ROQUE: A DARK MAFIA ROMANCE (THE SALVATORE SYNDICATE Book 1)

by Jax Hart

  My IQ score stood on its own as well as my SAT.

  I was a fucking deviant genius, the kind the world only sees every thousand years or so. I was primed to be the living legend I believed I was since birth.”

  I stop my trip down memory lane to clear my throat.

  Chloe snorts. “Well you definitely have the record for the biggest ego the world’s ever seen. Did you find her right away?”

  “No. She found me.”

  She burrows into the blanket with wide, excited eyes. “Please tell me she kicks your ass!”

  “Open the next journal and find out…”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  I’D HAVE TO SNEAK OUT. There’s no other way. Zio would have a shitfit if he knew what I had planned. But I’ve waited almost a decade to see Roque in the flesh. It’s not the right time to sever his artery but a death by a thousand cuts is more painful anyway.

  I didn’t even recognize myself. There’s no way Roque could even if he remembered the slightest details about me.

  When we moved to New Jersey so I could study my mark, it took a lot of pleading on my part to convince Zio I could control myself to be this physically close to Roque without making a move prematurely. I fooled Zio. Or maybe I fooled myself. When I overheard the cheerleaders in the locker room today brag about getting a coveted invite to the homecoming party at a Frat house in Princeton, I knew it was my chance.

  I’m stalking Roque as hard as I can without being noticed. I’m a ghost. His ghost from hell who’s haunting him. I just haven’t come out to boo him yet. But I will. I reached under my mattress and slid out the manila envelope. My hands shook as I pulled out the eight by ten glossies of the man who’s had my insides in turmoil for years.

  My PI is good. The best. Because she’s a woman who people look past. A ghost. Just like me.

  He’s changed his name to Ralph Smith.

  Ralph Smith?!

  It’s so... American and as sexy as a wet noodle. He’s trying to hide who he is. Live a normal life while earning an Ivy league degree. Probably so he can learn how to cheat the tax system even better. Or launder his money into legit businesses. I sit in my sophomore high school class while he sits in his sophomore business class; worlds away still and yet our parallel universes are about to collide.

  My finger traced over his strong jaw… lingered over his eyes captured in time as he looked over his shoulder feeling eyes on him but unable to find the source.

  “That’s right. It’s me baby. The girl you left in the woods.” I taunted, lifting the corners of my mouth as I stared at my sexy as fuck nemesis. Thanks to my private eye, I knew his schedule, were his frat house was, his sports schedule, and a list of all the college girls who leave his house at two a.m...

  My hands clenched, bending the edges of the picture in my hands. It burned me how much blood is on his hands and yet he lives as if he’s just some normal frat boy. But he’s never been normal. The life we were both born into couldn’t be anything further from it.

  Zio agreed we should move closer to Roque to keep him close. Watch. Wait. Listen. Learn. But I’m tired of it all. Tonight, I’ll be close enough to breathe the same air he does… my heart picked up speed. My nerves were at the cliff’s edge. I tried convincing myself it’s all hate, but as I stared at his stupidly handsome face—I feared it might be more. And I hated myself for it. Lust and want are a weakness I couldn’t afford especially on the man who once held my life in his hands.

  Brushing my dark chocolate dyed hair until it fell down my back in waves, I turned checking out my ass in the mirror. I still have a small frame but all the training I’ve been doing for the last eight years has given me one hell of a Brooklyn ass if I do say so myself. It’s high and firm and the one trait I have that’s gotten more boys at my high school a swift kick to their balls when a few attempted to brush a finger across a cheek in the halls.

  My dark red matte lipstick was the color of blood; symbolizing what’s between us. My eyes were a weird shade of dark brown thanks to the colored contacts disguising my emerald eyes that surely would glitter with hate tonight.

  We’ll breathe the same air tonight.

  I’m the wolf and he’s my prey.

  Smiling, I tucked my cell and a tracking device into the back pocket of my jeans. Carefully, I hid two small digital transmitter devices inside my sock. He’ll never see me coming. I zipped up my hoodie, hiding the skimpy tank top I wore underneath. My tits were still tiny, but there’s not much I could do about that.

  Zio was asleep in his chair the remote dangled from his hand. My heart hurt just looking at him. Every morning and every night I find myself staring at his chest, praying to see the movement of his breathing. I know he won’t be around much longer and even though I’d lost so much in my past, Zio was the only constant in my life. My fists clenched. I needed vengeance soon. I wanted Zio to witness its sweetness. It wouldn’t be as fulfilling unless he’s here watching my moment of glory as the head of the Salvatore line falls.

  Bending to give him a quick kiss on the top of his head, I grabbed the afghan off the couch and draped it over his lap. If I’m lucky, I’ll be home before he awakes, and he’ll be none the wiser.

  Gingerly, I pocketed the fob key to the Explorer sitting on the counter as well as a few twenties from Zio’s wallet. My heart beat a million times a minute. This must be what it feels like to be on speed. But my drug is twice as potent.

  ***

  “No. No way.”

  “What?”

  “I’m not going to be seen with you in public with that hair and that sad outfit.”

  I rolled my eyes at Tati. “I’m fine.”

  “Not to go where we’re going tonight. Princeton is the big leagues… if we get made as high school girls…,” she trailed off shuddering. “I hear one of them is a drug-lord or some shit. Stop rolling your eyes at me.” She smacked my arm.

  Tatiana is gorgeous. Like drop-fucking dead. Her mom is Black and her dad, Cuban. I’d never have her pale shade of mocha with the best spray tan on the planet. My cheap drugstore dye job hair would never take a curl to match her natural ones.

  “Sit.”

  “No.”

  “Yes.” She pushed me down. “Mom’s out having a girl’s night. We can raid her makeup and tools.”

  “She’s going to kill you.”

  “It’ll be worth it. I’ve always wanted to get some bronzer and my mom’s pro curler on you.” Tati’s mom owns a chic salon in Princeton. She gives Tati some things but her own personal stash of beauty products in her home she’s pretty anal about. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Fine.” I sighed, sitting down stubbornly. Maybe she’s right. I want to blend in and I sure as shit do not right now with my $4.99 dye job and baggy clothes. The cheap drugstore dye was surprisingly the only thing that could hide the vibrant red in my hair. Ever since puberty, it had grown redder and redder. It’s a flame. A symbol of the burning fury deep inside me. But I had to hide it. Mask it. Until it’s time to let it burn.

  “I’m going to make you look so damn hot girl, whoever this mystery frat boy you have your eye on is going to drop dead.”

  “Good.” I smirked. “Because that’s exactly what I want.”

  Tati got to work twirling my hair in a hot iron and left it hanging down in loose waves. She brushed a pale bronzer on my face and painted my lips a pretty shade of dark pink.

  “No.” I balked when she held up a pair of false lashes.

  “Yesssss.”

  “Ugh, fine.” I snapped.

  Resigning myself to my fate, I closed my eyes and let Tati work her magic.

  “Done.” She uttered in a sing-song voice.

  My eyes popped open. She transformed me from a mousy girl in hiding to… someone who can’t be missed. My hair was thick with sexy waves. My brown-colored-contact eyes looked wide and sparkly with the expert eye makeup she put on. I could easily pass as a college freshman. “Now your clothes.”

  She opened her c
loset door, taking out a shimmering black tank.

  “I have no boobs.”

  “They won’t care. Boys just want to see some skin. Besides, some guys prefer the petite ballerina body type.”

  “Or they prefer curves they can grab onto like yours.”

  “Good. Then we’ll never have to fight over a guy.”

  “As if,” I scoffed. “I’ve never even had a crush.”

  “Never?”

  I looked away, feeling my heart pound. My feelings for Roque had changed over the years. He’s changed. The man/boy is all man now. The photographs I hired my PI to take are stashed under my mattress. I might look at them every night… His eyes. His eyes are the same though. Two soul-sucking, heat-searing missiles. I feel them go right through me every time I stare at the pictures.

  “Nope. I have better things to focus my time on besides boys.”

  “Like training for some Ninja TV show? You might be small, but you are toned as hell, D. I’m jealous.”

  Tati’s been calling me D forever. She never thought Diana fitted as my name. Little did she know how right she is.

  “Don’t be. I train for a purpose other than vanity.”

  “Will you ever share these secrets?”

  I sighed. “I can’t.”

  She sat quietly on her bed. “Did… did someone hurt you D? You know how I mean…,” she trailed off biting her lip.

  I shrugged not wanting to cry. If I did, my fake contacts could slide out. Tati still has no clue what I really look like. My persona is almost as much as a farce as Roque pretending to be a frat guy. “It was a long time ago. And it wasn’t sexual but yes someone did hurt me.”

  “That doesn’t matter. It still happened, right?”

  I nodded my head and straightened my spine. I couldn’t’ be weak. Not now. Not tonight.

  “You are going to entice every gut tonight. Forget the past and live in the moment.”

  I turned to the mirror, inspecting the sexy image staring back. “I’ll never forget the past, Tati. But I do intend to live in the present.”

  “Good. Because I have the serious hots for someone.”

  “Who?”

  “Sebastian Le Blanc. He’s a baller. Hot as fuck and tonight I want to just dance with him.”

  “Just dance?”

  “Maybe kiss. After that…”

  I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. But we don’t get separated. That’s our deal, right?”

  “Yeah. I want to have fun, but I want to be safe. No drinking. We’ll pretend to sip though. Is that cool?”

  “Absolutely.”

  In under twenty we rolled up to the outskirts of Princeton. I thought nothing could compare to the beauty of my homeland, but I was wrong. Everyone in New York thinks New Jersey was nothing but a dump. They lied. Princeton is all the sappy shit you see on TV. People living in America, living perfect lives in perfectly painted houses on expertly manicured lawns with luxury cars parked out front. The homes are spread apart like mini mansions. Frat row is the same with large yards with acres of woods behind them and huge colonials with shutters on either side of the windows. I gently pressed the brake to slow our roll but I’m not stupid enough to park here. There’s no way he didn’t have the entire block under surveillance.

  “D? The party is back there,” Tati pointed behind her.

  “I know. But I don’t want to get blocked in. Besides, a short walk in the cold will help kill my buzz if I get one by accident.” My excuse sounded lame as heck, but she went with it.

  The campus was sprawling with timeless elegance. The large trees lining the streets were still full of turning leaves. The night air was crisp and filled with excitement. I carefully parked three streets over and got out. I sniffed the air, breathing it in. The front yard was packed. Sparks from a bonfire shot up to the night sky as students gathered in clusters holding red solo cups and danced around the flame.

  I lifted my chin. I’ve never been to a frat party. But if being on the doorstep of death didn’t scare me, neither will this. Even if he will be here.

  I grabbed my hoodie and put it on.

  “At least leave it unzipped.”

  “I didn’t come here looking for love.” I shrugged, zipping it up high.

  “Then you’ll fit right in.” She smirked, swinging her hips to the beat dropping from massive lawn speakers.

  Leaves crunched under our feet as we walked forward with our chins lifted high. My senses were on high alert. The bass of the beat competed with the pounding of my heart. He was here. I knew he was. I flicked my hair over my shoulder and flirted with my eyes. I needed to act like just a girl here to party, not a black angel hell bent on revenge.

  A few guys eyed us appreciatively as we walked past them and up the few steps onto the wide planked porch and entered the garden of evil. People were everywhere. Tati went in first, winding her way through to the kitchen.

  “Hey gorgeous.” A guy wearing a hat backwards grinned at Tati as she brushed past him and filled a cup from the keg on the floor. She passed the foamy beer to me before pouring herself one. Instead of cheap beer, I eyed an unopened bottle of red and uncorked it. No one has messed with it, so I poured a bit into a cup.

  “Nothing to say?” He quirked a brow.

  “Not to you.”

  “Damn, girl. You’re cold.”

  “Freezing,” she replied, grabbing me by the elbow and steering me out the backdoor. Another bonfire blazed in the back lawn, its smoke billowed high until it disappeared somewhere beneath the stars. My eyes scanned the yard searching for a set of broad shoulders, raven hair, and laser like bright eyes.

  But wasn’t there. At least not yet.

  “Hey girl. Haven’t seen you here before.” Tati rolled her eyes at another guy who tried to make a move on her. I wasn’t surprised no one approached me. My small tits and slim frame only appeal to a certain type of guy whom I’ve yet to meet.

  But the guy who came out of the shadows he was attractive if you liked the boxer type. He was beefy, stocky, and walked with a certain type of swagger. His Brooklyn accent and street eyes went right through us. We’re busted. I just knew it.

  “Come on. Let’s go.” I grabbed Tati’s hand.

  “Not so fast.” The guy stopped us.

  “Look. I’m sorry, okay. Just let us go.”

  He smiled almost cruelly as I watched his lips twist into a wolfish grin. “Every choice has repercussions. It’s time to face yours.”

  “What in the hell is he talking about?” Tati cocked her hip while looking at me. “Is he on oxy? You trippin’?” She turned to face the handsome man. The light from the flames in the fire behind him danced in the dark.

  “Nah. But you girls shouldn’t be here. Parties like this can get out of control. The demons that walk in the dark can be unforgiving.”

  My eyes snapped to his as I studied his face.

  “Holy shit,” I breathed low. I recognized him. Johnny Lamatti, heir to the New York Underworld. We were in big shit if he didn’t lose interest in us.

  I yanked Tati to me. “I’m sorry, Mr. Lamatti. It won’t happen again.”

  He swung his gaze to my face. I cringed knowing I just made an even bigger mistake.

  “You know me?”

  “… I grew up in the city.”

  He smiled, stalking closer until the tips of his shoes almost touched mine. But I didn’t back down. I met his stare. I’ve faced down a monster worse than him. Although some people might debate who’s worse: Roque or Johnny? Back in New York, word on the street was Johnny chopped a man’s hands off for shorting his payment to the Lamatti outfit by two hundred bucks. He doesn’t fuck around.

  I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin.

  “Damn, little girl you got no meat on your bones. But my friend has weird taste in women. He might like you.”

  “I didn’t come here for dick.”

  Johnny’s eyes widened then he threw back his head and laughed. “What did you come here for then?�
�

  I shrugged, “To piss off my old man. I’m a bit rebellious like that.”

  “I bet you are. Come on rebel, we have somewhere to be.”

  He laid a beefy arm around my shoulders not giving me or Tati a choice as he led us back to the house. I wasn’t afraid of Johnny since his eyes were glassy and it was clear he was drunk. While I was a sober, silent killer. One kick to his balls and an elbow to his windpipe would free us. I just needed to find an opening. I slid my hand down to my pocket, feeling the fob key to the Explorer safe. We needed to get out of here. Fast. I’d find some other way to stalk Roque if I couldn’t find a good spot to hide my spy devices.

  Tati tried to hide her fear behind a fake smile as we reach the base of a back set of stairs.

  “After you,” Johnny gestured.

  Tati and I exchanged looks as we reluctantly climbed the stairs. She reached out and held my hand. I squeezed hers back. I’d slay anyone who tried to hurt the only real friend I’d ever had.

  “Turn left.”

  I flipped my hair and popped a shoulder, shooting Johnny daggers from my eyes.

  He smirked, pushing me forward toward a closed door at the end of the hall, and blocked our exit as he fired off a text. Then he took a key from his pocket handing it to me.

  “Open the door.”

  I gripped the key hard in my hand, held it like a weapon as I prepared to pivot and strike him hard when the door suddenly swung open from the inside.

  Tati dropped my hand.

  My eyes were on the same level as a pair of hard pecs outlined by the thinnest shirt. The smell of men’s body wash and warm cotton wafted to my nose. He was divine. All light latte colored skin, laughing brown eyes and hair that’s not short or long but just that perfect in the middle. He was also kind. I just knew it. I knew he wouldn’t let Johnny fuck with us. I’d be impressed if I was interested in romance while Tati’s whole demeanor changed.

  “Lamatti what’s up?” The new guy crossed his arms over his massive chest blocking the doorway. Tati and I were sandwiched between the up and coming New York gangster and the hot athlete.