Pretty Sinner: A Dark Mafia Romance (The Oligarchs Book 3)

by B. B. Hamel

  The bastard.

  He wasn’t a guard. He wasn’t from Darren either.

  I turned to run, a scream on my lips, but he was fast. He closed the gap and slammed into my back, knocking me forward. Air rushed from my lungs, and I only managed a pathetic moan as my chin smashed into the floor.

  Then he was on me. Not a guard. Not a savior.

  An assassin.

  Maeve was the master of spies. She was a shadow, a silent killer. She was a knife in the dark.

  And this was her tool.

  Her way of hitting Kaspar where it would hurt him the most.

  I was so stupid. So, so stupid.

  Darren wouldn’t send a man like this.

  I knew something was off, but I hoped anyway.

  And now I’d pay.

  The killer’s hands wrapped around my throat. He pinned me down with his knees, his eyes wide, still grinning, grinning madly, like he couldn’t believe his luck.

  I croaked, gasped, struggled.

  Couldn’t breathe.

  “Don’t worry,” he assassin crooned. “It won’t last long. A minute or two, then you’ll be out. After that, nothing at all. I promise, it’s so easy.” His grip tightened.

  Alice.

  This was how Alice died.

  Except it was Kaspar’s hands around her throat.

  Choking her. Killing her.

  Poor Alice.

  I wouldn’t end up like her.

  I wrenched my right arm free and slammed my fist into the assassin’s nose. He grunted in surprise and his grip relaxed long enough for me to pull in a breath and release the loudest scream I could.

  It was like a fire alarm in the night.

  The man cursed and slammed his elbow into my mouth. I grunted, went silent. I tasted blood, felt dizzy. He reached into a holster at his hip and pulled out a gun, black and gleaming in the night—

  The door slammed open. The assassin aimed down.

  Kaspar threw himself on top of the killer, knocking him aside as the gun went off. It was deafening. I rolled to the side, coughing and gasping for air.

  The men struggled. Grunts of pain and rage. More guards entered the room. I rolled onto my elbows in time to see Kaspar slam his forehead into the assassin’s face, wrench the gun away, and press it against the man’s temple.

  His guards stopped him from pulling the trigger as they piled on the intruder.

  Kaspar threw the gun aside, cursing. He stood, taking in the scene.

  The window wide open.

  He came to me. Knelt down, touched my neck tenderly. He pulled me into his arms and held me tight.

  “You let him in,” he whispered. “Why did you do that?”

  “He said he was from my brother.” I sounded awful, like someone scraped a hot spoon down the back of my throat.

  Kaspar hugged me tighter. “Oh, Penny. I’m so sorry.”

  I believed him. I choked out a sob, then another, and soon I was crying, crying so hard my guts hurt. I released it all and he held me through it, his shoulder drenched with my tears.

  Tears for myself, for Alice, for Livvie.

  Tears for Kaspar and Darren.

  Tears for all the dead.

  God, it wasn’t fair. I wanted to go home. I wanted to stay here in Kaspar’s arms.

  I didn’t know what I wanted or who I was.

  Kaspar rubbed my back and told me everything was going to be okay.

  It was a lie. I was still grateful for it.

  The assassin was taken away. They threw him into an extra room. When I calmed down, Kaspar sent the doctor to make sure I was okay.

  I heard screams of pain for the next few hours until they ended abruptly around sunrise.

  Kaspar checked on me one more time. Just after the silence. He was covered in blood. His eyes were bloodshot. He kissed my forehead, climbed into my bed, and wrapped his arms around my body.

  We fell asleep.

  20

  Alice

  Eight Years Ago

  Blackwoods College

  I told her I was going to study all night. “Seriously, it’s fine. I have a history test tomorrow anyway. I have to memorize a bunch of old battles and stupid dates.”

  Penny seemed hesitant, like she didn’t want to leave me alone.

  She’d been doing a lot of that lately. Ever since her first date with Kaspar, they were with each other constantly.

  I hated it.

  I tried to tell myself that their affection was disgusting. I pretended like he made my plan to murder her that much more difficult, especially since he was constantly watching over her.

  I knew that wasn’t true.

  I missed my friend. I was jealous of their relationship. For the first time in my life, I had someone I could spend time with, someone I could get close to. Maybe there were complicated feelings mixed up in all that—I couldn’t pretend like there weren’t. Penny was beautiful, and I felt things for her I never guessed I would.

  But we were platonic friends and that was all we’d ever be.

  She had Kaspar now, and she didn’t need me.

  “All right, fine. I don’t know when I’ll be back. Might be late.”

  “Won’t matter. I’ll be in the library until at least midnight.”

  She chewed on her lip. “I know I’ve been going out with him a lot these last couple weeks. Do you want to do something tomorrow?”

  “Seriously, Penny, I’m happy for you.”

  She forced a smile. “Tomorrow. Me and you. We’ll go see a movie or something.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Whatever you want.”

  “Don’t be like that.”

  “All right, okay, we’ll see a movie tomorrow.” I smiled and felt a flutter in my stomach. “I’m getting out of here. Have a fun on your date or whatever you’re doing.”

  She flushed like I’d said something wrong, but I didn’t call her on it. She was too transparent sometimes. I almost wished she’d learned how to cover her emotions—I could read her, and I found it addicting. I wanted to push her buttons and tease her just to get a response, but that wasn’t healthy—it wasn’t what friends did to each other. I grabbed my books, my backpack, laptop and phone, and got the hell out of there.

  I didn’t follow them anymore. Not since Kaspar caught me. It’d only make things more complicated if I tried to trail them every day, and eventually she’d catch on. I couldn’t risk her knowing anything was wrong.

  I found a quiet spot in the library and brooded.

  I didn’t have a test. I just didn’t want her to know I was a pathetic loser with no other friends and no other plans. While she ran around campus with her popular, charming, gorgeous boyfriend, I was slinking around planning different ways to murder her.

  Funny how life can be sometimes.

  The fucked up thing was, it shouldn’t have mattered what she thought of me. I wanted to drive a knife into her chest over and over again until her heart stopped beating. If she thought I was a weirdo, that had no bearing whatsoever on my mission. I could murder someone that hated me just as easily as someone that liked me.

  Or so I thought.

  I was wrong.

  Because as the days passed and I spent more and more time living with her, eating with her, laughing and gossiping with her, I realized I considered her more as a friend than as a target.

  And that was very bad.

  My job was to kill her. That was my whole reason for being at Blackwoods. I didn’t need a college education; Maeve would give me anything I wanted. My future was in her service, and I could do so much more for this world working closely with my patron.

  All I had to do was prove myself. All I needed was to kill Penny.

  And yet I didn’t. Each night we went to sleep six feet from each other, and each night I thought about rolling over and cutting her throat. Then the morning would come and we’d go to class, smiling and laughing together, and I’d hate myself. Loathing crept along my spine, disgust and hate lodged itself in my guts.


  I was weak. I was pathetic.

  I had to kill her. I had to do it.

  I didn’t last long in the library. A study group nearby spoke in hushed whispers and their occasional laughter drove me wild.

  I wanted that. I craved friends my own age. They were normal—all they worried about were grades and parties and whatever else.

  While I slunk around in the shadows, dreaming of blood.

  I headed back to the dorm. I’d lasted an hour, which was good enough. I’d put on an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and stare at my laptop screen until I passed out. Penny would be home late and she wouldn’t wake me.

  She was kind and considerate and lovely.

  I reached our door and fumbled with my key. I hesitated, frowning.

  There was noise coming from inside.

  Music. Rhythmic hip-hop. Loud enough to bleed outside. I didn’t recognize it, but I never recognized the new stuff.

  I pressed my ear to the wood. Behind the music, some muffled sounds. Movement, something thumping.

  And a moan.

  I reared back.

  What the fuck?

  They were inside. They were having sex.

  I stared at the lock.

  I could’ve walked away. Should’ve left them alone and given them privacy.

  Instead, I swiped my card. The lock clicked and I pushed the handle down, holding it there. I waited, breathless.

  The music continued. Another thump, another soft moan.

  They didn’t hear it.

  I cracked open the door, slipped inside, and closed it behind me.

  The dorm rooms were set up with a closet and bathroom on the right, a short hallway, then the main living space. They were small thanks to the private showers, and I couldn’t see her bed from my vantage point. The lights were off, and they must not have noticed the shadows from the hallway.

  Too busy with other things.

  I crept forward. I left my backpack outside of the bathroom door then crawled to the end of my bed.

  It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust.

  I heard them before I saw.

  Penny’s moans, soft and husky. Kaspar’s voice, insistent, low, masculine. He whispered in her ears, something dirty. “You taste like heaven. My cock’s been hard for you for weeks.” I felt a strange tingle between my legs as I struggled to keep my breathing quiet.

  I peeked up and stared.

  Penny was on top of him. She was topless, naked. So was he. She moved her hips, riding him, back and forth, the long, lean lines of her back beautiful in the soft light from outside. Her skin was smooth and perfect, and though I’d seen that back a hundred times, I’d never been more attracted to her as her hips ground back and forth.

  Kaspar’s hands clutched her round ass. The sheets fell away as she leaned forward, hair spilling around him. His thick cock slid in and out, and her pussy glistened, slick and gorgeous.

  I slid my hand down the front of my jeans.

  What the hell was wrong with me?

  This was sick. I planned on killing that girl. I hated that boy.

  And yet I wanted her. God, I’d wanted her since the moment I saw her. Those lips, those breasts. Kaspar kissed her, slapped her ass hard, squeezed. She moaned then leaned back, staring up at the ceiling, hair spilling down her shoulders.

  Her breasts shook and trembled with each motion of her hips. Her nipples were pink and pointed, her breasts large and round and gorgeous. I rubbed myself, my pussy soaked, and it took all my willpower not to moan. I doubted they’d hear me anyway—she was riding him faster, the bed creaking slightly, both of them panting.

  Kaspar whispered. I couldn’t hear him. I didn’t care. I was transfixed on Penny. Her hips, her hands pressed on his muscular chest, her ass grinding on his cock. I slid my fingers inside of myself, fucking my pussy, not sure what I was pretending, maybe picturing myself between them, Kaspar’s cock taking me from behind while I licked and sucked Penny’s cunt. She’d taste like heaven, her moans like honey, her skin cotton-soft.

  Sweat dripped down her skin. She cried out as Kaspar fucked her, gripping her hips, taking her harder. She pressed her breasts together with her elbows and she was glorious, glowing and perfect, shaking and trembling with pleasure, and I rubbed my clit faster, faster, as she climaxed in an ocean spray of moans.

  Kaspar brought her down, but he wasn’t finished with her.

  God, no, he wasn’t done.

  She lay silken and lovely on her back. He licked her, lapping her up, teasing her. She laughed, moaned. “I don’t think I can do it again,” she whispered.

  She was wrong.

  “You’ll give me what I want,” Kaspar said, staring up as he slid two fingers inside. I had to bite down on my thumb to keep from screaming out with pleasure.

  “You think so?”

  “I know so.”

  He kissed her, turned her around, palmed her breasts, and slid himself in from behind.

  She was lithe and incredible. He fucked her rough, his strong hands gripping her hips, spanking her ass, pulling her hair. He wanted to destroy her—I could see it in the way he palmed her breasts and bit her shoulder and slayed her with his long, thick cock, the biggest cock I’d ever seen in my life.

  But it wasn’t only about wrecking beautiful Penny. There was something else behind his motions. Lust, desire, yes, but he cared about her too. He wanted to give her pleasure, as much pleasure as he got, maybe more. He pushed her down, fucked her, whispered filthy, sweet words in her ears, then rubbed her clit, taking her faster, faster.

  They fucked like that for minutes, hours, weeks. I didn’t know and didn’t care. I couldn’t stop watching. Kaspar, handsome and masculine, and Penny, little petite lovely Penny. They were exquisite together, and I rubbed my clit faster, faster, pleasure peaking as Kaspar took Penny harder, rougher, their moans getting louder until Penny came again, and my own orgasm took me, heady and incredible, an explosion all along my spine, and I fell back against the wall, going perfectly still, out of sight of the bed but they must’ve heard something, because their moans stopped.

  When I peeked up again, Kaspar stood.

  Penny was on her knees in front of him.

  His thick cock was in her mouth. She sucked him, sloppy and faster, needy. She wanted him to come. He stared at her with pure love in his eyes.

  Then he looked up and met my eyes.

  He smiled.

  I got the hell out of there.

  I grabbed my bag, opened the door, and ran. I kept on running until I was back in the library, hidden away in a quiet study room, panting hard.

  It was like a dream, watching them fuck. It was the closest thing I’d ever come to being with Penny herself. Seeing her down on her knees with Kaspar’s cock in her mouth, god, she was beautiful, that hair, those hips—

  And the look he gave me.

  More malevolence. Utter, incredible hate.

  I was out of time.

  Penny had to die, and she had to die tonight.

  I licked my fingers, tasting my pussy still on them, and closed my eyes, pretending it was Penny on my tongue.

  21

  Penny

  Present Day

  Chicago

  I woke up with Kaspar’s arms wrapped around my body.

  I didn’t move.

  The night before was a blur. We didn’t have sex. I was sure he hadn’t touched me.

  He didn’t have a shirt on. I knew that chest, those arms. He was older now, but the years hadn’t diminished his perfection. Sculpted muscles, smooth skin. Masculine, powerful. He could destroy me with those hands if he wanted.

  I’d seen him do it before. Then and now.

  I closed my eyes. That night, the only night we spent together, had been heaven. Riding him, taking him from behind, sucking his cock, then doing it all over again. I lost count of how many times I came by the time we fell asleep in that tiny twin bed. After that, after he strangled Alice to death, we never touched
again.

  But I yearned for that memory. For his fingers and lips and cock and voice, oh, yes, his voice whispering in my ear all the filthy things he wanted.

  I opened my eyes again.

  Kaspar was awake. He stared back at me. He didn’t smile.

  I twisted slightly, facing him. I shifted closer.

  His fingers brushed my hair from my face.

  And he kissed me.

  I kissed him back. I breathed hard through my nose as I rolled on top of him, pinning him down. But he sat up, stronger than me, and pulled off my top. My bra came next, then his lips were on my nipples, teasing them, sucking them, biting them.

  We didn’t speak. Our skin pressed together, warm and incredible. He was hard and I was soft.

  I bit his shoulder and moaned into his ear as he rolled me onto my back and pulled off my pants.

  I spread my legs and let him lick me, kissing my inner thigh before slowly rolling his tongue down my folds, tasting every inch.

  It was sensual and incredible. I tried not to moan, but it escaped my lips, unbidden and too strong to ignore.

  He looked up at me with pure devotion.

  Last night, he saved my life. And I knew he’d do it again, and again, if he had to.

  He’d kill for me. He already had, or so he said.

  He’d do so much more if I asked.

  “You’re beautiful,” he whispered, kissing my pussy, sliding a finger inside. I wriggled, moaned.

  “You’re only saying that because you finally got me naked.”

  “I’m saying that because it’s true. I’ve been looking at you from afar for a long time Penny, and you’ve never dimmed for me. Not after all this time.”

  I chewed on my lip and looked away. “You really mean that, don’t you?”

  “God, yes, I do. I mean it when I say I need you. I always have.”

  I pulled him up to me. I kissed him, licked my juice from his lips, then took off his pants. He slid off his boxer briefs and I took his cock in my hands, greedy and stupid and not thinking.

  If I stopped to think, this wouldn’t happen.

  He barely fit in my mouth. I loved his grumbling moan as I sucked his tip furiously, stroking his thick shaft, going as deep as I could. He pushed me deeper, gripped my hair and pulled it, dominating me. I knew he wouldn’t let me take control, not in bed, not anywhere, but I wanted to try. I sucked his cock, licking him all around, moaning as he reached back to tease my soaking pussy with his fingers.