THEIR PRINCESS: Book 1 (Brothers of Diabolo) Read online

  “Why Gabriella?” I had to ask the question.

  “He has money, status, but not yet a wife.” Chief ran his hand down his beard.

  “He’s not fat and ugly, can’t he go and marry someone else?” I stated the facts, something wasn’t adding up.

  Chief looked at me, “He’s into BDSM he wants a slave not a wife.”

  I stared at Chief for a few seconds longer. “The fucker is dead.” I then felt the blistering rage course through my body. “Consider it handled.”

  “Thought you couldn’t kill him?” Maddox mocked me.

  “That was before.”

  “Before what?” Maddox pressed me, arching his eyebrows.

  “Before I gave a fuck if I came out of this clean.” I knew then that I’d be giving up my life one way or another for this to work. Whether I went to prison or ended up shot.

  Maddox was still staring at me.

  “Fucking why do you care Maddox? When I’m through, you’ll be able to marry her. What happens to me after doesn’t matter.”

  I dropped my cigarette, stepping on it, and then turned to leave.

  Maddox would still get to marry her and I’d fucking handle this. If I died, so be it. I wasn’t really living now. Then I thought to myself, maybe me handling this, would in some way give her the life she deserved and the life I could never give her.

  Chapter Three

  Ellie

  I had a cigarette between my teeth while painting my toenails when the door opened to mine and Maddox’s dorm room. We were getting a house, but I wanted to go halves or at least contribute so I was still saving. No matter how many times Maddox tried to talk me out of it, I wouldn’t let him.

  “Babe?” Maddox asked, and I looked up. I knew it was him in the room, no one else would dare to walk into Maddox’s dorm room without at least knocking.

  “Yeah, hon?” I replied, still painting my toenails.

  “I need to tell you something.”

  “Listening.”

  “Nah, babe, I need your full attention.”

  I frowned, looking up and watching as Maddox took the nail polish bottle out from between my feet and put the lid on.

  “Okay?” I looked at him, slightly concerned. What on earth was so important?

  “I was wrong last night.” He looked me in the eyes, guilt consuming every inch of his face. “Hudson is in town.”

  At first nothing happened. Then my stomach dropped and tightened. I needed to throw up. Suddenly those bags of crispy chips weren’t a good idea. I get up, pushing Maddox out of the way, and head straight for our bathroom.

  I emptied my stomach within seconds. Maddox pulled my hair back and out of the way, and then, when I couldn’t throw up anymore, I flushed and go for the basin, grabbing the mouthwash first.

  “Darling, I need you to be calm about this,” Maddox said but I can’t look at him. He said, he’d never let Hudson near us. He said, he’d never let him come back to the charter. I spat the mouthwash out and grabbed my toothbrush. I was still shaking, now, with rage at Maddox because, he made me doubt my own eyes last night and two, he promised me!

  I finally rinsed my mouth and turned to face him. “You said—”

  “I know.” He cut me off. And then ran a hand over his black hair. “And your reaction to just hearing he is here, makes me think this isn’t a good idea.” He shook his head. “Fuck, I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  “What isn’t a good idea?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Maddox Matthew Steel, do not lie to me right now.” I stomped my foot, making me look five not twenty-five.

  His eyes went to mine. “I wanted to ask you if you’d consider having a conversation with him? ”

  My mouth dropped. “Are you kidding me? You are joking right?” And when he doesn’t say anything, I stormed out of the bathroom, shouldering him on the way out.

  “Ellie listen to me—”

  I scoffed, listening to him wasn’t an option right now. He knew. He knew fucking everything about Hudson and me. He knew my secret. He knew everything, and now he stood there and asking me to go have a conversation with the man that was the whole reason I died and had a new heart beating in my chest.

  “He’s about to do something, Ellie. He won’t be coming back from it. The least I could think to give him something in return was a conversation with you.” Maddox added.

  My eyes focused on his. “He’s handling the Bruce thing?” I questioned.

  Maddox nodded his head. “He’s not going to come out of it a free man, Ellie. Hell maybe not even breathing.”

  I stared at Maddox.

  “He knows the full story, he’s more determined to do it now. Doesn’t give a fuck. He’ll die doing this.”

  I continued to stare at Maddox. My hand on the door knob. “Well, I couldn’t think of a more pleasant thing happening to that man. I hope he gets shot, bleeds slowly, and then goes to a level of hell that is for sick twisted bastards just like him.” I opened the door and stormed out.

  Like seriously. What the fuck was Maddox thinking?

  I just can’t. I can’t even. I gritted my teeth and knew I needed space.

  I headed to the bar—and not the club bar, but a bar downtown, clear on the otherside of town.

  It was funny I picked a place to escape Hudson, only to come to a bar where we had our first date. I wrapped my hand around my pint and sipped it.

  I regretted what I said now. I didn’t wish that on Hudson, well not all of it but Maddox knew that. He knew I was just furious. It was one of the reasons he let me leave to calm down.

  I took another sip of my beer, my thoughts conflicted.

  “Hey, miss.” I glanced up, seeing a man with darts in his hand. “Can’t tempt you for a game, can I?”

  “No.” I didn’t even give it a second thought.

  “Come on, sweetie pie. I’m known for giving a woman a good time.”

  I looked at him dryly, “Still not interested.”

  “I’m good at all games.” He winked at me.

  I gritted my teeth. “Please leave me alone.”

  “Perhaps a drink together will change your mind?” He put his hand up to flag down the bartender.

  Fuck. Now he was going to drink with me.

  “She said fuck off.” My back back stiffened hearing that voice behind me.

  The man looked behind me, stiffening and slowly backing away, and then basically fast walking in the other direction.

  I knew he was there. But I couldn’t turn around.

  Of course, he’d be drinking here too. Because he wasn’t meant to be at the club.

  “Don’t worry, Gabriella; I’m leaving.” He said to my back. I was still frozen on the bar stool.

  I felt him walk past me, and I caught sight of his back. He’s bigger than ever muscle wise—and that cut on his back. . .

  I made a decision in the heat of the moment. I got up, walked out, catching the door as it went to close. I spotted him walking to his bike.

  “Hudson!” I shouted and he froze, slowly turning around, looking at me.

  I inhaled sharply. Fuck the man could make a woman wet just by locking eyes with him. I was no exception. My eyes ran over the club ink on his neck, a tattoo of the numbers above his right eyebrow. The Brothers of Diabolo MC, ink stood out among his other ink.

  His eyes ran over me me. They paused on my neck, seeing the mark that Maddox had put there last night.

  I saw the tint of rage in his eyes, as I took two more steps towards him. God what was I thinking?

  “What Gabriella?” he finally spoke, before I remembered that it’s me who started this. I went after him. I called out his name.

  God, what was I going to say? I swallowed sharply. “Were you finished drinking?” I asked slowly.

  “Why is that important?” He was being an ass.

  “Because I was going to ask,” I paused. I could do this. I could sit down with the man that destroyed my life. “if you wanted to ha
ve a drink,” I added.

  He looked at me like that was impossible. Was he going to say anything?

  “With you?” he asked, sounding as shocked as he looked.

  “Think we have some catching up to do,” I said and I knew in that second. I wasn’t going to tell him shit about my drugs, my new heart, or any of that. But I could have a conversation with him about the club. Which was the only thing Hudson ever cared about.

  He walked towards me. I head back to the pub door, pushing it open and hold it open for him. He goes to the bar, ordering two drinks while I walk over to a booth. I kept telling myself I could do this. But the reality was, I was freaking out. I didn’t know if I could be near him, let alone, have a conversation with him.

  He put the beer in front of me, and thank god, he sat to the other side of the booth. Don’t think I’d be able to be close to him and have a conversation at the same time.

  I kept my eyes on the beer, swallowing sharply.

  I glanced up, watching as he lit up a cigarette. He cupped the cigarette, and memories flashed before me of the days that were hardest for Hudson and me. He used to smoke after sex. In fact, he always smoked after sex.

  The nights he would fuck me, the mornings when he would make love to me. The moments we had together were priceless. I loved him on a level that was infinite. I’d die for him, and lived for him and without him. I died. My heart stopped beating. My heart broke and bled for him. Now I was sitting across from him— and my new heart was reacting in a way my old heart would of.

  Hudson took the cigarette from his lips and gave me a look that almost makes me want to slide onto his cock and melt at the same time. God. Get your head out of the gutter Gabriella!

  “How you been darling?” he said softly, but with this rough swirl to it. The type of roughness you want in a man.

  I gulped. How have I been? I had to get a new heart because you broke the last one.

  “Fine.” I finally forced out, with a fake smile on my face. I couldn’t believe I was doing this—having a conversation with Hudson, after what happened.

  He’s eyes dropped to my hand, and then he looked back up. “Congratulations.” He said that one word, but he didn’t say it with honest happiness. He said it in a way that was more of a question than a statement.

  “Thanks.” I didn’t know what else to say. I glanced at my ring, my eyes lighting up, seeing that princess cut diamond.

  I glanced up and my genuine smile, didn’t go unnoticed by Hudson. A look of disbelief and rage so clear on his face. I knew in that second, he hated the fact that Maddox made me happy, me looking at the ring and that I was smiling.

  So, my smile dropped. When I looked up all I could see was simmering rage. “How have you been?” I changed the direction of the conversation, and wrapped my hand around the beer, taking a sip.

  “Honest answer or what you expect to hear?”

  I smiled at that, because that was Hudson, he was direct, and blunt. “Honest answer, Hudson.” I wasn’t going to get him to lie to me. Even though I had lied to him.

  “Well you give me an honest an answer and I’ll consider it. So,I’ll ask again, how you been?” The cigarette was burning between his fingers, and his eyes were focused on me. This time he wasn’t going to let me lie.

  “You broke me,” I said the three little words that were all truth. I didn’t add detail or make the situation more complex. I just stated the one fact. When I was detoxing, I went through all the things I’d say to him, if we were ever going to have a conversation together again. I always thought that I’d be able to tell him, I’d be able to tell him, you left, and I was fine. But that wasn’t the case.

  But hey, when you are detoxing, you tell yourself lies the whole time.

  He didn’t say anything, just stared at me.

  “Is that what you wanted to hear, Hudson?” I said, taking my handbag strap from around me and pulling out my own cigarettes. I was struggling to keep it together now.

  “I wanted to hear that you were fine. That you moved on with no problems. That your life got better. That’s what I wanted to hear,” Hudson said still looking at me.

  “Then you should have accepted my first answer of fine. If that’s what you wanted to hear.” I lit up a cigarette.

  “You smoke?”

  “Took it up when I was detoxing.” The words just came out, and I fucking regretted them immediately. I hope to fucking God, that Hudson didn’t hear them clearly but he had. He’s staring at me. With an expression I didn’t want to see—the expression that said he wanted fucking answers.

  I shook my head. “So, you tell me, how have you been?” I expected an honest reply because I had overshared on my answer.

  “Not forgetting what you said, darling. What did you detox from?”

  I stared at him, and if he wanted the truth, I was going to give it. “You.” And that was all I was going to share on my drug habit and darker days. “So, how have you been?”

  “Dying. Surviving. Typical shit.” He muttered, and his eyes went to his burning cigarette. “You tore my heart apart, Gabriella.”

  “And you killed me,” I said directly to him.

  He looked up from his cigarette.

  “Never made sense. . .” he mumbled.

  “What didn’t?”

  “What came from us.” He butted the cigarette out. “We were just a disaster, why you loved me—why you stood by me. None of it made sense.”

  “I loved you, Hudson.” I said with a cigarette between my fingers, not lit. “I loved you so much I died. I would have never left you.” And I wanted him to know that. “But you made sure I couldn’t follow you.” Tears swelled in my eyes. I couldn’t do this anymore. “I need to go,” I said standing up. His hand stopped me, folding over mine on the table.

  “Don’t. . .” he paused.

  Tears dropped from my eyes. “No one could hurt me on the level you did. You were my personal poison, Hudson.” I smiled dimly “And in the end you killed me.”

  And with that said, I pulled my hand from under his. This time it’s me walking away from him, not him leaving me crying in a house we had just bought together.

  I managed to make it outside, and the tears wouldn’t stop as I power walked to my car.

  I managed to get my keys out, when a hand wrapped around my arm, spinning me around. I don’t know what I was expecting, but his lips slammed onto mine. It was hard not sweet, but the small taste of him sent me to the edge. I kissed him back, with my own rage meeting his.

  I dropped the car keys, and my hands went to his hair, getting mixed up in his short black strands. His hands land on my hips and he physically pulls me towards him, so much so, I’m pressed against his chest and he can feel my breasts firmly pressed into his which sparked him to deepen the kiss.

  I slipped my tongue into his mouth, and it was like going back in time. I could remember the first day he walked through the club doors, the day he became a prospect. I remembered the first smirk I got from him. I remembered everything. It’s when the moan escaped my lips and I realized what I was doing. That I had to pull away. He pulled me back—as if I was his final meal, before death.

  He abruptly pulls away, his eyes locked onto mine. “I need to let you go,” he said with tears in his eyes. He turned and walked away from me—basically leaving me all over again.

  I began to shake, having PTSD as I see his back, same cut on, as he walked away from me, as he said something that basically meant we would never see each other again. I can’t bend over to get my keys. I can’t do anything. I’m shaking with fear, from memories that ruined my life, and then as people walk by staring, I listen to his bike start and take off—he left. He left me again. I picked up my keys and make it to my car, where I physically break down. Shaking with tears. I send one message.

  I need you.

  Chapter Four

  Ellie

  My fingers clench the steering wheel, tears flying down my face in streams as my whole body convulses w
ith angry, confused sobs.

  I’ve reached the point where I can barely breathe. I’ve reached the point where I can barely breathe—I’m just hyperventilating. The car door flies open.

  “Gabriella, what the fuck is going on?” Maddox demanded, before he sees me and drops to his knees beside the car. “Fuck, sweetie, what happened?”

  I turned to face him, but I can’t form words, I make move toward him but my body is exhausted at this stage, and I basically collapse in his arms but he catches me.

  “Darling, it’s okay,” he said as he pulled me from the car. “You’ll be okay. I’m right here.” He guided me to my feet and helped me around the car before placing me in the passenger seat.

  “What about your bike?” I stuttered out.

  “Fuck the bike. I’m more concerned about you,” he said once I’m seated. As he has me in the passenger seat. “Let’s get you home.”

  I nodded my head and he closed the door walking around it before getting in. He left his bike parked next to us. It’s a big deal for a biker to leave his bike on this side of town, which is another highlight of much Maddox loves me I can’t believe I fucking kissed Hudson back.

  “I . . .” I can’t form the words, but know I have to. “I kissed Hudson,” I said it, but I had to force myself to get it out. In some ways it was self-harm to look at Maddox’s expression, it was so blank and void of emotion.

  He’s gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white.

  “Who kissed who?” he asked.

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  “Yeah, it does.”

  “I kissed him,” I said. I knew it was the other way around but if Maddox was going to leave me on this, I wanted to own the situation.

  “So, he kissed you,” he corrected me as if he was there and turned the indicator on. “Fuck, Gabriella.” He shook his head. “You trying to make me want this man dead earlier then set?”

  I inhaled sharply. “I fucked up.”

  He didn’t say anything else and I don’t say anything in return.