Controlled: A Dark Mafia Romance

Chapter 4

Creed

“What the fuck do you mean, the bastard wanted to renegotiate? Who the hell does Carlos think he is? Doesn’t he know that we could easily destroy him?” Easton huffed as he planted one hand on his hip, trying to keep his voice down.

It was rare to see my younger brother so animated, the professor and designated bookworm usually keeping his opinions to himself. Maybe his outburst was because he was beginning to appreciate how much our stock had increased, which meant his bank account had gotten much healthier over the last few months.

Both Styx and I chuckled, my older brother glancing over his shoulder at his wife, Emily and the girl Easton had brought with him. While she’d been introduced as a colleague, I had to wonder whether my younger brother’s dark needs had resurfaced, something he’d tried to control for years.

“Stop worrying, brother,” I told him. “Carlos is running scared, which I don’t like but he’s no fool. He won’t try anything stupid.”

“You forget I’ve had dealings with him, Creed. He’s unforgiving and obviously won’t like it if we don’t agree to his terms.” Styx grinned. “I know what you’re going to say. Who gives a shit. Right?”

I rubbed my eyes and noticed the two women returning, happily chatting as they walked toward us. The Civic Opera House was packed, even more so than normal, the festivities already starting with champagne flowing like water. And it wasn’t the rotgut shit. It would seem the Joffrey Ballet had gone all out to impress the two dozen or so investors, the very ones that had helped bring our illustrious art institute design together.

A night of celebration.

When all I wanted to do was to rip the heads off bats.

“Carlos is up to something, or he’s made a deal with someone else,” I told them. “I could tell by how cagey he was acting. Easton. Why don’t you do your magic with our hackers. See if they can dig into the cartel leader’s finances. Maybe that will provide us with an indication of what we are dealing with.”

“I will after the finals tomorrow.” His answer amused both Styx and me, my older brother laughing first as he patted Easton on the shoulder.

“It’s a good thing you have your priorities straight, brother,” Styx said.

The two of them used their regular jobs as an attempt to keep away the demons that had plagued the three of us since our childhoods. Meanwhile, I’d embraced the concept of darkness years before. What did I care if my actions were immoral or what some would consider reprehensible?

“I have work to do, people who count on me just like you do, Styx,” Easton answered. “I’ll see what I can find out why Carlos is balking, but we also need to investigate his claim we have someone out to destroy us.”

“Yes, we do. However, I guess for tonight it’s all about the ballet. Not that I fucking give a shit.”

“And our not-for-profit organization,” Styx added, his grin widening. “You need a nice submissive to calm your fucking ass down.”

I glared at him, forgetting he knew my tastes far too well. “And you know there isn’t a woman who can handle my sadistic needs.” Styx and I had the same tastes, the same dark desires that could potentially be dangerous to a woman. How had Emily shifted from hating the man who’d kidnapped and kept her for months, requiring her to play piano for him when his beast surfaced, to adoring the man? Their powerful relationship was something I would never understand, the trait unheard of in our worlds.

“Never say never,” he growled, his eyes sparking another look that represented his deviant needs. “Maybe a dancer will be perfect for you.” He tossed back the rest of his champagne, the spark in his eyes continuing.

My cock twitched thinking about the girl from hours before dancing in the blue light. I’d captured one lovely girl years before, keeping her as my pet. She’d enjoyed the arrangement at first but had left without a word months later. Still, I’d found myself missing her more than I’d believed I would after she’d left. She’d grounded me.

Come to think of it, she’d been a dancer as well, although strictly pole dancing in the club I used to frequent. “Maybe.”

“Trust me. It will do your black soul some good.”

Maybe that wasn’t what I wanted in my life.

“Keeping something in mind. We don’t do anything for free, gentlemen,” our younger brother reminded us. “But tonight is still important in our swanky world. And perhaps Styx is right. You could use a little taming. You’re rough around the edges.”

“Is that what you’re using Josie for?” I barked in return. Easton’s beast would catch up with him sooner versus later and I feared what would happen when it did. For all his posturing about not needing the darkness to fulfill him as a person, I knew the real man inside, the one hungering for the same primal life I’d embraced.

Suddenly, I could feel the very beast I’d mentioned rising to the surface all over again, demanding more than just a pound of flesh. It was either putting together a hunt, capturing a beautiful and innocent soul to keep, or going mad. There were no other options.

“She’s a lovely placeholder and a friend. You know that,” Easton said under his breath as Josie flanked his side.

“Did we miss anything, boys?” she asked, completely unaware she was in the lair of three brutal savages.

Emily winked as she shot us all a knowing look.

“Not a thing, ladies,” I said with a polite nod as the lights flashed indicating the show was about ready to start. I was as troubled about Carlos and his odd behavior as my brothers were. However, I had other business to handle given what Paul and his buddies had done.

Easton shook his head as Josie stuck her arm under his, both walking away. Somehow, Emily knew to wait on the side.

“Maybe I’ll hire you as an assassin to handle getting rid of some assholes.”

He exhaled, sipping on his champagne. “It’s been months since I returned to healing people and I’m happy with what I’m doing.”

“Are you certain of that, brother? I know what you’re made of. Remember?”

“Don’t make a jab at me that you’ll regret, brother. I’m very happy with my life now. Maybe it’s time you get your affairs in order.”

He was a very dangerous man, more so than he cared to admit, but I’d begun to admire his willpower to walk away from the darkness. I’d thought about it but wasn’t certain I was capable of doing so. Not that I’d admit that to anyone. “I hope you enjoy your peanut butter and jelly kind of life to the fullest.”

It was a phrase Easton had come up with as a kid, a way of talking about the kind of lives we’d seen on sitcoms. However much Styx wanted it, murder and mayhem would always be in our blood.

He laughed but I could tell I’d annoyed him as usual. “One thing I will say,” Styx added quietly. “I’ve heard the Italian mafia leader we thought was happily staying in his own lane has been chatting with the Italian prick from New York. That could be trouble. They’ve wanted to step on our parade for years.”

Exhaling, I nodded. “Good to know, bro, but I’m a little surprised you haven’t been too busy saving lives to pay attention to the world around us. Are you certain you wouldn’t prefer taking a bigger role in our illustrious operation?”

“Not a chance. You’re doing just fine. You know I observe everything and will pipe in with my recommendations when you dive off the deep end. Just because I prefer saving lives versus taking them doesn’t mean I don’t keep my eye on the ball. Or that I don’t talk to my old buddies every once in a while. Just remember that when you’re king, there will always be those who will try and toss you off your platform. We have everything to lose and nothing to gain.”

“Such a pessimist. I’m surprised. You have me curious. What if a hunt is needed?” I was pleasantly shocked when his eyes flashed in a way I hadn’t seen since we were kids. I couldn’t remember the last time we’d all been involved. Oh, yes, I could.

The day we’d hunted, captured, tortured, and killed our own father.

“You do know our father killed our mother. Don’t you?” Why I’d chosen to blurt it out now was beyond me other than maybe I needed a cleansing of my soul. Oh, hell, no.

Whether or not Easton overheard me I wasn’t certain but Styx’s eyes flashed. He crowded my space, shaking his head. “It’s one of the things I feel guilty about, Creed, but the past is the past. Would I handle our father’s demise the same way we did all those years ago?”

“Don’t lie to me,” I challenged.

“You have no understanding of humanity, brother, which concerns me. Yes, I would do it again because that bastard deserved to die for what he did. But that won’t bring her back nor will it ease our anger or conscience. Only living a better life will. That’s something you should consider.”

We’d sparred so often about so many things. I was used to quarreling with him but it was possible he was right. “You didn’t answer the question, Styx. Would you be interested in engaging in a hunt even if it was for the last time?” I could tell he was confused about his answer.

I waited for a few seconds, still enjoying my flute of champagne before placing the crystal stem on one of the silver trays as a waiter walked by. I loathed the Italians just like my father had. They were put in their place fifteen years before, a reminder that our family owned the city. I was almost surprised they’d reared their head after all this time, but greed did have a powerful effect on people, women included.

“We shall see, brother, if it’s necessary. Let’s enjoy the ballet.” He kept his smirky expression when he walked away, following the others.

Maybe I should leave now before I drew attention to my increasing carnal needs. What the hell. Maybe a touch of the classics was exactly what I needed tonight. I wasn’t called the Maestro for nothing after all.

I headed for our posh box, sitting down in one of the ten seats. We were directly in front of the stage, the box located on the first tier of balconies. It allowed for the perfect view of the stage.

The lights dimmed and two thoughts remained in my mind: the day’s activities, which hadn’t been anticipated forty-eight hours before, and the lovely dancer. I wondered if any of the female leads had nearly as much talent as she did.

While I sat quietly as the lights transformed the area, the simple costumes preferable over the garish tutus I’d seen so much of, I could already tell I would barely make it through the evening. To think I would need to pretend like I gave a shit for another two hours after the performance had concluded was disconcerting.

Styx gave me a look, laughing softly even as Emily elbowed him in the gut. Yes, it could be very enjoyable exploring our dark roots as we’d been taught to do all those years ago. I refused to lie to myself. Only this time, it would be on our terms, not our father’s. As soon as I envisioned the night inside my brutal mind, a smile crossed my face, a hint of dark anticipation reminding me of what had been indoctrinated into all three of us.

Brutality was a given.

Bloodshed a necessity.

The loss of life our choice.

I was already bored by the time the first group of dancers was nearly finished, checking my emails more than once to try to pass the time. Building a facility for the underprivileged in the art world was one thing. Tolerating the various creations was something else. When the lights dimmed again, I knew I needed a drink more now than ever.

Fortunately, the moment the stage lights shifted into a glorious blue color, my attention was brought to the surface and a waiter appeared out of the shadows.

“Can I bring you something, sir?” he asked. “Champagne?”

“Fuck, no. Scotch. The best you have.” I leaned forward as the female performer floated around the stage encircling her lone partner. They were both dressed simply, as often happened with the Joffrey dancers, and for some reason, I was as mesmerized by her performance as I had been the dancer from earlier. Only this girl was entirely different, classy yet bold, strong yet vulnerable.

The moment the first chord was played, all I could think about was the selection was the true essence of serendipity. The chosen concerto was the very one I used when I enjoyed perfecting my knife artistry, becoming the Maestro. There wasn’t a chance in hell that it was a coincidence. My entire body tensed, more electrified than it had been in ages, my mind spinning with the most beautiful yet dirty thoughts. The girl had been sent to me, a gift from the devil himself, a sanctuary in a world where few could ever understand my dark desires, my festering needs.

My breathing was labored, my blood pressure skyrocketing, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Perhaps my reaction was all about her performance, but I quickly found myself sitting on the edge of my seat, enjoying it much more than I’d thought I would. The raw realization that she was already mine continued to float back and forth, evil intentions in mind. With every turn, every leap, I could feel the tension, the need and the electricity rising from deep within the bowels of my system.

I twisted my hand around the railing, leaning over as far as safety and common sense would allow. When I felt a presence behind me, I barely turned my head.

“Are you okay, brother?” Styx asked.

“Look at her. Look. At. Her. She’s perfect. She’s the one.”

“The one?”

“My soulmate.”

“Oh, really? Do you know her?”

The laugh sounded as demonic as the thought and images building. “Not yet.”

“Be careful, brother. My only words of advice. When the hungry beast takes hold, he doesn’t let go. There is a very fine line between obsession and destruction.”

I’d heard those words before, the phrase one of the few lucid sentences our father had said over time. He’d coveted life as much as death, even though none of us had realized it at the time.

“It’s worth the risk,” I told him, returning my full attention to the stage.

“Just be certain she feels the same.”

As if I cared. I took what I wanted.

I hadn’t felt this way in as long as I could remember. A dancer? There was something powerfully comforting about the girl’s movements, as if she could calm the savage beast inside any man. I couldn’t blink or look away for fear of missing even a single step.

She flew across the stage, instantly hoisted into the air by her partner. As the muscular dude pulled her down, cupping her face with his outstretched hands, I was incensed, furious that he was touching her in such an intimate way. How fucking dare he?

The drink finally arrived and I all but snapped it from the waiter’s hand, moving to a standing position and taking a single long stride toward the railing of the balcony. As I leaned over, I could feel the vibrations from the music more than before, could gather the heat of the two dancers. I was like a man on a mission, hungering for the primal beast to come out and play.

Only I wanted an entirely different kind of hunt, one where I chased my little sexy dancer, requiring her full submission when I caught her.

And I would hunt, capture, and keep her.

Forever…

Seconds turned into minutes, my needs increasing, the deep cravings drifting into a dangerous level. Even my breathing had become entirely too ragged, my heart racing. I could easily devour the girl.

I only hoped this wasn’t the only dance I would be gifted with seeing. If so, I would require one more in private. She was perfect in every way, exactly what a savage like me needed in his life. Yes, my brother was right. I needed a companion, something or someone who could temper the ugliness furrowing inside.

And maybe, just maybe I’d found my perfect specimen, the woman who could provide what little salvation was offered to a monster like me.