Supernatural Syndicate: A Limited Edition Collection of Magical Mafia Stories

by Thea Atkinson

  The manager sure seemed to believe they were dangerous, judging by his trembling hands and the sweat that collected on his forehead as he regarded the two. Never once did he threaten to call the police and that was saying something in itself. Were the brothers so much of a threat the owner already knew better? And if so, what did that mean for me?

  Perhaps sensing my mood, Victor laid a large comforting hand on my thigh, the action tearing my mind from my thoughts. I glanced down at where his grip tightened, kneading the flesh there and creating a powerful sensation that crept up my thigh. His hold on me was possessive, as if he owned me and a shiver worked its way down my spine.

  He brought his lips so close to my ear I could feel his lips brush up against the tender flesh there. “I’m sorry you had to experience that. No one should be judged based on where they come from and I can guarantee that’ll never happen to you again.”

  His tone was warm and affectionate. It caught me off guard but I smiled at him anyway. It was a nice gesture after everything I’d been through lately and he wanted to play the chivalrous boyfriend for the night, I’d let him. After all, he was paying me a great deal of money to spend the night with him and his brother.

  He squeezed my thigh again as we pulled into the parking lot of an apartment building that was a far cry from what I’d expected. The weathered red brick was cracked all over the exterior of the building, but the windows were intact. Where I’d expected trash to litter the yard, the yard was clear of debris, with plush green grass surrounding the dilapidated structure.

  Victor led me past the manicured yard and through the front door. Once inside, I was met with the sight of emptiness. The entire bottom floor was empty, save for a few pillars used to hold the floors above them up. We walked to an elevator in the center of the space and pooled inside. Once the doors closed, Vincent pressed the button directing the car to the top floor.

  The ride up was silent and immediately I began wondering if I’d made a huge mistake. I’d known eventually I’d be taken to a place to spend some time alone with the men, but that would’ve been after getting to know them at the restaurant. I hadn’t gotten that chance, thanks to an overzealous host and his habit of passing judgement on me based on my appearance. Now, I was stuck in an elevator with two men I knew nothing about, two men I knew were capable of violence judging by the way they’d acted in the restaurant.

  The elevator dinged and I jumped from the sound, my mind running rampant with the many ways the entire ordeal could go wrong. The doors opened and I was immediately caught off guard by a huge figure that seemed far too imposing in such a small space. He looked at me, lifting his brow slightly before letting out a grunt. He stepped aside and reclaimed his post beside the elevator, tapping the gun on his waist as if issuing me a warning.

  “Don’t worry, he’s like that with everyone,” Victor’s soft voice wrapped around me, tugging away all traces of my anxiety.

  For some reason I couldn’t understand, I felt safe next to him, like no one would dare touch me unless he allowed it.

  Vincent was the first to step from the elevator with me following close behind. We walked through a short hall before entering a living space that screamed expensive with large floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the neighborhood. The slums. We were smack dab in the middle of the poorest part of the city, which was odd, considering the men could afford to live just about anywhere but I pushed that thought to the back of my mind as I admired the chef’s kitchen, large livingroom, and open space. No wonder they’d so easily part with half a million. They were made of money and could probably spend ten times the amount without batting an eye.

  My gaze traveled to the marble countertops in the kitchen. It was covered with bags displaying the restaurant’s logo.

  “Is that our food?” I asked. There was no way possible the food could have arrived before we did, but there it was.

  The scents of cilantro and citrus hit me first, stirring a hungry ache in my belly. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I smelled the food and all I wanted to do was dig in.

  Vincent flashed me a wicked smile. “The fate of the manager’s son rests in your hands. It better live up to your expectations.”

  I gulped down a lump that formed in my throat at his words. I wanted to believe he was just messing with me but the glint in his eyes told me he meant every word and would enjoy making good on that threat.

  Victor went to work setting out the food on the oversized dining room table, while Vincent made us drinks, both awkwardly ignoring me as they carried out their tasks. Once they were done, I was led to sit at the head of the table with both men taking their seats on either side of me.

  “So,” Victor said, breaking the silence. “What would you like to try first?”

  He gestured to the food which was enough to feed an entire army. I’m not kidding. And while I was expecting enchiladas, posole, and mole, my eyes fell upon food I hardly recognize.

  Victor plucked up a menu, a bright smile lighting his face as he handed it to me. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read it over.

  Domestic quail marinated in chile ancho and garlic -salmon with a spicy chipotle sauce - red snapper with serrano peppers, garlic, cilantro. I’ve eaten Mexican food my entire life and have never heard of these offerings, yet I couldn’t wait to taste them. I’d heard Rizo’s was pretty upscale and they prided themselves on being authentic. That was one of the reasons I’d always wanted to eat there. I frowned at the thought. You’d think they’d have no problem serving Mexicans considering their offerings but that didn’t keep them from passing judgement on me.

  “What do you want to try first?” Victor asked, that same brilliant smile still in place.

  I pointed to the spicy chicken consume with serrano peppers, cilantro, onions, and chicken. The combination of flavors had my mouth watering and I had to admit, I was in the mood for something spicy.

  Vincent set to work fixing me up a bowl. He sat my bowl in front of me first before preparing a bowl for him and his brother. Once we were all served, both pairs of eyes were on me, waiting for my reaction.

  I lifted my spoon, my hands trembling slightly as they stared. If I had less than a stellar reaction to the meal, I knew what was at stake and I prepared myself to fake it if only to keep the boy safe. Yes, he was wrong for judging me so harshly, but I didn’t want him hurt behind it.

  That preparation was in vain. The flavors exploded on my tongue, and that little kick of heat from the serranos was exactly what I wanted.

  “Wow, this is spicy,” I marveled, taking another spoonful and shoveling it into my mouth.

  Vincent’s gaze darkened at my words, and I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me. The man looked downright murderous.

  “I can’t tell you how many restaurants promise spice and rarely deliver. This is absolutely perfect,” I explained, reaching over and taking his hand in mine to soothe whatever beasts lurked beneath his surface.

  He gave my hand a gentle squeeze before saying, “I guess the boy lives.”

  Something about the way he’d said those words let me know he was dissapointed by that. It was as if he’d relished the thought of causing the boy pain and I had no clue how I felt about that. On one hand, I was happy he wanted to stand up for me, but on the other… Hell, it didn’t matter. Instead of thinking about it, I finished my bowl before Victor scooped up the bowl and replaced it with a plate of quail.

  “You do realize I can serve myself right?” I smirked, though I had to admit it made me very uncomfortable being served. All my life I’d been the one to serve others and I wasn’t sure I could get used to the treatment.

  “You’re our guest,” he said simply, pouring me a glass of wine and sitting it before me. “It’s not often we get to entertain anyone as beautiful as you.”

  I rolled my eyes at the corny line he’d dropped before digging into the quail. Everything was delicious and I found myself gorging on the food, wanting to savor each delectable bite.
It wouldn’t be long before I was thrust from this world of extravagance only to return to my meager life. Only five hundred grand richer.

  Once we were finished, Vincent motioned towards a man standing off in the corner, dressed in a dark suit. I hadn’t noticed him there before he stepped from the shadows and began clearing the table. And that’s when it hit me. While the dinner was lovely, I knew there were certain expectations I needed to meet and I wasn’t entirely sure how to go about it. Sure, I’ve been with men before, though not always willingly. I knew what they wanted, how to entice them, how to play that role to get what I wanted from them. But with these two, I wasn’t sure exactly what they wanted.

  “So, how does this work?” May as well rip off the bandage before I lost my nerve.

  Both pairs of eyes pinned me with confused stares and again I found laughter spilling from my lips. I hadn’t expected to catch them off guard.

  “How does what work?” Vincent said, leaning toward me, his eyes trained on me as his tongue slid across his top lip.

  The arrogant bastard. He knew exactly what I was referring to but had no desire to make this easy for me.

  “I doubt you offered such a large sum of money for the pleasantries of my company,” I deadpanned.

  Vincent quirked a thick brow before leaning back in his seat. This time laughter poured from his lips as his large hand slapped the table. I jerked back, stunned by the sudden action as he continued his guffaws. It was Victor who took my hand, grabbing my attention so I could look into a pair of severe dark eyes. The intensity of his gaze flitted over me, stirring feelings in me that felt oddly familiar though I still had a hard time placing it.

  “You’ve already fulfilled your obligation to us,” he said, his voice thick and rich in a way that slid over me, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

  He slid a calloused finger across my knuckles, eliciting a shiver from me. Fuck, these men were hot. I was sure they’d have no problem getting any woman to bed them with nothing more than a suggestive smile, so why had they chosen to pay me for the deed?

  “Anything that happens after this is purely up to you,” Victor assured me, and though I found that difficult to believe, I couldn’t help to feel he was telling the truth. As if you prove it, he gestured toward my purse. “You have your phone in there, correct?”

  I gave him a tight nod.

  “Check your balance.” It was a command. I could here the authoritative tone of his voice and it set me in motion right away.

  I tugged up my bag, scooped out my phone, and sent a text to my bank for the recent transactions. Moments later, my phone vibrated and I opened the text. Sure enough, an hour before I’d even left my home, there was a deposit there for five hundred grand.

  “You paid me before you knew whether or not I’d show up?” I asked. But, it did make sense. The boys screamed danger and I had no doubt they’d find a creative way to recover the funds were I to skip out on them.

  “You’d already agreed to the arrangement,” Victor replied, shrugging.

  “And if I hadn’t showed up?”

  It was Vincent who answered this time. “We would have taken you.”

  Victor tensed beside me, tossing a stern look at his brother, and the frown that tugged at the corners of Vincent’s lips had a knot forming in my stomach. At the restaurant, he’d seemed so sure of himself, confident and free. True, he screamed violence and danger but that didn’t bother me as much as the thought of him trying his best to hold his true nature at bay.

  6

  Victor

  She glanced up at me, surprise etching her features. I knew what she’d think about the proposal the moment she received it. That was one of the reasons to inserting sex was optional. Did I want her? Fuck yeah, I did. Every muscle in my body was thrumming with anticipation over finally being able to claim the only woman who’d been able to light that fire within us. But I wanted her to be a willing participant. I wanted her to want us as much as we wanted her.

  She gave off that cute awkward smile that had her nose crinkling. “So,” she began, her voice low. “If I decide to call it the night and leave?”

  “You’re free to go, though we hope you’ll stay.”

  The air was filled with nervous energy. My gaze slid to Vincent who appeared on the edge of his seat, anticipation tensing the muscles of his arms as he did everything he could to hold himself back. I’d warned him to be on his best behavior but I could tell that was taking a toll on him. He wanted to play. He wanted to show himself, to challenge June to accept him as he was and I couldn’t say I blamed him. Vincent was a difficult pill to swallow, even for me, but he was my brother and deserved to be appreciated for the loyal, dedicated man he was.

  “And if I stay?” she asked, her voice smooth and sultry, a challenge punctuating those words.

  Gods this woman was perfect. Where I’d thought she would run away to the safety of her apartment the moment she realized her obligation had been met, she seemed to crave the unknown, to revel in the face of it.

  I kept my eyes trained on her, hoping she could feel the fire burning within them as I said, “We’ll show you a night you’ll never forget.”

  She trembled beneath the weight of my words but otherwise gave no sign she was ready to leave. Instead, she leaned forward, giving me the perfect view of her cleavage as my thumbs slid over her knuckles. She sank her teeth into her bottom lip and damn if that action didn’t have blood flowing straight to my cock. She was interested despite her hesitation. I just needed her to make the first move.

  “How about I get to know a little more about you first?” she queried.

  “What would you like to know?”

  “Were you really planning on killing that boy at the restaurant?”

  “Yes,” I replied. Only I didn’t tell her I was still planning to. He’d crossed the line when he put his hands on her, and that was a line I would never forgive.

  I wondered how she would react to that if I told her but decided against it. We were already treading on dangerous territory and I had no desire to scare her away.

  But the words that tumbled from her mouth had me completely stunned.

  “Thank you.”

  My mouth fell open at those words as I tried to figure out why she wasn’t rushing from there in fear. Everything I’d known about June told me she didn’t appreciate violence, especially after all she’d been through, yet she was thanking me for wanting to kill the host?

  She laughed again, a musical sound that shivered through me and I wanted to bottle it up. If anything could push my demons back, it was that laughter of hers. I tried to think of how often I’d heard that sound and couldn’t really come up with anything. We’d been following her for years, but I could only count on one hand how many times I’d heard her genuinely laugh.

  “You must not get thanked very often,” she said, a fit of giggles spilling from her lips.

  “You’re the last person I thought would thank me for that.” And it was the truth. While most girls would love a man who was every bit as protective and me and my brother, I knew deep down it was nothing but a thrill for them. For June, it had to mean more and I was dying to figure out what exactly it meant to her.

  She took a deep breath before explaining. “No one has ever stood up for me like that before, besides my dad.”

  A lost expression flitted over her features for only a moment before she’d shoved whatever thoughts she was having away.

  I cocked a brow at her. There was so much I wanted to say, so many things I wanted to tell her but I knew now wasn’t the time. Now was the time to claim our woman and have her claim us in return. The rest could wait.

  “Even so,” she continued. “I hardly think what he did deserved such a harsh punishment. He’s been reprimanded and made a fool of. That should be enough.”

  Vincent reached out and grabbed her chin, commanding her attention. “Tell me, little mouse. In the deep dark corners of your thoughts, did you think about harming him when
he put his hands on you? Did violence cross that innocent little head of yours?”

  Darkness flashed in her eyes and I knew Vincent saw it the moment it happened. She had thought of it and judging from the smile that spread across Vincent’s face, he was pleased with that news. More than pleased. My brother was salivating at the thought June could be just as corrupted as him. That he’d be able to drag her into his world and show her what he felt when he punished those who went against us. And I had to admit, that spring of hope that lit his eyes made my dark heart swell. Our June would accept him for who he was. More than that, she’d love him for it and I couldn’t be more grateful. My father had stolen the last strands of sanity from my brother but she’d be the one to bring light to his life and drive away the shadows that plagued him damn near daily.

  “If there was anything you could have done in that moment, without the fear of retribution, without morality, without any consequences, what would you have done?” Vincent queried, leaning into her.

  Without missing a beat, she responded. “Plucked out his eyes so he could never judge another person by their appearance.”

  If she knew her words had given Vincent exactly what he needed to carry out the boy’s punishment, she never let that show. Instead, a giggle bubbled up from within her as she took his hand, bringing it to her lips. I expected her to kiss his hand, to press those beautifully full lips against it in a gentle caress, but even I wasn’t prepared for what she did. She brought his hand to her lips, before sinking her teeth into the tender flesh that stretched between his thumb and forefinger, eliciting a moan from my brother as his eyes widened and pure lust claimed him.

  I gulped down the fear that knotted my throat. My brother was unstable, dangerously so, and it would take nothing for him to retaliate against her. When he erupted into a fit of laughter, even I couldn’t hold back my surprise. No one had been able to cause him pain without him making them pay for it, yet June sat there unharmed.

  Our June. If there was no other indication she belonged to us, this was it.