by Piper Stone
“Then allow me to help you. The man whose throat was cut was the son of one of the state senators. Lucas Spalding was only twenty-two years old. Ring a bell?”
I was shocked at how he’d gathered the information so quickly. I doubted the police had even been informed. I sidestepped him, folding my arms. “How do you know that?”
“That’s big news, doll, and I have people in the streets everywhere. Besides, the kid was basically a celebrity in this town. News of that nature travels fast, and my guess is that every reporter is trying to grab onto the story for the early morning news.” He cocked his head, his lip curling as he jerked my arm, pulling me closer. “The question is, do you have any idea of the identity of the person who killed him?”
“I’m not certain.”
“You’re lying. I can tell that easily.” His fingers dug into my arm. “Allow me to give you a hint. While Lucas was an important man’s son, the kid was reported to be in over his head with what some call a rival mafia family in town, the leader a true barbarian. If he or his soldiers were responsible for the kill, then you are absolutely in danger. The question is, what prompted you to place yourself in such direct risk?”
“I told you. I was on a story,” I insisted, struggling to get out of his grasp.
Lorenzo lowered his head until I could feel his hot breath cascading across my face. Goosebumps immediately popped up on my skin. “Lucas was your informant. Don’t even bother lying.”
“Fine. He had important information for me. He’s been... He was invaluable for months.” I shuddered from his touch, the same old longing nearly shutting down my system. How could I still crave this monster?
“Important information.”
“Yes,” I hissed.
Lorenzo inhaled, raking his eyes over me once again. “On what?”
“That’s confidential.”
“Your informant is dead, Sierra. Do I have to remind you of that?” He waited to see my reaction. He wasn’t going to get the satisfaction. “I’ll leave it alone for now. Did you drive to your location for the meeting?”
“Yes, of course,” I snapped, my skin tingling as well as crawling, the dichotomy throwing another surge of electricity dancing into every blood cell.
“Then why didn’t you have your keys or anything else with you?”
“Because I... I dropped everything as I was trying to get away.”
“Fascinating, but something doesn’t ring true here.” When I remained silent, he moved until he was standing in front of me.
“Okay, fine. I met Lucas in a bar several miles away. He insisted that I come with him. Are you happy now? Yes, I was stupid, but I had my gun with me.”
“A weapon.” He let me go, cursing under his breath. “Have you ever heard of the Movino cartel?”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. “Yes. Who hasn’t? I’m a reporter, for God’s sake. So what?”
“Then you know how dangerous they are.”
“Yes. Just as dangerous as you are and almost as ruthless.”
He seemed taken aback, a snarl curling on his upper lip. “While I may be a dangerous man, Sierra, my family and all the men in my organization have honor. That isn’t something I can say about the Movino clowns. They will kill indiscriminately for no reason other than sport. They enjoy slicing and dicing everyone who stands in their way. You have every right to be terrified, Sierra.”
“Fine. So I’m terrified. Is that what you want to hear?” I demanded.
“What I want, no. What I require is the truth from you. You asked for my help.”
I looked away, my legs quivering all over again.
“Allow me to continue. The man who is considered the leader is a vile creature, a man to be feared. He never personally handles his revenge, which is always savage; however, I do know several of his men likely to have completed the task. If you’re on the Movinos’ radar, you were right to come to me.” He walked around me in a complete circle, chuckling under his breath. “What did this killer look like, Sierra?”
“I don’t know. He was tall and blond. It was dark, for God’s sake. It just happened out of the blue. Lucas and I were talking then this guy approached from nowhere. He had a knife and I froze. It happened in a matter of seconds.” I was already shaking again, brought back into the ugliness. I was exasperated, my blood pressure rising.
He took a sip of his drink, his eyes now black as coal. “Did you notice anything about this man?”
“No. He was wearing dark clothes. Just some thug.” I thought about what I’d seen, the only light a single streetlamp at the end of the alley. A flash brought me back into the horror, seeing the man raising his arm. “A tattoo. He had a damn tattoo on his right arm.”
I could hear his breathing change and he walked closer. “What kind of a tattoo?”
“A dragon or something. I don’t know.”
He exhaled, the sound turned into a growl. “Well, Sierra, you were right. You made a serious mistake. The man you just described is none other than Axel Movino, aka the Serpent. Sunshine, you just signed your death warrant.”
I opened my mouth, but nothing would come out. Terror unlike anything I could imagine rushed through me like wildfire. I knew what the man was capable of. As I stumbled backward, Lorenzo caught me, pulling me against his chest. “What can I do?”
“I’m going to agree to help you, Sierra, because I’m the only man capable of doing so; however, that means you and I will enter into a deal.”
“A deal?” My mouth was dry, my throat closing in. As stars floated in front of my eyes, I knew exactly what he was going to say.
“I told you once before that I always make good on my promises. That remains true. I will keep you safe and protected, but you now belong to me. Forever. You will become mine to use and train, to fuck and to discipline until one day you beg me for more. And I’ll give you everything you desire, all the anguish and ecstasy as long as you obey me.”
“And if I don’t agree?” I dared to ask, shivering to my core.
He brushed his lips across my cheek, creating another wave of longing. When he whispered in my ear, his tone husky and unforgiving, I realized I’d challenged destiny and lost.
“Then there is no doubt that you’ll be dead within twenty-four hours.”
Only a strangled moan slipped past my lips because I knew he was right. I had no choice. There were no options.
“Now, the question is. Do you accept the terms of the deal?”
I thought about my life, all the visions I’d had for the future. They’d never included a dominating man, especially one like Lorenzo Francesco. But I did want to live. I tilted my head, staring him in the eyes, trying to find a tiny slice in his vicious armor. There would be no love in this twisted relationship, no sense of being allowed to be myself.
But I would remain alive.
So I made the decision to enter into a deal with the devil.
“Yes.”
“Then go back to your room, Sierra, and go to bed. Tomorrow, we will begin your training. Tomorrow, you will learn what it’s like to be owned.”
Chapter Three
Lorenzo
I’d spent years around vile creatures, men who had no issue opening fire around innocent men and women simply to gun down an asshole who cut them off in traffic. I’d had bloodstains covering my face and hands more times than I could count, and the stench was something not easily forgotten.
The experiences had followed me into my dreams, nightmares that had surfaced several times a month. They always ended the same, a beautiful damsel in distress murdered for a decision I’d made.
“Save me!” she screamed, flinging out her arms, her face and neck covered in strings of blood.
I hissed, fisting my mouth from the memory of the same fucking dream hitting me hard the night before. Hell, it wasn’t like I’d gotten much sleep, the two hours coming fitfully. There’d been a difference from the wretched shit I’d been forced to endure for years, the horribl
e visions plaguing me.
The once blurred face of the girl in my dream finally had an identity.
Sierra...
God. Damn. It.
This time my thoughts of blood had everything to do with hunting down Axel Movino and gutting him like the pig he was. He’d been a thorn in my family’s side for almost four years. While there had been an attempt at laying out turf boundaries in an effort to keep the peace, the asshole had obviously crossed the line. No one fucked with my world. No one.
That also included Sierra’s father.
My family had certainly gotten ‘friendly’ with several officers of the law, including the police commissioner over the years. A portion of our relationships were nothing more than based on a friendly handshake; others involved greasing whatever wheel kept them quiet and out of our hair. Charities. Auctions. Real estate deals. We were creative in our endeavors.
Then others we simply threatened.
David Fox was in a category of his own, pretending to be an honorable man. I knew otherwise, choosing not to play the card until absolutely necessary. He had no idea I was onto him.
I’d had the displeasure of being in the man’s company on two separate occasions, both times leaving me with a bad taste in my mouth. David held a vendetta for my family, making it his mission to take us down.
He’d almost succeeded on one of the occasions, my arrest making national news. When there’d been no witnesses to corroborate a murder that I had nothing to do with, he screamed bloody murder that I’d committed yet another felony. Things had gotten ugly from there. If I’d made the connection all those years ago in Cancun, things might have turned out differently. As it was, I’d been forced to be extra cautious in my activities given his penchant for delving into every aspect of my life.
What continued to trouble me was that I wasn’t entirely trusting of Sierra. I’d easily been able to find out what had occurred the night before, my soldiers arriving on the scene almost the same time as the police. What pissed me off were some of the details. To have Axel committing the actual murder meant there was something else going down. If I had to guess, there were motions being made to try to take over our turf once again. How Lucas was connected was something I would grill Sierra on.
The fact she’d agreed to the terms of the deal I’d proposed hadn’t surprised me. She was terrified and rightfully so, with seemingly nowhere else to turn. Whatever she was mixed up in I knew had set itself on a course leading straight to hell, even if she had no idea what she’d done. Axel would stop at nothing to track her down, killing the only witness who’d ever caught him in a crime without hesitation.
“You wanted to see me, boss?” Dante asked as he walked into my office.
I took another sip of coffee and grimaced, in no mood for the bitter taste. I’d experienced enough of that already. I stood staring out the window at the landscaping, the spring flowers adding a festive touch to an otherwise cold house. This had never really been a home to me, even though I’d paid a pretty penny for it. My father had shouted to the rain that I needed to settle down, another condition of taking over as the Don. “Yeah, we have a problem.”
“I figured we did. The girl’s a con artist. Isn’t she?”
“Sierra Fox is now my possession,” I said as I turned in his direction, making certain he was able to see the conviction on my face as well as the slight hint of anger for his assumption.
He swallowed visibly, nodding twice. “I meant no disrespect, boss.”
“None taken. While she is to be protected at all costs and make certain you relay that to every other Capo and soldiers, her presence has presented a problem.”
Or perhaps an opportunity depending on how this played out.
“What kind of problem?”
“The murder of the senator’s son was likely handled by Axel Movino, a crime she witnessed.”
“You’re shitting me. How the hell could she get close to that pig?”
I sighed and shoved the coffee mug onto my desk. “Not something I’d kid about and that’s the interesting question I need an answer to. Put word on the street that I want to know about any issues with interference or collection of funds immediately.”
Dante moved closer. “You think he’s gonna muscle in?”
“There is a distinct possibility and that just can’t happen. Tighten the screws, Dante. If you hear anything, call me. If you see anything, take care of it. And if you even believe anyone is capable of betraying me, handle it.”
“Will do, boss. What about the girl? Did she really witness the murder? That would make her expendable in the pig’s eyes.”
My Capo knew Axel’s reputation.
I gazed toward the open office door, trying to figure out what I was going to say to her. “That’s what I’m going to figure out. That’s why she came here in the first place.” While I’d always thought Axel to be little more than a common street thug, he’d developed powerful friends from Chi-town all the way to New York. Perhaps I’d underestimated him and his influence.
“Is there anything else I can do?”
“Find out everything you can about Axel and what he’s involved in. I need to learn every detail about the asshole. Also, select two of your top soldiers to come to the house. I will have business to take care of starting later today and Sierra is not to be left alone. Is that clear?”
Dante grinned. “You got it, boss. I’ll take care of it.”
“And Dante, other than the two soldiers you select, make certain not a single soul knows that she is here.”
He nodded again, understanding exactly what I was saying. Although I had what I believed to be loyal soldiers working for me, a single slip of the tongue, whether accidental or intentional, could mean the start of a war.
She would be considered an enemy and a weakness.
After he left, I moved toward my desk, sitting down. I was unable to focus or clear my head. I’d always been an angry man, something my father had attempted to beat out of me, his methods of punishment extremely harsh. While I’d learned about holding my tongue and listening, following any kind of rules wasn’t in my repertoire.
Neither was patience.
Or acceptance.
However, I’d grown weary of the drudgery of trying to live up to my father’s expectations. His refusal to allow me more control had stemmed from the heat crushing down on us from the FBI as well as the Movino nightmare. Killing two birds with one stone would solve that issue.
One way or the other, Axel was going to die by my hands and while I needed a certain amount of assistance, I knew exactly who to call on.
The Sons of Darkness.
It was my time to enlist a favor or two.
I buried myself in the mundane effort of paperwork, a required effort to run my legitimate operations, but concentration was becoming an issue. After rubbing my eyes, I eased to my feet, stretching before turning toward the window. My guess was that Movino had put out a search for her, combing the streets. If so, my soldiers would at least have become aware the asshole was gunning for someone.
The early morning sun was just enough to highlight reflections behind me, the shimmer extending far enough that it illuminated Sierra’s copper-colored hair as well as her stunning figure as she walked in. I’d never forgotten her, or our time spent together, but memories and fondness had no place at this point.
She belonged to me to do with what I wanted, what I’d craved since my departure. I turned slowly, finally able to drink in her exquisite features. She seemed much smaller in the daylight, almost all color faded from her face. It was as if the experience had stripped her of the vivacious personality that I’d grown to care about.
Experiencing a vicious bastard could do that to you.
“Did you get any sleep?” I asked, my tone still riddled with irritation.
“Who could sleep?” she asked defiantly.
I inched around the corner of my desk, glancing all the way down to her bare feet. “Would you like some coff
ee?”
“I only drink tea. That is something you should have remembered.”
More rebellion. I knew her well enough to know that she was pushing every button, attempting to find out what I was made of. “Very well, Sierra. I can see that I need to make it very clear what the rules are.”
“Rules. I may have entered into a deal, but I am still my own woman.”
“That is where you are wrong, at least for now. Privileges are earned. That comes with total and complete respect.”
“Why are you being this way? I realize I asked for your help, but I certainly didn’t expect to be taken as a prisoner.” She hesitated as if waiting for me to counter her comments. A few seconds later, she laughed. “Why are you such a bastard? My God, I hate you. This was a terrible mistake.”
There was such venom in her eyes and while I couldn’t blame her, I had to establish my control. This wasn’t a game. Her life, and perhaps many others were at stake. “You can hate me, Sierra, but I suggest you remember that you came to me for help. And why? Because I have no doubt you spent time researching my family, especially given your father’s hatred and determination to bring us down. Therefore, you know exactly what I can do in order to make this all go away. For that, the payment is your total surrender. I thought we were clear about the terms last night.”
Her eyes flashed, her mouth twisting in rage.
I wanted nothing more than to strip her of her clothing and take every inch of what belonged to me. I had a memory of the taste of her sweet pussy and there was nothing else that would quench my thirst. And soon, I would shove my cock into every hole. My shaft ached from the thought.
“Fine.” She looked away then snapped her head back in my direction. “What now? What are these rules?”
“The only place I can keep you safe is in this house. You will not attempt to leave for any reason.”
Sierra nodded but rolled her eyes.
“You will answer any question I ask with the truth,” I continued.
“I’ll do my best.”