The Devious King: A Mafia Romance (The Hale Mafia Book 1)

by BL Mute

  I want him to tell me he needs me in the way I need him. Not for any reason involving the Mafia, but because he loves me so much, so passionately, that he can’t function when I’m not around.

  “The twins have always been my muscle. I’ve never needed you for that, but I have a feeling some things are about to happen, and it’s going to take more than me and the twins to keep it contained.”

  I rise from my bed and start pacing the floor. That is definitely not the answer I wanted. “So, what—me, you, and the twins are supposed to stop whatever is going to happen alone?” I laugh. I’m almost positive whatever is going down involves the cartel, and the cartel doesn’t act alone. They have the Morenos, and if they operate anything like Teddy, I’m sure they have some people stuffed into their back pocket just waiting to be used.

  He stands and places his hands on my shoulders, halting my steps. “No, not alone. My brother will be coming for a visit tonight. He will help too.”

  I rear my head back and look at him with wide eyes. “Brother? You have a brother?” I screech.

  “I do.”

  I push his hands from me and take a step back. “You’re telling me you have a brother? Did you not think that was an important detail to share the night you gave me the rest of your life story?” I know I’m probably overreacting, but I don’t care. I need to be mad; I need to hate him for a second. I’ve stayed quiet and played his game, and he’s given me nothing in return other than pain. “What other secrets are you hiding from me?”

  He sits back on my bed and looks up to me. “To answer your question, no. I didn’t feel it was important you knew. He’s only my half brother, same mom. We both managed to end up in the same lifestyle, but work for different families. We should be rivals, but once we found out our lineage, we made an agreement. He stays away from my shit, and I would do the same. If one of us needs something the other could get, we get it. Right now, I need him, and he can help.”

  I stop in front of him and stare into his eyes for a second before I pull my right hand back and slap him. Hard. He sucks his teeth as his face meets mine again.

  Grabbing my wrist tightly with his right hand, he stands and starts backing me around my bed. “If you put your hands on me again, I won’t be responsible for what I do.”

  The back of my knees hit the bench of my vanity. I turn my head on instinct, making sure I won’t fall over. Teddy uses his free hand to snap my face back to his, and my anger erupts. I swing at his face again. Before I can connect for a second time, he catches my other wrist with his left hand, letting his arms cross in front of him.

  “Charlie,” he warns with bitterness rolling off his tongue.

  “Fuck you!” I scream.

  Honestly, I’m not even sure why I’m mad anymore. Hell, I’m not sure why I was even mad in the first place. Every time his hands land on me, my mind is muddled, and I can’t think straight. My hair stands on end, my stomach dips, and every ounce of fight in me leaves.

  He uncrosses his arms, pushing them down, which pulls my body closer to him. He crashes his lips to mine, loosening his grip on my wrists. As his tongue fights for dominance over my own, I break from his hold and push him back. He stumbles slightly before bringing his hand to my throat and forcing my face to his. I shake my head, trying to break from his hold.

  He drops his hand from my throat and takes a step back. We both stand there for a moment, breathless, chests heaving, bodies shaking, and stare at each other.

  “You’re mine, Monkshood, and always will be.” His words are soft, delicate, and true. Even if he didn’t admit it, I’ve already made that decision. He’s ruined me for other men.

  “Prove it,” I dare.

  I want him to show me everything he can’t seem to say. To mark my body with his love and kill all of my insecurities about whatever the fuck it is we have. If he can’t mumble those three little words I’ve already said over and over in my head, I want him to show me.

  Without another word, I rush to him and he does the same. Our bodies collide and our lips meet again. He grabs my ass and hoists me up, letting my legs wrap around him. We are nothing more than a mess. My fingers push into his hair as his hands squeeze my ass. Our lips dance on one another’s, passing the little bit of air in our lungs back and forth like it’s the only form of oxygen on earth.

  He turns and drops me, letting my body sink into the bed. “I won’t stop this time,” he says breathlessly, unbuttoning his jeans viciously.

  “I don’t want you to stop.” I pull the bottom hem of my shirt up over my head, letting my chest be exposed to the cool air, then shimmy my pants down my legs, kicking them to the floor.

  I look at Teddy and see his hands still at the top of his jeans. He closes his eyes and lets his head fall back for a second before he looks back to me and pushes his jeans down. His dick springs free, letting me know he wants this just as much as I do. I stretch my feet to him, placing them to his sides before using them to pull him closer. His knees come to the edge of the bed as he gives in. He falls over me, catching himself with his arms, caging me in. I can see the vein in his neck throb as he looks down at my naked body.

  “Mine,” he whispers, bringing his lips to my neck, then tracing the shell of my ear.

  “Yours,” I reply, wrapping my arms around him.

  He pushes into me, and my nails claw down his bare back as my legs squeeze around his waist. Every thought I had as to what it would feel like to finally be with Teddy flies out of the window. He isn’t slow and soft—no man like him ever would be. He fucks me hard and without remorse. He dives into my body over and over, seeking his release.

  His hands find mine and pin them above my head. Without question, I glue them to their spot. He rakes his hands down my sides, pulling out of me, then trails his lips along my stomach. Once he’s crouched at the edge of the bed, he bites at my thighs. “You’re the only one who will ever get me this way. The only one to ever get me here.” He sags to his knees, then dives into my slit with his tongue.

  He laps at my wetness, coating his tongue and chin. I stare down at him, and his eyes meet mine with his head between my thighs. A wicked grin spreads across his lips as he continues his invasion. When I can’t take any more, I reach down and pull his dark hair into my hands. I pull him up my body and plant my lips to his, tasting my own arousal as I do.

  “I love you,” I breathe against his mouth, not really sure if I say it or it’s only a thought.

  In response, Teddy grabs my waist before hovering over me. He flips me to my stomach, rooting hard kisses over the back of my neck and down my back. He grunts as he pushes into me again. He moves faster and harder than before. His hands find my hips, letting his fingers dig into my skin with punishing force.

  I grip the sheets and scream, not caring if anyone can hear. This is it. This is Teddy taking me as his and showing me I’ll never be able to leave him, even if I wanted. Once my voice is hoarse and every moan, scream, and almost sob has left me, he pulls out of me and splashes my back with his release.

  Warm cum drips down my sides as I collapse. My eyes flutter closed as a smile spreads across my face. I can hear him shuffling around the room, but I’m too spent to look and see what he’s doing. I can hear my closet open and close, then water running in the bathroom. After a few minutes, a warm rag is touching my back, cleaning up the remnants of mine and his love.

  In stark contrast to the way he just fucked me, Teddy slips his arm under stomach and lifts me, letting my head fall into his chest as I turn.

  His breath is still labored, and his heartbeat drums in my ears. “Monkshood, we need to get ready.”

  I inhale his mahogany and leather scent before opening my eyes and looking at him. He has a T-shirt and leggings in his hands, ready to dress me. He slips the shirt over my head, then leans and helps me into the leggings.

  “What are we doing?” I’m still teetering on the edge of reality. Stuck between what is real and total sexual bliss. All of the thoughts fr
om our previous conversation have fled me.

  “We have dinner with my brother.”

  Like a punch to the gut, everything comes rushing back to me. Teddy has a brother. And I’m going to meet him tonight.

  As I try to process the fact Teddy has a brother, attempting to figure out if he is just as ruthless and cruel, the doorbell rings. Teddy looks to my bedroom door as he jumps into his jeans.

  “Is that him?”

  He shakes his head, buttoning his jeans. “He isn’t supposed to be here until this evening.”

  Once Teddy is dressed, someone beats on my door, sending two hard knocks vibrating through my room. Teddy walks over and opens it, revealing Lucas on the other side.

  “Chief is here,” he says, glancing at me with a grin from over Teddy’s shoulder. “I can, uh, tell him to come back.” He darts his eyes away from me and runs his hand over the back of his neck.

  “Not necessary. We’re done here.” Teddy walks to me and grabs my hand, leading me out of the room past Lucas.

  “So, I take it she’s off-limits now?” he questions, sprinting up behind us. There isn’t an ounce of humor in his voice.

  “She’s always been off-limits,” Teddy huffs, flashing his eyes behind him for a second with a grin before continuing into the foyer of the house.

  Sloan stands by the door, dressed in his khaki uniform with his badge pinned to his chest and a gun holstered to his side. When he catches sight of me, he smiles and opens his arms wide. “Charlie! I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

  I smile at him with the same enthusiasm and embrace him. “I’ve been… busy.” I laugh.

  He steps back, putting his hands on my shoulders, and looks at me up and down. Once his eyes meet my face again, he speaks. “Are these boys treating you okay? I can take them out if not.” He grins, but something in his voice tells me he isn’t playing.

  Lucas scrunches his forehead. “Yeah, right, old man. We would have you buried before you ever got the chance.”

  Sloan shakes his head, then moves closer to me. “I’m serious, Charlie. If you ever need help, with anything, you call me. I promised your dad I would look out for you. I feel I’ve already failed.” His smile falls.

  I run my hand up and down his arm. “I’m fine. Promise.”

  He clears his throat and gives me a curt nod, then turns to Teddy. “There was another overdose today. We found the cartel’s signature bag with the victim again. We asked the junkie with him where they got it. After some threatening of jail time and some not-so-conventional ways of interrogation, he admitted they bought from the Morenos.”

  Teddy’s face turns dark. “Where did you find him?”

  Sloan releases a breath and takes a step back. “Southside, by the freeway.”

  “My territory.”

  Sloan nods. “Your territory.”

  “Did you pick up Hugo?”

  “Nope.” Sloan shakes out his shoulders and hooks his thumbs into his belt loops. “Because of how we got the information, there was no formal report. I can’t get a warrant without cause, and the junkie won’t speak now.”

  Teddy nods and looks to Lucas, who smiles in return. “Thanks, Chief. We will handle it.”

  I watch the whole encounter, confused. I knew Sloan had to have been working with Teddy, but why?

  Teddy sends Lucas away to do god knows what, so I take the chance to ask Sloan all of my burning questions. “Why are you helping them? Or why are they helping you, shall I say, with something as simple as an overdose?”

  Sloan looks to Teddy as his attention turns back to us. Teddy gives him an encouraging nod to go ahead and answer. “When your mom died all those years ago, it drove your dad crazy. There has always been a drug problem here, everyone knows it, but your dad wanted to get to the root of it. He felt if he could stop the flow of drugs coming in, he could save your mom. He went to Hale here”—he uses his thumb to point to Teddy—“and asked for help. He knew he would want them gone as much as he did. With the cartel being the pushers and almost careless in a way, it could bring more heat to the town. Your guy here deals guns. We all know it, but the fucker is too smart to leave a trace or any hard evidence.” He laughs in a sad way. “But still, more heat in this town is the last thing he wants, so your dad fed on that. He told Hale if he helped stop the drugs, he would turn a blind eye to his gun deals, if he was to ever catch him.

  “Unfortunately, your momma died before they got the chance to do anything. After that, your dad became obsessed. He never could figure out who was behind the cartel, pulling the strings. He swore they had someone on the inside, getting rid of evidence, misplacing files, that sort of thing. The closest we’ve come is the Morenos. Those fucked-up junkies are tight-lipped because they know if they talk, they’re dead, or even worse, the cartel will cut off their supply. It’s a big fucked-up circle, but I promised your dad I would continue the hunt and try to get to the bottom of it.”

  My mind spins, trying to make sense of what he just said. I knew my dad loved my mom, but I didn’t know it went this far. “So, he basically turned dirty just to help my mom, but the bitch died anyway?” I question out loud more to myself than anyone.

  Sloan shakes his head. “Technically he was never dirty. Hale is smart and never leaves a trace of his doings and has never admitted to anything. Everything I say about him is purely suspicion.”

  “How does that make things better?”

  “It doesn’t, but sometimes you have to pick which demons you’d rather dance with.”

  I shake away his comment and ask another question I’ve been wanting to know. “If everyone knows it’s the cartel, then why hasn’t whoever it is been caught? There has got to be a way to bring him down, so why hasn’t it been done?”

  Sloan looks to Teddy, urging him with his eyes to take over. “That’s the thing. We don’t know who he is. Just when we feel we are getting close, it’s like he goes into hiding. Your dad and I spent years trying to lure him out, but it never worked. The most we could do is get to the Morenos, and you’ve seen how that goes.”

  My stomach balls up with his words, and images of Simon beaten and bloody, lying on the floor, flash through my mind. The memory of the gunshot rings in my ears, making the previous images of Simon fade into the one of him with a gunshot to his head.

  “But you could have asked him more. You didn’t have to—” Teddy grips my arm, silencing me. Sloan looks to where Teddy squeezes me, confused.

  “We will discuss more later, Monkshood.”

  I roll my eyes and nod. Weeks ago, none of this would have seemed normal. Talking about murder and corruption, with the chief of police no less, but now it doesn’t even faze me. I almost let it slip that Teddy murdered a man in cold blood right in front of my eyes. How stupid could I be?

  I walk away and let Sloan and Teddy finish their discussion alone. I can’t trust myself to ask any more questions or make any more comments without fucking up and throwing Teddy under the bus after he’s worked so hard to conceal his wrongdoings.

  I stroll into the kitchen and find Julius and Lucas hunched over the counter talking. Well, Lucas is talking while Julius listens.

  “You know what I’m saying?” Lucas asks Julius.

  Julius nods with raised eyebrows and a smirk. I lean in the doorway and just watch them for a moment, admiring how Lucas feeds off Julius when he doesn’t even speak.

  “We should go back with him tonight and catch some ass. I’ve been cooped up in this house too long. My dick is begging to be sucked.”

  My eyes widen with his comment as Julius laughs, then pulls out his phone to type a message. He turns the phone to Lucas, and he reads it in a whisper, but I can still hear him.

  “Whichever girl ends up in your bed, is going to be disappointed. We all know I have the bigger dick.” Lucas throws a hand to his chest and lets his mouth gape open. “We’re twins, you ignorant fuck. We have the same equipment.” He points to his crotch.

  Julius huffs and types another
message on his phone.

  Lucas reads it again. “That’s not how it works. You’re the ignorant fuck.” Lucas rolls his eyes and slaps Julius on the back of the head. Julius’s smile widens, and then he turns and sees me in the doorway. He taps Lucas and tilts his head toward me.

  Lucas turns around. His smile falls slightly, but he hurries to put it back in place. “Sup, Flower?”

  I give him a tight smile. “Now you’re going to talk to me?” I shoot my eyes to Julius. “Oh, and look who finally has some balls to stare at me.”

  Julius shrugs, unbothered, while Lucas tries to defend his actions of the past few weeks. “We thought some space would do you good. Boss said to lay low, so we did. Don’t take it as anything personal. We were treated the same way after the first time we saw a kill.”

  I look to him and cross my arms, knowing there has got to be more to it than that.

  He throws his head back and lets out an obnoxious breath. “Fine. We wanted to see if you’d run and rat. But you didn’t, so all is well.” He flashes me a smile, showing his beautiful white teeth.

  “Whatever,” I mutter.

  “I’m serious, Charlie. And now that he’s marked you,” he says with a hint of disgust, as he walks toward me. He pushes my hair behind my shoulder, turning my head slightly. His fingers press into the tender spot where the back of my neck meets my shoulder as he continues. “There is no leaving. You’re stuck here whether you like it or not.”

  I pull away and run my fingers over the mark that is no doubt a hickey left from Teddy and his harsh love. “I don’t want to leave.”

  He smiles almost sadly and then looks at Julius. “I told you she would be perfect for this.” Julius nods in response.

  I’m not sure what his comment even means, but it makes me feel tingly inside. I turn with a laugh and start to walk out of the kitchen.

  “And hey, Flower?” Lucas calls from behind me.

  I turn. “Yeah?”

  “I’m not sure how much you heard, but I definitely have the bigger dick.”

  Julius slaps his arm as I laugh and leave the room.