Beautiful Prey 4
Page 1
Jessica Watkins Presents
Beautiful Prey 4
by Phoenix Daniels
Copyright © 2017 by Phoenix Daniels
Published by Jessica Watkins Presents
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Without limiting the right under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form by means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Book Blurb:
Revisit the Storm and Savelli families.
Follow along as Luca and Tammy struggle to make their union official.
Check out the steamy, but guilt ridden, love affair between Francis and Tracy, and
pray for Jack as he attempts to tame, Victoria, his hard-headed wife.
This is the story of a family, comprised of super-sexy alphas, kick-ass women, and fearless, undying love.
PROLOGUE
“Move!” Luca yelled as he tore through the ballroom, tossing chairs, and even people, out of his way as he sprinted toward Tammy. Initially, he had assumed that the threat was outside of the ballroom. But when he heard shots fired inside, Luca soon realized that he was wrong. His heart was pounding. He was in a full-on panic as he raced to his new wife. He frantically scanned the frenzied guests until he spotted Tammy. The look of terror in her eyes caused his feet to move miraculously faster. As he got closer and she came into full view, the sight of blood covering the front of her dress caused his heart to nearly stop. The dark red was a stark contrast to the crisp white of her gown.
“Tammy!” Luca shouted, causing Tammy’s eyes to connect with his.
“Luca!” she croaked, holding her arms out to him.
Just as Luca reached her, Tammy fell to her knees. He caught her just before the rest of her hit the floor. Luca’s vision blurred as he cradled Tammy in his arms. Tears welled in his eyes. Luca had never shed not even a single tear for anyone or anything; not even when his beloved father had died.
Tammy looked up with sad eyes and began to sob. He had failed her, failed to protect her as he promised. Luca released a painful groan as he held her head to his chest.
In his arms, he rocked her.
“La mia bella moglie,” he whispered.
CHAPTER 1
ANGEL
Alejandro "Angel" Medina stood at the edge the dock at Dublin Bay and supervised the shipment of weapons that were being unloaded from a cargo ship. Normally, that would've been a task for Nico, his right hand, but this shipment was more important than the rest. Since the Savellis had fallen out with the Russians, the Irish had become one of their biggest consumers. And Angel had been charged with the safe transport of the cargo. Now the new go-between for the Sicilians and the IRA (Irish Republican Army), Angel, could allow nothing to go wrong.
Angel didn’t trust the IRA. He didn't trust any political parties nor their agendas. To Angel, the IRA's political ideals were just a front to justify the capitalization from the buying and selling of illegal weapons. Truthfully, Angel couldn't care less about their political aspirations. Just like the rest, he was in it for the money.
On the other hand, Angel didn't place much trust in the Savellis either. But with them, he had a different motive; David. Angel was tired of watching his grandson from afar. And to get closer to him, he would make a deal with the devil, also known as Francis Savelli. The Savellis weren't exactly known for their diplomacy or being merciful. They were hardcore murderous gangsters. Then again, Angel was well aware that that was how others described him. But he knew the devil that he was. The Savellis, however, were cunning and unpredictable. And since Tamara had gotten involved with Luca Savelli, Angel had kept a protective eye on her and David from a distance. However, he was growing tired of his little "run-ins" with David whenever Tamara’s papa would take him to a playground or the movies. Angel wanted a relationship with his only son's child. But because of his criminal past, he feared that Tamara wouldn't allow him access to David. But if she had no problem marrying a Mafia boss, she certainly couldn't judge him.
"It's done," Jason O'Connell rasped with a strong Irish brogue.
Jason, Kelly O'Reilly’s second in command shouted something in Gaelic to his workers. They hopped off the cargo ship and headed toward a line of vans in the parking lot. Angel nodded and shook the Irishman's hand before boarding the luxury yacht that was to tail the cargo ships from Ireland to the Amalfi Coast. He had done his job by ensuring that the shipment arrived safely. Now, he could leave the cold, damp country and return home to Bolivia. He longed for the warmth of South America. But more than anything, he wanted to kick a football with his grandson. The older David got, the more he looked like his Javier. Angel took a deep breath and swallowed the sadness he felt every time he thought of his only son; his only child.
Angel made his way below deck and entered the main cabin. The yacht was his pride and joy. Angel loved the sea and most of his time was spent on the water, so it was no surprise that he began his illustrious criminal career as a pirate. Before entering the security end of sea shipments, he made a good living looting the same shipments that he now protected.
Angel took a seat in a recliner next to the large bed. But before he could get comfortable, his phone rang. It was Luca.
“Yeah,” he answered.
Luca’s tone was gruff as he ordered, “Meet me at the farmhouse.”
“I just dropped the load. We’re getting ready for departure.”
“Meet me at the farmhouse,” Luca repeated before disconnecting the call.
Hijo de puta!
Luca was a mean bastard, rude for no fucking reason. But since the Savellis were an important part of Angel’s retirement plan, he closed his eyes, prayed for patience, and left the cabin.
LUCA
Giovanni Luciano Savelli trekked across the dewy field. Lorenzo, his right hand, along with Angel Medina, walked beside him. They were headed toward the small cottage in the middle of the field.
In Luca’s opinion, Ireland was the dreary home of alcoholics and rebels. The country was cold and damp. And even though he spent most of his time in Paris, the warmth of Palermo called for him like a siren.
For the third time in less than a month, they were in Dublin. Angel Medina was in charge of the transportation and security of goods. And Luca had to admit that the arrangement was working out well. When it came to shipments by water, Angel was like Poseidon. He navigated the sea as if it was his first home. He also had the muscle needed to eliminate any threats of piracy, and he was also heavily connected with most international government agencies.
“How is my grandson?” Angel asked as they walked.
“He’s a smart-ass,” Luca responded with a chuckle. “But he’s a good boy.”
“Like his father,” Angel mumbled, more to himself. “I would like to sit down with Tamara to discuss visitation. Will you facilitate that?”
“When I’m certain he will be safe, certain of you, I will arrange a visit with my son. Until then, you’ll exercise patience.”
Angel had lost his son, Javier, to gang violence when he was just a boy, and David was the product of a teenage love affair between Tammy and his son. Understandably, Angel wanted to have a relationship with his grandson, but Tammy and David’s safety was Luca’s main concern. Angel, however, was not. He was business. And until Luca was sure th
at he wasn't a threat, his status would remain the same.
“He is not yet your son. I could just reach out to Tamara,” Angel noted, causing Luca’s steps to halt.
He turned toward Angel, closing in just enough to invade his personal space. Looking him directly in the eye, he told him, “Do not be confused, Signore Medina. My family does not work that way. As I said, you will exercise patience.”
Luca noticed that Angel hadn't flinched. He knew that David’s grandfather was by no means considered a weak man. As a matter of fact, he was what one would call a kingpin in South America. But they weren't in South America. And if need be, for his family, Luca wouldn't hesitate to crush him like a bug.
“Out of respect, Senor Savelli, I will exercise patience. But make no mistake, David is my family, and my patience will only extend so far. I will have a relationship with mi nieto.”
Luca narrowed his eyes. Who did Alejandro Medina think he was fucking with? His hand twitched, aching to knock the arrogant, overconfident motherfucker on his ass. And just as his brain and hand had come to an agreement, Lorenzo intervened.
“Aye, boss, it’s Jimmy O'Reilly,” he said, nudging Luca to look ahead.
But Luca’s dark gaze remained on Angel. “You’ll meet him when I say. No sooner.”
“Si, Senor. Now is the time for business. We will save family issues for another time.”
With that said, Luca convinced himself not to punch the gun runner in his throat. He turned and walked toward the tall Irishman.
“Let’s get this shit done so that I can get off of this molded infestation that they call land,” Luca grunted to Lorenzo. “I’d like to get back to la mio donna e figlio.”
“Si, capo. We’ll be done soon.”
Luca nodded, putting his family issues aside. He entered the cottage to forge a union that would eliminate the Russians for good.
CHAPTER 2
TAMMY
“Oh my God, Tammy, your wedding is gonna be exhausting,” Victoria groaned. “How many events do you have planned?”
Ignoring Victoria, Tammy rolled her eyes and turned away from the computer screen. She looked at Natasha, her maid of honor, and told her, “Tell your friend to shut up.”
Since Tammy and Natasha lived in Paris, and Tracy and Victoria were in Chicago, they were on a video call.
“Shut up, friend,” Natasha directed toward Victoria.
“You shut up!” Victoria shot back.
“Okay. Y’all are dancing on my last got-damn nerve. I’m disconnecting now. I actually have a real job,” Tracy said with a huff.
“Tracy, why you so damn cranky?” Natasha asked.
“Cuz she ain’t fucking!” Victoria blurted, causing the others to laugh.
“Well, why don't you just lend me, Jack? I heard that you'll share him as long as he shares with you.”
Tracy’s intention was to insult, but Victoria only chuckled.
“Sorry, sweetheart. We don't play with friends. We do have rules, ya know.”
“I can't stand yo’ ass,” Tracy mumbled with a roll of her eyes.
“Yeah, yeah, I know.”
“Ummm… Hello?” Tammy interjected. “Getting back to me and my wedding...Tasha and I will be flying in Friday for her birthday. We’re bringing one of Anna’s assistants. She’s gotta do another fitting with Victoria since she lost all the baby weight.”
Victoria had recently given birth to a baby boy. Jack Jr. was a beautiful, healthy eight pounder with his dad’s striking blue eyes and ink-black hair. The two-month-old resembled his dad remarkably; a little tiny Jack Storm. Needless to say, he was the apple of Victoria’s eye. And, along with his sister, his dad’s pride and joy.
“Hell, I haven't lost all of shit. But I might need to get measured again. By the way, how is Anna?”
Anna, or Annabella Caracciolo, was Luca’s super-famous, fashion designer mother and Tammy’s mentor. She had offered to design Tammy’s wedding gown as well as the dresses for her attendants.
“She’s a genius,” Tammy gushed. “You should see the gowns she designed. They're amazing.”
“I’ll bet they are. I can't wait to see ‘em,” Victoria responded.
Tammy couldn't have been more excited about working so closely with Anna. The wedding preparations had brought them closer, even more so than the mentorship. Anna’s talent and creativity could have only been God-given. And although House of Giovanni was a rising contender in the fashion industry, Anna never allowed the competitive nature of the fashion industry to interfere with her expert tutelage. She genuinely wanted success for Tammy and her clothing line.
“My God, this is going to be a crazy couple of months,” Tracy acknowledge with a sigh.
Between the wedding, the events leading to the wedding, and Natasha’s birthday party, they were going to be super busy. In a manner of months, they’d be traveling from Chicago to Paris, Paris to Morocco, then ultimately to Dream Island for the wedding.
“Yeah, but it’s only a few months. After that, we can go back to our boring lives,” Tammy responded, realizing the humorous nature of her statement. The proof being the chuckles coming from her friends. There was absolutely nothing boring about either of their lives.
“Yeah, but I gotta admit…I can't wait to see the island,” Victoria said with a hint of sadness.
Tammy fully understood. Iles Reveuse, or Dream Island, was an island that Jack and Victoria owned. It was ninety miles off the coast of Morocco. Except for Victoria, the friends had retreated to the island in order to lie low from a diabolical, murderous, Russian cunt with designs on vengeance.
Victoria never made it to the island. She, along with Jack’s mother and sister, Emily, had been abducted on their way to the airport. It was sad that Victoria had never visited her own island.
“Yeah, me too,” Tracy agreed. “But, I gotta go. Gotta get back to work. I’ll talk to y’all later.”
“Yeah, me too. I have a meeting in ten,” Victoria added.
“Well, it’s dinner time here. We’re meeting Gianni at La Tempete,” Tammy said.
“Where’s Luca?” Victoria asked.
“Business. Somewhere in Ireland.”
“Oh, okay. Well, have fun,” Victoria replied. “Holla at y’all later.”
“Later,” Tammy and Natasha said in unison.
As Natasha disconnected the call, Tammy stood and said, “The car is gonna be here in twenty minutes. I’m gonna go and call Luca. I wanna see if he’s got time for a quick convo.”
“Yeah, okay, convo,” Natasha chuckled. “I’ve heard your ‘convos.’ Sounds like phone sex to me.”
“Um-hm. I’m finna go rub one out, maybe two,” Tammy said with a wink before walking toward the door.
“I’ve been blessing the fuck outta your guest room,” she said over her shoulder as she walked out of the library of Natasha and Gianni’s lavish Versailles estate.
“Nasty ass,” Natasha shouted at Tammy’s back.
CHAPTER 3
TRACY
“Good morning, Miss Baker,” Kim, Tracy’s new personal assistant, hummed eagerly.
“Tracy. Please call me Tracy.”
“Yes, ma’am. There’s coffee on your desk. It’s black because I didn't know how you take it, but I left you some sugar and cream. Also, I pulled your schedule up on your computer. And everything is ready for your ten o'clock.”
“I take my coffee black. Thank you, Kim,” Tracy said as she entered her office.
She tossed her briefcase on the small conference table and walked over to her desk to retrieve her liquid crack. Tracy was terribly addicted to coffee. She’d already had two cups before she left her house. She inhaled deeply before taking a careful sip.
“Mmm,” Tracy moaned.
If her very competent new assistant were ever to become incompetent, she would always have a job with Tracy because of her mad coffee-making skills.
Tracy walked over to the window and watched the hustle and bustle of a busy Chicago.
Growing up in Louisiana, she was fascinated by big cities. There was always something going on, something to do. Her eyes landed on Storm Tower. She instantly thought of Victoria and the conversation they’d had earlier. Victoria had called her, way too early, complaining about Jack’s new assistant. Apparently, she was very high-handed and didn’t know her place. Translation…she was pretty. Tracy chuckled through Victoria’s entire rant. Her friend could never be labeled as insecure, but since having Jack Jr., Victoria was a bit self-conscious about her body. Hell, she looked amazing to Tracy. Victoria was the mother of two with a body most women would kill for. But unfortunately, that wasn't what Victoria saw when she looked in the mirror. Tracy concluded that Victoria was just hormonal.
Tracy moved away from the window and sat behind her normally chaotic desk. It was somehow in perfect order, possibly due to her PA’s apparent obsessive-compulsive disorder. She clicked the mouse to wake her computer and checked her schedule. With her ten o’clock being the only meeting for the day, she would have enough time to work on a few of her current accounts and develop new strategies to land new accounts.
Tracy was the chief operating officer of Howard and Leeman LLC, one of the biggest international marketing firms in the United States. She loved her work, and she was good at it. She was the first black person, woman or man, to acquire such a position within the firm. And it was a title she’d earned by landing more major accounts than any of her male counterparts. But even still, there were those that believed that because of Tracy’s appearance, she had to have fucked her way to the top. Their assumption couldn't have been more wrong. Tracy had never been romantically involved with anyone at work. She didn't shit where she ate.
“Miss…um…Tracy, Mrs. Storm in on the line,” Kim informed via intercom.
“Which one? Never mind. It doesn't matter. Put her through.”