Without me, he would be nothing. And still I didn’t matter.

  I could still hear him on the other side of a locked door as I lay curled up in an empty bathtub when I was fourteen years old. For three days, I was left there alone, covered in my own filth. You need to be stronger, boy.

  He didn’t call me son back then.

  “Move.” I spoke the word like a commandment, like an intonation.

  Like a prayer.

  He stopped, but he didn’t step aside. “Why have you broken all my trust? After I gave you so much?”

  “Move.”

  “I made you what you are. I gave you everything, Mack. I brought you into my life, into my family, and made you like my child. I molded you and loved you, and together we built so much, and now you want to leave me? You want to walk away from me?”

  “Move, Evgeni.” The words snapped from my tongue like knives. “Moved or get run down.”

  “You’d never hurt me. I know you better than you know yourself, Mack. Do you remember what I said to you when I first took you in? I said I’d give you another chance. I said I’d give you a new life.”

  I remembered that all too well. I remembered the smile, the extended hand. I needed that so badly right then—my mother was dead and still hanging in my mind and my father was a puddle of brains and blood on the floor.

  I needed Evgeni and he was all too willing to take advantage.

  “I was a little boy.” My chest heaved, my stomach boiled. My blood felt like fire.

  “And I gave you a home. I held you while you cried and cleaned your wounds when you were hurt.”

  “Those tears and those wounds were because of you.” I slammed my fist against the horn. Evgeni didn’t even flinch. “Move.”

  “I loved you, boy. I loved you and wanted so much for you. I thought we could rule this city together. Me on a throne and you as my right hand. You were always my best man, Mack. You were always my strongest gun. Get out of the truck and come back to me. Give me that shipment and return into my service. It’s not too late to repent.”

  I felt him punch my child body in the throat, in the stomach, in the jaw, in the nose. I felt him break my child arm and my child leg. I felt him starve away so much of my life and turn me into a black beast that did nothing but stalk the sidewalk in search of whatever prey he sent me after.

  My house was empty. My life was meaningless.

  Until Fiona.

  She came into my world and turned on all the lights.

  She made me realize I could be loved by someone, that I wasn’t doomed to exist solely for death and destruction, that I could be so much more.

  I could worship her. I could give her the world.

  Evgeni never wanted that for me. He needed me empty.

  Fiona only wanted me.

  I slammed my foot down on the gas.

  Evgeni looked surprised. It was the first time I’d ever seen him shocked.

  The expression was like sweet honey on my tongue.

  He tried to dive out of the way, but he was too slow. The truck clipped him hard, sent him tumbling. I heard his body bounce off the front, heard him scream in pain.

  Maybe he was dead. I didn’t know.

  It didn’t matter anymore.

  I was breaking free. Shattering the bonds that held me back.

  Now there was only Fiona. Wherever she was.

  She had to be okay.

  I crashed into the SUV, slamming it aside. I jolted forward and barely kept control as I swung out into traffic, the truck rolling up on two wheels. The smell of gasoline and burned tires wafted up into the air as I dropped back down and peeled out, flying fast away from the middle school, away from the slaughter, away from my past, away from the man that abused me and tore me into pieces and wanted me to be grateful for it.

  I hoped he was dead.

  24

  Fiona

  We took Connor to a safe house that Juan had right on the edge of Temple University’s campus. He parked out front of a beat-up row home.

  Next door, college kids sat on the stoop and smoked cigarettes and drank beer out of brown paper bags.

  “Don’t worry about them,” Juan said, waving to the young guys. They waved back awkwardly. “They don’t care about a damn thing so long as I never call the cops on them when they have loud parties.”

  “Do you live here?”

  “Sometimes, when I need a place to hide out. Mack knows where we’ll be.” Juan looked back at Connor. “You holding up okay?”

  “I think so.” Connor did seem better. More lucid at least, though still in bad shape.

  “Let’s get you inside.” I climbed out of the car and helped him struggle out of the back seat. The college kids watched impassively, flicking their ashes onto the sidewalk and slugging back their drinks. One of them kept quoting Anchorman, and the others laughed every time.

  Juan got the door open. The place smelled like it’d been empty for years, musky and a little cold. I put Connor down on an old brown couch and he sighed with what sounded like genuine pleasure. I put my hand on his forehead and he blinked at me rapidly.

  “How’d you do it?” he asked quietly.

  “I had a lot of help.”

  “Come on, that can’t be it. Did Dad help?”

  I clenched my jaw and shook my head. “Nobody in the Doyle family knows you’re still alive.”

  His eyes widened. “Really?”

  “It was always just me.”

  “Wow. I thought… I guess I assumed they’d try to blackmail more people, or that maybe you’d tell someone.”

  “I didn’t want them to hurt you.”

  “Right. They did anyway.” He closed his eyes.

  “I’m so sorry.” I felt tears in my throat.

  He opened his eyes again and smiled.

  “Don’t be. You saved me. That’s all that matters.”

  “Yeah, right, you’re right.”

  The sound of a car screaming to a stop outside yanked me up to my feet. Juan stood at the front window, gun out again, and started cursing in Spanish.

  I joined him.

  A big rental truck idled in the middle of the street and Mack stood next to it, grinning like a maniac.

  “I think that’s your ride,” I said.

  Juan looked at me, frowning. “You sure the kid’s okay?”

  “He’ll be okay.”

  “Look, about what happened in there, I tried to keep you safe, right? You’ll tell Mack that?”

  “I’ll tell him you did good.”

  He looked genuinely relieved. “Well, it was a lot of fun.”

  “Good luck with all your drugs.”

  “Thanks. Good luck with your psycho killer boyfriend and your brother, I guess.” He hurried away. I watched him exchange words with Mack, then he climbed into the cab and drove off.

  I walked to the front door.

  Mack stepped inside. He was splattered with blood all along his shoes and pantlegs.

  But he was whole and he was grinning.

  “You did it.”

  “Yeah, I did it.”

  Then I ran to him and threw my arms around him tight.

  He hugged me back and a rumble ground down in his throat.

  He smelled like heaven. Blood and musk and him. His arms felt so good wrapped around my body and for the first time in so long, I felt like I could finally touch him without worry.

  I smashed my lips against his and kissed him in a frenzy. His tongue lapped against mine and he held my hips so hard, I thought he might break me.

  I hoped he’d try, at least.

  We held that kiss, my head light and wild, until Connor cleared his throat.

  I broke it off and blushed. “Uh, Mack, this is my brother, Connor.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Mack said.

  “You too. I guess you’re the one that helped save me?”

  He nodded. “Your sister did all the hard work though.”

  I leaned against Mack’s chest and closed my eyes. I wanted to enjoy this for a few seconds before I asked the question I’d been wondering since I got Connor out of that house.

  “What now?”

  Mack chuckled. “Now we get the hell out of this city.” He paused. “I killed a lot of men today. And I think I ran over Evgeni.”

  I pulled back. “You ran over Evgeni?”

  “Maybe. I’m not sure.”

  “How aren’t you sure?”

  “It’s hard to see out the windows of that truck. I should’ve warned Juan, but he’ll be okay.” He touched my cheek and kissed me gently. “You’re all mine now, little princess.”

  Connor cleared his throat again. “Sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt, but what do you mean, you killed a lot of men today?”

  Mack didn’t look at him. It was like he couldn’t take his eyes off me.

  “Connor, I’m going to offer you a choice. It’s more than I was ever offered.”

  “Uh, okay.” Connor sat up on the couch.

  “It’s okay, you can trust him.” I tried on my best smile and realized it still fit.

  “You can stay here and return to your family, but be aware that your father is dead and I recently killed about fifteen of your cousins and uncles.”

  “Holy shit,” I said, slapping his chest. “Fifteen?”

  “I think. Maybe more. I didn’t count.” He gently waved me off. “Don’t distract me.”

  “Sorry. Wow. Fifteen. I should be upset, but I’m pretty sick of those assholes.”

  “Okay, I’m sort of freaking out here.” Connor tried to stand.

  Mack peeled himself away from me with difficulty and approached him. “Your family will be in shambles. So will the Lionettis. My family, the Morozovs, will step in, assuming they don’t fall upon each other like wolves trying to take over Evgeni’s position, which is possible. This city will be very dangerous for a long time, no matter what. I am offering you a choice.”

  “Right. A choice.” Connor looked dazed again. “I thought I was safe now.”

  “You’ll never be safe. You’re a mafia man.” Mack tilted his head. “Unless you take some money from me and leave this place forever.”

  Connor blinked. “Huh?”

  “Your choices are simple. Stay here, return to your life, and never speak of me and your sister again. Or take a large sum of money and go live a normal life somewhere far away from all this madness. I hear Seattle can be nice.”

  “Seattle,” he echoed.

  “Trust him, Connor. He’s serious.”

  Connor frowned at me, stared at Mack, then slumped back against the couch. “Well, shit. I guess Seattle can’t be worse than that basement.”

  I felt a swelling excitement in my heart. “That’s the right choice.”

  He smiled at me weakly.

  “Now we have to leave. I have a car nearby. Can you walk?”

  Connor nodded and struggled to his feet. Mack caught him before he could topple over again. “I can walk-ish.”

  “I’ll help you.” Mack moved him around the table and toward the door. He paused to look at me with eyes that literally smoldered. “And as for you, little princess, I’ll help you later.”

  I turned bright red. “Not in front of my brother.”

  “Seriously. Not in front of me.”

  Mack only grunted and got Connor outside. He had a truck parked halfway down the block. Connor sat slumped in the back seat against the window and I sat in the passenger side. I grabbed Mack’s hand as he turned the key and the engine roared to life.

  He looked at me with so much devotion in his eyes.

  “I love you,” I said and leaned across the seat to kiss him.

  He grabbed my hair and pulled me against his lips. I melted into it, and realized that I could taste this as much as I wanted for as long as I wanted from now until forever.

  We broke apart. “I love you too, little princess. Now, where do you want to go?”

  “Let’s take Connor to Seattle, get him set up, and then after that? I think you promised me somewhere warm.”

  Mack grinned savagely. “Sounds like a plan.”

  He put the truck into gear and we left the city.

  25

  Fiona

  One Year Later

  Cool wind whipped through my hair as I leaned against the balcony and stared out at the ocean. The sunrise glittered red off the waves and I breathed the salt air deep into my lungs. I hugged myself and stared at the rhythmic water beating against the sand, and didn’t turn when I heard the door slide open behind me.

  “You’re always up so early.” Mack joined me at the railing.

  “Can’t help it. I keep wondering when this’ll all go away.”

  “When you decide it’s time for us to move on.”

  I leaned my head on his shoulder. We’d been in Mexico living in a small ocean town for the past three months. He bought a beautiful house in cash from a very shady American guy that seemed more than happy to let it go for a good price.

  From what I could tell, the cartel wasn’t too happy with him.

  But fortunately, we knew someone on the inside, and they didn’t bother us.

  “I don’t know. I’m tempted to put down roots.”

  He chuckled and nuzzled my neck. The warm spot between my legs ached from the night before, and the night before that, and the night before that, and he still was insatiable, like I was a feast and he hadn’t eaten in years and years.

  It was like we had both been emotionally stunted and broken, but now we were whole and the floodgates were open.

  “It’s a big world. How much of it have you seen?”

  “None, honestly.”

  “Then let’s travel for a while.”

  I turned my head and kissed him softly. “You’re so convincing.”

  “I don’t care where we are, little princess, so long as I get to please you.”

  “What a man.” I laughed and took his hand between mine. “Can you promise me something?”

  “Of course.”

  I stared into his eyes and he looked like a stallion with that thick hair and those dark brows and his full incredible lips. I wanted him to pin me up against the balcony and fuck me wildly until everyone within a thousand miles could hear my cries of pleasure—

  But I had to take care of business first.

  “Make sure Connor’s taken care of.”

  “Done. What else?”

  “I mean it, Mack.”

  “His house is paid for and I know people in the city. I’ll make sure they check in on him, make sure he’s safe.”

  I nodded and let out a breath. “And money.”

  “And money. But not too much. You don’t want him to become spoiled.”

  “Whatever you think is best.”

  He kissed my neck. “What else?”

  “I’ve been wondering something.” I chewed my lip. “About, you know, a family.”

  “You really are thinking about setting down roots.”

  “Don’t tease me.”

  “I’m not.” He pulled back and his eyes were filled with desire. “You want to have my children? You mean that?”

  I looked away, blushing slightly. “We never talked about it, I know, it’s just I always imagined having children and since I love you—”

  “Of course I want to get you pregnant. I want to have as many babies as you want.” He pulled me tighter against him. “Only I thought you wouldn’t want that. You wouldn’t want children— like me—”

  I touched his cheek. “What Evgeni did to you, you’d never do to our babies.”

  “No. Never.”

  “Then give me a family. When you’re ready.”

  “I’m ready right now.”

  I laughed as he lifted me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist. His fingers gripped my ass and kept me up in the air.

  “Easy, easy. I need one last thing.”

  He growled and carried me inside. The room was airy and light with a big four-poster bed and handmade wooden furniture. He tossed me down onto our plush mattress and loomed over me. “Stay there.”

  “Where are you going?”

  He disappeared out the main door and into the hallway. I watched him go, frowning, but he returned a minute later.

  “I’ve been keeping this hidden since the day we got into Seattle.”

  “Keeping what hidden?”

  He dropped to his knees in front of me, spread my legs—

  And held out a massive diamond ring. “Marry me.”

  My eyes went wide. “Holy shit.”

  He smirked. “Yes, I know. I hope it isn’t too much.”

  “No, holy crap.” Tears flooded my eyes and the rock broke into a thousand pieces as I blinked them away. “How did you know?”

  “I know you, princess.” He slipped the ring on my finger. “Well? You’ll be my wife?”

  “Of course I will.”

  He pinned me to the bed and kissed me, and I wrapped my legs around his hips, and all thoughts of travel, or children, or the future disappeared, because none of it mattered.

  I had my Mack, my man, my monster.

  I had more than I ever planned for.

  And I wasn’t going to let it go for anything.

  He kissed me, bit my lower lip, and made my back arch as the sun rose and the wind blew in through the open sliding glass door, filling the room with the smell of sand and ocean spray.

  * * *

  If you want more steamy suspense, read the mafia books that started it all! Obsessed with His Bride begins the story of the Leone Crime Family. Dante meets his match in Aida, though she resists his intense charms at first. But when a war breaks out, Aida must give in to her desire or end up dead. I’ll kill to keep her. I’ll do much worse to make her my bride. >> Click Here to read it!

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