by Melony Ann
I kick him hard in the face, and then kneel next to him as he screams. “You have a sex trade ring going on?”
He nods. “I’m sorry! It was more money for my gang!”
Jason laughs. “You really aren’t all that tough, are you? It’s all just fun and games for you until the real challenge comes. Then you just run and hide like a…” He chuckles. “Like a little bird.”
“Where’s the rest of the girls?” dad asks.
“In a secret room in the house, okay? Please let me go! I’ll leave town!”
Ryan kicks him hard in the face again. He screams and spits out blood into the rocks. “Where… is… the… room?” Ryan says slow and deliberately through gritted teeth.
“The library! The library. The wall with no books pushes open. They’re there. Please let me -”
Jason shoots him. He may not be as okay with killing bad guys like the rest of us, but not even he can stand shit like a sex trade. He turns and calls a clean-up crew to deal with the mess as we all jump back in the SUV.
“We should call the police. Give them the intel,” Ryan says as he starts backing the SUV up.
“And have them come after us? Will you never learn?” dad asks, disappointed.
“We could do it anonymously.”
“Ryan. Please. We’ll go back and release them. That’s as far as we go.”
“Where are they going to go, dad? We need to give them a fighting chance.”
Dad sighs. “Fine. We’ll do it your way. We’ll release them. We call the police, and we leave. We all wear masks. We don’t need to be fucking identified.”
I smile a little. Ryan may have no problems taking care of the bad guys, but he has a heart of gold. Dad won’t admit it, but Ryan gets that from him. We all do. None of us would be able to live with ourselves if we didn’t help those who needed to be helped while protecting those who need to be protected. It’s what makes us so great as a family and as a mafia. I’m lucky and grateful every damn day to be a part of both.
Chapter Four - Ryan
“Mr. Crane, more flour. Less salt. I think you got them confused,” my instructor says to me as she tastes my awful attempt at a croissant. I look at the small, frail, woman with as much of an apology as I can muster. She reminds me of my grandmother. Well, when she was alive. A sweet innocent woman. Until we pissed her off. Then we had better fucking watch out. She’d chase us around the house with a broom telling us what terrible brats we were. I chuckle despite myself. She wasn’t wrong.
I look down in frustration at the ingredients in front of me and glare at the salt. I had to have switched the two. My miserable excuse for a croissant is nothing like I’m used to. I taught my mother how to make croissants. I shouldn’t have an issue making them. What the fuck is wrong with me?
“I think that’s the first mistake I’ve ever seen you make,” the girl next to me whispers. I glance down at her. I can’t say she’s not gorgeous. It’s been fun flirting with her all year. A man could drown in her emerald eyes and get lost in her luscious blonde locks.
I reach up and twist some of her hair around my finger and tug. The small moan that escapes her lips every time I do it is the reason I’ve done it a few hundred times. Why she hasn’t ended up in my bed yet is something I can’t figure out. It’s not for a lack of trying on my part.
“I’m starting to think the reason I like you so much is because you’ve been holding out on me. Most women would have been falling over themselves to be with me.”
She gives me a sexy smile. “And because I haven’t makes you fall over yourself for me.”
I drop my hand with a small smirk. “I’ve never fallen all over myself to be with anyone.” I intentionally let my eyes wander all over her body. She shivers. “You won’t be the exception.”
She licks her bottom lip as she turns back to her station. “Don’t confuse the salt for sugar in your croissants this time, Crane.”
I laugh as I concentrate on the ingredients. When I put them in the oven, I take out my phone and see a text from my dad. I sigh heavily and contemplate putting my phone back in my pocket. Unfortunately for me, I’m too loyal of a fucking son. Maybe I need to become more of an asshole. I glare at my phone and open the text.
Ethan: New threat on the horizon. Got word these guys are growing and spilling into our territory downtown. Need all three of you tonight. No exceptions.
I stare at my phone in utter annoyance before I type a furious reply.
Ryan: You know I can’t! I have finals. We all have finals!
I fight the urge to slam my phone on the counter. I love my father. We all do. But I swear. Even though he says he’d never force us to help, he’s sure trying to sabotage us. All of us. He has to know that none of us are fucking superheroes. No one can keep up with the schedule he makes us keep!
Ethan: Sure. I’ll just take people who aren’t as good as you. Maybe I won’t get my ass killed. I need you and your brothers.
Ryan: No. Dad, we have finals. We can’t keep this up. Nick is going to get kicked out of school because his fucking grades are so low since you make us go out almost every night.
Ethan: I just saw his report card. He’s not failing anything.
I stare at my phone incredulously before growling low under my throat.
Ryan: Dad, Nick is a straight A student! He’s been getting C’s this entire year! His professors think he’s on drugs!
Ethan: You can’t see it, but I’m seething. What is wrong with you?
Ryan: Me? What’s wrong with you? You’ve never made us go if we felt like we couldn’t, or if we were falling behind. What the fuck aren’t you telling me, old man?
Ethan: I will not get into that over the fucking text.
Ryan: Over the fucking text? Do you speak English? Forget it. We aren’t going. I talked to Jason and Nick. We all voted. We aren’t going. And if you try to make us, I’ll go to mom.
Ethan: Don’t you threaten me with your mother, you insolent prick.
I choke down the laugh attempting to bubble up from my throat at my dad’s attempt at humor and insult. I’ve learned a lot from him. Humor and insults wasn’t one of them. But I can’t deny it isn’t funny when he tries.
Ryan: Dad, I don’t mean to be an asshole, but we can’t do it. Nick has to study or he’s going to fail. I just put salt instead of flour in my croissants because I’m so fucking tired I can’t think straight. Even Jas is struggling. We need to focus or we’ll all have to repeat this year.
I put my phone back in my pocket as the oven dings. I pull out my croissants, and my mouth waters at the smell.
Much better. So much fucking better.
I put them on the cooling rack to cool and lean down on my elbows. There’s no way we can help tonight. There’s no way we can help the rest of the semester. We all need to focus.
Standing up to my dad has never been easy. I typically don’t have to do it. He’s always been respectful of me and my brothers. If we don’t want to go on a mission, he usually doesn’t make us.
The problem is that over this past year since we took out that sex trade ring, he’s been on a mission. A mission that he’s kept me in the dark about. Very strange. He never keeps me in the dark about anything. He’s always said since I’m taking over for him, I need to know everything. Despite that, we’ve always been an open family. We don’t keep secrets. Secrets, just like assumptions, can get us killed.
I sigh and glance at the girl next to me. “Mia, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” She breaks one of her croissants in half and blows on it.
“Say your family expects you to take over the family company, but you have other directions you want to take the company. You know the company will be far more successful if you go ahead with your plans. The problem is, your family won’t let you take the company in the direction you want to. What do you do?”
Mia takes a bite of the croissant and crinkles her nose as she drops it on the counter. “Gross.”
I pick up on
e of her croissants and taste it. “You didn’t add any sugar.” I put the rest of the croissant on the counter as she grabs one of mine.
She takes a bite and moans quietly. “So much better.”
I shake my head and chuckle. “I’m being serious. Help me out here.”
She finishes the croissant as she watches me. Finally, she sighs. “Can I ask you something?”
I shrug. “Go ahead.”
“You’re taking over the Crane Mafia from your father. What is it that you’re so afraid of after you take over? If you want to take it in a different direction, who’s going to stop you? Your father?”
“I never said anything about a mafia.”
“Everyone knows who you are. Everyone knows who Ethan Crane is. He runs one of the most powerful mafias in the world. My dad is the police commissioner. Even he won’t go up against your father.”
I chuckle. “It’s a cross I bear I guess.”
“Ryan, the point is you can’t be afraid of after you take over.” She shrugs. “It’s yours. You’ll face backlash. Your dad might be mad, but I’ve known you for a while now. I know how close you are to your brothers. That has to come from somewhere, and my bet is your father.”
I smile. “My family is close. My dad is kind of on a warpath, but yeah. We’re all still close.”
“He might get mad, but he’ll support you.”
The teacher starts coming around to taste everyone’s second attempt at croissants, and Mia wipes away a tear. I raise an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m going to fail. If I fail this, it won’t matter if I ace the final. I don’t know why I even bother. I want to be a chef and own my own restaurant someday. It’s been my dream since I could walk. Obviously, I suck at it.”
I glance back as the teacher makes her way back to us one by one. I quickly throw all of her croissants away as her eyes widen in shock. “Ryan! What are you doing?” she hisses as her eyes dart to the front of the room to the teacher.
I wink at her and put some of mine on her cooling rack. “You have talent. I’m not letting you fail.”
Her eyes shine with unshed tears as she realizes the kindness I’m showing her. “Thank you,” she whispers.
“Don’t thank me. Just don’t flunk out. I’m looking forward to visiting your restaurant.”
She nods as we wait for the teacher to make her way back to us. “I really don’t know what to say, Ryan.”
“Don’t say anything.”
The teacher gives us both a passing grade with a very happy smile and glowing praise of our croissants. Mia holds herself together until we’re dismissed from class before she gathers her belongings and tugs me by the hand with her. I follow with an amused smile as she leads me directly to my car.
Letting go of my hand, she heads to the passenger side and waits for me to unlock the door before she climbs in. “Just drive. Anywhere private.”
I slowly get behind the wheel and start the engine, keeping one eye on her. “Why, exactly?”
“Because I’m finally going to give you what you’ve been wanting this entire year. As a thank you.”
I laugh and shake my head as I drive out of my parking place. I never park in a manner that would force me to have to back out of the spot in case I need to leave quickly. “No. I’m not doing that just because you think it’s a good way to thank me.”
She looks at me a little confused. “Y-you don’t want me?”
I look over at her as I stop at a light. “I do want you. Just not like that. Even I have morals.”
She rubs her legs together and shifts a little. Her skirt rides up her thighs. I bite my lip and start driving. She shifts again and crosses her legs, whimpering a little as she tries to focus on the cars I’m passing as I drive. She uncrosses her legs, but clenches them tightly together.
I groan as I drop a hand on her thigh. She looks at me and bites her lip as I pull her leg a little so she unclenches. She inhales sharply and lets her legs fall open. I slide my hand under her skirt to her pussy. I cup it and give it a few rubs and squeezes.
She moans and drops her head back against the seat. “Mmm… Please, Ryan. I’ve been so wet for you all of class.” She looks at me through hooded eyes. “I’ve never thrown myself at anyone before, but I don’t think I can survive anymore flirting and touching and back and forth between us. I can’t hold out anymore.”
I give her a sexy smile as I slide her panties aside and slide my middle finger inside her. She jerks and arches into me. “I can’t let you go on being all uncomfortable in a car like this.”
“Oh!”
I thrust my finger into her deeply and slide it all the way out before pushing it as far into her as it will go. I give her hard, deep thrusts as I steer through the traffic. She grips the seat as she spreads her legs wider, giving me easier access. I give her a second finger and continue with the hard, deep thrusts, as I quicken my pace. She tightens and clenches hard around me as she comes.
“You weren’t kidding, were you? You really have been wanting that.”
“Mmm… Ryan…” She holds my wrist as she clenches her legs together while she comes. I thrust my fingers slowly until I feel her stop coming and slowly relax. She loosens her grip on my wrist, and I pull out of her slowly. I put my fingers up to her mouth. Her eyes widen, and she glances at me.
“Suck them. You can’t tell me you’ve never tasted yourself.”
“U-um…” She takes a tentative lick, and I chuckle at her utter embarrassment but don’t move my fingers. Finally, she takes them both into her mouth and moans while she licks and sucks herself off of them.
“There we go. That’s what I wanted.” I slowly take my fingers out of her mouth and answer the phone as it starts ringing. “What?”
“Did you tell your father no to helping him tonight?” my mother’s angry voice fills the car.
“Mom, we have finals. You both know that.”
“Ryan Nathanial Crane. Get home. Now.” Mom leaves no room for argument as she hangs up.
I sigh and reluctantly turn off on an exit to head back to the school. “I’m sorry, Mia.”
“Hey. Family. I get it. My house is actually close to here. I can take a LYFT to school tomorrow if you want to drop me off.”
“I’ll pick you up. Don’t be ridiculous.”
She chuckles. “I know you don’t date, Crane. Picking me up for school is kind of a dating thing. I can get there on my own.”
“I don’t date anyone, but I can still pick you up and bring you to school considering I can’t give you what we both want right now. I don’t live that far from here anyway. You’re on the way.”
“I’ll just look forward to sex with the amazing Ryan Crane another day. See if you’re all they say you are.”
I laugh. “All who says I am? The tabloids?”
She gives me a sexy smile. “Well…, them, too.”
I laugh again. “I assure you,” I begin. I glance at her and wink. “I’m far better.”
She gives me a sexy smile and licks her lips. She clenches her thighs together again and quickly looks away. I reach over and finger her a second time as she directs me to her house. It’s the least I can do since I don’t have the time to fuck her. I’m too much of a gentleman to leave her needy and wet for me like that.
She comes with a scream. Her body shakes and trembles as she uncontrollably twitches and jerks while her pussy pulses softly around my fingers. I slowly pull my fingers out and suck her off of them while she straightens out her clothing, her cheeks flush a pretty shade of pink.
After I drop her off, I reluctantly head home. I don’t know what’s going on, but if my mother is pissed that I told dad we aren’t helping him tonight, I know something big is going on. My stomach clenches, and my heart races the closer I get to the house. I rub my temple to ease the sudden headache as I try to figure out what is going on.
I know instinctively that I need to know. I hate that I may have to force them to tell me.
> Chapter Five - Jason
I pace nervously in the family room waiting for the tell-tale sign of Ryan’s Ferrari. I’ve been growing increasingly more restless and nervous as the days go on. I’ve never seen my father so tense. Him being tense makes all of us tense, but we’re usually okay unless Ryan feels it. If Ryan feels it, we all get nervous. Ryan has always been the calm one in the face of any storm.
“Jas, if you don’t stop pacing, you might start a fire,” Nick grumbles from the corner.
I force a steady breath and look at him. “Something major is going on. You know it as well as I do. Dad’s been tense, but Ryan’s been…” I trail off and shrug.
“He’s been tired. We all have been.”
“It’s more than that. Ryan has been on edge. You know how cool and collected he is. Even he’s been jumpy.”
“Exhaustion does fucked up things to people.”
I shake my head. “You know better.”
He sighs and stands. “Yeah. Something is wrong. But it’s not going to do anyone any good if you or I start freaking out about it. We need to know what it is.”
“You think Ryan knows?”
He shakes his head. “No. Ryan doesn’t keep anything from us even if dad tells him to keep it quiet.”
“So you think Ryan is just as in the dark as us?”
“Not a doubt in my mind.”
I nod and start pacing again just as I hear Ryan pull into the driveway. “Fuck. Finally.”
“Jason, you have to relax, man. Whatever it is we’ll get through it as a family like we always do.”
Ryan walks through the door on his cell phone and motions for me and Nick to follow. “I said it, didn’t I? I’ll be there at five to sign the papers.” He leads us into our dad’s office. I glance at Nick. He shoots me a confused look and shrugs. “My last name doesn’t do it for you? Come on.” He sits across from our dad. Nick and I follow and both shrug at dad when he shoots us a questioning look. “Good. See you at five.” Ryan hangs up and grins like a fool.
Dad rubs his temple. “What did you buy now?”
“A jet.”