Angel (Made Men 5)

Taking two of his long, tatted fingers, he placed them in his mouth, licking the ones that had been deep inside her, before he walked away, giving her his back.

She tilted her head to the side, replaying that look on his face when he had licked them to taste her. God … damn.

Twenty-Four

Two Kings in One City

Staring down at the lifeless body, he stood there just as motionless until his younger brother squatted to touch the single bullet that had gone right between the eyes.

“It’s clean, just how Lucca described it with his man. No wonder he said you could’ve done it.” Matthias rubbed the blood between his fingers after touching the bullet wound.

When his brother didn’t answer, he looked up. “Dominic?”

“Check his body,” he demanded after another moment of thought.

Matthias began searching his body, finding the young Luciano to be in perfect condition everywhere else. Standing up, he waited for further instruction.

“Get Lucca on the phone,” Dominic hissed before squatting himself to examine the body closer.

Something wasn’t right about this. He could feel it in his gut and in the pavement beneath his shoes. A soft rumbling that was about to shake this city to its very core, and soon, everything would come crumbling down.

Putting his fingers to the cold, purple lips, he parted them, revealing a diamond and gold grill that was still perfectly in place.

That rumbling beneath him seemed to vibrate closer to the surface. It’s coming, a war between the two oldest families in this city that had dueled since its conception. A war that had been easily won by the Carusos in the past, but this time, it would be different, because of two men alone.

Lucca Caruso.

And Dominic Luciano.

Two kings in one city. A city that would fall this time, as both men were kings and each one would rather see it fall than have the other win.

I’m just waiting for the perfect moment.

Angel sat down across from Lucca, not worried in the slightest. The cameras hadn’t been working in the elevator, and unless she opened her mouth, Lucca wouldn’t be able to prove shit.

A hidden smile appeared behind his eyes at the thought of Adalyn having to retell the story of what he had just done to her in the elevator. He would bet a million dollars that she wouldn’t be able to bring herself to tell it.

Neither family would know what had happened in that elevator tonight. He would make sure.

Continuing to stare at the demon, he wasn’t sure what Lucca was going to say, but the last thing he had expected was what did come out of his mouth.

“Andre is dead.”

“What?” Angel shook his head, trying to grasp the words.

Flicking his Zippo open, Lucca lit a cigarette. “Dominic found him during the blackout with the same bullet hole Tom had between his eyes.”

This wasn’t good. Someone was really trying to start a war between the families, and just like Tom, he had probably been one of the last people to see him alive.

Not knowing if he wanted to share the information with Lucca, he asked, “May I have permission to see my family and pay my respects?”

Lucca stared at him hard for a moment before speaking with finality, “No.”

Angel should have known Lucca wouldn’t let him, not with this shitstorm brewing between them.

“Is that it, then?”

Giving a quick nod, Lucca dismissed him. Before Angel could leave, though, Lucca decided to give him some advice.

“I’d be very careful with Adalyn if I were you.”

Lying came easy to him. “I haven’t done anyth—”

“I think you’ve misunderstood.” Lucca inhaled deeply as he took a drag. “You’re the one who should be worried of her.”

Something told Angel he should question Lucca about her, but he didn’t. Instead, he closed the door behind him, going against his instincts. There was no match between him and Adalyn. Just like he had told her in the elevator … I’ll win every time.

Ding.

Once he reached his hotel room, Angel pulled his phone out of his pocket. A voicemail had been left, and before he even heard the sweet, saddened voice come through the phone, his stomach sank.

“Angel …? It’s Andre. He’s … I just need to see you.”

Throwing his phone across the room, Angel smashed it against the wall, the walls that were holding him here, away from his family, away from her.

He took several deep breaths before reaching into his pocket, pulling out a piece of candy, and popping it into his mouth. Closing his eyes, he focused on …

…The cherry flavor had almost completely dissipated in his mouth from the third one Dominic had brought him. His mouth now felt drier than ever.

He held himself tightly, silently rocking himself back and forth, feeling his mind start to slip into the dark, dark abyss.

Reaching the end, Angel had sadly run out of time …