Page 99 of The Claiming

He fastens his lips on mine and kisses me deeply and as the leather from the belt presses against my throat, it distracts me momentarily until he thrusts inside my wet heat, causing me to cry a strangled moan of delight.

As he slides in and out, all the time holding me up with the belt, I am delirious with desire because I’m fast learning that I love this shit and a tiny piece of my heart has also fallen madly and deeply in love with him.

* * *

He istrue to his word and the rest of the day is spent in bed and he makes it my distinct pleasure. There is not a part of him that I haven’t explored, and he has exhausted every part of me inside and out. I feel him when I move, when I breathe and when I sleep at night. Somehow, Frankie has crawled into my soul and stolen it away. I am his, completely, and any reservations I had about that have been dealt with in the most wicked of ways.

FIFTY-ONE

FRANKIE

The next day, as Cassie adjusts to normality, I take time out and leave the gates of Rockwell behind me.

I have the directions on my phone and as I drive an hour out of town, I wonder what will be waiting for me.

I have been summoned by my uncle for an update and this time our rendezvous is at a disused hotel near Pike’s river. It’s an old town that fell into ruin when the highway was redirected. Most of the people left for the new one just off the new highway, but this old landmark remained and is the home of vermin—literally.

I note the guards surrounding the perimeter and as I pull up at the rusty gates, they check I’m invited.

“Mr. Majerio.” The guard salutes me respectfully and as I am allowed to pass, I wonder if this will ever get old.

My family holds the respect of all the guards and there are many—a small army in fact. Every one of my uncles is a mafia don with their own empire to run and when we gather together at Club Mafia, the home we share in the middle of nowhere, the empire comes with us.

However, this old hotel is nobody’s empire and as I push open the creaking front door and step inside the gloomy entrance hall, my uncle’s consigliere is there to meet me.

“Good to see you, Frankie.” His smile is wide and I return it with one of my own.

“Ali.”

He falls into step beside me.

“Your uncle is in the guest bedroom. He would like you to meet our guest personally.”

I never know what to expect when I walk into an interrogation room. I have never been shielded from the harsh realities of our life and I wouldn’t want to be.

Ali directs me to a door toward the end of the corridor and tortured groans greet me as I head inside.

My uncle turns and smiles his welcome. I notice he is dressed for business in his usual black suit and black shirt and dark expression.

“Frankie. I believe you have already met Jason Forest.”

“Not formally.”

The ‘guest’, otherwise known as The Predator, is slumped in a chair, his wrists bound behind his back and his ankles shackled to the chair legs. He is sweating profusely and appears in obvious discomfort, although there is not a mark on his body that I can see.

“Jason has a lot to say. You will be interested in hearing it.”

I say nothing and uncle Malik addresses Jason. “Tell him who you work for, Jason.”

“Nobody. I work alone.”

His voice is faint but his words are clear and I stare at my uncle in surprise.

Malik nods. “Now tell him who youwantto work for.”

“Christian Duprey.” He hisses as he groans in pain.

“You see, Frankie–” My uncle shakes his head.

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