Drago: Made Men, #6

by Brianne, Sarah

  “No, I didn’t.” Lucca seemed to be slightly impressed and amused but truthfully didn’t appear to know. “It makes sense though.”

  “What does?” He stopped his pacing and looked him dead in the eyes.

  “That she can do that.”

  He’s fucking crazy. “How the fuck does that make sense?”

  There was a hidden smile in his voice. “Look at Sal….”

  I swear to fucking God. Drago slammed his eyes shut, becoming annoyed again. Sal was Lucifer’s bastard child who became the great Salvatore; he was a fucking computer prodigy. “How in the hell did that fucking psychopath make them?”

  Unlike him, the look that sat on Lucca’s face showed that he wasn’t the least bit surprised.

  It all finally clicked with the chill that ran up his spine. Lucca was just as much a psychopath as Lucifer, and Lucca was a sick mastermind who had managed to orchestrate everything in his life just the way he wanted. They both might be crazy, but anything below a fucked-up genius they were not. He almost didn’t want to ask…. “She’s a fucking psychopath too, huh?”

  The underboss sat back in his chair. This time his smile wasn’t hidden. “Something tells me you’ll be the one to find out if she is.”

  With my luck she will be. Running his hands through his hair, he was starting to get frustrated. “You fucker. I wanted the hot one. Why’d you have to go and bring her out from whatever fucking rock you found her under?”

  “You still have time.” Lucca leaned forward, his tone going dead serious. “Pick the fucking one they had almost played you into picking, for all I care. I thought you wanted revenge though, not their whore.”

  “I wanted both,” he proclaimed, wishing it had been just that easy.

  “No, you didn’t.” Lucca told him what he didn’t know yet.

  His words brought back his sense of reality, calming the itching that sat under his skin. He had wanted one thing and one thing only, and it was time he put that back in focus.

  “She better not be crazy” was all he said as he headed out the door.

  “Lucca! Guess what!” Leo said when he saw them come back into the main room. “Drago’s girlfriend is a human calculator.”

  “So I’ve heard,” Lucca sneered.

  “She’s not my fucking girlfriend,” he mumbled under his breath, heading for the door to go back to where he’d left her.

  Maria couldn’t help herself. “Yeah, and he let her do the payroll.”

  Lucca’s sneer fled. “He what?!”

  “Yeah, and she thinks you’re ugly.” It was a low blow, and she hadn’t exactly said that, but who gave a fuck.

  Chloe gasped, grabbing Lucca’s hand as if she couldn’t believe it. She seemed to be more bothered by it than even he was.

  “She said you’re not her type,” Maria proudly told him. “I guess there’s no hope for you then, Drago.”

  Holding up his arm, he used his middle finger to flip off the whole Caruso family, who he was beginning to loath more and more each day. Some days, he didn’t even know why he couldn’t have stayed dead.

  * * *

  She turned around. A huge space greeted her. Yep, this seems more like it. This place was definitely a bachelor pad and definitely Drago’s. It was cold, like a warehouse, with just the basics surrounding her. There was a leather couch with a glass coffee table, a dresser, and a big bed that sat catty-corner in the corner of the room, making it a studio apartment. The best part, however, was the kitchen and floor-to-ceiling windows on one side of the apartment that looked over Kansas City.

  It was such a shame, really, because it could be such a great space, and it looked like it had been on its way there in the design phase since the kitchen seemed to be done, but the rest had just been dropped.

  Taking another look at the space, she noticed the stairs that led up to a loft, making her wonder what was up there or if anything even was. But when her eyes landed on a wooden bat that was propped up against his bed, she was doubtful. Probably not.

  The doorknob being turned had her spinning to look at the door. Unable to move an inch, she held her breath for the man she was loathing to finally be alone with. And it seemed like her luck might just have run out.

  Nine

  Like father, Like Daughter

  The way he walked toward her slowly should have scared her, but it didn’t. She knew worse men than him, so there wasn’t much he could do that hadn’t already been done to her… besides being forced to marry someone she didn’t want to. However, she could see the wall he had built was slowly starting to crumble down. Whatever she was doing was working. She just had to hold out a little bit longer.

  When he headed toward the kitchen, she couldn’t help but let out a thankful breath, revealing she clearly wasn’t as strong as she thought.

  “Would you like something to drink?” he asked as he went to pull out what seemed to be another protein shake from the fridge.

  “Water is good.”

  Taking out a glass from the cabinet, he filled it with water from the fridge dispenser, then placed it on the kitchen island for her.

  Katarina headed over to gingerly pick up the glass of water, and when the liquid hit her lips, she couldn’t help but knock the whole thing back, feeling a sudden dehydration. Fuck, am I nervous?

  “Would you like something harder?” he asked, sensing her nerves.

  “I’m eighteen, remember?”

  Picking up her empty glass, he snatched it off the counter, mumbling under his breath, “Fuck, don’t remind me.”

  Her brows furrowed together, hearing what seemed like disgust in his voice. She hadn’t thought about him not liking their age difference, as she was the younger one. For her it wasn’t the age difference that bothered Kat. She had to grow up fast, and even though her physical body might be eighteen, her soul and mind were much older. Too old. She didn’t know how much older than her he was though. She figured late twenties, but maybe he was older than she had assumed. Licking her lips, she became curious. “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-nine.” Filling the glass once more, he sat it back down in front of her. He seemed to be just as curious. “Does that bother you?”

  “It doesn’t.” Kat raised a brow. “But if it did, would it change anything?”

  Staring at her with his dragon eyes, he answered honestly, with no remorse shining through, “No.”

  “I didn’t think so,” she whispered, sensing a hint of defeat that might be coming.

  It was he who downed his drink this time.

  If she had looked away, she might have missed it, but she could have sworn for a second that he felt sorry for her. However, it only lasted a second before it was gone. “Is this your place? Where we will live after….” Her voice trailed off. She wasn’t able to say the words just yet.

  “Yes.” Again, he answered unapologetically. “Most of this floor is used as apartments for the Caruso soldiers.”

  Looking around the room once more, she noticed something. “You don’t have a TV?”

  “I’m not here that much to need one.”

  “Oh.” She was reminded again that he mostly worked. She wondered if his bed was even that used, since he primarily stayed at the Caruso family home. “Do you mainly watch Leo, Maria, and Chloe?”

  “If I’m not with them, I’m with the boss.”

  “I like them. They’re really nice.” She smiled, being truthful. They hadn’t treated her like most people treated Lucianos, making her wonder…. She licked her lips nervously again. “Do they know… who I am?”

  “If they didn’t, do you think they would have treated you any differently?” he asked, turning the tables back on her.

  “No.” The word fell out her mouth. She knew they probably knew exactly who she was; they just didn’t judge her for her last name. Like he does. Putting her eyes to the counter, she couldn’t find herself to look at him for the next part. “I thought I would have scared her.”

  “I wasn’t sure
if you would either at first,” he admitted, knowing exactly who she was talking about, before he paused, and his tone changed. “But you reminded Chloe of someone.”

  “Who?” Her eyes lifted back up to him.

  He stared intently at her, wanting to see her reaction when the name passed his lips. “Sal.”

  Trying to keep herself together, she had to look back down at the counter. He was a brother she had never gotten to meet and only seen in pictures. Lucifer had left him to fend for himself on the street with his mother, and it had been shortly after her death when Dante, the Caruso boss, took him in as his own. Sal was a brother she might have never met but knew in her heart she related the most to. Their paths would have been much similar if it weren’t for one person on this earth.

  He took a step closer to the counter toward her. His height towered over hers. He wasn’t going to push the topic of Sal, as it seemed to be a sensitive subject, but it was clear he wanted to know one thing. “How’d you know Chloe doesn’t like to be touched?”

  Katarina’s black depths lifted to his once more. “How do you think?”

  You could practically see the chill that crawled up his spine, though she was unsure if it was the words or the ominous sound in her voice that put it there. “But… you can be touched.” He was stating the clear difference between her and Chloe. She didn’t repel from touch, and she was able to take Leo’s hand. Those were things the scarred girl could only do with Lucca.

  “Because I had to learn to live with it.” She sugarcoated it only slightly, only able to say the whole truth in her head. With him.

  Confusion marked his face as he shook his head. “But you’re his daughter.”

  Kat cleared her throat, knowing the only ones who would ever understand were the ones who had lived under that roof with Lucifer. Changing her tone to a lighter one, she had to force herself to let him believe that Chloe’s scars ran deeper than hers. “Yeah, you’re right.”

  His face didn’t relax at first, still scrutinizing her with his gaze. It looked like he wanted to question her further, but instead something in him changed. He backed away and headed for a door off the kitchen. “I need to use the restroom. I’ll be back.”

  Stunned at how quickly he left, she wasn’t sure how she was doing anymore and if this plan Angel had was working. When he didn’t come out right away, she made her way to the huge window. She looked down at the city and had never seen anything like it before. She’d never even dreamed places like this existed in Kansas City. It truly showed her how differently the Carusos and Lucianos lived. It was like they were from two different worlds.

  “Is there a reason why you haven’t finished your place?” she found herself asking when he reentered the room.

  “What do you mean?”

  Turning back, she looked at him. “Well, your kitchen looks finished, but not the rest.”

  “The kitchen’s finished because it was in the contract with the contractor to have it finished.” There seemed to be a sudden change that had overcome him within the few minutes he had left the room. Now, he was something darker. “And I haven’t bothered to care about the rest because, like I said, I’m not here enough to give a fuck.”

  “Sorry I didn—”

  Mumbling under his breath, he headed for the fridge again. “You’re just going to be another kid I’ll have to fucking babysit.”

  Did he just— “Excuse me?”

  Stopping, Drago looked her dead in the eye. “You heard me.”

  She took a step away from the window, toward him. “If you were worried about babysitting another kid, then why did you pick me?”

  He was the one to take a step toward her this time. The sinister tone that coated his voice enunciated each word, showing no remorse. “You. Know. Why.”

  Katarina felt a shift begin in her. Stay calm, remember what Angel said. She had known why he’d picked her all along; this just confirmed it. Taking a deep breath, she started walking away hoping somehow, she just could, but a different voice entered her head….

  Give him hell.

  A smile graced her lips before she picked up the wooden bat that was propped up against his bed.

  “What are yo—”

  She gripped the neck of the bat. The skin around her black fingernail polish turned whiter before she crashed it down on the glass table.

  “ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY?” Drago boomed, looking at the shattered glass that sprinkled all over the room.

  When she started heading toward him with a glow in her black eyes, he moved the fuck out of the way right before she swung the bat, clearing off one of his kitchen counters. By the time he made it to the other side of the room, Lucca rushed into the room and was followed by Maria and Leo.

  “What the fuck is going on here?” Lucca asked before his eyes went wide when he saw Kat with the bat in her hands.

  “Whoa! Cool.” Leo seemed to be more impressed with this side of her.

  Maria just took in the sight.

  “I knew she had to be fucking crazy. Like father, like daughter!” Drago hissed loudly over the noise, so she could hear it.

  “In that case…,” Kat yelled before rearing the bat back and swinging as hard as she could at the pots and pans that were hanging above his island, sending most of the pans flying and crashing down.

  “I’m gonna kill that little bit—”

  Lucca grabbed his shoulder, keeping him in his place.

  Throwing the bat on her shoulder, she walked over to stand right in front of the big bastard.

  “You done?” Drago asked her, becoming irate.

  “Yep.” She threw the bat down, flipping it over her shoulder as she started to walk out. “Lemme know if you would like to babysit me again, asshole.”

  Everyone behind her blinked for several moments as they looked around at the destruction she created in just minutes.

  Maria, however, turned to Drago. “I’ll marry her if you don’t.”

  Ten

  Lucifer’s World

  Before the elevator door could close, a hand on the other side stopped it, making the doors slide open to reveal Lucca.

  Kat swallowed hard.

  Stepping onto the elevator, he gave her his back. “I’ll be taking you home now.”

  Well, shit.

  * * *

  “You two would be fucking perfect for each other,” Drago spat, picking up the pots and pans, and if they could have procreated to mix their blood, he’d fucking let her have the witch.

  An unbothered Maria smiled at him.

  “Kat really did all this?” Chloe asked, holding the broom.

  “Yeah, it was awesome.” Leo laughed, helping him pick up.

  Drago was on the verge of sending the Caruso children flying out the window.

  “Why would she do it?” Chloe asked, not understanding what could have changed her into The Hulk.

  Maria, who had brushed off all the glass from the couch, lazily sat down and started talking as if she’d been here the whole time. “He made her do it.”

  “I did not,” Drago hissed at the prissy blonde. “Now, how about you actually help and stop fucking bugging me?”

  “I’m wearing my good heels,” she told him before revealing the red bottom. The shift in her voice should have warned him what was about to come. “I just wanna know one thing....”

  Rolling his eyes, he angrily looked at her. “What?”

  “Did you piss her off to make her hate you—” His stomach began to sink with the words that left her mouth next. “Or did you piss her off to make you hate her?”

  * * *

  Sitting next to the boogieman in the Cadillac sent chills up her spine. When she told them earlier that Lucca wasn’t her type, she’d really meant that he scared the fuck out of her. There was no way you could be raised by her father and not see it. To see when a man was truly mad and needed to be buried behind bars or six feet in the dirt. She could see every drop of blood he had washed away, every emotion he would never fee
l, and everything he was made of.

  The second his blue-green eyes landed on her for the first time, it was like the air in the room had suddenly become thicker, and she knew she was in the presence of a man who could do terrible, horrendous things to any living being in the blink of an eye.

  Lucca had been the one to finally take down her father because only men like that were gifted to take out men of their own kind. It was sick, really. You needed one monster to bring down another, but who was going to take down that monster when he finally became the man they had to destroy?

  “What you did isn’t going to change his mind,” he told her, breaking the deafening silence.

  “I know,” Kat whispered.

  “Then why do it?”

  She didn’t hold back the truth. “Because he’s an asshole.”

  “There’re worse men out there, Katarina.” He said it as if it was a warning.

  “I’m sure there are, but that doesn’t make me want to marry him.”

  Lucca was silent for several moments while he gripped the leather steering wheel of the Cadillac. “Do you know why out of all my men I picked him to fulfil the marriage agreement?”

  All she could manage was to shake her head. Unsure if she wanted to hear what he had to say next.

  “I know no one else more dedicated, resilient, and loyal than Drago. He has never disappointed me, and I wouldn’t trade him for a hundred men.” He looked as though he was picking his words carefully, wanting her to fully understand. “He has the making of being a great husband, and I fully believe that one day he will. You just have to give him a chance.”

  It was her this time who went silent. Knowing who and what Lucca was, she was sure he wasn’t wrong. She could live with marrying Drago to save her family and had practically accepted it the moment he’d chosen her, but one thought scared her. Finally, she decided to reveal the truth on a whisper. “I can’t leave Cassius.”