Once A Crime Lord (Crime Lord Series Book 3)

by Mia Knight

  “Here.” Blade offered his phone.

  Lyla took it and swiped her finger over the screen, leaving a streak of red in her wake. Lyla paced away as the men talked in low tones and stopped in her tracks when she saw the body parts strewn over the arena. It had been a bloodbath. Even as her stomach rolled, she heard Carmen’s breathy voice on the other end.

  “Blade?”

  “Carmen, it’s me,” Lyla said.

  “Lyla?” Carmen sounded faint and then she screamed, “Lyla?”

  “It’s me,” she whispered and tears threatened. Everything was catching up to her—being hunted in the desert, her mother’s attack, being chained and witnessing a gory battle worthy of Roman times.

  “Are you okay?” Carmen asked.

  She nodded even as her mouth said, “No.”

  “Are you hurt?”

  She shook her head before she realized Carmen couldn’t see it. “N-no. A-are you guys okay?”

  “Yes. Did Gavin get him?”

  “Yes. It was Steven Vega.”

  “Vega? Rafael’s brother?” Carmen sounded incredulous. “Are you sure?”

  Lyla looked down at Steven Vega’s head. His eyes were open and staring at her. This fucker tortured Manny, stabbed her, hunted her like some fucking dog while she was pregnant and would have killed Carmen and Nora—. With a scream, she drew back her foot and kicked Steven’s head, which sailed across the two-story arena into the crowd of spectators. There was a yell as some men tried to dodge her missile and then a ringing silence filled the arena. For the first time, Lyla realized there were no women in the crowd and these men looked like gangbangers... or worse. She took a step back and prepared to run when Lucifer began to laugh.

  He tossed an arm over her shoulders. “Your hand to hand combat needs work, but you have great potential.”

  “Who’s that?” Carmen asked in her ear.

  She didn’t know what to think of Lucifer. He allowed Steven to jack off on her and would have watched her be tortured and then he fucking saved her from a bullet. He really was insane. She had the simultaneous urges to try to kill him, hug him and order him to see a doctor. She didn’t care that he could handle the pain. She didn’t want him to die... or did she? It was just her luck that she was indebted to an irritating, heartless psycho. “Fucking Lucifer.”

  “Lucifer?” Carmen sounded horrified. “Oh my God, Lyla. Get away from him.”

  “I’m trying.” She shoved him, which made him laugh even harder. “Asshole.”

  “Lyla, he’s a sociopath. He runs Hell. You have to—”

  “It’s fine.” Lyla got away from him and tried to ignore the hooting and catcalling from the stands. She gave the crowd the middle finger, which made them even louder. She gave up and headed towards the ruined executive lounge. “Are you okay? How’s Nora?”

  “You took ten years off my life, but I’m okay. Nora’s asleep. Are you coming home?”

  “Yes.”

  Carmen sighed. “Lyla, is it really over?”

  Lyla took a deep breath and glanced into the arena at the bodies of Sadist and his henchmen. “Yes.”

  “I love you.”

  Lyla closed her eyes and clung to her love and warmth. “I love you too. I’ll see you soon.”

  She hung up as the guys came through the shattered window. She handed the phone back to Blade and did a double take. She grabbed his chin and went on tiptoe to examine the deep gash on his cheek.

  “What happened?” she snapped and spotted two deep lashes on Angel’s chest. Eli was dragging his left leg and trailing blood from a wound she couldn’t see. She whirled on Lucifer. “You have a doctor here?”

  Lucifer stared at her. “No.”

  “They need stitches!”

  Lucifer leaned towards her. “This is Hell, honey. They’re not supposed to leave unscathed. Just be happy that they’re breathing and so are you.” Lucifer looked towards Gavin. “You might want to wash up before you leave Hell looking like you left a butcher shop.”

  Lucifer walked towards the exit and they followed. Gavin grabbed her hand and gripped tightly as he stomped over the fallen bodies and tracked bloody footprints over the white marble floor. Lucifer led them down a hallway and pointed to several doors before he disappeared.

  Gavin pushed into a room fit for royalty. Like everything else on this floor, everything was blinding white. This bothered her on so many levels, especially because it didn’t match with the sandy pit, the fact that this place was called Hell or that there was a brothel on another floor.

  “I don’t—” she began, trying to pull back.

  Gavin grabbed her wrist and dragged her into a luxurious bathroom. There was a circular shower stall in the middle of the room along with a sunken bathtub. Lyla wasn’t prepared for Gavin to drag her to the ground, rip her top down the middle and savagely yank off her jeans.

  “Gavin,” she whispered as he unbuttoned his slacks and pulled out his cock. “There’s probably cameras—”

  Gavin dragged her into position beneath him, spread her thighs and brushed his cock over her slit. Lyla bit back a moan and heard his growl of approval when he found her hot and slick. She tried to scoot away, but he grabbed her thighs and yanked her into place beneath him.

  “They’ll see!” she hissed.

  “Let them watch. They’ll never have what I have, the fuckers.”

  Gavin wouldn’t be denied. He positioned her and slid inside. His eyes closed and he shuddered as if he couldn’t handle the sensation. He didn’t stop until he was in to the hilt. His hot breath fanned her face and she was pinned beneath his vibrating body. She could feel him holding back, trying to spare her whatever was going on inside of him.

  “Gavin.”

  Metallic, golden eyes pierced hers. The monster that ruled the underworld stared back at her. She wasn’t afraid. On the contrary, she stroked a hand down his bloody face. This man, this scary, wonderful man would die for her. He wouldn’t give up and he wouldn’t back down.

  “I love you,” she said and blinked back tears.

  Gavin’s mouth slammed down on hers and he began to move. She could taste blood, but didn’t fucking care. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him for all she was worth. Gavin growled into her mouth and fucked her against the unforgiving floor. After the horrors of the past hour, she needed to lose herself and Gavin was giving her an outlet. She dragged her nails down his back and clawed at him, begging for him to push her over the edge.

  Gavin lifted her leg high and ground against her before he pulled back and then slammed home with a teeth jarring smack. It took less than five minute of his antics for her to climax, tipping her head back and screaming as it tore through her. Gavin joined her, clasping her desperately close and fucking her with a force that bordered on pain. So many emotions flickered through his eyes—fear, relief, rage, and bloodlust.

  He gasped her name as he came and lay on top of her, nearly suffocating her beneath his bulk. She didn’t care. She clutched him to her. They survived. Sadist was gone and they could finally move on.

  Gavin stirred and raised his head. “Okay?” he husked.

  She leaned up and kissed him gently. “Yeah.” She would be.

  Gavin hauled her up and bustled her into the circular shower stall and braced her against the wall when she weaved on her feet. He tapped a button on the floor with his foot. A massive showerhead rained over them and began to wash away the blood and fear.

  They stared at one another. So much passed through her head, but she didn’t know what to utter out loud. His energy pulsed in the enclosed space. He cupped her chin and kissed her, hard and deep. When he pulled back, his eyes roved over her face as if memorizing every line.

  “I’m so fucking proud of you.”

  She blinked. “What?”

  “I killed the last man, turn and see you toss the knife in Vega’s back and then attack him with a fucking shield.” His lips didn’t move, but his eyes warmed fractionally. “You were a

savage, out of control, after blood. You were magnificent. Every man in that arena would have killed to claim you.”

  “What?”

  He brushed sweet kisses over her forehead, down her nose and over her cheeks. His hands moved over her as if he couldn’t help himself. Lyla reached down for one of the bottles at her feet, read the label and began to bathe away the night. Neither of them said a word as they tended to one another.

  When she was bundled into a robe, he went into the bedroom to see if there was anything in the closet and came back with a tiny slip of fabric, which turned out to be a dress. Lyla had no choice but to slip into it and was horrified by her reflection. The dress was obviously from one of the whores. It barely covered her pussy or nipples. It was slinky, tight and left nothing to the imagination. Her chest scars were on full display. Lyla was debating whether she should wear the robe out of Hell when she caught sight of Gavin.

  Gavin was clad in clothes identical to the ones Lucifer had been wearing—loose beige pants and a tight Henley that showed off his muscles. Gavin plucked at the tight shirt as if it was a rag. He looked up and saw her biting her lip to hold in her laughter. He hauled her against him with his hands on her ass.

  “You think this is funny?” he murmured as he nipped her neck.

  “Yes.” How she could find anything funny after the night they had, she didn’t know.

  “Fucking Lucifer.”

  “What’s this about godfather duty?”

  Gavin’s hands tightened on her before he straightened. “He’s going to teach Nora how to fight.”

  “What?” she snapped and shoved at him, but he didn’t release her.

  “He won’t teach her until we’re ready.”

  “Gavin, I don’t want Nora a part of this life. You’re passing the title to Angel.”

  He stared at her. “We can never let our guards down and neither will she.”

  Lyla moaned and rested her face against the hollow of his throat. “I don’t want to think about that right now. Sadist is dead. That’s all I care about. The end.”

  A knock on the bedroom door echoed into the bathroom. Blade stood on the other side. Lyla couldn’t hold back her laughter. Blade was in identical clothes to Gavin and he looked even more ludicrous.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Blade said.

  Gavin put his arm around Lyla’s shoulders. “Let’s go.”

  Blade led the way down the white hallway. Angel and Eli were standing by the elevator waiting for them. They were dressed the same as Gavin and Blade. Angel looked her over and didn’t flinch when he took in her scarred chest.

  “Nice dress,” he said with a grin.

  She scowled at him and glanced at Eli. “Are you okay?”

  “I’ll live.”

  The elevator doors opened and they got in.

  “What are you doing for work?” Gavin asked.

  It took her a second to realize he was talking to Eli who didn’t answer.

  “Your hospital bills are backed up,” Gavin said casually.

  “What’s your point, Pyre?”

  “You looking for a job?”

  There was a beat of silence before, “Depends on the job.”

  “I hear there’s a Detective position open with the Nevada PD.”

  Angel snickered.

  “Or if you’re looking for something more... flexible, Angel’s taking my title and needs someone who knows the ins and outs of the underworld.”

  The elevator doors opened, revealing a long dark hallway.

  “I’ll give you a call, Pyre,” Eli said as he limped in another direction.

  “We still have to talk,” Gavin said in a hard voice.

  Eli nodded. “I know.”

  Gavin pulled Lyla into his side as they walked. There were no screams of torture of pleasure, but she wouldn’t relax until they were out of here. They rounded the corner and walked into what felt like a sports book betting station. There were men everywhere and the largest TV screens she had ever seen on the walls. It was a circular floor with a bar and tables and chairs surrounding the arena and the sandy pit at the bottom. There was a lot of activity going on as they piled bodies on stretchers.

  The noise level dimmed as they started through the crowd. No one smiled or spoke to them. She felt their eyes on her. After the night she had, she wasn’t feeling remotely modest. These men fucking saw her kill a man. What were scars and tits in comparison?

  Gavin led the way to a large metal door and swung the heavy thing open.

  “Gavin!”

  Gavin cursed under his breath before he turned to face Lucifer.

  “Leaving so soon?” Lucifer asked.

  “Got shit to do,” Gavin said.

  Lucifer’s stared at her scars. She resisted the urge to cover her chest or belt him across the face. Lucifer’s eyes locked with hers. There was something happening in the dark depths she couldn’t define.

  “You should wear your scars with pride. You survived and had your revenge. Every man here knows it,” Lucifer said.

  Lyla didn’t know what to say to that.

  “I look forward to hearing your stories in the future.” Lucifer grinned. “And meeting your daughter. Are you planning on having more kids?”

  “Lucifer,” Gavin bit out.

  “What? I want to know.”

  “We haven’t talked about—” Lyla began.

  “Yes,” Gavin growled.

  Lucifer clapped his hands. “Great.”

  “It’s been a long night,” Blade said.

  “Yes, yes,” Lucifer said and clapped them on the back. “The city lost some prominent leaders tonight. Watch your back.”

  “That’s a given,” Gavin said.

  Gavin led her past a group of men smoking cigars and playing cards. A dark gloomy hallway led to rickety stairs and then Gavin pushed on a wall, which swung open. Lyla walked into a... closet? She heard the distant pulse of stripper music and glanced at the minimal costumes. She grabbed a feather boa and draped it around her neck as Blade’s phone rang.

  “Lyla.”

  She turned from her perusal of the empty dressing room. “What?”

  “That was the hospital.”

  Fear grabbed her by the throat. “What happened? Did someone—?”

  “She’s awake.”

  Lyla froze. “What?”

  “Your mother. She’s awake.”

  “We have to go now. How do we get out of here?” she demanded.

  Gavin took her hand. “This way.”

  He led her through the dressing room into a strip club with strobe lights. Lyla didn’t glance at the strippers or the patrons. She hauled ass towards the door and emerged in a deserted parking lot. Blade beeped the lock on an SUV and they climbed in.

  Angel and Gavin nodded as they slammed their doors and they were off. Gavin sat on the backseat with her, gripping her thigh.

  “They weren’t sure she would wake up,” Lyla whispered.

  “I know. This is good,” Gavin said quietly.

  “You think she remembers?” Lyla closed her eyes. “I hope she doesn’t.”

  “We’ll see,” Gavin said.

  The SUV was silent as Blade drove to the hospital. Since this was Las Vegas, no one glanced twice at the stripper with three hippy companions as they walked through the halls.

  “You should all get checked out,” she said absently.

  None of them responded or broke away from their group. The ICU nurse didn’t miss a beat when they walked up to her counter.

  “Has she spoken?” Lyla asked urgently.

  The woman’s expression softened. “No. Let me take you to her.” She glanced at Gavin, Blade and Angel. “We don’t want to overwhelm her.”

  Gavin nodded and squeezed Lyla’s hand before he released her. Lyla walked swiftly towards her mother’s room. Her mother looked worse if that was possible. At Lyla’s approach, her mother’s eyes opened. The color of her eyes didn’t seem as vibrant as before, but Lyla didn’t care. Her mother was alive.

  Lyla took her mother’s hand carefully in hers and kissed her scarred fingers. “Mom, it’s me.”

  Her mother blinked slowly. Lyla didn’t see recognition in her eyes.

  “It’s Lyla,” she said.

  Her mother stared at her for a long moment. Her eyes were dull and lifeless.

  “I’m sorry, Mom,” she whispered.

  Her mother closed her eyes, took a deep breath and then opened them again. Her bruised lips formed a word. Lyla leaned in close.

  “What? What are you trying to say?”

  Her mother said one word in a shaky whisper filled with pain. “Pat.”

  Lyla’s heart stalled in her chest. Her father. Her mother loved him more than life itself. Of course his name would be the first one on her lips. Lyla bowed her head and tried to think of what to say. Her mother urgently squeezed her hand and said his name again. Her insides rebelled. She couldn’t look into her mother’s eyes and admit what she’d done.

  “Lyla.”

  Her mother’s voice sounded a little stronger, but doused with so much pain. Lyla raised her head. Her mother was watching her with tear filled eyes.

  “Pat,” her mother said urgently.

  Lyla shook her head. A tear slipped down her mother’s cheek. She closed her eyes and withdrew her hand from Lyla’s. Lyla ground her teeth against the hurt that caused. She hadn’t even told her mother that she was the one that pulled the trigger.

  “M-mom? Do you need water or—”

  “Leave.”

  Lyla opened her mouth to argue, but one glance at her mother’s broken body made her obey. She kissed her mother’s brow and walked out of the room.

  “How is she?” Gavin asked.

  She collided with his chest and he hugged her tight. He cupped the back of her head and kissed her temple.

  “She’s alive, Lyla. That’s all that matters,” he said.

  “She asked about dad,” she said against his chest.

  “What did you say?”

  “I just shook my head. I couldn’t—I couldn’t—”

  Gavin raised her face to his. “You did what you had to, Lyla.”

  “But he was my dad.” She swallowed hard. “I can’t tell her.”

  “She has a long recovery ahead of her. Spare her that knowledge at least.”

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