Welcome to the Sins of Blackstone

Chapter 1

Massimo

“Two months left of college, then we’re in the family business.

” I turn to my best friend, Sebastian. I’m not sure how much he has drunk since we’ve been here, but one thing I do know is, I need to watch him.

The man gets into more fights than anyone else I know, and when he’s had a few drinks, you only need to look at him the wrong way.

No matter what I say, he still believes his fists should do the talking.

“Come on, we finally get to be in control of things.” He pats my back, and I start laughing.

Sebastian is my best friend, and the son of my dad’s best friend and right-hand man. The two of them together have made sure everyone knows who runs the city of Blackstone Hollow, and that’s the Messina family. My family.

My grandad put our name on the map, not just in Blackstone Hollow but across the country.

His brother, my uncle, runs things in Italy.

Being the best means hard work and never letting up.

There is one family who keeps coming for us, but they consistently fail.

The O’Brien family, the Irish, came here and thought they could overtake what my great grandad had started, but no. Not on my dad’s watch, and not on mine.

“There isn’t much more we can learn from college,” I reply to him as I take a sip of my beer.

Blackstone Academy isn't just a college, it’s THE college. Students come from every corner of the world, children of politicians, actors, sports personalities, and singers. But once inside, they step into a world far more sinister than anyone expects.

Blackstone Academy looms over the restless sea, which sits on the end of the city.

Perched on a craggy cliffside, the castle-like structure is shrouded in an eerie mist, its stone walls darkened by time and secrets long buried, as if this building was built for horror movies for the killer to enjoy its time here.

The waves crash violently against the rocks below.

No matter the weather, the waves hit hard as if they seek whatever darkness the walls hold.

This is the place to be, to learn the art of the criminal world.

As long as you have money, and lots of it, this is the college for you.

The rich kids get the college that the world sees, but under the layers of Blackstone Academy, lies a secret society, and only the ones who are in a family like mine, know what happens there in the night.

It’s the nighttime session I look forward to the most, I’ve learned a lot more there than I do in the fucking college books.

The gates alone let you know you’re about to come into history.

A towering iron gate, adorned with twisted gothic filigree, holding centuries-old secrets, from the people who have come in and out of here.

Stone pillars crowned with menacing gargoyles loom on either side, their hollow eyes seeming to follow every visitor who walks through the gates.

I remember Grandad telling me, it was our family who thought of the design centuries ago.

A narrow pathway stretches beyond the gate, lined with trees.

Above it all, the academy itself rises in the background, a cold, gray facade, its spires piercing the heavens.

It’s easy to see this building hasn’t been touched over time.

I still remember my first experience walking the path; a weird hum filled the air, almost like a warning: No turning back now.

Four years locked behind academy gates, unless your family’s close enough to pull you out on weekends. If not, you stay and if you listen carefully, you might be able to hear the whispers within the walls.

The music changes, and I turn toward the group of girls who’ve walked into the room laughing at something. Most of them are in my class, hell, all of them have been in my bed except one.

One I’ve not seen in the four years I’ve been here, and I remember everyone; there was no way I was going to forget her face. Angelic.

I want to know who she is and see if we can have some fun.

“Really?” Sebastian looks at the one I have my eye on.

“Go for the girl who knows nothing about you, but I’m sure the group around her will catch her up.

” He starts laughing, and I tell him to fuck off, because he’s not wrong.

The moment one of them opens her mouth it’s going to be a lot harder for me to talk to my angel.

“I’m always up for a fight.” I pat his back and walk, making my way to her. Her friends have their back to me, and that’s my opening to talk to her. Five minutes, that's all I need; I’m confident in myself.

I move in behind her as the music starts, my hand rests softly on her lower back, waiting for her to tell me to fuck off or give me a sign to continue dancing. She tilts her head, meeting my eyes, but she doesn’t step away, and I let my hand ease around her waist.

“Hello there, Angel,” I whisper in her ear, and a small giggle escapes her. “You new here?” I ask as I turn her fully to me so I can get a better look at her face.

Yes, a fucking angel and I’m going to make her mine if it’s the last thing I do.

I lean in closer to her ear. “What’s your name, Angel?”

Before she can answer, Jo pulls her away from me. “Keep your hands away from her, Massimo. Not sure this one's for you.” She stands in front of me trying to block my view of the girl. She’s not doing a good job when I’m almost a foot taller than her.

“Why do you say that?” I step to the side, and Jo follows my direction, which makes me smile. “If you want to join me in my bed, I’m more than—”

“You’re so full of yourself.” Jo laughs and turns to Sebastian as he joins me. “I promise you there is no space for a devil next to this angel.” Taking the girl's hand she walks away, but she glances over her shoulder at me, and I wink.

I don’t know her name, but I’m sure it won’t be too hard to find it. Because this devil does want to play with that angel.

Walking over to the wall, I lean on it, and Sebastian hands me a drink. My eyes locked on the girl as she disappears into the crowd.

She might be a mystery, but in this town there isn’t anything I can’t get my hands on—information, power, control. And right now, the only thing I want is her.

Sebastian smiles, nudging my arm. "You got that look, Massimo. The one where you're about to do something reckless."

I take a slow sip of my drink, my lips curling at the edge. "Reckless? No. Just determined."

"Same thing with you." He laughs, shaking his head. "But hey, don’t say I didn’t warn you. That girl… I have a feeling it’s going to be harder than you think. Plus, Jo won’t make this easy for you."

Jo’s always been a thorn in my side, one of the few people at Blackstone Academy who doesn’t fall in line when I walk into a room. She’s actually challenging me. I respect her for it. And I will be the first to admit, the girl is amazing in bed.

But that doesn’t mean she will stop me from getting what I want.

I push off the wall, handing my empty glass to Sebastian as I scan the room. The house is getting fuller, music thrumming, bodies moving, the air thick with sweat, liquor, and the scent of expensive perfume. But all of it fades into the background as I watch her.

She’s leaning on the wall, in the corner sipping from a glass, and it looks like water. Her hair spills over her shoulder as she listens to her friends talk. The dim lighting catches the delicate slope of her neck, the sharp line of her collarbone.

It still makes me wonder why I don’t know her. I've known Jo for a long time and never seen that girl around here.

God, this girl is hooking me to her.

She’s new here, I know that much. But how? Nobody just appears at Blackstone Hollow, never mind the Academy. Every student is handpicked, their last names carrying weight like currency.

I need to know more.

I start pushing through the crowd, toward her, but before I can get there, a heavy hand lands on my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks.

"Messina," a voice grunts.

I recognize who it is before I turn around.

Liam O'Brien.

The fucking Irish.

Why the fuck is he here? Number one rule: they stay away from us, we stay away from them. They have their small side of the city and college, and we have ours. So why the fuck is he here?

I exhale slowly through my nose, schooling my expression before I meet his gaze.

He’s standing there, arms crossed, his jaw tight.

Around us, people are watching. The music is still loud, but there’s a shift in the air.

They can feel the tension, the undercurrent of something that could ignite at any moment.

"You lost, O'Brien?" I ask, tilting my head.

He grins, but there’s no humor behind it. "Just admiring the view. Seems like you’ve got your eye on something, which I will be having as I saw her first."

I glance back toward the corner of the room, but she’s not there.

Fuck.

My jaw tenses. I turn my focus back to Liam, stepping in closer, my voice dropping so only he can hear me.

"I’d be careful where you step, Liam. You’re in my city. My college. My world."

He laughs, shaking his head. "We’ll see about that, Messina. Things are changing."

I don’t blink. I don’t react. I just smirk, because Liam doesn’t realize—he just gave me exactly what I needed.

Confirmation that something’s coming.

My dad and I have been thinking for a while they are up to something, because they have been quiet.

And now, we’ll be ready for them.

I step back, completely unfazed. "Enjoy your night, O'Brien. While you still can."

Then, without another word, I disappear into the crowd—because there’s only one thing on my mind now.

Finding her.