Morally Ambiguous: A Dark Mafia Romance (Morally Questionable Book 4)

by Veronica Lancet

  He'd been a little reluctant in the beginning, but as I'd assured him that if he did hurt me I'd call out a safe word, he'd been open to try it.

  There's something to be said about being stripped of control, being at the mercy of pure animalistic lust as he overpowers me.

  And just because it's him I can let go.

  My cheeks go red as I realize just how much I enjoyed the feeling of being his prey, the adrenaline rushing through my veins as it mixed with the serotonin of his claiming. Just the feel of his hands on my throat as he'd ruthlessly thrust into me had made me come harder than ever.

  He rutted me like a beast, a claiming that went far beyond anything we'd tried before.

  And I know that he loves it too—craves it more than he'd like to admit. But he's been denying himself because he can't bear the thought of hurting me.

  "There's nothing wrong with you, Sisi," he leans down to lay a kiss on my brow, tenderly caressing my face.

  "I don't know," I release a breath, "maybe I should be more traumatized after what happened," I say and he blinks slowly, pain evident in his eyes, "but there's something about relinquishing all control to you," I raise my hand to cup his face. "I think that turned me on from the first time we met."

  "Don't," he places a finger on my lips, "don't let anyone tell you what you should feel or shouldn't feel. Fuck knows, I've been fighting myself from the beginning, trying to be gentle with you like you deserve, when all I wanted was to throw you up against a wall and have my way with you," he smiles wolfishly, "violently," he whispers, "ruthlessly," he traces my lip slowly, "like an animal in heat. Mark you up in ways you could not erase from your goddamn soul."

  He takes a deep breath, his eyes infinite pools of fire and ah, but drowning never seemed so hot before.

  "You know there's this violence in me," he brings my palm to his chest, right over his heart, "it's dark and turbulent and barely contained, and it wants nothing more than to swallow you whole. That you embrace every part of me, even the savage, uncivilized one..." he trails off, and I can see the conflict inside.

  "I know you're not much of a believer, Vlad," my lips draw up, "but our meeting was meant to be. Inevitable. That's what I would call our relationship. No right or wrong... just us."

  "Inevitable," he nods thoughtfully, " I like that."

  "I love you," I say, leaning towards him, my tongue sneaking out to lick the shallow knife wound I'd given him.

  "Fuck, Sisi," he hisses in pleasure. "I love you too, hell girl," he breathes hard, his eyes closed. "So damn much."

  It's a little trickier to get cleaned up after our little adventure, but we manage to slip unnoticed out of Sacre Coeur when everyone is freaking out over the fire at the church. Police and firefighters are both at the scene, and the sheer incompetence is astounding as Vlad gets away with killing the security guards too.

  "They offended you," he shrugs as we make it back to the car.

  I shake my head at him, although his regard never fails to warm me up.

  Once we get back to the compound, we start planning.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  "I've got eyes on it," I call out.

  Since Ellis Island isn't exactly the most welcoming place for outsiders, and the security cameras that are around have a restricted area of coverage, I'd had to switch to a Plan B. I'd sent drones to get some footage.

  I know it's a risky avenue, but I'm also not about to barge inside unprepared. I need to at least have an idea of the layout of the hospital, and the surrounding terrain.

  "Already?" Sisi gets out from her chair, coming to my side to look at the screen.

  "Three of the drones made it inside. Two were shot down," I explain, "we have to hope these are going to get enough footage before they're found too."

  It's very likely that they are already looking for them, since the previous ones should have alerted them to the potential presence of others. Still, I'm hoping we can get something.

  "Won't this put them on their guard?"

  "It's a risk I have to take," I reply grimly. "It's not ideal, but I would never go in blindly."

  She nods, continuing to watch the screen.

  The remaining drones provide us with an additional hour of footage before they are also shot down. But that hour is our only insight into what goes on inside the hospital, so Sisi and I start carefully analyzing each frame, making a scheme of the building and what to expect inside.

  From what we can see, though, the hospital is anything but abandoned, with shiny new equipment on all levels. Since we'd sent the drones at night, there hadn't been many people wandering the halls, but the few we'd caught on camera we'd been able to identify.

  "These are all immigrants," I note as I compile a list of the faces we'd spotted. "Immigrant doctors and nurses," I continue as I sift through the data. "It makes sense, since some wouldn't be able to get their qualifications recognized to work in an official hospital. Although it's a little ironic, since the hospital itself used to be an immigrant building," I chuckle.

  "Do you think they know what's happening?"

  I purse my lips, nodding.

  "Yes. But this is likely the only type of work they could find that doesn't ask them for their certifications," I say as I show her where some of these people are coming from. "It's smart. Get personnel from war-torn countries so they have no way to provide documentation."

  "Isn't this another form of trafficking?" She asks thoughtfully, and a smile pulls at my lips.

  "Only if they are taken from their countries. If they were hired when they've already settled here, then no."

  "Interesting," she notes, biting the end of her pen. "What do you think, then? Are they sourcing them from here or are they trafficking them?"

  Pushing the files we'd printed on the personnel we'd identified towards her, I point to some of the dates.

  "These people have been missing for years in their respective countries. And there's no record of them ever being in the US. My guess is that they were brought over with the incentive of starting a new life, but then they were roped in into the business."

  "I don't feel sorry for them," she shrugs. "They've known about the stuff Miles' been doing on children and they've never thought to speak out?"

  "I don't think we should judge them outrightly. If someone ever thought to speak out, they wouldn't be alive anymore. This is too deep. Even if someone were to compile evidence and show it to the authorities, how would they know who to show it to? There are too many people involved in all chains of command. The system simply rotten to the core."

  "But isn't this like fighting with windmills then? We end Miles' reign, but who's to say there won't be another Miles just taking his place?"

  "That's what you get when you reach the belly of the beast. You cut one head, another grows in its place. It's never truly over. Especially when it comes to something as profitable as this. Where there is demand, there will be supply."

  "I get that," she sighs, "but it makes me feel helpless, and I don't like it."

  "I wish I could shield you from all the horrors of the world, Sisi," I turn to her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "but I can't. The only thing I can do, is vanquish any danger that might threaten you," I pause, "and make sure you're strong enough for when I'm not there."

  Her hand reaches out for mine as she gives me one of her stunning smiles.

  "I'm strong because you're with me," she says quietly, "I don't want to think of a time that you won't be with me, Vlad. Because that's out of the question."

  I grunt, because I could not fathom a moment without her either. But no matter how much I'd like to be with her forever, the truth is that this lifestyle might take me out eventually.

  Even I am not invincible.

  Hell, the fact that I've made it this far it's astounding. But while the odds might not always be in my favor, for Sisi I'm willing to go through hell and back to ensure that she'll never have to shed a tear for me.

  We cont
inue to watch the footage in silence, until Sisi points to the screen, stopping the video.

  "I think there's something underground," she notes, her finger on a small vent at the bottom of the building.

  I zoom in, noting the bars and the fact that there seems to be something there.

  "Might be where he houses his project, if he keeps the hospital strictly for transplants."

  "What are we going to do, then? We can't just barge in," she bites her lip, looking at me worried.

  "No. We're going to need help," she frowns and I clarify, "backup. I've already spoken with your brother and he's willing to help. Enzo and Nero are in too, so our combined forces should be enough."

  "But it's still federal ground. How are you going to get around that?"

  My lips twitch.

  "I'll be jumping the gun a little," I add, amused, when I see my phone blink with a confirmation message from Nero.

  "I'll be using Meester," I tell her, and her eyes widen.

  "How come this is the first time I'm hearing this?" She raises an eyebrow, almost offended.

  "Because I've been trying to finalize the plans with Nero and your brother and make sure it's a viable alternative."

  "Explain." She leans back, her arms crossed over her chest.

  "The island is clearly well protected and they will see us coming immediately. We need a trump card to get in there undetected."

  "And how will you convince Meester to get you on to the island when he's been trying to kill you for the last few weeks?" She asks skeptically.

  "Nero's got it covered," I chuckle. "He has his precious daughter currently in his possession. In fact, we'll be doing a video conference with Meester once we get to your brother's house, and I'm sure it's bound to be very convincing."

  "Damn," she whistles, "that's not a bad idea."

  But then she frowns.

  "How old is his daughter?"

  "She's probably in her mid-twenties," I shrug. "But don't worry about her too much. She's not an innocent either."

  "What do you mean?"

  "In restricted circles they call her the black widow. She's been married three or four times, and all her husbands ended up dead under mysterious circumstances. All within a short while of the marriage, too. I hear Meester's been trying to find her another husband for a long time, but no one is brave enough to marry her."

  "She sounds interesting," Sisi grins. "I want to meet her."

  "And you will. We're heading to your brother's tomorrow morning."

  With a rough understanding of the island and the hospital, we call it a day.

  "I didn't realize the basement had a different entrance," Sisi says, her arm tightening on mine.

  We'd compiled all the information we could find about the hospital, so now the only outstanding issue is planning the attack.

  I'd spoken with Nero on the phone last night, and while he'd had some minor issues with Meester's daughter, he'd assured me he'd be here today and we'd be able to jumpstart the plan.

  "I think Marcello sealed the entrance from the house," I reply, telling her about the rather dissolute history of the basement. "He probably didn't want Claudia or Venezia to venture there by accident."

  Heading to the back of the house where a trap door leads to the basement, I feel the hairs on my body stand up, my head whipping around in the direction of the roof.

  One step and I have Sisi thrust behind me just as a bullet hits me straight in the forehead.

  A paint bullet.

  My mouth opens, but no sound comes out. Not when Sisi swats my hand aside, plopping herself in front of me and laughing to her heart's content.

  "You're all blue," she can barely speak as she bends over, holding to her stomach, tears at the corner of her eyes from too much laughter.

  As if this wasn't enough, the basement door opens to reveal Marcello and Catalina followed by Adrian, all chuckling at my expense.

  But if Adrian is here...

  I look up just in time to see Bianca jump from the windowsill of the first floor, landing on her feet and smirking at me.

  "You," I grit my teeth, unable to even muster any type of retort, since who's going to take a blue man seriously?

  The paint is smeared all over my face and dripping down my suit, making me an official honorary smurf.

  "Well," she starts, an amused expression on her face, "you got your wish," she shrugs, casually strutting back to her husband. Or is it former husband?

  "When did I ask to be painted blue?" I mutter drily, raising my hand and wiping some of the goo from my eyes.

  Sisi is still laughing by my side, but when she sees that I'm not exactly amused, she quickly takes out a napkin, helping me get some of this shit off my face.

  "Oh, I don't know," Bianca rolls her eyes dramatically, "maybe when you called me sobbing and asking me to kill you stealthily so that you wouldn't see it coming?"

  I frown.

  "I did that?"

  "You're a moron," she immediately replies, whipping out her phone and playing a recording.

  Just put me out of my misery, B! Before I do something worse... like go after her.

  I swallow, embarrassed to be put on the spot like that, since that is clearly my voice. And though I have no recollection of that particular incident, I can wager a guess as to when it could have happened.

  "I was under the weather," I mutter, but she has to take it a step further and play another recording.

  One where I'm actually crying.

  I can't live without her...

  Heat creeps up my cheeks as I realize I wasn't just crying. I was fucking sobbing.

  "Motherfucker," I mutter under my breath.

  "Sounds familiar?" She quirks a brow, knowing she got me.

  "When was that?" Sisi frowns, looking at me questioningly.

  "When I sent you away," I mumble, "I might have experimented with some narcotics," a lot of narcotics "but I don't remember it very well."

  "And you were criticizing me," Bianca chimes in, and I'm getting increasingly pissed at her.

  Did she really have to embarrass me so thoroughly in front of Sisi?

  But I don't have time for that now. Not when I need to make it clear to Sisi that I'm not a drug addict.

  "It was one moment of weakness," I turn to Sisi, grabbing her hands in mine and urging her to look me in the eye. "And it was a one time thing. I swear," I tell her, needing her to know I'm not secretly shooting up.

  She purses her lips, narrowing her eyes at me.

  The others are talking in hushed voices, or at least that's what it sounds like because all my attention is focused on Sisi and her reaction. I don't want her to think I have a drug problem on top of all the other problems I have.

  "That doesn't sound like one time," she replies skeptically, and I curse out.

  "Ok, maybe it was a few days. One week tops," I amend, cringing at my own explanation. "But I haven't touched it in months, hell girl. I swear to you," I give her my pinkie so she can see I'm in earnest.

  She doesn't look convinced, but she does lace her pinkie with mine.

  "Fine. You're off the hook," she says and I breathe out, relieved. "But only because you sound so damn cute crying about me," she leans in to whisper.

  "Sisi," I groan. "How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not cute." Because how can any self-respecting man be cute? "You can call me anything else. Like sexy, handsome..." I pause to think, "fierce?"

  "Of course," she readily agrees. Almost too readily. "You're fiercely cute," she continues, thereby ending me.

  But as she raises herself on her tiptoes, brushing her lips against my earlobe, I can't help the way I become hypnotized by her.

  "Don't forget that blue is my favorite color," she whispers, her voice husky and sexy and doing weird things to my heart.

  "Cut it out, love birds," Marcello's voice ruins the moment as he all but snatches Sisi from my side. "I may accept that you're together," he motions between us, almost in disgust, "bu
t that doesn't mean that you get to rub it in my face," he says before promptly placing himself between the two of us.

  A smile threatens to pull at my lips and I look at Sisi to see the same reaction.

  "Damn, 'cello, but you're taking the overprotective brother to a whole different level," I drawl, sneaking my hand behind his back and grabbing Sisi's pinkie once more. She can barely contain her amusement as she looks up at her brother.

  "That's right, Marcello," she nods, "I thought we'd agreed I'm an adult and I can decide for myself. Besides, we're already married."

  I feel a surge of satisfaction in my chest as I hear her defend our relationship, and as I catch her eye, I can't help but wink at her.

  "Look at you being all sappy," Bianca interjects as she comes forward, hand in hand with Adrian.

  As if she should talk. She forgets how much sappiness I've had to endure from her for years.

  "I have to say I'd never thought I'd see this day, Kuznetsov," Adrian chuckles. "You, hitched?" he shakes his head, as if it's the most preposterous thing. "Gotta say, for a long time I thought you were in the closet," he shrugs, lazily looking at Bianca with an adoring look.

  I roll my eyes at them. Since when has my sexual orientation become such a hot topic? But I don't reply, because it wouldn't be fair to call myself straight either. Not when the only object of my attention is her. If anything, I'm assisied. And if that's not a term, then I'm making it one.

  Circumventing Marcello's rather unyielding form, I swoop Sisi up in my arms, a little tired of this little game he has going.

  I know he has a lot of misplaced guilt because he was the one who gave her away to Sacre Coeur, but that doesn't mean we'll forever have to mind his tender sensibilities.

  "Ok, that's enough," I address everyone, my tone serious. "I think we can move past the animosities, Marcello. Sisi is my wife, and that's not going to change whether you like it or not. Instead of commenting on my love life, we should be discussing other important businesses," I nod at them.

  They all stare at me as if I've grown a second head. Even Sisi is gazing up at me, her eyes wide, her mouth slightly parted.