Page 95 of Empire of Carnage
Luciano and Dominico stayed by my side, reminding me of every single photo of my papá that existed documented in history. His men were always at his side too, ready to take a bullet for him.
And it wasn’t just the two of them, they all believed in what I stood for, in doing things differently. In ruling with respect.
I’d long burned the ledger as a show of good faith, erasing every trace of blackmail and debt each name had acquired and given them the option to stay rich and by my side or go retire with my blessing.
I didn’t lose a single soldier that day.
But I had one left to let go of.
Santos was tired of war, tired of gang life, tired of violence. Which was good, because he couldn’t afford another scar on his body anyway. We’d moved out to a secluded place so that he could spend his days relaxing in the sun like the goddamn perfect househusband he’d become. I knew he was done with all the death the minute his knife sliced through Guillermo’s throat.
So I promised myself I’d never let him take another life in my name again.
I had to let go of all my chefs because he’d decided cooking was solely his responsibility. He settled into a life of comfort easily and nothing made me happier than to see it. He deserved this freedom.
Ronan was the head of my security team now, because god forbid he let my safety be under someone else’s control. I preferred it that way, it kept him close to me in my everyday life and I was glad to always have him within range.
Mateo easily fit into the dungeons, preferring to keep a place in my cártel and getting his hands dirty where it counted. He was a fast learner, and Dominico was teaching him everything he’d need to learn so that the old man could retire rich and in peace.
I pulled my phone out to check on Ignacio through the surveillance feed, wondering if the day would ever come where he’d give up and die so that I could stop dragging this on. In some ways I kept him alive for me, to punish him anytime grief took over me for the things that I was forced to do because of the path he put me on. Some days I kept him alive because I was a monster who enjoyed hurting him.
Some days I kept him alive because I was tired of killing my own blood.
“Are you ever gonna put that poor old man out of his misery, flower?” he asked, not hiding the amusement from his face as I pocketed my cell phone once again.
“Kill him? He’s family Ronan.” I laughed, walking past him.
“Your idea of family has a really wide range, sunshine,” Mateo added. “Exhibit A, the fucking bird.”
“Don’t bring Pluto into this.” I shook my head, waiting for him to open the door to the Escalade for me. “He’s my goodest boy,” I chirped.
“You know, it wouldn’t hurt to talk me up half as much as you do that parrot,” Mateo complained, getting into the car behind me and shutting the door.
Ronan chuckled from the front, Santos was already waiting for us all in the passenger seat. I straddled Mateo and ran my hands through his hair.
“Mi vida, I didn’t know you wanted to be my goodest boy.” I smiled, pressing my lips gently to his as Ronan pulled away.
“Sunshine, I want to be your everything, whatever you’ll let me be I’ll be it for you. Quiero ser tu todo.” He blinked slowly with a smile forming over his face.
“Now, now, you know what I said about using Spanish against me,” I whispered into his ears as his fingers traveled up my side.
“How can I resist when I know how wet it gets you?” He peeled my suit jacket off, sliding his hands underneath the thin satin material of my tank top, his touch just light enough to send a chill up my spine.
“Mmm,” Escaped my throat.
“No fucking way, you start that shit now, while I’m driving, and Iwillpull over,” Ronan said from the driver's seat.
“Then you’re going to have to pull over because I’m not stopping,” Mateo taunted from beneath me, his hand cupping my breast and his tongue raking against my neck.
I gasped as he lifted my top up and placed his mouth over my nipple, his tongue swirling wildly across the hardened bead.
I cried out, my sounds forcing a growl from Ronan’s throat from his frustration.
He veered off the road going into the desert.
“What are you doing?” I shouted.
“Taking a shortcut,” Ronan gritted out like he was angry we were starting without him.
