Beautiful Trouble: A Dark Mafia Romance (The Oligarchs Book 2) Read online

  In its place, there was only Winter keeping me together.

  It was strange how much of myself I’d defined in opposition to Roman. Now that the core of my feelings toward him was shattered, I saw how shallow my existence had been before Winter came into my life. She gave me meaning beyond simple politics and war and killing.

  She gave me purpose and made me a better man.

  I’d come too close and nearly lost it.

  But there she was, still by my side.

  And I’d stay by hers for as long as I drew breath.

  32

  Winter

  Darren looked down at me like the moon looked at the sun.

  Pure and utter devotion.

  I looked back at him and knew I felt the same. It rooted in me and grew slowly, and now it took full bloom.

  Anthony’s revelation still hung in the air like a ghost. That lie had caused so much pain over the years and been the source of more bloodshed than I could even imagine, and yet if there was one thing I knew about life, it was that justice and retribution never put the past right.

  He’d suffered enough. And he’d still suffer more.

  Anthony was pale white and trembling and tears still rolled down his cheeks, but he seemed oddly youthful.

  Like finally telling the truth felt good.

  For his part, Roman glared at everyone.

  I could understand why Roman would go along with all this. He clearly tried to speak up at first, but when it became obvious that nobody believed him, he probably found it easier just to stay silent. Let them all think he was a monster.

  When the truth was, he’d only tried to tell his brother the truth.

  It was a horrible accident.

  One moment in time ten years ago still echoing into the future.

  And would keep on shifting events.

  Darren released me and turned to Roman. “This doesn’t fix everything between us.”

  “I know it doesn’t.”

  “I still have good reasons to oppose you.”

  “I’m sure you do.”

  “I won’t give you concessions just because it turns out you didn’t try to murder a ten-year-old.”

  “I wouldn’t expect any.” Roman tilted his chin up. “But at least you can’t say I’m a liar.”

  Darren met his gaze and nodded once. “You’re right. You’re not a liar.” He took a deep breath then let it out. “I’ll offer you a temporary truce until we can work out a long-term arrangement. But I will say that you won’t be in control of multiple crime families moving forward. That ends today.”

  Roman didn’t respond right away. His eyes narrowed and he shifted toward Darren slightly, but he finally shrugged. “I found it more trouble than it’s worth anyway.”

  Darren snorted. “We’ll talk about territory. I’ve taken a lot from you, but if you’re willing to meet me halfway, I’m willing to return some.”

  “That’s big of you.”

  “I mean it when I say I want to change how the Oligarchs do business. I’m afraid you’re too much a part of the old ways to ever see that.”

  Roman reached back and took Cassie’s hand. “Before I met my wife, I would’ve agreed. The old ways worked. The old ways gave me strength and prestige. But I’m beginning to see how I might be wrong.”

  Cassie stared up at him with adoration. I wondered if that was how I looked at Darren.

  And decided that it was.

  “I can set this aside for now. No more blood.” Darren extended a hand.

  “No more blood.”

  Roman took it. They shook.

  They released and Darren stepped back. He left his gun on the table.

  “Well, that was fun,” Roza said. “Should I type up my notes, or?”

  Cassie laughed. I grinned, unable to help myself.

  Roman rolled his eyes. “I wonder why I bring you along sometimes.”

  “I’m charming.” Roza nodded at me. “Lovely to see you again, Winter.” She walked away, toward the other side of the barn.

  Cassie followed her. “Call me!” she said.

  I grinned and waved.

  Roman lingered. He watched Darren then looked at Anthony. His face softened.

  “It’ll be okay. Be strong. You’ve got two brothers, if you want them.” Then he walked away.

  Darren sighed and went to Anthony. He said something quiet and put an arm around his shoulders. They walked together back the way we came. I followed, casting a look over my shoulder.

  This was the end.

  Darren had no reason to keep this fight going. Even if he didn’t get the perfect deal from Roman, he’d still make peace. I watched the heart of his anger slowly break down then fade right before my eyes, and I knew he wouldn’t rekindle the hatred ever again.

  Fear drove him, but fear didn’t matter anymore.

  Roman wasn’t a threat. Roman didn’t care about killing Anthony or anyone else in Darren’s family, and now Darren had the proof he needed to accept it.

  Hope took hold of my chest.

  Hope that maybe I’d see Cassie again and things might not always be so terrible.

  Hope was dangerous, but right now, I didn’t care.

  “What are you smiling about?” Darren asked outside of the cars.

  “Nothing. Just happy.” I kissed him gently. “You should ride with Anthony and make sure he’s okay. I bet you two have a lot to talk about.”

  He nodded and brushed my cheek with a knuckle. “Don’t run away.”

  “I don’t plan on it.”

  “Then I’ll see you at home, love.” He emphasized the last word, and for the first time it sounded like more than just a teasing nickname.

  I flushed with pride.

  He walked off, put an arm around Anthony, and they climbed into the back of an SUV together.

  I got into my car, leaned my head back against the seat and closed my eyes.

  Maybe I’d get some sleep. Maybe I’d dream.

  I could dream again.

  33

  Winter

  Fall at the manor was different from fall down the shore. Back at Sea Isle, I could smell the bay and hear the gulls and the constant low-level hum of the ocean rolling against the sand, but out here in the middle of a fortress tucked away in the outskirts of a dying town, I didn’t miss any of that.

  The trees began to turn. Just a few at first—bright, golden orange, a rich amber brown—but more would follow. I wondered if the reality of my new life would ever set in, and hoped the answer was no.

  Reality was for suckers.

  I stood on the driveway halfway down. I heard the car before I saw it and practically ran down to meet it. The driver had to stop suddenly to avoid killing me, and good thing he did—Darren didn’t tolerate people that ran over his wife.

  Cassie jumped out of the back. I barreled into her and wrapped her in a tight bear hug.

  “You’re here,” I said, biting back tears.

  “I’m here.”

  I hugged her for a long while.

  I don’t know where any of us would be without Cassie. She was the catalyst for everything, and she worked hard behind the scenes to keep Roman from indulging in his most sinister desires. If it weren’t for her, our men would’ve murdered each other a long time ago.

  “So this is it, huh?” Cassie looked around, frowning. “Lots of trees.”

  I laughed and tugged her along behind me. “Come on. There’s a lot to see.”

  “Roman said the Servant Manor is like a giant maze. Is that true?”

  “Very true. I still don’t know it all.” Even though I had full freedom to wander as I pleased, I still found new little surprises all the time. Penny tried to give me directions but even she seemed to get lost.

  “Roman’s bunker was like that. You know, until your husband flooded it.”

  I grinned sheepishly. “That was before my time.”

  “Don’t worry, Roman has more money than he knows what to do with. The place is alrea
dy nearly done.”

  “So you’re going to live underground with him then? Become mole people forever?”

  “Mole people with lots of mole babies.” She stopped and pressed a hand against her belly.

  I gasped and covered my mouth. “Shut the fuck up.”

  She laughed. “I planned on waiting to tell you but I couldn’t do it.”

  “You’re pregnant?”

  “Knocked up. With child. Yep, definitely.”

  “Oh my god, Cassie! Congratulations!” I pulled her into another hug.

  “It’s still early so don’t get too excited, but I found out right before I left. Roman doesn’t even know yet.”

  “He’ll be so happy. He wants a family, right?”

  She nodded and looked so happy. “A big one.”

  “Good luck with that.” I steered her along the driveway again until the manor came into view.

  Cassie whistled as we walked up the front and into the main entry. “This is pretty much what I pictured, except ten times better.”

  “I was pretty overwhelmed at first, but I’m used to it now.”

  “Want to give me the grand tour?”

  “Absolutely. We can start with my favorite places, the pool and the kitchen.”

  She laughed and leaned against my shoulder. “You haven’t changed.”

  “Neither have you.”

  “It’s weird though, isn’t it? I mean, we’ve been through so much. You’d think we’d be different.”

  “We are and we aren’t.” I chewed my lip and looked toward the curving staircase that led upstairs. “My mom used to talk about the way people really are all the time. How no matter what you did, you’d always be yourself, like there’s some core of you that never changes. Maybe she means a soul? I don’t know, but I think she’s right.”

  “I like that. You can dress up however, but it’s always the same underneath.”

  “Exactly.” I squeezed her hand. “All right, enough of this. Let’s get you settled then find some food and sit by the pool. I want all the details of your life. Like, every single disgusting, filthy, gory detail.”

  “I think I’ll stick with a very high-level summary of my life, thanks.”

  “I want it all, baby.”

  She laughed as I steered her toward the steps. I planned on settling her in the room next to mine, but Chika appeared down a side hallway and gestured for us to wait.

  “Darren instructed me to summon the both of you as soon as Cassie arrived.” Chika’s eyes darted to the side. She’d been strange ever since Darren made peace with Roman, like she knew something everyone else didn’t. “So please, if you’d be so kind.”

  I sighed and put a hand on my hip. “What does my husband want?”

  “He says it is urgent. Oligarch business. Please, come this way.”

  I exchanged a look with Cassie and we followed Chika through the halls. She led us past the kitchens and the main living room and toward the small ballroom. She paused outside of the doors and gestured for us to wait before she disappeared inside.

  “Does this happen a lot?” Cassie asked. “Staff leads you around this place for mysterious reasons?”

  “I’d like to say no, but yeah, that definitely happens.” I frowned as we stood there in silence. There was no sign of Chika returning, and I didn’t know what the heck we’d be doing near the small ballroom. This place was practically never used, except by the cleaning staff once a week to make sure it didn’t drown in dust.

  I got impatient. I’ll admit, I’m an impatient person. I have flaws like anyone else. Maybe I should’ve waited for Chika to return, but instead I stepped forward, turned the knob, and pushed the door open.

  The room was filled with candles. Flowers were perched on every surface and the lights were dimmed low. I blinked a few times, trying to understand what was going on—my brain was like sludge.

  Standing in the middle of the ballroom was Darren. He wore a black suit and was staring at me like the world was about to end. I drifted forward, confused and a little nervous, but he beckoned me toward him.

  “What’s going on?” I asked when I got closer.

  He dropped down to one knee. “We never got to do this the right way.”

  I stared at him then covered my mouth. I looked back at Cassie and she was grinning.

  Like she knew this was about to happen.

  “Winter, you changed my life. Before you, I was a man consumed with hate and revenge. The only things I cared about were destroying my enemies and protecting my family, and even now I’m not sure which was mattered more. You made me see that the world’s so much bigger than petty emotions, and that I can be a better man.” He reached out and took my hand. “I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time, and I’ll love you for longer. I want to be your husband for as long as I have blood in my veins. Will you marry me?”

  “Yes, of course.” I blinked fast, trying not to cry. This was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me and even still there was a voice whispering, you don’t deserve this, and that voice sounded a lot like my father, and I made sure to mentally tell that voice to fuck right off.

  He slipped a ring on my finger. It sparkled in the candlelight: simple, elegant, hand-cut diamonds on a gold band. He stood and kissed me, and I kissed him back, then Cassie joined our little group and hugged me tight, and I hugged her back. “You knew, didn’t you?”

  “I knew he was going to do something like this. I just didn’t know when.”

  “God, you’re the worst.”

  “You love it.” She hugged me tight and I laughed, looking around the room.

  Then saw Mom standing near the door.

  I extracted myself from Cassie’s embrace. I took a step forward, unable to believe what I was seeing.

  “Mom?”

  Her smile was like a lighthouse. She looked good, healthy, glowing. She’d lost some weight, and her hair was longer than I remembered.

  It’d been months since I last saw her. I visited her in Vegas a few times a year, and she came to Sea Isle once or twice, but we were rarely in the same room. When we were, it was like coming home.

  I looked at Darren. “You brought her here.”

  “She’s your mother. I wanted to meet her.” He raised an eyebrow. “I can see where you get it from.”

  “Get what?”

  “Your spirit.”

  I grinned, looked back at Mom, then ran to her.

  I hugged her as tight as I could.

  “Oh, I missed you,” she said softly, hugging me back. “Your new husband’s quite the man.”

  “I’ve got a lot to tell you.”

  “I bet you do.” She broke off the hug and looked into my eyes. There was a hint of concern. “I just hope you’re not making the same mistakes I made. I married a man like Darren, you know.”

  I grinned and shook my head. “No, you really didn’t. Trust me, Mom, Darren’s nothing like Dad.”

  She glanced over at him. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”

  I hugged her again. It was so familiar and comforting and god, I missed my mom so much.

  “When did you get here?”

  “Last night. He’s been hiding me away in some part of the house he said you never go in.”

  “That doesn’t narrow it down much. It’s a big house.”

  “You’re not kidding.” She put an arm around my shoulders. “You look good, sweetie. Best I’ve seen you in a long, long time.”

  “You do too. How’s Vegas?”

  “Oh, you know, it’s okay. I met a new man.”

  “Really? Mom!”

  “His name’s Roger. He’s older.” She blushed. “I want you to meet him.”

  “I want to meet him too.”

  We walked over and rejoined Cassie and Darren. We made quiet small talk surrounded by candles before being ushered into a more normal-sized dining room for some lunch and wine. Conversation flowed and I felt something constrict in my chest, something tight and small and har
d, like a diamond forming in my heart.

  Darren smiled at me, held my hand. Maybe that was love. Maybe it was family.

  This was more than I ever imagined. A husband, a pregnant best friend, a mother who loved me.

  I was what I was. The past always claws you back, baby. But the past didn’t define who I had to be moving forward.

  I made that choice.

  Nobody else.

  “You okay?” Darren whispered.

  “I’m perfect.”

  Epilogue: Penny

  One Month Later

  For the first time in as long as I could remember, the Servant Manor wasn’t a hotbed of tension, fear, and anger.

  It was kind of nice, actually.

  Darren was happy. I don’t think I’d ever seen him happy before and didn’t even realize it until recently. Even as a kid, he’d always been kind of brooding, but now he was genuinely and utterly engaged with everything around him.

  All thanks to Winter.

  I loved having her around. She’d never replace Liv, but she made my days easier, both by being a friend and by softening some of Darren’s sharper edges.

  Things weren’t perfect, of course. Anthony was a mess. He was still struggling with his guilt and all that, even though nobody was mad at him—okay, I was a little bit mad, but I still loved him—and I had a feeling he’d be dealing with everything for a long time. Erin pulled back into her own little world even deeper, and I had no clue what was going on with that. Mom didn’t talk much about what was going on, and even though she got along surprisingly well with Winter’s mother, she seemed a little distant and unhappy.

  Which was probably normal for her, so maybe nothing changed there.

  I wandered through the trees and along a narrow path that snaked its way through sticker bushes and trees. I walked this trail a thousand times over the years and it never failed to make me feel melancholy. I discovered it with Liv when we were little girls, and we called it our Secret Pathway. It led to various different things over the years: fairy kingdoms, Narnia, Hogwarts, buried treasure, dragons, and tons of other imaginary places. When we got older, we used to sneak down here and smoke clove cigarettes together and talk about boys and life and whatever we wanted.