Exposed

by Rachel Van Dyken

  Exposed

  An Eagle Elite Novel

  by Rachel Van Dyken

  Copyright © 2018 RACHEL VAN DYKEN

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

  EXPOSED

  Copyright © 2018 RACHEL VAN DYKEN

  ISBN-13: 978-1-7321428-4-8

  Cover Art by Jena Brignola

  Formatting by Jill Sava, Love Affair With Fiction

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Front Matter

  Dedication

  A Note From RVD

  Eagle Elite Family

  Exposed

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Chapter Fifty Two

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Envy

  About The Author

  Also By Rachel Van Dyken

  To all the readers who needed more mafia ;)

  This ones for you, bood in, no out.

  A NOTE FROM RVD

  Hey everyone!

  Thank you so much for purchasing Exposed, for those of you who don't follow my newsletter, this was written as a serial in order to make sure that all of my readers were able to enjoy MORE mafia all throughout the year without having to wait in between releases. I released a chapter a week and I think it was a super fun experience for all of us. (Check out the original newsletter cover above!) I know some of you wanted to wait until you could binge read which is why we did a limited release in book form. Remember this book will only be up for seven days before it goes into the RVD Vault. I’m so thankful to my team who helped me with this, who told me I wasn't crazy. Jill, Nina, Becca, Angie, all of my moderators and admins for Rockin’ Readers, thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping make this a success. And to Anthony, thanks for the killer idea!

  Hope you guys enjoy!

  HUGS

  RVD

  EAGLE ELITE FAMILY

  Author note: I’m adding this in here just in case you guys need a refresher on who belongs to each family and which couple belongs to each book.

  Nixon Abandonato married to Trace Alfero (Granddaughter to Frank Alfero). Nixon is the boss to the Abandonato family. (Elite/Elect)

  Frank Alfero married to Joyce Alfero (deceased). Boss to the Alfero Family (for now). (Elite & Enchant)

  Chase Abandonato married to Mil De Lange (Phoenix De Lange’s sister, deceased, RAT). Mil was the new mob boss to the De Lange Family, one of the most hated in The Cosa Nostra. (Entice) Chase later marries his true love Luciana De Lange (Eulogy).

  Tex Campisi married to Mo Abandonato (Nixon’s twin sister). Tex is the capo dei capi, which basically means he’s their version of the godfather. (Elicit)

  Luca Nicolasi (deceased). Never married, but had a small affair with the love of his life Joyce Alfero, this produced two children. Dante and Valentina Nicolasi. (Enchant & Enrapture in the Hurt anthology)

  Phoenix De Lange married to Bee Campisi (Tex’s sister). He is the new boss to the Nicolasi dynasty. He knows everyone’s secrets and keeps black folders on every individual close to them, himself included. (Ember)

  Sergio Abandonato married to Andi Petrov (Russian mafia, deceased). Sergio was forced to marry her for protection, and later marries his soul mate Valentina Nicolasi. (Elude, Empire)

  Dante Nicolasi married to El De Lange. Dante is the new boss to the Alfero Family. (Enrage)

  Ax Abandonato married to Amy De Lange. He’s a made man for the Abandonato Family. (Bang, Bang)

  Nikolai Blazik married to Maya Petrov (both Russian Mafia). He makes a brief appearance in many EE books, and is known as The Doctor. (Rip — EE spinoff)

  The Petrov Family is the Russian dynasty out to destroy all five Sicilian families. They have now spread from Chicago, to New York, and even Seattle.

  EXPOSED

  Verb: Make something visible typically by uncovering it. She was left exposed and I took her.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Tanit

  “New school. New Rules.” My father hung his head and sighed, like he was more disappointed than I was about the move from New York to Chicago. We all knew why it had to happen.

  Life or death.

  I wish I was kidding.

  I wasn’t.

  “This will be good for you, no?” His weathered face betrayed his sixty-two years. I’d been a surprise, a miracle child, and because of that, I’d basically done nothing but live under the protection of my parents and the Family for the last eighteen years of my life.

  The only real contact I’d had with the outside world had been via my computer and the phone my dad gave me for emergency purposes only — meaning my data plan really didn’t allow me to do anything other than send a few texts.

  All of my experiences were from home school.

  Grocery shopping.

  The rare visits my where my mom let me go with her to Saks or Barneys, and even then, it was almost always with a security detail — I mean what’s the point if you can’t even enjoy yourself without someone pressing their earpiece or giving you side-eye while you try to pick out a bra!

  Embarrassing.

  God, so embarrassing.

  “Yeah.” I finally found my voice and reached my hand out. My dad took it, squeezing it between his leather gloves before releasing it and giving his fingers a little shake before checking his Rolex.

  No emotion.

  Show nothing.

  Be nothing.

  Because in our world.

  Emotion meant only one thing.

  Weakness.

  My hand fell to my side.

  Lifeless.

  I kept in the shudder that always threatened to escape whenever my b
ody longed for more.

  Like a hug.

  A touch.

  Something.

  Anything.

  “The dean’s expecting you.” Dad put his hand on the small of my back and handed me my messenger bag — nothing but the best of the best for Italian royalty, right?

  Only we weren’t royal to them.

  Not anymore.

  Not since the split.

  Not since my dad decided there was a pasture that looked a lot greener — not with life, but with money.

  He jumped sides.

  Abandoned ship.

  We’d been in bed with the Petrov’s ever since.

  Another reason we’d left New York.

  A girl my age shouldn’t know these things.

  A girl my age also shouldn’t eavesdrop.

  Then again, a man my dad’s age should know better.

  Which meant only one thing.

  He wanted me to know.

  And the sick part was when I laid my head on the pillow at night, sometimes I wondered if it was because he refused to let the secrets die with him — if it came to that.

  So, I carried them.

  And they ate me alive.

  “Tanit,” He said my name softly, like it was beautiful, like we were having one of those father daughter moments I dreamed of, like the stupid Full House re-runs where the music turns soft and hugs follow. “I do love you.”

  I sucked in my bottom lip and nodded.

  He walked off.

  Leaving me alone.

  For the first time in my life without protection.

  I turned on my heel.

  College students were everywhere. I was on a path that had a sign pointing toward the admin building.

  Alone.

  Then again, I’d always been alone, hadn’t I?

  This was just a different, scarier version, filled with kids who would kill me if they knew the truth — and filled with adults who would do the same.

  I was at the safest and yet the most dangerous school in the world.

  My only job?

  Graduate without getting killed.

  A guy sailed by me on a skateboard, nearly shoving me onto the grass.

  Yeah, shouldn’t be a problem.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Dom

  “Strike three.”

  I grinned smugly as another student was punished for something I did. It’s not like I could actually take the blame for lighting the mascot on fire, I mean what would my adopted parents think?

  That I was acting out because I was still being forced to finish my senior year?

  Absolutely.

  I.

  Hated.

  College.

  But resistance was futile and all that shit — my “parents” wanted me to have an education beyond gun science, and how to properly shake someone down when they didn’t give you a fair price on weed.

  What? Fair’s, fair.

  Leo gave me a surly look before he stomped off toward the pathetic little classroom teachers sent unruly kids to. What good was he as a best friend if he couldn’t at least take the fall for me?

  I made a mental note to thank him later.

  It’s not that my reputation wasn’t notorious; it was that I had better shit to do than sit on my ass for three hours and do homework I’d already finished weeks ago.

  I was so done with this boring ass place.

  With its even more boring sheep-like students.

  And teachers, teachers who bowed down to me like I was in a position of authority — it had been that way since I was six.

  And it was really starting to piss me the hell off.

  I blamed my parents.

  It’s not their fault.

  Well it kind of was.

  In a way.

  Things were — complicated.

  Especially when you were Nixon Abandonato’s pathetic little orphan.

  It’s how I referred to myself.

  Because when my real mom was tragically killed in a bomb that shouldn’t have gone off — in a hotel she shouldn’t have been at in the first place — he and his wife Trace took me in.

  The last of the line.

  That was me.

  And most days.

  I wished I would have been in that hotel with her.

  The only memory I carried was one filled with blood.

  And a childhood where my mom constantly hid me behind her for fear that someone would shoot at us — better it be her than the heir, right?

  I shook my head in disgust.

  The mafia was a messed-up place.

  If anything, living with Nixon was proof of that.

  I called him my dad to piss him off.

  And it never fucking worked.

  He just smiled and walked off — most days threatening me with physical harm I never doubted he’d follow through on.

  What was worse was that he was only ten years older than me.

  Thirty-one to my twenty-one.

  Hell.

  “Setting the mascot on fire,” came a familiar voice. I groaned and momentarily thought about making a run for it. “Not very original.”

  I turned on my heel.

  “Dad.”

  Nixon’s blue eyes narrowed. “Funny, you remind me why we never had more than three kids.”

  “Lucky you! Now you have four.” I crossed my bulky arms.

  “Damn right I’m lucky.” He slapped me on the back then shoved me down the hall, the guy was a lethal beast, and I’d like to think I could take him on a good day, but he still had at least twenty pounds of muscle on his frame over me. “I have a… favor.”

  My ears all but dropped from my head and exploded. “A favor?”

  “Yes.” Once we walked out into the sunlight, he put on his aviators and began to walk. I followed. Five men stepped out of the shadows and surrounded us on all sides. Yeah, my life was a freaking mafia movie come to life. “I need you to get close to someone.”

  I’d done shit for him before, but something about his tone told me that this would be different, that this wasn’t about gaining intel, stealing, learning about drugs, trafficking, how to lethally kill someone before they let out a scream or even knew you were there in the first place.

  “Who?” I drew out the word.

  He stopped and shook his head, a smile crossed his face briefly. “I hated this place.”

  Not what I expected. “Get in line, I get to burn it down first.”

  He laughed, but I schooled my features into a stony stare as I studied him. His lip ring was so out of place with the suit he was wearing, and the tattoo that peeked out from underneath the tie wrapping around his neck, yeah the guy could break anyone.

  It wasn’t even funny watching him try.

  “She just enrolled.” My phone buzzed in my pocket. “All the info’s been encrypted, emailed to you. Sergio has a tracker in her bag already. I need you to make sure we get something more — permanent.”

  “Hell.” I rolled my eyes. “You want me to sleep with her, don’t you?”

  “Sleep?” He frowned. “No, Dom, I need you to screw her senseless and get her to forget her own name, then I need you to do your job — this is bigger than us.” He hung his head, “They’ve finally found you.”

  “Me?” I blinked in confusion. What the hell did they want with me?

  “You,” he repeated. “You still doubt your importance?”

  “I’m nobody.”

  He shook his head. “You’re his son — that makes you somebody. You’re a long-lost link we never even knew about until now, so that makes you important.”

  “My parents were good people.”

  “I’m not talking about the people who raised you.” Nixon shrugged. “Do your job, then maybe I’ll let you graduate early.”

  “I hate you.”

  “Feed your hate too much, and what are you left with?” Nixon tilted his head, then patted me on the shoulder and squeezed. “We do what we must to protect who we love. And
as much as it pains me to admit it, Trace loves you, the Family loves you — we all care about you even though you burn things down for attention.”

  I rolled my eyes. “The mascot was a statement about my beliefs in clothing animals, namely, Eagles.”

  He laughed. “Do us all a favor and stop hanging around Chase and Dante so much.”

  Literally, the only two guys I actually spent time with outside of school next to the rest of the scary ass Family I’d been dumped into.

  “Chase smiles,” I pointed out.

  “Maybe because he finally has something to smile about.” Nixon fired back cheerfully, “Hurry up, you’ll be late for Human Anatomy.”

  I groaned. “I know the human body. I know how to insert a blade between someone’s vertebrae, and I’m the one that has to go to class?”

  “She’ll be there,” was his only hint.

  And then I was alone.

  But not before Sergio, who I hadn’t even seen until he stopped in front of me, handed me a pack and winked.

  Have I mentioned I hate my life?

  CHAPTER THREE

  Tanit

  The dean was twice the size of my dad.

  And when he spoke, I could have sworn his secretary ducked her head and tried to actually crawl beneath her desk.

  Note to self — don’t ever get a strike.

  Because I had a feeling hiding wouldn’t work with that guy. He’d taken one look at me, handed me my class schedule, and all but kicked me out of his office, but not before I heard him utter it under his breath.

  Traitor.

  I blinked the tears back.

  Of course, the sins of the father, always fell on the shoulders of his offspring, namely me.

  I carried them with me.

  I tended to my father’s secrets like dirty wildflowers, watering the plants, feeding them, helping them grow more and more, until the only space in my brain that wasn’t filled with them was filled with fear.

  Because that’s what secrets breed.

  Fear.

  So much of it.

  I gave my head a shake and dodged students as I kept my eyes focused on the sidewalk, and my feet planted right, left, right, left… I could do it. One year of school. One more year. For appearances’ sake.