Marrying the Mob Prince

CAINAN

What a devil.

She gave me tongue in church. I could throw her in my car, take her home, and use her body for days. I wouldn’t be able to stop myself if she made the slightest sexual innuendo.

The petite beauty sauntered ahead of me, looking too innocent in her low-cut summer dress, her hair pouring over her shoulders like molten gold. She glanced at me, pink rising to the apples of her cheeks.

I’m going to make you my slave.

But right now I was her fucking simp.

I held the door open for Claire, trying not to get distracted by her stupid, cute smile, her glistening lips and how I wanted to shove them apart with my cock.

She winked at me. “Thanks, angel.”

Heat stole into my face as I let the door close behind us. “My mom called me that.”

“Yeah? Was she wrong?”

I shrugged. “I’m an angel to some.”

“Well, I know you have a dark side…or my phone wouldn’t be filled with so many explicit text messages.” Claire gripped my hand tighter and ran her thumb over my knuckles. “Who would’ve thought?”

Plenty, you silly bird.

As we turned the corner, Claire lifted our linked hands and kissed the back of my hand. I smiled, wondering if she’d repeat these sweet gestures once I made her my pet. I envisioned her in a thong and a collar, kneeling, planting a loving kiss on my knee. A desperate need boiled within me as we strolled down an Allston-Brighton neighborhood, hand in hand.

She talked about her sister as we headed toward the cafe, and I kept silent for the most part, only adding a sympathetic word or two. I was content to soak in her words. Listening to her was a joy because her voice was honey.

Claire halted. “Geez. We walked past it.”

“Yeah, we overshot the cafe by a couple of blocks.”

She pouted. “And you said nothing?”

“You’re in charge, Starling.” At least, she thinks she is. “I’m just along for the ride.”

A disbelieving smile tiptoed across her cherubic face. “It’s your fault for distracting me.”

“But I didn’t do anything.”

“Oh, you don’t have to.”

Her throaty growl seemed to stroke my cock. I ignored the urge to throw her over my shoulder and instead cupped her cheeks. Soft skin glided under my fingers. So pure. Unlike most women, she wasn’t hidden under layers of perfume or scented products. She even smelled innocent-clean and fresh.

But what I liked most about her was how hard she was falling for me. It gave me a thrill. I was the son of a human trafficker, and yet, I made this straitlaced Disney princess hot for me. The ease in which I’d seduced her made me feel like a fucking god. Being around her was like breathing in ecstasy. The power I held over her intoxicated me.

I couldn’t wait to have her to myself.

My hold drifted to her neck as I dug into her hair. “Cancel the meeting with your sister.”

“What?” Her startled eyes crashed into mine. “Why?”

Because I said so.

“Reading your thirsty texts at two in the morning has filled my head with ideas…and we’re a few blocks from your apartment.” I leaned in, planting kisses on her jaw.

She inhaled sharply.

I nipped her earlobe. “Let me show them to you.”

“Cainan, you’re pulling my hair.”

I’ll do more than that tonight.

I loosened my grip. “Sorry.”

She bloomed with color, like a sunset over snow. Claire took my wrists and slowly pulled them off her person. Her smoldering glare heated my blood. “Try to keep your inner caveman inside when you meet my sister.”

“No promises.”

Pink in the cheeks, she brought me into Storyville Coffee, a charming cafe right across from the limestone buildings of Bourton University. Students pored over textbooks on tables. I slung my coat over the tail of a chair as Claire hovered over me, frowning.

“What is it?”

Her lips tugged into a nervous smile. “Do you mind hanging back for a bit? I’m going to talk to her first…just so that she doesn’t feel ambushed.”

“Whatever you want.”

“Thanks.” She grabbed my shirt collar and raised to her toes, landing a clumsy kiss on my mouth.

Sparks showered my cheek as I strolled a short distance away. Claire bounced to the entrance of the cafe where she worked part-time. A taller woman entered and engulfed Claire in a big hug. They headed for the table where I’d left my jacket and sat down. I amused myself by imagining Indie’s expression when she found out I was dating her sister. Would she be furious? Would she make a scene? My thoughts diverted as my gaze landed on Claire’s young face, illuminated by an eager glow that struck my chest.

What was she saying about me?

I glided forward. Apparently, Claire’s speech had won Indie over. Indie laughed, her eyes shining with affection.

“Wow. He sounds like a keeper.”

“Well, I’m trying to be,” I said, taking that moment to reveal myself. Indie blanched as I sank in the chair beside her sister. “You must be Indie. I’m Cainan.”

Indie went rigid as I stroked her sister’s shoulder. Her porcelain features twitched into a forced smile. “Claire, can I be a jerk and ask you to make me a latte? I’m dying for something to drink.”

Claire frowned. “Of course. I’ll be right back. Cainan? Would you like one?”

“Yes, please.”

Claire bounced toward the machines. I smiled at an irate Indie as Claire made us lattes. The two sisters shared very little in common. They even looked different. Indie’s thick curves contrasted against Claire’s hard, athletic body. She was a brunette-Claire was blond. Something of Claire’s chin and nose appeared on Indie’s face, but otherwise they were night and day. Indie was more mellow, but right now she could’ve given Claire a run for her money.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

My lip curled. “I promised to stay away from you, but I never said anything about her.”

“If you think, I’m going to step aside and let you defile her-”

“Like I did with you and your fiance?” I winked, knowing it would incense her to mention that sordid affair. “How’s Knox, by the way?”

“He’s better than you’ll be if you don’t leave my sister alone!”

“Unless you want Claire to find out that you’re not the bastion of virtue that she thinks you are, keep your voice down.”

Indie stared at me, her gaze bleeding wrath. “Why are you doing this?”

“Well, you know the people I’m affiliated with. How bloodthirsty they can be. At their behest, I bumped into your little sister. She’s a delightful girl,” I murmured, stroking my lip as Claire poured milk into the steamer. “I guess I took a liking to her.”

“Stay away from her.”

I clucked my tongue. “If you knew what I was protecting her from, you’d be on your knees, thanking me.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Absolutely not. I’m only here as a courtesy. I wanted to bring you up to speed.” I glanced at Claire, who was still hidden behind the espresso machine. “We should bury the hatchet. For her sake.”

“Bury the hatchet?” She released a choked laugh, balling her painted nails into a fist. “Have you forgotten what you’ve done to us? There is no coming back from that, Cainan. You are out of your goddamn mind. You and Claire will never be a thing.”

I smiled. “You can’t stop me from dating her.”

“No, but I’ll tell her I ran into you at a sex club. And then she’ll hate you. For once, do the right thing and let her go.” A desperate note tore into her voice. “Please.”Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

“No.”

“But I did what you asked,” she reminded, her lip quivering. “You promised you’d leave my family alone.”

“I said I’d try, and I have.” Not very hard, but I gave it a serious effort. “I fought my attraction to your sister. Believe me, I never expected us to hit it off. But here we are.”

“Cainan, you are the fucking worst.”

I shrugged, leaning into my chair. “Like it or not, I’m going to be in her life.”

Her nostrils flared. “No. I forbid-”

“You and I struck a deal.” Rage throttled my neck as I rapped my knuckle against the table with each syllable. “I kept you and Knox out of the firing squad in exchange for your cooperation.”

“You swore you wouldn’t harm my family.”

“And I haven’t.”

Indie looked like she wanted to vomit, and the fire burning in my chest banked. I lowered my voice to a hush and motioned toward Claire. “You’re only pissed off because she’s smitten with me. Shame, Indie. Don’t you want her to be happy?”

“Don’t give me that crap. She thinks you’re the perfect guy because you’ve lied about everything.”

I could’ve laughed at the irony of a woman I intended to kidnap labeling me so inaccurately, and yet a warm glow flowed through me at the thought of Claire whispering that word to me.

I grinned. “What else did she say about me?”

“Jesus Christ.” Indie shook her head and grabbed her phone. “I’m calling Knox.”

My hand came down on hers. “Let me have her. I’ll owe you.”

“No.”

I clenched her wrist, stilling her attempt to get away. “Indie, this is happening with or without your blessing.”

A vein pulsed on Indie’s forehead. “If your entire relationship is built on lies, it won’t last anyway.”

“It will if you keep quiet.”

“Ghost her,” Indie spat. “Tonight.”

I blinked. “That’ll break her heart.”

“Better broken than not beating at all.”

“Come now, Indie. I’m not a violent man. I’ve dated Claire for weeks, and nothing terrible has happened to her. In fact, I’m taking her on a vacation. She could use the relaxation after getting rejected from Bourton, and it’s best she leaves Boston for a while…unless you’d rather she was killed?” I asked as Indie turned a shade of sour milk. “Andrey’s daddy is still upset over what you did to his son, and he’s not backing down.”

“Make him.”

“I tried,” I said deadpanned. “I’ve done what I can without turning suspicion onto myself.”

“Then she needs to go into hiding.”

“That’s the plan.”

“Not with you,” Indie snarled. “With Knox and I.”

“That won’t work for me.”

“You really think I give a-I don’t care what you fucking want! If you have any soul left inside you, come clean to my sister. And if she somehow doesn’t drop you faster than a hot potato, you’ll have my blessing. But if anything happens to her, I’m publishing the article.”

I sighed. “That’ll put you and Knox at risk.”

“Again, I don’t care. Tell her the whole truth, or else.”

“Fine.” She was taking a trip with me regardless. I raised my brow. “Indie, what if she wants me despite my misdeeds? How will you take that?”

Indie crossed her arms, communicating in one fiery look that it would never happen. But it made no difference. In six hours, Claire would be on my jet, well on her way to Leda, and the fallout from the expose wouldn’t matter.

We weren’t coming back.