Twisted Games of Revenge (Sinners of Ravens Hollow #3)

Chapter 1

I’m perched on the edge of the makeup counter dressing room, in my dad Syd’s club, Nest of Sin. The scent of perfume and stale cigarettes is thick in the air. My mom sits patiently as our makeup artist, Jenna, delicately applies her makeup. She's the best dancer in the club; the way she moves to the music is mesmerizing, a perfect blend of grace and power. Men watch her every move and woman want to be her. I’m not supposed to, but sometimes I sneak out and watch her on the stage. She’s so beautiful. Her long blonde hair, styled in perfect Hollywood curls, frames a porcelain face with the bluest eyes imaginable, each sparkling like sapphires. Her skin, flawless, glows in the dim light. I want to be just like her when I grow up. Adored by all.

“Do you want your makeup done when I’m finished with your mom?” Jenna asks, my babysitter for tonight.

I beam back at Jenna, so excited. I would kill to be all dolled up like my mom is every night.

“You know the rules, Jenna, not until she’s fourteen,” Mom chastises her, her voice not totally serious.

I throw her a look of silent desperation, my eyes wide and pleading. “It’s like three days away, Mom.”

She smiles back at me, her glossy red lips looking so damn glamorous, her eyes kind. “Maybe just a little mascara and lip gloss.”

“Thank you.” I clap my hands. Jenna moves over to me with a stick of blue-black mascara.

“Look up,” she instructs me, and I do as I’m told, excited to see what my blue eyes look like with dark lashes instead of the blonde I’m used to. When she is done brushing the mascara onto each eye, she takes out a peachy-colored lip gloss and applies it to my lips. “Press your lips together,” she tells me, and I do, the sticky gloss coating my lips, its taste sweeter than I expected. “Gorgeous, you look just like your mom.” She winks at me playfully. She’s the best of fun, and I would know with how much time I spend with her in this dressing room. Girls come and go all night, and she touches up their makeup while keeping an eye on me.

I jump off the counter so I can check myself out in the mirror, blinking a few times under the weight of the mascara. I’m never leaving the house without this stuff on again. My eyes pop in a way they never have before. I look so pretty. So grown up. And man, do I want to be a grown-up already, just like the other stunning women I spend my evenings with.

During the day I have to go to school, Mom says my education is important, but I don’t see why, when all I really want to do is be a dancer just like her. Most afternoons I come here and hang out with the other girls until I’m exhausted and one of my brothers drags me to bed. Usually Jagger, he’s the oldest and the biggest pain in my ass. My parents work well into the early hours of the morning. That’s what life is like when your dad runs a strip club and your mom is the best dancer he has.

Mom’s hand grasps mine. Looking over my shoulder, our eyes meeting in the mirror. “You look beautiful, Sloane,” she gushes, making me feel all kinds of special; her opinion is so important to me.

I grin back to her. “Not as beautiful as you.”

“More.” Her smile is so wide and bright, it’s impossible not to believe her.

I turn back toward her. “When can I learn how to dance like you?”

“Never, baby, you’re far too smart to end up like me.” Her hand cups my chin delicately. “You get a good education and make something of yourself. You could be anyone. Please, Sloane, I want you to dream big, take over the world.”

I nod, wishing I could see myself the way she does. I know I’m smart, but doesn’t she understand this club and the women in it are everything to me? This is my whole life. Why dream big when you already have everything you want? “Good luck out there tonight,” I tell her, knowing she doesn’t need luck ever.

“Stay in here, Jenna will keep you company till Jagger gets back for you.”

With a questioning look, I arch a skeptical eyebrow, curiosity getting the better of me. “Where are the boys tonight?”

She looks at Jenna, and I know she doesn’t want to answer my question. My life is all hushed conversations and subtle looks from the adults that I’m not supposed to understand. But I know what’s going on. I know I’m not like the other kids my age. It’s why none of them will talk to me at school and my only friends are strippers and prostitutes, aside from my four older brothers, anyway. Her father’s the leader of the Iron Strykers and a pimp, they say. Her mother shakes her tits for cheap tips, others taunt me with. I don’t care, their words don’t hurt me anymore. But what I hate more than anything is being left in the dark when all my brothers seem to be part of the family business. I’m dying to be involved. I’m smarter than them all, and I know I could help in some way.

“Don’t you worry about what your brothers are up to.” She removes her robe and blows me a kiss.

I return it, grinning at her because even though I’m slightly pissed that I’m being left out of all the action again, when even my twin Cruz gets to be involved, I love her more than anything on this planet. I have the best mother a girl could hope for. And she has to be to make up for my piece-of-shit father Syd, who acts as though I’m an utter inconvenience in his life. Just another mouth to feed. If I were a boy, things would be different, but I was born with the wrong anatomy, so he hates me or just pretends I don’t exist at all. I’m not sure which is worse.

She’s out the door in a flash of lace and brightly colored sequins, and I’m left with Jenna.

“So, kiddo, what’s the plan for tonight? UNO? I don’t think I can go another round of monopoly with you, you’re just too good for me now.” Her chocolate-brown bob bounces as she lets out a lighthearted chuckle.

I laugh, knowing she’s right. I smashed her last time. “I’m up for UNO,” I add, still a little distracted wondering what my brothers are up to. Something dodgy, I’m sure of it. I overheard Asher telling Malachi they had the product and they would meet with the Moretti brothers sometime this week. Anything with the name Moretti in it can’t be good. And product. Yeah, like I said, they think I’m an innocent girl, but I know they’re dealing some sort of drugs for the Morettis. They’re the biggest underworld syndicate this side of Texas.

She pulls out the cards and shuffles them like a pro, dealing them out on the coffee table in front of us. We play four rounds, but curiosity gets the better of me, and I want to snoop around and see what my brothers are doing tonight. One of the girls, Sharda, drops in needing a touch-up, and I take it as my opportunity to escape.

“I’m just going to use the bathroom; I’ll be back in a sec,” I tell Jenna.

“Don’t get lost on your way back like last time,” she warns over her shoulder, her eyes serious.

“I won’t,” I say with an extra-cheeky smile. She knows I can’t help myself. As soon as I open the door, the rhythmic beat of dance music from the center stage pulsates in my ears. I bop along to it as I move down the back hallway quickly, unlocking the door to our home, if you can call it that. It’s a dingy space attached to the club that holds four bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small hardly functioning kitchen.

I move into the room I share with my twin, Cruz, and find my phone, the one none of them know about. I open the screen and look for the tracker I have on Cruz, and his location pops up at a warehouse downtown, one I know is run by the Morettis. I knew it. What I can’t believe is that my four brothers are that dumb. Everyone knows getting involved with that family only means trouble. I hate it when their father, Enzo, comes into this place; his cold calculating eyes send shivers down my spine. I have heard rumors, whispers from the girls. They all say not to trust him, or you will end up dead or worse. I’m not sure what could be worse than dead, but I don’t want to find out. That’s why I make a point of never going anywhere near him.

“What are you up to, trouble?” I hear Onyx’s deep voice from behind me, a rumble that sends shivers down my spine, making me jump and spin around, my phone hidden hastily behind my back. Onyx is the last person I want to find me. He works for Syd.

“Nothing.” I force a smile, swallowing down the lump in my throat.

He takes a step closer to me. His dark eyes watching me with keen unwavering interest. His large frame casts a shadow over me. He’s twice my age, but that doesn’t mean he’s not the sexiest man I have even seen. All dark and broody, with a shaved head and more ink than blank skin. I blink my long lashes back at him, wondering if he can see the change in me. If I look more grown up to him tonight? “Isn’t Jenna supposed to be babysitting you tonight?”

I roll my eyes, irritation crawling under my skin. “Newsflash, Onyx, I don’t need babysitting. I’m nearly fourteen.”

He lets out a low chuckle that sounds way too good on him. “Still a baby.” He reaches behind me and snatches the phone I was holding.

“Hey, give it back,” I snap at him, jumping to try and grab it back. That phone is my only way of spying on my brothers and what they’re up to.

He holds it above his head, way too high for me to take back off him and looks over the screen. “Why are you tracking your brother?” His voice is filled what curiosity, not anger, and that surprises me. If Syd knew I was tracking them I would be in deep shit.

I purse my lips, staring back at him, wondering if I should tell him the truth or not. Onyx has always come across as the type I could trust, but he does work for Syd. I sigh heavily. “Promise you won’t tell Syd.”

He crosses his heart.

“Because I’m never allowed to be part of the fun my brothers get to have, no one tells me shit. This way I know.” While he is distracted listening to my story, I jump up and steal my phone back.

His face hardens. “You don’t want to know what they’re doing. It’s not a world for a little girl like you.” His hand comes to my wrist, wrapping around it. Disappointment fills me. I thought if anyone would understand, it would be him, but he’s just like the rest of them.

“What are you doing?” I snap. He might be hot, but he’s pissing me off tonight.

“Taking you back to Jenna where you belong. It’s not safe for you to be wandering around out here alone.” He drags me to the door of my bedroom.

“This is my house.” I dig my bare feet into the matted carpet, refusing to go easily.

He gives me a sideways glance, and I can tell I’m getting on his last nerve. “One that’s attached to your dad’s club. I know you’re smart enough to understand how dangerous this place is. Anyone could wander down here and find you.”

“Anyone did,” I sass.

“Come on, trouble, let me do my job,” he pleads with me. And I know he’s not as harsh as he’s trying to be, he’s just under Syd’s thumb.

My eyes find his. “I can find my own way back; I don’t need you escorting me.”

He stares me down, something coming over him that looks awful scary. “I don’t have time to argue with you. You’re coming with me and that’s final.”

I don’t know why I stop fighting him. Maybe it’s the dark look in his eyes or the fact I already did what I wanted to anyway, but I cease struggling against him and let him slam our front door closed and drag me along with him.

As we get halfway back down the hall, a loud bang like a gun going off echoes through the club. I freeze instantly.

Women scream and a flurry of movement takes off in front of us. Onyx pulls me into his strong body so tight I feel like I can’t breathe. From the other end of the hall where the dressing room is, I see a body lying lifeless. My eyes go wide. “Jenna.” My cry is a soft, breathy whisper, barely audible and muffled by Onyx’s chest.

“Stay quiet, trouble,” he whispers in my ear as he moves us behind the stage area. From behind his back, he draws a gun and holds it in front of me protectively. My heart races out of my chest. I have never been so scared in my life. What the hell is happening?

More shots go off, making my stomach churn. A scared whimper tries to escape, but I clamp my mouth shut tight, not letting it.

“Get her,” male voices yell, their accents thick. “That one, that’s Syd’s missus.”

My mom. I try to squirm free of Onyx’s grip, but he’s too strong for me and presses my body into the brick wall behind us, the rough surface scratching my arms as I thrash against his strength.

Her scream, raw and full of agony, slices through the building’s quiet, a sound that makes my blood turn cold.

“We have to help her,” I whimper. There are so many voices. There must be at least five men, and I know alone she has no hope against them. Where the fuck is Syd?

Onyx’s eyes show a warmth I know they shouldn’t. He cares about all of us. He’s been with my family since I was born. And right now, he has to make a choice, me or my mom, and I know his choice is made.

“Find the girl, the daughter,” another voice shouts.

Goosebumps break out all over my skin. They’re looking for me as well.

Onyx shakes his head, telling me to keep quiet. I’m safe with him, and he won’t let them find me. But I don’t care about me, I’ll fucking fight them, I just want him to help her.

“See what happens when you don’t follow the rules, Syd. You took something from me, and now I’m going to take something from you. An eye for an eye if you will.

“Screw the slut, while he watches, then slit her throat,” I hear the same voice announce.

“No,” I cry. Onyx’s hand comes over my mouth to muffle my scream of pure terror that rips through me.

“I’ll give you anything you want,” Syd sniffles, trying to plead with them.

“Where’s the girl, the one you promised?”

“She was supposed to be in the dressing room,” I hear Syd stutter out. The piece of shit left me for whoever these men are to find.

Mom screams again as Onyx drags me to the other side of the stage, trying to get me away from them. I fight him, but he’s so much stronger than me. He drags me into the hallway, one hand over my mouth, the other wrapped so tightly around my waist I can’t escape and get back to help her. Tears stream down my cheeks, and I keep struggling. Once back in the house, he closes the door and flicks the lock, bracing it with a chair under the handle.

He finally releases me. “Onyx, we have to do something,” I cry, needing to get back to her.

“I made a promise to your mother. I’m getting you out of here,” is his only response. He takes my hand again and rushes with me to the window in my bedroom, shoving it open, but it’s too late. The front door swings open, banging into the drywall with a crash. The chair flies across the room in pieces.

I can’t make my feet move any faster as two men appear, their faces concealed in black ski masks. “Found the daughter,” one of them calls, his beady eyes gleaming in the low light.

Onyx shields me with his body and shoots toward them, but they are right on us. One of them gets his meaty hands on me. I try to shove him off, doing everything I can to kick him in the junk or anywhere that will connect.

I hear the thud of Onyx’s gun as it falls to the floor, and from the corner of my eye, I see him wrestling with the other guy. The dude in the mask pulls a knife and slashes at Onyx viciously.

I scream as the other guy lifts me, and my body crashes down on my bed. “This is going to be fun.” A cruel smirk stretches across his face, his eyes glinting with menace as he peers through his mask at me. A sharp, distinct angel tattoo is etched cleanly across his neck. From what I can tell he looks young, maybe Jagger’s age at the most, but his eyes hold a chilling malevolence that sends shivers rocking down my spine, urging me to escape his barbaric hold on me.

Onyx is doing all he can fighting off the other guy. There is blood already trickling from his face. An overwhelming sickness fills me. They have the advantage. As much as I want to believe I’m a badass, I have no strength compared to this guy’s bulging muscles.

His fingers dig into my forearms as he tries to pin me down. My heart races out of control, and my eyes blur with tears. But I don’t give up. I will keep fighting until he takes my life. I manage to bring my elbow up, connecting with his chin, and he loosens his grip for just a second. I scramble up the bed, but he’s far too quick for me. My face burns as his palm comes down across my face, then he pins me with his large hand holding both of mine above my head. His body comes over mine as his knees knock mine out wide.

“Get off me, you motherfucker,” I cry, doing everything I can to fight him off.

He chuckles darkly, this is some sort of fucked-up fun for him. His dark menacing eyes lock with mine.

I get one of my legs free and bring my knee up, getting him right where I want to, right in his fucking balls.

He winces in pain, but it only angers him more. “You’re going to regret that, little girl.” He gets his hand right up under my skirt and rips my panties from my body.

My terrified scream tears from my throat as I fight with all my might to push him away.

A loud bang rings in my ears, once then twice. His body crashes down over me, a heavy, suffocating weight, the warmth of his blood spreading across my clothes. Before I know it, Onyx is right there with me, his hands pulling me out from under the thug. He drags me with him as my eyes blur with tears and my heart races out of my chest.

He grabs my shoulders, his grip firm, and shakes me roughly. “Pull it together, trouble. I have to get you out of here, and I can’t when you’re falling apart.” His dark eyes meet mine, and I feel the power in them. He’s right. Like this I’m useless. He’s in as much trouble as me if whoever they are catch up with us. He just killed two of them. He also looks like he needs medical help, his face and arm bleeding quite heavily.

With a determined nod, I suck in a deep breath, my tears drying up. I’m not dying here tonight. The rough wood of the window frame scratches against my skin as Onyx helps me out onto the street. He takes my hand in his, and the two of us run into the dark of night, as far away from my dad’s club as we can. My life as I know it will never be the same again.