"Do it," I said.

A gunshot pierced the air, followed by a hollow thump. Stella's gasp echoed in the room and could be heard over the ringing in my ears. As the thin cloud of smoke cleared, I could see the red puddle growing on the hardwood floor. Stella still stood with the run raised, ready for the shot. Sal lowered his weapon and I gave him a nod in thanks.

"I . . . I didn't," Stella stammered.

"I know," I whispered, coming for her and taking my gun from her shaking hands. "You didn't need to."

"I wanted to," she admitted, looking up at me with fear in her eyes. She was afraid of that part of her that wanted to take a life. Stella had never had to meet that dark side of herself before.

"I know. It's done."

Stella looked back at the body in my living room. Instead of screaming in terror like when Hector was in my hallway, she looked thoughtful. Sal and Tony started to bag the body as I pulled her out of the room.

"Why did you that?" she asked me as I led her back to her room. "I would have done it."

"I know you would have, but I didn't want you to," I answered.

"Why?" she asked once in her bedroom.

"You aren't like us. You're a good person, and though you wanted revenge for the people you loved, you wouldn't like taking a life. I didn't want you to have to feel that guilt."

Stella sat on the edge of the bed and stared down at her hands. Those hands could have killed someone tonight. I wasn't entirely sure if she would have pulled the trigger. I told her I thought she would have, but I wasn't sure. She had never taken a life and, if she had, I wasn’t sure she could have lived with herself afterward.

"Leave the killing to the real monsters," I told her.

"Is it over?" she asked me.

I never had to really deal with women and the hidden meaning in their words. I never kept them around long enough or really cared what they meant. I was smart enough to know Stella was asking about more than the search for the man who killed her family. She meant more than the war I was starting with my family by having his body delivered to my father's beach house in Miami.

"There's more," I told her before I took her lips with mine.

Stella's hands came to grab my shoulders as I leaned over and pushed her to the bed. I never pulled my mouth off hers as I took off my jacket and shirt. She ran her soft fingertips over my chest and back. My tongue fought hers as I pulled her pants down her legs and thrusted my hand up her thin tank top.

Stella's head dropped back with her moan as I pinched her nipple. When she looked at me, her eyes were wild and clouded over with want and need. I would make it all disappear for her. I could erase it all with my body and mouth if she let me. She would let me. She always did.

I picked her up and threw her up higher on the bed. As I crawled back up, I pushed my pants down and pulled her legs apart to make room for me. Nestled between her thighs, I pushed her tank top over her head. Stella was bared for me and her chest was pink with the rush of blood.

Taking a nipple in my mouth, I cupped the other breast in my hand. I earned a long and low moan from her that made me want to bite down on her skin. I held back, the restraint making me tense and grow hot. With all the adrenaline rushing my veins, I wanted to unleash on her. I wanted to use up all my energy until I was spent.

"Atlas," she moaned as I licked down her stomach. "Tie me up."

"I can't," I said honestly. I couldn't hold back with her held down and mine for the taking.

"Please," she begged. "Tie me up. Let it out."

I looked up into her eyes that were full of need and fire. Something else lingered behind the want, something deeper. Understanding.

"You have no idea what you are asking of me, Little Star. I will hurt you," I warned her darkly. My dick was rock hard and pressing against the panties that I could feel soaking through.

"No you won't. Please, tie me up."

I broke with her words. Climbing over her, I grabbed the ropes on the headboard and quickly tied her wrists. I pulled the ropes so tight she hissed when I was done. Stella squirmed as I pulled back to look at her. She was open and helpless to whatever I wanted to do her. Tearing her panties off, I pushed her legs apart.

"So fucking wet," I whispered, running my fingers over her.

Stella arched off the mattress and I stroked my dick, watching her lost in the feeling. Neither one of us would think about anything outside of this room tonight. I would make damn sure of that. I held her thighs apart and lowered my face between them. Using my tongue, I licked and sucked until she came so hard I thought she would pass out from screaming.

Taking my dick in my hand, I pushed into her. Her pussy was still convulsing from the orgasm my mouth gave her and it squeezed my dick. I let out a low groan as I pushed as far as I could. Stella gasped when I pressed even deeper, pushing harder and deeper than I ever had before. It probably hurt, but she asked for it and I was giving my all.

I took a leg and hitched it over my shoulder, wrapping the other around my waist so I could get deeper. I watched as her chest rose and fell quickly, letting it urge me on. The effect I could have on her never got old even though I kept waiting for her to get boring. Without an ounce of control, I thrusted into her, making her bounce off the mattress.

I repeated the movements. I fucked her so hard I couldn't tell if she was crying out in pain or pleasure. Her pussy squeezed and milked my dick so I kept going. The headboard banged against the wall loudly as I used every ounce of energy on Stella. I leaned down, going even deeper and biting her neck as I did.

"Is this what you wanted?" I growled in her ear, finally losing all control.

"Yes!" she screamed.

She clenched down on my dick and screamed my name. My balls pulled tight and an orgasm wracked my body. Every muscle went hard and tight before I burst open into her. Her screams kept me going as I pumped us both empty. Sweat dripped down my body and hers when I collapsed on top of her.

Stella got her wish. I let it out on her until I couldn't keep my eyes open.

XXV

Stella

I stared up at the ceiling for hours. I was alone in the bed and the sun was starting to rise. Everything was sore and my wrists were raw and burned from the ropes. I asked for it, even wanted it. In the morning light, I felt the effects of the rough way he took me.

Atlas always lost the most control with me, and I knew that. Part of me loved seeing him finally unhinge and knowing that I did that to him. Last night, I wanted to break that last string holding him back. I watched it snap and he pounced.

It hurt.

It was amazing.

What did that say about me that I loved being hurt by Atlas? Every bite brought me higher, and his punishing thrusts pushed me over the edge again and again. I loved it as much I feared it. It was as pleasurable as it was painful, and I wore the marks from it proudly.

Forcing myself to shower, fear started to sink in. I was scared of what I saw last night and what it meant. What would happen next? Why didn't I pull the trigger? I wanted to and I knew how to. I just didn't pull it. How could my conscience spare my family's killer? Part of me knew that if Sal hadn't killed him, I would have. I wanted to and that scared me more than watching his blood spatter everywhere. I screamed not because of the familiar sight of spilled blood but because of the overwhelming feeling of relief that had washed over me in that moment.