by Riley, Megyn
His fat hands pull me along by my arm. He walks with a purpose. Like he’s in some kind of hurry. Maybe he is, but he paid for the entire night. It’s still unfathomable to me that someone would pay $10 million just to spend an evening with me. Don’t get me wrong, I like to think I’m good company. But how can someone justify that kind of expense. Unless they have billions?
We finally stop at one of the rooms. The man unlocks the door and pushes it open. “After you,” he says.
“And I thought chivalry was dead.”
The man smirks.
I step into the entrance way of a lavish apartment. The entire building seems to be a hive of mafia guys. Impenetrable luxury suites for each made guy.
The foyer opens into the living room, which has a panoramic view of the city. Looking out through the window is another man. His back is to me. He’s a big, powerful guy. This is just great. Are they going to share me?
“I got her, just like you asked,” the bulky man says. “She didn’t come cheap. I hope she’s worth it.”
So, it seems he bought me for this mystery man at the window. The mystery man doesn’t stay a mystery for long. He spins around, and I see his striking face and piercing blue eyes.
“Thanks, Sal. I owe you one,” Ryker says.
“You owe me $10 million, to be exact.”
I race across the room, my stiletto heels clattering against the hardwood floor. I fling myself into Ryker’s powerful arms. I squeeze him tight, and he hugs me back. If I didn’t know better, I’d think we were expressing affection.
“Are you okay?”
“A little humiliated, but other than that, I’m fine.” Then I take a step back from him and slap him in the face. My open palm smacks against his perfect skin. It leaves a red mark. Ryker doesn’t even flinch.
“It’s nice to see you too. I was expecting more of a thank you, perhaps.”
“You killed my father.” My eyes fill, and tears drip down my cheek.
“I’ll leave you two alone to work things out,” Sal says. He disappears down the corridor and ducks into a bedroom.
My eyes glare at Ryker. “Is it true?”
“It’s not what it seems.”
“You son-of-a-bitch!” I swing at him again. But he clasps my wrist, blocking the blow mid swing.
“You need to hear my side of the story,” he says, firmly.
I scowl at him.
“Or maybe I should give you back to Dominic?”
“I’m not yours to give. I’m not anyone’s property.”
His jaw tenses. I can tell he thinks of me as his.
“Your father was working with the mob.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Think back. You know what an agent’s salary is. I bet he had expensive cars. Took exotic vacations. Probably had a boat. Bought you everything your little heart desired.”
“Shut up.”
“More than he could afford on an agent’s pay.”
“Shut up.” I pound on Ryker’s chest, venting my frustration. He flinches a bit. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him wince.
But what he says is true. Money was never an issue for my father. Growing up, we had all those things Ryker mentioned. I don’t want to believe it. But I can’t deny the possibility. Tears stream down my cheeks. My body jerks in sobs.
“Why did you kill him?” I can barely choke out the question.
“There are things you need to know about me,” Ryker says. “This life really wasn’t a choice for me.”
“We all have a choice.”
“Did you have a choice tonight?” he asks.
He’s right. I didn’t. Unless you consider death a choice. If it weren’t for Ryker and Sal, I’d be underneath some sweaty, despicable toad of a man.
“I was born to do what I do.”
“You’re good at it, I get it.”
“Not just good at it. Designed for it. What I’m about to tell you never leaves this room. If you think the mafia is bad, the CIA is worse. They don’t like their dirty little secrets getting out.”
I nod.
“I was part of Project Valkyrie. A group of genetically engineered assassins. Part of the Special Operations Group. I was used to do their bidding. First, on the battlefield. Then later, in civilian life. I cleaned up lots of loose ends for them. I was bred for strength, speed, and agility. Designed to have no emotion. No fear, no guilt, no empathy—“
“No love?” I ask.
“But something has changed. I feel for you in ways I’ve never felt before. Ways that I shouldn’t be capable of.”
His words dance across my ears. My heart melts. But I’m having a hard time managing my conflicting feelings for him.
“Tell me what happened. I was told that my father was gunned down in cold blood. I was told there were no leads. The case still remains technically unsolved.”
“Your father ran interference for a number of high-level mob associates. He would try to steer investigations off course. It’s what Dominic Finn will have you doing, if we don’t stop him. Once they get their hooks in you, they’ll never stop controlling you.” Ryker takes a deep breath, like he doesn’t really want to tell me. “He worked a lot with Fat Frank.”
My heart sinks. “I know who Fat Frank was. The Bureau investigated him for sex trafficking. He was bringing in 14-year-old Asian girls and forcing them into prostitution.” My body goes numb. I’m covered in sweat. “Please tell me my father wasn’t involved with that.”
Ryker exhales a heavy breath. “There would be no way that he could be associated with Fat Frank and not know what he was into. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you. He was a bad man.”
I feel like I’m going to faint.
“Fat Frank was also supplying arms to Al Qaeda,” Ryker says. “That’s why the CIA was interested in him. That’s why I was assigned to take Fat Frank out. I think your father happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He opened fire on me, and I shot back.”
“I’ve heard enough,” I say. My whole body is vibrating. I don’t know what to think. I guess Ryker is telling the truth, but I can’t be sure. At this point, he’s got no reason to lie to me.
I feel woozy, and my knees feel like they are going to give way. Ryker’s powerful hands catch me before I fall.
“Don’t touch me.” I twist free of his grip.
“If I could change what happened, I would. But your father was rotten. If he wasn’t killed, it would have only been a matter of time before he was arrested. Agent Murphy knew and was mounting an investigation.”
My eyes look up at Ryker in surprise.
“I’m sure he kept it from you to spare you from this.”
I break down in sobs. I almost wish Ryker hadn’t told me. There are some things a girl doesn’t ever need to know about her father. The fact that he was a despicable man is horrifying on multiple levels. How could he have a daughter of his own and still do the things he did? And if he was capable of such evil things, what am I capable of? The whole thing is mortifying.
“If he was alive, he’d be sitting in a jail cell for the rest of his life. And his reputation would be ruined. Your family would be disgraced. Your mother wouldn’t have gotten his pension and benefits. I think he preferred death over dishonor.”
“How dare you pretend to know what he would have preferred.”
“You have every right to be upset with me.”
My mind is reeling. So many thoughts, emotions, and memories flood my mind. I think of all the happy moments we had together. Then I think of all the pain and suffering my father must have caused. Murphy must have dropped the investigation. Dredging up that kind of dirt on a dead FBI agent wasn’t going to be good for anyone. Especially the Bureau.
I finally stop sobbing. My eyes are puffy little slits. My face is red, and my nose is stuffy. I can barely breathe. I wipe away the tears from my swollen eyes and look up to see Ryker’s chiseled face. His eyes are full of concern and remorse.
“I
understand if you never want to speak to me again. But at least let me protect you.” His gorgeous eyes plead with me.
I stare at him for a long moment, trying to make sense of this craziness. I try to fight the wave of emotions surging through my body as I look at him. I want to hate him, but I can’t. My heart swells whenever I look at this man. His deep eyes pierce into mine. It’s like he sees into my soul. He knows my needs and desires. He knows how to fulfill them. He knows how to protect me.
“Beg,” I say.
“What?”
“Get on your knees and beg to serve me.” Maybe I’m pushing my luck, but he’s going to grovel if he wants me back. And I’m not gonna let him off the hook that easy.
He arches an eyebrow at me.
“You heard me. On your knees. Now.”
To my surprise he drops down to his knees. He clasps my hands. “Please. I’m begging you to forgive me. I will do anything to keep you safe.” He looks up at me with those big blue eyes, like a sad puppy dog pleading for a treat.
“Promise me that you will never, ever, let any harm come to me. And that you will never do anything to hurt me.”
“I swear, I will give my life to save yours,” he says. “I have never lied to you, and I never will.”
“And you will always refer to me as either Princess, or Your Highness.”
He smirks. “I have to draw the line somewhere, Princess.” He kisses my hand.
He’s absolutely adorable. I finally relent. Okay, okay. You may rise. He stands up and towers over me. It seems I have my very own knight in shining armor. But he grimaces as he stands.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Nothing.”
I look down at his shirt. Blood is seeping through the white fabric. “That doesn’t look like nothing.”
“It’s Sal’s shirt. Not mine.”
“That’s not Sal’s blood.”
“I’ll be okay. I promise.”
My eyes narrow at him.
“I told you, I’d never lie to you,” he assures. “I’ll be fine.”
I regard him suspiciously. “You better be.”
“Be careful. That sounds like concern.”
“No. It’s not concern.”
“Now who’s lying?” he says.
I stare into his luscious eyes. “How did you afford the auction?”
“It was everything I had.”
My heart melts again. I can’t help but smile.
“It’s a good thing the bid didn’t go to $11 million, or you’d be out of luck.”
“I hate to break up the reunion, but we have some things to address,” Sal says.
A knock on the door shatters the moment. Concern washes over Ryker’s eyes. “You expecting anyone?”
Salvatore shakes his head.
20
Scarlett
Salvatore pulls open the door.
Dominic Finn stands in the doorway, surrounded by a legion of soldiers. “I thought you’d be too busy to answer the door.”
“I’m wining and dining her first. I like it better when they’re receptive to the idea,” Sal says.
Dominic looks over his shoulder into the apartment. “Where is she now?”
“She’s where she should be. In the bedroom. Preparing herself.”
Dominic strolls into the apartment, brushing past Sal.
“This isn’t exactly the most opportune time for a visit, Dominic. Is there something I can help you with, after I… you know, take care of business.”
The rest of Dominic soldiers file in behind him. Salvatore knows this isn’t a good sign. Though, he does his best to hide his concern.
The soldiers secure the area. They fan out in the living room.
“Sal, in all the time that I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you pay for a woman. It struck me as odd. And the amount… that’s a lot of money for you.”
“Hey, she’s a good-looking woman,” Sal says. His voice is starting to shake.
“Let’s cut the shit, Sal.” Dominic says. “I checked the security tapes. I saw you letting Ryker into the building in the parking garage.” He motions to the soldiers. “Find them.”
The goons fan out through the apartment, searching the bedrooms and bathrooms. They pull Ryker and me from the closet in the master bedroom. Ryker could easily take out a couple of these guys—but not a dozen. Nobody’s that fast. They drag us before Dominic.
“I’ll give you one thing, you’ve got a lot of balls coming here.” Dominic says. “She sure must be something special.” His lecherous eyes fall across my skin.
Ryker’s face tenses. He’d rip Dominic’s eyes out of their sockets just for looking at me, if he had the opportunity.
“I should kill you right now for what you did,” Dominic says.
“You and I both know I didn’t kill Falco.” Ryker’s eyes blaze into Dominic.
“Even if that were true, you’d still have to convince the Commission. The evidence is not in your favor.”
“I think you know I’ve been setup.”
Dominic smirks. “I want Falco’s killer dead just as much as anyone else.” His insincere tone is infuriating.
“Have you considered suicide?” Ryker asks.
Dominic chuckles. “That’s what I like about you Ryker. Always a sense of humor.”
I can see Ryker’s deadly eyes surveying the targets. Planning angles of attack. Calculating the odds. I also see him realize that the outcome would be grim. There are just too many of them. And too many assets at risk—namely Sal and myself.
“Vic was a great man. But he lacked vision. He was content with the size and the scope of this organization. But I see the potential for so much more. I’ve created alliances that are increasing supply channels and widening distribution.”
“Vic never would have approved of the expansion,” Ryker says. “You know what happened to Icarus?”
“He flew too close to the sun. I see you think like Vic. And the rest of the Commission.”
It’s not hard to tell that Dominic has disdain for the Commission. They function as a regulatory agency for the five families. They set limits on what can and can’t be done, who operates in what territory, and they mediate disagreements. It’s clear that Dominic wants to move beyond the traditional scope of the Falco family. You can see in his eyes that he wants complete control.
“All of these men here are loyal to me,” Dominic says. “They share my vision for the future. They will follow my orders, unquestioningly.”
Ryker says nothing.
Dominic has a smug grin on his face. “Joey…”
“Yes, boss?” one of the thugs responds.
“Shoot yourself.”
Joey’s eyes widen. They dart about the room, looking for support. He fidgets nervously. “Yes, boss. Where?”
“In your head.”
Joey stammers a moment. Then places the barrel of his 9mm against his temple. His eyes flick to Dominic one last time, hoping for a reprieve. But Dominic just nods.
Joey’s finger grips the trigger. The hammer cocks back. His forehead crinkles. He looks terrified. Then he drops the weapon to his side. “I can’t do it boss.”
Dominic clenches his jaw. The veins in his neck bulge. He raises his pistol.
BAM!
A 9mm, hollow point, round blasts from the barrel. Muzzle flash lights up the room. The bullet drills into Joey’s forehead. Blood spews like a geyser from the exit wound. Joey’s body plops onto the floor. Blood pools around his head, spreading quickly.
“That’s not what I would call unquestioning loyalty,” Riker says.
Dominic’s face tightens, and his nostrils flare. “Disloyalty will be met with death. Discipline and consequence are essential components of retaining command. You know that, Ryker. I don’t care how or why someone obeys me, as long as they do. And when they don’t, the punishment is swift and final.” Dominic turns to Sal. “And you have been disloyal, Sal.”
Sal starts to sweat. “Boss, I—�
��
“No explanation necessary,” Dominic says. “You were helping a friend. An old Army buddy. We all go way back.” Dominic shrugs it off.
But Sal is worried. Sweat coats his face.
Dominic’s eyes find Ryker again. “I could use an asset like you.”
“You offering me a job?”
“I’m offering you a position in this family.”
“What about the Commission? And the contract on my life?”
“If there were no Commission, there would be no contract.”
Ryker’s eyes narrow. “You want me to take out the other four bosses?”
“If you do that, I’ll let your precious little agent live.” Dominic’s eyes flick to me. I cringe every time he glances at me.
“You let her go, free and clear,” Ryker says. “No strings attached. She doesn’t work for you anymore.”
Dominic raises an eyebrow. “I’ll let her live. She still works for me, though. She made $10 million for me tonight. I can’t let that kind of a cash cow go. I have over 100 associates that want to take a turn on her. She remains my property.”
Ryker’s face tightens. His muscles flex. He’s like a tiger ready to pounce. But he manages his anger. He smart enough to know that now is not the time to lash out at Dominic.
“I want to become a full member of your organization, with all the rights and privileges.”
“You have my word. Complete the job, and you’ll be untouchable.”
Dominic’s word doesn’t count for much.
“Swear me in now, and I’ll take the job.”
Dominic’s eyes survey Ryker. He’s not quite sure what Ryker is up to. He thinks about this for a long moment. He knows Ryker is not usually quick to pledge his loyalty. “Alright. But you are aware of what swearing your allegiance to me means?”
Ryker nods.
This can only end badly.
“Kneel,” Dominic says.
Ryker takes a knee. I never imagined I would see him kneel before anyone. It’s like Dominic is his king. This must be killing Ryker to do.
Dominic pulls out his wallet from his back pocket. He opens the billfold and slides out a prayer card. There is a picture of a saint on one side, and a prayer on the back. Prayer cards have always been an integral part of the initiation ritual for the mafia. There is an odd mix of Catholicism and mob values. It’s like a vegan who loves a rare steak.