King's Possession

by Stone, Piper

  Jesus Christ. The family meetings were getting ridiculous.

  “At this point, we have little to go on except for the attempts at sabotage to our cargo two months ago and the attack on the plane. We need to have every soldier keep their eyes and ears open, speaking to the various informants. Someone is gonna talk. They always do.” Cristiano took a sip of his drink. “We need to be ready when that happens.”

  “Agreed,” my father said then waved his hand giving his blessing. “Keep our borders secure. If the pigs, the Azzurris won’t support the alliance, that will simply leave them more vulnerable, perhaps ridding us of a significant enemy.”

  Cristiano sighed, shaking his head. I knew my brother had done everything in his power to keep the peace with the Azzurris, but I agreed with my father. It was only a matter of time until they betrayed us. Everyone had a price.

  “We also need to continue shifting a major part of our diamond brokerage business to New York. I trust you’ve hired the appropriate people?” My father shifted his attention in my direction, the disdain in his voice pissing me off as it usually did.

  “If I have any issues, they will be corrected immediately.”

  “From what I could tell, Mr. Rossi has kept his end of the deal,” Vincenzo confirmed.

  “Which places the man’s life further in danger. Yes?” Cristiano asked.

  “True enough. We’ve provided him protection for now; however, he is expendable. The contract that was signed cannot be broken even with his death.” I was a ruthless son of a bitch, but I’d insisted certain codicils be added to the contract. From my standpoint, Angelo Rossi was a possible leak that needed to be plugged early, even with the thought of his daughter’s life on the line.

  “Good to hear, son. Weakness isn’t acceptable in this family. You will do the bidding of the family as required.” My father’s blanket statement had always been the same. I had to wonder whether he saw the women in Cristiano’s and Michael’s lives as a weakness.

  “I always do what’s necessary, Father. I wish I could say the same for the rest of our glorious empire.” As required. The phrase stuck in my craw. What was needed was to eliminate our enemies, paving the way for a shift in our kingdom. However, as my father had grown older, so had his need to expand our influence as well as our wealth. I’d chalked it up to his health issues, but I was no longer certain. It would seem he didn’t have faith in his own sons.

  As I walked into the house, I suspected one of my brothers would follow. When they didn’t, I issued an exaggerated growl.

  Fuck the family and our kingdom. I was prepared to do things my way.

  Chapter 10

  Genevieve

  “Once I knew only darkness and stillness… my life was without past or future… but a little word from the fingers of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living.”

  Keller Quotes

  I had the feeling that my new prison would include a cage, steel bars replacing sunlight.

  The thought had rolled into my mind more than once, the ugliness forming vivid images. My captor had remained silent after the few words he’d issued at the beginning of the flight. Even as I’d been forced into one of two waiting SUVs, he hadn’t so much as looked me in the eyes. There’d been so many questions in my mind, a need to find out what I would be facing, but the darkness that had enshrouded his entire being had prevented me from daring to ask him anything.

  Then we’d arrived at my new home, a grandiose setting of old world and exquisite landscaping, every house that the driver passed ornate, stunning neighborhoods where romance had been created, stories from a century ago told in glorious detail.

  Everything within the house itself was gorgeous. Beautifully painted walls in vibrant colors. Art that transcended time and space. Even the furniture was posh and inviting, the money spent to detail every room incredible.

  But there was no life, no love.

  The lovely house likely built several decades before was nothing but another prison cell.

  However, it wasn’t a mansion as I’d expected.

  I’d been forced to realize over the last few days that I’d been in one my entire life, my father having captured my mother first, then requiring his only spawn to live behind locked doors in the same manner. Maybe he’d had his reasons, but none were acceptable on any level. Selling me off had been the crème de la crème of his foray into his own shadows of darkness.

  Possession. You’re nothing but a possession.

  The words were never far from my mind.

  Lucian had allowed me to see his other side as well as his hunger for life, the attraction between us bursting. Then it had faded away the moment he’d learned we were in danger. I suspected the light would never return.

  That made me saddest of all.

  New Orleans.

  I’d hungered to visit the city for as long as I could remember, especially during Mardi Gras, but I’d been far too young to venture out on my own.

  At least according to my father.

  I’d always dreamt of exotic places, tropical settings, and quaint cities where I could explore every nook and cranny. Some of them had been fueled by stories my mother had told me, exotic locations she’d been lucky enough to visit during filming one of her movies. I’d experienced those places through her eyes, before they’d lost their luster, giving into the requirements of her life.

  Now my life.

  Sadly, even then I’d been little more than a bird forced to live in a small cage, only able to see the light of day through the thick blinds covering an entirely different world.

  I stood staring out at the garden, the light of day waning, the heat just as oppressive as Cartagena, only this was America. The land of the free, but I wasn’t one of the lucky ones to have any choices in my life. I remained that captured bird just like my mother, hoping against all hope for freedom.

  What troubled me was that I hadn’t found the experience in a foreign country as horrible as a normal human being. Maybe I’d already been numbed by my father’s actions or the forced nuptials. I suddenly felt dead inside, incapable of relaying any emotions. I’d opened my heart for a few incredible seconds to a brutal man. I’d been such a fool.

  And the hatred for myself continued to grow.

  I’d been in every room of the house, none of them stated as off limits. While I would describe every detail as well thought out, even luxurious, there was a coldness that remained, much like that of the person I’d married. I ached inside to see the softer, kinder man, but I’d fucked up again. I’d ignored his explicit rules. There was no excuse for leaving our suite, at least according to Lucian.

  I wasn’t even entirely certain why I’d ventured out into the early morning except that I hadn’t been able to sleep more than a few minutes at a time. And every time I’d closed my eyes, I’d seen another bloody vision, which made absolutely no sense to me other than I remained fearful of Lucian’s world. The King empire, a place where all enemies were removed in whatever methods were found acceptable.

  Waiting for Lucian’s return was impossible. There were at least three massive soldiers outside. I’d heard my husband’s orders to keep me safe as well as to prevent me from attempting to get away. I knew my odds of undertaking something so egregious. Laughing softly, I lowered my head into my hands, taking a few deep breaths before walking into the kitchen. My stomach remained in knots, my heart skipping several beats.

  This wasn’t my home and would never be.

  I was uncertain when or how the pain in my heart would ease, but I would find a way. I’d almost fallen for the man with the perfect smile, eyes so beguiling that any woman would lose their heart after a single look. Maybe the girl inside had wanted to fall for a bad man, the kind all the girls would clamor over. And I’d almost surrendered in every way.

  Sighing, I tapped my fingers on the counter, nervous as a kitty cat.

  Then I heard voices.

  My stomach lur
ched, my nerves passing the point of being frayed. I knew what was in store for me, the punishment I would be forced to endure.

  Oddly enough, my nipples ached from the thought.

  “You will remain outside. If you see anything suspicious, you are to let me know immediately. Is that clear?”

  Lucian’s voice was even tenser than before.

  “Yes, boss.”

  There was a momentary quiet then the distinct sound of a door being closed. I turned toward the counter, scanning the surface in a crazy effort to find something to do. The half open bottle of wine was the only item other than a coffeepot. I opened one cabinet door after another, finally able to locate a wineglass. My hands shaking, I poured a small amount, trying to keep from sloshing anything onto the counter.

  Footsteps.

  They reverberated into my system, the vibrations doing little to calm my nerves.

  The way my skin tingled, my entire body hungering was the same as always. Lucian had a way of creating the kinds of sensations that were always overwhelming. Remaining silent was his usual method of entering a room. I refused to glance in his direction, pretending that I was enjoying the view outside the bank of kitchen windows.

  I knew when he’d taken purposeful steps further into the kitchen. Then I could sense his hesitation. Everything was far too quiet. There was no music, no sound of his breathing. Just… silence. He remained for a full ten seconds before walking out, leaving me feeling more alone than I’d suffered since the night of our engagement. While I should feel a sense of relief, I was thrown by myriad emotions, my breath continuing to rush from my mouth.

  He simply had that kind of effect on me.

  After a few seconds, I dared to turn around, sliding against the edge of the counter. Why did I feel so empty inside? There was so much tension remaining along with a sickening feeling in my stomach. I couldn’t stand leaving things this way between us. Maybe I was a fool to think I could talk to him, but I found myself shifting toward the hallway, taking shallow breaths as I tried to find him.

  When I did, the scent of oak and sandalwood ripped through my senses, intoxicating me almost instantly. Whether I hadn’t noticed before or had refused to acknowledge his dazzling fragrance I didn’t know. What I did realize is that I would never be able to walk into a room again without searching for him. The thought sent a wave of electric pulses straight to my aching pussy.

  Ignoring the ridiculousness of my desires, I took hesitant steps into the room, the space occupied by a wall of books and a massive display of electronics. He stood with his hands in his pockets, staring out onto the garden.

  I had no idea what to say to him. I refused to apologize. In my mind, I’d done nothing wrong. Although my gut told me otherwise.

  How was your day? That seemed trite, ridiculous.

  Can we talk? I honestly wasn’t certain I was ready to hear what he had to say.

  I missed you. Not a chance in hell, although as I started to turn away, I realized I couldn’t lie to myself any longer. I had missed him, all six foot three inches of him.

  “Wait.” The single word he issued was an utter command, the darkness in his voice more aggressive than on the plane.

  I retreated against the wall, fearful of what to expect.

  “You defied me,” he said with no inflection in his tone.

  “Yes, I am aware of that.”

  Five seconds ticked by.

  Ten.

  “Do you know why I should be angry?”

  The answer wasn’t as difficult as I had imagined. “Because I belong to you.”

  His deep sigh indicated clearly that I hadn’t given the right answer. “You obviously understand nothing.”

  I couldn’t stand when he pushed me off, as if I’d never been around nefarious men or ominous situations. “I understand the level of danger was high. The fact your meeting was likely the reason that we were almost attacked is still weighing heavily on your mind. What I did was against your rules. Yes, I should have known better. Even though I believed I would be safe, I obviously underestimated your enemies. I’m sorry if I caused you unneeded angst, but if I’m not allowed out of your cage, then honestly, I don’t care what happens to me. What I do know is that’s no way to live. I watched my mother withering away over the years, trying to maintain the façade of being happy, but I knew otherwise. That’s not going to happen to me.”

  His usual outburst didn’t happen. In fact, he seemed like a man who had no idea what to say. As if he was behind steel bars of his own creation. When he finally spoke, the words resonated in the darkest places in my mind.

  “You are correct in that the meeting I had with a soldier from the Morales cartel was the reason for our location being compromised. I should have followed my original instincts never to trust a Neanderthal or to place your life in danger. What it appears that you don’t understand is that the few rules I gave you were in an effort to keep you safe, to protect you from realizing just how dangerous certain situations can be.”

  “I think I get it now.”

  “Do you?” he asked as he turned toward me. He was the kind of man whose eyes could condemn everyone in the room he was in. On a late, humid, and gorgeous afternoon, the same gold-flecked irises expressed something else entirely.

  Remorse.

  “Yes.” My whispered word was almost inaudible.

  He slowly returned his gaze toward the view outside, but I was able to see just how disturbed he remained. “Then you obviously understand why I must punish you.”

  Punish. I closed my eyes, no longer finding the energy to argue with him. “Yes.”

  “Good. I’m glad to hear you say that.”

  Another round of footsteps caught his attention, a snarl erupting from his throat. “I said no interruptions,” he barked when one of the soldiers walked into the room.

  “Yes, boss, but your sister is here. I forced her to remain outside until I talked to you.”

  I could see an entire change in Lucian’s demeanor, another surprise.

  “Of course, tell her to come in, Brick.” He waited until his soldier left the room before moving closer to the door, stopping when he was only a few inches away from me. “While you might not believe this, I do care for you, Genevieve. I don’t want anything to happen to you. The stakes are even higher than I originally believed. As I told you before, you’re going to need to trust me no matter what I ask. Can you do that?” When I didn’t answer immediately, he tipped his head, his eyes unblinking.

  “I will try.”

  “Good.”

  “Big brother!”

  As a girl rushed into the room, the flash of her smile genuine, Lucian offered the first smile I’d seen since the night before. She jumped into his arms, acting as if she hadn’t seen him in years.

  He slowly pushed her away, laughing as he shook his head. Then he gave her a condescending glare as he tugged on her shoulder-length hair. “Purple?”

  She turned in a full circle, her rather wild attire completely out of character for the King family. “You know me. Besides, since you returned to N’awlins, I thought the color was appropriate for your homecoming.”

  The girl certainly wasn’t what I’d expected.

  Sighing, he turned his head toward me. “Angelique, I’d like you to meet Genevieve.”

  Angelique snapped her head in my direction, scrutinizing every single inch before a wide smile swept across her face. “She’s perfect for you. Just perfect.”

  I held out my hand, shocked when she wrapped her arms around mine, pulling me into a hug. A warm flush crept along my cheeks and I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off Lucian.

  “I don’t know about perfect,” I managed.

  Pulling away, she gave me the same kind of disparaging look I’d seen so many times on her brother’s face. “You forget, I know every wicked detail about my brother.”

  “Hmmm… Details you’re going to tell me? I could stand to blackmail him from time to time.”

  She laugh
ed genuinely, clapping her hands. How could the girl be from the same bloodline as Lucian? “I like her, brother of mine. You better work hard to keep her or I’m going to be pissed.”

  He chortled. “I’ll do my best. How are the arrangements?”

  “They are exactly where they should be, no thanks to Michael, I might add.”

  “He had business in Key West, lovely sister of mine. That takes precedence.”

  Angelique narrowed her eyes. “Of course it does. Anyway, almost every guest has confirmed, with the exception of the mayor. You know how he can be.”

  “The mayor?” I asked.

  She winked. “Yes, our family requires the appropriate admiration and respect. Haven’t you figured that out by now?”

  “Angelique,” Lucian admonished. “I told you low-key. There are certain… concerns regarding tomorrow night.” It was obvious he was using key words, but I could tell his sister knew exactly what he was saying.

  “I’m certain you can handle the situation.” She wrinkled her nose before smiling as she looked at me. “I know you’re going to call me presumptuous, but I happened to see a gorgeous dress while I was shopping today. It was just your size. If you don’t like it for tomorrow night, I’ll be happy to make a return.”

  I shifted my gaze toward him, uncertain how to answer. “How did you know my size?”

  She rolled her eyes, laughing softly. “Sometimes, my angry brother actually gets things right. The dress will be perfect for you and will highlight your stunning blue eyes. God, you two are going to have gorgeous children.”

  While it should seem strange that she didn’t mention the arrangement, I could only imagine that she’d been faced with the situation before.

  An awkward moment settled in.

  “Is there anything else we should know, Angelique?”

  “Just show up on time, brother. I left the dress across the bannister. Don’t worry if you don’t like it. You won’t hurt my feelings. Welcome to the family. They’re going to love you.”

  She was a breath of fresh air and when she squeezed Lucian’s arm before scampering out of the room, the same light returned in his eyes. Seconds later, he’d shifted back into his dark cave.