Lawless: An MM Mafia Romance, page 1
LAWLESS
RUTHLESS DADDIES 2
A.W. SCOTT
CONTENTS
Warning and Triggers
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Five
Epilogue One
Epilogue Two
Ruthless Daddies 2 Series
About the Author
Lawless Copyright © 2023 A.W. Scott
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, copied, or stored in any form or by any means without the prior written permission from the author. Exception for the use of brief quotation in a review. This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, events, brands, companies, and places are used fictionally.
This book contains material suitable only for mature readers.
Cover Artist: Charli Childs
Editing: Owl Eyes Proofs & Edits
Formatter: Brea Alepoú
WARNING AND TRIGGERS
Warnings & Tropes:
Homophobia
Attempted Sexual Assault (side character)
Murder/Torture shown in detail
PROLOGUE
PREACHER
I'm seated low in my car, watching the building closely. The last group of Daddies and Boys went in a while ago.
Part of me would love to get out of the vehicle and go inside with them. I would love to see up close and personal how all the different dynamics worked.
I'd been curious for a long time about what they did behind those walls. And sure, I could hack into the video security feeds I know Charlie had installed through NightShade. I could watch them play and be a part of it in my own way.
But even my voyeuristic tendencies have limits. Even I know that some things really shouldn't be done.
Instead, I wallow in my own feelings as memories flood my mind. Thoughts of the only person I've ever cared for came back in flashes, stealing my breath, and breaking my heart a little more with each image.
It's an unfortunate part of having a memory like mine. I can see it all crystal clear, as if it's happening in real time. As if no time has passed at all.
My cell chimed, drawing me from my darkening thoughts. I look down to see Tank's name flashing across the screen.
As the owner of NightShade Security, it's rare that he ever needs me. Not when he's got an entire team of men dedicated to bending to his will. Though ever since he teamed up with Club Deny to run their security, he's more spread than he was before.
Of course, that's how Tank likes it. The man doesn't have a monopoly, necessarily, but does love to have his finger in a bit of everything. I wouldn't be surprised if he bought a casino at some point soon. I think gambling is the only area he hasn't waded into.
I answered the phone gruffly. "This is Preacher."
"We found him."
The words were a slap in the face. I didn't have to ask him who he meant. There was only one project I'd ever asked Tank to complete for me. Only one favor I'd ever called in.
"Where?"
He sighed, as if the weight of what he was about to tell me was too much. I kept quiet. My patience would outlast his. We'd gone enough rounds in the past to know that which is why he doesn't make me wait too long before answering.
"He's here, Preacher."
Fuck.
"What do you mean he's here? How could we have missed him?"
I didn't have to be in his office to know Tank was likely pacing the floor. He was probably rubbing the bridge of his nose and regretting the day he agreed to look into this for me.
That's what happens when you trade in favors. Tank owed me several, though most were not worth much. I told him I'd wipe his slate clean and do a bit of free work for him if he did this one thing for more.
He couldn't resist odds that good.
This job was the only thing I wanted. The only thing I couldn't find the answer to on my own. My computer skills were good, but not as good as Memphis's. NightShade's I.T. boy genius could pull up information and hack into systems I didn't even know existed.
Speaking of which, Tank answered me with a frustration that matched my own. "We have no idea how long he's been here or how he got into the city. We've been watching every fucking plane and train through the city. Hell, there was even a watch for his plates. There's more to this, Preacher. There's stuff you need to know before you make a move to go to him."
Anger welled inside of me.
"Don't you dare try to keep him from me," I ground out.
"I wouldn't dare. That's not what I'm talking about. What I'm trying to explain to you is maybe the person you knew might not be the man you find now. Time has changed him. It's hardened him."
I heard his words.
I chose to ignore them.
It didn't matter how much time had passed. None of it would.
So long as it was him, then everything would be fine.
"Have Memphis send me the information. I'll decide how to handle it."
"Just promise me you'll give me a heads up before you go in with guns blazing," Tank requested. "I'd hate to lose you just when I think we're starting to become friends."
I shook my head as I turned the ignition.
"Friends have to see each other for more than just a round of poker and a beer once every few weeks."
Tank chuckled. "I'm pretty sure that's actually the definition of male friendship. But sure, why not? Come have dinner with me and some of the guys. We'll talk out your issues and give you more details."
I didn't want to talk it out. I didn't want to have dinner with him or any of the other NightShade team members.
All I wanted was an address. I wanted the information that would lead me to the one person I'd spent way too many years looking for.
When I didn't answer, Tank pressed further. "One meal, Preacher. Give me one meal to talk this out with you and create a plan. I'll have your back, just like you've had mine. And if you don't want my help, I'll let you go handle this all on your own."
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, knowing there was only one way to get what I wanted. This man had me by the balls — quite literally. He knew I would do anything for the information he had.
"Fine, Tank. One dinner. That's it. Then you give me what I want."
"You've got a deal."
CHAPTER ONE
DANTE
Seven years old
"I don't want to go to no new school," I growled as I crossed my arms over my chest. I was a small kid, my body growing faster than I could feed it. The movement made me look even smaller, though I didn't care at that moment.
Father had retrieved me and Mamma three days ago, claiming he needed a new wife. His old one was dead.
That's it. That's all he said as he stood at our front door in the middle of the night while his men cleared out the one-bedroom apartment we lived in.
I might have been a kid, but I wasn't stupid. Mamma never spoke of the man who helped make me. Anytime I had asked questions, she would change the subject and tell me to worry about other things like homework or what to eat for dinner.
It wasn't until he stood at our door that I realized the reason.
Giancarlo Romano was a brute. He held himself to no rules, and loyalty could only be shown through blood.
"You will get out of this car, and you will go to school, young man. Or so help me, I will call your father out here and have him deal with you." My new nanny, Ms. Ricci, was as tough as my father. She had proven so over the last two days with her punishments.
The first day at our new home, a big castle looking place that creeped me out, I spent the day in my bedroom. I didn't want to see anyone or do anything. It all felt like a horrible nightmare.
Mamma never even came to tuck me in. She was too busy keeping my father content so he wouldn't pay me any mind.
It was Ms. Ricci who showed up with plates of food and who told me how things would be from then on. She let me know that I had to obey my father's rules no matter what. She called me his heir, claiming I'd be thankful one day for the things he'd given me.
Three days in and I wasn't thankful for much.
I yanked the door of the car open and climbed out. Ms. Ricci exited from her side, then walked me to the front office. Since we had to move, I was put into an all-new school on the other side of the city from my old one. This one looked less colorful than my old school and the way everyone didn't smile only added to how scary it all was.
"I'll leave you to it. Your father will be picking you up today. He will want to know all about your day, including any new alliances you form." With that confusing speech, Ms. Ricci finally let me be.
I took my first deep breath and turned to the lady behind the desk. "You're going to be ok, kid. Just need to toughen up a bit. Especiall
Yeah, it was tough luck. That seemed to be how my new life would go.
My teacher, Mrs. Springer, was nice enough, but I could tell she feared my last name. Her movements were jerky and careful, like I was made of glass. It was the same way I held the plates when Mamma would make me wash them. I always worried I'd drop them, then we wouldn't have anything to eat on anymore.
Most of the day, I ignored everyone around me. They weren't going to be able to help me, and a few of them looked as rough as my father.
At recess, I sat on the grass under a tree off to the side of the main play area. I was out of sight of Mrs. Springer and finally felt like I could relax.
That was up until a group of kids came over to me. The four boys made a circle around me blocking me into my spot.
"Yo, Romano," the biggest of the group said to me.
I looked over at him. His name was something hard to say. I'd never heard anything like it.
"Yeah? That's me."
"There's rules here. You need to learn who the boss is around these parts." The way he spoke reminded me of a show Mamma used to watch late at night when she thought I was sleeping. It was filled with cowboys who sometimes did bad things to protect their family. I didn't understand it, but Mamma loved watching it.
Confused at his words, I asked, "I don't know about any rules. Will you tell them to me?"
The smile he gave me was the only warning I got before a fist hit my face. I fell back onto the dirt, the pain so strong I nearly said the bad words Mamma sometimes let out.
"That's rule number one. And he's rule two." His foot came down on my stomach. More pain moved through me.
The others with him joined in. I couldn't breathe, couldn't scream for help. All I could do was wait until they had their fun.
"Enough!" A voice said. It sounded more like a roar, but that was probably from all the hitting and kicking they did. It felt like I was in a tunnel, like all the sound and color was muted.
There were more words said, then through blurry eyes, I watched as the new boy fought off all four of them by himself. He was big for our age. I couldn't tell much else because my eyes kept closing.
I hoped that when I woke up, this would all be a dirty, rotten dream. My father showing up, the Nanny, my new school — all of it.
I wasn't so lucky.
When I woke up, it was to find my father's face leaning over my own. "Sei una vergogna," he whispered.
I knew enough Italian to know what he'd said. You are a disgrace. I wanted to cry, but that would only make it worse. I didn't need any more trouble.
"Is he going to be ok?" A voice on my other side asked.
I turned my head slowly to find an unfamiliar face. But wait... I did know him. He was the one who saved me.
"You?" I asked.
"This is the boy who had to come save you. Your enemies are great here, Dante. It seems you cannot be without guards. I will make the arrangement." My father stomped off before I could reply.
I tried to look around the room, but my head hurt too much. "Where am I? What happened?"
"Well, after Ivan and his idiot friends tried to beat you up, I showed them all it wasn't fun to be on the other side. Mama calls it an ass-whooping, but I’m not really supposed to say it. Don't tell anyone, ok?"
Something about keeping a secret for him made me feel good. It made it feel like we had something we could share, just him and me.
"I promise I won't. What happened next?"
The boy shrugged, then leaned closer to look me over. "After that, Mrs. Springer came running over screaming for me to stop. I did once all the others were knocked out. Then we called for an ambulance because you weren't really breathing well. I asked to go to the hospital so I could keep you safe, and then your dad showed up."
"They just let you leave school like that?" That didn't seem right. Not unless he was also powerful in some way.
"Yeah. I told them I witnessed everything and that your dad would probably want to hear it from me." He gave me a grin that told me he knew how to get in and out of trouble anytime he wanted.
I used to know a kid like him at my old school. He was always in the principal's office, but he never got suspended or anything. They called him a vigilante, whatever that means. Mamma said it was like Robin Hood, except instead of stealing money for the poor, the boy was helping people who couldn't help themselves.
"Thank you," I said after he admitted what happened.
"For what? Saving you? It was nothing. Ivan and the idiots think they're hot stuff just because his uncle is low-level mafia. It's nothing like your dad, though. That's probably why they attacked you."
Everything he said sounded like something out of a movie. I didn't know how he knew everything he did. I just wanted him to keep talking, to tell me more. His voice made me feel good and helped me forget about the pain.
"What's your name?"
He smiled. "Me? I'm Lloyd Farrell. And you're Dante Romano."
"I am," I replied. "Would you like to be my friend now?"
Lloyd laughed at my question, though I knew he wasn't laughing at me as much as he was the goofy smile I wore.
"Absolutely. Someone needs to look out for you. Plus, your dad said he would talk to my mom about some stuff. I bet they're trying to figure out a schedule for us to hang out and stuff. Mama has tried to do that with other kids, but they're not as cool as you."
Turned out, a few days later we'd do more than hang out. My father saw something in Lloyd that made him decide he was worth keeping around. He hired his mother to work in the castle-house and moved both of them in.
Little did we all know that it would be the start of everything. Lloyd would become the most important person in my world.
CHAPTER TWO
PREACHER
Thirteen years old
"You've got to wait for the second click to know you've gotten it," Dante told me. I nodded as I reset the lock to try again.
We were practicing our lock picking skills in the back of his father's mansion. This area was once a place where men trained under the eye of the Cosa Nostra. As times changed and the army of men under Mr. Romano grew, the space no longer worked. They had several large buildings around town setup to be training facilities, one of which was actually a gym. We're only allowed to go to that one because it was open to the public.
That didn't matter at the moment though because my mind was focused on my task. With Dante breathing down my neck to get it done before the timer went off, I was focused on making sure I felt every inch of the lock. I didn't want to let him down. I couldn't.
Dante might have been the one who needed saving originally, but he saved me too. His father got me and my mom out of our crappy one-bedroom apartment a us to this mega house. The move gave Mom better work and it let me live with my best friend.
So, what if his dad is a bad guy? Most people in the world are. They just hide it better.
Mr. Romano once told me that people who hid their ugly were worse than the ones who made it known to others what they truly were. He claimed the biggest betrayal was in the deception, not the darkness itself.
I embraced the same ideas nowadays. Even at only thirteen years old, I knew what I was getting myself into by aligning with Dante's family. I would have to be part of the dark with him.
There was no place I'd rather be. Wherever Dante went, I'd go too. We were ride or die like that.
And in this business, there was loads of death. Like how Dante might strangle me if I didn't get this fucking lock done in the next ten seconds.
