Shattered Prince: A Dark Mafia Romance Page 2

  He nodded. “Thanks.”

  “But why are you telling me this?”

  “There are going to be guards around. Your father put you in my care, and I need to make sure none of the coming violence blows back on you.”

  I sighed and leaned back, closing my eyes. “Guards,” I said.

  “You’re not happy about that.” A statement, not a question.

  “I’ve lived my whole life with guards. I’ll be honest, Carmine. I’m very sick of them.”

  He laughed gently. “I can’t blame you. But I also can’t fuck around. I’m going to ask your father for someone you’ll be comfortable with.”

  An ugly spike of fear run down into my core. I pushed it aside and turned my head slightly. My lips tugged up into a coy grin. “There’s no way you could shadow me? I’m sure I’d be perfectly safe with you around.”

  His smile faded. “Don’t joke. I’m just warning you.” He raised his glass and took a long sip.

  I shrugged and looked away. I felt that thrill again, that spark between my legs. What the hell was I doing, flirting with this man? I wanted to tease him and rile him up. I wanted to piss him off.

  I wanted to see that black glare behind his eyes again.

  What the hell was wrong with me?

  “So long as I can keep going to school, I’ll play along. Does that work?”

  “That works,” he said, and I heard him leave the room.

  Carmine. I didn’t know what to think about him. Handsome, beautiful really. Full of himself. Scary when he wanted to be.

  A mafia bastard like all the rest.

  I had to play along. For now, at least.

  This was a long game, and I intended to win.

  Chapter 2

  Carmine

  Jules poured a glass of whiskey and placed it on the bar. “That’ll be twelve dollars, sir,” she said, leaning forward on her elbows.

  It took all my willpower not to stare at her full lips. “Put it on my tab.”

  She laughed and walked off to serve another customer.

  The Lowdown was doing a good business. It wasn’t the most popular place or in the best location, but the renovation gave the place a new life. Mal and Cap poured themselves into making it as incredible as it could be, and I had to admit, they did me proud.

  I sipped my drink and watched Jules move. She had a strange, fascinating grace that I found insanely alluring. It didn’t hurt that the girl was gorgeous: thick, dark hair, dark eyes, smooth brown skin, and that incredible coy smile. Most of the time, her lips were locked in a scowl, but every once in a while, I caught the playful, flirty demon lurking beneath her fuck-off surface, and it dragged me down into her depths every time.

  I wanted to know her. I wanted to learn everything about her. She was a few years younger than me, but that didn’t matter. We came from similar backgrounds: she was the daughter of a powerful cartel leader in Mexico, and I was the son of a former mafia Don, currently deceased. Every time she walked into the room, she drew me to her like an obsessed, addicted monster, and I had to constantly remind myself that touching her could get both of us killed.

  But watching? Hell, I could watch. Her father sent her to be watched.

  I was her guardian. She was my test. If I could keep her safe—and not spreading her legs and sliding my thick cock deep inside of her tight, dripping wet pussy was definitely part of ‘safe’ in this situation—then her father would trust me with more responsibility. That meant more drugs, more guns. More strength. And right now, I was desperate for his help.

  Mauro Balestra killed my mother and father. We were the Falsone family, the most powerful mafioso in all of Texas. We owned San Antonio, and my father had plans to expand, up until the night Balestra ambushed us, killed my parents, and nearly killed me. I escaped with my life, and since then I’d been biding my time, gathering my strength, and preparing to take him out.

  I’d almost done it months back. Mal and Cap and I burned down his house and nearly got him, but he’d slipped out of my grasp. Ever since then, we’d been locked in a war over San Antonio, and each day he was alive was another day he grew stronger.

  Which was why I needed Jules and her father. They could give me an edge against Balestra, or at the very least they could help counteract his own cartel connections.

  Jules poured ice and liquor and some other shit into a shaker. I stared at her smooth arms as she made the drink. I watched her breasts move as she worked the drink up and down. I felt myself stiffen and my heart judder as her lips parted slightly in concentration. I couldn’t tear my gaze away as she finished mixing and poured it into a martini glass before handing it off to a couple of young, drunk professionals at the far end of the bar, two women in business clothes that laughed too loud and looked like they were having too much fun.

  When Jules turned back, she caught me staring, and her eyes narrowed.

  I only smiled at her. So the fuck what if I was looking?

  I didn’t touch, and that was what mattered.

  A big presence slipped into the stool to my right. “How’s it going, Carmine?” Mal’s voice was like a cannon shot. It was the rumble of a falling mountain.

  Mal was big. He was a muscular beast of a man squeezed into a small black shirt and tight black jeans. Tattoos covered his arms and chest, and his face was a mask of dour animosity. I joked that he had resting bitch face, but really, he had resting I-will-murder-you face. He was my best worker, my top captain, my enforcer, and my best friend. I’d known him since we were kids and I pulled him off the streets, and we’d been close as hell ever since.

  “Watching my ward work. How’s she been?”

  Mal shrugged, glancing at Jules. “Not bad. Doesn’t know how to bartend, but she never complains, even with the bad leg.”

  “I worry about her. Think being on her feet for a full shift is healthy?”

  “Cap asked and she insists it’s okay. But she does limp more by the end of the night.”

  I let out a slow breath. “She looks good though, doesn’t she? Like she’s fitting in.”

  Mal’s eyebrows raised. “That sounds borderline inappropriate. You got a thing for her?”

  I glared at him. Fucker could see right through me, but then again, I wasn’t being subtle.

  “Absolutely not. I’m not about to get myself killed just because she’s attractive.”

  “And now you’re admitting you find her attractive. Are you losing your mind, Carmine?”

  “Fuck off, Mal.”

  Another person appeared on my left. “Boys, boys, boys. Do I hear you two arguing?”

  I turned to look at Cap. She grinned at me and tugged at her auburn hair. Cap was my other best friend, formerly my fiancée, and currently engaged to Mal. She and I were never in love, and our relationship was purely for political reasons. She was the daughter of Mauro Balestra, and before Mauro had stabbed my parents in the back, we’d all planned on making our families thick as thieves.

  Now though, Cap hated her father as much as I did. He was an abusive pig, and she would do anything to make sure he paid for what he’d done to her in blood.

  Mal was more than happy to oblige his future wife.

  “Not arguing,” I grunted, frowning. “Only discussing your newest employee.”

  “Jules? She’s a cute one, right?” Cap grinned at me.

  “He’s into her,” Mal said.

  “You bastard. You traitor.”

  Mal laughed. “She’s going to be my wife. There are no secrets.”

  “Oh, please, as if he’s doing a good job hiding it,” Cap said, bumping me with her shoulder. “Come on, you stare at her like you want to carry her out back and ravage her. You’re like a horny caveman.”

  “Okay, fucking hell,” I said, throwing back my whiskey. “That’s enough of that conversation.”

  Cap laughed and winked at me then waved down Jules. “Can I get some wine? And Mal wants whiskey.”

  “And another for me,” I said.

  Jules didn’t look at me. “Is this one really drinking for free?” she asked, nodding in my direction.

  Cap squinted at me. “For now. I’m not sure he could make good on his tab.”

  “I bought you this place,” I said, glaring. “Unless you’ve forgotten.”

  “We haven’t forgotten,” Mal said. “Only I think you spent the last of your cash on it, so we’ll float you for a while.”

  I sighed and rubbed my eyes as Jules laughed and walked off.

  “I’m glad you two are having fun,” I said, staring at my empty glass. “Did you hear the latest on Balestra’s men?”

  “They took some territory in the north side,” Mal said. “I was out there with Roman and Enrico.”

  “He’s getting aggressive,” I said as Jules returned. She put the drinks down and stood nearby, cleaning a glass, and obviously listening. I ignored her and pushed on. “Which means something changed. But I’m not sure what.”

  “Can’t be more men,” Mal said. “I haven’t heard of any new muscle moving into town.”

  “But it’s something,” I said, tapping my finger against the glass. I glanced up and Jules was looking at me, searching my face. I tilted my head and parted my lips and felt a surge of something like desire.

  Stupid, stupid desire.

  Cap was right. I was a caveman. I wanted to drag Jules into my dark tunnel and fuck her savagely by the fire. I wanted to impregnate her and make her all mine. It was a foolish, insane need, and I did my best to ignore it.

  But the girl was always around. We lived in the same apartment. I was responsible for her well-being.

  This new guard her father was sending would help. He’d give me some space to maneuver and an even better reason to keep my hands to myself. Because if som
ething didn’t change soon, I doubted I could control myself for long.

  It was her lips. The way they moved and quirked. Her body didn’t help—she was curvy and luscious in all the perfect ways—but her lips drove me to new levels of need. I couldn’t figure out why or how, but I needed to see them wrapped around my cock, those deep, brown eyes staring into mine as she sucked me off—

  “I’ll look into it with Roman,” Mal said. “We’ll put the word out.”

  “Good,” I said, nodding to myself. “And what about you, Cap?”

  “You mean Maxim?” She sighed and shook her head. “He’s not returning my calls.”

  Maxim was the son of a powerful Russian gangster from Dallas. They were a powerful family, and building an alliance with them was a top priority. Cap knew him because her father had tried to set them up, but she’d wrecked that relationship. Now though, I needed that connection.

  Mal grunted his disapproval, but he didn’t fight it. We’d gone over this already. If Cap wanted to help by putting me in contact with Maxim, she could do it—even if Mal didn’t want her getting even more involved in this fight.

  Jules spoke up suddenly. “If the guy’s not taking your calls, why don’t you go out to see him?”

  I frowned over at her. “Sorry, do you know what we’re talking about?”

  She shrugged and shook her head. “I’m eavesdropping. But my father always appreciated it when guys went out of their way to pay their respects in person. He said it was a sign of good character, whatever the hell that means.”

  Cap pursed her lips. “She could be right, Carmine,” she said.

  “You’re not going with him,” Mal said, practically growling at her.

  I put a hand on his shoulder. “Easy boy. If I’m going, I’ll go alone. Cap can let Maxim know I’m coming.”

  “Can I send a text, Mr. Overprotective?” Cap asked, grinning at Mal.

  He sighed and nodded. “Yes, darling. If that’s what you want to do.”

  “You guys are weird,” Jules said, grinning.

  “I hate to admit it, but she’s right. About going in person, not about us being weird.” I raised my glass and nodded to her. “For once, you had a good idea.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Please, I never bother speaking up. You’re too busy listening to the sound of your own voice to hear anyone else.”

  Cap and Mal both laughed as I grinned, shrugged, and took a long drink from my whiskey. I put the glass down.

  “That’s the plan,” I said. “I’m heading to Dallas to meet with Maxim. Mal, you and Roman will shadow Balestra and figure out what he’s up to. And Cap, you’re sending a single text. We’re all clear?”

  “And what am I doing?” Jules asked, leaning against the bar. Her black top pulled up slightly and I stared at the skin over her hip. My mouth filled with saliva and I pictured biting her there hard enough to make her moan as my fingers pressed in deep—

  “You’re doing nothing,” I said, blinking away the stupid fantasy. What the hell was wrong with me? Normally, I had better self-control. But this girl was driving me insane. “You’re working here and going to college like a normal person.”

  “Sounds good, boss.” She grinned and went off to serve another customer.

  I turned and glared at Cap. “Don’t say anything.”

  She gave me an affronted gasp. “How dare you assume I’d make a comment?”

  “You were going to,” Mal said with a slow nod. “Don’t pretend.”

  She laughed. “Okay, yeah, I totally was. But look, Carmine, you know you can’t act on this, right?”

  “I know,” I said, knocking back my drink. It burned nice and good as it filled my belly. I needed about ten more of those to dull the throbbing, intense desire that echoed all through my body whenever Jules was around. “I’m not an insane person.”

  “Just be careful,” Cap said, looking serious. “I like her. I don’t want to see either of you get in trouble.”

  “You know me,” I said, standing up. “I’m always careful.”

  Cap and Mal gave each other a look as I walked away.

  Chapter 3

  Jules

  For two weeks, I was a totally normal college kid.

  I woke up, went to class, came back to the apartment, and studied. Carmine spent most of his time dealing with his business, and we interacted as little as possible. I noticed him up late, drinking whiskey and watching the fire, but I didn’t go out and sit with him. Carmine was like a monster, and I was afraid to get too close.

  I noticed the way he looked at me. It was hard not to see it: the dark, possessive stare, like he wanted to undress me, ravage me, and leave me moaning and begging for more. When he was around and I caught that look, it sent wild, convulsive shivers down my spine. I wanted to reach out and run my fingers through his thick hair and pull it tight just to hear him grunt in pain as he grabbed my hips and pinned me down—but that would only end in blood and tears. No, I wouldn’t let this get any more complicated than it already was.

  Things were good. I liked working at the Lowdown. I had to take an extra pill to survive the shifts, but then again, I’d never had a real job before and I enjoyed working behind the bar. It was a lot all at once, but I managed to pick it up pretty fast, and it was fun serving drunk people. They were loud and obnoxious and all that, but we had a good bouncer and I never felt unsafe.

  It was a rush getting tips. It was fun serving drinks. I felt like a real adult for the first time in my life instead of the useless, overly pampered, and incredibly sheltered daughter of a drug kingpin. For a little while, I could pretend to be just another person living a regular life.

  All that changed on a sunny Tuesday afternoon.

  Carmine picked me up like usual. He didn’t say much as he drove back to the apartment, but before we reached the underground parking lot, he glanced over with a slight frown. “Your father sent the guard.”

  I went very still. I remembered him mentioning it, but I thought he’d forgotten all about that.

  “Oh, really?” I asked, trying to pretend like I didn’t care, when actually my heart was racing wildly in my chest.

  “He showed up this morning. From now on, he’ll pick you up from school while I’m working. I’ll try to be as involved as I can be, but I can’t watch you all day, every day.”

  “Papa should’ve just sent me on my own then.”

  “Feeling neglected already?”

  I shook my head. “I couldn’t care less.”

  “Liar.” His hands gripped the steering wheel as he parked and killed the engine. “Look at me.”

  I glanced over. His eyes tore into me like vicious claws. I sucked in an involuntary breath. There was so much packed into that gaze. It strayed down to my lips, to my throat, to my breasts.

  “Who did he send?” I whispered, trying to ignore the feelings flashing through my body. Want. Need. Desire. Fear.

  He met my eyes again. “A man named Oscar.”

  I stifled a groan. I bit my tongue hard enough to make it bleed. He’d sent Oscar, of course he’d sent Oscar. Papa was a bastard. A clueless bastard.

  “Is he upstairs?” I asked, proud that there was no quaver to my voice, though my hands shook.

  “Waiting for you by the elevator. I need to head out, so he’ll take you up and hang around until I’m back.”

  I nodded, frozen with fear.

  Oscar. It had to be Oscar. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to think of all the horrible years I’d spent under his watchful eyes. I thought I’d gotten away from him. I thought I was free.

  I was so wrong. I’d never be free. Not fully.

  “Everything okay?” Carmine sounded almost concerned, like he actually gave a crap.

  But I couldn’t let myself be fooled. Carmine didn’t care about me. He wanted my body—that was obvious. But anything beyond sex? He was a mafioso. I couldn’t expect more from a man like him.

  “I’m fine.” I pushed open the door. I wanted to run away. I wanted to stay in the car. Anything but face Oscar.

  “Like I said, I’ll be back later.” Carmine watched me carefully. Studying, analyzing.

  He had no clue what he’d done.

  I got out and hefted my backpack. I considered running, but that wouldn’t help. I looked across the parking lot and spotted Oscar standing next to the elevator. He wore black jeans and a black jacket, with the tell-tale bulge of a gun at his side. His dark eyes grinned death at me and his nasty, pig-like face pulled into a smile.