First Read online

  He was gone.

  5

  Damien

  “When can you take care of it?” Vince sat across from me in the booth in the bar, dressed in a dark blazer over a V-neck. Every few minutes, a woman in a tight skirt would walk by, and he would grow too distracted to carry on the conversation. After a blonde passed, he turned back to me.

  “Depends. When can you get me the money?”

  He rolled his eyes before he took a drink. “My partner is stubborn.”

  “He’s gonna be more stubborn if you make this deal behind his back.” I’d learned that from personal experience with Hades. I’d made a lot of stupid mistakes, mistakes that no apology could erase. “If this is gonna work, we need transparency.”

  “It’s hard for him to trust people.”

  I extended my hand and glanced at the drinks. “We’re having a clandestine meeting at one in the morning. Those trust issues could be legitimate.” I didn’t want to do business with someone when I had to spoon-feed their partner at the same time. I didn’t have time for that shit. “Let’s meet again. Bring him this time.”

  After a few more words, he excused himself and left the booth.

  My drink was still half full, so I wasn’t going anywhere until every drop was gone. The second I was alone, I got lost in the loud bass from the speakers, and my mind drifted to the beautiful brunette who stole my soul right from my lips. She tasted as sweet as she looked…and now I wanted to explore the warmth of her neck, the hollow of her throat. I hadn’t called in days because I’d gotten busy. But I also knew she wasn’t interested in a clingy pussy either.

  I could see a man approach my table out of the corner of my eye, his massive size casting shadows in the already dark club. His large hand placed a glass of booze on the table before he slid into the leather booth.

  I kept my expression neutral and didn’t seem surprised by his unexpected visit. It was my fault for letting my guard down by wondering about Annabella’s perfect curves, fantasizing about those full, red lips.

  Now, I paid the price.

  Deep blue eyes pierced mine. Full of warning, unmistakable threat, a horde of demons, he was the man of nightmares. He relaxed in the seat with his fingers loosely gripping the glass in front of him. He cocked his head slightly as he examined me, full of indifference but also intrigue.

  The Skull King.

  I’d evaded his grasp for years because of our mutual interest in avoidance, but I knew my time was up.

  “We haven’t officially met.” He shook his glass so the cubes tapped against the sides. He glanced at the glass without taking a drink then lifted his eyes to mine once more. He was identical to his twin brother, carrying the same muscularity, possessing the strength of a Clydesdale. “Heath.”

  “I can already tell I prefer Balto.”

  A slow smile crept onto his lips. “Not the first time I’ve heard that. Must be doing something right.” He finally took a drink, his thick throat shifting as he got the fire into his belly. His eyes stayed on me as he dropped the glass back onto the table.

  “Or something wrong.” I wasn’t easily intimidated. Maybe that would be my downfall someday.

  He shrugged. “Time will tell.”

  I kept up my relaxed posture and held his gaze with a bored expression. “Something I can help you with?”

  “You know why I’m here, Damien.” He placed one arm over the back of the booth, his fingers slightly curling into a fist.

  The Skull Kings were the gatekeepers, keeping the various factions of the underworld in line. He collected royalties as payment, a percentage of the total profit of the business. He expected me to pay my due, but that wasn’t gonna happen. “And you know you aren’t getting a dime from me.”

  Like this was funny, he smiled. “I disagree. You and Hades are past due.”

  “Hades is out. It’s just me.”

  “That’s too bad. Give him my best.”

  I took a drink to moisten my mouth.

  “I like you, Damien. Don’t make me torture you until you cave. Don’t make me kill you if you choose to be stubborn.”

  “You don’t know me. If you did, you wouldn’t like me.”

  He continued to smile. “You’re right. I’m starting to like you less…”

  “It’s not gonna happen, Heath. You expect to be paid for a service—and I’ve received no such service.”

  “You have no idea what goes on behind the scenes.”

  “But I do know that Maddox destroyed my business before he destroyed my life. Where were you?”

  His smile disappeared.

  “I asked you a question.”

  After a long pause, he answered. “We were in transition…”

  “I don’t care about your excuses. You weren’t there, so I’m not paying for a fictional service.”

  He gently tapped his fingers against the glass. “I’ll cut you a deal. I’ll consider your overdue balance a wash. We’ll start fresh now.”

  I smiled because it was ridiculous. “There was no overdue balance. I didn’t owe you shit, so you weren’t going to get paid anyway. And asshole, I’m not gonna pay you now. Maybe you can push around your smaller clients, but you can’t push me around. I’ve absorbed Maddox’s business and his men. I’m unstoppable—we both know it.”

  That sinister smile was back. “That’s a bit arrogant.”

  “Heath.” My tone darkened. “I’m not paying you. Not now. Not ever. So, get the fuck out of my face.”

  His smile faded, and his blue eyes darkened like the deepest part of the ocean. He straightened in his seat then leaned forward, bringing an intimacy that was sharp as a knife. “You just won a war. But now you’re tired and weak. You don’t have the strength to fight again. The money is nothing to you, so take the easy way out.”

  “You could ask for a euro, and I’d still give you the same answer.”

  He relaxed into the booth again. “You’re proud. I respect that. But it’s not worth your life, Damien.”

  “You’re right. It’s not worth my life—and it won’t be worth my life.”

  His expression didn’t change. “I’ll give you some time to think about what I said.” He grabbed his glass and finished it off before he slid out of the booth. “But trust me, our next conversation won’t be so civil.”

  I stepped into Hades’s office first thing in the morning.

  He was sitting at his desk, a large piece of mahogany wood with a picture frame on the corner. It was Sofia kissing Andrew, her face glowing with motherhood. A vase of flowers was on the coffee table, his wife’s touch, obviously. She’d added a few pieces to the room to make it cozier.

  In a black suit, he was reading a document in his hand, probably studying the investment performance from the day before. When he finally noticed my frame in the doorway, his gaze lifted to meet mine. Indifference and annoyance mixed together to form the customized expression he made just for me. “What?”

  I felt like a bug on the bottom of his shoe, a disobedient child he didn’t know how to punish. It cut me to the bone—every time. “There’s a new Skull King.” I shut the door behind me and walked to his desk.

  He wore the same bored look. “Alright.”

  “Balto has a twin, apparently.”

  He set the document down and leaned back in the chair.

  “Said we owed back taxes. When I refused, he—”

  “We?” The derision was heavy in his tone. “No.” He straightened in his chair then pointed his index finger at me. “You. You owe him back taxes. This is your problem, not mine. You have to solve it on your own.”

  I could never accept his coldness. It seemed to get worse and worse, like his hatred festered into resentment. “I thought you should know. Because I can tell he’s not gonna go away.”

  “Did you tell him I’m no longer part of the business?”

  I nodded.

  “Not my problem.” He grabbed the document again and started to read.

  I continued
to stand there. “What an ass I am, warning you.”

  He looked at me again. “There’s nothing to warn me about. You’re the one who’s in charge of that bill.”

  “And you were the one who refused to pay it years ago,” I snapped. “It seems like you conveniently forgot.”

  He put the paper down again. “Then pay him, Damien.”

  “No.”

  He sighed loudly. “What the fuck do you want from me? I don’t give a shit what you do with him. If you go head-to-head, I won’t have your back. If he comes to me and asks me to hand you over, I’ll do it in a heartbeat.” He rose to his feet and pushed his chair back. “So what the fuck do you want from me?”

  My chest rose and fell with the heavy breaths I took. The adrenaline was in my veins, and I was eager to reach for the knife inside my jacket. I wanted to stab him right in the neck and watch him bleed and die. I hated this man, hated him so fucking much. “Nothing. Not a damn thing.” I headed out the door.

  “Asshole.”

  I had no idea why the fuck I turned around.

  “Talk to my wife like you did again, and I really will hand you over on a fucking silver platter.”

  I lived in a three-story place in Florence. It had its own parking lot and a private gate. I was just one man so I didn’t need the space, but I did need the privacy and protection. I never used the other rooms in the house, sticking to the bedroom and my private gym. I had a maid who handled the kitchen, so I never set foot in there.

  Now I sat in my living room with a glass in my hand. My dinner tray was on the table, only partially eaten because Hades had demolished my appetite that afternoon. Scarface was on the TV, and all I could think about was shooting that asshole with a tommy gun until his guts spilled out.

  Piece of shit.

  My phone sat on the armrest of the couch, and it started to ring.

  Annabella.

  I hadn’t spoken to her in a week, not intentionally. Life got busy, and I barely had time to sleep, let alone invite her over. Not to mention, I just wasn’t in the mood. I watched it ring and kept my hand steady.

  If I answered, I would just be an ass.

  I was in a dark place, and I was drunk. Bad combo.

  It went to voice mail.

  I watched the TV again.

  My phone lit up with a text message. Did that stain come out of your jeans?

  I read the message three times because I couldn’t believe what she’d just asked. Brazen, unexpected, shocking…it was fucking hot. When I’d gotten home, I noticed the circular stain on the front of my jeans, the arousal that soaked through her panties and transferred to me. I’d taken them off and smelled the spot before I jerked off.

  I grabbed the phone and wrote back. Why would I wash them?

  You’re going to walk around with that stain forever?

  Damn right.

  She sent an eye-rolling emoji.

  I knew I should call her because it looked like I was hiding behind my text messages. After her candid message, I was in a better mood, but I was still bitter as hell. But I’d rather look like an asshole instead of a coward. I called her.

  She answered after a few rings. “Took you long enough.”

  Her bluntness was refreshing. Never had to wonder what she was thinking. “You caught me at a bad time.” I reached for my drink and held it in my grasp.

  “Are you busy right now?”

  “No. Just had a rough day.” I put the movie on mute but watched the action sequences anyway. The bloodshed was just as potent without the sound.

  “Oh.” When she realized I wasn’t in the greatest mood, she turned quiet. “Want to talk about it?”

  “Not really.” I didn’t want to dump my personal bullshit on her. I hardly knew her.

  “Alright…”

  It became silent. Awkward. Now I regretted making this phone call. “I’ll talk to you later, alright?”

  “Um, okay.” She faltered for a moment before she spoke again. “Bye, Damien.” She hung up without waiting for me to say goodbye.

  I cringed as I lowered the phone. She’d called at the worst possible time, and I should have just ignored her. Or I should have called her sooner instead of waiting for an entire week to go by.

  Goddammit.

  6

  Annabella

  Damien blew me off.

  I didn’t know what happened. He was so hot for me, and now he was ice-cold. Did he meet someone else? A woman who slept with him right away? Maybe I was too much work and he lost interest.

  I shouldn’t care…but I did.

  I’d started to really like him.

  But he was a jerk like the rest.

  I needed to forget about him, to pretend like he hadn’t hurt me, to pretend I wasn’t devastated that our kiss would never turn into something more. I’d been fantasizing about him all week, imagining him between my legs, while I took orders at the restaurant. I couldn’t get him off my mind at all. It was the first time I was actually excited about a man since my husband.

  But I’d been wrong.

  Whatever.

  I was home in my pajamas when there was a knock on the door. I was enjoying a bottle of wine in front of the TV when the hard knuckles echoed against the wood. I knew the sound belonged to a man, so I assumed it was Damien.

  Maybe he’d had a change of heart.

  I jumped to my feet and checked myself in the mirror.

  Ugh, I looked like shit.

  I fixed my hair as much as possible, but there was nothing I could really do. My makeup was off, and my shirt had a wine stain on the front. It was my worst look.

  He knocked again.

  “Ugh,” I whispered under my breath.

  I headed to the door and pulled it open, in a sour mood that Damien had picked the worst time to show up at my door. I wasn’t in the mood to hit the sheets when I looked like trash. I opened the door and gave my best smile.

  When Liam watched me smile at him, his eyebrows furrowed. “I’m surprised you answered the door.”

  Liam was the last thing on my mind even though he was the most logical person to show up on my doorstep. “I wasn’t expecting you.” I pushed the door closed.

  He stuck his boot in the crack so I couldn’t shut him out.

  Dammit.

  He pushed the door back open and helped himself inside. He was muscular and over six feet in height, so he forced me to back up with his enormous presence. He stared at me with intense blue eyes as he invaded my apartment. “Then who were you expecting at this time of night?”

  A beautiful man with lips from heaven. “Not you.” I turned around and moved farther into the apartment. Now I was glad I looked like shit so he would lose interest and leave, even though he’d seen me without makeup thousands of times.

  He stopped in the entryway and surveyed the area. He glanced at the wine bottle and the bowl of popcorn. His hands slid into the pockets of his jeans, and he turned his gaze back on me. Heartbeats passed, and he said nothing. In dark jeans and a tight t-shirt, he looked just as fit as ever.

  “Please leave.” I stood near the door to my balcony with my arms crossed over my chest. “I’m tired of repeating myself.”

  He tilted his head down slightly and continued to stare. “I’m tired too.”

  I waited for him to walk out.

  “I’m tired of living without you.”

  I couldn’t stop myself from rolling my eyes. “It didn’t seem like you were thinking about me much when your dick was in someone else.” Like a snake, venom was in my mouth. I wanted to bite him and let the poison sink into his flesh. It’d been a long time since our relationship had fallen apart, but I hadn’t let go of my bitterness yet because he kept showing up everywhere. He wouldn’t let me go, and that forced me to deal with the past over and over again.

  He cringed slightly at the insult. “It was a lapse in judgment.”

  “Lapse in judgment?” I hissed. “The situation is black-and-white. You either cheat on your
wife, or you don’t. Doesn’t need much judgment.”

  He sighed. “She meant nothing to me.”

  “Yet she was worth ruining your marriage.”

  He bowed his head. “I’m sorry. And I’ll be sorry for the rest of my life. I made such a stupid fucking mistake, and I would do anything to take it back. You know I mean that.” He stepped toward me.

  “Come near me, and I’ll smash that bottle of wine into your nuts.”

  He stilled. “Anna…”

  “I’m done talking about this. I divorced you because we’re never getting back together. Let me go.”

  He dropped his gaze then scanned the apartment, as if he was looking for a way out of the mess he created. “I love you… I will always love me.”

  “That’s not good enough, Liam. You were disloyal, disrespectful, and dishonest.”

  He shook his head slightly. “You never would have known if I hadn’t told you.”

  “Doesn’t fucking matter.” I raised my hand and pointed to the door. “Get out. Now.”

  He stayed rooted to the spot.

  “Liam.”

  “Give me another chance—”

  “Never.”

  He took a deep breath before he kept talking. “I can provide for you. You like living in a shithole like this?”

  “Wow…fuck you.”

  He didn’t apologize. “I can take care of you. I can provide for you. I can protect you. There’s no other man out there who can give you what I can.”

  Damien popped into my head even though there was no reason for him to. “That’s not what I’m looking for in a man.”

  “Anna, I love you,” he whispered. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life earning your forgiveness. I would never do that shit again. I know how shitty it feels to lose you, and I never want to go through that again. Please.”

  Sometimes I believed he was truly sorry. It’d been months since I’d left, but he was still trying to get me back. He was a sexy, rich man. He could have anyone he wanted, so if he was still trying, I must be the only thing he wanted. Being single was rough because it was impossible to find a man who made me feel something…and wasn’t a jerk or bad in bed. Sometimes I wanted to cave just so my life could be easy again.