King's Captive: A Dark Mafia Romance

by Piper Stone

  How many times had I heard that before?

  “That’s good to hear. I have a job for you that will require your patience. You’re taking a very special woman into town to this address,” I said as I handed him a note. “You’re to make certain that nothing happens to her. I will warn you that she is… feisty and hardheaded. Under no circumstances are you to allow her out of your sight, other than when absolutely necessary. Then you will bring her back here, remaining until I return. Allow no one but our men inside and if you even believe that there is a breach in security, you are to call me. Otherwise, I’ll expect you to act accordingly. Is that understood?”

  His expression turned somber as he nodded. “Don’t worry, boss. I will protect her no matter what I have to do.”

  “See that you do. I have it on good authority that there could be an attempt made on her life.”

  Dimitri narrowed his eyes. “Who told you that?”

  “It’s not important, Dimitri. You and I leave in five minutes. And Nick, the appointment is at eleven. Both of you wait here.” I walked around them, heading for the hallway. The sight of Emily gliding down the stairs, wearing one of the dresses I’d selected with matching heels was incredible. The scent of her perfume wafted into my nostrils, exciting every one of my senses.

  She locked eyes with mine, taking careful steps as she walked onto the landing. The night before had been incredible, but the early morning had been just as awkward as before, even if I’d gotten the best night’s sleep I’d had in years.

  When she remained quiet, coming no closer, I inched toward her, slowly placing my hands on her arms. While she didn’t flinch, she appeared uncomfortable. “I have significant business to attend to today, which could take me late into the night.”

  “What about me?” Emily asked, darting her gaze into the room and at the two men.

  “Nick will be responsible for your safety today. You have an appointment in town at eleven. I suggest you have some breakfast.”

  “An appointment?”

  I nodded, brushing my fingers up and down gently. “For a wedding dress.”

  She bristled, her mouth pinched. “Fine.”

  “I know this isn’t what you want, but I promised that I would do everything to make the event special and I intend on honoring that pledge.”

  “Whatever you want. I’m certain it will be fine. Did you pick the dress you want me to wear, something garish and tight fitting?”

  I half laughed, not fighting her as she stepped around me. “You can select anything you’d like. Cost is no objective. I’m certain you will find something you love.”

  “I’m sure I will.” Her look was full of disdain. “And what about the cake or the flowers? The food? Or will this be a civil ceremony?”

  “Everything will be taken care of and as I told you, I’m making an attempt to give you a wedding you can remember.”

  “I’m certain I’ll remember it.”

  She refused to let go of anything beyond sexual in nature. I wasn’t entirely certain she ever would, although I’d seen a glimmer of something entirely different in her.

  As well as in myself.

  “What about my job, Cristiano? Have you thought about that? I also have friends, remember? Well, at least Julia will start to worry about me if I don’t call her. What am I supposed to say to her if and when you let me?”

  “I’m going to pay your place of business a visit and as far as your friend, unfortunately, you’re going to need to stay away from her for now.”

  “Let me guess. For her safety.”

  The dark cravings stirred all over again, my cock pushing hard against my trousers. “For one thing, yes.” We’d discussed the arrangement, our marriage providing her security as well as keeping me out of prison. Whether or not the second part was true was yet to be seen, but she would at least be under the protection of the King family. However, there was remorse in her eyes, guilt for enjoying what we’d shared the night before.

  “My God. This is insane.” When she tried to walk away, I dragged her back, sliding my hand under the back of her dress.

  Emily’s eyes widened, a warm blush creeping up from her jaw from embarrassment. “What are you doing?”

  “Checking that you obeyed me.” As I eased my fingers into the cleft of her ass, she trembled. When I twisted the plug several times, her body swayed. “Very good girl. I’ll have to reward you later.” The guttural sound in my voice seemed to give her a smile but it was short-lived, her mouth twisting out of frustration.

  I rubbed my thumb across her cheek, savoring the feel of her skin against the rough pad of my fingers. With all the intimacy we’d shared the night before, the continued awkwardness was debilitating.

  Without saying anything else, she walked away, stopping long enough to glare at Nick and Dimitri before heading toward the kitchen. The fantasy had been broken.

  Exhaling, I moved into the living room, looking from one to the other. “Nick, if this goes well, I will seriously consider placing you on my detail permanently. However, it will all depend on your actions.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” he said far too eagerly.

  “Don’t thank me yet. The next few days are likely to be dicey.” I gave Dimitri a nod before heading toward the front door, Dimitri trailing behind.

  Dimitri waited until we were outside before saying anything. “What’s going on, Mr. King?”

  “The man Ricardo told us about must be found. Whoever he is, there has obviously been a plan in motion long before I was sent to prison. It’s time to take out the trash.” I said nothing else as I took long strides toward the SUV, easing inside the passenger seat.

  When he climbed in, starting the engine, he gave me a single glance. “I don’t like the shit I’m hearing.” He rolled down the driveway. “Where are we headed, Mr. King?”

  “Mario’s. I’m certain you know where he lives.”

  He seemed taken aback. “Yes, of course I do.”

  A few minutes went by as he drove through the Garden District, taking the highway.

  “I will need your thoughts on promoting from within the ranks. I want a small detail surrounding my father’s house as well as mine. I will make a threat assessment today in order to determine if other members of the family are in immediate danger.”

  “This is getting serious.”

  “This could mean war.”

  “Then I have the men you’ll need, boss.”

  I nodded as I continued to think about the events of little more than twenty-four hours. I should have paid more attention to the ramblings of various assholes in prison when they’d spewed off their threats. The two halfhearted attempts made on my life behind the concrete walls had been nothing more than a warning. I had the distinct feeling that Vendez actually knew there was a chance I’d be released from prison. If that were the case, the betrayal was far reaching.

  And the asshole wanted to handle his selected eliminations himself.

  I remained lost in my thoughts as Dimitri continued the drive, heading into a part of town that I loathed going to. When he began to turn on residential streets, my gut started to churn.

  Our people were paid a hell of a lot of money.

  “Did you have a chance to have any conversations last night?”

  Dimitri snorted. “I scoured the damn streets. There’s a lot of shit out there, but I found a few assholes who’d talk.”

  Chuckling, I gave him an appreciative nod. His methods of interrogation were almost as brutal as mine. “Then what did you find out?”

  The small building was located in what I would consider a bad part of town, the surrounding houses run down. Dimitri pulled the SUV to the curb, allowing the engine to idle. “I asked around last night. Enrique Vendez has a reputation of being a ballbreaker, but I couldn’t find a single person who’d ever spoken with him or even caught a glimpse of him. However, he is putting pressure on certain businesses to break their loyalty to the King family.”

  Hissin
g, I glared out the window, shaking my head. That’s exactly what I’d expected to hear. A whole lot of nothing. “Any additional information?”

  “Just that he’s supposedly from South America. He’s got several different businesses, most of them legit. Who is this guy?”

  “Someone who must be found. I don’t give a shit if you have to turn over every rock. Find him. Enlist Ricardo’s help. He needs to begin paying me for allowing him to keep his life.”

  “I’ll find the bastard,” Dimitri growled.

  “I’m sure you will. Just so you’re aware, there’s going to be a wedding ceremony at my father’s house in two days.”

  “Who’s getting married?”

  I simply gave him a look.

  “You’re marrying that girl?” Dimitri asked, shaking his head as he stepped out of the car. While he wore no expression, I could tell he was surprised. “Are you serious? I mean no disrespect but…”

  “None taken. However, it’s a necessity.”

  “Okay, Mr. King. I’ll make certain and have the area swept and provide plenty of security.”

  “Good. One more thing,” I hesitated before finishing my statement. “I value everything you’ve done for me, Dimitri. I trust you more than anyone. There is no need to call me Mr. King. My reaction last night was overblown.” He knew that was as close to an apology as he was going to get. Maybe Emily’s goodness was rubbing off on me. I climbed out of the vehicle, adjusting my suit jacket before heading toward the porch. Dimitri trailed behind me, remaining on the small deck, watching for any intruders as I knocked on the door.

  When the door opened, Mario frowned. “Mr. King.”

  “Mario.” I wasted no time snapping my hand around his throat and shoving him inside, my schedule filled with ensuring every operation was exactly where it should be. Dimitri closed the door behind me. Witnesses I didn’t need. As I slammed him against the wall, he gasped for air but knew better than to fight me. “You fucked up.”

  Shaking, his mouth twisted as I squeezed, cutting off his air supply.

  “When I give you an order, I expect you to follow it. I thought that was clear to you.”

  “I’m… sorry,” he struggled, gasping for air. “I…”

  “Sorry means absolutely nothing. You tossed the girl into a cage. Is that the order I gave you?”

  “Na… No… sir. That wasn’t…”

  “That wasn’t what? A good idea? You’re damn right. She’s not an animal but it would appear that you are.”

  I dug my fingers into his skin. While the brute was large, I could still easily snap his neck if desired. I kept my hold for a full minute, his face turning bright crimson.

  Then I let him go, but not without punching him several times, the last hitting him square in the jaw. As he fell to the floor, a gurgling sound erupting from his mouth, I took a step away.

  “It’s your lucky day, Mario. You get to live. You also get to keep your job; however, you only get one warning in this organization and you’ve had yours. If you fuck up again, that will be your last time. You’re going to get your shit together and at this point, you’re reporting to Nick. Call him. Is that clear?” The demotion would either solidify his loyalty or break the ties altogether. I didn’t give a shit which.

  I didn’t bother waiting for his answer. He would never cross another line. That much I knew.

  As I walked out of the house, I gazed up and down the street. What the hell was Mario using his money for? It was a question worth finding the answer to.

  “Where to, Cristiano?” Dimitri glanced back at the house once. Thank God he had the good insight not to challenge me.

  “My father is expecting me.”

  As I climbed into the vehicle, I noticed Mario was peering out his blinds. A red flag raised, my gut churning. And I had a bad feeling the shit was about to hit the fan.

  “Cristiano,” my father said from behind his massive mahogany desk. There was no computer system. He had no email address nor followed any social media. He lived by his old school methods, the ledgers behind his desk notes regarding various punishments and enemies as well as financial information going back several decades. They were likely all up to date and he would be able to find any scrap of information if requested.

  At times we sparred, my drive to push us into the future clashing with everything his father had taught him.

  “Pops.” As I walked in, I could feel the tension in the air. The smoke from his cigar wafted in my direction. “A little early for a cigar, don’t you think?”

  “Never too early. It would appear that you insisted on teaching Mario a lesson. In case you’ve forgotten, he was loaned to you as a favor since you’ve yet to have the time to hire additional soldiers.”

  “Mario is a pig who can’t follow orders. He was lucky I’m in a good mood.”

  “Because of this woman?” he asked, lifting a single eyebrow.

  I laughed softly as I flung myself in the leather chair opposite his desk. “Perhaps.”

  He shifted in his seat, taking several puffs then blowing the smoke in my direction. That usually indicated he was pissed off. “I understand the reason you’re marrying her, but she isn’t family.”

  “She will be. That’s something you need to keep in mind, Father.”

  When he struggled to stand, I started to rise to my feet, but he waved me off.

  “I’m not an invalid, Cristiano. I’m also still the head of this family, or is that something you’ve already forgotten?”

  As if I could. He enjoyed reminding me of that fact every chance he got. “I’m aware of that.”

  “Good. I wanted to make certain you were. You know, I brought Mario up from nothing. He was a street kid. No parents. Refused to live in foster homes. The kid made the mistake of stealing from one of my guys while he was making a pickup. That had never been done before. When the little shit was brought to me, I realized he couldn’t be more than eleven, maybe twelve. But I also knew that with that kind of talent, he’d make a damn good soldier. And I was right. Hell, the man took a bullet for me before he was even eighteen.”

  “I didn’t know that.” And I wasn’t certain I cared.

  “There’s a lot of shit you don’t know, son. What I’m trying to tell you is that you need to pick your battles. Mario was trying to protect you as he’s always done for me.”

  “And I’m certain you pay him well to do just that.”

  “Hell, yes, I do. You got a problem with that?” my father huffed, daring me to say yes.

  “Not at all. I believe in paying our people well. Tell me this, Pops. Why is he living in a shithole on the other side of town?”

  He opened his eyes wide, finally sighing. “None of your damn business.”

  “When I’m attempting to find out who had the balls to issue a hit on your life, everything is my fucking business.”

  “He has a sister, well, a half-sister. Didn’t even know she existed for over twenty years. She’s had issues her entire life, the kind that require her to be cared for twenty-four hours a day. He spends the majority of his money keeping her in a nice facility instead of the real shithole he found her in. That’s what he spends his money on, not that it’s any of your damn business.”

  “Interesting.”

  “That’s what family does, son. They take care of their own. So, I don’t want to hear anything else about where or how he lives. As long as I’m alive, he will remain a respected member of our organization. You got it?”

  “Oh, I got it, Pops.”

  Snuffing, he twirled his cigar. “What about the Azzurris?”

  “As I told you before I went to prison, they had nothing to do with the attempt on your life.”

  “Then who the fuck did?”

  I leaned forward, staring him straight in the eyes. “Have you ever heard of the name Enrique Vendez?” At first there was no reaction on my father’s face. Then a slight glimmer in his eyes.

  “Should I?” he asked, puffing away on his cigar. />
  “I don’t know, Pops. It would appear he’s been attempting to either buy off or threaten several owners of our businesses to shift their loyalty. It would also appear that he’s managed to put several prominent law enforcement members in his pocket.”

  “You’re saying this person is behind your arrest?”

  I’d known my entire life when my father was hiding something. Today was one of those days. Pushing him wouldn’t do a damn bit of good. “That’s my belief. Joseph believes so as well. He owns a corporation called EV Holdings.” I caught a slight return of the same glimmer, although my father remained quiet. “And there’s speculation he’s working with Carlos Morales.”

  “Carlos,” my father huffed. “Now, there’s a real pig for you.”

  “Have you spoken with Carlos while I was gone?”

  “Hell, no. You can ask Lucian, but we made our point clear the last time he attempted a coup with one of our ships.”

  “Which means he could certainly be working with Vendez.”

  He gave me a stark look before turning away. “Then do what you need to do in order to get our kingdom under control but be careful in the choices you make.”

  The choices.

  I found his words more disturbing than they should be.

  Sighing, I stared at him, expecting something else, perhaps words of encouragement. Hell, I’d settle for his continued admonishment of the way I handled the situation. After a few seconds of silence, it was obvious there was no point in talking with him any further. I rose to a standing position, waiting an additional five seconds before heading for the door.

  “Cristiano. I was just like you when I was your age, a fighter. I refused to accept anyone’s authority or their pushback, my sadistic retribution feared by enemies and allies alike. I was forced to learn the hard way that my behavior created resentment, which led to acts of betrayal. I don’t want that for you. You have what it takes to become a great leader, but you need to temper your anger. You and your brothers and sisters are the greatest accomplishments of my life and I couldn’t have done anything without your mother. She was my shining star, the love of my life. That’s what’s important, son, and something that you need to learn. May this marriage provide you the kind of balance and happiness that you desperately need.”