by B. B. Hamel
“Sure you did. Because we’re mobsters .”
I gaped at her, surprised. “Uh,” I said, “what ?”
She cackled at me. “Don’t act dumb, Natalie. You’re part of the Barone Crime Family now.” She leaned closer to me. “We’re all violent criminals here .”
“You don’t seem violent,” I said .
“Not right now.” She leaned back and yawned. “Okay, sister, I think bonding time is over.” She moved her feet and I stood up .
“Well, uh, it was nice talking to you.” I felt completely off balance .
“You too. If you see Rosita, tell her to stay away. I have more shoes .”
I laughed, nodding. “Okay. I will .”
She rolled over, pulling a blanket on top of her. I watched for a second and then turned and left .
Out in the hall, I shook my head. What a totally strange and surreal experience. As if my life weren’t weird enough, now I had a stepsister that might have been totally nuts. Beautiful and very interesting, but nutty, without a doubt .
I headed back toward my room, shaking my head, wondering when the weirdness would ever end .
16
Lucas
I poured myself a whisky and stretched out on the couch, ready to try to think of a plan to deal with the Russians, when someone began banging on my door .
“Shut the fuck up,” I yelled .
The banging did not stop .
“I’m going to rip off your balls,” I growled, getting up, “if you do not stop .”
I yanked open the door .
“Hi, big brother .”
Louisa smiled in at me .
“What are you doing here ?”
She moved into my room. I frowned at her but shut the door .
“Thought I’d pay you a little visit .”
“You haven’t been here in a while .”
She walked over to my liquor cabinet and poured herself a drink .
“Things are different now .”
I frowned at her. “Aren’t you too young to drink ?”
She knocked it back. “Probably .”
“What’s up, Louisa? I’m busy.” I sat back down, stretching my legs out .
She poured herself another drink and then perched on top of the coffee table. I refused to take her bait; she was constantly doing strange things just to get a rise out of anyone. Usually it was the staff that had to deal with it, but every once in a while Louisa decided to make me the target of her games .
“I had a visitor earlier .”
I raised an eyebrow. “People know not to bother you .”
“She was very interesting. I can see why you like her .”
I took a quick breath. “Natalie .”
“My new sister. I like her .”
I frowned. What the heck was she doing visiting Louisa? Not that there was any real rule against it, but I was willing to bet that my father would have preferred she didn’t. Louisa could poke plenty of holes in the little illusion of power and control that my father had worked so tirelessly to build .
“What did she want ?”
“I think she was just exploring, stumbled into the spider’s lair .”
“Well, I guess it’s good that you two met .”
Louisa nodded, sipping her drink. “She likes computers too .”
“So you have something in common .”
Her eyes narrowed. “Be nice to her, Lucas .”
I clenched my jaw. “I am being nice .”
“No, you’re not. You think you are, but you’re not .”
“What do you know? You’re too busy hiding in your room, throwing your little temper tantrum .”
“Three years isn’t a temper tantrum .”
I stared at her, not responding. It was an argument we’d had many times since she had decided to lock herself away, and I wasn’t about to have it again .
“Do you like her?” Louisa asked finally .
“We’re not high school kids, Lou .”
“Answer.”
I sighed. “Maybe .”
“I think she likes you, too .”
“I know that .”
She climbed off the coffee table and fell onto the couch next to me. “Just be nice, okay ?”
“Okay.”
We drank in silence for a few minutes. It actually felt nice to spend a little time with my strange sister. We used to be close, a long time ago, back before our mother passed away, back when we were children .
Then of course the business tore us apart, as it does to all families .
Before I could get too melancholy about it, my phone began to ring. I stood and walked over to it, picking it up. “Yes ?”
“Lucas, come to my study .”
“Now?”
“Yes,” Arturo said, annoyed. “Now .”
He hung up .
I turned toward Louisa but she had already left .
Damn girl. Why did she seem to care if I was nice to Natalie or not ?
Of course I was being nice to Natalie. Lou didn’t want to know how nice I was being .
Shaking my head, I left and headed down toward my father’s study .
I knocked once and pushed open the door .
“Father,” I said .
“Lucas, come. Sit .”
I shut the door behind me and sat down in one of the chairs facing his desk. He stood up and walked to his liquor cabinet. “Drink ?”
“Whatever you’re having .”
He poured two whiskies and then handed me one, sitting down in the chair next to me. “Tell me, how did the meeting go today ?”
“Vasili remains a little worm,” I said .
“Good then.” He smiled. “What did he say ?”
“Good news and bad news there .”
“Bad first .”
“Bad news is, the Russians were definitely involved. But the good news is that Vasili says to check the truck that was taken into custody .”
Arturo frowned. “Why check the truck ?”
“I don’t know. But he seems to think that will help us .”
“Hmm.” He leaned back in his chair, sipping his drink. “Lucas, how are you getting along with your new stepsister ?”
I sipped my own drink to mask my discomfort at the sudden change in conversation. “We get along fine,” I said .
“Good, good. I haven’t gotten much time with her. I had heard that you’ve been seeing her .”
“Did you ?”
“The staff talks,” he said, waving his hand .
“Well, someone needs to try to make her comfortable. This is a strange life .”
He nodded. “And what’s your assessment of her ?”
I frowned. “That’s what you normally ask me when there is an asset in play .”
“Is she not an asset ?”
“She’s family .”
“Yes,” he said, nodding, “family .”
“Do you not trust her ?”
“I fear her, more like. I don’t know what she believes about us and our family. Her mother knows and is completely fine with it, maybe even smitten by it. But the girl I worry about .”
I nodded. I understood his fears. I had shared them initially when I had heard that Camille’s daughter was coming to live with us, back before I knew that I had married her .
We survived through loyalty and secrecy. If someone was disloyal, they couldn’t live in the compound. Natalie was going to see and hear things that could potentially hurt us if they ever got out simply by living in the same building that we lived in .
And truthfully, I was still worried about what she thought. She never really said much about our business, which on the one hand was good, but it did show that she feared us. Fear was useful sometimes, but I didn’t want her to be afraid. I wanted her to understand .
Still, I couldn’t voice my fears to my father. I didn’t want him to suspect or worry about Natalie. I knew that I could handle her, knew that she wouldn’t do anything to harm us
. Not yet, at least .
“I trust her,” I said. “She doesn’t talk about the business, but she knows .”
He took another sip. “How sure ?”
“I’m a good read, father. I’m sure .”
He nodded. “Very well. I’ll trust you, Lucas, but don’t disappoint me. Keep an eye on that girl .”
“I will keep her close .”
“Good.” He stood up and walked around his desk, finishing off his whisky .
I stood. “Anything else ?”
“Get into that truck. Keep me informed .”
“I will .”
He sat down and folded his hands. “One last thing, Lucas. You were in charge of security the night of the exchange, and you failed. What happened ?”
I stared at Arturo. It was the question I had been dreading. The truth was, I had failed that night, though it wasn’t entirely my fault. Rodney’s team was supposed to keep us updated and safe, but he could never have guessed that the cops would come in force and seize everything .
Rodney did what he always did. He survived. He had warned us that something odd was coming with just enough time for us to get out of there with minimal losses, but still, I had trusted Rodney .
“It was my failure,” I said. “I take responsibility .”
Arturo frowned. “Don’t protect your people. If someone failed, punish them .”
“If you want to punish someone, punish me. My people are my responsibility .”
He didn’t like that. I could see the anger twitch in the corners of his eyes, but he kept himself in check .
“Be careful, Lucas. You’re not above our rules .”
“I understand that .”
He stared at me and I kept my face impassive .
“Go. Get inside that truck .”
I nodded, turned, and then left .
Out in the hall, I headed back toward my rooms, annoyance running down my spine .
Arturo was too controlling. He wanted to micromanage every single operation that I was involved with. I understood the impulse, and I didn’t hate him for it, but he was going to get in the way .
I sighed, releasing my anger. I was glad that conversation was done and over with. Although I didn’t love how it went, I felt like I had a weight off my back .
Back in my rooms, I smiled down at the package I had bought earlier in the day. It was the thing I had been looking forward to all day long. Lou had walked in just as I was about to put it all together .
But I was finally alone. My mind ranged back to my stepsister’s body and the way her lips felt around my cock. I loved the way she swallowed my cum greedily and licked me clean afterward .
The box held a nice little surprise for my stepsister, and I couldn’t wait to deliver it .
17
Natalie
A nother morning in the Barone compound .
Another morning having dreamed about my stepbrother all night .
About his lips against my neck .
About the feeling in my stomach every time he came around .
And about how angry he always made me .
Arrogant and cocky. But at least his sister seemed very nice. I had liked Louisa as soon as we had first started speaking, despite how strange she was. Or maybe because of how strange she was. Everyone in the Barone compound seemed so stiff and formal, but Louisa was the first person to actually treat me like a normal human .
I climbed out of bed, yawning. I had no clue what I was going to do all day, but part of me thought that it didn’t matter .
Maybe I’d get a job. Or maybe I could work somewhere on the compound .
Tough life. I lived in luxury and everything was provided for me. Anything I wanted, I could easily pick up the phone and get. So why did I feel so anxious all the time ?
I pulled open the door, expecting my usual breakfast. It was there, but the tray was perched on top of a box .
I carried the tray inside and then grabbed the box. It was plain and unassuming and was wrapped in a red satin bow. There was a card attached, which I quickly opened .
Natalie, For old memories and for new ones. Yours, Lucas .
I frowned at that. What did it even mean? And why the heck was Lucas sending me presents ?
I quickly tore off the paper and pulled off the lid .
Inside, I found underwear .
Black, lacy, sexy underwear. Bras and matching panties, and all of it my size .
Underneath them was the dress I had worn the night I went to his room. I put the underwear aside and pulled the dress out. There, staring me in the face, was the cum stain .
“Gross,” I said, tossing the dress aside .
At least the note finally made sense .
What an asshole. Part of me felt angry as hell that he would send me something like that. What was he trying to do, rub my face in that dress? I’d already pegged him for an egotistical jerk, but I hadn’t thought he was genuinely mean as well .
But as soon as I looked back at the underwear, I felt the other half of my emotions: pure, unbridled excitement .
Lust burned through my chest, and I felt my skin tingle .
I bit my lip, shaking my head. It was the exact response that he wanted. He wanted me to get turned on, to think about him stripping those sexy panties off my body slowly, about his tongue and fingers working me. He wanted me to remember the way his cock tasted, the way he came so hard, his grunts and groans .
He wanted me to get soaking wet. And as much as I hated him for it, I was reacting exactly as predicted .
I sat down on the couch, drinking the coffee that had been delivered on my breakfast tray. My last attempt at getting him back had completely backfired; I needed to think of something much better .
It hit me almost all at once. I looked at the underwear again, frowning. There were four pairs; I decided to choose two. Quickly, I stripped off my sweatpants and slid on a frilly black pair .
I sat back down on the couch and spread my legs wide, closing my eyes. I let my mind begin to wander .
I thought about the night in the limo, his fingers inside me. He was a gorgeous stranger back then, and the danger of it only enhanced my excitement. My pussy got soaking wet remembering how incredible it had felt to let him get me off .
And I began to rub my clit through the panties. It was so dirty, so dangerous to want him, to touch myself wearing the panties he had sent me. The danger only made me that much more aroused, though, as pleasure moved through me .
I continued rubbing myself as I thought about the way his cock tasted. I loved how he had taken control that night, grabbing my ass, moving me to the couch, fucking my mouth, sucking my clit .
I wanted him. God, I still wanted him so badly. I hated myself a tiny bit for that, since I knew that he knew it, that he had planned for all this. I was his secret wife, his stepsister, his sexual conquest, and I loved it, wanted more of it. I was drunk on him .
I moved faster, slipping a hand down my panties to slide a finger deep inside myself as I began to rub my clit. I was soaking, the panties themselves absolutely wrecked and dripping. I wasn’t thinking about that, though. My plan was suddenly completely forgotten as I imagined what he could do to me .
Sliding his cock between my legs. Maybe I’d let him fuck me on the desk of the empty classroom. I wanted to feel him take me from behind, to fuck me roughly up against a wall. He could grab my hands and hold them down as he fucked me, whispering all those delicious, dirty words in my ear .
Pleasure bloomed through my whole body. It was so dangerous, so wrong, to want my stepbrother to fuck me roughly, to use me until I was begging for more. I’d never had a secret like him before, and I never knew that I wanted one. But I loved my secret marriage, loved how badly I wanted my secret husband .
I came, slowly at first, my body twitching, my muscles tensing, thinking about him. He made me smile. He made me wet. He made me feel things I’d never felt before .
And finally, the orgasm passed ove
r. I lay back on the couch, slipping my hands from the panties. They were sufficiently soaked, and I was sufficiently tired .
I glanced over at the pile of underwear and frowned .
Only one more pair to go, thankfully. Maybe this would teach him for being such an arrogant asshole .
Fantasy was okay. Fantasy was fun, even. But me and Lucas didn’t live in a fantasy world, and everything around us was so, so dangerous. As soon as the orgasm began to fade, my anger at him returned tenfold. He couldn’t take such big risks like sending me underwear and a cum-stained dress. He couldn’t be inviting me to his room .
And I probably shouldn’t be sending him my used panties, but I couldn’t help myself .
After all, he started it .
I stood up and walked over to the phone. I ordered some orange juice and a bagel .
I figured if I was going to get myself off again, I at least needed my energy .
18
Lucas
W e spent the day planning.
Vince and I went around town, pulling in favors, dropping wads of cash, and basically bugging every single cop that we had on the payroll .
As far as a plan went, it was pretty simple. It came together a little faster than I was normally comfortable with, but I knew that speed was key here. We had to understand what had happened with the shipment, and we needed to find that rat as soon as humanly possible .
I was putting a lot on the line trusting Vasili. If we checked this truck and there was nothing but the shipment in there, no clues or any shit like that, then my credibility might be questioned. Granted, I’d have to hunt down Vasili and take the rest of his fingers, and he knew that .
Sometimes, being a violent, dangerous motherfucker had its perks. People tended not to lie to me, because it hadn’t worked so well for others in the past .
Still, it was always a risk trusting a gutter fuck like Vasili. But I didn’t have any other choice .
Losing that shipment was probably the biggest blow our family had taken in a long time. I knew my father mainly blamed me, though it was clear that something completely outside the realm of my control had happened .