Chapter Six

Hayes

“W hat are you doing here, Ricci?” Frances asks in a clipped tone, but his eyes tell me something else. The big, bad Frances looks anxious.

This fucker has been a pain in my ass for a while now and if it was not for the self-control my father instilled in me, I would slit his throat right here and now. But I can’t; I can’t lose my temper for a temporary satisfaction when other’s lives are at the mercy of my choices, too.

“What? Worried I’m going to ruin your little night of sin?” I give him my best shit eating grin.

He huffs and steps towards me, “Rest assured, I am the King of the Underworld, Hayes.

Your father’s now gone; there is no one in my way.”

His eyes look back and forth between mine, “You will never succeed in ruining my night.”

I place my hands into my pants pocket and throw my head back into a laugh, “My father was the King of this world, Ashton, and you know it. Rest assured, I have taken his place, and I will continue what he started.”

Frances’ eyes narrow at me, “Your father was nothing but a small man in my way.”

I step toward him, our noses almost touching. “Is there something you want to admit to, Ashton?”

“Hello, Ricci.” Gloria steps in beside Ashton and wraps her arm around him, getting his attention off me. “Mr. Ashton, why don’t you show me around to some of your best men.”

I take a deep breath, thankful for the intervention. Gloria is an angel, and most likely just saved me from doing something stupid. I hope eventually I can help save her from this life.

“Why Miss Gloria, I’ll be glad to.” Ashton says to her but turns to me last minute before walking off. “No funny business, Ricci, or my men will escort you out.”

I nod and give a slight smile to Gloria as a thank you while leaving them and going back to the bar.

The two walk over and stop at Dante and Olivia, rage courses through my veins watching Dante touch her ass repeatedly.

I have only spent a few mere seconds with this mysterious woman, and I am already thinking of ways to cut the fucker’s hands off and feed him his fingers.

A beep from my phone in my pocket gets my focus and I pull it out noticing it is a text from Alan.

That’s the last female, Sir. They are all on the floor now.

I text back, “It’s showtime.”

Within a matter of minutes, darkness surrounds me as one of my men trips the main breaker.

Ashton’s men all run around with their guns drawn, as I knew they would. But the darkness has become my friend through the years—I see better in it than I do the light.

Something about the caliginosity of the world in the blackness seems less . . . frightening. Like the monsters that hide from the sun can finally come out and be themselves. No one is having to put on a mask but instead, walk freely with us without being afraid of the world and its damnation.

Keeping calm, I make my way through the men who are frantically trying to verify the threat.

Hi, it’s me motherfuckers.

While Dante’s dumb ass has left Olivia completely unattended, I motion for one of my men to sweep in and grab her.

A hand grabs mine, stopping me in my place. “Take care of her, Ricci. She is more valuable than you think.” Gloria’s voice rings in my ears.

“Stay alive, Gloria. I’ll be back for you.” I whisper before one of Ashton’s men scoop her away.

Ashton is nowhere to be seen. The coward ran off, leaving all these women and men to fend for themselves even though they are his responsibility.

King of the Underworld, my ass.

A King stands toe-to-toe with the threat that is causing his people harm. A true leader goes down with them as the head of the cavalry. He is a weakling if I have ever seen one.

I’ll show him how a real King takes care of his own.

“Sir.” Alan stops in front of me. “We were only able to save three women, including Olivia. The others were scooped up by Ashton’s men as soon as the lights went out. They must have known.”

“For fuck’s sake.” I huff; he had them on alert as soon as my presence was known. “This man is really starting to piss me off.”

Alan snarls, “You and me both, Sir.”

“Alright, let’s go. Take all the women to the Hope House except for Olivia. Put her in my car. She will be going back with me!” I order.

“Sir?” Alan’s eyes question me.

“Not the time, Alan.” I tell him. “Just do as I say.”

He nods and hurries off to obey my orders.

“Where is Ricci?” Dante’s scorn voice is heard near me, and I snicker.

“Wouldn’t you like to know, fucker?” I whisper, walking past him, my white mask undetected in the dark, and make my way to my car.

Olivia is passed out in the seat beside me, her black sequin dress shining as the car’s lights hit them when I open the door. Her black mask still covers her face and for a moment, I wonder what she looks like under the mask. Her breathing is regulated in slow deep breaths which means the sedative my men gave her is working; she shouldn’t wake until the morning.

Something about her makes me pause my own breathing, watching her breasts move with each breath she takes, her mouth slightly open.

I have to rearrange my cock in my pants from the images running rampant in my mind.

“Home.” I order my driver after Alan jumps in the front passenger seat getting my attention.

“Yes Sir.” They respond in unison.

I watch Olivia’s chest rise and fall the whole ride home.

Sweet dreams, Olivia, for when you wake, you will be in my bed.

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