Hunter
HUNTER
T he engine purred like a beast ready to tear flesh, the sleek black car rolling up to The Black Hands ' shithole of a headquarters. I killed the ignition and smiled. What an absolute shit hole they had. Doors slammed behind me, my men forming a solid wall around me. My boots hit the cracked pavement, each step a goddamn death knell for anyone stupid enough to cross me.
Rundown bricks and piss-stained alleys – this was their kingdom? Pathetic . The air stank of desperation and decay, a fitting scent for what was about to go down. I strode through the entrance, the door groaning on its hinges like it knew hell just walked in. Heads turned, eyes wide with fear and respect. Good . They should fuckin' fear me .
" Bring her out," I commanded, my voice echoing off the walls, a dark promise to all present.
Vitto Thorn , that piece of shit, stepped forward, dragging sunshine by the arm. Rosalind , his daughter, looks like a fucking angel in a den of demons. Her heart must've been slamming against her ribs, a trapped bird desperate for freedom. But she wasn't flying anywhere. Not anymore. She was mine to claim. Mine to destroy. Mine to taint.
" Here's your damn property," Vitto spat, pushing her towards me.
I caught her arm, firm but not enough to bruise. Not yet. Sunshine met darkness as she glared up at me, her defiance a fire I'd soon douse. " Mine now," I growled, my grip tightening just enough to remind her who held the power.
" Fuck you," she muttered, her spirit lighting up the night. It would burn out; I'd make sure it did. Didn't do much for a Don to have an insubordinate wife. The last one learned that lesson and now lives happily with the fuckin' fish.
" Later ," I shot back, a smirk twisting my lips as I drank in her fury. It tasted sweeter than blood, more intoxicating than power .
Vitto's face was stone, but I caught the flicker of regret in his dead eyes. He sold his own flesh and blood to the devil, and he knew it. I'd make sure he paid for that, one way or another. He wanted to regain control over the territory he'd laid claim to... and he knew I wouldn't just settle for a truce. No , Rosalind was a goldmine. Cinder Crew was fast expanding and with Gia royally fucking up in Arizona , her men were leaving in drones to join my ranks. I was easily slicing through the Black Hands and taking over their business. Vitto was floundering and this was his last ditch attempt at some pathetic form of ‘peace.’ It would be cute if it was so Goddamn sad. No mind, fresh pussy for me.
" Let's go," I said, tugging her away from the shambles of her past life. To be honest, I was doing her a favor. Her father was a piece of shit. She stumbled, but I kept her upright, my hold unbreakable. Out , we walked back into the night, leaving the whispers and stares behind.
What I presume was her friend watched us leave, sorrow etched deep into her features. Damn , she’s beautiful too. Too fucking bad I didn’t include her in the deal. The mansion loomed ahead, a fortress for the damned. As I led Rosalind through those massive doors, I felt her tremble. Good . Fear meant she understood. Understanding was the first step toward respect .
" Welcome home," I said, my voice loud against the cold silence of the marble halls.
This was her new reality. And mine? I relished the control, the dominance. This was the life I was born for, and sweet little Rosalind was about to learn that the hard way.
I caught her gaze, dark eyes defiant as they clashed with mine. No cowering, no tears. The Thorn girl had a spine, standing tall like she could stare down the devil himself.
" Your old life's dead," I growled, the words slicing through the tense air between us. " We're tying a bloody knot, you and me. It's a power play—our bloodlines locked tight to muzzle those fuckers snapping at my heels."
She bristled, that fiery spirit burning bright as daybreak. But this wasn't nature's playground, no place for beauty unless you counted the blood that splattered as beautiful. This was my world, one where every shadow dripped with danger; every corner hid a body.
" Get used to it," I told her, my tone leaving no room for argument. " You and me, we're gonna rule this shithole of a state. You'll learn to love the darkness, or you'll break beneath it."
I watched her rage boil over, the spitfire in her dark eyes. She was a hurricane, wild and untamed, but she stood in the eye of my storm. Oh , sweet Jesus , was she ever going to be fun to break .
" Fuck your rules, and fuck your lies," she spat out, hands clenched into fists like she could hit me and make this all go away. " I'm nobody's fucking property, not yours or anyone else's."
Her words were strong, but they were nothing but noise to me. I let my lips curl into a smirk, feeling the pulse of power course through my veins. This was the game, and I was always several moves ahead.
" Sweetheart , you think defiance is your weapon?" I stepped closer, my shadow swallowing her light. " Think again. Your spirit? I'll cage it. Your will? I'll break it."
She bristled, and I tasted her fury, savored it like a fine whiskey. My amusement was clear as day, a silent chuckle at the tantrum unfolding before me.
" Resist all you want," I leaned in, breath ghosting over her flushed cheek. " In the end, you'll be begging to wear my ring, to share my bed. You'll crave the very darkness you're cursing now."
My grip was iron on her arm. I drew her close, my whisper a lethal promise.
" Remember this, Rosalind Thorn ," I pressed the words against her ear, a serpent's hiss. " You run, you hide, you fight...doesn't fucking matter. You're mine, and there ain't no walking away from that. Not for you, not for anyone. "
" Move ," I growled.
Rosalind's pulse thrummed against my palm. She stumbled again, nearly tripping over her own feet. I didn’t slow down, didn’t soften the clutch I had on her. Bitches gotta learn, and she'd learn quickly that I wasn't the type to fuck around with.
" Keep up," I snapped, ignoring the sharp intake of her breath. Her defiance was still there, a fire banked but burning behind those dark eyes. Eyes that fucking dared to challenge me even now. It was almost endearing. Made my lips twitch with the ghost of another smirk. Made my cock hard to think of all the ways I'd break her.
" Welcome to your new life, Rosalind ," I said, half to myself, feeling the truth of it settle in my gut. She was mine to mold, mine to break. And by God , I'd enjoy every fucked-up second of it.
She muttered expletives under her breath. I hated it. Such a beautiful, full mouth shouldn't be talking shit. It should be sucking my dick.
" Take it in, sweetheart," I muttered, knowing the sight would claw at her insides, rip away any hope she clung to. The grandeur was a slap to the face—a reminder that she was nothing but a pawn in the game. My game.
Her eyes darted across the sprawling expanse, absorbing the lavish cruelty of her new cage. High ceilings loomed like watchful wardens, the crystal chandeliers above glinting like a thousand unblinking eyes. The place was full of luxury.
" Fuck ," she whispered, almost too low for my ears. That little tremble in her voice—music to me, a symphony of the power I held over her.
We passed by portraits of my predecessors, dead men with eyes as hard as mine, their stares drilling into her very soul. Fear etched itself upon her face, but there was something else—something that intrigued me.
A chuckle escaped me, dark and satisfied. Let her burn with hate, let it consume her—it only made my victory sweeter.
" Welcome to your fucking palace, princess," I sneered, a twisted coronation for the queen of my underworld. Her gaze flicked toward me, those dark eyes alight with a silent vow. She wouldn’t bow, not yet. But she would learn—everyone did.
My hand on her back pushed her forward, the pressure a constant reminder: you’re mine, doll.
" Beautiful , isn’t it?" I murmured, sarcasm lacing my words. " Everything a girl could wish for—except a way out."
She stumbled, and I caught her, righting her before we kept climbing up the stairs to our now shared room. Her body against mine, a mixture of curves and defiance, was a battlefield I intended to conquer.
" Get used to it," I breathed into her ear, the heat of my breath a warning of the storm to come. " This is your life now. You and me, baby—we’re going to rule this shithole city together. And you’ll fucking smile while we do it."
Each step deeper into the mansion solidified her fate, but her spirit—goddamn, it flared brighter. She was a captive, sure, but she was no victim. Not yet. And as I led her through the belly of the beast I called home, I couldn’t help but admire the hellfire I’d captured.
Brace yourself, sweetheart. I watched her steel herself against the dread as we approached our room. You're in my world now—and I’m the darkest fucking part of it.