Vicious Knight: A Dark Mafia Romance

by Amaya Black

  “What in the hell?” I gave an uneasy whisper.

  “Yeah…”

  I stayed where I was in the doorway and leaned against it. My father’s eyes were open and they looked cold and lifeless. But I knew that he was aware and that he could see me.

  “He has stage four emphysema,” Albie shrugged. “He’s on a hell of a lot of medicine… he’s weak. Max is pretty much running the business now.”

  Max, I thought. This was why he wanted to tell me about the twins. They were safe now.

  “Shit,” I murmured.

  I couldn’t make myself go to him. There would always be an ocean in between us and not even a medical diagnosis would change it. Finally, when my eyes could take it no longer, I turned away.

  “Guess it wasn’t either of you.”

  I began to rub at the back of my neck. If it wasn’t him, then who in the hell would do that to me. It was my lifeline along with the crew of Tainted Ink. Maybe the arson investigator would be able to shed more light on the situation for me at some point.

  “I’ll walk you out,” Albie said and closed the door to my father’s room.

  Not even bringing myself to look back, I let out a long deep breath. We stood on the porch, the product of Michail Francis. Probably a lot worse for wear than we were letting on.

  “I’m sorry about your shop,” Albie offered. “I’m sorry about so much shit, but mostly for bringing that piece of shit into your life.”

  I smiled. “Don’t worry about Lucien…he’s not all bad.”

  Albie dug around and pulled out another cigarette. I watched the smoke curl in the air. I hated cigarettes.

  “You should stop smoking,” I told him.

  He chuckled. “Maybe you should invite me for dinner at the fancy mansion Lucien owns. I might meet my end quicker.”

  “Sounds like a date, brother.”

  Before I dashed from the porch, I dropped a kiss on Albie’s cheek. I knew it’d be a while before I saw him again. Just hoped the next time it was not some bullshit with him. Giving a wave, I got into my car only to find that my cellphone, which I’d left in the passenger seat had blown up with a million texts from Lucien.

  “Where in the hell have you been?” were the first words out of his mouth.

  “I’m not your captive anymore lover boy,” I rolled my eyes. “I’m on the way back to the house.”

  “Promise?”

  I gave a slight laugh. “Yes, Lucien. Should I pick up some Chinese?”

  He grumbled something incoherent.

  “I’ll take that as a yes, and that you missed me.”

  “I missed you and I was worried.”

  “Don’t worry so much. Be there shortly.”

  I ended the call and pulled away from my father’s house. Albie was standing on the porch until I couldn’t see him in my rearview mirror anymore. Focusing, I began to search and find the nearest Chinese restaurant.

  I was starving.

  Chapter 29- Lucien

  I’d sent the men home for the night. Told them to go home to their girlfriends and wives and fuck them senseless. I’d told Ms. Porter to go home as well; she was happy to oblige.

  “Miss Simone is good for you,” she had declared as I helped her put on her coat.

  “You think so?”

  “I haven’t seen you smile so much since you were a child,” she patted my cheeks. “You think I don’t remember how you were a good boy. An altar boy. I told your mother you would become a good man.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Porter,” I whispered.

  “Goodnight, Lucien,” I watched her head out into the dusk.

  The last rays of light were fading.

  I’d been wondering where in the hell Simone was for hours, now. She’d finally called with no explanation of her whereabouts.

  I’d been worried.

  Emotions.

  I knew they were so fucking dangerous. They could get me killed but I couldn’t help it.

  She made me feel.

  I think I was starting to understand both Liam and Valentine, especially Valentin. That man was one of the most cold-blooded motherfuckers I’d ever met, but Astrid had warmed him and to see him with a child. I almost didn’t recognize him.

  Nearly twenty minutes had gone by and I was sitting in my office when I heard the rustle of dinner bags and the pups yipping to come to greet Simone.

  She had insisted they stay inside with us until they were a little bigger.

  “And whose the prettiest baby wolves?”

  Peering around a corner and overlooking the foyer, I peered down on her. She had a treat for them.

  I cleared my throat and she looked up at me.

  “Sorry I’m late,” she offered.

  Giving her a smirk, I bounded down the steps to take her into my arms. We starred at each other for a long while.

  “I don’t want you to think I’m lying to you about anything,” she said.

  My heart dropped into my stomach.

  “What is it?”

  She moved away and I followed her into the kitchen area. She grabbed a few plates down and we started plating the Chinese food. There were two orders of House Lo Mein and two orders of Crab Rangoons. Simone already knew what I loved to eat when I got Chinese.

  After inspecting the bag, I saw it was from Chang’s Diner right around the corner. It had been a selling point when I’d purchased this house.

  “I went to see my brother and my father tonight,” she said. “That was what was taking so long.”

  I was getting that feeling in the back of my throat. Simone needed to know about my connection to her father.

  “About?”

  “Honestly?”

  I quirked an eyebrow, she laughed, stuffing her House Lo Mein in her mouth. When she finished, she spoke again.

  “I thought Albie and my father were behind my shop being torched.”

  “And?”

  “I was wrong. I just found out my dad’s pretty much dying…fucking emphysema. Imagine being a bastard your entire life and then your body betrays you.”

  Being quiet between mouthful, I watched the pups scamper about. They started to mew loudly.

  “They need to go out,” Simone said and moved to the side door. “Be right back.”

  Bracing myself on the counter, I gave a small smile.

  Michail Franchesko was dying.

  The man who had stolen my father’s life, caused his empire to crumble by causing his death…was dying.

  Does he still deserve a swift death…or does he deserve to see the future you want with his daughter?

  My palm slapped against the countertop. I was so deep in thought, I didn’t even hear Simone come up behind me.

  “You okay?”

  Lie, I thought.

  Hideaway the emotions, I thought.

  Turning to her, I took her in. She looked smaller than I remembered. This story I was about to tell her was going to rock her fucking world. It would either destroy us or bring us closer together.

  Fuck.

  She touched both sides of my face.

  “Lucien…”

  Catching both her hands in my own, I kissed both her palms. “I need to tell you something.”

  Her face remained neutral and she nodded.

  “Not here though… let's take a bubble bath together.”

  She gave a slight laugh and I took her hand and led her out of the kitchen. The pups yipped happily behind us and followed us up the carpeted stairs and into our bedroom.

  I didn’t let go of her hand until I went into the bathroom. Ms. Porter had bought some bubble bath stuff from Bath and Body Works. Pulling it from under the sink I read over the bright pink and purple label.

  I was Bratva.

  I didn’t do bubble baths.

  I didn’t know how else to break this fucking news to the woman I….

  “Do you have cancer?”

  Turning, I found Simone’s eyes on me. “No, nothing like that. I just need to tell you
something.”

  Finally, the tub filled up with water, bubbles were practically oozing out of the tub because I had emptied half the bottle.

  We shed our clothes but I paid extra close attention to Simone. Watching her body looking ripe for the taking. Her stomach was flat and taut and her breast hung, ripe and amble. I could spend all day just biting, kissing, and licking at her flesh. Leaving love bites all along her body, marking her as mine.

  The tub was large enough that I relax at one end and she the other.

  Playfully, Simone blew bubbles towards me.

  “You’re starting to scare me,” she finally said.

  “More than usual?”

  The water seemed to relax me and I lay my head back watching Simone under hood eyes.

  “A little, yes.”

  “I want to tell you a story.”

  My tone was quiet, and I licked my lips as Simone relaxed. I brought her feet up and slowly began to massage them. I could see it so clearly in my mind…how neatly trimmed my father’s beard was, the fire engine red tie…

  Chapter 30- Lucien

  School had let out early and my father had waited in the schoolyard. The wind had stirred up leaves. Walking out with a lunch box in hand, I scanned and found my father waiting.

  “Papa!”

  Usually, my father was away on business and it was my mother picking him up. He had been casually reading a newspaper but the minute he saw me, I had his attention.

  “How was school?”

  He had taken my hand in his and led me to his car.

  I hadn’t known at the time that my father was head of the Bratva, that that was why he was always away on business. That that was why there were always scary men around me and mama.

  “Not fun,” I had replied.

  He chuckled and waited for me to get into the car.

  “You must learn Lucien. Reading and writing and math, so that one day you can have a better life than what I have. Okay?”

  “Okay, papa,” I had snuggled into his side.

  “How about we see a movie?”

  “Just us?”

  “Just us…I have to leave on business tomorrow but I wanted to spend time with my favorite boy. Soon your brother will be here.”

  Everything after that was a blur.

  We saw the movie.

  We ate the stale popcorn.

  It was just the two of us.

  My father had sent his driver home as the movie theater was just around the corner from our apartment. Walking out of the movies, we made a right and headed towards home.

  The sun was starting to go down when a shot rang out and blasted through the air. People screamed and ran. We stopped for some reason, and it was only then that I felt something on my face and heard a gurgling sound coming from my father.

  I could still remember watching blood pool through the white shirt. It was like someone had dipped a paintbrush in water, touched red watercolor paint, and then placed it on paper.

  He collapsed, my mind still trying to figure out what was going on. But I saw him. I saw the man who had killed my father. He was young and scrawny and had been to our house many times. He realized what he had just done, tucked the gun away, and then ran.

  I stood there screaming until someone dared approached but by then it was too late.

  My father was gone.

  Simone splashed and it caused me to slip out of the memory that had been with me for years. She came up to me and held my face between my hands. The sorrow in her eyes was like needles stabbing at my skin.

  “I am so sorry,” she said. “Did they ever catch this man?”

  Tell her…

  Make her understand…

  Make her stay.

  “No. They never caught him,” I said softly. “But year’s later …after enough time had passed. I discovered who the man was.”

  Simone continued to search my eyes with her own. I pulled her down for a soft kiss. This was so fucking painful. Too many raw emotions. Taking a breath I finished the story.

  “The man like a lot of Russian immigrants came to America. He changed his name…just like my own family did. And then he became the head of the Thieves Guild here in Chicago…”

  Simone blinked.

  It settled in.

  She understood.

  “Fuck…Lucin. Goddamn. Why….I don’t ….Lucien.”

  Hurt people hurt people, I thought.

  It was sinking in and she was already scrambling to get out of the tub and away from me.

  “Why….why fucking play with me!!!!” She screamed.

  “Simone, wait!”

  Water dripped from my body as I stepped out. By the time I found a towel and reached her she was already getting dressed. Murder was in her eyes and for the first time, I found myself afraid of her actions.

  “Let me explain, please,” I tried to block her exit.

  “If you don’t want to lose your dick…get the fuck out of my way,” she sneered.

  Her face had turned scarlet from some unseen force; she was furious.

  There was venom dripping from her words.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I don’t know…I just need to clear my head. I can’t be here right now. Just please let me go.”

  She was hurt that I’d hidden this huge dark secret from her and she needed time.

  “I’ll give you some time,” I grabbed her arm. “But you don’t’ have much of it. You belong to me, Simone. All of you. I won’t ever let you go. You’ve made me fucking feel things…I don’t feel. And now that I have…yeah I won’t let you go. ”

  She struggled against me but I didn’t care and dropped a kiss on her forehead. Then, I let her leave. The pups who had heard the yelling and commotion began to circle my feet and whine.

  “She’ll be back guys,” I leaned down to pat them.

  I wondered if I even believed those words.

  Chapter 31- Simone

  Tears were streaming down my face, and I wasn’t exactly sure why. Why was I crying over a man that had issues connecting with people emotionally? Albie had warned me. Hadn’t he?

  I had no one to turn to and I’d left my phone at the house. In the kitchen where our food was.

  I drove around my apartment nearly ten times before I jumped on the freeway and headed into another part of the city. It was a long shot to think Miguel would be home but I just needed someone to talk to.

  I felt bad the moment I knocked on his green door. The way things had gone down between us in Panera earlier. I’d be lucky if he didn’t cuss me the hell out and tell me to never speak to him ever again.

  “Miguelllll!”

  I knocked even harder because I knew he was home. The humming of music or the television seemed to pause.

  The locks on the door began to click and he cracked the door; Miguel’s face was partially obscured by darkness. He hadn’t bothered to turn on the outside door light either.

  “I know I’m the last person you want to see right now. Today has been a fucking nightmare but I ….”

  “Simone, go home.”

  There wasn’t much emotion in his voice, but there was exhaustion.

  “Please…I need a friend right now.”

  He opened the door wider and I could see his face fully now.

  “We don’t need to…”

  I barged in.

  “Look! I’m a piece of shit, Miguel. If I lead you on in anyway…I’m really fucking sorry. This shitshow I’m in with Lucien…look the man practically kidnapped me.”

  Miguel’s eyes grew wide.

  “Yeah…my brother got me into some shit. But I’m not now…” I shrugged. “I’m not kidnapped anymore.”

  “Well clearly,” he stated.

  “I’ve just found out some crazy shit today…I just need to be around someone who has good energy. Can we watch a movie and just talk about tattoos and shop plans? And…”

  Miguel’s face curled up and a smile appeared. “Okay. You’ve twi
sted my arms. You had me at tattoos.”

  “Thank you,” I murmured looking around.

  “How about I fix us some tea?”

  Biting my lip, I nodded. “Yes, I would love that.”

  While Miguel went into his kitchen, I looked through his DVD collection. Some of them I hadn’t seen and but one stuck out to me. Pulling out Poetic Justice, I popped it in.

  “Interesting choice,” Miguel said startling me. “Teas done.”

  Placing my hand over my chest, I let out a breath. “Scared me, dude.”

  “Sorry.”

  We moved to the couch and I picked up the decorative mug. It felt super hot in my hands and I blew on it to calm the heat down before relaxing. Miguel pulled a blanket over me just as Janet Jackson began to talk…

  I wasn’t sure when it started…

  But not too far into it the movie, I began to see double.

  “Meeguellll…”

  I was feeling wobbly.

  He stood up and took the cup and placed it on the table. Leaning forward he forced me to look up at him.

  “I told you to go home, Simone. But you insisted…”

  “Did…you..?”

  Damn it, I could barely keep my eyes open.

  “Shhhh,” he murmured, and I closed my eyes.

  Lucien’s brown eyes were the last thing I saw in my mind’s eye.

  I should have just stayed and heard him out, listened to him when he needed me to.

  Why hadn’t I stayed…?

  Chapter 32- Lucien

  Nine hours.

  Simone had been missing exactly ten hours. She had left around nine o'clock the night before and I hadn’t seen her since.

  I had no clue where she was and it was eating at me like a worm working its way through a rotten apple.

  Desperation was coursing through me like acid.

  I needed to know that she was alright. That she was at least safe.

  Going by her apartment, I hadn’t found any evidence that she’d been there. I drove by the burned down remnants of Tainted Ink and then I did the next best thing I could think of.

  I called Nova Safarayan, Queen of Chicago’s Bratva.

  “Nova, hi,” I was already rubbing at the back of my neck.

  My skin felt like it was crawling.

  She sounded so confused and I checked the time. It was after six in the morning. The sun had just started to turn the sky into a rosy display of pinks and purples.