The Syndicates: A Dark Mafia Romance Collection

by Raven Scott

  “You went to school for art, right?” Nodding, she huffed loudly in disgruntlement, and my frown deepened. “You didn’t like it?”

  “I hated it, but I was on scholarship, so I had to go. My mom was on her way to jail, and there were some good things about it, like learning to use rendering software and stuff, which got me the job I just quit. It was just really hard for me because it was the first time Natasha and I weren’t together.” My heart ached for her, and I sauntered over to wrap my arms around her and squeeze. “I didn’t want to say anything in front of her, but the guy who called me from my mom’s phone, he sounded really amused, like he didn’t have to do it, but he wanted to and he was gonna enjoy it.”

  “Valerie . . . ” What the fuck do I say? Oh, hey, just name drop me, and they’ll run away pissing down their legs? “If you ever feel scared, just tell me. I’ll keep you safe.”

  “Money doesn’t solve all problems.” Rolling my eyes at that grumble against my sternum, I tangled my hand in her hair to tilt her head back. Valerie looked . . . anxious, like the threat of what may or may not happen was already looming, and I sucked up a breath through flared nostrils.

  “That is complete bullshit. This is exactly the situation where money will solve the problem. I get it— pay it now, and you’ll be expected to pay it next time. But I guarantee you, Valerie, that won’t happen. Those guys are wannabes.” I couldn’t assure her more than that, and Valerie rested her chin on my chest to gaze up at me with those big, brown eyes that showed everything she was feeling. Kneading her head, I pressed my lips to her forehead, and her messed hair ruffled slightly from my sigh. “There are perks— you should see my movie collection.”

  “What’s your favorite movie?” Humming as I rocked back on my heels, I glanced at the display around me as my mind churned leisurely.

  “The Boondock Saints. Have you ever seen it?” My brows rose in surprise when she shook her head, and I smiled in childlike excitement. “Really? It’s hilarious. The second one doesn’t stack up, but as a standalone, it’s amazing. Let’s watch it. I have it on my phone.”

  “This isn’t one of those situations where we’re gonna ‘watch’ something, and two minutes in, we’re gonna have sex, is it?” The carpet squeezed through my toes when I flexed them, and I shook my head to Valerie’s genuine amusement. “I’m not sure what that says about me, but at least it’s not a video game.”

  “Oh, please. I don’t like video games.” Tightening my arm around her waist, I grabbed her hand to sway, and Valerie giggled at my scoff. A lightness lifted my chest, straightened my spine, and I grinned as I twirled her a little. “My little brother plays a lot of video games, and he’s a loser. It’s a proven association.”

  “Aren’t all little brothers losers? It’s just me and Natasha, so I wouldn’t know.” Pulling her to my chest, I nodded firmly, and she laughed a beautiful sound before a door creaked somewhere. Against my chest, Valerie tensed, but I knew that Theo was still hanging around out in the hallway. Natasha’s slurring giggles floated down the hallway, and Valerie put her hand on my chest before telltale stomping rumbled underfoot.

  Theo had slung the drunk broad over his shoulder, and Valerie left me to pop open the first door on the right. Her sister was trashed, and from the glare Theo shot me, it put a bit of a damper on things. We were together so often that I’d put levels on his scowls, and at least Illya thought it was funny.

  “Theo, you can go back.” Leaning on the door frame as he set Natasha down with surprising gentleness— maybe, so she didn’t throw up on him— I almost felt bad for him. Almost.

  When he straightened, he just rolled his eyes at me, and my lip twitched up as his curled in a nasty snarl.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Carlyle— a whole two hours before seven a.m. How generous. There’s absolutely no point in going back right now, or Illya will kick my ass for waking her up.” Growling at me as he pushed past, Theo shook his head and rubbed the cheek that Illya had so recently smacked. “That bitch can hurt when she wants to.”

  “But it worked. Was there an update?” Only shaking his head again, Theo disappeared into the living room, but I never heard the front door open and close. Scratching my jaw, I couldn’t help but be impressed by how hard Isabel had gotten drugged, but she always had a weak constitution, so it wasn’t surprising.

  At least that cunt hadn’t woken up while I was balls deep in Valerie.

  “Illya’s the girl who got all the donuts that one time, right? That’s a really pretty name.”

  “Don’t be fooled— she’s got bigger balls than me. I’m constantly impressed by her.” A strange expression rippled across Valerie’s face, and I cocked my head as I shuffled to pin her against the wall. “What?”

  “At the time, I was a little jealous.” My breath caught in surprise, and Valerie tinged pink up to her ears as she ran her fingers through my check hairs. Staring studiously at my collarbone under furrowed brows, her confession rang in my ears even as it lengthened. “Before I realized that she was your sister or cousin or whatever.”

  “This is gonna sound terrible, but Illya’s been through some shit, and I find her physically repulsive.” Grabbing her tits to squeeze through her pale blue shirt, I worked my knee between her thick thighs as she pursed her lips thinly. “I appreciate the sentiment, though, but, no, she’s not my sister or cousin, and I would rather gouge my eyes out than see her naked.”

  “That’s because you’re a piece of shit who can’t appreciate scars.” Both Valerie and I turned to Theo, and I scowled as he held up the half-eaten grilled cheese she’d made. “Can I have this?”

  “Uh . . . yeah? Help yourself.” He sat on the sofa, just making himself at home, and an irritated sigh escaped my flared nostrils before Valerie muffled a laugh in my shoulder. “L-let’s just go watch the movie. This is awkward. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

  “Hey . . . ” Cupping her flaming cheek, I couldn’t help but smile at the embarrassment that flared in her eyes when they met mine. “It’s not so bad. Illya’s not my sister, but it feels like she is. No harm done, Valerie.”

  “Yeah.” Her relief was kinda cute, and my smile widened as she worked her hand into my unfastened pants. “Can we watch it naked?”

  18

  Valerie

  Groaning softly, I rolled over to hike my leg up over Carlyle’s hard abs and struggled to stay asleep. He was warm, his heartbeat steady against my cheek, and he stroked my hair to tug the strands gently.

  “Carlyle . . . ” A girl could get used to this, and I wiggled closer to wrap my other leg around his. His cheek puffed against my forehead when he smirked, and residual sweat and other questionable fluids glued my breasts to his side. “How long have you been up?”

  “About ten minutes. It’s almost one p.m. I have to head out in a little bit.” Forcing my eyelids open, I frowned when he sighed forlornly, and I lifted my head as his brows furrowed. “I have some things to take care of before work tomorrow. As much as I’d love to put it off, it can’t wait anymore.”

  “It’s okay. I need to overthink and fantasize about last night, anyway.” He huffed a laugh, and I hoovered up a huge breath and rubbed my eyes with a sniffle. “I’m not really . . . just the fantasizing part. I know it’s just sex.”

  “That was fantasy-worthy sex, Valerie. The only thing about last night that turned me off was you falling asleep during Boondock Saints— you missed Willem Dafoe.” Giggling a little as Carlyle grabbed my ass and squeezed, I shuffled heavily to straddle him, and the colored tiger tattoo on his chest peeked through my fingers. “I’ll just make you watch it again. It’s my favorite movie, and you didn’t stay awake for it.”

  “I liked what I saw of it, though.” Grinding against him, I gasped when he smacked my ass sharp but soft, and Carlyle kneaded my breasts as his heat seeped between my thighs. His sleeves of tattoos rippled from powerful ropes of muscle, and I braced my arms on either side of his head. Sucking my nipple into his mouth, he twea
ked the right one gently, and I shivered at the pleasure that skittered down my torso.

  “You’re so damn sexy, with and without clothes.” Squeezing my breasts together, Carlyle switched to my right nipple, and I moaned as his hot praise rolled down my abdomen. His cock hardened against my core, and I panted weakly as I reached between us to pump his shaft. “Fuck.”

  “You only cuss when you’re turned on.” Posing the observation as I shuffled down, I caught Carlyle’s gaze as my mouth watered. His lips parted, his breath hitching noticeably when I dribbled spit on his cock, and I squeezed and worked his hardness as he propped his arm under his head.

  “I hope you never see me mad.” Biting my bottom lip at that, I poised Carlyle’s cock at my entrance, and my heart thundered against the bars of its cage. The bulbous head stretched my walls even as they quivered in need, and I gasped as I took him all the way in. He groaned so loudly, the sound echoing in my ears, and hard palms grappled my ass to squeeze.

  My eyelids fluttered closed in ecstasy when Carlyle thrust up, and I braced my hands on his chest to roll my hips. There was nothing more beautiful, I’d decided, than him, and I clamped down on him when his head hit that spot inside me.

  “Valerie . . . ” Bouncing a steady beat on his cock, a shiver raced up my spine at his breathless moan, and Carlyle’s harsh pants scorched my nipples. Pleasure tightened my abdomen, and my ass cheeks quivered in his hands as he parted them to push down.

  “Oh-h, God . . . oh, God.” My shaky breaths caught on my own voice as I rode him, and I clenched my jaw as I tried to stave off my orgasm. Sitting up, Carlyle wrapped his arms across my back, and the world spun until I landed on my back. My knees clung to his sides as he took control, and he ducked to kiss and lave my neck. Trapping me below him with his elbows, he tangled both hands in my hair, and I moaned when he tugged my head back. Thrusting deep, his cock caressed my walls, and I buried my cry in his powerful shoulder.

  “Christ, Val . . . ” Nibbling my pulse point as I clamped down on him hard, Carlyle panted roughly as his thrusts became sharper and faster. The scraggly hairs on his sac teased my back entrance, the slap of his weight on my thighs, making me small, and I wrapped my arms around his neck to hold tight. “You sexy fucking bitch.”

  “Yes . . . yes . . . yes . . . yes-s-s, Carlyle . . . right there. I’m gonna come.” His thick cock rammed just the right spot over and over, and my eyes rolled back as my toes curled around his ass. “M-make me come . . . ”

  The high-pitched whine in my voice was one I didn’t recognize, and I held my breath as my face warmed. Pleasure coiled in my abdomen, and Carlyle grunted to the furious beat of my heart as he snapped his hips against mine. His fists pulled my hair taut, and prickles raced down my spine even while icy tendrils surged up my sternum.

  Growling in my ear as I undulated wildly around his length, Carlyle thrust hard, and the slap of skin on skin rose above the blood drumming in my ears. Tearing a hand from the strands, he gripped the sheet above my head, and his other hand glided down to rub my ass cheek. His little smack sent a jolt of eroticism through me, and I sputtered a gasp before he hit me a second time in the same spot.

  “Turn over. I wanna see that ass jiggle while I fuck you.” Eagerness tingled my calves and up my arms, and I rolled over to stick my ass up and spread my knees. Gripping my hips, Carlyle grazed his teeth along both my ass cheeks and my need dripped from my entrance before he slipped his fingers through.

  “Oh, fuck!” Wiggling his hand viciously, Carlyle curled two digits against my inner walls, and I moaned into the mattress as I came undone. Shivering, goosebumps blanketed my skin as he jostled my pelvis, and my ass cheeks clenched when he cracked his palm against them hard. Arching sharply, I fisted the sheet with white-knuckle tightness, and he worked a third finger into my channel.

  “Yeah-h-h . . . that’s what I like.” Gripping both my ass cheeks, his nails dug into the stinging flesh, and I rasped a moan when Carlyle plunged into my depths. The sharp snaps of his hips jolted up my body, and I pushed back on him as pleasure spotted my vision. “Fuck my cock, Valerie.”

  “I’m gonna!” Pushing myself onto weak arms, I blew out a hot breath, and I glanced over my shoulder blearily when Carlyle barked out a laugh. His thrusts slowed, became less erratic, and I sat back to set a pace of my own to match his. My hair stuck to my cheeks and neck, and I blustered and shook my head, but it really didn’t help. Gingerly gathering up the strands, he didn’t yank them, and I ground my ass against his defined abs.

  Each shove of his cock into my channel knocked the air from my lungs, and I whimpered from the pressure building behind my eyes. Leaning down to conform against my back, Carlyle reached under me to tweak my nipple, and I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth to gnaw diligently.

  “Slow . . . slow . . . ” Shivering at the command, I dropped onto my elbows to ride Carlyle’s cock, and he sat back to thrust to my rhythm. Jiggling my ass cheeks, he hissed in pleasure, and I rocked forward to wiggled my hips around the very tip. “I’m gonna come all over this perfect ass, Valerie.”

  “What the Hell is wrong with my mouth, or my foot, or—” A squeak escaped me when Carlyle thrust hard to cut me off, and I ground my teeth as pleasure shot through me like lightning. “Fuck!”

  “It wasn’t a suggestion.” I could feel his stupid smirk against my shoulder blades, and Carlyle growled as his cock gorged and twitched against my walls. He pulled back, and I gulped down a shallow breath and braced myself before he plowed into my channel. My moan rang in my ears, and his fingernails dug deeper as he pushed down and sputtered a gasp.

  Seconds ticked by like minutes before Carlyle pulled out of me completely, and he smacked my ass cheeks with both his palms to send me collapsing onto my bed. Gasping for air, I groaned when he draped himself over me to peel back my hair and kiss my cheek.

  “Go to sleep. You deserve it.” The roughness of his tone thickened the goosebumps pocking my back and legs, and he pulled all of my hair up away from my face. “I’ll be back. You can bet your ass on that.”

  “Wait . . . ” My mumble paused his sitting up, and Carlyle hummed hoarsely before I managed to get the strength to open my mouth again. “Get my laptop and put on Netflix for me.”

  “Uh . . . yeah, just give me your password, and your social security number, birthday, mother’s maiden name . . . why not.” Grumbling as he climbed off the bed, Carlyle opened my laptop on my desk, and I sniffed hard as I struggled to roll over. “What do you want to watch?”

  “Use the guest account, put on anything.”

  “Hitler documentary it is, then.”

  19

  Carlyle

  Stretching my arms above my head, I arched back with a groan, and my spine popped as satisfaction surged through my veins. Shaking myself out, I rolled my head to crack my neck, and I didn’t dare beat down this wonderful feeling that warmed my chest. Grabbing the doorknob, I took a big, stabilizing breath before pushing the metal barrier open, and the metallic scent of blood hit me square in the face.

  Isobel was tied to a chair, her nose and face crusted with blood down her slender neck, and I couldn’t help but grin when her head snapped up. Fiery, brown eyes met mine only to widen in surprise, and I leaned on the door frame to cross my arms in an effort to contain my amusement.

  “You really fucked up this time, Isobel.” The panic on her pretty, birdlike features was intoxicating, framed by hair sticking to her cheeks with sweat and blood. Like this, she was almost bearable to look at, and I rubbed my chin thoughtfully as I scanned her. “Did you think I didn’t know what you were doing?”

  Posing the vague question to see her reaction, I watched that panic darken, and she must’ve thought I was talking about whatever bullshit her brother spouted. Isobel sat up a little straighter in the metal chair, stuck out her chin, and took a breath in preparation, but I didn’t let her open her big ass mouth. Holding up a hand to silence her, I sauntered into the makeshift interrogation room to lea
n on the armrests and get close to her face.

  “The only thing I want to hear coming out of that disgusting mouth of yours is the name of whoever you’re scheming with. I know it’s not Wren because he’s missing right now. I know it’s not your dumbfuck brother because he hates you almost as much as I find you repulsive. It’s definitely not your father— the senile piece of shit probably can’t remember who you are.” She had the audacity to look pained at my snipe, and I pushed myself up roughly to jostle her chair. “So, think carefully about what idiocy you’re going to spew out.”

  Isobel was quiet, and I hoped, for once, she was using her brain. I had shit that needed answers. Of course, I could tell her that I’d let her go, but if she really trusted my word and spilled her guts . . .

  Well, then what the fuck did I need her for? The answers to my questions would be simple. The only issue was that I was too far removed from the Italians to know much of the fundamentals.

  “What’ll you do for me if I tell you?” Barking a hard laugh, I threw back my head, and Isobel glared at me from under her raven bangs. “You’re an insufferable bastard, Carlyle, but the one thing you know is a business deal.”

  Arching a brow quizzically, my mirth caught in my chest, and my hand shot out to wrap around her throat. Forcing Isobel’s head up, I leaned in until I could count each individual eyelash, and she gasped as her cold sweat slickened my palm.

  “Is that how you want to start this, you stupid cunt? By insulting me?” Reaching for the gun tucked into its holster against my back, I pressed the barrel against her temple, and she whimpered a deliciously scared sound. “I don’t appreciate being insulted in my own home. I’ll give you the opportunity to retract that statement.”

  Wide eyes wavered at my calm, and I put a little more pressure on her throat as irritation stained my tongue like acid.