by K. G. Reuss
Dirty Little Secrets
Kings of Bolten
K.G. Reuss
Book One
Copyright Dirty Little Secrets © 2021 by K.G. Reuss
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
For the bad boys with the giant, swinging cocks and the attitude they can back up. We fantasize about you.
Contents
Foreword
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Eight
Twenty-Nine
Thirty
Thirty-One
Thirty-Two
Thirty-Three
Thirty-Four
Thirty-Five
Thirty-Six
Thirty-Seven
Thirty-Eight
Thirty-Nine
Forty
Forty-One
Forty-Two
Forty-Three
Forty-Four
Forty-Five
Forty-Six
Forty-Seven
Forty-Eight
Forty-Nine
Fifty
Fifty-One
Epilogue
About the Author
Church
Double Dare You
Acknowledgments
Also by K.G. Reuss
Foreword
Greetings!
I come to you from a place of warning. Dirty Little Secrets isn’t a story for those who struggle with triggers. This book contains many dark elements and themes from drug use, to violence, to things that may make you whimper. I urge you to proceed with caution.
And remember, this is a story. I made it up. Mostly. Suspend disbelief and just enjoy the journey. Life is so much better when you just let go.
Happy Reading
-K
One
Bianca
“Bianca, did you hear what I said?”
I ground my teeth as I closed my book before looking over to the owner of the deep, condescending voice.
David D’Angelou. Cutthroat man. Egotistical prick. Guy with suspicious business relations. And my new stepdad.
“Sorry. I was trying not to.” I added a sugar-sweet smile just to grate at his nerves.
He narrowed his dark eyes at me. A scowl settled on the face my mother couldn’t seem to get enough of. But I’d had enough of his face the moment she’d hauled him through our front door, her legs wrapped around his waist and his pants undone.
She didn’t know I’d come home from Holly’s house instead of staying the night. She didn’t know I was on the couch sleeping. Or was trying to sleep before David had my mother’s legs spread on our kitchen table like Christmas dinner, jackhammering away inside her like she was one of his construction sites.
I’d barely been able to bolt out of the living room before the nausea roiled so hard in my guts that I spent twenty minutes heaving my two-day old, leftover pizza into the toilet.
David didn’t leave after that. Instead, he’d towed our poverty-stricken asses to his massive house in the ritzy part of town where he’d promptly married my mother before the start of summer. It had turned us into a big happy family.
Which brought us to his current scowl.
“Are all your things packed?” he demanded, snatching my book out of my hands. He glanced at the title and rolled his eyes. “We leave for Bolten Academy in the morning.”
“Yes,” I snapped, getting to my feet and grabbing my book back from him. “And don’t touch my things.”
“Need I remind you that your things are now my things—”
“I know, I know!” I tossed my book onto the couch and turned to face him, my blood pumping in anger at the over-privileged sack of meat. “You made all of this possible.” I waved my hands around the large, pristine room decorated in varying shades of white. Sitting on the couch warranted a panic attack because heaven forbid I let my dirty fingers touch something. Being a snooty little brat wasn’t my thing, but David pushed buttons on me I didn’t even know I had.
“You’d do well to remember it, Bianca. I dragged you and your mother out of the gutters.”
“You also screwed my mother on the table my dad bought and we ate at as a family,” I snapped back, balling my hands into fists.
He advanced on me, a dark glint in his eyes. I stumbled away, my heart thudding unevenly in my chest. The back of my legs banged against the glass coffee table as David reached out and gripped my face painfully in his hand. He forced my head up so I was staring him in the eyes.
“Watch your mouth,” he hissed, his gaze trailing over my face.
I winced as he squeezed my face tighter, my hands moving to grasp his in an effort to remove his painful grip.
“I have the power here, Bianca. You’ve already seen what I’m capable of.”
I whimpered as he leaned in, his eyes locked on mine.
“You know who you belong to.” He pressed his lips against my forehead and let out a deep breath. His grip loosened on my cheeks before his hands trailed down to my waist, and he tugged me against his body.
“I saved you and your mother from hell. You’d be wise to listen and do what you’re told. You are property I bought and paid for.”
“You delivered us from one hell into another,” I rasped, my chest aching with fear. I wouldn’t back down though.
My mother wasn’t oblivious to what David did. But she’d changed since my dad ran out on us. She craved this life of luxury, status, and money. No matter the cost. So when I’d told her how David was with me, she’d given me a brittle smile and told me I needed to suck it up and do whatever he said.
I hadn’t seen my dad in nearly two years. People talked about him having gambling debts and running from the De Santis family, a mob syndicate with a far reach. My dad was a kind, loving man. I couldn’t fathom him getting wrapped up in mob activity, but I also couldn’t explain why he’d ghosted us either, leaving us with nothing but a goodbye letter in the form of his divorce from my mom.
David let out a soft chuckle, his breath blowing against my face. He pushed my long, blonde hair off my neck before nuzzling against my skin. I froze in his grip. David was a dirty asshole, but he’d never done that to me before.
“Don’t play hard to get, Bianca,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my sensitive skin.
I squeezed my eyelids closed, trying to calm my racing heart.
“I’m giving you the best of everything. As much as it kills me, I’m sending you away to get the finest education a girl like you can get. I’m giving you a future. Don’t be so ungrateful.”
“I don’t want it,” I growled, finding the nerve to shove against him. I let out a cry as he fisted my hair and threw me to the floor in a painful heap. Frightened, I stared up at him, awaiting his next move.
He didn�
��t disappoint me. In a flash, he yanked my hair again, forcing me to stare up at him.
“We have guests coming tonight. Get cleaned up and meet us in the living room this evening. There are some things you need to be aware of before you leave for Bolten. An announcement needs to be made. This was part of my payment. I intend on collecting.”
He released me, and I sagged to the floor, his footsteps fading as he left the room.
I had no idea what he was talking about. Payment? For what?
The man was nuts. As much as I didn’t want to go to Bolten Academy on his dime, the alternative of living under his thumb in this house was more than I could stomach. It was only a matter of time before he was doing more than threatening me and tossing me to the floor.
I glared from my seat on the couch as David entered the room with Sergio and Marian Ivanov behind him. Their son Mikhail—or Hail as everyone called him— sauntered in last. Hail was my age. If I didn’t know a thing about him, I’d think he was hot. Beyond hot. Blond hair. Muscles, a panty-soaking smirk. Blue eyes.
But I did know him, and I knew he was a piece of work, and not in a good way. He was cruel and power hungry. He didn’t pull any punches, making crass remarks to me whenever I saw him and letting me know he’d fuck me or fuck me over, depending on his mood. I wagered his dad was the same way, considering he was friends with David.
“Hey, sewer rat,” Hail greeted me softly, his smirk in place.
“Shut up,” I muttered, folding my arms over my chest.
He sank down beside me as my mother shifted in her chair.
“I’m glad you’re on time, Bianca. Heaven knows it’s not one of your strong suits.” David’s voice was soft, but his eyes glinted at me.
“Guess that shows you how dedicated I am to making sure I’m around enough to annoy the shit out of you,” I shot back, still pissed over the living room scene from earlier.
He sneered at me, a warning look, as Mom let out a breathy laugh, trying to diffuse an increasingly tense situation.
“We’re so glad you could join us for dinner tonight,” Mom tittered to the Ivanovs.
Marian gave her the once over and simpered. I rolled my eyes.
“It’s an exciting night,” Sergio proclaimed in his thick Russian accent, grinning at me and Hail.
“Indeed.” David offered Sergio a glass of bourbon.
“Darling, is that nail color really the right choice for you?” Marian sniffed at me as she took in my black nail polish.
“I don’t know, Marian,” I answered back brightly. “The dark lord requested it. And I’m a very bad girl—”
“Bianca,” Mom hissed, a forced smile on her face.
David outright glared at me.
Sergio cleared his throat as he cast Marian a look like he’d stepped in something slimy. “I’m sure Bolten will whip her into shape,” he cleared his throat. “It’s the best of the best.”
“Of course. She’s a little rough around the edges, but Bolten will certainly straighten her out.” David sipped his bourbon, glaring at me over the glass.
“May I be excused?” I started.
The only saving grace was Hail had been silent the entire time.
“Not yet, sweetheart,” Mom laughed. “We have an announcement.”
“We may as well do it now so they can get to know one another better this evening,” Marian added, glancing fondly at Hail.
He shifted beside me.
What the hell was happening? I hope they didn’t want me and Hail to hang out.
“I’m actually busy tonight, so I won’t be able to entertain—” I started once again, but David focused on me, making me snap my mouth closed.
“Bianca, this is important. Your mother and I decided it was best if you take my last name. The process has been completed. I’ve adopted you. You are now a D’Angelou.”
“The hell I am!” I shouted, jumping to my feet. I shot a look at my mother who couldn’t bother to meet my gaze. “How could you?”
It certainly wasn’t the news I was expecting. Not once since I’d known David had he ever expressed an interest in me, other than just being a complete prick at every opportunity.
“Bianca, David is our family now. It only makes sense for you to carry his name.”
“I won’t do it. I refuse.” I folded my arms over my chest and glared at David.
The bastard had the audacity to give me a smile.
“You don’t have a choice. Now sit down. It’s been done. But don’t worry, my sweet daughter. It won’t be your name for long.”
I huffed and sank back down, angry my choice had been taken from me. Furious I’d been in the dark about the entire thing. Outraged that my own mother had allowed it to happen.
“Mikhail.” David finally stopped glaring at me and peered at Hail. “Bianca. Tonight is important. We would’ve thrown a party to celebrate, but it didn’t work out with our schedules being what they are. We’ll mark the occasion another time with a grand celebration.”
My gaze darted between Mom and David, my guts churning.
“We all try to marry into a life of convenience. Whenever possible wealth and influence are the goals,” David started. “I acquired a deal some time ago which needs to be upheld.”
Mom stared down at her hands. Her leg bounced for a moment.
“I saved this family from certain heartache, and as a result, I got a beautiful daughter.” David leveled his gaze on me. “Bianca, I don’t think you know how truly captivating you are. You put the other girls in our circle to shame. The only downfall was that you weren’t one of us. Until now.”
Chills rushed through me as I glanced at Hail who wore a quizzical expression on his face.
“Your mother wanted me to connect you with my contacts in the modeling world. I could, and I have no doubt you’d succeed. However, I found a better place for you, and it repays a debt owed.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I demanded, peering back at my mom again.
She avoided eye contact with me. Sergio smiled. Marian wouldn’t even look in my direction, the ugly, tight smile she always wore fixed on her face.
“You were trash when I picked you up. I gave you a life. Your father wanted that before he left.”
“How the hell do you know what my dad wanted?” I demanded, sitting forward.
David let out a soft chuckle. “We had a business transaction. Your mother just concluded it this afternoon, right, Dana?”
Mom nodded, still not meeting my eyes.
“What’s going on?” I got to my feet, nerves taking over.
Sergio spoke up, “Mikhail needs to marry like anyone else within our circle. Since David managed to acquire such a beautiful daughter, it only makes sense to combine our families and become one of the most powerful in the city.” Sergio’s words did nothing for the anxiety gripping me.
The blood drained from my face as the possibilities took hold.
“Hail needs a wife,” David continued.
My guts churned faster.
“That wife will be you, Bianca.”
“The hell it will!” I shouted.
David grabbed hold of my arm as I launched myself forward. I fought against him, but Hail was quick to get to his feet and tug me back.
“Easy, my little rat,” Hail hissed in my ear, sending shivers over me.
The fact he wasn’t fighting this union made my heart trip in my chest.
“Dana, the news has been delivered. You may leave.” David didn’t bother to look at her.
She rose to her feet, not saying a word.
“Marian, the same goes for you.” Sergio’s voice had taken on a dark tone.
I stared at my mom in horror as I struggled against Hail’s strong hold.
“Mom! Mom!” I called out to her retreating back. “Don’t let him do this!”
“It’s done,” was all she said as she left the room with Marian.
Bitch.
Hail wrapped his arms around me, draw
ing my back flush against his chest and holding me in place.
“You have been selected, Bianca. Don’t disappoint me. It will not end well,” David growled.
“I’m not doing this,” my voice shook as Hail tightened his hold on me.
“You don’t get a choice, girl,” Sergio snarled, advancing on me. He stopped in front of me and looked down at my chest, licking his lips.
Nausea curled through my stomach.
“You’re gorgeous.” He reached out and cradled my face.
I trembled against Hail.
“I only give Mikhail the best. You’ll bear him beautiful children.”
“Fuck you,” I hissed, tears threatening my lashes.
Hail chuckled behind me, his lips brushing against my ear. “Oh, baby, don’t worry. We’ll get to the fucking part soon enough. Maybe I’ll let my friends watch me take it from you.”
Sergio and David shared a dark laugh as I clenched my jaw at Hail’s words.
“This is how it’s going to work, Bianca. You’ll marry Mikhail and become an Ivanov. Our families will unite. We’ve set the date for the wedding right after you graduate next summer. That gives you a long courtship. In the meantime, you’ll retain your virginity for Mikhail as part of our agreement. It could be tonight or a month from now. We don’t care. That’s for him to decide. But you won’t see other boys. Tonight, you’re officially Mikhail’s fiancée. Our entire society will know of this, so you’ll be elevated quite high among us.”
