The Savage One: A Mafia Romance (The Hale Mafia Book 3)

by BL Mute

  He drops his smile, doing his best to be serious. “Lay it on me.”

  “Blake Lucia Hale.”

  “Kind of has a ring to it.” He smiles.

  I nod and place my hand over his. “Yeah. I wasn’t going to give her a middle name. Just keep it Blake Hale for my dad and Teddy. But you’ll be here helping me with her. Loving her, telling her about her dad and badass uncle. I felt it was only right she have a little piece of you too.”

  His smile grows. “I can’t wait to tell Julius. He’s going to be so fucking jealous.”

  I laugh. Not much has changed in the past five months between them. They still talk their shit and have disagreements, but I feel the distance has helped in a way. They each have their own space and live by their own rules. No one is controlling them anymore or telling them what to do.

  Once we settled in, we adapted a new routine with my bed rest. I’m allowed to be up and about for two hours every day, so I use that time to shower, stretch, and anything else I may want to do. But once a month, we make a trip to Northridge Heights to see Carl, Julius, and Teddy. It’s nice to be able to go see them and make sure all is well, but it’s even nicer to leave and not have to worry about the dealings going on there.

  With Sebastian running the gun and drug supply now, things seem to be smoother. Maybe it’s just because we don’t have that burden anymore. He’s kept his word thus far and is doing shit pretty clean. After Emil’s guy came for us, we had suspicions it was Sebastian who sent him, but he’s never admitted to it. Normally, we’d keep pushing, but what’s done is done. And we haven’t heard about any murders or turf wars, so I guess he’s doing something right. He even offered the casino to Julius, but he turned it down. None of us want to be in his debt in any way.

  And Julius has done phenomenal with the club. Things kind of went downhill after Teddy’s death, but he’s revamped it and turned it back into the hottest spot in Northridge Heights. I’m sure he’s doing other things, maybe even running some rackets, but he won’t confirm or deny it.

  My new motto is ignorance is bliss. If I don’t know about it, I don’t have to worry about it. I feel confident Carl is keeping him in check when it comes to things, and he also has Cat for support. All in all, everyone seems to be doing great, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted.

  Lucas stands and grabs my hand, pulling me up. “You ready?”

  I nod and slip my flip-flops back on. “This will be the last time we can visit for a while. I don’t think she’ll last too much longer in here.” I bounce my fingers over my stomach.

  “I don’t either,” he chuckles.

  Every time we’ve come to visit Teddy, I haven’t even got out of the car. I’ve been good, letting Charlie have her moments and get over everything that happened, but I’d be lying if I said I was over it.

  I’ve tried to tell myself let the past live in the past, but it’s hard when it affects the person you love. The nightmares have finally stopped for Charlie, but I’ll never forget having to wake up and hold her to chase the demons away. Teddy did that. He hurt her in more ways than I probably know, and that’s something I can’t forgive him for, even if he is dead. But I made a promise to myself and him that I would take care of her, and I feel he has the right to at least know I’m keeping my word.

  As we pull through the arched gate, Charlie’s hand tenses in mine. “It’s okay, baby.”

  She nods, biting her lip and looking out the window. I feel she’s to a point that these visits hurt her more than anything, but she does it for Blake. She has it in her mind that Blake needs to know her father and the only way to do that is to stay close to him.

  I slide the car into park, then step out and circle the hood. When I make it to Charlie’s door, I open it and help her out. “I’ll come with you this time.” Her eyes light up in a pained way, but she doesn’t object. I know she needs me this time.

  I leave her by the car as I open the truck and pull out the potted flowers I brought. Their blue/purplish petals spill down the stems, a little wilted from the drive but still standing tall. I carry them in one hand by the base of the elegant pot, then wrap my other hand around Charlie’s waist.

  We walk inside in silence. I don’t point out what I want her to see, because I want her to notice on her own. She walks to his tomb and perches herself on the edge of the step next to the crying angel. She tells him everything I assume she does every time. How Blake is growing, and she’s estimated to be around six pounds now, how she’s able to handle the smell of eggs, and keeping up with the bed rest per the doctor’s orders. Once she’s done, it’s almost like she’s out of words, so she stands, kisses his plaque, then turns to me.

  I step forward now that her moment with him is over and set the flowers on top of his tomb. “I finally took her to the beach, boss.”

  I don’t feel anything else needs to be said. If by some stroke of fate he is listening, he’ll know exactly what I mean.

  When I turn back to Charlie, she’s studying the plates I asked Carl and Julius to have installed. Under Teddy’s there is a blank space with the Hale name following it, intended for Blake, and on the plate under mine, Charlie’s name is etched with no dates.

  “What is this?” she asks, stepping closer to run her fingers over her name. “I thought I would be laid with Teddy.” She doesn’t sound angry or upset. Her voice is genuine and confused.

  I come behind her and look over her shoulder. “I wanted to make sure when the time comes, you’ll be safe—you’ll be with someone who loved you. I never intend to leave or hurt you.”

  She nods, then glances behind us to Teddy’s. “And Blake will be with him?”

  “She will. I know the way she came about isn’t ideal, but I have no doubt he would have loved her. It will be his way to protect her in the afterlife. We aren’t religious, but we do have some beliefs.”

  Her green eyes catch mine as tears start to well. “I’m yours.”

  I nod and pull her into my chest. “You’ve always been mine, Flower.”

  The End.

  With Charlie’s last visit for a while out of the way, I can finally do what I’ve been waiting to do. Over the past few months, I’ve been slowly chipping away at Cat’s walls, making her tell me all of the fucked-up details of the shit she went through. If there was another way to do it, I would, but this is too important to skip around.

  After seeing what my mom went through, it hurt. But when I saw the same thing happen to Charlie, something in me snapped. I’m not the greatest person. I’ve done some sketchy things, but I know right from wrong. Something I don’t think Teddy or the disgusting fucks who hurt Cat understood.

  I guess I can sympathize with Teddy in a way. There was always a method to his madness, but that doesn’t make it any more right. Lucas and I both agreed which is one of the many reasons we decided to pay him back in the way he deserved.

  But when I saw Cat in the position she was in, knowing no one was going to help her, it did nothing but fuel me forward. She needed someone to help her—someone to protect her. Someone to seek vengeance on her behalf. We aren’t where we need to be, but we will get there. Things hurt, but things heal too.

  “Are you sure this is something you want to do?” I ask her, leaning over the desk.

  She’s been meek, shy, but lately, her confidence is growing now that she knows I don’t want to hurt her.

  She nods slowly then stares at me for a moment with her blue orbs. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”

  With her answer, I pull out the blueprints of the casino. Now that Sebastian is running shit, I’m positive the basement is empty, but there could still be some stuff that can help lead to answers. I spread them across the desk then reach for the file Charlie and I found from the shack Emil had. I open it and lay it in front of her.

  “This is the only thing we have to go on. There are some names, but I’m sure there is more. We’ll enter the casino here,” I point to the back entrance. “And go down the s
tairs. When things get crazy, people get reckless. I’m hoping Sebastian hasn’t moved shit around too much. He’s been more focused on pushing shit around town than running this place.”

  She nods again. “They kept me in that room for weeks. I have a stash spot in the wall where I would hide things the men dropped. Just random things like business cards and stuff, but it can help.”

  “Good. I’ll give my buddy a call and get things in order.”

  I pull my phone from my pocket, but before I can dial Ilya’s number, she interrupts me. “Julius…”

  I look to her and see her eyes take on the same scared reflection they had the day I saved her. “What is it?”

  “I may not have been completely honest with you.”

  I tip my head. “What do you mean?”

  She brings her hand to her mouth then runs the pad of her finger over the seam like she’s thinking before she speaks. “When they first took me, I wasn’t alone.”

  My mind immediately goes to maybe a sister or friend. Someone they took with her and used and abused. “Okay. So, is there someone else we need to look out for? Someone we need to find?”

  Her eyes glance around the office before finally coming back to mine. “Yes, but it’s not what you think.”

  I urge her to continue with my stare as I cross my arms in front of my chest.

  “When they took me, my boyfriend at the time was obviously distraught. He tried to find me but never had any luck. His older brother though…” She trails off for a second like she’s remembering things. A soft smile falls on her lips. “He found me. But he never got the chance to get me out. They took him too and I haven’t seen him since.”

  “So, you want to get him out too?” My heart beats faster in anticipation for her answer.

  I’ve tried not to look at her in a disrespectful or sexual way considering all she’s been through, but I am human after all. The way her blonde hair trails down her back when it’s down makes me want to wrap it around my fist and tug. Her blue eyes seer into my soul with every glimpse and all I want to do is see them water as my cock is shoved down her throat. And her small frame almost begs me with the sway in her hips as she walks to be bruised by my fingertips digging into her soft flesh.

  All things that will never happen if another man is in the picture.

  “Yes.”

  My hands ball into fists at my side. “Do you love him?” The words come out harsher than I intend.

  She gives me a weak shrug as she chews her bottom lip. “I feel the same way about him as I do about you.”

  Suddenly, the anger that was building up inside of me dissipates. I’m not sure what she feels for me, but this gives me hope that it’s something good. “Okay.”

  I turn away from her and bring my phone back in front of me. My fingers rush across the screen dialing the only international number I’ve ever bothered to remember. Ilya’s.

  I bring it to my ear and wait. A few rings later, I hear muffled static like someone is moving around. He doesn’t bother with a hello. “Julius.” His accent is thick, but his voice is low and lacking its usual power.

  “Are you busy?” I don’t bother with one either.

  “No.” His reply is short and clipped.

  “Maybe I should call back when you get whatever stick is up your ass out.” Formalities have never been our thing, but something about his voice seems off

  A few beats of silence pass before he speaks again. “What is it you need, Julius?”

  “I need your help.”

  I always feel like I thank the same people over and over when I get here, but they deserve it and so much more.

  My husband. Your support has meant the world to me. I really couldn’t have done this without you. Here is to high hopes and big dreams that I make it like you say so I can buy you that boat. I love you so fucking much.

  Krista. Julius said he loves you. ; )

  Teresa. Thank you for helping me make sense of my jumbled words and being the best SIL ever. I’m so glad we’re stuck in this crazy family together.

  Brittney and Hanna. I can’t thank you both enough for talking me off the ledge when I have a breakdown and think all of my words are shit. I’ll never be able to repay either of you for how kind you are to me and reading the million and one drafts I make for one story.

  Sade. I love you. That’s all.

  Brittany. You’re so fucking good to me. Thank you for that and thank you for helping me navigate this whole author thing. You’re a gem.

  Sandra. Thank you for reading my words and helping me with my comma placement. You’re the best ever and a GODSEND! Fuck commas.

  Cat. I will always gush over you because you’re not only an amazing cover artist, but you’ve been in my corner since the beginning. Thank you for loving me and believing in me. I love you, my squish.

  And my readers… Honestly, I’m a pretty quiet and awkward person, and I don’t make many connections, but I am so thankful for every single one of you and love the connections my books have made for us. Writing was nothing but a dream that I made a reality, but I never could have done it without you. Thank you for inspiring me, loving and hating me, and always supporting my crazy ideas and the voices inside of my head. I love you.

  The Mended Universe Series

  Jupiter And Her Moons

  Saturn And Her Rings

  The Hale Mafia Series

  The Devious King

  The Vengeful Queen

  The Savage One

  BL lives in north Texas with her husband and three children. She enjoys writing different sub genres of romance, and building flawed and broken characters. You can most likely find her mommy-ing, watching her husband cook (because she is a horrible chef), getting tattoos, or walking into the pole you've told her to watch out for. She loves interacting with her readers and other authors in the community. Friends and family classify her as fierce, loyal and ditsy at times.

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