Mafia Beasts: The Complete Series, page 6
“Very good. May I leave now to fetch your books and undergarments?”
I stepped aside, letting her pass, and got a brief glimpse of the empty hallway before she closed and locked the door.
Again for several hours, I was alone. I nibbled at the turkey, lettuce, tomato, and avocado sandwich and sipped the tea while worrying about my brother. Had he made it to his friend’s house okay? These bastards weren’t tricking me and keeping us both, were they? How did I know for sure he wasn’t locked in the dungeon? I’d signed that contract, but I didn’t trust the bosses—the lords—one bit.
By the time Maeve returned, I was alternately pacing and picking at the drapes. I sat on the bed, only to jump up and gaze out the window as my breath fogged the frigid glass.
“Here are the books.” Maeve set two hardbound volumes on the nightstand. “Undergarments will be here tomorrow. Also, the bosses will have you join them for dinner tonight. You’d best get ready.”
Dinner with the bosses? A chill broke out over my skin, and I shuddered. I was eager to get out of this room, if only for an hour or so, but would tonight be only dinner or would Zane expect to drink from me? Maybe I was dinner.
“I’m not going.” I folded my arms.
Maeve’s eyes widened. “You must, miss. Otherwise, you’ll anger them.”
“Well, they can come here and drag me out if they want to, but I refuse to go willingly.”
“Miss,” she licked her lips, “please give them a chance. They may be difficult, but they’re not all bad.”
I guffawed. “They’re crime lords! Scum of this earth as far as I’m concerned.” Well, maybe a step up from the hunters and slimy politicians, but that wasn’t saying much.
“Very well. I will let them know.” With a frown, she slipped out the door.
I was peacefully reading on the bed when the door unbolted and slammed open. A very annoyed looking werewolf strode in and glowered. I sat up straighter, refusing to be intimidated.
“You will come to dinner with us. Now.” He laced his tone with authority. Power radiated from his being.
“No.”
Lucas took a moment to consider me. “You don’t have a choice.”
“Actually, I do, and I’ve already made my decision.”
He growled. “Don’t push me, woman.”
“Or what? You’re going to starve me? Punish me?” I’d been through so many ups and downs while on the run. We’d gone weeks without me having a job. We’d survived in the gutters before I got smarter and began to understand how the world worked. How to appear to be a desirable employee, how to rent an apartment, and how to steal and scrape by when that was our only option. These criminals could do their worst.
“Punish you?” His eyes lit with a yellowish gleam. “At this point, that would be my pleasure. Get up. Now.”
“I already told you no. Now, fuck off.” I moved to continue reading the book.
In the next second, Lucas was on me. He scooped me up and tossed me over his shoulder, pinning my legs to his chest. I shrieked and pummeled his back.
“Put me down, you asshole!”
A low rumble vibrated in his chest. “You want to act like a bratty child, then I’ll treat you like one.” He carried me down the hallway to a door at the end. Unceremoniously, he dumped me into a chair at the dining table.
I huffed, blowing hair out of my face, and straightened my spine. I might have been carried in here barefoot and dressed in this clingy gown, but I’d be damned before I cowered in their presence.
“Shall we dine?” Lucas asked, taking his own seat.
Zane sat directly across from me, with Cade and Lucas at either end of the table. The vampire exchanged a glance with the Fae, then he lifted a brow at Lucas. The wolf shrugged. I shot him a glare.
Dinner was not in any formal dining room, but in a smaller space where my only company was the bosses. The meal had been laid out on the table and we served ourselves in strained silence.
The scarred Fae dug into his meal without so much as a glance at the rest of us. Zane picked at his food and took sips from a glass of thick, cherry-colored liquid. Maybe I wouldn’t be his meal tonight. His dark eyes barely left my face as I tried to swallow past the lump in my throat. Lucas's forkfuls were punctuated by quiet growls.
After a decadent dinner of roast meat, vegetables, and melt-in-your mouth bread rolls that I would have enjoyed anywhere else, Zane fetched slices of chocolate cheesecake from the sideboard. My stomach was still twisted in a knot, but I didn’t dare refuse when he set a plate in front of me. Delicious food was my weakness. I hadn’t completely realized that until now.
I stared down at the sliver of creamy dessert. Using the tiny fork, I placed a chunk in my mouth. The rich, creamy chocolate exploded across my tastebuds. My eyelids closed and a soft moan escaped my throat. I swallowed it down with a sigh.
When I opened my eyes, three hungry gazes were locked on my face. Uh-oh. Tense silence hung in the air. No one moved.
I couldn’t stand the suspense a moment longer. “What are you looking at?” I snapped, glancing in turn at the three of them. Lucas unwaveringly held my gaze, Cade scowled, and Zane rubbed his thumb across his bottom lip. I wanted to take that lip between my teeth and—Nope. I definitely did not want to do that. I pinched myself, returning to reality.
“Where are you from, Emma?” the vampire asked.
“All over.” I dodged the question. “What does the Penumbra Syndicate do? Is this Eclipse group your rival?” Why was I pushing into their business? For knowledge. I needed to understand who I was dealing with.
I blinked, and suddenly Zane stood over me. He leaned down, his dreadlocks curtaining his beautiful face. “Are you truly curious about us?” he asked. “Have you not heard of us before? I thought everyone in the area at least knew of our existence. We used to rule all of Seattle.”
“Used to? What, did the other gangsters kick you out?” My tone was probably a touch lighter than it should have been.
“Would that be funny to you?” Zane wrapped his fingers around my neck and tilted my head to one side. My breath hitched. I held onto the sides of the chair, terrified to move. Vampires were quick. I was no match for him. He leaned in and grazed his fangs down my neck. My body shuddered in response—but not entirely from fear. His tongue flicked along the path his teeth had traveled and I gasped. “Mmm. You taste better than any dessert.”
His hold on me was ripped away. Lucas stood in Zane’s place, gazing down at me. His eyes shone with that golden wolf’s light in his grim face. He checked my neck then turned to face the vampire.
“I told you not to touch her!” Lucas said with a snarl.
Zane bared his fangs. “She doesn’t belong solely to you. And you don’t give me orders.”
Lucas began to morph, but not in a way I’d ever seen a wolf shifter transform. Usually, they started as a man and became a large wolf. Lucas stayed upright, but his fingers grew claws, and his already muscular frame became burlier. It looked like some kind of half-form—which werewolves didn’t have. Unless maybe they were really powerful?
I was so confused.
Lucas snapped his teeth at Zane. They circled each other in the small space. Were they going to fight? Over me? I thought they were friends, or at least business partners.
I shot a glance at Cade. The Fae stared back, seeming to ignore his two aggressive companions. His stormy grey eyes made me shiver. He always looked at me with a challenge in his gaze, but I didn’t know why. Did he expect me to recoil from his scar-streaked face? Was he trying to scare me? Either way, his challenge was in vain. He hadn’t seen me naked.
They might think they were getting a prize keeping me here, but they’d soon be disappointed. My skin was anything but flawless, just less immediately visible than Cade’s face. There was a reason I only had sex in complete darkness, clothed if I could manage it.
I returned my attention to the wolf and vampire. Zane lunged, striking quickly at Lucas, who swiped in return with those deadly claws. The vampire landed a solid punch to his opponent’s jaw, but he wasn’t fast enough with his retreat. Four jagged slashes bloomed red across his chest.
Lucas wasted no time and barreled into the vamp. They both went down hard on the rug-covered wooden floor, wrestling for dominance. Grunts, snarls, and hisses filled the room. They crashed against the table legs, making the surface wobble. I leapt out of my chair, standing behind it to use it as a shield.
They rolled into the legs a second time and the wood splintered. Dishes slid to the floor with a crash. Leftover food splattered the rug, and the tablecloth twisted around Lucas's legs. He shredded it to free himself. Zane took the momentary distraction to gain the upper hand.
Blood mingled with mushed food as they continued to fight. I gaped in horror. They were animals.
“Enough!” Cade stood. When they didn’t obey him, he flung an orb of silver magic at them. It collided with their bodies, and they went rigid, faces contorted in pain. A moment later, they broke apart with groans and curses. He turned his glare on me. “You are not going to sow discord between us.”
I sputtered, as if this were my fault! I glared back at the scary Fae, my stomach in my throat, but I was wise enough not to say anything. Besides, I didn’t have to speak. He knew my emotions.
“Go back to your room,” he said.
Good call. I darted out of there as quickly as I could. Along the hall, I found my door and gratefully slammed it behind me. There was no lock on the inside, so I placed my back to the door and leaned against it.
Monsters. Zane was the only one of them who had appeared civil, but after tonight, I knew better. They weren’t men, they were beasts. Uncouth, violent, and foul-tempered.
I’d be lucky to make it a week alive.
My mind raced, trying to take in my situation. I couldn’t run. Could I? They’d hunt me down—Lucas had already promised to do so.
Reality hit me like a wrecking ball. My life was forfeit to these three monsters unless I did something about it.
I drew in a ragged breath. I had two option—stay and endure their ruthlessness until one of them killed me, or take a chance on escaping. If I had enough of a head start, maybe I could leave town before they caught up with me. They’d done me a favor removing that diamond ring with the tracking spell. I was free of Garrett. My door was unlocked, and the brutes were busy fighting each other. Now was the time to leave.
Jolting into action, I shoved my feet into my rain boots. I grabbed the warm, fur-lined cloak from the wardrobe, then darted to the bed. Throwing back the blankets, I shoved two pillows where my body would lie and pulled the comforter all the way up to the headboard. To anyone peeking in here, it would appear I was asleep. Hopefully, they’d lock the door, and no one would return until breakfast time.
My wand. I really needed it, but I had no idea where they’d hidden it and no time to waste.
I extinguished the lights and headed for the door. Was I willing to risk getting lost and dying in the wilderness? Absolutely. I may have signed that contract, but this was not what I’d agreed to. They could shove it.
I silently opened the door and glanced into the hallway. My gaze fell on pitch blackness. Someone had turned off the lights. I blinked, willing my eyes to adjust, but it was useless.
From earlier, I knew the room I’d dined in was to my right, at the end of the hall. Left was the way out.
I stepped forward only to trip over a solid chunk of nothingness and crash into the opposite wall. I reached out to break my fall, but my hands landed at the same time as my face. Pain exploded behind my left eye. Ignoring it, I scrambled to a sitting position, my back to the wall.
A growl sounded in front of me, and I stilled. Hot breath warmed my face, followed by the sensation of sharp teeth grazing my shoulder. My body acted on its own. I stood and suddenly I was running. The unmistakable thud of giant paws galloping behind me only made my legs pump faster. I was blinded in the darkness, being chased by a fucking wolf, but all I could think of was to keep going. Run, run, run!
10
LUCAS
As soon as Emma leapt up and sprinted down the hall, my primal instincts kicked in. Chase. I bounded after her, using my sense of smell and hearing to track her in the absolute blackness. She rounded a corner and entered the main hallway. Up ahead, a faint glow of light beamed in at an angle above the staircase. I caught up with her as she began to descend, but she sprinted down the steps quicker than I expected.
My body coiled then released as I made the jump to the landing below Emma. I crashed into the banister, hardly feeling it, and turned to face my mate. She was already speeding back up the stairs now that I’d cut off her escape.
With a delighted snarl, I chased after her. This was one of the best games I could ever imagine playing with my mate. My blood rushed. Adrenaline filled by body. Soon, I’d have her cornered and she’d have to surrender to me.
Emma wasn’t as quick climbing up the staircase. With a well-timed leap as she reached the wide hallway, I tackled her to the floor. She shrieked as we went down together. She spun under me, and I pinned her with my wolf body so we were face-to-face.
She thrashed, trying to escape, until I growled a warning. Her small form stilled except for the rapid rise and fall of her chest. Terror-filled eyes met mine. Her lips parted as she panted for air.
I nuzzled her neck, taking in her sweet scent mingled with fright. My prey was captured. My mate subdued.
Another instinct had me opening my jaw and enveloping her long, sensual neck between my teeth. The gesture was one of dominance, and power.
Her breath hitched and caught; her body taut under mine. I slowly drew back, nipped at her chin, and soothed the gentle bite with a lick. Her eyelids were squeezed shut and she continued to hold her breath. Still, she was beautiful.
I ran my nose down the side of her neck to where it met her shoulder. The cloak’s clasp had come undone, and it lay open beneath her, bearing her to me. It would be so easy to sink my canines into her and claim my mate. I was in position. My wolf urged me on. Mate. Claim.
Snarling, I pulled back.
Bone-cracking pain erupted as I forced a shift back to human form. My wolf howled at the loss for control, but I couldn’t give him what he wanted. Not yet. She had to choose me, or the curse would remain intact—at least that was my understanding.
In human form, I lay stretched out on top of Emma, completely naked, my erection pressed against her stomach. She remained motionless, drawing in shallow breaths. Fuck. She wasn’t any less tempting for me in this form.
Taking a handful of her hair and twisting it in my fist, I held her as I rocked my hips. Her eyelids flew open, and she gasped.
Her throat moved with a hard swallow. “L-Lucas?”
That was right, she’d never seen me in my full wolf form before. She had no idea who was chasing her, though I bet she could have guessed correctly. There was no mistaking I was a wolf.
She brought a knee up, trying to get me in the balls. I straddled her, using more of my weight to secure her legs. With a grunt, she swung at my face. I clasped both her wrists in my free hand and pinned them over her head. My grip tightened in her hair, making her eyes water.
She wanted me off of her, but her violence only made me want to subdue her further. A zing of excitement and yearning raced up my spine. I moved against her again, the friction delicious. Her face contorted in pain; I could easily turn that to pleasure. A guttural moan escaped my throat.
I was failing—miserably, extraordinarily—in my resolve to resist her. I was supposed to be protecting her from me and the others, giving her time to get to know us and choose. Fuck me. All I wanted to do was order her to spread her legs, to bury my cock in her warmth.
Three piercing claps jolted me out of my inner struggle. I smelled Zane before I saw him step out from the shadows.
His laugh was laced with triumph. “My point, I believe, has just been proven.”
I released Emma’s hair and glared up at him. He was fucking right. I couldn’t control my beast for any length of time. As much as I hated to admit it, I was moments away from marking Emma and claiming her fully. If Zane hadn’t chosen that second to interrupt…
The gloating vampire approached, holding his hand out. “Come with me, sweetheart.”
Her wide-eyed gaze tore away from me to Zane. I eased my weight off her. She took the vamp’s hand, and he dragged her out from under me before lifting her to her feet.
“That’s certainly enough excitement for one night. Let’s get you back to bed, sweetness.” Zane wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he steered them toward her room. A jealous growl rumbled in my chest.
Emma glanced back at me. Holding her gaze, I stood. Pinkness spread through her creamy cheeks as she briefly took in my body. Zane swept her away and they disappeared into the darkness beyond.
I trusted that bastard less than I trusted myself, so I followed at a distance. Zane deposited Emma in her room and locked the door.
He turned to me as I approached. “I told you, her fate was already decided. I believe you’re correct. She’s the one.”
“Then why did you stop me?” I folded my arms.
“I didn’t. I just wanted you to know that I’m right.” Zane stepped closer. “Don’t fight against your instincts.” He dangled the key to her room. “Do you want this? You could go in there and claim her now.”
I pushed his hand away. “Stop tempting me. What about her? What about what she wants?”
“She wants us.” He cocked his head to one side. “She just doesn’t know it yet.”
“You egotistical prick.” I poked him in the chest. “If we do this your way, she’ll hate us, not love us. What happens when our time runs out?”
Zane’s features hardened. “Then Emma will be free of us.” The vamp sneered. “You were seconds away from forcing yourself on her mere moments ago. Do you think she could love you after that? Don’t be stupid. Once she discovers the pleasure we can give her, she will crave our touch. She will love us.”
