Violent Beginnings (The Moretti Crime Family 2)

I remind myself of how our story started. This would never end with a ring and a happily ever after. I knew it the moment I saw her. I didn’t pay for a partner. I paid for a woman that will do as I say. A woman I can do with whatever I want.

It seems I’ve gotten more than I bargained for.

Ignoring the ache in my chest the best I can, I make quick work of untying and dragging the dead body outside. Using some gas from the shed out back, I set the corpse on fire. The smell of burning flesh tickles my nostrils. I don’t even flinch. Death and mayhem no longer bother me. The only thing that does was the look in Fallon’s eyes when I did it.

While his remains are burning, I go back inside and clean the kitchen.

I mop and bleach every surface from the top to the bottom until everything is sparkling clean. Just like new. I take the dead guy’s possessions and the cleaning supplies outside and throw them into the fire. I don’t really need to cover my steps. No one will think to come out here, and if they do, I’ll get rid of them the same way I got rid of this bastard.

Stripping out of my clothes, I add those into the flames. For a moment, I just stand there, hypnotized by the dancing of the flames and the heat kissing my naked skin.

I think about what the guy told me, how he was here to take photos of Fallon. She claims no one is looking for her, and I believe her, but it sounds a lot like someone is. The thought of her having an ex-boyfriend, someone looking for her, makes my blood pressure spike.

Yes, I know there were others before me, hence her not being a virgin, but there will never be another. There is me and me only, and I hope that I have made that clear tonight.

I don’t know what the future holds or what I’m going to do with her, but I will never allow her to be with someone else. I’ll kill the unlucky bastard and fuck her in a puddle of his blood. Not that she’ll ever get the chance.

She is mine, my property, and only I get to touch her.

When the flames start to die down, I make my way back inside. I pass the couch where I fucked Fallon earlier, and all the blood rushes back into my cock. I’m a sick fuck. I can’t believe I’m getting hard just thinking about it while Fallon is downstairs, probably scared to death.

There is seriously something wrong with me.

I scrub myself clean in the shower before getting dressed and finding a new outfit for Fallon to wear. I leave her clothing on the bed and walk downstairs.

Unlocking the door, I push it open slowly. Fallon is still in the same corner where I left her. The blanket wrapped around her tightly like she is keeping it over her body as a protective shield. Her seafoam blue eyes are open and trained on some random spot on the concrete.

Keeping my movements slow, I step into the cell. She doesn’t look up, not even when I step right into her line of sight. Dropping to one knee directly in front of her, I force her to acknowledge my presence, but instead of looking at me, she turns her head and closes her eyes.

That guilt I felt earlier pulses with life. I’m such a fucking prick for buying her and subjecting her to this madness. For losing fucking control. Julian would laugh his fucking face off right now if he were here to witness my fall.

I want to be both the gentle breeze and the sinister storm for her, but how can I be both?

“Are you ready to come upstairs, take a shower, and maybe eat something?”

One beat passes, and then another. Slowly, she nods her head but makes no move to get up. I’m not used to asking questions. I’m the one giving the orders and following through with the punishments if the jobs don’t get done. So, dealing with her is taking every shred of patience I have, but I know I can’t act like I normally would.

Heaving out a sigh of frustration, I ask, “Are you going to walk, or do you want me to carry you?”

“I’ll walk,” she whispers, as if the thought of me touching her scares her enough to snap out of her shocked state.

She pushes off the floor and to her feet. I rise to my feet with her, motioning to the door and for her to walk in front of me. I see her throat move as she swallows hard. She doesn’t like the idea of turning her back on me again. Smart girl.