Chapter 9
My back throbbed in time to my pulse as I stared up at my ceiling. What the hell was wrong with me, allowing Blake to fuck me? I knew the answer was simple; I was horny as fuck and he was a willing body. Yep, that was it, and not the curse of the Vitales.
Blake was next to me, knocked out. His mouth was slightly ajar as he slept like the dead. It made him an easy target. Anyone could break into the place and kill him. I could kill him and I’d hardly break a sweat. My fingers twitched at my side. Snuffing out his life would be like drinking coffee for me.
Something mundane.
My hand moved on its own, remembering the stupid kiss we’d shared. I touched his parted lips, tracing lightly over the soft flesh. It had been fucking orgasmic seeing his mouth stretched around my cock, and the tongue ring hadn’t been just for show. Blake knew his way around a cock. The workers at Silver Dreams would have a run for their money if he joined the team.
I retracted my hand before I did something stupid like hop on Blake’s cock and make him fill me with cum again. I got out of bed and slipped on clothes; ripped jeans and a pink button up to match my hair. The tennis shoes also matched; they were strawberry, a custom made design. One side of my closet was dedicated to shoes alone, it was my one sane hobby. I fixed bracelets on my wrists, slipped on a few silver rings, and took out a coat.
Winter was a bitch, the biting cold always snapping at my exposed flesh. I made sure my wallet was in my pocket with three pre-rolled joints. At the last second, I took one out and placed it on the nightstand next to Blake. The little fucker would go through my shit to find some weed, and the last thing I needed was a stoner smoking all my shit.
I checked my phone and there was a single message from Daiki. A time and place. He wasn’t happy with me, and I was more than aware there would be hell to pay.
“Where are you going?” Blake asked sleepily.
He shouldn’t sound innocent when he was anything but. The way he fucked me last night said it all.
“Out.” He didn’t need to know where.
Blake sat up, his disheveled shoulder length black hair wild on top of his head. He looked like he actually got some sleep. The other night, there had been circles under his eyes, but now they were vanishing.
“Go to sleep. I'll be back.”
“Wait.”
I smirked at him. “Oh, you begging me to stay, peaches? You’re going to be lonely without me?”
Blake flipped me off. “No, but I thought you couldn’t take your eyes off me?”
Really? “Someone thinks very highly of themselves.”
“You know what the hell I mean, Quincy. Fuck, you’re an asshole.”
He shoved some of his hair out of his face, yawning in the process. I took a moment to stare. He was a mess that my body stupidly wanted a second round with.
I laughed. “Yeah, and all eight inches of your dick was buried in it last night.” I moved before he could register it and slammed him back down on the bed. “Maybe if you beg nicely, I’ll let you plow me again.”
Blake glared at me, his mouth set in a firm line. “I wouldn’t fuck you even if you paid me.”
I nipped the tip of his nose before letting go and backing up. “You already did, and the way your eyes rolled into the back of your head as you filled me with your cum, I’d say you’d be paying me.” I winked at him as I headed back for the closet to grab what I needed. “And just so you know, I’m expensive too. Even more than your ass.”
I grabbed his ankle and snatched him out of bed. Blake’s body hit the floor with a thud. While he cursed, I snapped a chain into place that had an electronic box on it. Once it was situated, I locked it up and pocketed the key.
“What the fuck, Quincy?”
“Don’t be a pussy, it won't even leave a bruise.” I pulled out my phone. “Tracker. If you leave this apartment, I’ll know. When I get back, it comes off.”
He snatched his foot back, glaring up at me like he wanted to put my head through a cement wall.
Try it. Butterflies erupted in the pit of my stomach and my excitement showed on my face as I grinned at him.
“Is this some kind of sick joke?”
I shrugged. “That’s payback for running. Do that shit again, and a bruised ass will be the least of your problems.”
“You have issues.”
I laughed at Blake stating the obvious.
Blake’s blue eyes were filled with fury as he glared up at me. A shiver raced down my spine, and I couldn't help but blow him a kiss.
“Hey, you keep giving me death glares, I might just die.” My phone vibrated in my pocket and I knew I was out of time. “Don’t leave this place.”
“I’ll burn this place down,” Blake threatened.
“You’re asking for it, little Vitale. I will break your ass if you mess anything up in this apartment.”
“I’m not afraid of you. And I did the ass breaking last night, so I know where you stand.”
I crouched down low and got into Blake’s face, our noses nearly touching. “Your family ties are the only reason I haven’t shoved a knife into your abdomen.” I smiled looking him up and down, dissecting him mentally. “You’d be an easy kill, better yet, torturing you would be even more fun. I wonder how long you can hold back screams when your flesh is being carved into.” I poked his chest. “A bloody lotus flower would look really nice right here.”
Blake’s eyes widened and he slapped my hand away. I moved just as quickly and wrapped the other around his throat and squeezed. There was a line crossed last night that I needed to redraw in the sand.
“Quincy.”
It was only my name, but I still let him go. “I have somewhere to be. You get hungry, call the pizza place on the fridge. I have an account with them so don’t worry about paying.”
Blake touched his throat, still watching me wearily. I wouldn’t be shocked if he was gone when I got back.
“I don’t have a phone. The one my dad gave me, I ditched. And I’m pretty sure he snatched my burner when I wasn’t looking. Thought it was in my room at the hotel, but it was gone before I went to the bar.”
I opened a drawer and searched through it before grabbing one of many burners. I quickly added my number under Baby Daddy, and put in Harlow and Benito's number. Although, I doubted Blake would call either one of them.
“Here, it’s good for a little while until you get one.”
He snatched it up, staring at it like it was a lifeline.
“Try not to miss me too much, baby girl.” I headed for the door and nearly made it out before he came out of the room.
“Fuck you, Quincy.”
I smiled. I couldn't help myself. “We will talk about it when I get back.” I shut the door to him cursing me out some more. Even after I threatened him, he seemed to come right back, ready to go to war.
My phone vibrated again as I slipped into the back of a taxi, the worn leather seat creaking beneath me. My car would have been better, but it wasn’t an option. The less Daiki knew about me, the better. Even letting him know what car I drove made me susceptible to his wrath. I played it smart and took a taxi to a random location not too far from my place, but not close either. There I’d get picked up by one of the mindless goons Daiki kept at his beck and call.
Fuck, does this make me one of them now? Harlow would laugh his ass off if he knew.
Harlow: Lay low. Cesare is making it his personal mission to make life a living hell.
Quincy: Yeah? He mad about his son slipping through his fingers?
Harlow: Guessing you convinced him to go back with you?
More like Cesare drove the youngest Vitale back into my hands.
Quincy: I’m a professional.
Harlow: Thanks. Not sure what Cesare is doing with him but I’m sure tomorrow night’s dinner won’t be fun. Bring Blake.
Quincy: Babysitter, chauffeur, what else can I add to my resume?
Harlow: Certified dickwad?
Quincy: Haha. I gotta go.
“Here is good.” I pulled out some cash and passed over for the fare. Getting out, I walked down two blocks to my destination. A black sedan was waiting for me when I arrived.
If I hadn’t played with Blake, I could have gotten there early and watched them. Maybe I would have been able to listen in and see what was planned for me. One of Daiki’s men got out of the front seat and came around to open the rear passenger door.
There was no point in delaying the inevitable. I got in. Unlike the cab, there was no smell, and the leather was plush to the touch. Daiki’s man slammed the door shut as I got comfortable.
The driver met my eyes, and I smiled like the loon I was known to be. The great thing about being seen as a lunatic in the yakuza meant most didn’t fuck with you and they highly underestimated me on a daily basis.
“Mind if I smoke?” I asked, pulling out a joint, and lighting up, regardless of his answer. The smoke curled around the back of my throat and eased its way into my lungs. I slowly released the pillow of smoke before inhaling it back in. The ease that slowly crept through my limbs was welcomed.
"You two know what I should expect?" I asked.
They didn't bother to look my way, no doubt writing me off as a dead man. As we rode through the city, I stared out the window until we reached our destination. The hotel we pulled in front of was high class. I whistled, staring up at the lights.
"Ever think about swinging on one of those big ass things?" I pointed up at the chandelier as they escorted me inside.
"どアホ," what an idiot my escort said.
I laughed as we headed for the elevators. He pulled out a black card and swiped it over the reader before putting in a code. Thank fuck for weed. Most people probably would be shitting themselves right now, but I was too busy trying not to laugh.
"I hope he orders pizza, I'm fucking starving," I muttered under my breath.
Both of Daiki's men looked my way before turning and facing forward like the good little foot soldiers they were. When the elevator dinged, and the doors slid open, we walked down a long corridor before we made it to a set of white, double doors. There was another set on the opposite end of the hallway. For a split second, I wondered how much a room for the night would cost, but I shoved the delusional thought away. There was no way in hell I would ever be able to afford it.
The door opened and another pair of men stepped out. One guy was just as tall as me, his head shaved bald with tattoos etched on the sides. He stared me down as if I was a vile piece of shit, but I was used to that. I'd been in the lifestyle a lot longer than most. I held my arms out as if to let him search me and smiled. As he moved close enough, I jammed my elbow into his nose. The crunch of cartilage was hilarious.
"Fix your ugly mug." I laughed.
The other one came at me but stopped short as the bleeding baldy stopped him. "いや、ボスの命令だ。 No, it's the boss's orders.
I smiled at that. He patted me down pulling out the two guns, brass knuckles, three knives, and grenade I had tucked away. He held it up, staring at me as if I'd lost my mind.
"Never know when you'll need one. I've had to use it a few times, gets rid of a lot of evidence."
"You won't be getting it back."
Of course not. That cost me some serious cash.
He waved me in like he was opening the castle doors. How grand the place was, he might as well have been. The white marble flooring under my feet squeaked with every step. The walls and even the furniture were a crisp white like no one had ever touched them.
Who the fuck could possibly relax in a hell hole like this? I twisted around, taking in the floor to ceiling windows that gave the perfect view of Central Park.
"Quincy! Shit for brains." Daiki's smile was much like his father’s, filled with cruelty.
"Daiki."
A fist slammed into my face, rocking against my cheekbone. I bit down on my tongue and tasted blood as pain flared along the side of my cheek. I moved my jaw back and forth before spitting a wad of blood onto the white marble flooring.
"A hello would have worked." I grinned, knowing damn well my teeth were covered in my blood.
"See, that's your problem, Quincy. You don't know how to bow your head and stay in your place." Daiki grabbed a chair and leaned on the back of it. His ankles crossed as he stared at me with a bored expression. "I can't fathom what my brother, or even my father, sees in someone like you."
"I don't know; winning personality, I'm sexy as fuck, not to mention I have a big cock, oh, there's also the fact I'm damn good at what I do."
Daiki snapped his fingers, pushing off the chair. "That's the thing, what do you do Quincy?" He moved closer to me, his black gaze boring into me. "Every job I've given you so far has resulted in failure. And before that, Kai was a disaster, and I can't help but think it's all you."
Kai wasn't me. The idiot couldn't make a good call even if it bit him in the nutsack. I swallowed back my words knowing damn well he was baiting me. I was bold, and fuck, even reckless at times, but I wasn't stupid. I knew what my future would be if I attacked the heir. Death would only be a sweet relief to what they'd have done to me.
Daiki sighed and went back to leaning. "I looked into the whole situation. Something my father should have done."
"Who says he didn't?"
"He wouldn't have had a traitor’s child under him for sure. Not to mention give you any type of authority if he knew you were just like your mother and spent your days pimping yourself out." The grin he shot my way was full of disdain. “You’re probably a rat like your father.”
Bile burned the back of my throat the more Daiki spoke. It wasn't as if I hid anything about my past, but there were certain aspects I didn't need to become public knowledge. It was enough that I was only half Japanese. If the guys found out my old man ratted out his own for a lighter sentence, it would make shit even harder. Tack on that I used to work the streets and the little respect I'd garnered would dissipate.
"That's only the tip of the iceberg, but fuck, this thing is enough to have you killed." Daiki said as he dropped a thick file at my feet.
I had no desire to read it, and I wasn't going to. I knew very little about my father except that he'd been a yakuza. Back when I was young and dumb, there'd been a part of me hoping to meet the man after entering the same lifestyle. When I’d found out the truth of how he’d ratted out the organization, joy was the only thing I felt knowing he died long before I had the opportunity to meet him.
"You wouldn't be telling me this if you were going to kill me."
"At least you're not as stupid as you look." Daiki nodded and five guys circled me. "You're going to prove yourself to me."
I'd already given their dad half of my pinky on my right hand. I'd done it to show my loyalty, and he'd accepted. Daiki thought he was getting the same treatment? He could kiss my abused hole.
"I heard you're good at fighting."
I shrugged. "I can hold my own."
He nodded. "That's good to hear." He snapped his fingers. "ひっつかむ" Grab him .
I didn't struggle. No matter what he said, I knew this was more than a fight. It was better to wait, weigh my options, and then figure out what to do next. As he stepped forward, I knew I was right.
Hands wrapped around my biceps and another circled the back of my neck. The weed was no longer working to keep me calm. I didn't care for being held down. The urge to break free and kill every single last one of them was all too real.
The blow to my abdomen from Daiki robbed me of all the air I held in my lungs. I sputtered, trying to work past the pain that quickly followed. It would have been bearable, if not for the fact that he wasn’t letting up. Blow after blow came my way, and I was forced to stay standing up. My hands were kept behind my back as Daiki hit me.
"That fuck up you did with the Russians, I'm going to give you the chance to fix it. I don't care how, just handle it."
He punched me repeatedly until the pain was a constant throb in the middle of my abdomen. I took every hit, letting him be the big man he so desperately wanted to show the world. Daiki took a step back, a sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead as he pushed his black hair off his face. A few strands had fallen out of place.
I panted. "反撃できない相手を殴るのは簡単だ," It's easy to hit someone who can't fight back.
Daiki laughed. "Yeah, well, when you're as important as me, none of that matters. Now, does it?"
Maybe he was right, but it didn't make him look any less weak.
"Harlow never had to have someone held."
Daiki's smile slipped. It was almost a grand moment, until something hard nearly made me black out as it hit the back of my head. My vision blurred and took every last thought out of my head. I blinked a few times trying to get my legs to work under me again. The only reason I hadn't hit the ground was because the brutes were still holding me up.
I licked my lips feeling the hot trail of blood slowly slide down the side of my temple.
"Watch your mouth," Daiki warned. The cruel smile was back on his face. "It must suck to see the whore you love be with another man."
My back stiffened at his words.
His laughter was devoid of humor as it echoed around us. "I always thought you two belonged together. Too bad he was sold off to be the Italian's bitch boy." He snapped his fingers and I was abruptly let go.
I stumbled forward catching myself before I face planted onto the floor. My breathing was shit as I sucked in air. Each breath made my abdomen clench, resulting in more pain.
"Was that necessary?" I forced out.
"Take on these guys and you can go home alive." He patted one of the larger guys' shoulders. His biceps alone were bigger than my head. "Don't take it easy on him. If you kill him, oh well."
A weapon would have been great right now. Shit, I'd take the grenade; blow some of these fuckers to bits. I shoved myself up and stood tall, relaxing my stance a bit as I lifted my fists. There were four of them and one of me. Shit odds, but not any I wasn't used to.
A fist cut through the air aimed at my face. I blocked it, but took the kick to the back of the knee. There was another fist with brass knuckles that scraped over my cheek cutting it open. Pain settled over me, and I moved my entire body back, crashing into the guy behind me. He wrapped his arms around my body, holding me tight to his. I pulled my head forward before slamming it back as hard as possible. My ears rang from the blow.
I didn't have time to orient myself. My vision blurred around the edges as I took on more hits then I'd ever like to admit. Another blow to the head had me reeling back. One of them grabbed my shirt and pulled me close. I used the momentum and slammed my fist into their nose. The cry did little to appease the annoyance coursing through my veins.
The more I moved, the more rage and my need for survival grew. I rammed my knee up and quickly stripped him of his belt. I had it around his thick neck in seconds, and pulled tight as the others came for me. I dodged what I could while I continued to pull tightly on the belt around the man's throat. His gasps of air were getting more and more desperate.
If given the chance, they'd kill me without remorse. It was only fair I did the same. His body dropped to the floor, and I kept a tight grip on the belt, making sure he was never going to get up again. I let the leather strap go just as one of them swung his leg back and attempted to kick me. I grabbed his leg and slammed my elbow down. I did it again before he could yank free. The resounding crack that filled the penthouse was perfection. His bellow and cursing in Japanese followed right after. He dropped to the floor along with his dead friend.
There was no time to wait as I had two more to go. I took on both of them trading blow for blow. Cuts formed over my knuckles as I landed a solid punch in one of their faces. He staggered back and I followed, jumping on him and riding his disoriented body to the ground. I drew my fist back and hammered it into his face. Even as his blood stuck to my fingers and splattered over my clothes, I kept going.
Movement out the corner of my eye caught my attention. I moved back just as the last one came at me. I didn't think, I simply reacted. The knife in the guy's coat that I was already beating to death ended up in my hand. I threw it and it landed squarely in the middle of the last one's chest.
I got up, my entire body aching. I’d taken on more hits then I'd wanted to, but I was still a little loopy after the hit to the head. I snatched the knife out of the man’s chest. Blood bubbled to the surface, and he clutched at the gaping wound. His mouth opened as if he wanted to say something.
"クソ食らえだ。" Eat shit . I kicked his head, making it snap to the right. I left him to die a slow agonizing death. I slit the other two's throats, leaving no one alive.
Blood clung to me like a second layer of skin. Some bits flaking as they dried. I wiped my hands off on my pants.
"I see why you're useful now. I have a list of people I need you to take care of," Daiki said, reminding me he was there.
The way he watched me was how I imagined people stared at tigers in the zoo. I was a beast to him, but a caged one.
"I'm not a hit man."
"You're whatever I need you to be, Quincy." He patted my shoulder. "You're a dog. Nothing more."
There was so much I wanted to say, but my tongue felt heavy, and spots continued to screw with my already blurry vision. I couldn’t afford to be here and pass out. I took a step back and stumbled.
Daiki was smiling like he’d won but it had been me who laid waste to his guys. My stomach twisted as everything went black.
I coughed as I hit the ground. The world around me went black for a millisecond. My entire body was on fire as I forced myself to move. My hands scraped against the hard pavement, adding dirt and rocks to the cuts on my hands. I pushed myself up, sucking in a wheezing breath.
Forcing my eyes open, I swore under my breath in Japanese. I was right outside my mediocre apartment. There were a few stray glances my way, but I was too fucked up to care. I was going to have to move. Daiki knew where I was staying.
Shit life was steadily fucking me without lube. I know I told the brat upstairs I liked the pain but there was only so much dry dick a man could handle. I had my wallet out and a fresh joint between my fingers quickly. I lit it up and headed for the stairs leading to my building. Each step pulled at certain areas that were more sore then the others.
I made it upstairs to my place and opened the door, ready to eat and crash into the bed. I took a single step inside and froze.
"What the fuck is this?"
I checked the door. 4C in dirty brass was right there on the wood. That was for sure my apartment number. If I wasn't in so much fucking pain, I'd go back outside to make sure I was in the right apartment building. There was music coming from the kitchen, and I stepped further inside.
My floor was clear and the couch was void of any pizza boxes. I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen it. I'd forgotten it was an ugly, gray-blue color that had more stains than the floor.
"Blake!" I shouted. "私は彼を傷つけるつもりだ." I'm going to hurt him .
There was an audible crash before Blake came rushing out of my bedroom. His hair was tied back and he had a black bandana on top of his head. A fitted black tee and sweatpants completed his ensemble. It would have been hot, if it wasn't for the fact all my shit was gone.
"Where's my stuff?"
"Holy fuck! What happened to you, Quincy? You need to go to the hospital."
I waved off the concern, even if it felt funny. Normally, no one gave a damn. "Answer my goddamn question."
"What stuff? There was trash everywhere, anything that seemed important I put away."
"Why?" I moved too fast and caught myself as a wave of dizziness came over me. I might have a concussion.
"Shit, shit. Should I call someone?"
"No."
"But you're covered in blood and you're hurt."
His worried face made me laugh. "Most of the blood isn't mine, it's just a few bruises and cuts. I'll be fine." Not that there was anyone to call. I wasn't about to inform Harlow, and besides him, I had no one who'd bat an eye at me being injured.
"Why don't you sit down," Blake suggested.
"Put my shit back where it was."
"You want me to put trash back into the apartment?" Blake shook his head. "You can breathe in here now.”
No, I couldn't. It felt too open, too exposed. I knew logically that it was better, but after being raised by a hoarder who kept every single thing, the clutter became a safety net. I hated it, but without it, I couldn't stop the itch under my flesh. I was ready to start pulling at the freshly forming scabs to relieve some of the distress. The only place I'd had free of the mess was my room. I had a damn system.
"Now," I bit out.
"I tossed it in the trash," Blake said.
There was no way this was happening right now. I looked around. He'd even found books and stacked them up on the coffee table, ones that I'd forgotten I had. It was the first thing I turned over. Everything crashed onto the floor, spilling over. It wasn't enough. There was too much freed up space. I went around the place knocking everything over and tossing random shit onto the floor. Nothing was enough; it was like the cavern in the middle of my chest was constantly hollow.
"Fuck."
"Quincy," Blake said wearily. "I?—"
"Shouldn't have touched my shit! The sooner you get the fuck out of my space the better." I tugged my shirt off, hissing at the pain that followed. I needed a shower and to get the fuck away from Blake, before I added his dead body to the mess in the living room.