Chapter 35 Carter
THIRTY-FIVE
CARTER
I’m not usually one to negotiate, but standing on unfamiliar territory leaves me no choice, and for once, it’ll be nice not to have to worry about clean-up.
As I lay out my knives, I sneak a glance at my boys, both of them donning different expressions, but equally lost in a trance while they watch my every move.
Catching my stare, Jasper smiles, and Tyson slightly nods, still giving me the space to handle this on my own.
Of course, they have no idea what my true motives are, and the backroom deal I made with my victim, but all is fair in war, and this is no different.
It was simple, after I tied this guy up – but before I screamed bloody murder – I promised that if he followed my script, I wouldn’t cut off his own dick and force feed it to him.
Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t a hard sell, considering how easy it was for me to get him in the first place, proving that maybe he had gone through enough emasculation for one day.
I gave him the basics, a few things I want spoon fed to Jasper and Tyson, if only to appease their minds while I cover up my real identity, allowing us to make it to see another day.
Rocco Corazza gave me free reign, but is keeping a watchful eye, wanting a piece of this guy, too, and after careful consideration, I’ve decided to give him a sliver of grace.
After all, we’re in a partnership, and that always requires a little push and pull, compromise never hurting anyone if done for the right reasons.
“So, are you going to make this hard, or can we get right to the point? I am dressed for a night on the town, after all,” I say sweetly, smiling down at my prisoner while I trail my blade along his chest, pressing harder as I circle his body like a shark chasing the scent of blood.
“I have no idea who you are,” he states coldly, and I smile internally, knowing I hit him right in every man’s biggest weakness, getting him exactly where I need him.
“Oh come on, this is a face you don’t forget, especially when you’re hired to drug and kidnap it.” I abruptly stop pacing, flicking my wrist so quick I slice his shirt right down the middle, a gasp coming from his lips as I catch him off guard.
“I’m just here for the money, Miss. If I was paid to do that, it’s because I come highly recommended by past employers,” he recites, never shifting his eyes, only staring straight ahead at the wall.
He’s good, I’ll give him that.
I’m playing nicer than usual, since we did make a deal, but once he starts squealing like a pig, all bets are off, and I’ll get to play, too.
“Well, that just isn’t going to cut it, Mister.
You see, those two rabid dogs behind me want answers, and they’re prepared to tear you limb from limb until you spill, but I was hoping we’d built a rapport, that after all we’ve been through already today, you’d prefer to speak to me.
” I begin to circle him again, trailing my fingers along his shoulders, digging my nails in for good measure.
“I don’t get paid enough to keep silent, Miss. If you want answers, just ask the questions,” he sneers, making short but distinct eye contact, proving that word is bond, and he’s willingly going to follow the script I provided.
“I love it when they make it easy, don’t you, Jasper?” I smirk, turning to face him as he’s staring at me, a raging hard-on in his dress pants while he bites his lower lip.
“You’re doing so good, Principessina,” he groans, his voice dropping a few octaves that sends shudders through my body.
“You hear that? He says I’m doing so good,” I giggle, the sadistic bitch that lives within me fully released, ready to play with my newest toy. “Did the Masseria’s pay you to kidnap me?”
There’s no time to waste, knowing that the longer I stall, the easier it’ll be for him to attempt to save his own life, to cast me as a fraud.
Still, I have to balance on a tightrope, putting on a show for my boys, too, since they know exactly what I’m capable of, and how I break my victims.
“Yes. I didn’t deal with the Don directly, but the payment went through, and I had my instructions.
As far as I could tell, it came from the top, and I was instructed to watch the blonde girl, only intervening if things went sideways,” he answers, and I grind my teeth against my jaw, hating how his big fucking break in acting is coming at my expense.
He’s over the top, almost too bubbly with his words, giving up answers like this is a fucking trivia night, and I’m praying that nobody sees right through this ruse.
Jasper lunges forward, landing two good punches to his jaw, the emotional attachments to his father still plaguing him in ways that fuck with his mind, but I pull him by the collar of his shirt, pushing him toward Tyson.
“Hold. Him. Back.” I grit my teeth, not wanting this to get anymore complicated, and Tyson only nods, wrapping an arm around Jasper’s shoulder while he attempts to regulate his breathing.
“I’ll make it quick, if you answer one last question,” I start, stepping in front of the man strapped to the chair, blocking everyone’s access to the look I’m giving him.
This is it, the final blow he has to deliver, passing along the message I received from my father, but in a way that keeps my hands clean, if he can follow the simple script I gave.
“Don’t kill me, Miss. I swear, I just follow the money,” he begs, and I nod slowly, thankful for the fact that he’s sticking to his word, but defeated because I was hoping to spill a little blood in the heat of the fight.
“Tell me everything you know.” I drag my blade along the veins in his hand, his widened eyes meeting mine in shock, but I only shake my head, a warning not to fuck with me.
My trance is locked on his palm, the blood pouring over his fingers and landing in a puddle on the concrete floor, stealing my focus completely.
“Fuuuuck. Goddamn, you bitch!” He screams, the sound echoing off the walls, but I can’t stand the pathetic crying, almost ready to slice off his fingers just for a bit of thrill.
“Now.” I assert, lining my blade to the joint of his thumb, not interested in playing around, or tiptoeing the line any further.
“All I know,” he chokes out, the fear of pain paralyzing his body, but I keep my eyes trained on his, a harsh reminder of what’s to come if he betrays what we agreed upon, “is that something big is happening in three days.”
In pure shock, I look back at Jasper and Tyson, both of them never breaking eye contact as we simultaneously go over this in our minds, but my hands shake at the victory, knowing that I successfully relayed the information from my father, without compromising myself.
Single-handedly, I saved us all, and proved that I can handle the brunt of the violence on my own, traits that may come in handy when we decide what to do going forward.
“Thank you,” I say softly, nodding as I face my victim with my back turned to everyone else, wincing as I know what has to come next.
I don’t particularly like lying, especially when I use my word as bond, but I can’t pretend that this man isn’t an example, and I have to do what’s expected of me, within the parameters of our agreement with the Corazza’s.
Without another breath, I grab a different blade from its place on the counter, closing my eyes as I bring it to this man’s fingers, opting to slice straight through the bone, three of his digits landing on the floor in a puddle of blood.
His mangled screams pierce through my eardrums like a bad musical on repeat, but I only smile in response, snatching one of the dismembered fingers and making a statement as I pop it into my mouth, sucking the blood from the still-live nerve endings with a sadistic smile on my face.
The faces in the room are a mix of shock, disgust, and pleasure – coming from Jasper, of course – but nobody stops me, and I’ve never felt higher in the wake of destruction.
“Next time you come for us, you don’t fucking miss.” I shove what used to be his finger into his own mouth, laughing as he gags on it, my mouth stained with blood in the most satisfactory way.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Rocco Corazza studders, gagging as he looks between us three, and I can’t stand the distance anymore, dropping my tools as I strut to my men.
“She’s as sick and twisted as they come,” Jasper laughs, pulling my body into his arms, swiping his tongue along my lips.
“Reminds me of my sister. You two would be the best of friends. Nobody impresses me, not like my little sister does, but Carter … you’ve earned my respect,” Rocco says, holding his hand out for me to shake, and I bear my teeth at him, showing off my best smile, knowing damn well that my lips are stained blood-red.
“I’d love to meet her, then,” I laugh, his gag reflex interrupting our pleasantries, but before any of us can say another word, Tyson wraps his arms around my midsection, dragging me away before I ruin the alliance we just built.
As we make our way to the front doors, I feel electrified, like I could zap anyone that comes close enough to touch, but Jasper snakes his arms around my waist, lifting me off the ground and spinning me until our lips are millimeters apart.
“Are you going to share, my pretty little vampire?”
“What’s mine is yours,” I whisper, almost begging him to dive off the deep end, and he barely blinks, tangling our tongues together while the sting of metallic infects us both as we stumble back to the limo.
“We’re skipping the club,” Tyson says, speaking to us and the driver at the same time, but I mope against the seat, wanting to play longer.
After all, I’m dressed to kill – literally – and there’s no fucking way I could wind down after that electrifying fucking scene we just ran from.
“Oh, come on! I’ll be good, I promise,” I whine, turning to face Tyson, but he only looks forward, his eyes not landing on mine.
“No, Carter. We’re going back to the suite,” he says sternly, the rumble in his chest scaring me straight, but at the same time, I’m so fucking wired, I decide to play with the monster himself.
“I’ll just sneak out while you’re sleeping.” I shrug, giggling as I bury my face into Jasper’s chest, his smile and laugh on full display, like he knows exactly what game I’m playing.
“Carter,” Tyson warns, his voice low and husky as he grabs my throat with one hand, dragging my body until I’m completely facing him. “Do not make me tie you to the bed.”
Whimpering under his brute strength, his hands envelop my body so well that I’m merely a puddle beneath him, but refusing to break all the way.
“Don’t you dare threaten me with a good time,” I smirk, tangling my fingers in his hair, while Jasper slowly works his hands up my dress, teasing me while I flirt with danger.
“We could tie up that pretty little body, make you beg for fucking relief while we do whatever we want to you,” Jasper purrs, seemingly switching sides as he pins my arms to the seat, leaving me to grind my hips into the leather, searching for any source of friction between my legs.
“I’m all yours,” I concede, my words coming out breathy and desperate, hoping one of them gives in, allowing me a second of pleasure.
“On your knees,” Tyson commands, his booming voice switching the vibe in this car, and immediately, I feel my body sway into submissive mode, obeying his order without a second thought.
Kneeling on the floor of the car, my hands fumble with the buckle of his belt, but he tilts my chin, looking directly into my eyes as he snatches my wrists into one hand.
“No, baby girl. You don’t get rewarded tonight,” he grunts, a darkness taking over his eyes that I’ve never seen, sending a shiver down my spine that not only terrifies me, but lights up the parts of my body that enjoy this side of uncertainty, too.
“I didn’t do anything,” I whine, attempting to break free from his grasp, but failing miserably as he squeezes harder, the bones beginning to give way under his grasp.
Searching his eyes and body language give no clues to what’s on his mind, I even sneak a glance at Jasper, but am met with nothing but neutral faces, attitudes, and vibes, leaving me completely in the dark.
“You put a fucking finger in your mouth, Carter. I think you need reminding of what happens to brats who misbehave,” he growls, his teeth gritted like a vicious animal, and the beautiful brown that usually resides in his irises is completely blacked out.
Seeing him like this should scare me, but instead, the lust streams right between my legs, turning me into nothing but a submissive mess, desperate for one of them to play with me, kiss me, or even brush their fingers along my skin.
We have bigger problems, a date with death itself, but amidst the war, I’ve once again chosen to stick beside my boys, their love the most important thing in my life.
As much as I adore the beast that lives within my soul, I’d be content stuffing it down, starting over fresh and living a normal life with the two people who have finally shown me what it’s like to feel at home.
In three days, everything will change, but for tonight, I’m theirs to use, to worship, and to love, as if the weight of the world isn’t hanging over our heads.
Three more days, and then, we’re all free.