The King's Pawn: The Complete King Crime Family Duet

by J. L. Beck

  Snaking my hand between us, I dip my fingers into her bikini bottoms and slide between her folds.

  “What are you doing?” She grips my shoulders, her tiny nails digging into my skin.

  “Teasing you.” I lean closer, peppering open mouth kisses along her collarbone as I slide my fingers over her clit. She shudders, her body growing needier with each swipe over her tender flesh. Her breathing picks up, and her hips start to move against my hand for more friction.

  Her tits press against my chest, and I can feel her hard nipples even through the fabric. My cock is so hard it hurts, hoping for release as much as her pussy must be.

  When I feel her thighs quiver around my torso, I know she is close, and that’s when I stop and pull my hand away from her cunt.

  A displeased whimper falls from her lips as I pull away, leaving her breathless against the edge of the pool.

  “Why did you stop?” she whines.

  “Because I want you tonight, and I want you to want me. I need your pussy yearning for my cock, and you begging for me to fuck you. So, I’m going to spend the rest of the day getting you ready, so I can bury myself so deep in your cunt tonight, you’ll feel me there for the next week.”

  Her mouth falls open in shock, and her small hands are clutching onto the side of the pool like she needs the support. I give her a wink before moving to the other side of the pool and start swimming laps. I feel her gaze on me the entire time. Oh yeah, she’s going to be ready for me, all right.

  10

  Amara

  My body hums with anticipation. It’s been hours since I last saw Enzo.

  “I’ll be gone for a bit, but when I get back, I’ll take you somewhere, and after, I will take that cherry between your legs...” His words ring in my ears.

  He left me breathless. Hot and bothered just like he wanted me to be, I went back to his room to get ready. My heart is beating out of my chest as it is. I want to see him, but at the same time, I don’t. I hate him, but I kind of find him endearing at the same time.

  His smirk makes my panties melt, but his cockiness and the way he handles things make me want to turn his gun on him.

  My hands drift over the tight satin fabric that clings to my body. When he told me to get dressed up, I went all the way out.

  I have never looked this sexy in my entire life. My hair is in loose curls that fall softly down my back. The dress is black satin and sparkles in the light; a sweetheart neckline and tight bodice show off every curve.

  My makeup is done to perfection—smoky eyes and red lips. Looking in the full-length mirror, I hardly recognize myself.

  “Don’t fret, you look beautiful.” His voice is commanding as it always is, demanding anyone within earshot’s attention.

  Still looking in the mirror, I skim a finger across my chest. It is creamy white, and I worry I will stick out like a sore thumb in this black dress.

  I turn around, becoming very aware of his presence. He is standing before me in a charcoal gray suit with a white buttoned up dress shirt underneath. The first couple buttons are undone, and I can’t pull my eyes from that piece of flesh.

  “You’re going to be on your best behavior tonight. Understand?” It is a warning. If I act out, he isn’t afraid to punish me. The look in his eyes tells me so.

  “I will be.” I murmur.

  “Good.” Smiling, he leads me out the door and down the stairs.

  When we get to the foyer, I notice that a few of his men are dressed similarly to him, but they are wearing ties, blood-red ties. I guess they are coming with us. Not that I wasn’t expecting him to bring security, but when we get outside and find even more men dressed the same way, I wonder what kind of dinner party we are going to and why we need this many guards.

  We all assemble by the black SUVs. Enzo and I are ushered into the middle one while some of his men get in the others. Mack and Eli join us, Eli’s gaze clinging to me, making me feel beyond uncomfortable.

  Eli is not bad looking, he is tall, muscular, and handsome. Come to think of it, his features are very similar to Enzo’s, and for a second, I wonder if they are related. Eli would be a really appealing guy if it wasn’t for the evil gleam in his eyes. He just gives me the creeps.

  Enzo seems cool and collected as he stretches his limbs and slides into the seat next to me. It is as if a mask slips onto his face. I’m starting to understand there is a difference between business Enzo and pleasure Enzo.

  “Mack, let the restaurant know we are on our way.” His voice is firm and assertive.

  “Yes, sir,” Mack responds, never questioning him.

  I sit in my seat, fidgeting with my hands, unsure why I’m going with them.

  Enzo’s phone rings in his pocket, and I look at him as he reaches for it. He swears under his breath before pushing a button on the screen.

  “Why are you calling me, Luke?” Enzo’s voice is venomous, causing my heart to shake in my chest. I avert my eyes to stare out the window, not wanting to see the man I met this morning disappear.

  “You’re kidding, right?” I look back over at him, one of his hands is sunk deeply into his dark locks. He is frustrated.

  “No. Don’t let them leave… I don’t care. Do as I say, I’ll have a bullet with your name on it, too.” Luke isn’t given a chance to respond because Enzo hangs up, and the phone is thrown across the seat.

  “Boss? What’s wrong. Tell me what’s up so we can fix it.” Mack is trying to be helpful, or so it seems. Concern is etched into his features, but it seems fake to me in a way.

  “Change of plans,” Enzo says firmly. “We’re heading to the club instead. Luke called to tell me that the Delahnies are having a party in the VIP suite.”

  Mack turns in his seat, his eyes catching mine in the rearview mirror. There is a warning, not the kind that says if you do something, I’ll hurt you. But one that says be careful, tread lightly.

  I wasn’t planning on opening my mouth anyway. No fucking way will I be shining a spotlight on myself. I want to get out of this, be invisible.

  “Do you want me to drive Amara back after I drop you off? Or Eli and I can handle it while you go back–”

  “No, I’ll deal with it, and maybe Amara should see this.”

  “It’ll be way more fun than a boring dinner, that’s for sure.” Eli chuckles, but no one else is laughing.

  My heart sinks. This is not a date, at least not anymore. This is some kind of business he is taking me to. The only question is why? Why would he want me to see? If it looks anything like what I walked into at my dad’s farmhouse, I already know I don’t want to be part of it.

  Fear trickles into my stomach, eating away at all the warm fuzzy feelings he inspired this morning.

  The ride couldn’t have been more than twenty minutes, but it seems like an eternity while I’m in the car with Enzo. The tension rolls off him in waves, and I can tell he is angry. I’m terrified of this man, this side of him.

  Only when he’s seemed to calm down a bit, do I have the courage to ask, “Where exactly are we and what are we doing? I thought this would just be dinner?”

  “You thought wrong. Just look pretty and don’t ask questions tonight. Don’t talk at all,” he snaps at me, and I feel like he verbally slapped me. His condescending tone doesn’t help.

  Turning my head, I look out of the window, trying to ignore how he just spoke to me. I tell myself, it’s just the way he is when he is out, that this is not the real him, but it doesn’t help. It doesn’t make me feel better or any less helpless.

  Everyone pours from the vehicles, and when I get out, I look around. I think we are at some kind of night club. A long line of partiers stand before us, women and men of all shapes and sizes. I’m wobbly on my feet as Enzo presses his hand firmly on the small of my back.

  “You don’t have to be an asshole to me just because you’re mad at someone else…” I whisper for his ears only, feeling like I am running to keep up with his pace.

  He gives me a tin
y smile. One that shows he couldn’t keep it in. “I have to be an asshole at all times. Weakness is showing mercy to others. I can’t let these people see that.”

  We pass the line of people, and we’re let through by a big, muscular guard dressed in all black. He looks like he fights for a living. He stamps something on everyone’s hand but not on mine or Enzo’s when we pass him.

  Through the doors, I hear the music pounding and see lights swirling in different directions in various colors. Anticipation and excitement build inside me at the thought of dancing and singing, but instead, I’m pulled in the opposite direction. Keeping his hand on the base of my spine, he presses firmly against my back, leading me through the club.

  “We aren’t going dancing?” I ask bashfully, talking over the loud music. I’m confused, to say the least.

  Enzo leans down to me and speaks close to my ear. “Business first.” His voice is emotionless, and I don’t like that at all. “Be a good girl, and I’ll dance with you after.”

  Eli is walking in front of us while Mack is covering our back. I notice how the place is crowded, people are standing shoulder to shoulder, but when they see us, they move out of the way.

  When we get to the back of the club, Enzo pulls us to the right and down a long hall until we come to a door.

  “What’s behind that door?” I ask quietly. The music is not that loud here, and I don’t have to yell.

  “Be quiet,” he orders sternly. Glancing up at him, I try to gauge his level of anger, but because the hall is so dark, I can’t see his face.

  “Go,” Enzo orders, and Eli bursts through the door. Enzo pulls me inside, and Mack follows closely behind us.

  “Everyone, against the wall!” Eli shouts, and inside the room, all hell breaks loose.

  Glasses and a champagne bottle are dropped, shattering all over the floor. Two women scream as they scramble to the wall. There are three men also, and even though they are not screaming, their faces are giving away how scared they are.

  In a matter of seconds, all five people are pressed up against the wall.

  My body locks up when I take in the scene before me. We are in some kind of private room. There is a small bar, a seating area, and even a mini stage with a stripper’s pole.

  Giving me a soft push, Enzo leads us further into the room. All eyes are on us, and all I want to do is run to the nearest exit.

  “Fancy meeting you here,” Enzo says, almost friendly sounding, but I know better. The devil has come out to play. I know it and so do all the other people in the room. Their faces morph into undeniable fear in front of me—pure terror in their eyes.

  “Enzo, I know what this looks like,” one of the men says. “We can explain.”

  “Explain to me why you and your brother over here,” he points to one of the other men with his gun, “borrowed money from me. Then asked for an extension to pay me back–which I gracefully granted. Yet, I find you and your wives in the VIP room of a club, drinking eight-hundred-dollar bottles of champagne and snorting high-end cocaine, like there is no tomorrow.”

  “Come on, Enzo, we’ve known each other forever. Don’t do this.”

  Enzo snorts at his comment. “You know Tony, right? I’ve known him since I was sixteen. Caught him stealing the other day. Wanna guess what I did to him?” I find myself backing up with every word that falls from his lips. Instead of hitting the wall, I fall against a warm chest.

  Mack. His hands clamp onto my shoulders, holding me firmly in place.

  No one says a word. It’s pin-drop quiet. I know this is just the calm before the storm. He will end all their lives, and for that, he has no soul.

  “Do you know what I did to him?” he repeats, yelling it this time. His words echoing off the walls, and the whimpers coming from the women reach my ears.

  From this angle, I can’t see Enzo’s face well, only catching a glimpse of it in the light. It is hard, dark, and cold. Evil, pure evil.

  “I killed him. You know why?” Enzo swings his gun in every direction, and if it wasn’t for Mack clamping onto me, I would be running by now.

  “Because he stole from me. Betrayed me! It seems as if some of you have decided to follow in his footsteps.”

  Enzo’s footsteps can be heard crossing the concrete floor until he stops in front of a middle-aged man. His hair is slick with grease like it hasn’t been washed for several weeks, his eyes are red and jittery. He looks as if he is waiting for his next hit.

  “Is that what you do, Zach?” Enzo questions, his words coming out like a verbal slap.

  “I borrowed money for her fucking facelift, kill her, not me,” the guy named Zach points at the woman next to him.

  “You fucking asshole!” The woman yells.

  “Wow, throwing your own wife under the bus. That’s some fucked up bullshit.” Eli laughs like it’s the best joke he’s heard all year.

  “That is some fucked up bullshit,” Enzo agrees. “If it makes you feel better. You both are going to die. All of you are.” He looks down the line of people.

  “I don’t owe you any money,” one of the men says.

  “Sorry, collateral damage.” Enzo shrugs, bringing his attention back to Zach. “Any last words?” Enzo cocks his head to the side, mocking him. It is sick and twisted, and I worry that if I have to watch even one more second of this degrading shit, I will puke all over the floor.

  Zach doesn’t answer. He simply stares ahead, waiting for his time to come, probably because he knows it has. Silence stretches out before Enzo lifts his gun, and the booming sound of a gun being fired fills the air. My ears ring fiercely as I become slightly disoriented.

  Zach crumbles to the ground, blood seeping from a hole between his eyes. Bile rises in my throat, and my heart is beating so fast, I feel like I’m about to pass out.

  Helplessly, I watch between blurred eyes as he walks to another person, pointing his gun at their head.

  The woman next to him begins to cry. Her body is shaking while she says a prayer in a language I don’t understand. I watch Enzo step aside and come to a stop directly in front of her. She draws back from him as much as she can with the wall directly behind her. He is truly the devil in human form.

  “You cower in fear, yet you were okay with your husband borrowing money without paying it back.” His voice is rising with every word that leaves his mouth. “Here you are now, pleading and begging not to die. People like you will beg and plead for everything your whole life.”

  I’m not sure how much more I can take. If I can stand idly by watching him tear these people to shreds, what type of person does that make me?

  “We have children…families,” the woman sobs.

  “And where are they now while you get high and drunk?”

  The woman looks away, ashamed. “Child protective services took them away, but I’m trying to be better so I can get them back. They need me!”

  “Because you’re such an outstanding mother?” he quips.

  I don’t know her whole story, but I don’t care what she did. She doesn’t deserve to die. She is still a mother who will be mourned by her children.

  I just can’t take it anymore. I can’t stay silent. I need to do something, no matter the consequences.

  “Stop this insanity right now!” My voice doesn’t shake, I’m not afraid to stand up to him. I don’t know how, but I’m filled with an inner strength that spurs me to try and help these people.

  He spins around so quickly, my head is reeling. Mack gives me a harsh shake as if to say, ‘shut your mouth, you crazy bitch.’ But it isn’t me who is crazy. Enzo’s eyes zero in on me like I’m prey. With precision, he crosses the room, his body gliding across the ground. I should be scared, I should be begging, pleading, crying, and wanting nothing but mercy from him. I’m not, though. I’m standing tall, and I will look him straight in the eyes and tell him what a crazy fuck he is.

  His fingers dig into my arm painfully as he drags me out into the center of the basement, so all eyes are
on us. I don’t even try to stop him since I know it will be useless. His scent surrounds me, making me forget where we are for a second.

  All those things disappear the moment I feel the warmth against my skin. The barrel of his gun is pointed at the side of my head, and for one tiny second, I wonder if he will actually pull the trigger this time.

  Pain registers in my mind as he grips me harder, twisting me around to face him. His eyes are black, and there is a bleak chance that I will not walk away from this.

  “Does anyone want to explain to this girl what happens when someone defies me?” My heartbeat skyrockets and is the only thing I can hear in my ears. Everything else seems far away as I stare into a pair of eyes that see nothing but death.

  The room remains silent, and I don’t dare look away from him. It is as if it is a contest to see who will give mercy first. I have the strength my mother instilled in me.

  “You cannot kill all these people simply because they owe you money,” I grind out. It is a whisper, but I know he hears me. I know he understands what I’m saying.

  My words mean nothing to him, though. I know it the moment he shoves me away from him. He twists and turns away from me as I stumble backward. One of my high heels slips off my foot and falls to the ground. My body lands harshly on the unforgiving floor as my head smacks off the concrete.

  My vision blurs when the popping noises begin. It sounds like a machine gun going off. I hear their screams, their pleas. I want to help them, use my body as a shield, but I’m in too much pain to get up. Everything is spinning around me, and my ears are ringing.

  Suddenly, all of the noise stops. The room went from chaos to complete silence in the blink of an eye. Sitting up, I fight through the dizziness and look around me. What I see causes my heart to break.

  Blood splatters across the walls as bodies sag to the ground. He has shot every single person… My body goes limp as tears spill from my eyes. How can someone be so fucked up? So uncaring? They were human too.

  My stomach coils in pain, and I’m no longer able to hold back the vomit that wants to escape. Turning away, I throw up all over the floor. I continue dry heaving until there is nothing left. Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I suck in much-needed air, trying to get my breathing under control. I’m still trying to comprehend everything I’ve witnessed when a hand reaches out, gripping my arm and pulling me to a standing position. My legs feel weak, my knees threatening to give out on me.