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

Home > Romance > Pretty Sinner: A Dark Mafia Romance (The Oligarchs Book 3) > Page 16
Pretty Sinner: A Dark Mafia Romance (The Oligarchs Book 3) Page 16

by B. B. Hamel


  “Something wrong with his confession?”

  “No, sir, he’s singing like a bird. We’ll find Maeve with his information in the next day or two. It’s something else.”

  I gestured impatiently. “Yes? Go ahead.”

  “There were men here that shouldn’t have been here.”

  I watched him carefully, trying to parse out what he meant, and decided to take him literally. “Explain.”

  “Well, sir, Maeve mostly employs local contractors. You know, Americans with good credentials. But there were two Ukrainian guys. I think they were from the Patrenko family.”

  I let that sink in before pacing away. The Patrenko family was controlled by Darren—by the freaking Servants. If he had two of his gangsters hanging around with Maeve’s men, that meant they’d already combined forces. This could be bad.

  “Call Erin. Get her here.”

  “All right, sir. I’ll try.”

  “Don’t try. Do it.” I turned away and went back to the car. I climbed in and slammed the door. “Back to the hotel,” I told the driver.

  He pulled out and I stared at the window while we wound our way through the city.

  24

  Penny

  Present Day

  Chicago

  Kaspar didn’t tell me where we were going. He stormed into my room, demanded that I put on clothes, then dragged me outside.

  “You don’t have to be an asshole just because you got what you wanted from me already,” I said between my teeth as he hustled me into the car.

  He paused and looked surprised. I almost felt bad, but shoved it away.

  I remembered the look on Alice’s face as she died. It was strange—part bliss, part terror. Her eyes met mine and wouldn’t turn away.

  I remember screaming. I screamed and screamed at Kaspar, and he tried to explain, but I couldn’t understand back then. People came in and it was chaos, everyone freaking out. Alice was dead, and Kaspar killed her.

  The police came. Kaspar disappeared. He tried to talk to me but there were too many people hovering around and I was only half-conscious.

  But I knew what I saw.

  Kaspar’s hands around Alice’s throat.

  Alice dying. Her heart stopping.

  No more Alice.

  I closed my eyes and leaned my head back. Kaspar’s family cleaned up the mess and my family helped. Nobody wanted a scandal. Kaspar finished his degree remotely and I drifted through the rest of my time at Blackwoods like a ghost.

  Alice haunted me. She was the ghoul in my closet.

  There were rumors. People said Kaspar killed her in a jealous rage. They said I helped. They said it was some freaky sex thing gone wrong.

  I never did learn why he did it.

  Months later, he tried to contact me. He showed up on campus and begged to talk. I slammed my door in his face and called my brother.

  Kaspar never came back after that. I figured our families made some kind of deal.

  He reappeared as the head of the Baskin fortune. He took his place as an Oligarch and that boy I knew was gone, replaced by a man of stone.

  I thought of the night we had often. It was the best night of my life.

  We drove in silence. Kaspar radiated anger. I wished I could jump out of the window and swim down the polluted river. I didn’t even remember what it was called.

  “Why would Maeve want to kill me?” I asked quietly, and Kaspar leaned closer like he hadn’t heard. I didn’t repeat myself. I couldn’t work up the nerve to say it again.

  It was the one question that bothered me since he confessed to what happened.

  “She wants power,” he said as if that explained anything at all.

  “But why me?”

  “You were a convenient target. You’re young and a woman and you were attending Blackwoods. Maeve happened to have a ward around your age. The stars aligned.”

  “But why me? Just because it made sense?”

  He shook his head. “Your family is strong, but not that strong. Not at that point, anyway. She must’ve thought picking a fight with the Servant family would be easy. Take down your house, grow her empire.”

  “Didn’t work out that way.”

  “No, it didn’t.” He laughed bitterly. “The Oligarchs have a rule about not fighting each other, but they do it all the time. It feels like that’s all we ever do.”

  I chewed my cheek, saying nothing. The car drove through downtown and into a sparser neighborhood before parking outside of a beat-up deli with a closed sign on the door.

  I didn’t get out. Kaspar didn’t either. He waited for me, patient as a mountain.

  “Alice wouldn’t have done it.” I said the words and thought they’d come out with conviction, but instead I heard my own uncertainty, and hated myself for it.

  “You don’t know that. Alice wasn’t stable.”

  “You barely talked to her. How could you know how stable she was?”

  “I learned about her after it happened. I talked to people that worked in Maeve’s household. Alice was troubled, came from trouble. She was destined for violence.”

  “Nobody’s destined for what happened to her.” I glared at him and tried not to let my anger overwhelm my good sense. “Calling her troubled is just some weak excuse for murdering her.”

  “I saved your life. When I walked into that room, she was standing over you with a knife.” He shoved his jacket aside and pulled out a blade. It was long and sharp and seemed familiar. “This knife, Penny. She was holding it above you and staring at you with tears rolling down her face. She was going to do it.”

  “No, she wouldn’t have.” But I stared at the knife: the blade was thick and sharp. It was a tool for killing.

  “I’m sorry, Penny. I’m sorry you liked her. I think she liked you, too. But she was too deep in Maeve’s pocket.”

  I looked at my hands as he put the knife away and covered it again. I felt so old and tired.

  “She was my friend. I don’t have many.”

  He moved closer and put a hand on my leg. “I know that. Better than most.”

  “Do you?”

  “I’m alone. I’ve always been alone. All of us are. We’re born into power and privilege but we’re kept apart and that breaks us, turns us into animal and demons and monsters. I’m broken, Penny. I have been for a long time. I didn’t feel a thing when I killed Alice, only sadness that you’d be mad at me. But here I am, years later, trying to right a wrong.”

  “Killing Maeve won’t fix anything.”

  “No, it won’t. But it will show the world that nobody can touch you without repercussions.” He moved his hand away.

  I wanted him to leave it there.

  It was sick. I knew it was wrong. He was a monster, a killer, a freak—he admitted it himself.

  But I was a freak, too.

  I followed him outside. We went into the deli and toward a group of tables at the back. Kaspar’s men swarmed the place, looking tough in their black combat gear and automatic weapons.

  My sister sat in the corner with Chika. She stood as we approached.

  I slowed and glared death at Kaspar.

  “What the hell is this?” I snapped, already turning back. “I’m not speaking to her.”

  “Wait,” he said, grabbing my arm. He pulled me close. His lips pressed against my ear and I shivered, remembering his body in my bed. “She’s not your sister anymore. Forget about your family. This is about revenge for Alice.”

  “No, asshole. This isn’t for Alice. This is for you.”

  “And her. Maeve got her killed. If she never got sucked into Maeve’s world, if she hadn’t been used as a killer, none of this would’ve happened. Now face your sister with me. I need you.”

  I stared at him, rage rolling through me. I hated how he knew what to say to keep me around. I wanted to punish Maeve if it meant getting revenge for Alice. I didn’t give a damn about getting it for myself.

  “Fine,” I hissed. “But you’re doing the t
alking.”

  He grinned and kissed my cheek. “I always do.”

  I hung back away from the table. Erin barely glanced at me. Chika stared like a sad puppy.

  I liked Chika, but she followed my sister now. She was meaningless.

  “Why did you drag me out here again, Kaspar?” Erin sounded impatient and short.

  Kaspar didn’t look ruffled. “Your brother sent men to back up Maeve’s forces. Did you know about that?”

  She made an impatient gesture. “Of course.”

  “You didn’t think to tell me?”

  “No. It’s a minor detail. Did you get her yet?”

  “I have a lead.” He leaned forward, palms on the table. “You’re keeping things from me.”

  Erin didn’t respond. She watched him, head tilted to the side. Sometimes my sister reminded me of a lizard. Cold and detached. She licked her lips and glanced at Chika, who only stared down at the table. Perfectly obedient.

  “Darren has been making my life difficult,” Erin said. “He monitors my communications. Orders the men to keep me from leaving. It isn’t easy making these meetings.”

  “And yet you manage it.”

  “I understand the stakes here.” Erin’s jaw tightened. She glanced at me then back to Kaspar. “I gave you what you want. I’m helping you with Maeve. I expect to get what I need in return.”

  “I can’t make Darren step down and I won’t kill him.”

  “I don’t care about that. I want power. I want men.”

  I let out a sharp laugh. I couldn’t believe this. “You want to start your own family.”

  Erin sneered at me. “You’ve never had any ambitions, Penny. You sit around feeling sorry for everyone and worrying about their feelings. Ever since Livvie died—”

  “Don’t talk about Livvie,” I said angrily, taking a step closer, but Erin didn’t react.

  “You’ve been weak and pathetic. When you lost Livvie, you lost something.”

  “So did you. Livvie was the only one that could keep you under control.”

  Erin laughed lightly. “Livvie was the only one that understood I couldn’t be kept under control. She supported my decisions.”

  “This is insane.” I turned to Kaspar. “You can’t help her with this. The others won’t allow it.”

  But Kaspar seemed thoughtful. “There hasn’t been another family in a long time.”

  “She has nothing. No money, no support. If you give her men, they’ll be mercenaries. The others will tear her to pieces.”

  “That’s a risk I’m willing to take,” Erin said calmly, glaring at Kaspar. “I want money and manpower. I’ll handle the rest.”

  Kaspar touched his chin. I wanted to scream. My sister was leaving my family and she was going to get herself killed. Kaspar had to stop this. He had to do something.

  He only nodded. “If you can keep Darren from getting involved any further, I’ll provide what you need to get started. But beyond that, you will be on your own. Don’t come to me when any of the others burn you to the ground.”

  “We have a deal then.”

  Kaspar stood. He looked at me and I didn’t move. I wanted to flip the table and bash my sister’s face against the wall—

  But Erin didn’t glance in my direction.

  Kaspar touched my wrist. Gently, tentatively. It was right then I decided.

  Erin didn’t care about me. Darren, Mom, none of the others paid any attention to me at all.

  For all these years, it’s only been Kaspar.

  Let Erin start her new Oligarch family. She’ll fail and die. It won’t matter.

  I turned away and followed Kaspar back outside.

  “You look pale,” he said and helped me into the car. “Are you okay?”

  “Just drive.” I leaned my head back against the seat. “I don’t have anyone anymore.”

  “You have me.” He climbed in and sat close. “That won’t ever change.”

  I nodded as the car pulled into traffic.

  25

  Penny

  Present Day

  Chicago

  I paced around the hotel room, trying to get my head straight.

  I knew Erin lusted after power. Ever since Darren took over the family, she’d been resentful and angry. She chafed against being the second oldest, against being a woman, against anything that held her back. She wanted more and always had, even when we were kids.

  But back then, she hadn’t been ruthless. I remembered a nice girl that smiled and laughed and played with me even though she was significantly older. Sometimes she could be cruel in the way sisters were, but Livvie always said Erin cared more than she wanted to admit, that Erin was full of emotion and struggled to keep it at bay.

  The Erin of today wasn’t the same girl. If there were feelings inside of her, they were hidden—pushed down as deep as they could go.

  She might as well be a robot programmed to rip my life to pieces.

  First, she sells me to Kaspar. Then she threatens to leave the family and start her own Oligarch clan.

  I had no idea if that was even possible or what that would mean for the whole group. Darren would never let it happen, and Roman would back him up.

  The others, though? Redmond, Kaspar? I didn’t understand why they’d allow their power to be diluted by another new Oligarch.

  Kaspar hung around the hotel. He sat near the windows with a fire crackling in the gas fireplace. His feet were up on an ottoman and he held a whiskey in his hand. Chicago was like a thousand jeweled skyscrapers as the sun turned red. It sank low, beams long like spun sugar.

  I stood a few feet behind him, hands on my hips. We both stared at the sunset. Dusk fell, shimmered, began to fade.

  “You’re going to kill her, aren’t you?”

  Kaspar looked over his shoulder. He didn’t seem surprise. “I’m considering it.”

  “I want you to.”

  His eyes widened. He put his drink down and turned the chair toward me.

  “Why?”

  What a simple question. So much was packed inside. Why did I want him to kill my sister? Why would I ask him something like that? Why did any of this happen? Why, why, why?

  I could scream the question off the roof for all the good it did me. I could let it drop—like Livvie.

  “She’s going to ruin everything. You can’t let her.”

  Kaspar sighed and stretched his legs. “How do you know what Erin’s going to do? You two don’t seem to get along.”

  “We used to. I know her, Kaspar. She’s vicious and cold and smart, and she won’t stop until she’s got the whole world in her hands.”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  “You don’t know her. She’s scary. If she’s unleashed—”

  “I won’t let it happen.”

  I bit down on my cheek. He stared at me, eyes radiating a sharp intensity. I nearly groaned with the weight of my sister’s life pressing me down into the floor.

  “Kill her, Kaspar. Kill her before she does something terrible.”

  He stood then. Came to me. He moved with grace. I hated him for it. I didn’t want to want him—didn’t need the feelings he provoked.

  Hunger. Desire. Excitement. Terror. Lust.

  “You want her dead because of what she did to you.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “It’s selfish. You want to kill your own sister. And I can’t blame you, little treasure. When she gave you to me, she broke so many taboos, destroyed the trust you felt, wrecked the bonds of sisters. She did that, not you.”

  “That’s not why I want her gone.” I couldn’t meet his eyes, because god, maybe he was right and I was being selfish.

  He touched my cheek and guided my eyes to his.

  “Answer me honestly. Do you want revenge on your sister?”

  I considered before I spoke. In some ways, yes, I wanted her punished for what she did.

  And in others, I was grateful.

  Kaspar wasn’t a good per
son. He wasn’t a bad person, either—he was a complicated mix of both things. He was dark and light, Heaven and Hell. He was a complicated man and the true depths of him were only becoming apparent in the last few days.

  Killer and savior. Saint and sinner.

  Erin gave me to him, to this monster, to the man that cared about me more than anyone in the world. He would never do what Erin did. He would never leave.

  I saw it every time he looked in my direction.

  Devotion, nearly religious in its ecstasy.

  I was his north star. I was his goddess.

  It was painful at first. The intensity of his attention and need for me was overwhelming. I couldn’t face it head-on. I tried to run.

  He won me over all those years ago. And he won me over again, despite my better judgment.

  I remembered what happened last time. Alice on the floor, his strong hands wrapped around her throat. I saw it like a dream.

  He wasn’t lying about Alice and Maeve. The more I thought back to those days, the more it became obvious. All the red flags I ignored, all because it felt good to have a friend. Alice was a liar, an enigma, a false facade papered over a black heart.

  She drugged me. For a long time, I refused to admit it. I thought I fell asleep because I was so exhausted from the day—it had happened before.

  But when Kaspar told me the truth about Alice, it all came back.

  How I drank my water bottle and blacked out almost right away. Nobody fell asleep like that, not without some help.

  Alice slipped something in my water while I was in the bathroom.

  I refused to let myself see. The truth was too painful. It hurt far too much.

  My friend wanted to kill me. She was going to plunge a knife in my heart.

  Kaspar saved my life that day.

  He did it in a brutal and awful way—but he still did it.

  That was Kaspar. He did things however he wanted.

  If Erin hadn’t given me to him, I never would’ve realized the truth. I never would’ve come to this conclusion.

  I would’ve continued on, ignoring the obvious facts of what happened, all because I couldn’t face losing my friend for a second time.

 

‹ Prev