Chapter Two
Devious
I perch at the black marble table in the dining room and sip my cup of joe, reading a psychological thriller, while waiting for Roselyn.
When I went to Lex’s place, I didn’t have any intention to marry his daughter in exchange to pay off his debt, but he convinced me to, said she would be a good mother. I needed a wife to have my babies in the future, and Lex needed to pay the thirty million that he owed me. I didn’t want to kill him—I mean, I would have if I needed too, but he makes me the most money, though it’s not my problem that he has a gambling problem. Next time he decides not to pay me my money, I’m going to kill him.
I’m quite curious about Roselyn, and I’ve never seen a woman who is graceful with such beauty, but women like her usually don’t make good mafia wives. They are usually the type that want to be free from this lifestyle, and I’ve witnessed a lot of the underbosses kill their wives because they tried to run away. They can’t leave unless their spouse dies.
I glance down at my Rolex and see it’s five after eight. She was supposed to be down here five minutes ago, and one of the things I hate is someone making me wait. She’s about to learn her first lesson in obedience. Grinding my teeth, I get up from the table and straighten my red tie.
As I barge in the bedroom, she lies on the bed, face down, with her face buried in a thick fluffy pillow. I snatch the black blanket from her body, and the bottom of her dress is pulled above her stomach, exposing her pretty, plump ass. I keep forgetting that she’s fifteen years younger than me.
I’ve never been with a woman her age. My dick is engorged, making my black dress pants tighter. The tip of my head burns as it rubs against the metal zipper of my pants, so I adjust myself.
She turns her head to the other side, and it reminds me how the minute I laid eyes on her, I was obsessed. This need to want her grew, which is strange because I’ve never taken a real interest in another woman since Shelby died.
Leaning forward, I smack her ass as hard as I can, and her cheeks turn a rose color.
She turns around and bolts up, rubbing her flesh. Her eyes widen, and then she frowns. “Dude, what the fuck?”
I adjust my tie and tug at the hem of my cuff links. “You’re late for breakfast. Do not leave me at the table waiting. Do I make myself clear?” I grit out.
“I lo—”
“Do I make myself clear?”
“I’m ju—”
I pin her head back into the pillow, and smack her ass again. She hisses like a snake.
“Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal,” she mumbles, leaping out of the bed.
I fight the urge to smack her ass again. This rebellious behavior will not be tolerated. No wonder Lex had a problem getting her married off to other underbosses. Lex also told me she’s spoiled and acts like an entitled brat. Of course she is. All girls who are born in higher-rank famiglias tend to behave in that manner. But she won’t be once I’m done with her. If she pushes me to the point of breaking her, I will not hesitate to do it.
Letting her go, I say, “Yes. You have thirty minutes to meet me for breakfast.”
I leave her in the bedroom and stomp to the dining room, taking my seat once again at the head of the table.
I run my fingers through my hair before grabbing my mug, sipping slowly from it as the lukewarm coffee goes slowly down my throat.
Thirty minutes later, Roselyn hurries to the table, yanks out the wooden chair, and sits across from me. She examines the expensive Greek statues which cost more than this penthouse and the chandelier made out of real diamonds. Her eyes bounce everywhere but to me. She’s so fucking beautiful. Her wet strawberry blonde hair cascades down her back, and her face is angelic. The more I stare at her, the more she reminds me of a past that I want to forget, the one thing that haunts me at night.
She wears an oversize shirt with baggy jeans, trying to hide her figure from me. No matter how much she dresses like a hobo, it won’t keep me from fucking her on our wedding night. I fight the urge to push every dish on the floor, lay her on the table, and eat her pussy until she’s begging me to stop. I want to duct tape her mouth, tie her hands behind her back and fuck her until she can’t take it anymore.
Swallowing, I adjust myself under the table.
My chef, Leanne, strolls in, setting a plate of breakfast food in front of Roselyn.
“Do you need anything, Mr. Cayden?” Leanne asks.
All my staff and employees call me by my real name while everyone else calls me by my street name.
I hold my gray mug up to her, and she clutches it. “Refill on my coffee.”
She disappears into the kitchen.
“Let’s discuss business, shall we?” I sit forward, leaning my arm against the table. “First things first. We’re getting married two weeks from today. You’re going to lose your virginity to me on our wedding night to pay off Lex’s debt.”
Her perfectly arched eyebrows rise. “I thought by marrying you, I’m paying off his debt.”
“That’s him paying the first half; the second half is me having your blood stain my dick.”
Her cheeks turn pink as she nibbles on her bottom lip.
Leanne waltzes in, setting my mug on the table. “You need anything else, sir?”
“No.” My tone is sharp.
She leaves the dining area.
Roselyn swallows hard, takes the shiny fork, and picks at her eggs. “I’m not ready to lose my virginity to you.”
I keep a blank expression. “You don’t have a choice.”
“I’m not sleeping with you.” Her voice is stern.
I chuckle, and then I lean over the table to grab her chin, forcing her to look at me. “If I tell you to jump, you say how high. If I tell you to strip out of your clothes and bend over and touch your toes, you will do it. If I tell you to dress in a turkey suit and say ‘gobble, gobble,’ you will obey. I own every inch of your body, mind, and soul.”
Her gaze shoots daggers at me, but she doesn’t respond.
I’m going to test her, to see what she will and will not do. To see if she’s as disobedient as Lex claims. To see if she’s going to run away. He informed me she has a past habit of running away. She escaped from her ex-fiancé, Umberto, who she was engaged to for six months, and she was found in Atlanta, Georgia. He didn’t want her anymore.
“You are allowed to go as you please. But be home by dinner.” I pause. “Your new bodyguard, Max, will escort you everywhere. Do not talk to him unless you want to leave this building. Our engagement party will be next Saturday.
“Marla will be here to take your measurements so she can pick out your wedding dress for you. Roselyn, do you understand my rules?”
“Yes, Daddy ,” she says with sarcasm. “Do you boss everyone around or just me?”
“Everyone does what I say when I say it.”
She rolls her eyes and mumbles under her breath, “Not me.”
I let out a soft chuckle.
I’m late to my meeting and a torture session, thanks to my fiancée. I stand up from the table.
“I’ll be a good little dog and do what you say, Master Daddy Devious.”
“Good girl.”
“I was being sarcastic.”
“Unfortunately for you, it gets my dick hard. The more you mouth off to me, the more I’m tempted to tie you up, fuck you, and watch you come on my dick.”
She gulps loudly, and her cheeks turn a bright pink.
Oh, my little nymph shouldn’t have made it obvious that she values her virginity, because I will use it against her when I feel like it.
She has so much to learn about how to play with people she doesn’t like.
“I’m going to be late for dinner, so don’t wait up for me.”
I leave the condo, and my driver and bodyguard, King, opens the door to my black SUV, and I slide in the back seat, next to my other bodyguard, Rocco. Another bodyguard, Damien, is already seated in the front seat.
King gets into the driver’s seat and pulls out of the underground garage. I have a meeting with my underbosses on the distribution of weapons and the war with the Irish mob.
The drive is three hours to the Hamptons, but it seems like forever. We pull up to the Italian-style manor I own, and I unlock the black iron gate using an app on my phone.
King parks the car into a spot in my three-car garage, and my two bodyguards and I amble into my study. My underbosses sit in the other executive chairs. They’re dressed in expensive suits, drinking my liquor.
I have to admit, I didn’t want to leave my future wife alone, I want to watch her and see what she’s doing, but duty calls. Grabbing my phone from my breast pocket, I send out a text message to my security team to set up cameras throughout the penthouse and the manor, as well, since we’re going to be living here once we’re married.
I unbutton my black dress jacket, setting it on the back of the chair. I clear my throat, and their eyes are on me. The leather squeaks as I sit down.
“Men, let’s get this meeting over with,” I say.
My consigliere, Enzo, stands on my right, and my twin brother, Aiden, to my left side.
I declared war against the Irish mob because Cashel slept with my wife and got her pregnant, then he caused the life of my unborn son Santo. We were best friends at one point. He needs to be taught a lesson for the betrayal. And I will not rest until I have his head on a silver platter.
“First things first. Irish soldiers are getting more ruthless and killing our men. We have had seven of our men die this past week, and I can’t find Cashel anywhere. So have our guys torture them until you get answers. If they fail to give you information, kill them. I will not rest until we find Cashel.”
All their eyes are glued to me, and Aiden places his hand on my shoulder.
My eyes move to Lex. He slouches in the far corner, and he grits his teeth. The only reason why he told Roselyn to marry Nero so he could try to escape the unpaid debt he owes me. I should have put a bullet through his head a long time ago, but he was my father’s best friend, and he’s a damn good underboss. He had something I wanted, but if he steals from me again, I will end his life.
“I’m getting married in the next two weeks, and I expect all of you and your famiglia to be there. I’m marrying Lex’s daughter.”
Homer’s gray eyes narrow on me. “Didn’t Lex owe you money?”
He’s the underboss of the New Jersey territory. He got promoted a couple of years ago. So, he’s still young and dumb. But I didn’t think he was dumb enough to challenge me.
He’s trying to throw Lex under the bus because he wants me to put him over New York’s territory. It’s one of the things I hate about having underbosses: they want bigger territories because they get more money, so they kill each other for a higher position. Lex has been working in the area ever since I was a kid. We have our hands so deep in the justice system’s pocket that when they hear our names, they run the other way.
“How is it your business?” I ask.
Homer places his hands on the back of his head. “You’re growing soft because he’s standing here alive.”
He’s a clown. A dead one if he keeps talking.
“I thought you would be vicious like Draco or like Villainous and kill him.” Villainous is Aiden’s street name. “I thought our don didn’t give out second chances and was known for his brutal killings.”
My expression is stoic, and I place my hand on my Glock. “You want me to show you how ruthless I am?”
Not giving him a chance to respond, I grab my Glock from my holster, aim it at his forehead, pulling the trigger. Blood, bone, and brain matter decorate the white wall and my oak floors. His lifeless corpse slouches on the marble table. Alonzo, Enzo’s son, moves to the next empty chair. Aiden places his hand on my shoulder, squeezing tightly. “Anyone else want to question my brother as don?”
They all shake their heads, and I tuck my gun back into my holster. “Aiden, call Charlotte.”
Charlotte is in charge of our in-house cleaning crew and takes care of bloody corpses. “A few of you drag the body into the hallway.”
A couple of men grab the body and drag it against the floor, leaving a trail of blood. The smell of copper burns my nostrils.
Aiden and the rest of the men waltz back inside, and I say, “I’m expanding territory all the way to Georgia, and apparently, I need someone else to replace Homer’s position. He oversees the coke and heroin labs.”
“I’ll do it,” Lex volunteers.
“For the underboss who’s in charge of handling shark loans, double the interest. Kill the Anderson famiglia . They haven’t paid their dues in two months. This ends our meeting.”
Everyone scatters like roaches out the room, except Aiden. He flops down onto the chair across from me, sizing me up.
Aiden runs his fingers through his dark hair. “She looks like Shelby.”
Even though we’re twins, we are like night and day. My brother is covered in tattoos and more cut than I am. The tips of his hair touch his shoulders. He plucks a cigarette from the back of his ear, props it between his lips, and lights it.
Yes, Roselyn does look like Shelby, but when Lex offered his daughter, I had no idea she looked like her. I can’t argue with him, and I know exactly where this conversation is going, so I don’t respond.
He blows smoke from the corner of his mouth. “Marrying someone who looks exactly like her isn’t going to bring her back, bro.”
My brother has always expressed his opinions on shit even when you don’t ask, but he means well.
I know it won’t bring her back and I’m still grieving from the loss of her, that doesn’t mean I want a relationship with someone who looks like her. After her death, I’ve never been into relationships. I’m only marrying Roselyn because of the debt her father couldn’t pay. That’s all.
Tension stiffens in my shoulders. I stand up, untuck my dress shirt from my slacks, and peer out the window, sticking my fingers into my pockets. A few birds dance in the cotton-blue sky.
“I didn’t know she looked like her. I don’t want to talk about my dead wife,” I snap. Charlotte’s cleaning crew wipes the blood from the walls, table, and floor. Bleach flavors the air.
“Her death wasn’t your fault.”
I know Aiden is trying to be a good brother, but his words don’t stop my guilty conscience. The way the bullet pierced her tiny chest and I tried to perform CPR to revive her burns in my mind. My throat is dry, and my hands tremble. I shake my head, trying to wipe away the memory from my brain.
Aiden rubs his index finger on his chin. “She got what she deserved.”
Aiden and Shelby never got along. He thought of her as beneath me and that she was controlling and tore us apart.
I shouldn’t have fallen in love with her. I wouldn’t have to walk around with the hole in my heart. So, I will not fall in love with Roselyn. I don’t need the heartache. I don’t care how fascinated or obsessed I am with her.
“Instead of worrying about what I’m doing, don’t you need to be checking in on your businesses?” I snap.
My brother is in charge of the gentleman’s club business where I laundry money through.
He gets up from the table and throws his hand in the air. “Guilt is going to drive you to an early grave before a bullet does,” he says before leaving the room.
He’s absolutely right, but it won’t stop me from seeking vengeance on Cashel.