Page 1 of Hostile Cravings
Chapter One
TYSON
This was a nightmare. I pulled the lapels of my jacket, wishing I had some way to escape but knowing there was no way out. Each time my foot hit the tile floor of the Donelli mansion, it echoed like a steady beat of drums that was building to my doom. Fuck Mason for agreeing to this and fuck Donelli and his shithead son for even suggesting it. Rolling my neck, I approached the deck that overlooked the wide expanse of the Donelli estate, the shimmering pool water below inviting me to plunge into it rather than deal with this dreadful situation.
Angie Donelli. Of all the women Mason could have forced on me, it had to be that one. Spoiled, bratty, mouthy, unappreciative…the list was one that never ended. She annoyed the shit out of me and even being in her presence for mere minutes sent my anger rising and my head pounding.
Mason was certainly testing my limits as his best friend. First with Casey, now with this. Casey was a matter that had taken me by surprise, hitting me hard. The betrayal had stung. That he hadn’t been honest with me had stung harder. But then, even if he had told me up front, I still would have beaten the shit out of him for touching my sister.
My jaw twitched at the thought of him touching her. The thought of anyone touching my sister stirred my ire, but this was Mason. The man who had been by my side since we were kids. A man I trusted with my life and one I trusted with Casey because I knew he would take a bullet for her, just like he would for me. If it had to be anyone, he was the best choice, and I’d come to terms with that. I still wasn’t comfortable with how often his hands were on her, but I supposed I’d get used to it. Maybe.
As I stepped onto the deck, I heard Angie’s annoying voice along with a male’s. Damn, the sham was only beginning, and she was already at it with another man. She was going to be hard to contain, but if I had to give up my women for this, she’d have to do the same. Mason liked to call me a playboy, but Angie Donelli made me look like a virgin. She was a slut who couldn’t keep her legs closed, especially for the rich and powerful in her province. She had a taste for money and prestige and expectations that I was sure none of those pussies she slept with met. The pretty boys were her style, and I was far from that. I was rough around the edges and dangerous. Another reason this fake marriage idea was ridiculous. Not only did the two of us hate each other, we were complete opposites.
Rolling my neck, I scanned the deck, squinting my eyes against the setting sun.
“Come on, Angie. You know you want it. Every time you flick that tongue over your lips, you make me hard.”
I recognized that voice. Joey Tirenti, the piece of work son of Joseph Tirenti. The Tirenti’s ruled the territory just north of Donelli’s. They were trouble, and their allegiance to Mason was wavering. The only reason they hadn’t turned on us was the debt they owed Mason for bailing their business out years ago. Still, the situation was tenuous, especially with the recent Bad Omen activity. I suspected they were ready to sell their souls to the Omens, as did Mason, but the proof hadn’t surfaced yet.
“I don’t lick my lips for you, Joey. So get your handsoff me.”
Great. Tony, Angie’s brother, had said he’d caught Joey touching her when she hadn’t invited it and from the irritated tone in her high-pitched voice, it was clear she wanted him to leave her alone. It was time to put my acting skills to the test and pray I didn’t burst out laughing.
I turned the corner, spotting them. He had her pinned against the side of the house, his hand on her bare leg, his body so far against hers that she couldn’t move.
“She only licks them for me, asshole. Now get your hands off my wife.” Every word pissed me off, and the effect made my voice sound gritty.
Angie’s brown eyes flicked to mine, going wide before understanding crossed them. I had hoped her brother and father had told her their plan. Tony had taken the reins of the family after his near-death experience with the Omens, agreeing with his father that tying Angie with me would affirm their standing after the Omens had attacked them. It was risky, but Mason and I weren’t ones to fuck with, and every family knew that. The only ones who held more power were Greyson Tides and the Bad Omen. No one aligned with the Omens and Tides was now in line with us because of Riley.
Joey stepped back from Angie, smoothing his shirt down before he turned to me. His blue eyes were beady, the smirk on his face one I wanted to punch. I had at least five inches on him and my hours in the gym showed in the tight fit of my suit. He was no match for me, and he knew it. I kept my hands in pocket, worried I’d do something stupid if I removed them too soon.
“Raines,” he sneered. “I don’t see no ring on her finger.”
I pulled the box from my pants pocket and tossed it to Angie, who fumbled to catch it. Shit, she was even uncoordinated. As together as she tried to make herself seem, even that was fake. The box flopped to the floor with a thud, and I raised a brow as she threw me an annoyed look.
Joey glanced between the two of us.
“It was a hasty wedding, and I didn’t have time for my jeweler to design a ring,” I said as Angie bent down to get the box, her tits spilling over her tank top. If they weren’t on her, I would have been all for reaching my hands in and touching them. But they were, and as hot as she was, she wasn’t worth messing with. There was nothing about her that tempted me enough to take on that personality that grated on my nerves like fingers on a chalkboard.
“Not going to put it on my finger, honey?” she said, throwing her blonde hair over her shoulder.
“Yeah, ‘honey’ why don’t you put it on her finger like a real man? And where’s your ring, Raines?” Joey asked. My fists were ready to meet his jaw, but I kept them clenched. “I’m having a hard time believing Angie would lower her standards for you.”
I gritted my teeth, thinking of the scolding Mason would give me if I punched Joey. Shoving him aside, I snatched the box from Angie’s hand. I needed to calm down, or I’d blow this, and Mason was expecting me to follow through with it. This wasn’t about me and my hatred for the bratty bitch in front of me, it was for the family and securing our place in the hierarchy.
Leaning my hand on the wall above Angie, I brushed my mouth over her ear, noticing how her body went rigid. I may have detested her, but she hated me just as much.
“Did you miss me, little viper?” I murmured. “Play the part, Angie.” I said the last words low enough to avoid Joey hearing them.
She relaxed, bringing her hand up my chest, her touch turning my stomach. “More than I realized,” she purred, her fingers moving up to my hair and threading through it before she turned her face so our lips met.
That had been unexpected, and it threw me off guard. The kiss was stiff and uncomfortable, but still she parted her lips. I knew Joey was watching, so with the hand that still held the ring box, I grabbed her waist and pulled her against me. My tongue met hers, strangely intrigued by how inviting she was.
“Damn you, Raines. I can guarantee your whore was locking those lips around another man’s cock when she was clubbing last night, so don’t think she won’t be locking them on mine.”
I released her, quick to stop the awkward kiss and not liking how hard I’d grown from it. Reminding myself that this was Angie and not someone I wanted, I shook the feeling off.
“Hold this,” I said to her, handing her the box before turning to Joey.
