Intel from the maid's daughter. There is a woman in the house that matches Ellie's description." Gin's words wash over me causing me relief and dread at the same time. If she isn't dead that means there is more for her to suffer at his hands. "His wife, he is telling everyone." Gin looks to me. "Were they married before?" fucking prick. I shake my head telling him no.

  "She just going with it?" I ask. She can adapt to get through anything but the thought of her in the arms of Avil once again turns my stomach.

  "Maid said she has a head injury, doesn't remember shit." He tells me. That information makes my heart sink. "Something else." I jerk my eyes in his direction again. "Avil now has another woman staying there. Says she is his sister in law." He pauses. I give him a look that says 'get on with it' what he says next makes my blood boil. "She has a kid, but maid says she don't ever remember her being pregnant, or even hearing the news." Motherfucker.

  "The fuck?" I say aloud. "A boy?" Gin nods his head.

  "Yeah. Fucked up shit V. Sick prick we are dealing with here." I agree with that. He is fucked in the head enough to parade that kid in front of her without her even knowing he belongs to her.

  "When can we move in?" I ask already to bust down their door and kill every one of th
e Cantrell's not even considering how difficult it may be.

  "Time man, we need time. Ain't going to be no picnic." I nod and get up to leave.

  "Keep the tabs, keep me informed. I got calls to make." I turn and leave the room. Going back to the one I shared with Ellie. The sheets still faintly smell like her and I can't bring myself to change them. Sitting down I take out my phone and call the one person I know who can be my way to her. Even if it puts him in danger too.

  Four

  It's been over a week now since I woke up. My days are routine. Breakfast, sex, lunch, followed by more sex. Then dinner, and you guessed it, sex. Avil is insatiable always coming to my room in the morning waking me with his tongue between my legs. Yes coming into my room. He doesn't sleep with me at night. I'm not sure where he goes but after he gets his fill of me he leaves me feeling like a pile of jello and walks out of the room only to return in the morning. Our 'after lunch' sessions seem to be anywhere around the house he pleases. Yesterday it was in the kitchen. I try to hide my face behind the magazine I'm reading after eating my breakfast at the very table he bent me over yesterday. He keeps me dressed in dresses and no panties. The act seeming oddly familiar.

  "What are you thinking about over there?" Cynthia's uninterested voice breaks into my thoughts. She has been snippy and cold toward me only smiling at me when Avil is around. Putting on a show for him. I really don't understand why. She was married to his brother, not him.

  "Nothing, just this article. A little funny is all." I lie. I have become quite good at that in this past week. Telling Avil how much I love him even when a nagging thought in the back of my mind tells me that I don't. Making him believe I come every time he tells me to. I do most of the time but the other I have to fake my way through it. It's strange like my body is trying to tell me something. I keep going though something in the back of my mind telling me to keep up the facade.