His Dark Desire

Prologue

JOE

Twenty-five years ago

Stepping off the plane, my cell rings, yet again. Fucking Christina. The woman is the biggest pain in my ass and if it weren't for her father, Christopher Watkins, she'd have been in the bottom of the South Platte River. I don't give a fuck if she's my wife or not. The only reason we got married was because her dad has money. I was stupid and greedy. I wanted as much power as possible and Christina's father and I made an alliance, one that I have lived to regret every day since.

"Boss, Donavan has a location on Wells. He's at a casino in the north of the city."

I nod as I briskly move toward the waiting car. I hadn't expected to spend my fucking weekend in rainy Manchester, but yet here we fucking are. Wells has been a part of my organization since the inception. He was someone that I thought I could trust, but in recent months I've begun to suspect I've had a traitor in the midst. Someone has been selling me out. I've lost too many men in deals that have gone bad. Deals that shouldn't have gone south. Deals that only the closest of my men knew about. It took me six weeks to finally uncover who the fuck the rat was, and to say I was shocked when I uncovered it was Wells was an understatement. The second that fucker knew I was onto him. He ran. He's now hiding here, in Manchester, and today he's going to finally understand what it means to cross me.

I'm known as ‘The Snake', I strike without warning, and I'll swallow you whole if need be. I'm not a man to be challenged. I hold grudges and I never forget someone who's slighted me. Wells knows this. He's seen me kill countless men. I just have one question for the fucker. Why? Why did he do this? He was well paid and well looked after. Working for me holds a lot of standing, he's given a lot of respect. Why would he give that up?

"Let's get this done," I say, pissed that we've had to come this far to seek justice. Over four thousand miles to find Wells. Had I not sought him out, it would spread the wrong message. It would let people believe they could take certain liberties regarding me, and that's just not going to fucking happen.

Donavan slides into the front seat of the car. He's my right-hand man, always at my side if I need anything. He believed that I could grow to become the biggest organized crime boss in the US and he was right. I've played it smart, made the right alliances—except with Christopher—I've rewarded my men that have shown me loyalty. It's taken years, fucking years to make sure that the Denver Mafia is one of the most feared in the world.

"Boss," he says quietly once I'm in the back seat. "I’ve rented a house for you to stay in while we're in Manchester."

"Where has that fucker been hiding?" I ask, needing to know what else that fucker Wells has been up to whilst in the UK.

"Lucas has been keeping an eye on him while he's here," he tells me, his voice darker than it had been. "From what Lucas has told me, that cunt has been using your influence to get what he wants."

The anger I have swiftly rises. In the past two months, my anger has been bubbling inside of me. Not only has Wells betrayed me, he's put my men at risk, I've lost men due to his fucking stupidness. That's why he'll be dealt with swiftly and I'll be ensuring that he'll be in a world of pain when I finally get my hands on him.

"What has he been doing?"

His pause has me wondering what the fuck he's done.

"He's caught up with the Henderson mob."

My pulse skitters at his words. "You're telling me, that fucker is close with those sick bastards?"

The Henderson mob run a trafficking ring. A profitable one at that, but those fucks are sick and twisted. They take women by any means they can. It's sickening and nothing a true man would ever do. The fact they have men on their side who have families makes it even worse. I did a lot of research about The Henderson mob, especially when I found out that Wells was here. I need to know what I'm getting my men and I into.

"Yes," he says harshly. "From what I understand, he joined the ranks of the mob when he moved here weeks ago."

The fuck is going on? "How?" I ask, my voice filled with anger and distrust. "How the fuck did he manage to join the Henderson Mob?" There's no way a boss would allow a turncoat to join the ranks. Not at fucking all.

"That's something Lucas hasn't been able to uncover. Do you think we'll get any blowback when we take him out?"

"Let them fucking come," I snarl. I'm up for a fucking war, I'll happily take them out and I know that my men would relish the challenge.

Donavan chuckles. "He really fucked up. That fucker thought he could betray you and fly across the world to join another organization."

"Stupid people make stupid decisions," I say evenly. "But fear not, Van, that fucker is going to feel the pain for what he's done."

Van, more so than the rest, wants revenge. Due to Wells' stupidity and traitorous ways, Van's brother Sully was killed in one of the deals that went south. Sully was his kid brother, barely of age when he joined my ranks, he was a good kid, a well-liked member of the organization. To lose him the way we did, angered everyone, it was also that deal that helped me uncover it was Wells that had been betraying us.

"We'll be at the house soon. Is there anywhere else you'd like to go before we go get Wells?"

"I want him," I say. "We'll decide after he's dead what we'll do, but that fucker isn't going to live any longer."

I want him dead. I'm not going to hang around and chill out while that fucker is running around and causing havoc by stealing women from their homes. Fuck that. No.

I see Van's smile in the rearview mirror. "Then let's get this done," he growls. "Lucas is in position."

We're both silent as he weaves through the Mancunian traffic. It's dark even at five in the evening, but that works in my favor. Having to off Wells in broad daylight may not go down well. It takes a while to get through the traffic and my anticipation rises as we get closer to Wells' location.

It takes us almost an hour to get there, but when we arrive, I see Lucas waiting, a big grin on his face. He's earned a bonus for the work he's put in to find Wells. He had him found within a week, it's taken another one to ensure that we have his location secure. Now, we can finally let loose and give Wells exactly what he deserves.

"He has no idea he's been watched, Boss," Lucas says with a chuckle. "Fucking ass thinks he's made a clean break. Stupid fucker."

"Let's get this shit done," I say and follow Lucas up the stairs to the apartment building where Wells is holed up. It's not as flashy as I had expected. Wells has always been one to show off his wealth. Fancy cars, tailored suits, and the newest shit that he could buy. So, to find him holed up in this shitty worn-down apartment complex lets me know that he's not doing as well as he'd have liked.

I chuckle when Lucas gets into the apartment without breaking down the door, he's great at picking locks. For a man that's on the run, Wells really should have invested in better security.

Wells is in the kitchen eating food when we arrive. His eyes widen as he takes the three of us in. "How did you find me?" he asks, resignation clear in his voice.

"It wasn't hard. You did a piss poor job of hiding your tracks. You think working for The Henderson Mob was going to give you anonymity?"

He runs a hand through his hair, it's longer than the last time I saw him, it’s also a hell of a lot grayer. The man has gotten old in the past two weeks. "So, you know everything?"

"Pretty much," I tell him as I take a seat opposite him. "What I haven't figured out is why you betrayed me. Why did you betray the men?"

"I'm dead no matter what I say," he grunts. "Why would I give you that satisfaction?"

"If you want your daughter to live, Wells, then you'd better fucking tell me," I grunt. His wife is beside herself, unable to believe how foolish and selfish he's been, he upped and left while she's seven months pregnant. From what Laura's said, he's not called her once, she has no idea where he's gone. One moment he was home, the next he was packing a bag and she's not heard from him since.

His eyes narrow and he sits up taller. "This," he hisses. "This bullshit is why. You're the big mighty mafia boss, Joe. You've got everything you could have wanted, it's not enough. You think you're indestructible. Well, it was time to knock you down a peg or two. You're so fucking ruthless, not once did you think about the men that have got you to the top."

"That's where you're wrong," I growl. "I've always, always praised my men. I've always made sure that you are always rewarded accordingly. I have acknowledged the hard work and the time that my men have put in to help me become the man I am today. But don't get it twisted, Wells, I have done despicable things to ensure I rose to the top. You put my men at risk with your stupid reckless behavior. You threw your toys out of the stroller, for what reason?"

"Because you passed me over, time and time again for a promotion. I'm always going to be a grunt, doing the shit work that those that are beneath me do."

I stare at him in disgust. "Beneath you?" I growl. "You are not worth shining their boots. You did not deserve a promotion. Other men proved themselves, were able to show true leadership. Your words have shown me just how right I was. You are not a member of the Denver Mafia, Wells, you lost that privilege a fucking long time ago. You allowed your brothers, my men, to be killed and injured just because you wanted something that didn't belong to you. For that, you're going to pay the price."

His face pales. "Joe?—"

"You're now stealing women and trafficking them," I say with unbridled anger. "You aren't a man, Wells, not anymore. You're nothing but a fucking sick individual. Your wife and kid will move on, and they'll be happy not to have you taint their lives." I reach into my holster and pull out my gun. I've thought about killing him in many different ways, but he doesn't deserve the right to be tortured, to be killed in any special way. No, he'll die as a nobody. Shot in the head just like a peasant would be. His words showed me that he lacked respect for my men, for those that have laid their lives on the line to have his back. He doesn't get to have a death that I put any effort into. No fucking way. He'll have the disrespect he showed my men.

I raise my gun and focus it on his head, pulling the trigger is easy, my aim true as my bullet sinks into his head, right between his eyes. He died the moment the bullet entered his brain.

I turn to Lucas. "Make it so that we were never here," I instruct him.

"Yes boss," he says with a grin. "It'll be done."

It's time to get the fuck out of here. I've done what I came here to do. I have another three days here in Manchester. It's time to let loose and have fun.

I press a kiss to Carmella’s lips. Christ, I actually really like her. That’s something that hasn’t happened before. The past three days, the gorgeous brunette has kept me company. I’m an asshole, I know that. I’ve never claimed otherwise. Marrying Christina was a business deal, if she weren’t such a bitch, I’d have probably grown to care for her. As it stands, she’s my wife in name only, and even that is too fucking much. Carmella isn’t the first woman that I’ve cheated on Christina with, hell, I doubt she’ll be the last. I’ve learned a long time ago to keep business and pleasure separate and I don’t fuck around where I live. It’s that simple. The rules are easy to follow and I’m always careful. I couldn’t give a fuck if Christina found out. I’m pretty sure that she knows about my extra-marital dalliances, but she’ll never say anything. She hates me just as much as I hate her.

“It was a great weekend, Joe,” Carmella says, her words heavily accented with a Spanish lilt. “Have a safe flight home,” she tells me with a grin.

This is what I enjoy, women who know the score. It’s less messy when they want the exact same thing as you do. “It was a great weekend,” I agree, knowing that this will probably be the last time that I see her. It has been a fucking fantastic trip, regardless of why the fuck my ass was brought here, I found a woman to spend the weekend with—someone who is sweet as fuck, a far cry from how Christina is.

I watch her leave; she glances back at me and smiles brightly.

Donavan enters the room once she leaves. "The plane is fueled and ready, boss, we good to go?'

I nod. "Yep, it's time to go home." The mere thought of being anywhere near my wife makes my blood go cold. I wish there was a way of ending the marriage but that's not possible, not right now. I'm new in this world, I've been growing this business for the past five years, I'm at the top in Denver but there's a fucking lot more to do, in order for that to happen, I've made the deal with the devil and there's no going back. Not anymore. I signed my fate a long fucking time ago.

Stepping onto the plane at Manchester airport, I feel relieved, Wells is gone and I had a fantastic weekend. Now it's back to reality.

Fourteen Weeks Later

"Boss," Donavan says, his voice hesitant as he enters my office. "We've got a problem."

"What's wrong?" I ask, wondering why he looks so worried.

"You remember that woman from Manchester?" he says, his jaw ticking. "Carmella?"

Yes, I remember her, vividly, in fact. "Yes, what about her?" I ask. "What's the problem?"

He glances at me, hesitancy in his eyes and I glare at him. What the fuck is going on?

"She's been trying to contact you for a while. Lucas took the call, she's pregnant, boss," he tells me with a wince. "She's fourteen weeks and she's adamant that you're the father. Lucas has assured her that he'll pass the message along and you'd get back to her."

I've never thought about being a dad, it's something I would never go into willingly, not with Christina anyway, that woman is a bitch, and I can only imagine how fucked up she'd be to the children. If Carmella is telling the truth, I want to be present in the baby's life. We may live in different countries, but I'll be a present father.

"Set up a paternity test and then ensure that she has everything she needs for her and the baby. If she is pregnant with my child, I want to make sure she's set up," I tell him.

"Pregnant?" I hear Christina's shrill voice. "You fucking bastard, Joseph, you're a dirty bastard."

I wave Donavan away, letting him off the hook so that he doesn't have to be around for this shit show that's about to commence.

"How many others?" she shouts. "Hmm? How many other women have you fucked?"

"None of your business, Christina," I snap, pissed that she's shouting.

Her eyes widen and she begins to shake. "Not my business?" she hisses. "I'm your wife!"

"Only in name and that's only because your old man wanted it to be. If I could have got your father's backing without marrying you, I would have. However, that wasn't possible, as you know. Why are you acting as though you're surprised? You know damn well that I've been with other women."

Her face is pale. "What are people going to say?" she questions. "Hmm? What will they say when they find out that someone else has your child? It should be your wife, not some nameless whore that you screwed while you were out of town."

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "What the fuck do you want from me, Christina?"

"Tell that whore to have an abortion, get fucking rid of it, I don't care how she does it, I want it gone."

I rise to my feet. "This is my child," I snap. "Don't fucking talk like that again."

"I want it gone," she screams, grabbing a hold of the vase that's on the table and throwing it across the room toward me. It bounces off my desk and shatters. "You fucking animal, I want that child gone."

"It's not fucking happening, if anyone is going to go, it'll be you. Shut your mouth and do what is expected. You throw anything at me again, Christina, and you won’t like what happens."

She doesn't heed my warning, and she charges at me, her fists raised, and she beats my chest over and over again. I stand stock still, not moving. If I touch her, I'm going to hurt her and while I'm a bastard who fucks other women while married to her, I won't physically hurt her. One of her fists lands against my jaw as she continues to lose her fucking shit.

I grab a hold of her wrists and keep her still. "I will provide for my child," I say through clenched teeth. "They will have my name and I will be present in their life. You will not dictate otherwise. You try to interfere in this, and I don't care what your father thinks, I'll end the both of you, do you understand?" I'm not messing around anymore. There's no fucking way I'll allow her bullshit to taint what could be my child.

"Remember who the fuck you married, Christina," I snarl as I push her away. "Now get the fuck out of my office and don't come back in unless you're asked."

Her heels click against the wooden floor, and I take a steadying breath.

Fuck, my life has gotten even more complicated.

Shit.