Ruthless: A Dark Mafia Romance Read online

  I could see there was less of a crowd gathered around the nurses’ station, which struck me as odd given I knew it going to be a busy day. Mondays were always busy, as if everyone waited until after the weekend to become ill. I had my regular roster, but things always seemed to pop up.

  “You might as well tell me, my dear best friend,” I said, trying to sound happy. I’d determined I’d allow myself to sulk through today then that was it. No more boyfriend. No more bullshit. No more pretending. I had my career and a possible promotion to consider.

  “You’ve been assigned someone new,” Anna half whispered, which was totally out of character for her. She seemed frightened. I didn’t like this at all. “He checked in yesterday. Makes me very nervous.”

  “What do you mean nervous?” I heard what I thought were loud voices coming from one of the rooms and the two nurses gathered around the oversized desk seemed petrified, their actions jittery. Why were people not roaming the halls? The space had an eerie, closed-down feel. I didn’t like this at all. “Okay. What in the world is going on, ladies? This is a hospital and the last I checked, we had a full house.”

  “Thank God you’re here,” one of them finally said in a hushed tone. She swallowed hard and wiped her hands on her uniform before fumbling to grab a chart.

  “Do I need to repeat myself? Where is everyone?” After looking up and down the hallway, I could tell that almost all of the rooms appeared empty.

  “Assigned to other floors,” the youngest nurse said.

  “Wait a minute—” I started before the verbal explosion.

  “Fuck. This. Shit!” The deep male voice came from the room in question, pissing me off even more.

  The two nurses took decided steps away and they were all looking to me for direction, the first nurse handing me the chart from her shaking hand. This was another moment that I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Why had I become the enforcer? Oh, yeah, because nobody else had the balls. The medical director was behind this. I reached for the phone, repeating the same questions. Even Anna seemed tongue-tied. “Does anybody want to tell me what’s going on? Why are half the beds empty?”

  “The medical director authorized the change late last night before the patient came in. That’s all we know.” Anna answered the question, placing her hand on mine and preventing the call. Her voice was whispered. “I think he was trying to reach you yesterday. He was really upset you weren’t here.”

  Uh-huh. Of course he was. “The medical director made significant changes without informing the doctors on this floor?” You mean the giant jerk? I didn’t mutter the words but there was no love lost between the pompous ass and myself. Walter Johnson was terrified I was bucking for his position. Maybe one day. “I had a day off. Remember?”

  “I know but this is a big deal and you’re the only doctor assigned right now. He made the decision yesterday, which is another reason I called you.” This time, Anna’s voice was laced with urgency.

  The loud voices sounded off again, a combination of curse words and vehement expressions even a weathered soul like mine wouldn’t repeat in mixed company. I turned my gaze back in the direction of the room, frowning given there was some hulking mass of a man standing in front of the door. What in the hell did this jerkoff think he was doing? Guarding the obnoxious patients?

  A slither of fear trickled down the back of my legs. Even my stomach was churning.

  “Fine. I’ll handle this first. Then I want answers.” Easing the phone onto the cradle, I tried to give the nurses a reassuring nod. To say they were out of sorts was an understatement. I dropped my iPad on the desk and refused to even look at the patient’s chart. Whoever this special patient was, this treatment meant he was no doubt some big donator to the hospital. Huffing, I rolled up my sleeves and was prepared to take on the goon until Anna grabbed my arm.

  “Wait. Please. There’s something you should know,” she said, stopping me in my tracks.

  “Is he worth a significant amount of money, donating large sums? Is he royalty?”

  Anna paled, her lovely porcelain skin taking on a gray tinted hue. “No, but the new patient is very dangerous. I don’t understand why he’s here.”

  I shook my head. We’d closed down a section of rooms before, but not an entire floor. “We’ve had murderers, arsonists, and kidnappers as patients. What could be more dangerous? We still have to treat them, try and heal them and hope that they’ll end up imprisoned for their crimes.” Granted, I’d given Walter hell for the concept before. There was nothing to stop me now.

  “Yes, but this patient is different, Doctor Mason. And you’re a heart specialist.”

  When Anna called me by my professional name, she either had something on her mind or had been instructed to handle me with kid gloves.

  “I’ll bite. Who is this particular patient?” I glanced at the outside of the chart. The name John Doe meant his identify was being carefully protected.

  “We’re not supposed to know or request any details, and we can’t talk to anyone outside of this small core of people. It’s a matter of life or death.”

  “Anna, who. Is. Our. Patient?”

  Anna bit her lip, darting a glance at the hulking mass who seemed to serve as a bodyguard. “Giovanni Calduchi.”

  She said the man’s name as if I knew who the hell she was talking about. Granted, a pinging sound occurred in my ears, the name far too similar to the mystery man. Plus, the news. Oh, fuck, no. I tried to remember what I’d heard on the television the day before. Something about a gangland shooting. Didn’t that occur in Chicago? “Okay, we’ll keep it as Mr. Doe. What did he do?”

  “You mean you really don’t know who he is?” She whispered the question, her head lowered. She was terrified someone else would hear what she was telling me.

  “I wouldn’t be asking if I did.”

  She kept her hand in front of her mouth when she talked, her fingers trembling. “Um. He’s the new crime boss of Chicago and pretty much a huge portion of the country. He’s ruthless and powerful, the news touting he’s the most brutal killer in the crime syndicate. He’s also gorgeous.” She laughed nervously.

  Gorgeous. A series of shivers skittered down my spine and I darted a glance at the closed room. “Was this the son who was almost killed?” My heart raced as imaged danced in front of me. I’d been such a fool.

  “And what’s this? You flinched when I touched it before,” I’d asked him after sliding my hand over an obvious recent injury.

  “Just an accident.” He’d acted as if the wound was nothing, wrapping his fingers around mine and kissing them one at a time.

  “Looks like a gunshot wound and one that’s not completely healed.”

  His laugh had been almost boyish, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. “I play with a rough crowd.”

  I’d let it go without grilling him. I was a fucking doctor, for Christ’s sake and I hadn’t figured it out? Maybe I hadn’t wanted to know, pretending so much easier because I wanted the man.

  The monster.

  No. No, this couldn’t be happening.

  “Uh-huh. They brought him here. Are you okay? You look like you’re going to throw up,” Anna muttered, her voice strained.

  “I’m fine. Just fine.”

  Fantastic. I never asked questions or cared about my patients’ bouts with crime as long as their activity or behavior didn’t affect my hospital. Sadly, right now his appearance alone had placed everyone’s lives in danger. I felt a tremor in my heart, a knowing that was the most unsettling of anything. “Why?” Gio. Giovanni. Please don’t let this be true.

  “Why?” she asked incredulously. “The medical director didn’t confide in me. All I know is that Mr. Calduchi was almost murdered last week, and his father was cut down in cold blood. Huge shooting. There have been reported gang activity in the streets in Chicago since then. The authorities warn it could be an all-out turf war.”

  I slowly turned my head in her direction. “How do you know so much?�
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  “USA Today,” Anna said without a hitch. “We have to keep John Doe safe, at least according to Medical Director Johnson.”

  To hell with Walter. Why would a murderer be brought to Columbus, Ohio? I was indeed a heart specialist, but there were dozens in the country capable of working on the man. There had to be another reason.

  “Are you okay?” Anna choked out. “Maybe you should talk with Mr. Johnson and let him know you don’t want to do this.”

  Tipping my head, I couldn’t help lifting a single eyebrow. Be a professional. This has to be a coincidence. Except I didn’t believe in them. “Anna, we have a duty and honor to treat our patients. As far as keeping this person safe, that’s not my job or yours.” A killer? I’d been able to sense my mystery man was notorious in some manner, but could he possibly be the same person?

  “I’m not taking that shit!” The outcry came from the room, booming through the thin walls.

  The clanging noise of something hitting the door made us both jump. I swallowed hard, willing my nerves to shut down.

  “But keeping the peace is my job. Tell our illustrious medical director I want a word with him in fifteen minutes and no, I don’t care what he’s doing. I’ll handle our new patient. Just make certain everyone stays away.”

  “I’ll let Mr. Johnson know. Be careful.” Anna nodded and squeezed my arm.

  Careful. The word had obviously never been in my repertoire. Should I be terrified of him? That remained to be seen. If the man lying in the hospital bed was some crime lord, then he was getting the hell out of my hospital.

  My mystery lover or not.

  I stalked toward the oversized man standing at the door and when he turned toward me, reaching for the weapon attached to his belt, I hissed, “No weapons on this floor. I don’t care who you are, I’m in charge. Are we clear?”

  Then I recognized him. The chauffeur. Antonio. Everything in my world seemed to be caving in. I refused to show fear, but I could barely breathe.

  His eyes opened wide from recognition and he eased his hand from his gun, even offering a slight smile. “The boss’s orders, Miss Minx. I will carry a gun. I hope you understand.”

  “Not on my watch and that’s Dr. Mason.” I was shocked any words left my mouth. Shaken, I pushed through the door, trying to figure out what to say, extreme anger taking over. The man had also placed my life in danger because he hadn’t been able to keep his dick in his pants. “What is the meaning of your outbursts, Mr. Doe or should I call you John?” Two men hovered over the hospital bed but the patient certainly wasn’t dressed in normal attire.

  “What the fuck?” one of them snarked, jerking in my direction, the same reaction as the other asshole except his gun managed to make it to his hand and the pistol was pointed at my chest. “Who are you?”

  “I’m the doctor and I am in charge here. Period.”

  “Let her pass, Marco.”

  A nightmare was confirmed. I’d know the voice anywhere, the velveteen-laced sensual tone that had me wet less than twenty-four hours before. This time, the ominous baritone made me nauseous. A vision popped into my head, the images vivid, as if I was experiencing the kinky event for the first time. The experience had been delicious, highly erotic, and one I’d never forget, but I was ashamed thinking about it now.

  “I’m going to lick your sweet pussy for hours,” he said, breathing across me. “But only if you promise to obey me.”

  He’d tied my hands to the shower rod, leaving me in the dark for well over thirty minutes. I was still wet, damp hair clinging to me. The way his hot breath trailed across my skin awakened my nipples, making them fully erect. Goosebumps crackled all over my skin, dancing the moment he traced the bones in my spine with just the tip of his finger.

  “Have you been a good girl while I was gone?” he asked in a husky voice.

  “Yes.”

  I could almost hear the crack of his wrist the second before his palm slapped against my ass. I yelped, biting my tongue in the process and drawing blood. “Yes, sir.”

  “Better. We’ll work on your manners later.” Very slowly he swung me around to face him, twisting the rope tightly woven around my wrists.

  The two-day stubble covering his gorgeous face was even more of a draw, dragging me into the very dark world I’d been terrified of. In the hours of passion, his desire for full domination had exploded, his twisted needs increasing. Using both hands, he brushed them down the length of my arms to my sides, floating his fingers across my breasts before moving to my hips. “Lift your pretty legs for me. Place them on the edge of the tub.”

  I did as I was told, planting my feet on the rim. He pushed my legs wide open, raking his fingers up along one inner thigh and down the other. A wicked smile crossed his face as he held up two fingers, his eyes twinkling even in the dim lighting of the bathroom. “Two fingers can be utter magic, or they can create severe pain.”

  Quivering, I swallowed hard and wiggled my hands, the rope biting into my skin. “Yes, sir.”

  He swirled the tips of his fingers around one nipple, flicking back and forth slowly. “Pleasure.” Opening the same fingers, he placed my hardened bud between them then pinched his fingers together.

  “Oh...” Shocked, the anguish was instant, jetting through every muscle.

  “Or pain. That’s the choice you have, my sweet Minx.” Chuckling in a carnal manner, he slid his fingers down the center of my stomach until he reached the soft skin just above my pussy.

  I found myself jutting my hips forward, a slight moan escaping my mouth. “Yes, sir.”

  Inhaling, he circled my clit, taking his time then dragging his fingers down until he could slide them inside. The instant he curled the same two fingers, thrusting in an angle, my entire body began to shake.

  “Oh, my God!” The pleasure was extreme, his fingers driving me to the very edge of an orgasm within seconds.

  “Pleasure,” he murmured and continued until I almost exploded.

  “No. Please let me come!” I screamed out the words, taking several deep breaths as I undulated my hips. “Please!”

  Uncurling his fingers in front of my face, he rubbed them across my lips then shoved them into my mouth. “Suck, little girl. Suck.”

  There was no hesitation, my tongue moving back and forth, tasting my cream. My eyes were hazy, difficult to focus but I didn’t care.

  Gio jerked his hand, closing his fingers and I watched as if in slow motion as he smacked my pussy in rapid succession, one slap after the other. “Or pain.”

  My mouth was open, nothing but ragged breath sounds rushing from my parched throat. I was floating somewhere, somehow, no longer able to think clearly, the agony so biting. He didn’t stop for at least thirty seconds and when he did, I slumped, trying to catch my breath.

  “Now, my beautiful and very disobedient Minx. Which would you prefer?”

  I tried to answer. I remember opening my mouth to form words, but I must have been unable until he grabbed my chin, lifting my head and digging his fingers into my skin.

  “You answer me when I ask you a question,” he commanded.

  “Yes, sir. Yes. I’m sorry, sir.”

  Leaning closer, he kissed my lips softly, drawing his tongue across the seam of my mouth. “Which is it, my sweet girl?”

  “Pleasure, sir. Please. More?”

  A growl slipped past his lips as he released me. The same dazzling smile on his face, he turned me once again to face the tile wall, patting my ass. “And you will have everything you want after your penance. I’ll return shortly for your spanking. Then... ecstasy.”

  Click!

  I would never forget the humiliating feeling, shame remaining long after he’d untied me, carrying me to the bed. I’d never had an experience like that before, and the hunger boiling within me had almost eaten me alive. Now, as I was forced to face the same man, a creature I knew to be a true monster, the same indignity returned.

  He was a complete bastard.

  As th
e two men took steps away, revealing the man lying in a relaxed position, I swore under my breath. He was still as devastatingly handsome, dressed in a similar expensive suit, only the jacket tossed over the only visitor’s chair. He had the same grin, boyish on one hand yet laced with more than a hint of menace. His eyes had the same sparkle as the time we’d spent together, undressing me in a not so subtle manner. He was just as gorgeous, perhaps even more so. Dark hair and dashing emerald eyes. Muscles in all the right places.

  And the worst part? He still made me wet, my nipples hardening until they ached in my thin lace bra. My mind flashed to the piano and I knew instinctively that he was remembering the very same details; his tongue buried in my pussy, his cock thrusting into my ass. And the spanking. The jerk had actually issued a spanking as if I was a bad little girl not once or twice, but three times.

  One amazing night and day of lies and deceit.

  One irrational moment in time.

  One passionate connection.

  “Well, well. If it isn’t the lovely Minx,” he whispered in a seductive manner. The tone was the same, leaving me wet and hot, my pussy muscles clenching at the thought of having him drive his long, thick, and throbbing cock all the way inside.

  I was mortified at the way my body hungered, ashamed that I’d allowed him to crack open Pandora’s Box. He could see right through me, all my foibles and desires, the dark cravings that had gone unrequited my entire life. Blinking, I looked away only long enough to rein the lunatic portion of me back inside. “Gio and Calduchi is your last name. Correct? Why am I not surprised?”

  He laughed, deep and throaty and for a few seconds, there was no one else in the room.

  “I’m going to fuck every hole when I want. How I want. I’m going to shower you with unbridled passion, ravaging you in ways you’d only dreamed, but only after you succumb to me, surrendering your body and soul. Then I’m going to fuck you again until you beg me to stop. But I won’t, sweet Minx. I’ll never stop until I claim exactly what belongs to me. I. Will. Own. You.”

  Even though he hadn’t muttered the words, I could read his thoughts, sense his longings. He wouldn’t stop until he broke me.