The Dark Protector (Kingpin's Property 1)

“No,” she hisses. “I don’t understand! I’ll do what I want!”

I grip her by the cheeks, shutting her up as I snarl, “I’m fucking serious, you little brat. Do you want to spend your birthday chained up? Do you want me to let every single guard in here to fuck you while I deny you my dick?”

“I-“ she chokes the word out. “I don’t, please!”

“Then do as you are told.” I let go of her and smirk at her shaking form. “And grow thicker skin, angel. You’ll need it for when I get started on you.”

She shakes and sob as I make my way out of the room. I pass the dogs on my way out, and they whimper at the sight of me. Good to know even the hounds are afraid of me. Maybe I can still knock some sense into those damn dogs. Make them my beasts instead of my angel’s furry playthings.

1 month later

It’s getting harder and harder to hide the truth about my brother.

His name is better left in the dark corner of my mind. It tastes bitter on my tongue and I swore I’d never say it again. But now, Xander’s forcing my hand.

I stare at the last letter I received, threatening Tallulah. Always the same damn thing, always so fucking ominous and blatant.

I swore to myself I’d kill Xander the next time I laid my eyes on him. I’ve been trying to avoid that moment, prolonging the inevitable. I don’t want to spill my blood and dirty my hands by killing my brother.

But he has left me no choice.

I crumple the paper and toss it away.

“Begin trailing the Dragon cartel,” I hiss at Manuel. “Make sure you know their every move. Find their headquarters.”

“Si, padron,” Manuel nods, his eyes wide. But he doesn’t question me further, which I’m glad for. I’m in no mood to argue right now, it could cost someone their life.

I walk out of my home office and open one of the locked rooms on Tallulah’s floor, close to the playroom. I groan, shrugging my jacket off as I enter the room filled with screens and video feeds of Tallulah’s chambers.

She made me promise I’d do anything to stop invasively checking her virginity. And I did.

I should’ve done this long ago. Watching the live feed of her actions gets me off like nothing else and sates my need for controlling her.

Right now, she’s talking to Antonio.

I don’t have microphones in the room, so I try to study their facial expressions when they talk. I zoom in on Tallulah’s face, smiling fondly at the way her eyes glow.

I can tell these conversations are intimate. I don’t doubt Antonio, the poor fucking sucker, is in love with her by now. I’m sure he’s trying to convince her to run away with him. Or perhaps making false promises of getting her away from me.

I don’t need to hear him admit it to know it’s never going to happen.

I’ll never allow him to take Tallulah away from me. What I will do is rip out his fucking heart and watch Tallulah’s dogs fucking eat it. That little traitor will die a miserable death. Perhaps I’ll skin him, or burn him alive. I’ll have to research more painful ways to torture him in front of Tallulah before he dies.

I sate my need for control by watching them interact on the screen for an hour. The day turns into night and the itch to use my toy grows stronger and stronger. I’m struggling to stay away. I need her. But I need to stay away.

These days, my temptations grow darker and stronger with every passing second.

Every morning when I look at myself in the mirror, I ask myself if I should break the rules and take what’s mine. The engagement ring is designed. I could bribe or kill to get it done faster. To force it on her ring finger and make her my fiancée, mentally torturing her so she can never forget what’s going to happen to her.

I spend the night watching her play with the dogs, read, and talk to Antonio. It’s nothing new. This happens every day, with me watching her while she thinks I’m in meetings. My obsession is getting the best of me. I don’t go into town anymore, don’t show my face. My hours and days are possessed by Tallulah. If only my angel knew how much power she possesses over me.

In the middle of the night, I can’t bring myself to stay any longer. Especially when I see Tallulah tossing and turning once again. Antonio is watching her with worry. I know about her nightmares. They’ve been plaguing her for months, ever since I killed Bernardo, that rat. And more than twice, Antonio has comforted my angel while I stayed away, seething. Tonight, that will not happen.