Ruthless: A Dark Mafia Romance

by Piper Stone

  My lower lip trembled, a lump forming in my throat. For some, passion was like a religion, a hold so great that they would walk over hot coals for that burning sense of desire. For the man who haunted me, capturing me with his ruthless candor, what we shared was rocket fuel.

  His hand snaked around my neck, his firm grip forcing me closer. His hot breath was like a magnet, the force far too great to ignore. The same exotic scent filtered into my nostrils.

  “You have no clue what you mean to me. You’re my drug, my fix and the only one who’s seen another side of me. I can’t let go of that and I won’t. You are my possession. No matter where you run or if you try and hide, I will find you.”

  His words weren’t meant to be terrifying, but I knew his honesty surprised him. I wanted to push away, even as gravity pulled me closer until our lips were mere centimeters apart. “Gio. Don’t.”

  “I will.” His lips parted and as he smashed his against mine, my breath was stolen. He slipped his tongue inside. There was no fight for dominance as the tip pressed against mine. This was only a subtle reminder and the thirst for him remained unquenchable.

  I hadn’t realized he’d released me for several seconds, the wry smile on his face finally reawakening the professional in me. As I eased to a standing position, I covered my mouth with the back of my hand. He had a way of making his domination far too attractive.

  “My beauty,” he whispered.

  Don’t lash out. He’s trying to get under your skin. “We need to figure out a final treatment schedule.”

  You want him.

  You crave him.

  “Always the doctor,” he said, chuckling. “We will do what you ask, Dr. Mason.” Pushing his hand against the bed, he groaned when he attempted to sit up. “Ah, fuck.”

  “Stop fighting me. It’s too soon to try and move.” I was shocked at my body’s reaction, trying to ignore the dazzling sensations as heat swelled between my legs.

  Gio let out a long sigh and eased back down but not before taking my hand into his, rubbing his thumb back and forth across my palm. “You do care about me, my dazzling little Minx. We will make sweet music together, you and I.”

  “I’m your doctor, Gio. I care about all my patients.”

  “I’m not just any patient. You know that as well as I do, Veridi Mason. I am your master.”

  He stated my name as if knowing more about me allowed his ownership. “Master?”

  “Yes.”

  His prowess had returned, along with complete arrogance, bringing up my contradiction of emotions. The last thing I needed was to get sucked back into his debonair attitude. Swallowing, I attempted to shut down my feelings. “Listen to me very clearly. You’re a patient who almost died again, Gio. You can’t just push your body this away. The infection could flare up at any time. Do you understand? We are not talking about anything else but your health.” I jerked my hand away, pouring water from the pitcher into a cup and handing it to him, complete with a straw. “Drink. All of it.”

  He took the cup reluctantly. “What I understand is that you and I have an unbreakable bond, a connection very few people have.”

  “You’re philosophical now or is this because of the dreams you had?”

  Narrowing his eyes, he took a single sip of water before shoving the cup back in my direction. “What dreams?”

  He was disturbed that I’d heard him mumbling in his sleep.

  “You have a lot of enemies in your life that you want to suffer in agonizing ways. Am I one of those people, Gio? Or does your ownership of me take this to an entirely different level?”

  He seemed riled, his eyes flashing, and I could swear I heard a slight growl. Then he smiled, pulling his attention away from me—his play toy. “I have many enemies, sweet Minx. And yes, they will suffer at my hands.”

  “Jesus Christ, Gio. You play as if you’re God when in fact, you’re nothing but a murderer.”

  He snagged my wrist, his grip holding no signs of passion. He was furious with me. “You’re right. I’ve done some horrible things in my life, the majority of which I’m not proud of, but they were necessary.”

  “Since when is killing in cold blood necessary?”

  “When it means protecting my family. My friends.”

  I recoiled and even though he still had ahold of my arm, I took as many steps away from him as possible. “And what about their families, the people you killed? Don’t you think they deserve some redemption?”

  After a few seconds, he let go, his upper lip curling. “Perhaps. What I do know is that you cut off my lines of direct communication, which doesn’t bode well for a man in my position.”

  “What about Antonio or your other boy?”

  He snorted. “They are loyal, which is more than I can say for the majority of people in my life, but they are not responsible for the men in my organization. I am.”

  “Given you are the king,” I retorted tartly.

  “Maybe someday you will understand the importance of rank, especially if your life is in danger. And on that day as you beg for your life, pleading with the true monster standing over you with his weapon of choice, maybe then you’ll remember our conversation regarding loyalty and taking care of those who watch your back.”

  The words lingered and I had nothing left to say.

  Gio gave me one last look before closing his eyes. “You can go now. I’ll be fine.”

  “You can’t just dismiss me, Gio. As I told you before, I’m the one in charge this time. Not you. However, let’s try and get you well enough to get the hell out of my hospital.” I rubbed my wrist, still tingling from the electricity soaring through every vein. With that, I walked out.

  * * *

  This time I didn’t bother talking to anyone before I left the hospital. I simply wrote down Gio’s medical requirements with a note to call me if anything changed. I needed time away and very much to myself. Hell, I needed to wash the stench of him away, perhaps even going to church, something I hadn’t done since I was little.

  Maybe I was the one needing salvation.

  I was rebuffed by his callous words, his uncaring feeling, especially after toying with me. Who did the fuck did he think he was? He enjoyed killing people. And loyalty? He had zero idea what that meant. What in the hell had I been thinking even caring about him to any degree? I slammed the door to my house, the impact sending a reverberating force into the walls. Tossing my purse on the floor, I almost kicked it across the room.

  I stormed into my room and the second I flipped on the light, I cringed to my very core. I hadn’t been home long enough to clean up the mess from my experience with Gio. The cracked pictures were still on the floor, an unbroken perfume bottle lying in the same spot. Thank God, at least I’d cleaned up the broken glass.

  And the damn bedding was the same, the sheets and comforter from where we’d... fucked. There had been no making love with that man. He’d simply used me. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” I began jerking everything off the bed, wadding the nasty sheets into a ball. I couldn’t stand the thought of spending another minute lying on them, as if I’d enjoyed the time we’d shared. No Goddamn way.

  I half ran toward the laundry room, yanking open the lid to the washer but seconds before I tossed them inside, I pulled the material to my face. His lingering scent remained, musky and exotic. Why had I fallen for his bullshit twice? This was the end of it. I shoved them in, dumped enough laundry detergent to choke a horse, and turned it on as hot as possible.

  “Time for wine. Lots of wine.”

  I don’t know who I thought I was talking to, but I shivered all the way to the kitchen, almost breaking the wineglass in my attempt to get it out of the cabinet. The bottle was thankfully open and I poured the cabernet to the rim. The rest of the world could go fuck themselves for a night. I stood in the kitchen, taking subtle sips then resorting to gulping, finally refilling the glass before grabbing the rest of the bottle and heading into the living room.

  Now was the perfect time f
or a movie. A horror movie. Blood and gore. That would suit my mood perfectly. The wine went down easily as I settled back, even ignoring Anna’s two phone calls. By the third glass, I was feeling more relaxed, laughing hysterically that I’d gotten myself into this position.

  Grabbing the small blanket off the back of the couch, I settled in, pulling the covering up to my ears after lying down. While my heart continued to race, I felt the tension ease, perhaps in replacement of my conscience. I’d have to content with my guilt at a later time. Finally warm, I closed my eyes.

  But another shiver left me trembling.

  “Come to me.” He remained in the shadows, but his beckoning voice held the kind of captive danger that could not be denied.

  “You can’t have me,” I insisted, taking several steps further away.

  “I already have you.”

  “No. You don’t.”

  He inched closer until I could see the outline of his face and his burning eyes, evil in a way I hadn’t noticed before. “And you know exactly what happens to bad little girls who don’t obey me.”

  “Fuck you!” Turning, I ran, running through the forest, weaving through trees, my bare feet and legs scratched by briars and twigs. I would get away from him.

  “Veridi...”

  “No!”

  Glancing over my shoulder, I couldn’t see anything but the swirling mist as fog rolled in, but I knew he was there. “Please help me.”

  There was no one who would dare lift a finger, his reign of terror ruthless and brutal. I kept running, praying that God would save me. I headed deeper into the forest, winded but refusing to stop. Then I saw him standing just ahead, a smile on his face.

  “I caught you.”

  Bloodcurdling screams were coming from everywhere, their agony echoing into the heavens.

  “What? Oh, God...” Gasping for air, I jerked up, the horrible screams continuing. It was a dream, just a dream. A suffocating haze enshrouded everything. The fog. Oh, God! Breathe, just breathe.

  I blinked several times, finally realizing what I was hearing was the television. Turning my head, I struggled to focus. The wretched slasher movie played out the same way as in my dreams. No, the nightmare was so real. Gio. “Jesus.” Jerking up, I held my breath until reality finally settled in. I fumbled for the remote, every part of me shaking. The second I smashed my finger against the ‘off’ button, another buzzing sound just about drove me over the edge.

  “The phone, stupid.” A text. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, but my curiosity yanked at the better of me. Anna’s text put the fear of God into me.

  Listen to your voicemail!

  My patient. Oh, holy hell. I couldn’t get the voicemail to react quickly enough, my body already moving to a standing position.

  “Where are you? Everything is chaos. The shooting. I just... You have to call me.”

  Anna’s voice was laced with raw terror. Shooting? The hospital. A sickening knowing settled in. I hit redial, already pacing the floor. The phone rang and rang.

  Voicemail.

  “Anna, what do you mean shooting? Where? What’s going on. Call me!” I walked back and forth for a full two minutes before calling again. This time, voicemail didn’t pick up. Panic kicking in, I tried to remember where I’d left my purse and keys. The entire room was spinning, echoes of my heart thumping into my ears. This was crazy. I knew who was to blame. Gio.

  The asshole.

  The monster.

  The man who’d managed to pry apart every crevice in my system, exposing all the foibles and irrepressible yearnings.

  “Oh, fuck that.” I yanked a coat from the small closet, fighting to get my arms inside while searching for the keys.

  Then I noticed the front door handle turning.

  Boom!

  “No!”

  Chapter Eight

  One hour earlier

  Giovanni

  Boom!

  The door was pitched open, Antonio rushing inside, his gun drawn. “Boss, we have to get you out of here.”

  “What the fuck is going on?” I was already listening for sounds of gunfire. Whether the FBI had found my location or the goons from New York, the fact I’d been completely incapacitated for two days left our entire organization in an awkward situation. I’d risked calling Marco, forced to leave a message, which already had me on high alert.

  “No time to explain. Get dressed.” Antonio took long strides, moving in the direction of the window. He pressed his back against the wall, darting his head as he reached for the raised blinds, slamming them shut.

  Groaning, I struggled with the IV, ripping the mother fucker out of my arm. The two electrodes from the heart monitor were next. The various apparatuses began to beep in alternating high-pitched noises, certain to draw immediate attention. “Who are they?”

  “No idea, but they’re on the way.”

  I’d tossed the hospital gown, already searching for my clothes when a nurse burst into the room.

  “Sir, you can’t do that!” Her eyes opened wide the second she noticed the Glock in Antonio’s hand.

  “We can and we will. I suggest you put your hospital on a lockdown because in about five minutes, all hell is going to break loose.” I jerked on my pants, stalking toward her. “And you will tell no one who I am or that I was here.”

  “N-no, sir. Of course not,” she muttered, her words little more than a whisper.

  “Where’s Dr. Mason?”

  The nurse shook her head, opening and closing her mouth twice as tears formed in her eyes. “She’s... She’s not here.”

  “Where. Is. She?” I demanded, closing the distance. If assassins were after me, there was a chance they’d found out about Minx.

  “I don’t know!” she screeched, trembling to the point one shoe was tapping against the linoleum.

  Hissing, I pointed toward the door. “Do not call the police for fifteen minutes. Am I clear?”

  “Yes. Yes!” She backed away, almost tripping in her effort to get out and away from the madman.

  Pain thwarted my efforts trying to slide into the shirt, but there was no time to waste. I retrieved my weapon, shoving it into my waistband and moving toward the window myself. I needed to try to determine what the fuck we were dealing with. I was like a damn sitting duck. The parking lot was dimly lit, but my eyesight was keen. The two men sitting in a car parked midway through had a direct view of the front entrance. They were merely one set of eyes, another no doubt positioned at the rear entrance. The hit had been planned well. “Marco? Daniel?”

  “They’ll be in a van at the shitty motel next door in ten minutes. We need to get you to a safe house.”

  At least my capos had been through this shit before. “I have other ideas in mind. Come on.” The corridor was just as empty as when I’d arrived, only the lights had been dimmed and somehow, I doubted the hospital was trying to save electricity. “Where the fuck is Jacko?”

  “Checking the stairwells.” Antonio moved in front, his massive frame almost able to block mine. Everything was too damn quiet.

  We were at the end of the hall and close to one set of stairs, the only logical way to get the hell out of here. I’d checked the floor plan of the hospital. The maintenance entrance might not be covered by the onslaught of goons. “Come on.” I shot back in front of him, keeping my eye out as he lowered us from floor to floor. All I could think about was Veridi. Any connection to the Calduchi family could be compromised without a second thought.

  A door opening brought Antonio jumping over the railing, his gun in both hands. The single scream from the woman in the group of three brought a hiss from my mouth. We didn’t need to draw any attention.

  “Get the hell out of here,” Antonio barked.

  While they scuttled through the door, it wouldn’t be five seconds before they’d contact security. One more freaking floor then we’d be in the basement. We ended up in the maintenance wing, the pinging and ticking of various pieces of equipment hiding our footsteps,
as well as anyone else on the hunt unless they were close. There was no such thing as being too cautious. The bastards had the upper hand.

  For now.

  But things were about to change. I was finished being the victim.

  I held my finger over my lips and stopped short, craning my neck. There were at least two others searching the area. This was beginning to feel more like a trap. I waved my gun in one direction before pointing toward the exit sign. Antonio knew the drill, carefully easing around a large vent stack, crouching low to the ground. I thought about the schematics I’d seen, memorizing the logistics. The motel parking lot was a minimum of a hundred yards away, but we were boxed in.

  This had been well planned.

  I knew my weapons well. Hearing the slight clicking sound coming from my left, I dropped and rolled, gunfire peppering off the solid steel surface only a few inches from where I’d been standing. In the next few seconds, the area became explosive, shots coming from three directions. There were more than two of the mother fuckers.

  I weaved through the various machines, pinging off several shots. I heard another volley then all was quiet. Stepping over a pile of broken glass, I rounded the last corner near the door. Antonio stood over one of the men, his gun pointed straight down and the look on his face was one of repugnance.

  “You fucking worthless bastard,” Antonio muttered before pulling the trigger. Reaching down, he snagged the gun from the man’s hand, shoving it into his pocket. “We can go now, boss. I didn’t want to believe he was a lying sack of shit, but I guess I was wrong.”

  I walked closer, glancing down. Jacko. It seemed I had more than one disloyal soldier in my ranks. I grimaced as we exited the building, my thoughts drifting to all the ridiculous words I’d said to Veridi. Loyalty. Maybe there wasn’t such a thing, either in life or love.

  But I had a few things to do and no one was going to stop me. I would take control.

  Time to move to plan B.

  * * *

  “What the hell are you doing, Gio?” Marco stormed into the room, dropping a folded newspaper on my desk then walking immediately toward the bar. He glared at me before lifting a bottle of whiskey. “Antonio let me in. I brought the things you asked for. He said you were in here. He’s a good man.”