Devious: A Dark Mafia Arranged Romance (A Villain Collection Book 1)

by J. M Stoneback

  He looks like he has a ton on his shoulder, and he frowns.

  “I’m so sorry, Devious. I had no idea. I thought you killed her on purpose.”

  “No, I loved Shelby.”

  I wrap my arms around his shoulders, trying to sooth him but honestly, I don’t know how to soothe someone who witnesses so much trauma. It makes me understand him a lot better.

  “Do you hate me?” he asks, his eyes searching mine.

  “Not more than I already do,” I say, patting his back and he chuckles.

  “You know how to make light of a serious situation.”

  “It’s one of my many talents. But in seriousness. I thought you were hanging onto her because you still loved her, and I didn’t think we would have shot at something real,” I say, honestly.

  Even though I’m planning to escape him, it doesn’t mean I haven’t thought about being with him, making it work. If I wanted to stay, I want us to work out, but I know we’ll never be because he’ll probably never give me the freedom I crave so much.

  “Why would you want to be with someone who treated you like shit?”

  “Everyone is not all bad, Devious. You might be a psychopath, but there are some good things I do like about you.” I stroke his back. “I don’t want to live in the cell ever again. It was scary and I know if I’m loyal to you, my life would be great, but if I’m not, you will make the devil look like a saint,” I exhale. “Why did you keep wanting to hold on to someone who didn’t love you?” I ask.

  He beams back at the city and it’s now quiet like the sea.

  “I was hoping she would eventually love me back again. I tried everything to make her love me again, but nothing worked.”

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you have abandonment issues if you’re trying to hang on to someone who didn’t love you.”

  He doesn’t respond.

  “Honestly, you deserve someone who is going to love you the way you want to be loved in a fairy tale way.”

  “Those love stories don’t exist, Roselyn.”

  “There is nothing wrong with hoping, Devious.” Okay, I need to go lie down, my feet hurt bad and I don’t want Devious to shit on my hopes and dreams about love. “Can we go to sleep? Are we sleeping on the boat?”

  “Yeah.”

  He grabs my hand leading me to the cabin and there is a couch and a bed. Our suitcases are by the chair and I unzip mine, removing my pajamas. Devious removes his clothes, and lies on the bed with nothing on, but his boxers.

  I throw on my pajamas and slide in next to him. We’re quiet and I can tell Devious won’t be getting any sleep and neither will I. My mind is still reeling from what he told me and how he opened up to me and I hadn’t expected him to. Most of the time, he’s so damn closed off. He’s so angry at the world and I would be too if I were in his shoes. He’s making me confused and the lines are blurry between us. He makes me want to drop my plan and stay with him. Because I’m starting to like him, and it scares me.

  “Are you okay? You’re shaking?” He mumbles in my ear.

  “I’m cold.”

  He lies on his back, patting his chest. I lie my head on his firm chest as he pulls the thick comforter over my body.

  “Better?”

  “Yes, your body is like a furnace.” I lie my whole body on his. “Devious, I will never cheat on you with anyone.”

  “I know,” he exhales.

  “How do you know?”

  “The day I took you from Lex, I asked him if you were capable of being loyal and he told me you were.”

  I have no response because he’s so wrong about me.

  Devious

  I’M GOING DOWN THE RABBIT hole of Roselyn and I need to keep my distance, so I won’t fall in love with her. I do like the little Sea Nymph who spits her feisty words at me. It’s been a whole fucking week since I took her to Greece.

  After spilling my guts to her about Shelby and Santo, she looks at me more like a person and less like a monster. She didn’t judge, which I expected her to do. I stand in front of the cell where Maya is staying. My brother and I have another manor where he trains women and sell them for a profit. Some I keep, and if they don’t make me enough money, I sell them. I tuck my hands in my pocket as Aiden removes the chains from around her wrist and ankle. She lost the color in her rosy cheeks and her golden red hair is cut short. I haven’t seen her since she was fifteen years old. Aiden grabs her by the hair, and she screams at the top of her lungs with tears in her eyes. He forces her to sit on the thin cot.

  Her brown doe eyes stare at me as she wraps her arms around her knees. She’s beautiful and my brother is staring at her as if he wants to keep her for himself.

  “I used to look up to you as my big brother Cayden, and you do this?” Tears tickle down her cheeks. She was like a little sister to me. She used to tag along with Cashel every time we hung out and I used to help her with her homework. When I needed extra money and Draco was being a dick by not paying for my college tuition, I used to babysit her for quick cash, but the ship has sailed. Maya is not six years old, she’s twenty-one. I hate to bring her into this, but I need to find Cashel and she can tell me where he’s at.

  “Cashel is going to kill you for what you’re doing to me and he’s going to get me out of here.” She spits in my face and I back hand her hard. I grab her by the neck lifting her off the ground, squeezing tight.

  “By the time Cashel discovers you missing, you’ll be sold to one of my clients, getting fucked in every hole. I toss her body to the ground like a rag doll then I wipe the spit from my face.

  She coughs, scratching at her throat with tears running down her cheek and snot slithering from her nose.

  “You spit in my face again, I’ll gut you like a little fish,” I say. “Chain her back to the wall.”

  He nods and does what I say. She screams, calling me every name in the book.

  As soon as he is done, we take the elevator to the second floor to the spacious kitchen. I move to the stainless-steel fridge and grab myself a beer, then I sit on the leather barstool. I glance out the window at the backyard. We’re far away from the city. Aiden rests his hand on the granite white counter.

  “How was your trip to Santorini?” he asks, grabbing the bottle of bourbon, pouring into a crystal shot glass.

  “It was great.”

  “Oh, shit. You’re into Roselyn.” His smile is smug.

  My brother knows me like the back of my hand, and he knows how obsessive I can get with the one I want.

  I’m staying the night here with him then I’m going home in the morning. Marla is staying the night with Roselyn to keep her company. I insisted on Roselyn hanging out with the Don’s wives, but she’s told me they aren’t her type of women.

  “She tried to kill me on our wedding night.”

  “You must have a soft spot for her because if it was anyone else you would have killed them.” He shakes his head.

  I don’t say anything but keep one hand in my pocket and the other on the brown beer bottle.

  “I knew Roselyn was feisty, but God damn the woman is a loose cannon.” He chuckles, with his glass on his lips, then he drinks his whiskey. “You always liked toxic women,” he says, laughing.

  “You like toxic women too. What about the last girl you were fucking? What was her name, Leah?”

  “Sienna,” he corrects.

  “You had no business fucking an outsider, but you did it anyway. You paid the price with Draco. You never liked to follow the rules.”

  “That’s why I slit his throat and I’d do it again too. I give zero fucks about the rules of the mafia. Some of the shit we do is stupid.” He clutches his glass hard.

  “What are your thoughts on me asking her to be with me?”

  “Honestly bro. I’m against marriage. You know, I don’t want marriage, but if you want to make it work between you and her, then have at it. Me and you are completely opposites, you’re composed and were the type to settle down, and it was n
ever me. Might keep a pet around, but that’s as far as it goes.”

  I nod. He’s right. I always kept a casual girlfriend and when I got tired of their shit, I’ll kick them to the curb, especially if I couldn’t experience the level of adrenaline I love. Roselyn keeps me on my toes. She doesn’t take my shit and she’ll put me in my place. She fears me but she faces me at the same time. My dick is getting hard thinking about her.

  “You want to play some pool?” Aiden asks.

  “You sure you want to get your ass kicked by your older brother?” I finish the remainder of my beer.

  “You’re only born ten minutes ahead of me, big whoopty do.”

  We stroll into the entertainment room and I grab the stick from the wall, and Aiden removes the triangle, and the colorful balls sit in the center of the table.

  “You go first,” he says. I lean over the table, hitting the balls. They scatter on the table. A green solid ball rolls into a pocket.

  We play a few more games and my phone buzzes in my pocket. I grab it and a message pops up from Marla so I click on it.

  She sends me a picture of Roselyn’s red ass cheeks. I save this picture for my spank bank collection.

  Another message pops up from her.

  Marla: Stop spanking her with a belt, you’re messing up her beautiful skin.

  I send her a message.

  Me: She likes it when I slap her ass with the belt. She asks me to do it. My (peach emoji) I’ll do whatever I want with it.

  She texts back.

  Marla: You’re sick in the head.

  I put my phone in my back pocket and Aiden leans against the table, waiting for me to take my turn.

  “I want to ask you something.”

  “Ask away,” I shoot two balls into the pocket.

  “I want to keep Maya as my pet.”

  I cock my eyebrow. “Why?”

  “ It’ll piss off Cashel more.”

  “You want to keep Maya to piss off Cashel more? Is this the bullshit you’re trying to sell me?” I set my stick down on the table and he doesn’t respond. “You don’t give a fuck about the war or pissing off Cashel. Why don’t you want to sell her?”

  I kinda knew this would happen if Aiden kidnapped her. He has a type. A stripper type, and Maya is a stripper. He loves those types of women. I should have gotten Lex to do it. He loves younger women, but I wouldn’t have to worry about him sticking his dick inside of her.

  “You know why?” His face flushes with embarrassment. She’s a challenge to him.

  Since he’s my brother I’ll cut him some slack.

  “When I kill Cashel, you get to have her, but if I don’t, you can’t. Because she’s the enemy.”

  “I was going to kill her after I finished using her anyways.” He hit the eight ball into the pocket. “I won this round. You’re up for another ass whopping? I win this round; you owe me a year of liquor.” I say, collecting the balls.

  “If I win, you’ll help harvest Maya’s ex-boyfriend’s organs and sell them on the black market.”

  I lift my eyebrow and frown.

  Shrugging, he says, “She told me he used to beat her.”

  “You’re always finding someone to kill.” I place the balls in the triangle.

  “Killing is one of my many talents.”

  Roselyn

  Marla paints my toenails black. Devious is staying overnight with Aiden for business and I’m glad she showed up because I didn’t want to be in the big manor alone. Sometimes, this place is spooky, and it doesn’t feel like a home with all the soldiers guarding the yard. Also, I’ve never had a girl’s night out and I wanted to. I never allowed other girls to get close to me because I was afraid of them finding out who Papa was. I didn’t want them to use me or report to anyone what goes on in our household. We were the families who stayed to themselves.

  “Black is so your color.” She finishes painting the big toe and placed the top onto the small bottle, resting it on top of the metal dresser.

  “Are you married?” I ask, I’m nosey so every person I get in contact with I want to know their business. So, I can see what type of person they are. From what I learn about her is she’s outgoing. Usually, I don’t talk to people unless they speak to me and if they want to be my friend, then I’ll consider. In this lifestyle you can’t call everyone your friend.

  “Um no. I’m in a steady relationship with a bodyguard.”

  “How long have you guys been dating?”

  She sits up on the bed, tucking her legs under her butt. “For two years now. I think Ronnie is about to pop the question.”

  “Are you going to say yes?” I bring the pillow to my stomach, hugging and sniffing it. It smells like Devious. Clean sheets and a hint of expensive cologne.

  “I don’t know. I thought about it a lot. Do I want to share my life with him? Will Mr. Pot like having him around?”

  “Who is Mr. Pot?”

  “My pet cat. I don’t know. I’ll wait until he asks then whatever answer pops out my mouth that’s what I’m going with.” She stretches out her legs.

  “I wish I was given a chance to choose my own partner.” I mumble. The freedom of doing what I want seems so far away and a privilege.

  “Would you have chosen my cousin?” She plays at the end of her big white T-shirt with a rock band across her chest.

  “I don’t know. Maybe, if he would have done it the right way. Taken me out on a proper date and ask for my hand in marriage, but it wouldn’t be at this age. Maybe when I was twenty-five years old. I want to see the world and live life on the edge, not be someone housewife.”

  “You’re smitten with him,” she confirms.”

  “Am not.”

  “You are. You keep glancing at my phone to see if his name will pop up.”

  “Is your cousin smitten with me?”

  “Oh yeah, he is. He keeps texting me every thirty minutes asking if you’re okay and how you like hanging with me. He’s not as means as he used to be, and he smiles a lot more. It takes Devious a lot to fall in love, especially after Shelby, but when he does fall in love, the woman has him wrapped around his finger. Devious has always been a serious dater. Most of them, he’ll get tired of and ghost them. But, I think he’s trying to fill a void because he didn’t get the proper love from Aunt Polina and uncle Draco. I’ve read people who have been abused often seek ways to cope with trauma. Devious is looking for comfort from others and Aiden’s is hurting people.”

  I never thought about it. Maybe mine is running away. Whenever I face chaos, I feel the need to escape. When things get tough, I have the urgency to run.

  “Have you ever been abused?” I ask.

  She shakes her head. “My parents never abused me. It was shocking when my mother learned her sister was neglectful and for awhile my mother kept us away from them. When I turned twenty, I reached out to Devious and he accepted me with open arms, but Aiden wouldn’t. Now, they are overprotective, so if a guy were to put his hands on me, then he would kill them. Like if anyone would try to harm you, Devious would kill them. He would have done it, anyway but now he wants you more than a pet. So yeah, girl, my cousin is into you.”

  Her words sink in and the more I think about using his feelings against him, the more horrible I feel. It’s harder now because I have feelings for him. I care about him. “You up for a horror film? I never had a girl’s night out so I’m sorry if it’s turning out lame.”

  My feelings are drowning me, and I need something to take my mind off the guilt.

  “It’s not. I’m over thirty and live at home with my cat. So, this is the most fun I ever have these days.”

  “Put it on Netflix. They are streaming the latest Michael Myers movies,” I tell her. She does what I say and the music in the beginning starts to play. I think I can be Marla’s friend. She runs her mouth, so I have to be careful of what I tell her, so she doesn’t go back and tell Devious. I can’t confide in her too much because she’s still loyal to her cousin, but I like her a
lot. I’m thankful she’s not one of those women who love clubbing and getting drunk because it’s not fun. Going to the club getting drunk. Hell, Devious got a cabinet full of liquor if I want to drink myself into a coma.

  We continue to watch the movie and her phone lights up and Devious’s name pops up. My heart dances with anticipation. She grabs it and reads it.

  “Devious is asking are we okay. I told him he worries too much. He even had extra security tonight because he’s not home,” she exhales. “I’m giving you another warning. Please don’t break Devious’s heart. If you break his heart, you’ll break him.”

  Devious

  “REALLY? TWENTY THOUSAND FOR A painting with only a few lines. This is stupid,” Roselyn says, scrunching up her cute nose, resting her hands on her knees. We do weekly dates, every Friday and Saturday, so she doesn’t have to be stuck in the manor. I’m going to give her freedom and see what she does with it. I’ll doubt she’ll betray me again, but if she does, then I don’t know what I will do. A month has passed since I took her to Greece and I’m thinking about surprising her with another trip, to the Bahamas in the fall. I have another surprise for her tonight after this date.

  “Welcome to the world of art,” I say, grabbing her hand, bringing it to my mouth, leaving light kisses on her palms.

  Her cheeks turn red as she shakes her head. “If that’s all it takes for me to make money then I’ll can make a lot of money in no time. Have you ever had a sugar mama before?” she winks.

  “You’re too young to be my sugar momma. It only works if you’re older.”

  “I can be your sugar momma at any age. Way to crush a girl’s dream, Devious,” she says as we move on to the next piece of art. “Now this one is so sad.”

  I glance at the picture of a woman stroking a dead child. “It is.”

  I’m staring at her and her eyes glow like Christmas lights. I want to help her fulfill her dreams as a painter, but I don’t know how. I’m not sure yet. She’s so gorgeous with her hair pinned up in a ponytail and it’s my favorite hairstyle. It shows off her beautiful face. I stand behind her, rubbing my dick on her lower back.