The Killer's New Obsession: A Possessive Mafia Romance

by Hamel, B. B.

  Sasha laughed. She seemed absolutely delighted by the idea of arming a bunch of battered, trafficked women, and letting them loose on their captors.

  It wasn’t an elegant plan and there was no small measure of risk involved, but the Healy family would never see it coming. Those girls could get close to some very high-up men, and if we supported them right, attacked at the right times, we’d be able to score some serious blood.

  We might even be able to topple their entire business.

  “It’s not a bad idea,” Dean mused. “Depending on whether the girls are reliable or not.”

  “Some are,” Sasha said, waving a hand in the air side to side. “Some aren’t. I won’t ask the ones that are too addicted to do more than spread their legs.”

  “So you’re in then?” I asked.

  “You give me money and guns and tell me to kill Healys, and I’ll pledge my undying loyalty to your stupid little mafia family.” She sat up suddenly, baring her teeth. “I hate those fucking pieces of shit and I want to see them all bleed.”

  Dean seemed pleased. He rubbed a hand through his hair, a bemused smile on his face, and paced toward the pool and back.

  But Irene’s eyes were narrowed as she watched me. She knew parts of my plan, but I hadn’t told her the whole thing—she didn’t know I wanted to arm some of the Healy girls and have them fight back.

  I didn’t tell her for a reason. I knew she’d look at me just like that.

  “This is pretty dangerous,” she said finally. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  Sasha nodded once then collapsed back onto the chair with a huff. “Absolutely,” she said. “If I get killed, so what? At least I get killed murdering some of the bastards that forced me to fuck for them.”

  “I love the idea,” Dean said. “If you can find me dependable girls, I’ll get you guns and cash. Lots and lots of guns and cash.”

  “You’re okay then, boss,” Sasha said, nodding at him. “For a mafia prick, anyway.”

  Dean grinned at her and shook his head like he didn’t know what to make of that. “You all hash out the details. I’ve got a call to make.” He checked his watch then headed back up to the house.

  Irene stood and walked a few feet away, tugging at her hair nervously. “I don’t like this,” she said, turning back. “Aren’t we supposed to be helping them? Not using them as soldiers.”

  “Better a soldier than a warm hole for some asshole to fuck,” Sasha said.

  I grimaced slightly. Her mouth was going to take some getting used to. “I know it’s a risk,” I said. “Some of them might get hurt. But we’ll give them a choice and be up front about what we’re asking.”

  “Fighting for freedom,” Sasha said. “It’s a trade I’ll gladly make.”

  “I still don’t like it,” Irene said. “We can find a way to use all this against the Healy family without putting the girls in harm’s way.”

  “What do you suggest then?” I asked, cocking my head. “Should we take those USB drives to the police? You think they’re going to do shit?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, spreading her hands plaintively. “I just think there’s got to be a safer way.”

  Sasha waved her away. “I appreciate your worry, I really do,” she said. “But I want to fight and I’ll find girls that want to fight too. It’s a good plan, really. The Healy men don’t look twice at us. To them, we’re a bunch of stupid whores, half of us are addicted to drugs, and the other half barely speak English. We’re dumb European trash, good only for blowjobs and anal. I have a feeling I’ll find more girls willing to fight than you have money and guns.”

  “I doubt that,” I said, standing up. “We’ve got a lot of guns.”

  Sasha grinned savagely at me. “I think I’ll stay here by the pool for a while,” she said. “If you can get me a phone, I can start making contact. I’ve got numbers memorized.”

  “I’ll get you one,” I said and walked over to Irene, who glared at me like she wanted to shove me into the floating giraffe. “Enjoy yourself for a little while. I’ll be back in a bit.”

  Sasha waved as I took Irene’s arm and led her away.

  “You didn’t tell me you wanted to turn them into your little private army,” she said sharply, her tone angry.

  “You wouldn’t have approved,” I said.

  “Of course not, because it’s a bad idea.” She sucked in a breath and pulled her arm away. “You shouldn’t have started this behind my back.”

  “This isn’t a game,” I said softly. “These women have no other choice. You think Dean—Don Valentino’s going to approve more guys to help me get all these girls away from the Healy family? There are fifty, a hundred of them. We can’t save them all, but we can help them help themselves.” I stepped closer to her and gently touched her hand. Last night came back to me in flashes, her body under the sheets sweating beneath my fingers, moaning with her back arched, her breasts shaking, my cock buried in her mouth, my tongue lapping up her clit, then her spent and sweat-covered body lying naked in my arms as we both drifted off into sleep.

  It was like some wall broke down between us and she threw herself at me, hungry for all the intimacy we missed over the last two years. It was incredible, one long night of her body, and I was already half hard wanting more.

  But she pulled her hand away. “I understand what you’re saying,” she said, turning her back on me and crossing her arms over her chest. “I only wish there was another way.”

  “If there is, I’ll do it,” I said. “But I’m afraid there’s nothing else we can do.”

  She nodded once and drifted back inside without saying anything else.

  I looked back over my shoulder. Sasha sat near the pool watching. She didn’t move or look away, and I turned my gaze back to the house.

  Irene was going to be angry, and I couldn’t blame her. I knew on some level that she was right. If I could take the entire Valentino family and go liberate all those girls, I would. But that would never happen.

  Instead, I had to work with my single crew, and we couldn’t do it all on our own.

  I’d find some other way to hurt the Healy family with those USB sticks. I’d use all the resources at my disposal to take down their trafficking ring.

  For now though, I had to help these girls, and giving them guns and pointing them in the right direction was the best I could do.

  I only had to hope Sasha could find someone reliable.

  17

  Irene

  I sat in the back of the car with Sasha. She stared out the window, looking grim. Her hair was pulled up in a tight bun and her severe cheekbones made her look ten years older than she was. She wore black jeans, a black jacket, and had a gun shoved into her waistband. I looked from her up to Cam, and he glanced back at me in the rearview.

  I looked quickly away and back out into the night.

  I hated this plan. I hated the way he’d dropped it on me in front of Don Valentino and Sasha, and basically gave me no chance to argue. As soon as the Don said he liked it, I knew the whole thing was over and would happen whether I liked it or not.

  But it pissed me off he pulled that, especially after the night before.

  After I gave him my body and finally let myself be what I wanted to be—safe in his arms, naked and unafraid.

  That night was a blur now. I thought of it in flashes: his cock in my mouth, his tongue between my legs, riding him hard, sweating as he fucked me and kissed my lips, and the orgasms, god, the orgasms. I squirmed in my seat just thinking about it. I was still sore, and it’d been three days since it happened, and we’d slept in separate rooms.

  I knew he was sorry. He felt bad and wanted to do the right thing. But I was angry anyway. It happened too soon after I finally let my guard down, and reminded me of what it was like on the streets.

  One false move out there and you were finished. If I let in the wrong person, trusted someone dangerous, I’d be finished.

  Cam was most dangerous of
all.

  “It’s right around here,” Sasha said suddenly. Cam slowed the car to a crawl. We were out in North Philly again, at the top of the Kensington neighborhood surrounded by abandoned houses, boarded-up windows, and overgrown lots. “Make a right there.”

  Cam turned, heading east toward the river. Sasha leaned up between the two front seats and pointed toward an empty lot on the corner of the block. It was surrounded by a low wooden fence and some trees were planted inside, like someone actually tried to take care of it. The grass was cut, and standing back in the shadows were two people.

  My heart leapt into my chest as Cam parked the car. Sasha jumped out and I hurried to follow her, with Cam bringing up the rear. Sasha stepped over the fence, then ran to the figures and threw her arms around the closest one.

  I stood back and Cam lingered next to me.

  The girls were young, like Sasha. One was small and petite, skinny and pretty. The other was tall and willow-thin and looked exhausted. Both girls wore tight, revealing outfits and had reddish brown hair swept back.

  “We don’t have long,” the small girl said.

  Sasha waved me and Cam over. “Girls, this is Irene and Cam,” Sasha said. “Irene and Cam, this is Anna and Mila.” She gestured at the small girl then the taller girl respectively.

  “Good to meet you,” I said, glancing around the space nervously. It was quiet and dark, and the nearby houses all looked empty. Not a single light glowed in any of the windows.

  “I’m not sure I could believe this,” Mila said. “How’d you make this happen, Sasha?”

  “They reached out to me,” she said, gesturing at Cam. “Kira put us in touch. Can you believe it, that bitch?”

  “I believe it,” Anna said. “Always trying to do what’s right. Stupid girl. Kind of surprised she’s alive.”

  “Did Sasha explain what we’re thinking?” Cam asked.

  “She did,” Anna said, narrowing her eyes at him. For being such a small girl, she seemed very intimidating. “You want to give guns to a bunch of hookers, huh?”

  “Very manly,” Mila said, grinning. “Get the girls to fight for you.”

  “You won’t be alone,” Cam said. “My crew will back any play we can. All we want is Ronan Healy, all the rest are for you.”

  “So generous,” Anna said. “Just like a man to give us the scraps.”

  Mila and Sasha both laughed.

  “He’s for real though,” Sasha said. “His Don approved it. Heard him say so myself.”

  “Then where are the guns?” Mila asked, frowning at Cam’s empty hands.

  “No guns yet,” he said. “We need to plan first. Meet more girls. Get the word out.”

  Anna rolled her eyes. “So it’s bullshit then,” she said, taking a step away. “I knew it. Sasha, you’re too trusting, girl. I love you, but you’re a crazy bitch. I can’t do this tonight, I’ve got to work.” She began to drift toward the trees.

  Mila sighed and shrugged. “Sorry,” she said. “But it does seem too good to be true.”

  “Wait,” I said, stepping toward them. Cam’s mouth opened and his eyebrows shot up. I ignored him and held out a hand toward the departing girls. “This isn’t a joke.”

  “She’s right,” Sasha said. “I know you two think it’s all fake and lies, but when have I ever lied to either of you?”

  Anna hesitated and looked at Mila, who shrugged. “All right, that’s true,” Anna said and looked at me. “These mob guys aren’t lying then?” she asked. “What, do you work for them or something?”

  “No,” I said. “I stole from the Healy family and I hate them as much as you do. Well, maybe not as much, but it doesn’t matter. Cam’s not lying about the guns or the money. This all real.”

  Anna wrapped her arms around herself and tilted her head, studying me. “All right, girl. You’re the one piece of this that doesn’t make sense to me, so I’ll believe you for not.”

  “If she’s down, then I’m down,” Mila said, shrugging.

  “Thank you,” Cam said. “And believe me, this is real.”

  “We’ve got to get more girls,” Sasha said. “You two need to spread the word. Let everyone know that we finally have a way out.”

  “I’ll try,” Anna said. “But you know how it is. They’re always listening.”

  “You’ve got to do it,” Sasha said, moving toward the girls—

  But the sound of screaming tires broke off whatever she was about to say.

  Cars came flying around the corner. Cam reacted before I even understood what was happening. He grabbed my arm and yanked me back toward the car, shoving me hard and running. “Go!” he yelled, and I started sprinting—

  But he didn’t come with me. I reached the fence and looked back as he returned for the other girls. I couldn’t believe it—I didn’t think he’d bother, but he grabbed Anna’s hand and yanked her. They ran with Sasha in tow. Mila followed, loping along awkwardly, as two cars pulled up, slamming on their brakes.

  Gunfire broke across the night like crashing planes and thunder. I screamed, throwing myself over the little fence, and down onto the sidewalk next to the car. Cam shouted something and practically threw Anna at me, then Sasha dove down and rolled under the fence.

  Cam dropped to his knee and fired his gun back. Mila screamed as bullets tore into her body, in her chest, her throat, then her head, snapping it back. Blood splattered on the grass and she slumped to the ground. Anna screamed, Sasha yelled, and I grabbed both of them to keep them from running back for their dead friend.

  More gunshots ripped into the car, splintering the side of it, and Cam rolled over to us. A bright red mark ripped down his right arm from where a bullet grazed him. He kept shooting and one of the cars took off.

  “Get inside!” he yelled, and I got the back door open. Sasha slipped in first, then Anna, then me. Cam slammed the door, then climbed into the front as the lead car began to drift, someone slumped forward on the horn. Cam must’ve killed him.

  The engine flared to life. Cam was leaning down so far he couldn’t see over the wheel as he slammed on the gas. The car leapt forward, tires screaming, and more gunshots followed. He careened into the lead car, which was dead, then Cam cursed and got us going again. He bounced up onto the curve, swiped the side of a gnarled, dying tree, then got it under control again. The car sped off, leaving the Healy attackers behind.

  He sat up once we put some distance between us and the killers.

  “Fuck,” he said, punching the wheel. “How the fuck did that happen?” he roared.

  Sasha sat up and stared at Anna. “They saw,” she said. “You stupid girl. You let them see.”

  “I didn’t,” Anna said, eyes wild. “I swear I didn’t. They must’ve read my texts. I didn’t know they knew about my phone.”

  Sasha groaned and leaned back against the seat. “Mila,” she said, voice choked.

  Anna stared out the window in total shock.

  Cam drove in silence, jaw clenched, eyes hard. I looked up at him and reached through the center to touch his arm where it slowly leaked blood. He sucked in a breath and glanced down.

  “I’m fine,” he said.

  “We’ll get it stitched,” I said then leaned forward to kissed his neck. He touched my hair before letting me sit back down.

  He went back for them. If he didn’t care, he would’ve let those girls die in that field, but he risked his own life to help them. I didn’t agree with this plan and I hated that one girl was already dead because of it, but at least I saw what Cam really was. He wanted to do the right thing, even if he was constrained by the reality of the situation.

  I had to help him do this, no matter what, and the Healy family had to pay for what just happened. Mila wouldn’t die for no reason.

  We’d arm those girls and we’d start a damn war.

  18

  Cam

  I chewed out Sasha for twenty minutes after that attack. She explained that the Healy family watched the girls like hawks, and althou
gh some of them had secret phones, clearly some of the phones weren’t so secret after all.

  But at least Anna survived. The girl seemed smart and capable, although she was a little rough. Don Valentino said she could stay at his place as well, since the manor was big enough to accommodate fifty people at least without feeling crowded. Bea seemed delighted to have so many girls in the house at least.

  “No more texting,” I said the next morning. Sasha sat on the enormous couch in the living room, picking at a bagel. Anna had her knees pulled to her chest, her arms wrapped around her shins, and stared off into space. I couldn’t imagine how she felt in that moment. Irene sat next to her, trying to be comforting, but the girl was still in shock. She needed some time to come out of it.

  “I won’t make that mistake again,” Sasha said. “Calls only from now on. But I’ll need more phones. Can’t keep using the same number.”

  “We’ll figure that out,” I said, pacing. “How many reliable girls do you know?”

  “I don’t know,” Sasha said. “Ten maybe.”

  “I know some,” Anna said, looking up. “Lots of girls are going to be mad about what happened to Mila.”

  I nodded once. “Good. We’ll use that against them.”

  “Fucking bastards,” Anna snarled.

  Irene stood up and walked over to me. She touched my arm and nodded at me before drifting off toward the kitchen. “You two talk,” I said. “Figure out what to do from here and let me know what you need.”

  Sasha gave me a mock salute though her heart wasn’t into it. I followed Irene back into the kitchen and shut the door behind us. The space was empty, and our voices echoed off the metal shelves and stoves.

  “I wanted to thank you for last night,” Irene said, stepping close to me.

  “Thank me?” I asked, shaking my head. “I don’t think I deserve thanks. I barely got us out of there alive.”