The Devil’s Chaos (The Brotherhood #2)

40. Forty

40

FORTY

HAVEN

A s the first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, I stirred, my eyes fluttering open to find Kai still holding me close. His gaze met mine, a soft smile playing on my lips. “Good morning, beautiful,” he murmured, his voice husky with sleep.

I nestled closer, relishing the warmth of his body against mine. “Morning,” I whispered back, marveling at how perfectly I fit in his arms. It had been a month since I was shot, and I had spent all my days with Kai, healing and existing together. We fit together like two puzzle pieces, finally coming together.

Kai’s fingers traced lazy patterns on my skin. “I could get used to this,” he confessed, his eyes shimmering with an emotion I couldn’t quite place. “Waking up beside you every day.”

My breath caught in my throat at his words, my heart fluttering wildly. I reached up, caressing his jawline. “I feel the same way. Being with you like this…it just feels right.”

His hand slid down my side, igniting sparks across my skin. He leaned in, capturing my lips in a searing kiss that left me breathless. I melted into him, my fingers tangling in his tousled hair as the kiss deepened, growing more urgent and passionate.

Kai's hand drifted lower, caressing my hip and pulling me flush against him. I could feel the evidence of his desire pressing insistently against my thigh. A soft gasp escaped my lips as he nuzzled my neck, his stubble rasping deliciously against my sensitive skin. His lips blazed a trail of fire down my neck, his teeth grazing my collarbone as goosebumps covered my skin. I arched into his touch, craving more, needing to feel his skin against mine. Kai’s hand slipped beneath the hem of my shirt and his fingers splayed across my stomach, inching higher until he cupped my breast, his thumb teasing my nipple into a hardened peak. His hands roamed my body with reverence as he mapped every curve and committed it to memory.

A breathy moan fell from my lips as he lavished attention on my chest, his mouth replacing his hand, tongue swirling and teasing. I writhed beneath him and dug my nails into his shoulders, urging him on. He drifted back down, skimming over my hip and dipping between my thighs. His stroking and circling of my most sensitive spot tore a gasp out of me as I lay there trembling with need..

“Kai,” I whimpered, my hips bucking against his hand, seeking more friction, more pressure. He silenced me with a searing kiss and delved his tongue into my mouth. His fingers continued their torturous exploration, driving me higher and higher until I was teetering on the edge.

In one swift motion, he rolled us over and settled his weight deliciously on top of me. His eyes, dark with passion, locked onto mine as he slowly, teasingly dragged the thin strap of my nightgown off my shoulder. His fingertips skimmed the newly exposed skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake.

“You're so beautiful,” he breathed, his voice rough with need. “I want to worship every inch of you.”

A shiver of anticipation raced down my spine at his words. I reached for the hem of his shirt, eager to feel his bare skin against mine. Kai obliged, swiftly removing the garment and tossing it aside. I drank in the sight of his sculpted chest, my hands exploring the firm planes and ridges of his abdomen. He groaned as my nails lightly raked over his skin, and the sound sent a jolt of pleasure straight to my core. Capturing my wrists, he pinned them above my head as he claimed my mouth in a scorching kiss. His tongue probed deep, tangling with mine in a sensual dance that left me dizzy with desire. I could feel the heat of his arousal pressing against my core, separated only by the thin fabric of our clothing.

His free hand slid down my body, bunching the skirt of my nightgown around my hips. I gasped as his fingers brushed against the lace edge of my panties while they teased the sensitive skin of my inner thigh.

“Please,” I whimpered, my hips bucking involuntarily, seeking more of his touch. “I need you, Kai.”

His eyes darkened with primal hunger at my plea, a low growl rumbling in his chest. In one swift motion, he tore away the flimsy lace barrier, leaving me bare and exposed to his heated gaze. His fingers traced the slick folds of my sex, and he circled the sensitive bundle of nerves at my core. I cried out, my back arching off the bed as pleasure crashed over me in waves.

“That's it, baby,” he rasped, his voice rough with need. “Let go for me.”

His fingers pumped faster as he drove me closer to the edge. I could feel the tension coiling tighter and tighter in my belly, my thighs trembling as I teetered on the brink of ecstasy. With a final stroke of his fingers, I shattered as I came undone beneath him.

Desperate to feel him inside me, I reached between us, fumbling with the button of his jeans. Kai quickly got the message, breaking the kiss just long enough to shuck off his pants and boxers and kick them off the bed. He settled between my thighs, causing his hard length to press insistently against my core. I wrapped my legs around his hips, urging him closer, needing to feel every inch of his skin against mine. With a powerful thrust of his hips, he buried himself inside me, stretching and filling me so perfectly it bordered on painful.

A guttural moan tore from my throat as he began to move with thrusts deep and measured. I clung to him, and my nails dug into the firm muscles of his back as he drove into me again and again.

“You feel so good,” he groaned against my skin. His voice was strained with the effort of holding back. “So perfect. Like you were made just for me.”

The pressure built inside me with each thrust of his hips, coiling tighter and tighter until I thought I might combust from the sheer intensity of it all. He seemed to sense my impending release and his movements became more urgent, more forceful. Reaching between us, his fingers found my sensitive nub, and he stroked it in time with his thrusts.

It was all too much—the exquisite slide of his body inside mine, the delicious friction of his fingers against my core, the intoxicating scent of our mingled arousal heavy in the air. With a keening cry, I shattered, my inner muscles clenching around him like a vice as wave after wave of ecstasy crashed over me.

He followed me over the edge with a hoarse shout, his hips stuttering as he emptied himself inside me, his release hot and pulsing. He collapsed on top of me, and I welcomed his weight as an anchor as I floated back down from the dizzying heights of our lovemaking.

We lay there for a long moment, our chests heaving as we struggled to catch our breath. Kai pressed a tender kiss to my sweat-dampened brow, his fingertips tracing idle patterns on my skin as he softened inside me.

“That was…” he trailed off.

“Incredible,” I finished for him, my lips curving into a satisfied smile. “Earth-shattering. Life-altering.”

He chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest and into mine. “All of the above.”

I propped myself up on one elbow. “I’m starving.”

He grinned at me with a twinkling mischief in his eyes. “Worked up an appetite, did you?”

I playfully swatted his chest. “As if you didn’t. I seem to recall you being quite…enthusiastic.”

Rolling out of bed, I grabbed his discarded shirt from the floor and slipped it on, inhaling the scent of him that clung to the fabric. “Come on, let’s raid the fridge. I think there’s some leftover Chinese takeout from the other night.”

He followed me to the kitchen, his hands skimming my hips as I rummaged through the refrigerator. “Ah, here we go. Kung pao chicken and fried rice. A feast fit for royalty.”

We settled onto the breakfast nook table, our bare legs intertwined as we devoured cold leftovers straight from the containers. Between bites, we traded lazy kisses and savored the mix of spices on each other’s tongues.

“You know,” he said, setting aside his empty carton. “I could get used to this. Mind-blowing sex followed by early morning snacks with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

I smiled, warmth blooming in my chest at his words. “Careful, mister. Keep talking like that, and I might just keep you around.”

He pulled me closer, his fingers toying with the hem of my shirt. “Is that a promise?”

“That depends,” I teased as my fingers danced across his bare chest. “Think you can handle being kept around by the likes of me?”

“Oh, I’m up for the challenge,” he murmured, his lips grazing my earlobe. “In fact, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than be kept by you.”

The door to the kitchen flew open, and Archer stepped inside, followed by Mila. I hadn’t had a chance to speak to either of them since that night at the compound, and I’ll admit, I was suddenly overwhelmed with nerves.

I quickly pulled away from the intimate embrace, tugging at the hem of the shirt in a futile attempt to maintain some modesty. Heat crept up my neck as Archer's gaze swept over us, taking in our state of undress and the remnants of our impromptu meal scattered across the table. Mila, on the other hand, seemed unfazed, a knowing smirk playing on her lips.

“Well, well, well,” Archer drawled, crossing his arms over his chest. “Looks like you two have been busy.

Mila elbowed him in the ribs as her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Leave them be, Archer. They deserve a little happiness after everything they’ve been through.”

I cleared my throat, desperately trying to regain some composure. “We were just…grabbing a bite to eat,” I said.

“I can see that,” Archer chuckled, gesturing to the empty takeout containers. “Though it seems you worked up quite an appetite in the process.”

Kai slung his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “What can I say? She brings out the best in me in more ways than one.”

Mila’s smile softened as she looked between us. “I’m really glad you’re okay, Haven. After you were shot, I hoped you would survive so I could thank you for what you did for me. You brought me back to Archer, and I’ll never be able to repay you for that.”

I felt a lump form in my throat at her heartfelt words. I hadn’t realized I had pressed my hand against the spot where I was shot, now just an angry red scar. Kai must have seen it because he intertwined his fingers with mine and squeezed my hand reassuringly.

“You don’t owe me anything. I’m just happy to be alive and free of my brother.”

“Speaking of your brother, I need to have a conversation with Kai if that’s okay,” Archer cleared his throat, his expression turning serious.

Kai tensed beside me, his grip on my hand tightening. “What’s going on?”

Mila sighed, her earlier levity fading. “I’ll stay with Haven, Kai.”

Kai hesitated, his eyes searching mine as he made sure I was okay with him leaving. I gave him a small nod, silently communicating that it would be okay. He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead before he reluctantly followed Archer out of the kitchen, leaving me alone with Mila. She settled into a spot a few feet away, and an awkward silence stretched between us. I fidgeted with the hem of Kai’s shirt, suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable. Mila, sensing my discomfort, offered me a gentle smile.

“Why don’t you go get dressed? I’ll clean up here and make us some coffee. I have a feeling we’re going to need it.”

Gratitude washed over me at her understanding. “Thank you. I’ll be right back.”

I hurried to the bedroom, my mind racing with possibilities of what Archer needed to discuss with Kai. I quickly slipped on a pair of leggings and a soft white sweater, running a brush through my tangled hair before rejoining Mila in the kitchen.

She handed me a steaming cup of coffee, and the rich aroma helped to calm my frayed nerves. We settled at the now-clean table, sipping our drinks in contemplative silence.

“I know you’re worried about Kai,” Mila began, her voice gentle. “But Archer needs answers, and he’s just trying to figure out the best way to move forward, given everything that’s happened.”

I nodded, my fingers tightening around the warm ceramic. “I know me being here isn’t easy on anyone. I never meant to cause any discord between Kai, Archer, or anyone else in The Brotherhood.”

“You didn’t. Archer, Kai, and Theo have all grown up together. They’ve bled for each other, and any one of them would gladly lay their lives down for each other. This stuff with your family isn’t enough to change that. Archer is a fair man, and he understands what it means to love someone so much you’d do some pretty crazy things for them, even when it means forsaking your brothers.”

“I just don’t want Kai to pay for my sins.”

Mila reached across the table, placing her hand over mine. “Haven, you have to know that none of this is your fault. Your brother’s actions are his own, and you can’t carry that burden.”

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I blinked them back. “How can you feel that way when I am the reason your friend was killed? If I had just said something, she might still be alive.”

Mila’s eyes welled up with tears, but she squeezed my hand, her eyes filled with compassion. “I won’t lie and say it doesn’t still hurt to think about losing Lacey. She was my best friend, and I miss her every single day. But I also know you were as much a victim in all this as she was. Your brother has manipulated and threatened you, using your love for Kai against you. You did what you thought you had to do to protect the man you love. I can’t fault you for that. No matter how much her absence in my life ripped me apart, the blame lies on your brother, never you.”

A single tear escaped, trailing down my cheek. “I’m so sorry, Mila. I never wanted anyone to get hurt because of me.”

She reached out, gently wiping the tear away. “I know. And I forgive you. We all do. The only person to blame is Alexander Benson. You know, after her death, Kai was beside himself. I thought it was because he felt responsible for what happened as if any of us could have stopped it. It wasn’t until he told me the truth I realized he wasn’t himself because you had left him.”

“That night was one of the best nights of my life…until it wasn’t,” I admitted. “When I realized Alex was at the party, I went after him. I tried to stop him.”

“I know,” she said softly.

“Kai and I never spoke about our obligations to our families. We just pretended like we were two different people living different lives than the ones we had been born into.” I took a shuddering breath, “When I saw that video of the four of you together, it felt like someone had stabbed me in the heart. And then I saw what Alex did to Lacey, and my whole world crumbled apart. I felt like I was outside looking in, like I had no control over any aspect of my life. The more I fought my brother, the more people around me got hurt or killed, and all I could think about was what would happen to Kai if I stayed with him. I couldn’t bear the thought of my brother hurting him to punish me. So I did the only thing I could think of to protect him—I left.”

Mila nodded in understanding. “I get it, Haven. You were trying to shield him the only way you knew how. But you have to know, walking away nearly destroyed Kai. He was a wreck after you left. And as for the video of us together, no one was supposed to be recording that, but I imagine that was Maddie’s doing. The Brotherhood demands sacrifice from both its men and their women. What you saw was a part of that, and I can promise you that no one who participated wanted to be there. It’s this fucking archaic patriarchy with its masochistic rules.”

I swallowed hard, guilt twisting in like a knife in my gut. “I never meant to hurt him. Or anyone. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“I know you did. And deep down, I think Kai knows that too. But that man loves you, and believe me, he is not the ‘love’ type. Losing you, not knowing if you were safe or even alive—it tore him apart. I’ve never seen him the way I did after you rescued me.”

“I don’t know how to fix this, how to make things right. I’ve made so many mistakes. People have died because I wasn’t strong enough.”

She squeezed my hand again. “You start by forgiving yourself. What happened to Lacey, the impossible situation your brother put you in, none of it was your fault. You’re a victim in this, too, Haven. It’s time you start believing that.”

I drew in a shaky breath, trying to absorb her words.

“And as far as I’m concerned, this shit with Maddie is over too. You gave her exactly what she deserved, and I am very thankful for that.”

“Why are you being so kind to me? I’m the daughter of your enemy—the sister to the monster who kidnapped you.”

“I know better than anyone that we can’t choose our family. Hell, you’ve been forced to entertain the skeleton in my closet—my father—enough to know that we all come from families built on lies and dishonorable acts,” her expression softened. “I don’t see you as the daughter of an enemy or the sister of a monster. I see a woman who has been through hell, who has had to make impossible choices to protect the people she loves. You’re not responsible for your family’s actions. You are only responsible for yourself. From what I’ve seen, you have a good heart. Or else I wouldn’t be here talking to you right now.”

She paused, taking a sip of her coffee before continuing. “And from where I’m sitting, you’ve shown nothing but bravery and selflessness. You risked your own life to save mine, to help us take down your brother once and for all, knowing full well the consequences you could face. That’s not the mark of an enemy, Haven. That’s the mark of a friend—family even.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I felt the air rush out of my lungs. After years of living under my brother's thumb, of being made to feel like nothing more than a pawn in his twisted games, the idea that someone could see me as anything else was almost too much to bear.

“I don't know what to say,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “I've spent so long believing I was tainted by association— that no one could ever see past my last name.”

Mila reached across the table, grasping my hand in hers. “Well, get used to it because, as far as I’m concerned, you're one of us now. You've more than proven your loyalty, and we take care of our own.”

Tears blurred my vision, and I blinked rapidly, trying to clear them. “Thank you, Mila. For everything.”

She smiled, squeezing my hand once more before releasing it. “Anytime. Now, what do you say we go see what the boys are up to? I have a feeling Archer's interrogation tactics might be a bit much for poor Kai to handle on his own.”

A laugh bubbled up in my throat, and I nodded, pushing back from the table. “Lead the way,” I said.