Ruthless: A Dark Mafia Romance Read online

  “And this doctor, she didn’t seem in the least bit happy you’re here,” Daniel added. “Want us to at least check her out?”

  “That’s something I can handle on my own.” For now. I had my laptop and my guess is a single internet check would give me all the information I needed. She was nobody in nowhere town. The lie left a bad taste in my mouth. “Get back to the city but keep me informed as to everything that’s going on.”

  “Will do, boss.” Daniel backed away, still rubbing his throat.

  “I brought Jacko with us. He’ll take over for Antonio as necessary.” Marco wrinkled his nose, no doubt expecting an outburst. I didn’t care for Jacko, but the guy would never betray the organization.

  “Yeah, that’s fine. No one else knows.”

  “Got it,” Marco muttered.

  My anger resonated on every level, but that same rage had kept me alive. Maybe initiating the other plan was the best course of action.

  “Wait, Marco. Stay a minute.” I thought about what I was getting ready to order, but it was the only decent choice and could bring out certain adversaries. When I took the reins, there would be no one doubting my rise to power.

  Marco lifted his eyebrows and nodded to Daniel. “Wait in the hall. Then we leave.” He sauntered closer. “You got something for me, boss?”

  Daniel did as he was told, leaving the room, but not before giving me a nasty look. He was one to continue watching.

  “Not sure how things are going to go down here.” I stretched my arm, trying to get some relief from the nagging pain.

  “You know that doctor, don’t you?”

  Exhaling, I shrugged. “I might know her in the biblical sense.”

  “I knew it. Nice-looking piece.”

  They were used to dealing with tramps and floozies. I held my tongue, waiting until his smile faded. “She’s not to be touched.”

  “No, boss.”

  “It might be necessary to fake my death.”

  He shrank back, his eyes opening wide. Then he offered a huge smile. “A great plan. I can manage that. We got some folks inside Chicago General who can make certain you’re stone cold dead.”

  “Not unless I give you orders, or you don’t hear from me for a few days. Am I fucking clear?” This had to be calculated perfectly.

  Marco threw up his hands. “I got it, boss. I know what you’re trying to do. The element of surprise.”

  The man had zero clue what I was attempting to do. “If it becomes necessary, make it clean and have someone leak to the press. You understand?”

  “Absolutely.” He sniffed, stealing a look at the door. “You spending some time with your lady?”

  “She’s not my lady and I will never see her again outside of this hospital. You don’t know her and if anyone asks, your memory banks are wiped. I was never here.”

  He nodded, backing away. “Happy to have you as the real boss, boss. You’re going to be good for the organization.”

  I almost laughed. “Now, get out of here.”

  “I’ll let you know what’s going on.”

  I realized I’d been holding my breath until he walked out. Anger unlike anything I’d ever experienced remained at the surface. I was furious I hadn’t seen this coming with the Consigliere. Maybe my father had, lunch meant as a warning for me alone. Whatever the case, I would avenge his death.

  Suffer.

  I was beginning to appreciate and value the word more and more.

  After yanking off my tie and unbuttoning my shirt, I grabbed my laptop, easily connecting to the web service. I might as well try to get as comfortable as possible. I eased onto the bed, loathing every second of this self-imposed incarceration. Unfortunately, my enemies were smart enough to have well trained soldiers checking for my footprint just in case. The scrambling device could be out-maneuvered, so my time on the web would be short-lived. I was very curious about the good doctor and would need to learn as much about her as possible. My carelessness at getting involved, even for a weekend of pleasure and nothing more could prove to be my undoing.

  Doctor Veridi Mason was easy enough to find. I fingered her professional photograph, marveling once again at her beauty. “Who are you, sweet sunshine?” She attended Duke University and medical school, graduating near the top of her class. She had several accolades, including well respected research papers. She was considered one of the finest heart surgeons in the country and at a very young age in comparison to the other cronies listed alongside her name. There was very little mention of her upbringing, other than she was originally from... “Chicago.” Just saying the word out loud gave me a list of additional questions.

  What the fuck?

  Coincidences I didn’t believe in.

  The trail ended there, as if she hadn’t existed before or she made certain her private life was just that—private and secure. There was much more to this girl. My gut was beginning to tighten, a telling sign that I didn’t have firm control on the situation. Information was the key.

  Who was the medical director? Why in the hell did Marco think the man could be trusted?

  After weeding through the usual bullshit on the hospital website, I found the bio and photograph of the rather pinheaded-looking male. He certainly had all the qualifications and the only item to note was that he was around Montego’s age. He had worked in several hospitals during the course of his career but none of them in or around the Chicago area.

  There was nothing else of interest, but I made a mental note to discuss how Marco knew the guy. Something had a distinct stench. Maybe there was more than one rat. Fantastic. A conspiracy theory had formed in my mind. I smirked at the thought. I’d risked enough time being on line and shut down the computer, sliding it onto the small bedside table. Leaning against the pillows, I went over the last few minutes of my father’s life yet again, searching my brain for any useful details.

  Someone had tipped off the assassins as to where our party would be and when. What I didn’t know for certain is whether my brother had been invited and declined. No way Jagger was behind this. He was too squeaky clean, at least in comparison to the rest of the family. Daniel? He wasn’t the brightest bulb, but he was loyal at least to a point, or had been to my father.

  There were a few other players, but none of them mentally capable of planning such a coup.

  My chest and shoulder ached like a son of a bitch, the pain exhausting. Too much physical activity. I rubbed my eyes before closing them, allowing my thoughts to drift to the night of ecstasy. She would fight me at any attempt, but I’d been allowed inside both her body and soul, if only for a short period of time. The wash of images was exciting, creating yet another hard on pulsing almost to the point of agony.

  “Please! I’ll be a good girl,” she mewled, struggling with her bindings.

  “I know you’ll be, my amazing Minx. You’re always going to be my good girl. Aren’t you?” I eased the leather strap down her spine, tapping both ass cheeks. She whimpered and arched her back, flexing her hands against the cold hard steel. “And I’m just the man to make certain you stay that way.”

  “Oh. Oh!”

  With a quick snap of my wrist, I sliced the strap across her bottom, my chest heaving as I watched her beautiful rounded ass jiggle from the force. I issued three more in succession, my cock pinching against my zipper until I was in agony. I was hungrier than usual, my needs increasing with every day I spent with her. And she was all mine. “We’re just beginning, you and I. And you will obey.”

  A haze formed around my eyes, but my keen senses were on full alert. Someone had entered the room. Rising from the moment of sheer ecstasy, I reached for my gun with one hand and with the other, I grabbed and yanked. “I wouldn’t try it!”

  “Gio. Stop! Please.”

  A growl erupted from my throat, a flow of hot air pulsing across Veridi’s face. I pulled her even closer, inhaling her fresh scent. “You should know better than to sneak up on a monster, Doctor. They tend to bite then ask question
s.”

  “I was checking on you as I said I would,” she hissed through clenched teeth, her entire body tense. She didn’t struggle but the single bead of perspiration trickling down the side of her face confirmed her continuing fear.

  “I’m just fine. How about you? Are your panties still damp, your pussy clenching from desire?”

  “How fucking dare you! You are a monster and a liar, and you’re my patient and that’s all you’re ever going to be.”

  I knew the grip had to be painful but as I tugged her even closer, she didn’t flinch a muscle. A tough girl. “I never lied to you about the kind of man I am.”

  “You simply forgot to tell me that you’re a murderer.”

  Chuckling, my engine was on overdrive. “I’m many things, Veridi, and that’s something you should already know intimately. As a matter of fact, you seemed to enjoy the dominating side of me.” I shot my gaze down the length of her. “How does your luscious bottom feel? Is it still difficult to sit comfortably?”

  “That was play, nothing more.” She wiggled in her clothing, her face flushing.

  “You mean when you were hanging in the darkness, awaiting my return, more than eager to obey my every command that you were only playing?”

  The utter disgust on her face was obvious, her chest heaving. But the blush covering her face was exquisite, delighting me in several ways. “You are horrible.”

  “Search inside yourself, sweet Minx and tell me that you didn’t let go, feeling more alive than you’ve ever felt in your entire life. Tell me that you don’t crave my firm hand or need unabashed discipline. Tell me.” I kept my voice as low and husky as possible.

  She was trembling, the slightest pants slipping from her pursed lips. Everything within her was fighting her true nature, battling to close the very box I’d ripped open. All her dark desires, all her hunger to submit were right there at the surface, but she would continue refusing her own needs.

  Until I possessed her body and soul.

  “You’re wrong. You don’t know me at all,” she managed after a full minute.

  “Continue lying to yourself for now, but there will come a day when you will never be able to hide the woman inside ever again.”

  A nervous laugh replaced her near moan.

  I’d learned many things in a short period of time. One, her desire was a formidable as mine. Two, the fear crawling through every muscle and cell in her body was a fire-starter. Three, nothing would keep me from tasting her again.

  I gripped her chin with my other hand, dragging her face closer to mine. The moment our lips touched, she let out a bedraggled moan, slapping her fist against my chest.

  “Mine.” I captured her mouth, very slowly parting her lips with my tongue. There was no surprise when she slid hers into my mouth first, tentatively darting the tip back and forth. Everything in her rational mind told her to run, but her body would forever betray her.

  The moment reeked of passion, poignant yet powerful, a telling of our extreme connection. I was lightheaded, almost laughing at the realization, prepared to drag her on top and forcing her to fuck me like a wild animal.

  My heart raced, leaving me breathless. I kept my fingers digging into her neck. Or so I thought. No longer able to feel my arm, a jolt of anguish rushed into my jaw, jetting down to my fingers. Suddenly, the lights dimmed and... And...

  White.

  Gray.

  Black.

  There was nothing but beeping sounds until her lovely voice...

  “Gio. Gio! Oh, shit! I need help in room four-twenty-two, stat! Stay with me, Gio. Come on, you can...”

  Chapter Seven

  Veridi

  The door opened, a splash of light from the bedroom shining in. I heard the hinges before the bathroom light was flipped on and sensed his presence behind me. I struggled with the bindings, trying to stretch the rope but it seemed to get tighter as I moved. The single whimper leaving my mouth was a telling statement. It wasn’t about fear but the mixture of anxiety and excitement for what he was going to do. “I thought you left me.”

  “Never, my sweet. I will always find you. I told you that,” Gio chuckled as he inched closer.

  I strained to see him, the man who’d awakened my every burning need. He had a wineglass in his hand, the bold red color reminding me of blood. I bit back a laugh, my mouth and throat so parched.

  “Are you thirsty?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Very good. You are learning.” He twirled the rope, enabling me to face him. “You deserve a treat since you’ve been very good.” Lifting the glass, he placed one hand behind my head, guiding me toward the wine. “Drink slowly.”

  I did as I was told, trying to savor the flavor as well as the liquid, but I was far too thirsty, gulping as much as I could.

  Gio pulled the glass away, lifting a single eyebrow. “That’s enough. There’s more later, after we conclude our session.”

  Session? I licked the remnants off my mouth, nodding as if I knew what he was talking about.

  He placed the glass on the counter, his moves exaggerated as if he wanted to make certain I paid attention to everything he was doing. When he fingered his belt, I shivered, knowing what was about to come.

  Punishment.

  “As I mentioned earlier, pleasure and pain. This time, pain first. If you are obedient then you can have everything else you desire.” There was a gleam in his eye as he unbuckled his belt, slowly sliding the long and thick leather strap from his belt loops. I couldn’t take my eyes off the action, my heart racing to the point I had to take deep breaths.

  “Yes, sir.” I wanted to be obedient for him. I wanted his mouth on my pussy and his cock buried deep inside. I would do almost anything.

  Gio folded the thick leather, tapping the end against his hand. “I’m going to give you twenty hard lashes.”

  “Yes... Yes, sir.”

  He smiled, running his finger around my lips then twisting my arms back in position until I could no longer see him. I was prepared for the pain, at least as much as I could be, but every muscle clenched in anticipation.

  I heard him inhale just seconds before the first strike was positioned across my buttocks. While I moaned, I didn’t feel any level of pain, only a slight stinging.

  “I love the marks you wear for me,” he said in a casual manner.

  This time, the whooshing sound filtered into my ears just before two well placed slaps hit on the rounded portion of my bottom. Warmth shifted into my system, flowing up my legs. The next two came very quickly and an explosion of anguish rattled my entire system, my mind reeling as the heat expanded, covering my bottom and even further.

  “Oh, fuck!” The exclamation flew out of my mouth.

  “Settle down,” he instructed, issuing four more.

  The pain became blinding, the force pushing me forward until the ropes creaked. The echo in the dense space seemed odd rattling my nerves. But every cell in my body was on fire, awakened from a deep slumber. The session continued, his even strikes across my buttocks and upper thighs exhilarating in a manner I couldn’t fathom. I knew my bottom was a bright red and I’d would wear his marks for some time and I wanted them. I craved them.

  “You’re doing so well. Only a few more, my sweet Minx.” His deep baritone swept over me, keeping me warm and safe, as if his discipline was a protection against the evils in the world.

  Crack!

  I adored the sound, the beautiful noise of the belt slapping against my ass. I could tell I was smiling even as the anguish increased.

  When he was finished, I lolled my head, taking several deep breaths. I was so alive, ready for anything. I was cognizant that he’d twisted me again, lifting my chin.

  “I’m very proud of you,” he whispered in a guttural manner, sending chills down every inch of my body. “Now, you deserve that treat I was talking about.”

  As he planted my feet once against on the side of the tub, lowering down to his knees, I closed my eyes. Everything a
bout this was perfect.

  “How’s the patient?”

  I jumped; Anna’s voice was a shocking interruption, yanking me out of the sinful moment. Fucking God, I was thinking about my full and ridiculous submission to a man I loathed and was forced to treat. “What? Fuck!”

  “I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you okay? You look flushed.”

  I tried to focus on what she was asking, exhaustion having taken over hours before. I was functioning on adrenaline and far too many cups of wretched, bitter coffee. “I’m fine. The patient?”

  “Yeah, the guy we have hidden away upstairs,” she whispered.

  I blinked several times, the images still floating in front of my eyes. “Oh... He’s better than he was this morning. He’ll live.”

  She sat down, tapping her finger on the cheap linoleum table. “Sounds like you’d prefer otherwise.” Her head tipped, her eyes narrowing.

  “I have my reasons.” What in the world was she looking at?

  “Interesting. I think you need to go home. You look... well, terrible.” Anna grinned. Reaching over, she slid the sleeve of my coat an inch further up my arm, a look of horror crossing her face. “What the hell?”

  “Oh, thanks. You’re a big help.” I slowly glanced down, easing back and trying to cover the rope burns, wanting to ignore her comment but she’d never let it go. I’d forgotten all about them in my haste to get dressed this morning. “They’re nothing. Really.” The entire experience flew by in the back of my mind, vibrant images of what he’d done to me.

  You mean of your full submission.

  As I shifted in the seat, the stinging on my bottom felt like the round of discipline had just occurred. The man had me rattled.

  “Uh-huh. Sure they are and I just tell it like it is.” Anna shook her head. “What happened over the weekend? I’m your best friend.”

  “They’re nothing. Seriously. And nothing happened.”

  “A whole lot of denial. Hey, I don’t care what you do in your personal life or in the privacy of your own home,” she said, giggling and holding up her hands. “And that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Go home I mean. Not kinky or... Well, you know. It’s been an exhausting day.”