Beautiful Trouble: A Dark Mafia Romance

“With friends, I do. What do you want, Kaspar?”

“I’ve come to offer you my support.” He sipped the coffee again and seemed pleased. “Really, I need to borrow that Chika. Think she’ll work for me? What do you pay her? I’ll double it.”

I ran a hand down my mouth and along the stubble on my neck, stalling for time. It was one thing for him to agree to give me space to work things out with Roman, whether by diplomacy or by war, that was up to the two of us—but it was another to offer to get involved.

None of the other Oligarchs had made such an offer. I felt a sudden stab of paranoia, and wondered if Roman had his own band of allies lining up behind him, and Kaspar was the only person stupid enough to be on my side.

“Why would you get in the middle of a dispute that doesn’t involve you?”

“Let’s say you convinced me.”

“How about we don’t say that.”

He shrugged as if it didn’t matter. “Then I have my own reasons. I’m offering you my resources and expertise. I want to see Roman knocked down a few rungs, and even if you don’t trust me, I’m going to ensure that it happens.”

I leaned back in my chair, watching him carefully. I was in the middle of a snake pit and one wrong move would see me bitten a thousand times over. Kaspar was poison and death, but I knew how to handle that.

I’d been elbow-deep in blackness all my life.

“Exactly what are you offering?”

“Manpower. Weapons. Money. Whatever you want, I’ll provide it so long as it’s within my powers and won’t expose me too much. I’m not entering into this without conditions, but I do plan on seeing it through.”

“I’ll be honest with you, I don’t believe a word you’re saying. Everything I’ve learned about the Oligarchs suggests that none of us can be trusted.”

“Including you.” He laughed and turned his coffee cup around on the plate. The porcelain made a soft scraping sound. “But it doesn’t matter. For now, our desires are aligned.”

“Prove that you’re sincere.”

“How?”

“Attack the MacKenna family. Make sure they’re distracted and can’t muster resources against me.”

“Meanwhile, you’ll focus on Roman?”

“That’s the plan.”

He stroked his chin. “I can do that. I know where they like to spend their time, as it happens. I want something in return, however.”

I let out a snorted laugh. “I knew this wasn’t free.”

“Like I said, I have conditions.” He held up his finger. “And in this case, there’s only one.”

“What is it?”

“I want you to follow through with your threat to marry Winter.”

I tilted my head to the side. “Why do you care?”

“Because I think it will do you good.” He showed his teeth.

He was hiding something. That couldn’t be the real reason, but I didn’t have time to devote to figuring out what his real game was.

Kaspar would be a huge asset. Though the Hungarians were small, they were feared, and the other Oligarchs respected him enough to give him wide latitude. If he joined my side, that would lend a lot of credence to my cause.

“I plan on making good on that promise.” I drummed my knuckles on the table. “It’s settled then. You attack the MacKennas, and I’ll marry Winter.”

“You got the easy job.”

“So you think.”

He stood and held out a hand.

I hesitated, but stood and shook it.

Deal with the devil.

Now I knew how Winter must’ve felt.

Kaspar released my palm and turned. “I’ll see myself out. Or I suppose your men will see me out.” He laughed to himself and left the room.

Strange man. Wily and strong, but I could never quite get a good read.

He was much too chaotic. I’d known him since we were both young—we went to the same elite university together, Blackhills College, but we ran in different circles and he was three years younger.

He was a loner even then. Not an outcast, not at all. But a loner by choice.

I didn’t need to understand him. If he wanted to help me destroy Roman, I’d accept his aid.

So long as I got what I wanted, I didn’t care how many people drowned.

18

Winter

Chika summoned me the next morning.

I followed her down the hall wearing sweats. My legs ached from the night before, but a good ache—one that reminded me what Darren could do to my body if I could stop hating him and start giving in to him.

Not that I wanted to. It was all too broken and fraught and fucked up—

But god, the night before.

My pussy sang like never before.

Orgasm after orgasm. It was like rolling on waves, cresting and dropping back down, only to go back up again. He was insatiable and wanted every inch of my body, from my lower back down to the soles of my feet and back up to my lips.