Wicked Games by Jarica James
Otsana
When I finally got up the morning after they fucked me into near unconsciousness, it was well into the afternoon. They were gone already which wasn’t that unusual. We didn’t have time to talk but from the bits I gathered from Xander and the blood on their clothes, it wasn’t good.
After a quick shower just to wake myself up and ease the soreness in my body, I got dressed and headed for the kitchen. Angelina was done with lunch but she never failed to leave leftovers. My mind raced with possibilities of what happened as I heated up some of the lasagna she’d left. But without more details I felt like I was flying blind.
Instead of sitting around, I pulled out my phone and dialed Joe. He answered on the first ring, his voice holding an edge of worry which didn’t help ease mine any.
“Otsana, is everything okay?”
I smiled at how caring he was. “I’m good. I haven’t had a chance to get the details from last night and the guys are gone already. Fill me in?”
He didn't even hesitate, the guys had ensured I was known as their queen, even if this was the first time I was using it to my advantage.
“I made a discovery. The men and women Eros is sending now have been different. Before, you had to face assassins, right?”
“Yup, one a month like fucking clockwork,” I said, taking a bite and chewing as he continued.
“Well, now they’re hunting you, Sana. They want you alive.” The words startled me so much my fork fell to my plate with a clatter. Eros never changed his plans without a good reason and I was almost afraid of what it was. At this point, he knew where I was and who I was with, so what changed? Maybe Little Tony filled him in? Was it Dani?
“Why?”
He let out a soul deep sigh. “No idea unfortunately, though I won’t stop digging until I find out. But there’s more.”
“Of course there is,” I said. My chuckle that followed was full of bitterness, every ounce of it aimed at my former Family.
“I’d caught one parked on the stretch of road from the city to the estate. They were just sitting in wait. So the bosses parked and waited. Another car drove up and they made their move when they were all out of the car. Two got away but not before we got a glimpse of who they were.”
Fuck. Something in his voice meant I was not going to like what came out of his mouth next. I pushed my plate away as nausea and nerves had me fighting to keep what little I had eaten down.
“Tell me.”
He paused, clearly reluctant but unwilling to disobey an order. “Dani was in the car, Sana. We think she’s switched sides.”
I wanted to protest. To vouch for her and say she would never betray me. But a phantom pain on my cheek reminded me that things had changed, that she’d changed after Helena and she blamed me. What better way to betray me than to join Eros and his mission to make my life a living hell.
“Is that it?” I gritted out.
“They caught the guy that was waiting. Eros has turned the Families against you and put a bounty out on your head. Chatter is that it’s in the millions, Sana, an offer no one could refuse apparently. We aren’t sure if anyone is still loyal, but they’re starting to infiltrate the city. Things aren’t looking good for us but since they’re only sending a few men per Family, we’ve got numbers on our side.”
“Yeah, if they don’t ruin the Adrostos reputation and our city’s safety in the process,” I sighed, frustrated that I’d brought this all down on them.
“If there’s anything I can do, let me know,” he offered gently. “Until then my eyes are glued to these screens. We’ve caught a few crimes in the making and stopped them, our men are everywhere.”
“Thanks, Joe. You’re truly an angel.” He chuckled.
“This Family makes it easy, a Family that cares is hard to come by.”
I huffed out a laugh. “No shit, I know that for a fact.”
Just as I was about to hang up and find something to distract myself with, I had a thought. Eros was changing the playing field. But he only made big moves when he was sure of the outcome, when his chess game was coming to an end and the checkmate was in sight.
“Wait. Joe. Anytime Eros traveled, he did the opposite of what you’d think. His movements are made in shitty cars you’d never see Mafia men driving in. Think the opposite of Ky. I hadn’t thought about it because it’s been years since he’s left his little empire. There’s no way he’s causing all of this drama and isn’t here to watch it for himself.”
He cursed before his hands were flying over the keys, the small clicks filling the quiet. After a few minutes he hung up, no goodbye, but I didn't fault him. He was focused on a new task and one I was almost positive would give us a good lead in this war.
In the absence of our call I almost felt lost, but the front door slammed open and I could hear the guys talking. Kill glanced in the kitchen and grinned, coming my way. He snatched my plate and took a bite, sitting in the stool next to me as the guys came in.
“Joe just filled me in,” I said before they could repeat the entire conversation. Keir looked impressed and Ky gave me a look that clearly said ‘good girl’ without speaking the words out loud. A sense of satisfaction hit me despite all the shitty news I’d gotten a few minutes before they walked in. “I also gave him a bit of intel. It hadn’t crossed my mind, I was like ten last time he took me somewhere himself, but I was explaining that Eros takes cars that fly under the radar. The sensible ones no one would ever suspect him of riding in.”
“Smart,” Keir said incredulously, shaking his head. “Of fucking course he does.”
“I could never,” Ky shuddered. He looked downright horrified at the mere thought of it, getting up and making them plates to distract himself.
“Well, then we need to be careful today. We’re moving you.” It wasn’t said like I had any input and for once I didn’t feel the need to argue. Shit was getting real and I was just terrified enough about going back that I wasn’t about to refuse the offer.
“Okay, where?” Keir blinked at me and Ky narrowed his eyes while Killian laughed, all three of them shocked by my reaction.
“What’s the catch, Kitten?” Ky asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I’d really like to not find myself back in the Priamos’ clutches,” I said simply, my voice quiet as I felt memories threatening to rear their ugly heads. That house was hell. We walked on eggshells, waiting for Eros to throw some ghastly orders at us. He tortured his family for the sake of keeping us in line and I shuddered at the thought of what he would do to me after outright betraying him.
“You won’t ever go back there,” Keir promised. It was a nice thought but I wasn’t naive enough to let it calm me. But for now, it would have to do.
“So, where to?” I asked again before we could get too deep into feelings that would have me panicking.
“We own a place downtown. It’s in the heart of the city but that means they’d cause more of a scene if they tried to get to you. There’s an apartment on the top floor and enough men to get you anything you need.”
“Listen, if you think I’ll sit in my tower like fucking Rapunzel, you’ve got another thing coming,” I protested, but Ky held up a hand. I snapped my mouth shut and waited, gritting my teeth so I didn’t start an argument until he had a chance to explain.
“It’s temporary. A few days for us to see just how bad things are. Let Joe give us a full update and we can figure things out. If you go to the shop you’d put Joe in danger, here Angelina will be. We know you can protect yourself, but we’re going to have to play this one carefully. Give us time for a plan.”
“I’ll agree, and keep my word if you agree to one thing.” They froze and tensed at my words, knowing it wouldn’t be a simple request. Damn straight it wouldn’t be, I wasn’t going to be stupid, but I also wasn’t your average damsel in distress. This bitch knew how to defend herself and no one knew how Eros operated as well as I did. Except maybe Dani, but she’d apparently switched sides.
“What is it?” Keir finally asked, though I could tell it pained him.
“If Joe finds Eros, and you go to confront him, I want to be there. Only I get to end that motherfucker’s life. I’ve fucking earned that right,” I challenged. My words were said with so much venom they grinned.
“Fine. But only if we’re positive. We won’t give him a chance to escape to get you, but we’ll do our best to pin him down until you arrive,” Keir relented.
“I’ll take it,” I sighed. “But if you kill him without me I’m cutting off your balls with my knife.” Killian chuckled and I rolled my eyes. “Don’t act so excited at that threat you masochist.”
Before he could retort, Keir’s phone was ringing. He answered on the first ring.
“Report, Joe.” He didn’t bother to put it on speaker, but his body language said everything we suspected. After a few hums and no real words to give the conversation away, he ended the call and looked at me warily. “He thinks he’s got a location.”
“Good, you can take me with you on the way to our new location,” I offered with a fake smile. Not wanting him to argue, I hurried out of the kitchen and to our room so I could change into something more practical. In fact, I changed at lightning speed, not giving them a single chance to leave me behind. Clad in my favorite hunting clothes, dark and form fitting, but stretchy enough to fight in, I put on my shoulder harness and slid on a leather jacket.
They were waiting by the front door with Xander and a few other guards. This was obviously not going to be a stealth mission, but I was ready to face my past and end it, to free myself of the devil who always waited in the eaves to take me back to hell.
The ride was tense, all of us lost in our own thoughts. Everything seemed to be crumbling around us and we were desperately trying to keep it together. The news stories may have slowed thanks to Joe’s diligence, but it wasn’t completely crime free. With our reputation on the line, we couldn’t fuck this up.
Ky stopped in front of an old storefront, the windows covered in rotting newspaper and the window busted. The entire block was falling apart and part of the Lach, only making me realize how much I didn’t miss living down here.
Everything seemed quiet… too quiet. Our men surrounded the building, Xander’s crew pulling into the alley to block the back as we got out in the front. Another team went in ahead of us and we moved in behind them. Keir ordered a few to watch outside before we went in.
The inside was a haven for the dregs of the city. Old syringes and bottles were littered on the floor, some old mattresses and debris lined against the walls. The smell was overwhelming and I didn't want to think about what my shoes stuck to as we moved further into the dark building.
“Clear,” our team reported from the back of the building, coming to meet up with us again. The look on Xander’s face as he approached was angry and horrified. “But they left her a present.”
“A present?” I whispered, ignoring the guys’ protests as I walked further into the building. The next room opened up into a large area, the only light coming in were from backup lights down the middle of the room, flickering in and out. But it wasn’t hard to miss where this present was, a chair set up in the middle of the room, a lifeless body tied to it. Eros wouldn’t have left it here without a camera so I used every ounce of training I had to not react even though inside I was sobbing and riddled with guilt so deep I knew it would never go away.
Gabe.
NO.
My sweet friend and resident cinnamon roll.
Eros had taken the one non-mafia friend in my life and killed him. Punishing me by taking a life was his favorite game and this time he delivered in full. I knew this was Eros’ way of saying he had me right where he wanted me. A little gift to say I better tie up loose ends because at the end of the day, I belonged to him.
The only consolation was that there was no torture, just a single bullet hole to the forehead. A quick death, apparently Eros was growing soft in his old age. But it was oddly comforting. If they had tortured Gabe, I would have burned down this city to find them… though, that was still a strong possibility.
“Sana,” Killian’s voice was pained, knowing what this was doing to me even if I wasn’t reacting outwardly.
“We pay for his funeral. The best around,” I demanded, my voice wavering despite myself. Then I turned around and screamed into the building, knowing Eros would hear every damn world. “You’re a dead man, Eros. I’m no longer loyal to you and I will kill you for this. I’m coming for you this time, not the other way around. I’ll bide my time then I’ll be the one to watch the life drain from your fucking soulless eyes.” I punctuated my speech by picking up a loose chunk of concrete and chucking it at the wall. The action did nothing to subdue the rising tide of anger and pain inside of me.
“We’ll make that happen for you,” Keir promised, walking forward and untying my dead friend, laying him gently on the ground. “Xander. Take care of him. He’s Family.”
“Understood. I’m so sorry, Sana,” he offered, coming over and giving me a hug. The guys’ didn’t even react to another man touching me, they knew he was loyal and a friend now, but I kept it quick. The last thing I needed was Xander killed because Keir was on edge.
“Someone find me spray paint,” I said absently. My focus was on the men carrying Gabe out of the room, memories of his smile making my armor fall piece by piece. It was way too close to how I felt when he’d taken me away from school, from them, my last traces of normalcy falling away and leaving me drowning in Eros secrets and betrayals. His words still echoed in my mind.
“No matter who you try to leave me for, know that your place is here, your life is mine, and that will never change.”
He’d meant those words then and still stood by them now. But what he hadn’t bet on, was that in all his lessons and words he’d created me to be his mirror. Though in the end he hadn’t crushed my conscience and I was stronger for it.
“Here, princess,” Keir said, pressing a can in my hand. I took it and moved forward, making sure to stand back from the spray of blood. Scrawling a message on the concrete floor, I let Eros know that he still didn’t break me.
My life is my own now.
The words were able to be read loud and clear and I felt my lips twist into a smirk, message delivered. This was me outwardly saying that I had no intention of coming back, my plans were no longer my secret.