Beautiful Trouble by B. B. Hamel
Darren
The conference room in Servant Manor used to be the small ballroom. When my father was still alive, he’d decided the house didn’t need three big, empty, dance-floor-filled monstrosities and had everything ripped out and replaced with modern conveniences. The fireplace remained, along with some of the original mirrors and lighting details, but otherwise it was completely transformed.
Five men sat around the long oak table, big enough for twenty people. A fire crackled in the hearth thirty feet behind me.
I kept telling myself that one day we’d gather all the oligarch families here and fill the room to the brim with latent anger, animosity, and the constant threat of death, and even then, it wouldn’t be enough to make this cavernous hellhole feel packed. But at least we’d fight it out and see who was left standing in the end.
Anthony lounged in the chair to my right. My sisters weren’t present—not because they weren’t allowed, but because neither of them showed much interest in the details of the business.
I liked it that way. The further away they were, the safer they’d be.
What had happened to Liv left everyone shaken. Even ten years later, we all felt her absence like a missing limb. Penny especially—she’d been there when it had happened, and Liv’s death left its mark like a hot iron on her skin.
We never talked about it. That was the Servant way. But I knew Liv was why Erin and Penny both didn’t want to get too deep into the family trade.
Anthony, however, was different.
Losing Liv had galvanized him. He’d always been an outsider, born last and with different eyes than the rest of us, but he was outgoing and gregarious and funny. He worked hard to make everyone laugh, and that engendered a kind of class-clown vibe to him.
At least until that night. Afterward, he’d changed.
Liv’s death was the dividing line in all our lives. Before and after. What happened to her had transformed everything and still worked its horror on us all these years later.
I took a deep breath and pointedly didn’t look at Anthony. I knew he’d be grinning at me. Even if he was trying to take himself more seriously these days, he couldn’t help himself.
We were what we were.
“Gentlemen, thank you all for coming.”
The five main heads of the Ukrainian mafia stared back at me. Hadeon Patrenko sat to my left, a tall, muscular beast in his mid-sixties. He was the leader of the family, the don of their crime organization, and all decisions flowed through him. Next was Ivan, Hadeon’s brother, skinny and astute, more like a librarian than a gangster, but a killer at heart. On the opposite side were Kuzma, Maksym, and Osip, each of them the commanders of important crews scattered throughout the East Coast, from Boston down to Atlanta. They answered to Hadeon but had a lot of autonomy over their day-to-day activities.
“We could not deny your generous hospitality,” Hadeon said, his voice like gravel sloshing around in a dump truck. “I’ll also admit to some curiosity about the house itself.”
“It’s a pleasure to be invited here,” Ivan said.
The others added their platitudes. I nodded at each.
Hadeon looked at me to lead the meeting, and I let the silence stretch. Anthony gave me a look, like I shouldn’t flex my power by making them sit and wait, but I couldn’t help myself.
The Ukrainians worked for the Servant family and had for generations. Their leadership and organizational structure changed over time, but their fealty to the Servants never did. Without our backing, they’d be nothing—swallowed up by the stronger Italians or the fiercer Russians.
My father had a favorite saying. There’s always a bigger fish.
In this room, I was the whale.
“I’m sure you’re all aware of what’s happening with the Liberto family,” I said finally, easing the tension.
Hadeon clucked his tongue. “Shame, that. Chale and his crew did a number.”
The Libertos were in chaos. Giatno and Manzi were dead, which meant the don position was available for the taking, and several powerful contenders had stepped up to fill the void, all while trying to deal with the Ramos cartel. The results were bloody and dreadful.
“It seems that Pietro Masso is gradually taking control. The remaining opposition is broken, scattered, dead, or too busy fighting Chale to do much about it. When the chaos dies down, I believe that Pietro will pledge his loyalty to Roman.”
Hadeon nodded. Understanding bloomed on his face. I liked Hadeon, not because he was a decent person—he wasn’t, the man was a straight-up frightening demon—but because he was clever and competent, and I didn’t have to explain myself more than once.
“That wouldn’t be good. Not with his domination of the MacKennas.”
Anthony cut in. “He owns them in all but name now that he placed his wife’s father at their head. He’s a clever little rat, don’t you think, Hadeon?”
“Very clever,” Hadeon agreed. “But perhaps too headstrong.”
I leaned forward onto the table. “I need you to make sure that the Libertos aren’t able to put themselves back together. Between you and Chale, I want them ground into dust.”
“And one more piece taken away from Roman,” Hadeon said. “I think we can help in that regard.”
“I hope you can.” I paused, studying him. This would cost me a great deal of money—Hadeon didn’t obey orders for free. But he knew that doing as instructed would bring his family greater prosperity, and as long as he kept the cash flowing to his soldiers and his lieutenants, he’d stay in his leadership role.
And in this world, it was either rule or die. There was no such thing as a living former don.
Before I could sit down and begin the meeting in earnest—there was strategy to go over, finances to discuss, other miscellaneous pieces of information to negotiate—the doors slammed open, and Winter strode in.
I stared at her and tried to keep my frustration in check. Of course she’d burst in here right now. The girl didn’t know when enough was enough. She was lucky that stunt at the pool hadn’t resulted in harsher punishments. She’d ruined priceless antiques and upset my mother—which meant I’d had to deal with the fallout.
Winter wore a skirt so short I thought it might slip up over her ass as she stalked toward the table. Her top was tight, cut low, showing off a hint of her breasts. I couldn’t remember giving her clothing like that, but I had to admit she looked fantastic, with her long, lean legs, and that mean-mug face, smirking ever so slightly.
She had no clue she’d just waltzed into a lion’s den dressed like a delicious sheep.
Hadeon stared in her direction and his eyes narrowed. “What’s this?”
“Looks like your new toy’s crashing the party,” Anthony murmured.
“She’s not my toy.” I turned toward her. “What are you doing here, Winter?”
“I heard there was a meeting, and I thought I might be of some use.” She walked over and draped her arm around me, pressing herself against my side. I bristled as her bare skin brushed against my arm and a jolt of desire ricocheted along my spine, down to my toes, and straight back to my brain. She was sultry and gorgeous and her eyes blinked up at mine, wide and doe-like, playing up that bullshit innocence.
She knew what she was doing. This was the pool all over again.
“Gentlemen,” I said, staring down at her, unable to take my eyes away. “Let me introduce Winter Kresswell. She’s a guest at the manor.”
“Hello, Winter,” Hadeon said. “I wasn’t aware we’d be having entertainment at the table, though I will admit, you do not displease me.”
Winter tensed. She didn’t like Hadeon’s implication, and I couldn’t blame her.
“Apologize to the lady.” I turned my attention to the Ukrainian gangster.
He stared up at me with a bewildered smile. “Surely you are joking. This prostitute—”
I gently pushed Winter away and stepped toward him.
Hadeon was a wolf. He stalked the streets of Chicago and slaughtered whatever lambs he came across—sometimes for fun, sometimes for profit. He bristled with muscles and barely restrained violence, and his nose was crooked from one too many fights.
That didn’t stop me from slamming my fist into the crook of his half-smiling mouth.
He grunted in surprise, head snapping back. The other men at the table began to stand, but Anthony was already on his feet, his gun drawn.
“Easy,” he said, eyes narrowed.
Funny, jovial Anthony was damn good with that pistol.
“You will apologize to my guest,” I said, unable to keep the rage from my tone. “You will grovel and pray this lady forgives you, Hadeon, or I will make sure your pathetic two-bit excuse for a fucking crime family burns to the goddamn ground.”
Hadeon showed his teeth. “You need me, Servant. You don’t have anyone else.”
“I have money and influence. I can buy ten more of you.” I jerked my head toward Winter. “Apologize.”
The moment stretched. Hadeon was not the type of man to take a punch, then say he was sorry.
But I wasn’t the type of man to let him leave this room alive if he didn’t.
Everyone knew it. Anthony wouldn’t hesitate if I ordered him to kill.
He’d done it before. He’d do it again.
This wasn’t smart. Starting a pissing match over Winter hadn’t been my brightest idea, but it hadn’t been a conscious decision—as soon as Hadeon insulted her, I couldn’t stop myself. Even if his insult wasn’t intentional, I had to redress it.
I didn’t know why. Winter was nothing to me, only a tool, a pet, a new toy. Anthony wasn’t so wrong about that. And yet I cared about how she felt, and a hot rage burned in my chest at the thought of Hadeon looking at her like a piece of meat he could take and fuck at will.
I owned Winter. She was mine, under my protection, and I’d treat her as such.
Hadeon let out a rumbling breath and looked at her. “I apologize for my rash words. I did not realize you and Darren were as close as you evidently are.”
Winter seemed shocked. She stood unmoving, staring at me like I’d just sprouted a second head and started singing like Liberace. She shook herself out of it and managed to smile at Hadeon.
“Apology accepted. I’ll be honest. I didn’t think Darren much cared about my honor.”
“Apparently, he cares a great deal. He is willing to injure an important alliance for your sake.”
I seethed at that. He was right—hitting him had been impulsive and stupid. I could find someone else to take his place, but it would cost me time that I couldn’t afford, not when Roman was stalking around on the outskirts of my world.
“If you’ll excuse us.” I grabbed Winter’s arm and tugged her away.
“Lovely meeting you all,” she called out as I dragged her back into the hallway.
I heard Anthony crack a joke, and some of the men even laughed as he holstered his gun.
By the time I returned, they’d be best friends again. That was Anthony’s true power: the ability to be liked.
He smoothed out my rough edges.
“What the hell did you think you were doing?” I asked when the door swung shut.
She ripped her arm from my grip. “I wanted to hear what you were talking about in there.”
“What makes you think you could do that?”
“You don’t have rules against it.”
I ground my jaw. That damn girl was going to follow the letter of the law, even if that meant making my life hell.
“Do you know who those men are?”
“Gangsters, if I had to guess. The one you punched looked pretty scary.”
“He’s the head of the Ukrainian mafia. They call him the Magician because he makes people disappear.”
“Terrifying.” Her lips quirked and her head tilted. “And you didn’t hesitate to stick up for me.”
“I can’t allow him to disrespect my guest in front of me like that. It would be showing weakness, and these men are like dogs ready to pounce.” Partially true, but not the whole story. I couldn’t tell her that the thought of Hadeon putting his hands on her made my blood boil so hot it felt like my skin would slough off. “Don’t think for a second that it was about you.”
Her smile faltered. “You and your stupid pride. Did you stop and think that maybe I could handle myself?”
“No, because you clearly can’t.” I ran my eyes up and down her body, staring at her breasts and hips and long legs, and licked my lips. “You can’t come strutting into a meeting with men like that looking like this.”
“And why not? I’d be asking for whatever they did?”
“No, you wouldn’t be asking for it. But it still might happen, regardless.” I was exasperated and annoyed. She was a smart girl—she had to see how dangerous it was to parade herself in front of men like Hadeon and his lieutenants.
To them, she was another piece of ass. They didn’t give a damn who her father was or how useful she might be.
She looked so angry and defiant. I wanted to pin her to the wall and show her what a man like Hadeon might do—wanted to strip off that sexy outfit, make her parade around the house naked, humiliated, shamed, broken. I felt myself stiffen at the thought of taming her.
“Whatever you do right now affects my life,” she breathed. “If you’re going to sit around in fancy rooms and discuss my future, then I’m going to be there to have some say in it.”
“Bullshit. You came in to try to knock me off balance. You think dressing like this and flirting is going to make me lose my mind.”
“Clearly it’s working then. You haven’t been able to take your eyes off me since I walked in there.”
She was right, damn it. I hated to admit it, but ever since she’d come into my life, I hadn’t been able to shake her. Each new encounter was like a shot of heroin straight to my brain, and I felt the addiction slowly taking hold.
“Enough. Go back to your room and stop causing problems.”
“Let me have a say in what happens.”
“You’re a captive. If you don’t start acting like one, I’m going to make you wish you never met Cassie and Roman.”
“I doubt that.” She moved closer. Her smell flooded my nostrils again, like back in the pool. Fuck, she dripped with sex and oozed desire. I stepped forward, forcing her back into the shadows around the wall. She never took her eyes from me until she bumped up against a light fixture.
“You think they’re your real friends, don’t you?” I asked with a hint of menace.
“I think Cassie’s a good person and I love her.”
“She’s Roman’s now. Maybe he’s listening to her, but you won’t be worth the trouble forever. What will you be to me then?”
“Why don’t you let me go now and save yourself the frustration?”
That word, frustration. It was like she could read my mind.
“You’re still useful. But if you keep pulling stunts like this, then I might change my mind and get rid of you.”
“Would your sister like that?”
I sucked in a breath. “I told you not to speak of them.”
Her face paled slightly. She’d made a mistake and knew it—my rage fired like a kiln.
“I’m not threatening them,” she said quickly. “I just don’t think Penny would be happy if I disappeared.”
“Don’t mention her again.” I reached up and fisted my fingers into Winter’s hair. She sucked in a breath and clenched her jaw. “Do you understand me? Don’t ever speak of my sisters. They don’t exist to you.”
“Why are you so obsessed with them? They’re grown adults. They can handle themselves.”
“You don’t know us at all.” I moved closer, brushing my lips along her chin. I despised this girl so much and wanted her all the same. She was dangerous, and bringing her here might’ve been a mistake—one I’d pay for dearly if it hurt anyone I loved. “Don’t presume you have any clue what Penny or Erin think. Stop pushing, stop acting out. Sit still and be good.”
“Go to hell.”
I moved back and bit her lower lip hard.
She sucked in a shocked breath. I pulled her hair harder, and she groaned in either pain or pleasure—I couldn’t tell, but my cock strained against my slacks, eager to rip free and taste Winter’s incredible body. I kissed her neck, then her shoulder, and before I could take it any further, I released her.
She pushed me away. Her face was flushed, her mouth hanging open in surprise, anger, and something else.
Eagerness. Desire. Need.
She touched her fingers to her swollen lower lip. They came back bloody.
“You asshole.”
“Tell me you didn’t enjoy that, and I’ll never do it again.”
She shoved past, smearing her blood on my suit jacket as she stormed down the hall.
But she didn’t deny it.
I watched her go, heart racing wildly, before I returned to the conference room.
I was distracted, just like she wanted.
But at least I’d been right about Anthony. The Ukrainians were laughing, and he was pouring vodka shots. Hadeon’s smile faltered as I approached the table, but at least he didn’t look like he wanted to murder me anymore.
“I apologize for the delay,” I said, accepting a glass from Anthony.
“Looks like you two got a little rough.” Anthony fingered the bloodstain Winter had left behind. “Anything we should know about? Maybe you got the girl pregnant?”
I gave him a look, but the Ukrainians all laughed.
Even Hadeon.
I smiled at them, forcing the rising bile in my throat back down by swallowing a mouthful of vodka. It burned but eased the knot in my gut.
“We should return to business.”
And with that, I sat down, and we planned.
