Beautiful Carnage: A Dark Mafia Bully Romance (The Boys of Sinners Bay Book 1)

by Caroline Peckham

  I put my gloves back on as I ran, glancing over my shoulder to check Rocco wasn’t following me, but all was quiet. I kept up a good pace, the darkness swallowing me as I left the house behind. The snowstorm was starting to pick up again and there was no chance of any vehicles getting up this road tonight. I hoped I could reach another house before Rocco woke up, even though I was sure he wouldn’t be able to find me out here in this heavy snowfall anyway.

  When I was far enough from the manor, I took out the flashlight and shone it at my feet to make sure I didn’t trip over anything in my path.

  My heart thumped wildly in my chest as I finally escaped the Romero household, but as a wolf howl split the air apart somewhere in the mountains, I feared I was far from safety yet.

  I laughed as the sound of birdsong filled the air and I reached out to pull Sloan closer to me.

  “You face is so tassly,” I mumbled as I nuzzled against the tassel which was pressed to my face. “And your tits are so cushiony…” I groaned with need as I rolled on top of her, grinding my hips against her curves.

  It wasn’t enough. I needed more. I’d been holding back for too long and I couldn’t keep doing it.

  “I need to feel you,” I moaned, reaching between us to unzip my fly and tug my jeans down to release the hard length of me.

  I groaned as I pushed myself against her, listening for her moans in response. My hips were shifting against her, her tassels were tickling my ears. Her skin was so rough, like corduroy and her buttons were grinding against my dick in a way that really…fucking…hurt.

  “Fuck,” I growled as I blinked my eyes open and dizziness swept over me. I squinted as the couch came into focus beneath me. The couch. Not Sloan. I currently had my dick wedged between two of the goddamn cushions.

  And I wasn’t entirely sure it even felt good.

  “Sloan!” I yelled, my voice slurred and louder than my fragile head liked. “Get back to the fucking down house man!”

  Shit that doesn’t even make sense to me.

  I pushed myself upright with some difficulty, stumbling so hard that I fell into the coffee table.

  Pain slammed through my shin and bounced around the inside of my skull, making a manic laugh fall from my lips.

  “Sloooooooooan!!” I yelled, cupping my hands around my mouth as I spun in a circle.

  She couldn’t have escaped. I’d locked the windows up tight and the front door key was still in my pocket. There was no way out…except the balcony…

  “Oh fuck biscuits.”

  I stumbled towards the glass doors at the far end of the living room which lay beneath the balcony.

  On my fourth step, my jeans fell down around my ankles and by my sixth I was falling straight towards the ground.

  I groaned as my hard-on slammed straight into the wooden floor and my forehead smacked into the window.

  The fucking agony of that one cut through the blur of my thoughts and I hissed between my teeth as I pushed myself up to look outside.

  “Motherfucker,” I growled as I spotted footprints carved into the deep snow. The blizzard had almost covered them again but I knew what I was looking at and a new emotion found its way through the fog of my brain. Rage.

  I dragged my pants back up, putting my goddamn dick away as I turned and staggered towards the kitchen.

  I fell against walls and had to drag myself through door frames as I went while the leaden feeling in my limbs just begged for me to lay down and go to sleep.

  Fuck that.

  “I’m coming for you, little mouse. You’d better run fucking fast,” I slurred to the walls as no one else was listening.

  I reached the sink and pushed two fingers to the back of my throat until I puked. My dinner came up in a mess of spaghetti and red sauce mixed with rum and whatever the fuck was making me feel like this.

  I scrambled for the tap and wrenched it on, gasping as freezing cold water poured over the back of my head and made some of my tangled thoughts stick back together. I kept it running until I was shivering then flung my head back, flicking water all over the kitchen from my curls as I glared out of the window.

  My gaze fell on the dark line of the forest at the far end of our land and I cupped my hands around my mouth as I howled to the moon.

  I was going to catch her. And I was going to punish her so thoroughly she wouldn’t even remember her name let alone mine. Her screams would echo off of the walls of this house and still I wouldn’t be through with her. No one made a fool of me. Certainly not for the second time.

  I shoved away from the sink and ran to the hall, smacking my shoulder against the doorframe as I misjudged it and cursing her name beneath my breath.

  I’m gonna hunt you. I’m gonna catch you. And I’m gonna make you beg for me to own you like I used to because now there won’t be any mercy left in me.

  I fumbled for the keys in my pocket then forced them into the door and wrenched it wide.

  I gave a moment of my attention to kicking my boots onto my feet but my fingers wouldn’t cooperate enough to lace them and I had no time to hunt down a shirt.

  The snow was falling hard and fast, the bright white colour of it seeming to glow in the darkness of the night as it coated everything.

  But it wasn’t enough to cover her footprints entirely. I had a perfect path, pointing me to my prey and I was going to stalk her out into the dark like the monster she thought I was.

  I headed along the side of the house without bothering to close the front door behind me and carved a path through the snow to the garage around back.

  I picked up the axe we left out for wood chopping and swung it at the door again and again, smashing, splintering, destroying until I’d broken the fucking thing apart and the beast inside me purred with satisfaction.

  I had the key in my pocket but I didn’t want it. I wanted the swell and burn of my muscles as I fought to break my way in. I wanted the feeling of a weapon in my palms. And most of all I wanted Sloan Calabresi begging for mercy at my feet on her knees.

  I tossed the axe aside and ripped the remnants of the wooden door out of my way before stalking inside.

  I strode straight up to the snowmobile parked in the centre of the large garage and jammed the key into the ignition with a bark of laughter.

  “How fast can you run, principessa?” I hissed.

  I leapt onto the machine and it roared beneath me as I loosed the throttle and shot out of the garage.

  I skidded through the snow, carving a wonky path across the yard as I tore after her, feeling so out of my goddamn head that I had no words for it.

  “Oh Slooooooan!” I called excitedly as I pushed the machine to its limits and a blizzard of snow whipped across my face.

  The cold bit at my exposed flesh on my bare chest, waking me up and pouring fuel onto the fire of my rage.

  The snowmobile devoured the path before me, eating up her footprints like I intended to devour her.

  I shot between trees, bouncing off of trunks as I failed to see them properly in my fucked up brain state. The machine groaned and crunched angrily at the treatment, but I didn’t care. I just had to find her. My little runner.

  A high pitched howl sounded in the trees and I lifted my head at the sound of a real wolf joining the hunt. Another howl followed and another, a shiver of energy dancing down my spine at the competition. But they wouldn’t get to her first. I had her scent and I’d be the only one taking a bite.

  I pulled the throttle back even harder, speeding out into a clearing and laughing aloud as I spotted her.

  Her black hair billowed around her as she looked back over her shoulder, her eyes widening in panic as she still tried to run.

  I cupped my hands around my mouth and howled at my prey as I stood up on the snowmobile.

  The machine swerved violently without anyone to steer it and a huge crash sounded as it slammed into a tree.

  I was thrown off it, cartwheeling through the air as the world blurred around me before I smash
ed into a huge bank of snow.

  I sank a foot into it, the air driving from my lungs as my body cried out in protest to the brutal treatment and I wheezed out a pained breath.

  “Holy shit,” Sloan breathed and I looked up as she turned and ran again.

  “Don’t choo run from meee!” I snarled, my words garbled by whatever the fuck she’d given me and nothing but anger filling me now.

  She didn’t fucking listen, racing on like she still thought she might escape me as the howls of the wolves in the forest came so close that the hairs raised along my arms in response.

  I snarled like the beast I was as I scrambled to my feet and took chase.

  Sloan gasped in panic, running faster as I stumbled and tripped over my own fucking feet.

  I fell against a huge trunk, using it to brace myself as I yelled her name again.

  She looked back once more, those big, innocent eyes staring at me full of fear for half a second before a blur of grey fur leapt from the trees beside her.

  Sloan screamed as she was knocked onto her back by the wolf and a bellow of rage left my lips.

  I charged straight at it, my hands curled in tight fists as pure panic blinded me. She belonged to no beast but me. Her life was mine, not this creature’s. And I wouldn’t let it steal her from me any more than I would let her run.

  I dove at the wolf, knocking it off of her before it could get its teeth into her perfect skin.

  His head swung around, a mouth full of razor sharp teeth aimed right at me as I swung a punch straight at its fucking face.

  My knuckles crunched as they connected with its head and the beast yelped in pain, leaping away from me as I bared my teeth at it.

  It scuttled back and I shoved myself to my feet, stumbling as I missed my balance.

  A second wolf sprang at me and I wasn’t fast enough to avoid it before the sharp slice of all those fucking teeth tore into my arm.

  I growled even louder than the fucker trying to eat me as I swung my weight around and threw my fists into its side again and again and again. The bastardo held on, shaking my arm like he thought he might take it with him and pure fucking agony tore through me.

  Sloan screamed behind me and I saw red. I reached out and grabbed the fucker by the muzzle, ripping it off of me with brute force.

  I swung my foot up, kicking it as hard as I could and sending it crashing away from me.

  Blood pissed out of my arm but I didn’t care. I roared like I was the biggest, meanest monster in this forest and the damn wolves believed it too.

  They shot back into the trees and I started laughing as the panic in my limbs began to fade.

  My arm hurt. So. Fucking. Much.

  I looked at it then looked back at Sloan.

  “You wanted me to bleed for you,” I slurred. “Are you happy, now?”

  Her lips parted and I didn’t know whether she was going to spit on me or cry for me. I didn’t know which I wanted more either.

  My head spun wildly and I was pretty sure I was going to pass out again.

  “Guessoo gotcha wisssh,” I slurred as the world faded in and out of focus.

  I fought to stay on my feet. Fought to stay conscious. But I was fighting a losing battle and that hurt me more than I wanted to admit. Because as soon as I gave in to the heaviness in my eyes and oblivion took me, I knew she was going to run.

  And I didn’t want to say goodbye to my principessa.

  I didn’t want to let her go at all…

  Panic sliced my heart to shreds as Rocco staggered toward me, grunting my name. I backed up, raising a hand to hold him off as he reached for me, desperation blazing through his eyes. He crashed to his knees before he made it, swiping for me with outstretched fingers and I retreated further. He slumped down into the snow, clawing his way toward me like an injured animal and my throat thickened as his bloody arm left a trail of red in the snow.

  I can’t believe he punched a wolf in the face. A fucking wolf!

  The wolves howled out in the trees, drawing closer once more and fear sent a line of ice down my spine. The scent of blood hung in the air and I knew leaving Rocco here equalled his death. The thought alone drove something sharp into my heart.

  I dropped down before him, all thoughts of escape rushing away from me in a wave. I couldn’t leave him here to die.

  I lifted his head in my hands and he groaned, his fingers curling around my wrist. “Sloan,” he growled. He was angry and hell only knew what he’d do to me when the drugs wore off.

  “I’m here. Get up,” I hissed as another howl echoed around us.

  My heart thundered in my chest as I hooked my arms under his shoulders and heaved with all my might. I wasn’t strong enough to get him the whole way up, but he pressed his feet into the snow, helping me lift him at the last second.

  When he was standing, I slung his arm over my shoulders and wrapped my arm around his waist as his head lolled against his chest.

  I guided him to the snowmobile, gritting my teeth with the effort it took as he laid his weight on me. He collapsed onto it as I helped him and I panted as he bent at the hip and his head nearly touched the seat. I cursed under my breath as he started falling sideways, catching hold of his arm and yanking him back upright.

  The bark and baying of the wolf pack grew closer again and fear slithered through me. I grabbed hold of Rocco’s belt in a hurry, unbuckling it and tugging hard to pull it free of the loops.

  “This-iza bad time for-a blowjob, bella, but if you insi…” he slurred and passed out.

  I shook my head at him as I tied the belt around his right wrist then pushed him back, dropping down in front of him and drawing his arm around me with the belt before tying it tightly to his other arm. When he felt secure, I turned the key in the ignition, praying on all I held dear that it would start. It stuttered several times, the engine wheezing and coughing smoke.

  “Come on,” I snarled as a shadow shot past us in the corner of my eye. Fear dashed through me as I tried the key once more, begging the machine to save us.

  The engine roared and I gasped my relief as I revved the throttle and turned the vehicle onto the track Rocco had carved on his way here. I’d never driven one of these things in my life, but it seemed simple enough.

  I pulled the throttle and we shot between two trees, heading through the dark woodland. Rocco rested his chin on my shoulder as I felt his weight tilting hard to the left. I threw my arm back to catch him, turning the snowmobile to one side and using its momentum to jerk him back upright.

  As we climbed the hill toward the property, his hands pulled tightly around my waist and I clung onto the handlebars with all my strength as I slid backwards in my seat.

  “Stupid – massive – bear – man,” I said through my teeth.

  As the house came into sight, the snowmobile started to slow and I begged it to hold out a little longer. Smoke billowed out of the engine and I cursed as I lost sight of the way ahead in the thick grey plumes.

  “Come on you piece of shit,” I begged. “Don’t die on me.”

  “I’m stillalife,” Rocco murmured in response and a smile tugged at my lips.

  I pulled the throttle hard and the snowmobile found a final burst of speed, shooting up to the porch and skidding on a layer of ice. We tilted sideways and my stomach lurched. I threw myself the other way, taking Rocco to the ground beneath me as the snow mobile keeled over and the engine banged as it died.

  We sank into the snow and Rocco groaned as I weighed him down, struggling to unclasp the belt tethering him to me. I managed to get it free, tossing it aside and springing to my feet. I caught hold of Rocco’s arm, pulling backwards with all my strength to try and get him up. But it was no good.

  “Wake up!” I demanded, shaking his arm as blood stained the snow around his other one. My heart doubled its pace as I dropped my hold on him, hurrying around behind him and pushing him up by his shoulders.

  “Get up, Rocco. Help me,” I demanded.

  “Ca
n’t beleef she drugged me,” he muttered angrily in his sleep.

  “Well now I’m saving your ass so we’re even,” I snapped. “Get. Up.” I lost my patience, kicking him in the side.

  He jolted awake and relief filled me as he used what little strength he had left to stand. I held onto him, guiding him to the porch and he nearly face-planted as he tried to walk up the steps.

  He started to topple backwards and I steadied him, clutching onto his arms and pulling. He was soaked through and starting to shiver as we finally made it to the top of the stairs. I hurried to the door, finding it open as I guided him inside.

  His weight pressed down on me once more and I moved in front of him to try and keep him up. His eyes fell closed and his entire body weight leaned on me like an elephant. I gasped as my knees buckled and I collapsed beneath him, trying to wriggle free of his immense body.

  “You weigh a ton,” I wheezed, fighting my way out from under him.

  I left him there as I locked the front door and pulled off my thick coat, panting heavily. I rolled him over and slid my hands under his arms, taking a deep inhale then dragging him backwards into the living room. I hauled him all the way to the furry rug beside the fire, dumping him down on it and falling onto my ass as I caught my breath.

  The sound of the crackling flames filled my ears as my breathing finally started to slow. Rocco’s chest slowly rose and fell as blood pulsed from his left arm all over the wooden floor.

  I hurried out of the room with my gut knotting, heading to the bathroom and grabbing some towels. I found a bottle of vodka in the liquor cabinet in the living room then returned to Rocco’s side, checking he was still asleep.

  I lifted his injured arm onto my knees, stuffing a towel underneath it and soaking another one in the vodka. I gently cleaned the wound, my heart clenching as I washed away the blood. The puncture wounds from huge teeth became visible, but I didn’t think any were deep enough to need stitches, thank god. I poured vodka over each of the lacerations to make sure they were completely clean then bound his arm in a hand towel, tying it tightly in place.