Guns n' Boys: Swamp Blood (Book 3) (gay dark mafia erotic romance)

by K. A. Merikan

Axe shrugged, but he looked Seth up and down as if he hadn’t expected this. He waved his own bottle toward the kitchenette. “The fridges aren’t locked.”

  Mark slid off the bar stool and rushed to the fridge. Out of the whole thing, only one shelf didn’t contain stacked bottles. Mark took two beers.

  “Whoa, shouldn’t we protect the innocence of sixteen-year-olds?” asked Ryder.

  Seth finally got a way to pick a fight with him. Maybe it could at least clear the air. “I don’t know. Should we? You didn’t seem to care seconds ago?”

  Ryder straightened and pushed his chest forward. “If it were up to me, I’d let him get wasted and see how that ends for him,” he growled, and one of the guys slapped his thigh.

  “Don’t give him the wrong idea.” It sounded more like an explanation that no one here wanted to reenact gangbang porn than a promise of leaving the boy alone.

  Mark pressed his lips together and put back one of the bottles before walking back to the counter.

  Seth spread his arms, never taking his eyes off Ryder. “I don’t get what you’re saying. That he’s gonna get a lesson in hangovers, or that one of your brothers would actually be up for a little boy-on-boy action when drunk?” Seth’s feet burned on the explosive territory, but he couldn’t just leave the issue alone.

  The room exploded with rage, and Axe jumped right into Seth’s face, pushing at his chest. “What did you say, fag? No one wants your dirty gay asses, but if you fucking insist, I can show you my baseball bat!”

  Ryder did nothing. He smirked and looked away, clearly not interested in maintaining the easygoing friendship he and Seth had shared. It was a slap in the face worse than Axe’s offensive words.

  Jed came between them, pushing at both Seth’s and Axe’s chest. “Give him a break. It’s not like he’s a Nail. Who cares how many dicks he sucks? It doesn’t matter.”

  “Doesn’t it?” hissed Ryder, pushing through the crowd. Jed stepped back immediately, and his body language betrayed just how much it mattered to him what his brother thought about it. Seth felt a pull at the back of his shirt, and he realized it was Mark prompting him to leave, but only then, Domenico’s booming voice cut through the noise like a cleaver.

  “How the actual fuck am I supposed to work when all you do here is bicker like a bunch of old ladies at the marketplace?”

  Ryder faced Dom but held on to Jed’s shirt in a gesture that suggested they weren’t done with their conversation. “Someone’s fucking precious. Can’t be that loud up there. Don’t worry, no one here is gonna hit on your boyfriend. As I think we’ve already established over a week back.”

  Domenico looked at him, completely serious. “I’m glad you remember,” he deadpanned and walked up to the counter, casually rustling Mark’s hair. “Since it’s you who wants my help, you should make sure my contacts don’t think I’m buying cattle while talking to them.”

  Jed pulled out of Ryder’s grip and pushed him away. “I’m so done with all this gay talk. Anyone wants to play some pool?”

  Axe watched Domenico with his arms crossed. “You know they’re searching for you. Can’t you at least cut your hair or something?”

  Seth’s eyes went wide at the suggestion. He loved Domenico’s hair so much. Smelling it, pushing his fingers into its silky texture... “He’s not cutting his fucking hair!”

  “Why? You like pulling on it as you fuck him?” growled Ryder.

  Seth scowled. “You’re such an asshole, you know that?”

  “Fuck off,” said Dom calmly and approached Ryder with his hands casually down his pockets. It was almost as if he intended to push away Ryder with the power of his deadly gaze alone.

  Ryder took a deep breath as if to say something, but Jed pulled him away again. “Give it a rest! He’s looking for Jo. Sure, it’s fucked up that they’re just flaunting themselves like that, but… they’re foreign, they don’t know any better.”

  Domenico smirked and pulled Seth closer by the waist. “Excuse me, gentlemen. I think it’s high time to go fuck,” he said calmly in an insanely proper British accent and walked Seth toward the exit.

  Seth snorted and grabbed his beer on the way. “Jed, keep an eye on Mark, will you? We don’t want anything improper happening to him.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Mark muttered, and Jed didn’t look one bit happy with how the situation had developed, but Domenico didn’t seem to care. He pushed the door open and took Seth back into the quiet staircase. It was an immense relief.

  “Rough day, isn’t it?” asked Dom, slowly pulling Seth’s hand up to his lips.

  Seth groaned, and looked at his bottle, hoping he’d find a way to open it in their room. “I kinda wish they didn’t know. But since they do, I can’t be timid about it, or they’d eat us alive. Ryder’s been a dick to me. It’s not fair.”

  Domenico kissed Seth’s shoulder and molded his body to Seth’s side as they climbed the last few stairs. “Not that good of a friend now, was he?”

  “Not really, no.” Seth sighed and wrapped his arm over Dom’s shoulder. “I guess you will have to spot me after all,” he said as if it were a tedious task.

  Domenico smirked and nuzzled Seth’s nose as they walked up to their room, but his face got slightly more serious when he unlocked the door. “This could’ve escalated.”

  Seth pursed his lips as he walked into their little trap of a room that really only contained a bed and a desk. “They were picking on Mark. I had to do something. That Axe guy is like three times his size.”

  Domenico locked the door behind them and softly put his arms around Seth’s waist. “I know. But Jed’s gonna protect him with his own ass now, if needed.”

  Seth nodded. “I thought I could find a way to hang out with them, but it was as if I had Ebola.” He stroked Dom’s hair. It was smooth as silk—Domenico’s pride and Seth’s joy. He’d never let Dom cut it off.

  “Fuck them. We’re gonna be out of here soon,” whispered Domenico, stroking Seth’s hips in slow, circular motions.

  Seth bit the inside of his lip and put away the beer. “I suppose this can wait.”

  Domenico stretched his neck so far something crackled, but he smiled and sat on the mattress, while holding Seth’s hand. “I’ll wait with telling them what I found out if they can’t behave.”

  Seth followed him on the bed and pulled off his T-shirt. He still wasn’t happy about how his body had changed, but he was now determined to get back into shape, and feeling firsthand just how much Dom had wanted to fuck him gave him the confidence boost to stop worrying about it too much for now.

  “So I will be the first to find out?” He smiled and straddled Dom’s hips.

  Domenico rested his head on Seth’s shoulder and just let his hands stay around Seth’s chest, like the strongest of armors. Domenico would never let anyone hurt him.

  “There’s an abandoned military base about thirty miles from here. I will tour it. Apparently, they’re a transfer point, so they don’t really keep people long-term. One of my former colleagues used to do jobs for them, and it seems like a trustworthy piece of information. They’re saying they can show me the stock,” he muttered, looking at the grated window. Domenico’s gaze was clouded, as if he too was worried about the implications of such a find. Maybe they should inform the police? But then again—how would they do that? As an anonymous tip? And if the local police were somehow involved, the business and its victims would be gone before anything could be done about it.

  Seth sighed and hugged Dom’s head to his chest. “And you will try and see if she’s there?”

  Domenico shrugged and gave Seth a weak smile. “She won’t be there. But maybe I’ll find proof so that they can stop searching. As much as I fucking hate Ryder, I am sorry for him. No one deserves to lose their family,” he whispered, more and more lax in Seth’s arms.

  “I know.” Seth kissed Dom’s hair and gently rocked on his hips. “At least you can give them closure. You said you regret calling your mother, but at
least she heard from you. That’s the important part. There’s nothing worse than the uncertainty.” He let his hands slide down Dom’s back and explore each hard ridge of muscle.

  Domenico hummed and fell over, taking Seth with him. The mattress was too soft, the bedding not fresh, but at least it seemed clean, and the privacy of the tiny room made all the disadvantages unimportant.

  “I’d still rather have her grieving than you hurt,” whispered Domenico, touching his forehead to Seth’s. “I need you in my life.”

  Seth was quick to wrap his legs around Dom’s hips. Only now, he realized they kept being interrupted or having problems with privacy lately. It was either Dana always there or Mark lurking somewhere around. Even if the walls in this room weren’t all that soundproof, they were solid, and the door had heavy locks. It would be just the two of them.

  “You are the best thing, and the worst thing, that has ever happened to me.” Seth arched up for a kiss and closed his eyes, as he explored every vein on Dom’s forearms.

  Domenico muttered his approval and rolled on top of Seth, sliding between his legs and slowly moving his hand up and down Seth’s chest. His touch ignited more heat with each moment, a slow burn that would surely explode within Seth’s chest soon enough.

  “The worst?” asked Domenico quietly and pressed his ear to Seth’s ribcage, as if he needed to listen to the heartbeat beneath.

  “Because I used to be independent, and now I’m addicted to you,” Seth whispered, loving Dom’s heavy body on top. He was like a machine made out of pure lean muscle. Seth’s fingers traveled all the way to Dom’s ass, and he squeezed it, already anticipating doing that when Dom fucked him. Seth thoroughly enjoyed the attention of Mr. Schwangau, but it was Dom’s love he most craved. “I get all twitchy when you’re not there.” He laughed.

  Domenico’s mouth curved into a wide smile, and he raised himself up, trailing his hair up Seth’s neck and cheek in the process. There was a glint of wickedness in Dom’s bright amber eyes, and Seth couldn’t wait to have it unleashed on him. “I’m sorry I haven’t always told you the truth,” Dom whispered and slid his nose to Seth’s ear.

  Seth smiled back and put his hands lower, to Dom’s thighs. “Oh, I know you will still lie to me at one point or another. Just keep it to a minimum.”

  Domenico laughed, and the sounds he was making trailed all the way to Seth’s cock. Domenico reached down and pulled his fingers up and down Seth’s thigh before hooking it over his hip. “All right. But I want to trust you tomorrow, when I go and investigate the base.”

  Seth sighed, instantly deflated, but he tried to pretend he didn’t mind. “Yes, I promise I’ll sit here on my ass and look after Mark.”

  “No. You will not do that. I hope.” Domenico raised himself on his elbow, just high enough to look Seth in the eye as their noses touched. “If something goes wrong, I need you with me, so that we can disappear.” Domenico swallowed, and he placed the gentlest kiss on Seth’s mouth, just a dry brush of sensitive skin, but it made Seth’s arousal skyrocket. “Will you go with me?” breathed Dom.

  Seth nodded quickly, and his heart skipped a beat. Visiting an abandoned army base where a prostitution ring had a transfer point was the last thing on his bucket list, but accompanying Domenico at a risky venture like this was what he wanted with all his heart. He’d follow Dom’s orders, do as he was told, but at least he would be able to act if push came to shove.

  “In case someone else recognizes you?”

  Domenico nodded and kissed Seth again, making a small but very well-aimed movement with his hips. Seth gasped as warmth spread all over his stomach and thighs. He couldn’t help but rock against Dom.

  “I’d go to the depths of hell with you.”

  Domenico grinned as if they’d just agreed to elope to Hawaii, and he grabbed Seth’s wrists, putting them over Seth’s head. “You’d be safe in hell with the devil himself.”

  The walls around the former military base were high and barely visible in the darkness as they approached them in the car. Only from up close was Dom able to tell that they’d been crafted out of cement blocks, probably with metal scaffolding at the back, and he was sure the wires at the top of the fence weren’t merely for show. There were lamps on both sides of the tall solid metal gate, and he slowed down the car as they approached. There was no one visible between the dark trees all around them, but the moment Domenico stopped a few yards from the gate, it slowly started opening with a rusty creak. It was a lucky coincidence that one of his personas was in the business of dealing with illegal brothels and human cargo, so the contacts who knew Dom as Mr. Adler could vouch for him. Clearly, the references had been enough.

  He and Seth had shopped for the best suits they could find at such short notice in the middle of nowhere, Louisiana, and despite the mission being so stressful, Dom took peeks at Seth’s hairy forearms revealed by the rolled-up sleeves of his black shirt. He was sure that the last time he’d seen Seth wear anything this official was at Seth’s own wedding. It looked hot on him. No matter how much Dom enjoyed seeing him in jeans and funny T-shirts, there was something about seeing Seth in formal clothes that had his adrenaline revving. It made Seth look older, more dangerous, like a true mafia man. Domenico could only imagine how it would feel to be naked against Seth when he was dressed to kill.

  Despite having a persona for the meeting, Dom felt strangely comfortable back in a suit. He wore a tie and wouldn’t take off the jacket, even in the heat. He felt like himself again, as if the sharp lines of the suit gave him back his true form. He was not the Russian mobster who killed a man who presumably was a member of the same organization as the people at the base. He was a confident businessman, dressed to kill. At the back of Dom’s mind was a hint of fear that despite the makeup he wore the day before, his facial scar could have been mentioned in some reports. Then again, who would expect a man to do something as insane as going into the hornets’ nest right after slaying one of theirs?

  He didn’t hesitate and drove in with the most expensive car they could get their hands on—Ripper’s wife’s car for that matter—after a quick change of license plates. The area surrounded by the fence was vast, and due to its remote location, rarely visited by locals. From time to time, teenagers loomed around its perimeter, only to be arrested for attempted burglary, at least that was the intel the Coffin Nails managed to gather throughout the day.

  People were saying that the place was the headquarters of a cult, or a training ground for security specialists. Some even believed it was yet another UFO research site, but what no one reported was that there were people kept here. Obviously all the staff consisted of outsiders with no ties to the local community, and even when they got out of those walls, they never spoke about the place.

  A man in a gray jumpsuit approached the car and waved for it to drive on, deeper into the fenced area. Streetlights produced an eerie glow over a row of elegant cars and a few SUVs, but they extended farther, shedding light over an asphalt road that disappeared between the trees, leading deeper into the private woods.

  Domenico let out a low breath as he parked alongside the other cars. “Ready?” he asked, adjusting his tie. It always calmed him down to know he looked good. Because there was no way for him to take a gun inside, or even the knife he frequently wore strapped to his calf, Domenico had some fishing line in his pocket, in case he needed an inconspicuous weapon, but other than that, they were unarmed, not to let anyone read the serial numbers on their guns or otherwise examine them.

  Seth gave a quick nod, with a completely focused expression. Dom usually preferred Seth to be playful, sexy, maybe even slightly tipsy, but in this situation, it calmed him down to see that Seth could take things seriously.

  Domenico left the car and nodded at a handsome man in a shirt and slacks. He was in his early forties, with his hair already graying at his temples, but Domenico would do him anyway if the situation were any different.

  “Mr. Adler? Mr. Abate?” asked the
man with a nod of acknowledgement.

  Domenico smiled and squeezed the man’s hand first. “We almost lost our way, but at least we’re here,” he said with a barely-there Russian accent. Mr. Adler was half Austrian and spent most of his life in the United Kingdom. Domenico enjoyed making up all the personas he had up his sleeve. A lot of the ideas for personality traits and quirks came to him during sniper assignments, when he had to watch his targets for hours on end.

  Seth played the part of a rude Italian, and instead of shaking the man’s hand, he looked at his expensive watch first. “How long do you think the tour will take?” he asked, and Dom was positively surprised by the concise persona having an added gruffness to his voice. Since he knew Seth so well, it reminded him of Seth’s voice when he was angry and sulking.

  Their guide smiled and shook Seth’s hand too. “It will take however long you’d like it to take, although I believe it won’t be more than two hours, unless you have other wishes or want to have a drink in pleasant company. My name’s Jackson. Follow me to the car, please,” he said, leading the way to a black Range Rover.

  Domenico looked at Seth to express his appreciation for his act, but didn’t otherwise acknowledge his presence. They were associates, not friends.

  Before they went inside, a man in a simple gray jumpsuit patted them down, but once inside the vehicle, they were offered drinks like any other business partner in the real world. Seth had some wine. They were on a business trip, but since this was part of their lifestyle, it would have been seen as suspicious if they both rejected the notion of “fun.” Domenico entertained Jackson with small talk about the area as they drove deeper into the giant fenced base. They all knew what Mr. Adler and Mr. Abate were here for, and jumping to the topic would make them seem too eager, not used to the business. Domenico and Seth had had a lengthy conversation about the workings of such rings, and Domenico was sad that Seth got visibly upset with Dom for knowing so much about them.

  The drive wasn’t long, but they passed a few security gates, where Dom discreetly counted guards and watched for big guns.