Chapter 1
(Chapter song ‘Way to Hell’ by KEAN DYSSO)
Chapter 1
QUEEN’S NEW YORK
The tires of the black car splash in puddles as it pulls up to the curb in front of a restaurant that’s a favorite of mine.
The car stops and I prepare myself for the meeting that going to change the entire board. My driver gets out, runs around to my door, and opens it.
I step out, looking behind me and watch as two more black cars cut through the steam rising out of the manholes on the quiet, out-of-way street deep in the heart of Queen’s. I come here a lot to conduct business because I know the area. It’s hardly ever patrolled, and when it comes to me, the last thing I need is heat.
As men in long, black coats step out, car doors reflecting the bad lighting off the old brick building, I reach my hand into the car.
A long, bare leg seductively exits the car, followed by another. Black stilettos hit the pavement and I help my beauty out of the car. Truth be told, she’s only beautiful because of me. She wouldn’t be treated the same if she was back home. I treat her like gold, even if she doesn’t feel it.
She flips her blonde hair as she adjusts her fur coat and smiles with her full, pouty lips. Her brown eyes watch my men join us and I place her hand wrapped in my arm.
“Are they here?” One of my men lines up with me as I approach the door. I can already smell the fine dining and alcohol. It may not be 5 star, but it’s all I need at the moment.
“Yes, Alfa. They were gonna leave, but—” He reaches for the door.
“They better not. They know who runs this joint. If they aren’t in there, then I hunt all their damn asses.” I slap his arm. “Eh. Watch da door. I don’t need anyone walkin’ in, get it?”
“Got it, boss.” He looks straight ahead as another man joins his side.
I turn to my crown jewel as we walk in. “How ya doin’, baby. Ya hungry for somethin’?”
She smiles and plays with the diamonds I got from a scalper on my last ‘business’ trip. “I could go for a bite.”
I nuzzle her neck. “I bet ya could. I got somethin’ for ya to bite later, uh? Let daddy take care of this first.”
“Can’t wait.” She smirks and looks ahead as we approach the small podium with mints, menus, and some fake plant.
The air is thick with pasta and other spices. People sit around the tables tasting wine and chewing on breadsticks. I know quite a lot of them, but the table I’m interested in is at the back under a ceiling lamp. Four large men, like myself and most of my crew, sit in booths and chairs around a wood table. I take off my black gloves and motion my shin to the table. “Baby, why don’t cha go say hi. I’m sure they’d love ta see ya.” I tap my cheek and scan for the Host.
“Okay.” She grins as she takes off her coat, her black dress sparkles as the short hem shows off her fabulous legs. It’s tight enough that I see that tight ass and growl deep. She kisses my cheek, passes her coat off to one of my guys and struts her way across the floor.
“Isabella!!” Hands go up and some stand to greet her.
She really is a queen.
After dealing with our orders of the usual and drinks, I take off my coat and pass it off.
I walk coolly as I watch the males around my Bella talk with her. It’s not that large of a table, so distance is hard, but they know.
Touch her and I paint the walls with your blood.
“Tonio! I was thinkin’ this meetin’ was a farce.” My nephew Liam. Great kid, a little stupid, but all these damn breed princes are these days. He leans back and crosses his thick arms, running his fingers through his medium-length black hair before he does. “What was da hold-up?” He gives me the eye and I don’t appreciate it.
I cross my own arms. “No, hold up. I came when I said. Now stop runnin’ ya mouth and shut up.”
Bella sits on the end of the booth with her legs crossed and her back turned to him. She gently smiles as her heel bounces. I give her a look and continue the meeting.
I look around at the heads of some of the largest Lycan families in New York. Mine’s the largest. I hold 90 percent of the power, and none of these guys make a single move unless I tell them to.
I look down at them all as a waitress brings Bella her glass of white wine. She picks up the glass already beading with water, and takes a sip. The thin diamond bracelet shines against the glass and I love how she looks when she drinks. “How is it, Bell? Nice, uh?”
“It is. You always know how to pick what I like.” She smiles and places the glass down.
“See.” I tick my head to her. “My Bella trusts me and I need ya ta do de same.”
“Trust ya how?” Dante, probably one of the oldest Lycans living—he just turned 40 last month—sits forward and laces his fingers around his half-eaten plate of fettuccini. “What’s dis about?” He cocks a brow and I hate the questioning looks.
I lean on the table and look them hard in the eye. “I gotta new plan.”
“New plan?” Vincent ‘Vinnie’ Vinelli. My brother and father to Liam. He’s a nutcase and has been leading attacks on some island for the 20 years. It’s pathetic, and all they’ve managed to do is lower the numbers of Lycans. “You out here makin’ plans without us? What makes ya think you can do that?” He growls low as he eyes me.
My lip lifts as I take offense. “Since I control you, you and all you fucking scumbags in this damn city! You question me? De fuck ya thinking, Vinnie? What? Ya wanna find out how fast you can die?!”
Vinnie’s eyes darken. “Ya know your threats are like fuel, right? I can take ya down. You’re just like every other breed prince here… Nothing but tools to get her pussy wet.” He thumbs to Bella, who looks away as she snickers.
My jaw tightens as I stare at her and when she sees my glare, she clears her throat, drops her fucking lips and sits properly. I turn my eyes back to my brother. “Watch your mouth when you talk about Isabella, Vin.” My eyes glow gold and I lean toward him. “OR I’LL PUMP IT FULL OF FUCKING LEAD!”
The table shakes as the restaurant fills with my demonic roar. My claws come out and dig into the wood as a few get up and leave the restaurant in a hurry. Bella looks down, playing with her necklace, and Liam smirks as he looks down to. The kid would love for me to axe his pops. He’s been after the family for years.
“Now, if yas ready ta listen, I gotta plan that will actually produce results. This gettin’ our asses kicked by some cyborg twinkle toes on skates is over. Right fucking now.” I thump my finger on the table as I stare at them all. “I approached Falcon Ridge. I saw what they got. These SuperWolves are like that guy on the news. They gotta a whole slew of them. I bet if we drained them, that super blood would bust through the suppression we got. Once our queens can build armies again, then we hit the island. What those freak wolves got is no use to us. We need a fucking cure for whatever the Euro wolves did. I know it’s in Falcon Ridge.” I push off the table and fold my arms as they all whisper to each other.
“Ain’t they a military outfit?” Dante lifts a brow. “How you getting close to the SuperWolves with the military up your ass?”
“I befriend them. I can be convincing. I treat them as one of de family; they’ll let me do whatever I want. Ya should see these guys.” I place a hand on my chest. “One word from me and they’re drooling at my feet. They’re so caught up in what we are, they don’t know they’re lettin’ a wolf in the henhouse. Leave it to shifters ta be dumb as rocks.” I lean on the the table again and tick my head to Isabella. “In the meantime, Bella here will scan for any problems from the computer room.” My eyes slide to my beautiful sex toy. “Ain’t that right, baby?
She adjust in her seat and glances around. “Um, right.” She smiles and looks down.
“Listen. All we gotta do is isolate, take, and clean out a few vials of blood.” My lip turns up in a smirk. “Once I get what I came for, we take the cure… then kill them all.”
“Why kill them? They know nothing about us. We could disappear tomo—”
I lean to her and flash my eyes. “Stop fucking talking.”
Her lips clamp and she swallows.
My lips tug into a smile. “Ya much prettier when ya shut your fucking yap.” I shake her chin and turn back to the men.
Bella should know she can’t be talking. She’s here for me to enjoy the sight of her and show these bastards that they will never be at my level. There hasn’t been another good queen fight in 80 years, but I never liked the whole male Lycan rutting season. I don’t want to waste my time fighting for permission to be the top prince over Bella; I got bigger fish to fry.
We have an understanding. She doesn’t touch another breed prince, and I protect her here. It’s not complicated.
Is it against her nature?
Sure is.
Do I give a fuck?
Not one bit.
If she doesn’t like it, she can leave, but I know she won’t. She has a vested interest in complying with every word I say. She’s not stupid.
I narrow my eyes and look down on Bella. “And don’t think you can breathe a word of this to anyone. I only need one call, right?”
Her eyes whip up to mine. “No… No, I wouldn’t dream of it.” Her quiet tone and soft smell of fear let me know that my Bella is a good girl. I pet her hair and kiss her head before wrapping this up.
“So, all yas gotta do is sit tight. Stop fucking with de island wolves and wait for de product. I’ll have it soon. Agreed?” I scan them all for any doubts. When I see none, I nod. “This will work.”
Vinnie leans forward. “This better work, Tonio. I’m not standing down for you to fuck things up for us. You’re all cushy here in Queen’s; we’re beside the bastards.”
“Don’t worry.” I slide my hands into my pockets. “When I’m done, we’ll help take the island. Scratch my back first, right?”
“Right,” he groans.
Dante stare at me with a serious look. “We also have another problem down at the docks.”
My brow raises. “What’s that?”
“A shipment came in with a little extra cargo.” He looks around the table, and I can feel the heat rise; and it’s not from the lamp. “They attacked us and ran off.”
My brows pinch. “Who would be dumb enough ta do that?”
Vinnie side eyes me. “The undead kind.”
The air in the room just got thick and heavy. I lean down and glare. “Ya kidding me right now, right?”
“Wish we were.” Dante grumbles. “Got the video to prove it, though all ya could see was us getting our asses kicked. Couldn’t see them, but I knew who they were.”
I slowly point my finger to the table as I glare. “So, you’re telling me the bloodsuckers smuggled themselves on my boat?”
“Looks like it.”
I stand straight and control my breathing. As much as I’d love to take this breach out on this room, I can’t. These animals are fucking smart. Being here is a massive defiance that could land us on treason charges for helping, regardless of the fact that they snuck here. My boats aren’t exactly legal either.
“Okay…” I heave a breath. “I’ll get my guys on it. We have a deal, right? They can’t just involve us in their beef with de Euros unless there’s somethin’ in it for us. I’ll shut ’em down. In de meantime, make sure ya set up protection on de boats. I want it all swept before it leaves de continent. If I can’t secure our shipments, your little island war ain’t gonna mean much. Clean de ships. A handful of rats are enough. We don’t need more.”
“Already ordered.” Dante murmurs.
“Good. Bella.” I hold my hand out, and she rises to her feet.
“Bye.” She adjusts her skirt, and her eyes land on Liam.
“See ya.” He grins with a wink subtle enough that I almost missed it.
Almost.
I freeze, my jaw tightens and I glare at Liam. “What de hell was that?” I point between him and Bella.
“What? I was just sayin’ bye.” He furrows his brow and sits back, shifting over to fill the empty space beside him.
“Naw.” I growl as I pull Bella behind me. “I saw de eye. De winking. Ya wanna start somethin’”
“Tonio, knock it off.” Vinnie groans.
I point to him. “Ya lettin’ your boy step on a Lycan’s female like that? I should pop you too.”
Vinnie stands. “Try it.”
“Come on! Tonio, I didn’t—” He tries to protest, but my coat’s already undone.
“Bella, de car! Now!” She looks at me with wide eyes, then runs for the door. I pull my silver handgun and lift my lip. “I got rules about my queen, and you fuckers… are a pain in my ass.”
“Tonio! Calm down!”
“What da fuck?!”
“YA GOTTA A LOT OF NERVE, MOTHERFUCKER!”
“YOU’RE FUCKING CRACKED!”
“It’s just a damn chick!”
“WHAT THE FUCK YOU JUST SAY TA ME?”
My eyes glow gold as does everyone else’s. Tables flip, lycans explode, and as Bella spills out the door, the restaurant is lit up. The walls and floor shakes with growls and roars. Flashes of gunfire fill the windows before a Lycan crashes through it and lands in the road, glass tinkling and sparkling in the light.
The restaurant goes dark, and all you can see is smoke, but the animals inside make the smoke-filled blackness feel like the gates of hell opened up.
And they have.
BELLA
I pace the plush, creamy pink carpet of the hotel room.
It’s a safe house I’m whisked away to every time Antonio decides to have ‘serious discussions.’ I’m to remain here until he comes and knocks on the door; then I know it’s safe for me to be seen.
My nails drag lightly on my skin as I let the chain around my neck glide through my fingertips. Chewing my lip, I read the texts he always sends.
ANTONIO
ANTONIO: Stay there. I got to clean this fucking mess.
YOU: Are you alright?
ANTONIO: I’m good. These fucking goons like pushing buttons for some reason. I don’t know how late I’ll be.
YOU: That’s alright. You do what you need to. I’m sure I can find something to entertain me while I wait.
ANTONIO: I’ll text ya later.
YOU: I’ll be here.
As I toss my phone on the king-sized bed wrapped in a thick red silk duvet, I sigh. My bare feet sink into the plush fibers as I hold myself and wait.
Just as I walk to the window, a knock from the door hits my ears. I spin around, and a large smile grows. As I strut to the door, I fluff out my hair and make sure my clothes are right. I take the handle, beam a smile and open it. My lips fall into a seductive smirk when I see him leaning on the doorframe. His young eyes rake over my body like he needs a fix after what happened.
And I do too.
“You’re early.” I drawl as I let go of the door and slowly back up.
He runs his fingers through his black hair as his brown eyes scan the room. “You alone?”
“Of course.” I stop and he closes the gap.
As I unbutton his light gray suit jacket, he feathers his fingers across my collarbone. The air between us is getting hot, and I know he can smell it. “Tonio would kill me for being here.”
“He tried…” I grin as I slide his jacket off his arms. “But you won.” My voice his barely a whisper as his lips brush mine.
“I ran.” He smirks.
My eyes lock with his. “We aren’t home. A win is a win. Remember, Tonio only thinks he owns me, but he’s just a breed prince with delusions of grandeur.” I run my fingers through his hair, and he closes his eyes. His Lycan purrs and growls and give him a small kiss on his lips. “He can’t keep me from the males that answer my call. Remember that.”
His narrowed, sharp eyes lock. “I will.”
“Then shut the door.” I order quietly. “And please me.”
Liam snarls his lip, kicks the door shut, and does exactly what he’s told.
As much as Antonio wants to believe his possessive hold is working, he doesn’t know Lycan females too well. He’s not supposed to. The Lycan male is not supposed to think. They’re supposed to obey and come to me when I need them. A system that has worked for generations. He’s trying to deny me the life I was born for, and he may have found the right leverage to control certain aspects of my behavior, but it can only work for so long.
For now, I play nicely and in secret. Until I’m free from his tyrant hand, I can only do that much.
Hopefully, it won’t be too much longer now that I know where the greatest prized prince has been hiding.
Things just got a whole lot more interesting.
