Grave (Dark Kingdom, #3) — Chapter no 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

GRAVE

THE AIRPORT IS to the Mason brothers as Kingdom is to us Kings. They rule their domain. But the Kings run shit through a legit casino whereas the Mason boys run most of theirs illegally.

I pull up into the parking lot that back in the day was filled with rental cars.

The Mason brothers live like the Kings. Nothing is out of reach. They live like the billionaires they are. Running a multi-billion-dollar business has its perks.

Getting out, I walk through the parking lot and up to the double doors in the back like I own the place.

“Grave, didn’t know you were fighting tonight,” a man by the name of Miles says when I walk by.

“I’m not,” I call out, walking over to the elevator. It takes me up to the fifth level, and when I get out, two men meet me with machine guns

pointed right at me.

“Oh,” Harry says. “Sorry, Grave.”

“No worries,” I say as they lower their weapons. The brothers keep this place highly guarded for many reasons. One is that there are always a few million dollars on-site. Cash that they keep in a safe room, but still. Over the years, men have tried to gain access to it. The place was even set on fire once, but not one penny was stolen. All four men were hung the following night.

The Mason brothers used them as an example.

I nod to the two guys and shoulder past them. Coming to the door at the end of the hall, I open it and enter. Four guys sitting at a round table. Trey Mason looks up at me. His dark eyes crinkle around the edges from his wide smile. He wears his shoulder holster with a Desert Eagle in each one.

They look too big for his smaller build. Leaning back in his seat, he takes a drag from his cigarette before blowing it out. “Grave.”

The man who stands at the table to the right, stuffing guns into cases, turns and looks at me. It’s Tanner Mason. He’s the eldest brother, and I thought he was in prison. Without another word, he goes back to packaging the weapons.

Trey stands and walks over to me, pulling me in for a manly handshake/hug. He slaps my back. “What’s been going on?”

“Not much,” I say, looking around the room. “Where’s Turner?” He usually handles these types of situations. He’s the middle brother. Trey, here, is the baby. They don’t let him take care of much when it comes to business. And I really don’t want to have to speak to Tanner. He hates me but has a legitimate reason to.

“He’s loading the truck, preparing for a run to Phoenix tomorrow,” he answers, checking his watch.

I nod. Among other things, the Mason brothers sell weapons and ammo to the Mexican Cartel. They are in as deep as you can get with them.

“Grave?” A guy who sits at the round table stares up at me. I can tell by the look in his eyes that he’s high. Not to mention the lines of coke that sit before him on a small mirror. “I know you.”

“I don’t know you,” I counter.

He smirks. “You won me twenty thousand last weekend.”

Ahh, I see. My fight. “You’re welcome.”

“I told you,” Trey adds. “The guy never loses a fight.”

“Why are you here, Grave?” Tanner acknowledges me. His voice shows his irritation.

I square my shoulders. “May I speak to the two of you?” Might as well include him. If he’s present, he’s the boss. “Privately?”

Tanner’s eyes drop to the duffel bag I’m carrying and nods. “In the office.” He gestures his chin to the door at the back of the room.

Trey and I follow him and enter the room. On the wall behind the desk is a massive picture of a woman framed in black wood. The camera is above, looking down on her. She lies flat on her back in the middle of a king-size bed with her arms and legs spread wide open. Each limb is tied to each wooden corner post with rope. There’s a black blindfold covering her eyes.

Her fake tits stand straight up even though she’s lying flat on her back. Both nipples pierced with spikes. Her mouth is held open with an O-ring open-

mouth gag connected to a leather head harness. On her stomach is written use me in black magic marker.

Rumor is their father gave it to them when they took over his business.

It’s a reminder that men do as they please. They come as they please.

Women are just toys to be used.

“What is it that you want, Grave?” Tanner asks, sitting at the desk, getting my attention. “Need some fire power?”

“Not today.” I toss the bag onto the surface and unzip it. “It’s fifty grand.”

Tanner arches a brow, looking down at it, then back up at me. “If you want someone dead, you’ll have to pay more than that.”

Trey snorts.

I don’t need a hitman. “I can do that on my own.” We never use the Masons for help. My brother actually hates them. Titan has nothing to do with them. I don’t mind them and neither does Cross. I used to spend a lot of time with Trey back in the day until we got fucked up together, and he did a job that led to Tanner going to jail. “This is about April.”

His brows pull together. “Is that supposed to mean something?”

“Roses,” I state.

“Ah, the little flower shop.” He nods. “What about it?”

“Her brother owes you money. And this …” I point at the money. “Is the payment.”

Trey smiles. “So my goonies were able to make him pay up. Was he too

afraid to come pay me himself?”

“No.”

“Then what …?”

“I’m doing this for his sister.” Trey’s brows rise at the declaration.

“When your goonies showed up, she was the only one there.”

He says nothing at that because he already knew. His guys would have reported that back to him. So he is also aware that they put their hands on her.

“So … you’re paying the kid’s debt.” Tanner speaks. “How generous of you.”

My teeth grind. Showing concern for a woman shows weakness. And I’ve been fucking his little sister for years with no care in the world. “I told him he will be paying me back.”

“I’m listening.” Tanner leans forward at the desk.

“His ass will be in your ring. Fighting. Until I’m paid in full with

interest.”

He nods. “I’ll put him on the roster.”

Knew he wouldn’t mind. “One more thing.”

“What is it?” He sighs, looking at his watch as though I’m keeping him from something important.

“Promise me that you won’t return to Roses.”

“Grave …”

I wasn’t done. “And you won’t touch April.”

He stands, his shoulders squaring. The Mason brothers don’t like being told what to do. The Kings don’t necessarily work with them. We each stay in our own corners, per se. But I need his word because I’ll hold him to it.

He begins to walk around the desk, leaning up against it, and places his hands in the front pockets of his black jeans. “And you?”

“What about me?” I ask, already knowing exactly where this is headed. I expected it.

“I want you on that roster. You fight. Here.”

I haven’t fought here in years. Growing up, this is where I came. Back then, you were limited on where you could beat the shit out of someone.

Now that I own Kingdom, I can walk into that ring whenever the fuck I want. I’m not an MMA fighter or a boxer. I don’t do it for the money. I do it because I literally want to beat the shit out of someone. But I knew coming in that the money wasn’t going to be enough. Not when they’re presented with an opportunity to make more. I’d do the same thing. “I’ll fight.”

Finally, he nods. “Then you have my word. We won’t touch Roses or April. But I can’t make any promises on the kid. He’s here a lot. This isn’t the first time he’s owed us money.”

“I’ll handle him,” I state. I’ll wrap a fucking shock collar around his neck, if need be.

“Then it’s settled.” He picks up the bag and walks out. Probably to go put it in the safe room.

Trey comes over to me and slaps me on the shoulder. “Let’s have some fun.”

I want to say no, but instead, I find him leading me out of the office and back to the table that sits in the center of the room. I plop down in a seat just as the door opens. In walks Lucy and I inwardly sigh. I’ve been ignoring her

She wears a black leather miniskirt with heels that lace up her calves and a white see-through shirt with a black bra. Her bleach blond hair up in a high ponytail and looks like her leftover makeup is still on from yesterday.

“Hey, babe.” She walks over to me. “I didn’t know you were going to be here.” She pushes my chair back and straddles my legs before I have a chance to avoid the situation. Her skirt riding up in the process.

My eyes drop to her black lace covered pussy and then back up to hers. I instantly think of April, and my lips on hers in her room an hour ago. She wanted me. I wanted her. Fuck, how I wanted her. But she was drunk and had been attacked. She needed to rest and heal. I needed to get the fuck out of there and take care of business before the Masons sent their bitches back to do more damage. I’m just thankful that Jasmine had called her. Ethan wasn’t at the house, so there’s no telling where that punk ass kid is. I needed someone there watching her. For her safety and my sanity.

“Hey.” Lucy gets my attention, wrapping her arms around my neck and whispering in my ear. “I’ve missed you.” She starts rubbing her hips into mine.

I see Trey watching me out of the corner of my eye. He’s taking it in.

Seeing how I react to her. I just paid fifty grand and made them swear not to touch April. They know there’s something going on there. I need to play up my role with Lucy for now. Since she is the one half naked on my lap and I’ve never turned her down before.

My hands grip her thighs and I lick my lips. “I tried calling you earlier.”

Lie. “It went straight to voicemail.”

The door opens and Tanner re-enters, followed by Turner. “Jesus Christ, Lucy. Have some fucking respect for yourself!” he hisses.

Turner Mason is the middle child. He does runs for the Cartel and takes out their competition. He’s their own personal hitman. He and Tanner are all business, but Tanner doesn’t mind getting his dick wet, no matter the situation. Turner’s dick is a little more complicated than that. He used to be obsessed with a girl. I don’t know the whole situation, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he kidnapped her and has her tied to a bed, mimicking the girl in the picture that hangs in their office.

Her head snaps over to glare up at him. “Fuck you, Turner!”

Tanner tosses my now empty duffel bag by my chair. Turner just shakes his head in disappointment at his sister.

Lucy grew up without a mother. She had her brothers and a dad, so all she knows is men. I’m not saying it’s an excuse. I’m just saying that I understand where she thinks she has to be half naked and high for attention.

Her father raised her to be like the woman in the picture hanging on the office wall. And if I told her I wanted to do the same thing to her right now on this table while everyone watched, she would say yes in a heartbeat.

I’m not into that—bondage, BDSM—crawl to me on all fours and lick my shoes while you call me daddy type of shit. Bones is, though. Bones has to be in control in every aspect of his life. That’s why he stays sober, and I’m always high. I like the out-of-control experience.

Can I be aggressive in bed? Absolutely. But I’m not into degrading women.

“He’s such an ass,” she growls, watching Turner over my shoulder while she still straddles my hips.

“When did Tanner get out?” I whisper in her ear so no one can hear us.

“Last week. Wish he’d go back.”

My brows arch. They used to be close since he was the one who ended up raising her. Their dad passed when she was thirteen, and Tanner took over the father role, but it was too late. She had already been groomed to be a whore and needed acceptance from any man she could get her hands on.

But I don’t think any less of her. I’ve never been one to judge someone, and I’m not going to start now.

“Let’s go back to my place,” she offers, kissing my neck.

Fuck! I’m not sleeping with her now. Not after I slept with April. That’s who I want. That’s why I’ve been avoiding Lucy.

“No, he’s here to hang out with us.” Trey saves me. “So get off his cock and go do some work.” He slides the mirror covered in cocaine, razor blade

and hundred-dollar bill over to me.

“Trey …” She starts to whine.

“You heard him,” Tanner barks at her. “Go get to work, Lucy.”

She glares at him over my shoulder, and that right there is why she wants him to go back to prison—he’s making her work. Probably serving drinks or taking bets down in the pit for the fights.

“Fucking bastard,” she hisses, getting off my lap and shoving her skirt down her thighs. Trey laughs at her as she storms out.

APRIL

I WAKE UP with a pounding headache. Rolling over onto my side, I bury my

face into my pillow and groan.

“That rough, huh?”

I sit up with a scream at the sound of another’s voice.

“Whoa.” Jasmine holds up her hands with her back resting against my headboard.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, placing my hand to my pounding chest.

She tilts her head to the side and frowns. “Damn. You were really drunk

last night.”

I fall back onto the bed.

“I called you, and Grave answered, asking me to come stay with you.

Something about you were drunk. He had something to go do, and he didn’t want to leave you alone.”

“Grave asked you to come over?” I look up at her.

She nods, shoving a flaming hot Cheeto in her mouth. “He waited for me to get here before he left.”

I smile and pull the covers up to my neck before I roll over onto my side

to face her.

“Oh God.” She laughs.

“What?” I ask.

“I know that look. You like him,” she states matter-of-factly.

“I …”

“Like really, really like him.” She wiggles her dark brows.

I pull the covers over my head so she can’t see my cheeks turn the color of her Cheetos.

She rips them off and smiles down at me. “He needs someone like you.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, sitting up and pulling the covers with me.

I dig my hand into her bag and take a chip.

“Grave can be a good guy. He just needs someone who is willing to straighten him out.”

That didn’t help me understand one bit. “Either I’m still asleep or I’m too drunk to make sense of your words.”

She sighs. “Grave isn’t one of those guys who hides his feelings. He feels more than anyone I know, and when I got here last night, I could tell he cares about you.”

My heart starts to race at her words. “Why? What did he do?”

“The fact that he didn’t leave until I arrived tells me all I need to know.”

“How well do you know him?” I don’t get to spend time alone with Jasmine, but I remember Grave talking about knowing her really well.

“I’ve known him all my life.” She eats another Cheeto. “After his mom passed, he …”

“Wait.” I place my hand up. “His mom died? When?” That was how I met him. He ordered flowers for his mother’s birthday.

“Uh, let me think.” She holds up her right hand. “I think he was eighteen when she died. May have been seventeen. We were in high school.”

I tune her out as I look at my wall, trying to figure out why he ordered her flowers if she’s dead. I mean, I know that people place flowers on graves of loved ones they’ve lost, but he never once mentioned that. He made it sound like she was alive. He even told me she loved them. Why would he …?

I close my eyes. I had written on the card. He left it blank, and I thought it had been a mistake. I was wrong. Shit! “Fuck!” I growl.

“What?” she asks.

I open my eyes and scrunch up my face. “I think I did something bad.”

“Oh.” Her green eyes get big with excitement. “Tell me. Tell me. I’m awesome at keeping secrets.”