Primal God (The Defiant God Brotherhood #4)

Chapter 3

Dimitri

The house is silent by the time I get home Friday night. My feet ache from standing for hours during my surgery cases today. I snort softly as I toss my keys in the bowl by the front door and kick off my work shoes. There was a time when I thought I was invincible. When I could work for hours without feeling pain. Now I wonder if it’s time to slow down.

Serafina is in the kitchen, loading the dishwasher. Her hair is piled high on her head in a messy bun, which means she had another bad day. I brush a kiss against her cheek before going to the fridge.

“How was your day?”

She spins toward me, slamming her hand on the island countertop.

“My day?” She lets out a maniacal laugh. “My day was terrible, not that you care! You come in like you’re the king of the world, expecting me to wait on you hand and foot! Well, guess what? I’m done.”

I wait a beat to answer, knowing anything I say is going to start a fight.

“Honey, what’s this about?”

Her eyes flash. “Are you not listening to me? I’m done. I want a divorce!”

There was a time when that threat would send a rush a fear through me. I’d beg her to give me another chance and ask what I could do to change her mind.

Now, I say, “If that’s what you want.”

“If that’s what I want? How dare you! I’ll take everything you own, Dimitri Santos! The house. The cars. The property in Oklahoma. All of it will be mine.”

I nod. “If that’s what you want. As long as the kids stay with me.”

“No judge will ever give you custody of our children! How dare you even suggest trying to steal my babies from me?” She bursts into tears, wailing loudly. “You’ve tried to turn Joao against me, and now you threaten to take my babies. What is wrong with you?”

She moves quickly, striking me across the cheek. When she goes to hit me again, I grab her wrist, halting her.

“Serafina, you need to calm down.”

“Let go! You’re hurting me.” She wails louder. “Joao! Help me! Your father is hurting me!”

Joao appears, taking in the scene before him. Fuck. I know this looks bad, so I let go of her wrist. She strikes me again before rushing across the floor, throwing herself into Joao’s arms.

“Your father is a monster!”

“I heard everything, mae .”

He’s looking at her, truth in his gaze. Relief fills me. He knows I didn’t hit her. He sees through her shit. Thank fucking god.

Her eyes widen. “Of course you take his side. You always have!”

“ mae , you need help?—”

“Help?” Her voice raises. “You think I need help? My god, you’re just like him!”

She rushes past him, her shoes pounding on the hardwood as she goes to the second floor. A moment later, the door to our bedroom slams. I wince, knowing she likely woke the twins. A soft wail fills the air that has me moving. Joao follows as we go to the nursery.

Little Clara is the one who’s crying while Diego blinks up at me as if he’s trying to figure out what’s happening. I lift Clara, cradling her. Joao lifts his brother, doing the same.

“ Pai , I’m worried about her.”

I nod as I rock Clara. “I am, too.”

Her outbursts have become more frequent. More unpredictable. Nothing I suggest seems to help and I’m at my wit’s end trying to figure out what to do.

I say, “You’re a good boy, Joao. You shouldn’t worry about this.”

“I worry about her for the same reason I worry about you. You’re my parents.”

I smile just as little Clara settles in my arms. She yawns, snuggling closer to the heat of my body.

“Did you want more kids?”

The question has me looking up at Joao, who’s putting a now sleeping Diego in his crib. I do the same with Clara and motion for Joao to follow.

In the hallway, I say, “It’s complicated, but, yes, I always wanted a large family.”

Joao glances toward my room and says, “I remember the two of you fighting about it a lot when I was a kid. mae would say that you were trying to ruin her body by demanding more children.”

“I’m sorry you overheard that.”

He gives me a sheepish smile. “I was likely out of bed when I shouldn’t have been.”

“I always hoped to have a large family. After a point, I was happy with it being just the three of us.” I swallow down the words that were about to come out of my mouth. Joao doesn’t deserve the weight of my problems, so I say, “And now I’m happy it’s the five of us.”

Joao is silent, but nods. “You’re a good man, Dad.”

I pull him in for a side hug and say, “You are, too. Now, let’s have a drink and you can tell me all about your day.”

While I’m not a fan of my son drinking at parties, I’ve allowed him to share a drink with me in my study once he became a member of the Brotherhood.

His face falls. “My day wasn’t so great, and I think alcohol is part of the reason.”

“Because you’re hungover from last night?”

Joao is silent as we make our way downstairs to my study. I pour myself a drink and wait for him to speak.

Finally, he says, “Lili broke up with me this morning.”

This has me sputtering down the drink I just took.

“Did she give you a reason?”

“She just said that we both knew it wouldn’t work out and that we’re from two different worlds.” His eyes water as he looks up at me. “It just sucks, you know? I really liked her.”

Every word I said to her yesterday comes rushing back to me and I feel ashamed. Is this my fault?

“I can speak to her if you’d like?”

“God, no. That will only make things worse.” He sighs. “Maybe it’s a good thing. I wanted to go to Europe for a few semesters, like Elite Member Zhāng suggested, but felt guilty leaving Lili behind. I guess that’s not an issue now.”

It has been a pride watching Joao embrace the Defiant God Brotherhood, but I’m not sure how I feel about him taking advice from Zhāng. I’ve never trusted that fucker.

“Do what’s right for you.”

“Thanks Dad.” He smiles. “I think I’m going to go out for a bit.”

“Text me when you get back.”

“I will.”

He walks away, leaving me to my thoughts.

I caused my son pain because I can’t get my selfish desires under control. Desires that have only recently come to light.

When Joao first brought Lilith to our house, I saw a mousy girl who needed a friend in my son. As their relationship progressed, I saw someone who might help him grow. But something changed when I saw her a few months ago. Something that I haven’t been able to ignore, no matter how much I try. Something that will send me straight to hell.

Because I want my son’s girlfriend.

My cock hardens as I admit the truth to myself.

I want her so much that it’s become almost an obsession.

I’m moving before I can stop myself, locking the door to my office. Lilith’s words from yesterday dance around my head as I sit in my leather chair, freeing my cock. She taunted that I had probably rubbed one off in my room after seeing her naked at the pool. And she was right. She’d be stunned if she knew I wrapped her panties around my cock. She’d be shocked if she knew how many times I had done it since, too.

Closing my eyes, I remember the way her body moved as she undressed. Her skin glowed in the moonlight, and each curve of her body beckoned me to go out there and claim her. I groan as I stroke myself. She said I wished I was the one in the pool. She was right about that, too. Precum leaks from the tip of my cock, and I smear it around, pumping myself harder.

From my viewpoint in the kitchen, I could see her head fall back in pleasure, but she was too quiet. If I had been the one there, she would have been making sounds, unable to control herself. Because I would demand it, and she would listen.

“Yes, Daddy.”

The two words she threw in my face, not knowing how close she was to sending me over the edge.

“Fuck,” I hiss. “That’s right, little girl. I’m your Daddy.”

My balls ache as my release builds.

I shouldn’t want her, but, fuck, I do.

I want to ruin her the same way she ruins me by tempting me.

I work myself harder. Pleasure coils deep in my stomach, making it hard to think.

I fantasize about the way her black dress hiked up when she bent over, pulling out the cutting board. I remember how hard it was seeing her bare thigh as we drove. How the urge to slide my hand up her dress had me gripping the steering wheel with an ironclad grip just so I didn’t reach over.

Her sweet face dances across my mind as I come in my hand.

“Fuck,” I exhale, leaning back, spent from my release.

I know Joao is upset that she broke up with him, but this is for the best. For everyone.