PITCH BLACK: A DARK MAFIA BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE

by Vi Carter

“He’s older. He took dad’s disappearance badly.”

  “Disappearance? So he didn’t know what happened?”

  Willow shakes her head and looks away from me. “No.” Her lip tugged down and I want to grab her again and force her to give me more than one-word answers.

  “Why is he looking for you?”

  Willow’s hands are wrapped in front of her, she’s pushing her nails into her wrists. I’m not sure if she is aware of what she is doing. I reach across and her eyes snap open.

  “I don’t know.” Her lie fucking hurts.

  I lean back and put the car into gear. She’s silent as I drive down the street, once we get close to the house she seems to sit up straighter. I keep glancing at her, hoping she will tell me what’s going on, but she’s shut down. Driving up the drive, I notice the car. The last time we had arrived home together, she had asked me to drive away when she saw Detective Lacy’s vehicle. This time she says nothing.

  “That’s Detective Lacy’s car,” I say.

  “Yeah,” she answers numbly.

  I pull into the garage and I’m not ready to let her go. So instead of questioning her, I confide in her.

  “I think someone close to me has betrayed me.”

  Her head snaps up to me.

  “I know. I didn’t think someone close to me would do it. I have no idea how to handle it. Normally I would kill them, but this time it’s different.” I think of Fox, all we have been through. After Blitz’s doubts, I didn’t ignore my own instincts too. I had Fredrick keep an eye on him. I paid the price with Fredrick’s life. Fredrick had confronted him over his visits to the sewers below us. He must have been tipping off the Rat Pack all this time. Fredrick should have left it to me. I still didn’t understand his full involvement with the Rat Pack. All I knew was that he had some involvement with them.

  Willow’s eyes water and she looks like she’s caving in. Now I think maybe I shouldn’t burden her with my problems. I reach across and take her hand in mine. She’s so cold. “You need to get dried, you're freezing.”

  “Rian…” She wavers, and I’m holding her tighter.

  The door to the garage opens and it’s my father. He nods, and Willow pulls her hands from me and quickly unbuckles her belt.

  The moment I step out of the car, she’s out too.

  “Detective Lacy is here. He would like a word.” I glance at Willow, her chest rises and falls rapidly.

  “Willow, you don’t have to. Go have a shower. I’ll get rid of him.”

  Willow drags her lip in-between her teeth and stares at me. She’s moving around the car.

  “No. I’ll be with him in a moment, Henry.” Willow reaches me, and I have no idea what’s going through her mind. She reaches me and takes my face in her hands.

  “I love you, Rian Steele. Don’t ever forget that.” Her words are fierce and undo me as she places a soft kiss on my lips and then she’s gone.

  I’m stunned and smiling until I look up at my father. His brows furrowed. “You and Willow?”

  “I love her, too,” I say.

  My father nods. “If you’re happy, son.”

  “When I’m with her, I am,” I admit.

  I want to go in and make sure she’s okay, but Catherine is like security on the fucking sitting room door. I can’t wait to see her face when she hears that Willow loves me.

  I linger across from Catherine in the hallway. I can’t hear what is going on in the sitting room. Each room was insulated too well for that reason. Dad knew we would be conducting business from our home.

  “Every time my daughter is with you, she comes back in a state, but that will all be ending soon.” She has a smugness to her voice that I haven’t heard before.

  “I don’t think it’s going to end Catherine. I think it’s only beginning.”

  She fights a smile. “We shall see.”

  My father is watching me from further down the hall. I think he’s still in shock over me and Willow.

  I move across the hall, closer to Catherine. She looks at me wearily. “How is Aran?”

  She inhales a sharp breath.

  “He’s been following Willow around.” I don’t ease up. “I don’t like anyone following her around. It makes me antsy.”

  “Don’t you dare touch my son!” Her words are hissed.

  I grin and move back across the hall. “Does my father know he married a liar?”

  “Leave Henry out of this. I love him.” She looks up at the man in question and gives him a smile. He can’t hear us, but he smiles back.

  “You’re going to break his fucking heart and when you do…” I grin again. “I’ll be there helping you pack.”

  The door opens, and Detective Lacy steps out. He doesn’t look happy and his gaze shoots from me to Catherine.

  “I’ll be back in twenty-four hours to collect your daughter.”

  “What do you mean?” I’m blocking him from leaving.

  “I don’t have to answer you.”

  Willow is sitting on the edge of the couch and she looks devastated. I react and grip Lacy, slamming him against the wall. Catherine squeals, but I don’t take my eyes off him.

  “What do you mean collect Willow?”

  “She’s a murderer.”

  “Stop, Rian.” Willow touches my arm and I can’t let Lacy go, but I don’t look away from Willow.

  “Did you sign anything?”

  “Rian, it doesn’t matter.”

  “It does to me.” My voice rises.

  “Let me go now or I’ll press charges for assault.”

  I slam Lacy against the wall. “Shut the fuck up.” Before turning back to Willow.

  “Did you sign anything?”

  “No.” Her hand flutters to her throat.

  I let Lacy go. “Get the fuck out of my house.”

  “I'll take you down one way or another.” He’s scrambling as he leaves.

  “That was stupid.” My father’s voice is calm but I’m not.

  “I want to go to my room.” Willow won’t look at me.

  “Tell me what happened?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Why is she so calm? I tighten my fists and her mother shifts closer to her. I’m ready to curse Catherine, but remember she had a husband who beat her. I take a step back but still don’t let Willow go.

  “You’re not leaving this hall until you tell me.”

  Willow’s smile is empty. “I made a deal with Detective Lacy.”

  “Willow, stop.” Catherine grips her arm.

  “What deal?”

  Willow reaches in and takes a small tape out of her pocket and holds it out to me. “I’m so sorry.” Her lips twist and she fights tears. “I’ll never forgive myself for even having the thought.” She steps over to me and takes my hand in hers. Turning it over, she places the small tape into the center of my palm.

  “What is this?”

  She won’t answer me.

  “What deal did you make with him and why?”

  “Catherine, if you know something, tell us.” My father sounds as frustrated as I do.

  Catherine shakes her head. “I have no idea what’s going on.”

  “You’re a fucking Liar,” I bark at Catherine, and Willow tries to move past me. I grip her arm and close my eyes, trying to control every instinct I have to pin her against the wall and force her to tell me the truth.

  “Don’t walk away from me.” She glances at me sideways. “You said you loved me in that garage. If you do, tell me what’s going on.”

  Willow’s lip tugs down. “I’m doing this because I love you, Rian. I killed my father. I’ve admitted to the crime and now I will pay the price.”

  “Your father took his life.” My dad sounds confused.

  “Oh, Henry.” Catherine whines and I don’t give a fuck about her or my father, I only care about Willow, who pulls away from me and walks up the stairs.

  “What is going on?” My father’s bark would terrify anyone, but right now, I’ve never felt so defe
ated.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  WILLOW

  “What have you done?” I’ve been sitting on the bed waiting for my mother to arrive. The drink has worn off, but for the first time, I really feel like I’ve shed my armor, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll be okay.

  “The right thing.”

  “The right thing?” My mother marches over to me without closing the door. I know what she has lost in all of this, what she will lose now. “You decide to do the right thing now? You couldn’t do it when you were ten years old. Why now?!” Her face reddens with rage, but for the first time I don’t feel fear.

  “Because I’ve had enough. You won’t be punished…”

  She cuts me off. “Punished. What do you think will happen to my life here when Henry finds out?” My mother covers her mouth with a trembling hand.

  “I’ll explain it to him.”

  “Don’t.” My mother’s nose curls up in disgust. “You’ve done enough.”

  “I’ve handed myself over so you don’t have to go to prison.” I’m rising off the bed. “I was expecting a bit of gratitude.”

  My mother looks ready to combust, and a scream of anguish has me flinching.

  “All we had to do was hand Rian over and our lives would be perfect.” She sobs through her hands.

  “I love him.” My words sound so weak against her anguish.

  “What about me?” She turns her back on me, but I see her face in the mirror. “You still have time. You can still change your mind.”

  “No.” I stand up, knowing that I can’t do that. “I won’t do that to him.”

  “You know what they will do to you in prison?” She’s facing me again.

  My stomach twists painfully, I’ve been trying so hard not to think of that part or I’ll run.

  “Beat you and maybe even rape you. Someone like you will be handed around like loose change. Easily attained but a throwaway at the end.” She’s shaking her head with pure temper and fear.

  I quickly grab my mother and hug her.

  “Get off me.”

  I don’t let her go but hold her tighter. Her pain wasn’t this moment. There were so many of them built on each other. She stops fighting, and I let each bruise, all the swollen flesh, and broken bones, flitter through my mind.

  “I love you,” I say into her ear.

  My mother’s sobs take over every part of her and she lets me hold her like I did when I was a child. It’s a comfortable place for me, as I spent far too many hours doing this, and it is my small way of taking away some of her pain. This felt normal.

  My attention is dragged to Henry, who stands at the door. I have no idea where this leaves them, but I hope he understands why she lied.

  “Can I have one more moment with her?” I ask Henry. My mother stiffens in my arms. Henry nods and walks away from the door. Releasing my mother, I close it.

  “I need you to listen to me. Don’t mention your deal with Lacy. It’s on me. Henry will forgive you for not telling him what I did. But if he thinks you were even considering handing Rian over, he never will.”

  My mother is too lost in her own pain, I’m not sure if she is also remembering all the beatings and me holding her after.

  “Mother.” I snap my fingers and she looks up at me.

  “You have got to listen to me.”

  She nods and pushes me aside as she half stumbles from the room. I’m alone once again, and even though I know I made the right choice, my heart still hurts at the thoughts of leaving Rian. I’ve been waiting for him to follow me or ask more questions. Down in the hall I was terrified of his reaction when he discovered what I was going to do, but now I want nothing more than to see him. It might be my last time. I leave my room and search for him.

  Pushing open the set of wooden double doors that had always driven fear into my heart, they do now but for different reasons. I’m afraid of him not being here—of not seeing him again. I have no idea what I want to say. I enter the room, and I’m waiting for Rian to step out from behind the partition, but he doesn’t. Stepping around it, I’m met with empty space. My stomach twists with the thoughts of not seeing him again. The click of a button has me freezing before my voice fills the room.

  “How did you do it?”

  My voice sounds shaky.

  “Why?” Rian’s voice is filled with curiosity.

  “I don’t know. It doesn’t really matter.”

  “I smothered him.”

  The click of the tape stops our conversation.

  “So tell me, Willow, what were you going to do with the tape?” I hate the pain I hear in Rian’s voice.

  I can’t turn and look at him. “Give it to Detective Lacy. He was meeting me here tonight at 9.30, and I was handing the tape over.”

  “Hmmm.” Rian’s voice is behind me, and I shiver at how close he is. “What were you getting in return?”

  “My freedom. My brother discovered my father's body and rang it in. Detective Lacy made a deal with me; if I handed you over I would be free, and his death would be noted as a suicide.”

  “How long have you been playing me?” Rian appears in front of me, and I want to run. His face is tight with anger. I don’t blame him, but my words won’t make this any better.

  “A few days.” My heart beats rapidly in my chest, and I want nothing more than to touch his face. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t.” He shakes his head. “I should have known.” Rian runs his hands through his hair and steps away from me. “How much did you report to him?”

  I shake my head. “Nothing. I didn’t.”

  “More lies.” Rian holds up his hand, and I see the struggle on his face.

  “I love you, Rian.” I take a step towards him, and his eyes snap open. The moss-green is so dark, and I hate the fury I see in them.

  He clears the rest of the space between us, his hand grips my neck, and the blood roars in my ears. He would kill anyone for this, I didn’t really think I was an exception. He’s pushing me backward, his rage tightening his hand around my throat.

  “You betrayed me.”

  My vision blurs. I blink when my back hits the wall, and tears spill. “I didn’t,” I whisper, keeping my eyes closed. I can't bear to see the hate in him. Not for me.

  “You did.” His roar has me turning my face away from his. His fingers tighten further around my neck. The pain flashes down my body.

  “Just do it!” I can’t look at him as I shout. “Just end it.”

  His hand is gone, and I open my eyes.

  “You think I’m going to kill you?”

  “You said that’s what you do to people who betray you.” He had said that in the car.

  He takes a step back to me, and a whimper falls from my lips. I won’t beg.

  His gaze flickers to my neck before they travel up to my eyes. I want to ask him not to look at me like that. I turn my face away from him, but he touches my chin and brings my gaze back to his. His touch is a contradiction from the rage I see on his face.

  A muscle works in his jaw before his lips slam down on mine—my body sighs against his. His touch is rough as he tugs down my trousers. His belt rattles as he unbuckles it. His large hands grip my thighs painfully as he pulls me up. I wrap my legs around his waist, and his kiss turns savage. His erection sits at my opening, and he doesn’t pause as he slams it in. There is a moment my system is stunned with the severity of his movements, but he slams into me again, and pain mingles with a want for Rian. He fucks me hard against the wall. All his anger is in each severe pump of his cock.

  His lips leave my mouth, and he buries his head in my neck as he pumps so fast I think he’s lost in a frenzy. I join him and call out his name as my own body reaches a peak, and I’m crashing as he pours himself inside me. His movements slow down, and I’m coming back to reality. I’m waiting for Rian to remove himself from me and walk away, but he doesn’t. His head is still buried in my neck. His heavy breaths fan out along the sensitive skin that burns now fro
m the recent abuse. He’s still inside me, but his hands are gentler on my thighs.

  I don’t want to leave his arms. I inhale the smell of him and hope I can remember it. My hands tighten around his neck, and I don’t allow myself to cry but try to find comfort in his arms.

  “You should have come to me.” His words are so heavy.

  It didn’t matter now. I don’t say those words, but it didn’t. Maybe if I had gone to him, things would have been different, but I hadn’t.

  He removes himself from me, and slowly lowers me to the floor. I’m not ready to let him go, but now I have to. He leans down and pulls up my trousers first before his own.

  More guilt churns in my stomach that I had even considered handing him over.

  The anger isn’t as severe in his eyes when he looks at me. His jaw tightens as his gaze moves down to my neck. My heart pounds as he leans in and places a kiss on my burning neck.

  “From this moment on, you are going to do exactly what I say.” He places another kiss against my neck. “You are going to ring Detective Lacy, tell him you changed your mind. That you were frightened.”

  I’m ready to push Rian away. His head snaps up, and his eyes are on fire, pinning me in place.

  “Don’t question me, Willow. You tell him you want to meet up tomorrow just outside the airstrip. Where you work, it’s the safest place to meet. “

  Rian reaches into his pocket and takes out a small handheld recorder. “You will play a bit of this for him across the phone to show him you're serious. Tell him you want your father’s death written up as a suicide, and you want the paperwork before you hand this over. That’s the trade.”

  I’m shaking my head. He doesn’t get it. “I’m not handing you over.”

  “I need you to trust me. Just do as I say, Willow.” He presses a kiss to my lips and the recorder into my hand.

  “Now, make the call.”

  The image of Rian wavers, and I shake my head. “I’m not handing you over.”

  He exhales loudly with annoyance. “You’re so stubborn. I won’t be going anywhere.”

  “You will if I hand this over.”

  Rian grips my face again. “I need you to trust me. I’m not asking for much, Willow.”