by Beck, J. L.
“Oh…” I nod as if I understand, but on the inside, I am nothing but suspicious. All the pieces of information he’s given me just don’t add up. I wasn’t adopted until my teenage years.
I was in the system most of my life because no one ever claimed me as their family member. If he would’ve made himself known as my father, why wouldn’t they have given me to him? The state would have been glad to have one less kid to take care of.
Matteo smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes, letting me know it’s fake. “I’m just grateful to have found you.”
“But are you really grateful? I feel a little like a pawn to you.”
“I only want the best, Dove. Marriage in our world is for power, so while you may be in a loveless marriage, you will be safe. I will not stop you from seeing Zane, that’s the most kindness, I can give you. I’ve worked tirelessly to get the Castro name to where it is. When it’s time for you and your new husband to take over, I want you ready, and so babying you isn’t going to prepare you for what will come. Kindness gets no one anywhere.”
“How will you choose the man I’m supposed to marry?”
“I need you to marry someone who will eventually take over the business, someone I trust. But I will also make sure he’ll treat you well. I won’t allow someone who is violent with women for no reason.”
For no reason? I’m both scared and curious to hear what reasons are acceptable in his eyes. I doubt it will take much.
Wanting to keep him talking, I ask another question, “What kind of business will I be doing? I want to be involved, to know what it is you’re preparing me for.”
“You know, you don’t have to be this involved in everyday dealings of the business. Your future husband can take all of this on.”
“If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do this all the way. I know you don’t know much about me yet, but I can tell you that I’m not the kind who sits at home and twirls her thumbs. I want to be involved, and I don’t mind getting my hands dirty.”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret them. By getting my hands dirty, I meant it the way most people use the expression, of course, getting your hands dirty, means something else to someone like Matteo. I wish I could take back what I just said, but I can’t without sounding weak.
Matteo rubs his chin. “Are you sure you’re ready to hear this?”
Pursing my lips, I say, “Doesn’t matter if I’m ready, does it? Eventually, I’ll be running this ship, so there isn’t any better time than the present. No point in easing into things. Might as well drop me off in the deep end and let me teach myself to swim.”
A soft chuckle emits from Matteo’s throat, and if I didn’t know how fucked up he was, how willing he was to end mine and Zane’s lives, I’d say this was a nice little bonding moment.
“No, sweet Dove, I will not drop you off in the deep end. I want our name to succeed long after I’ve died, so I’ll ease you into things. Plus, the things you’ll be dealing with may be a little bit of a shock to someone as sweet and naive as you. After all, you weren’t born into this world.” I don’t miss the jab his words bring.
Wanting him to tell me something, anything at all, I push him again. “Then tell me something business-wise that’s going on.”
His expression becomes impassive, his dark brown eyes emotionless pits of nothing. How can he be my father? I just don’t understand.
“I’m not sure you’re ready for this.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. I try to make myself seem bigger than I am. Try not to let the sharks know that I’m a bloody piece of meat, barely staying above the water.
“Human trafficking. Right now, we’re recruiting women and taking them to Mexico to our whore houses. They’re used multiple times a day and are one of our number one profits outside of drugs.”
Bile rises up my throat, and my stomach churns. Oh god, maybe I wasn’t ready for this. I do my best to hide the disgust from my face.
“Where do you find them?”
Matteo smirks. “Find them? We don’t find them, sweetheart. We pluck them right off the street. Kidnap them from clubs. People that owe us debts and cannot pay. We take their mothers, daughters, wives, sisters. No one is off-limits to us.”
I’ve never heard anything so disgusting in my life. I thought Zane was mental when he told me there were worse men in this world, far worse than himself. I was naive to think that such people didn’t exist, simply because I didn’t see them. They were there though. Always watching, waiting in the dark for the perfect moment to ambush you.
“It’s a lot to take in, so I think that is all I will share with you tonight. Maybe we can do this again?”
“Yeah, definitely,” I say, pushing up and out of the chair. Can he see my fear? Feel my anger? Surely, he can, though I doubt he cares. He already sees me as weak, a naive little girl with no backbone. I can’t wait to prove him wrong.
“Nice talk, now run along. I have work to do but be back down at seven for dinner,” he orders in a stern voice, much like a father would talk to his daughter if she disobeyed him. My body reacts before my brain catches up, and I scurry from the room. Once in the hall, I’m tempted to turn around and go back into his office and tell him I’m not leaving because he told me to but because I’m going to be sick over what he told me but don’t.
As soon as I get the chance to kill the man that calls himself my father, I will. And I won’t mourn him, knowing I’ll have taken another bad man off of this earth. I’ll rescue all those women who he’s taken and hurt, and I’ll smile triumphantly while doing so.
Matteo Castro will die at my hands if it’s the last thing I do.
13
Another day of killings. I don’t remember a time when murdering people was ever so tiring to me. I think my biggest problem is I’m doing it for some asshole instead of myself. As soon as I enter Matteo’s house, I know something is off. Voices drift from the dining room through the hallway. One is definitely Matteo, and one is Dove’s, but I don’t recognize the third voice at first. Not until I get closer, at least.
Clenching my fists and grinding my teeth, I walk into the house until I get to the dining room. Matteo, Dove, and Alberto are sitting around the table like they’re having a fucking Sunday family dinner. Chatting and laughing casually, completely comfortable with each other. For the first time since we got here, Dove doesn’t look out of place, and I don’t fucking like it one bit.
What kind of game is she playing?
“Having a good ole time, I see,” I say as I step further into the room. All eyes turn to me. Neither Matteo nor Alberto are even trying to hide their annoyance by my presence anymore. Dove looks at me with a mixture of guilt and apprehension. She is up to something, hiding her plans from me, and I don’t like it.
“We’re having a great time,” Matteo says, raising his glass of wine to me. “We were just telling Dove about summers in Italy and how I’d like to take her next year.”
“I would love that father,” Dove chimes in. Father? Since when is she calling him father?
My eyes skate to Alberto, who is looking at Dove. There is a longing in his eyes that makes me want to reach out and crush him.
“Stop staring at her!” I snarl at him.
He doesn’t even seem to be shocked at my outburst, which only angers me more. Does he have a fucking death wish? I’m like a damn ticking time bomb. Wonder what happens when I explode? Oh, I know...
“She isn’t yours, and I can look at her if I want to. Maybe I’ll even touch her?” he threatens, and I lurch toward him. I’m ready to rip his throat out when Dove’s warm hand gently covers my bloodied one. Turning my icy glare to her, she meets my ice with fire.
“Enough you two. Don’t act like children.” Matteo dabs at his lips with a napkin before tossing it on his nearly empty plate. “You care to join us, or would you rather eat in the kitchen with the other staff?”
I’d rather slit your thr
oat with the knife in my boot.
“I’m afraid I lost my appetite.” Turning around, I head up the stairs, not stopping until I’m inside our room.
Pacing the floor, I wait for the door to open and for her to come in at any moment. When she still isn’t here after twenty minutes, I fear that I made a terrible mistake. I should’ve stayed downstairs. Is she in danger?
I’m just about to run back downstairs when the door opens, and Dove appears in front of me.
“What the fuck was that?” I growl as soon as she closes the door behind her.
“It was just dinner, Zane.”
“Don’t fucking lie to me. We both know that was more than dinner. You called him father! What the hell are you thinking?” I throw my hands up in the air, not knowing what to do. I want to punch the wall or better, punch Alberto, but neither would end well for me.
“I’m thinking that fighting him on everything is not going to work out. He asked me to come have dinner with them, so I went. He asked me to call him father, so I did.” She folds her arms in front of her body as she defends her actions.
I huff. “Oh, great, you’re playing the obedient daughter now?”
“Yes! Emphasis on playing. Do you think I enjoyed sitting there with them, pretending to have a great time when I know you are out there in danger?” Her eyes fill with tears, but I don’t know if it’s because she was really worried or just because she is so angry.
“Playing or not, you are still hiding things from me. You should have told me about your plan. You should have told me your plan, so I could have told you no.”
“So you could have told me no?” She stares at me like she can’t believe what I just said.
“You heard me. You are mine, and it’s my job to protect you. If I think you are doing something stupid, I’ll not allow it.”
“You can’t control me!” Her words slam into me like a roundhouse kick to the chest, and something deep inside of me snaps. I take a step toward her, crowding her personal space. I raise my hand and wrap my fingers around her throat. I don’t squeeze hard enough to make it difficult for her to breathe, but I tighten my grip to let her know who is in charge.
“Oh, Dove, how wrong you are,” I say in a low, threatening voice. “I can control you, and I think it’s time that I remind you of that. Now, take your clothes off and get on the bed.”
Her eyes widen and her pupils dilate. I can feel her delicate throat work as she swallows hard before her tongue darts out to wet her lips.
Just when I think she is not going to do it, she reaches from the hem of her sweater and starts pulling it up. I release her so she can pull it off all the way. She drops it on the floor next to her and continues taking her clothes off one by one.
By the time she is naked, she steps past me and toward the bed. She climbs on the mattress, giving me a perfect view of her already glistening pussy nestled between her creamy thighs. She is turned on by this. My Dove might seek her independence in her life, but in the bedroom, she likes when I command her. She likes me controlling her.
“Stay on your hands and knees,” I order as I make quick work of my own clothes.
Completely naked, I climb on the bed behind her. My heavy balls and my hard as steel cock, swaying between my legs with each move.
Positioning myself between her legs, I hold onto her hip with one hand and guide my cock to her entrance with the other. As soon as my swollen mushroom head enters her tight channel, I let loose. I sink all the way into her in one hard thrust.
I don’t give her time to adjust. I fuck her hard and fast, without mercy. The sound of my groans and her pleasured cries fill the room. We are so loud; I wouldn’t be surprised if Matteo hears us. Good, let him.
“That’s it. Moan so loudly the whole house can hear you. Let them know whose pussy this is. Let them know how hard I fuck you and how much you like it. Let everybody hear what a slut you are for me.” At my dirty words, her pussy tightens, and more moisture builds between us.
“Zane,” she moans my name, and I fuck her even harder, digging my fingers into her flesh as I hold onto her, wanting and needing to bruise her.
“You’re mine, Dove. I do own you. I own every part of you, and I’m going to use you however I want, remember?”
“Yes,” she whimpers in between thrusts. “Yes… use me. I’m yours. Do whatever you want.”
“That’s right,” I growl. “You take my cock, however, and whenever, I want you to.”
Letting go of her hip with one hand, I move my hand to her ass and start massaging her puckered asshole with my thumb while I keep fucking her. She moans in response, letting her upper body fall onto the mattress so her ass is even further open for me.
“Your greedy little asshole wants me.”
Before she can answer, I push my thumb inside, letting her hole suck me in. I start pumping in and out of her ass at the same speed my cock goes in and out of her cunt.
Her orgasm slams into her, her thighs quiver, her body tenses, and her pussy and ass squeeze me so tightly, I think I might come apart right then. It takes a lot to hold my own orgasm at bay, but I don’t want this to be over. I’m not done with her by a long shot.
When the last tremor of her release leaves and her body is slack, I pull out and flip her over in one swift move. Her back has barely touched the mattress when I’m back inside of her, rutting into her like a wild animal.
I hold her legs up, pushing them toward her to give me better access. “God, your cunt is so tight this way. I bet your ass will be even tighter.”
She moans in response, seemingly unable to form coherent words at the moment. Her hooded eyes glance up at me with nothing but pure lust and obedience. She is submitting to me completely, and even though it might be only in the bedroom, for now, I’ll gladly take it.
“Play with your tits while I fuck you,” I order, and her hands move to her breast on command. She takes her nipples between her fingers and starts playing with them, tugging and pulling harder than I would dare to.
“You like when I take you rough, don’t you?” She nods her head, yes, before I’ve finished talking. “You like being my little fuck toy, like being used?” She nods again and whimpers, taking her bottom lip between her teeth and bites down, all while still playing with her tits.
That sight drives me over the edge, my balls tighten, and pleasure overcomes me. I come so hard my vision blurs. I keep thrusting deep inside of her as I come, shoving every drop of my come inside of her.
“Fuck!” I come until my balls are so empty it hurts. Stilling, buried inside of her, I close my eyes and take a moment to just breathe.
When I pry my eyes back open, Dove is watching me. Her hands are still on her chest, but not moving anymore. I carefully pull out of her, enjoying the sight of my come dripping out of her before I release her legs. She lets them fall to either side of me. I climb over her leg and fall onto the mattress next to her.
Even feeling sated as I am right now, the thought of her keeping things from me and being friendly with the enemy is too much to ignore.
“You’re playing with fire, trying to get close to Matteo. You’re gonna get burned.”
“And what else am I going to do? Nothing? Fight him? Try to escape? We both know how that worked out last time.” Her words sting, but she isn’t wrong.
“I admit, trying to escape the way we did was a mistake. It won’t happen again, but you getting close to him is a mistake as well. Let me deal with him.”
“How?”
I don’t really want to tell her, but I realize by not telling her, I’m doing the same thing I’m mad at her for. “I’m gathering info on Matteo to hand over to Christian. He only wanted you to get to Matteo. If I can get him a better way to get to him, then we kill two birds with one stone. Dove, you need to promise me that you won’t do anything foolish while I’m out doing jobs for your father. I can’t stand the thought of you hanging out with him, and Alberto like you’re old friends while I’m out there. Promi
se me...”
Turning my head, I look over to her, she stares up at the ceiling. “I promise,” she mumbles in defeat.
Now I only wish I could believe her.
14
Zane’s gone again. Doing another job for my father. I feel him pulling away from me, emotionally, he’s shutting down. I know he still wants me, still loves me, but the games my father is playing, it’s draining him. He’ll do anything to protect me, anything to try and save us from this situation when the only person who can save us is me.
I know I promised Zane I’d stop pretending with Matteo, but I just can’t do it. I can’t let Zane take all the responsibility. We are in this together, and I can’t sit back and do nothing.
He thinks what I’m doing is risky, and it is, but sometimes there are risks you have to take. A knock sounds against the heavy wood of the door, and before I say anything, the knob twists, and the door opens, a maid’s head pops into the room. She can’t be but a little older than me, her heart-shaped face and almond eyes make me think she could be a model if she wasn’t here working for my father. I look up at her and smile. Her expression is blank, and she doesn’t return the smile, but in her eyes, I can see fear.
“Your father is requesting your presence in his office,” she whispers, eyes cast to the floor. I swallow around the knot that’s forming in my throat.
He’s been eating up a lot of my time during the day, requesting me to eat dinner with him, which conveniently happens to fall at the same time Zane walks in the door. I know it’s a set-up, a way to drive a wedge between Zane and me, and in a way, it’s working.
“Thank you. I’ll be right down,” I say, and she closes the door quietly behind her. Sighing, I force myself out of bed and run my hands through my silky brown hair in an attempt to make myself a little more presentable. Once done, I slip from the room and walk down to Matteo’s office. Guards are still posted throughout the house even though Zane and I haven’t made another attempt at escaping.
I’m not sure when he will ever trust me, and he’s smart not to because the instant he does, I’m running with it.