Vicious dynasty reign an.., p.23
Vicious Dynasty (Reign & Ruin Book 3),
p.23
I went upstairs to my old bedroom, pushing the door open without knocking, making sure I was quiet. Audrey looked up as I entered along with my dogs someone had made into reindeer.
Only a bedside lamp was on, creating a soft glow in the otherwise dark room.
“He just woke up,” she told me softly, rising from the bed. She was going to pop at any fucking second. Her round stomach seemed too big for her small frame.
I had grown a special tolerance for her.
Although, to be frank, it’s not like I had much of a choice.
Rhiannon and Gavin had turned into some duo whose sole mission was to be a pain in my ass. I nodded my thanks as she walked by, taking Romeo and Juliet with her. The door clicked shut a second later, signaling they were all gone.
I looked at my stunning wife and had to take a second to thank whatever fucking powers may be that she was mine. This woman was made for me. She was the joy I could hold in my hands when this life became too chaotic.
Her and the beautiful boy beside her.
I circled around the bed and saw he was wide awake. His eyes were fixated on the bay window, watching the snow fall in wonderment.
“Polpetto.” I scooped him up and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Eyes, one like mine and the other his mother’s stared at me full of happiness I never wanted to take away from him. He gave me a mostly toothless grin that brought his deep dimples and babbled bullshit no one could ever understand aside from maybe Romeo.
His hefty body wriggled as he went for my snowman tie. I guess his bowtie wasn’t good enough to chew and fucking slobber on.
I looked down at Rhiannon the second I heard her soft sigh. Her long, silky hair was down, nearly reaching her peach-shaped ass. What being pregnant had done to her body, even thinking about it had me ready to fuck her like some savage beast.
She rested her head on her arm and smiled at me. “Hi.”
“Feel better?”
“I think we both needed that nap. Your child is you, Judas. In Boss Baby form.”
I grinned and kissed the top of Jeremiah’s dark head of hair.
He could be an ornery little asshole, something he undoubtedly got from his mother, but we fucking loved this kid.
Rhiannon swore I had switched her birth control pills on our honeymoon. I’d done so long before then, but fortunately, JB was created while I was fucking her in Venice. I was able to create a narrative around that.
Birth control isn’t always one hundred percent effective. She might have missed a day, which she did.
When she demanded I prove I hadn’t swapped the pills, the real ones had already been put back in their place. It was amazing what you could do when you had doctors on your payroll.
She’d said it herself in the end after trying to curse me out of the hospital room.
He was her favorite surprise.
She was mine.
I reached out and ran my hand through her long hair. “Are you happy, principessa?”
She sat up and adjusted her sexy red dress, coming closer to rest her head on my shoulder. “I’m very happy.”
I held her with one arm and our son with my other, feeling exactly the same. Sooner or later, I’d have to tell her the truth about her mother. That wasn’t going to be today.
Today we would enjoy our son’s first holiday with our famiglia and then we’d spend the night wrapped up in each other. We had plenty of time for all the bullshit life would undeniably toss at us.
Our story had only just begun.
THE END
Want more Judas?
Perilous Legends will be a standalone of all three RR books from Judas’ POV containing new content plus a brand-new story that takes place after Vicious Dynasty with a dual POV.
Want to go back to the beginning? Read Zacharias and Gemma’s story in Paint It Black.
Jeremiah Barron-TBA
More New Adult?
Start the A Game of Villains series
(beware this series goes much darker than RR)
Devil’s Playground
(contains gore/scenes of horror)
More crime families
Old Money Trilogy
Maelstrom-coming soon
Pretty Lies, Ugly Truths
Dark and WTF
The Badlands
Dahlia Saga
Devil’s With Halos
Broken Crowns-PNR
Bride of Demonio-PNR/RH
Stygian Isle
Deviant Games Duet
Coveting Delirium Duet
PLAYLIST
(Spotify)
J Cole-Middle Child
Jesse Reyez-Do You Love Her
Sam Smith-Forgive Myself
Jesse Reyez-I Do
Jesse Reyez- Same Side
Saint JHN-Trophies
Kehlani-Toxic
Joyner Lucas-Your Heart
Saint JHN-High School Reunion
6lack-PRBLMS
Joyner Lucas-Fall Slowly
TheWeeknd—Your Eyes
Jessie Murph-I Would’ve
Tee Grizzley-Afterlife
Kendrick Lamar-Die Hard
BLEU-yes, save yourself
Doja Cat-Alone
Jorja Smith-Addicted
Wale-On Chill
Sofia Karlberg-Crazy In Love
Mothica-Buzzkill
Banks-Deadend
Jesse Reyez-Coffin
Camila Cabello-Hasta Los Dientes
Lana Del Rey-Watercolor Eyes
Doja Cat-Streets
Miguel-All I Want Is You
Queen-Trail and Error
Queen-Hate Our Love
J Cole-Power Trip
Dermot Kennedy-Power Over Me
CONTENT WARNING
Some scenes of violence
OTT male MC
Dubious consent
Forced pregnancy
Vulgarity
CARMINE EXCERPT
Carmine is a standalone in my new A Game of Villains series. This story is mfm and pseudo. Each book is loosely based on a different fairytale.
A CW can be found on my website.
It didn’t look like they planned on leaving anytime soon. They ain’t have shit better to do than hang out in a parking lot on a Friday night? I eyed the distance between me and the diner’s entrance. There was no way around it. Short of turning invisible, I would have to cut right across their line of sight.
See, this was the bullshit that kept me from being social. If I didn’t miss my girls so much I would have happily stayed tucked away at the cabin. Tinamatua wasn’t having that, though. According to her, I was too young to stay cooped up inside all day.
I kept silent on the matter.
She knew the real reason I wasn’t eager to come into town, but she meant well.
A video call notification had me reaching for my phone’s wristlet. Watching the group from the corner of my eye, I accepted the call. Right away, a portion of Tiana’s smooth melanin skin filled the screen before she turned her head and looked at me. “Why aren’t you coming in?”
I couldn’t see the brown of her eyes because she was wearing sunglasses. She’d been rocking them indoors since high school. If anyone else did this, I would say they looked a hot mess. Tiana was beautiful enough to make it a vibe.
“You know why,” I replied.
Kansas whispered something in the background before snatching the phone from Tiana’s hand. “Do I need to come and get you?”
That was exactly the last thing I wanted.
I could be inconspicuous and pretend not to have that noticed Snow Hollow’s richest heirs were only a few cars down.
Kansas was all of five feet tall with a twelve-foot Italian attitude. With her vulgar mouth that had no filter—and I mean no filter—on top of the mermaid blue hair, every single one of them was bound to set their sights on us. It would be hard to pretend I didn’t notice them then.
I sucked my teeth and pulled my keys from the ignition. “I don’t need a chaperone, just stay on the phone with me until I get inside.”
Tiana’s long dark hair popped on the screen as she wedged herself beside Kansas. “I know that’s not the sound of Carmine Redwood avoiding something.”
“So, you’re just going to say my whole name out loud?” I popped my door open and slid out of the truck, using the manual lock button versus the fob.
With a cursory glance to see if I’d been spotted, thankfully I hadn’t, I strode across the parking lot as if I didn’t want to run instead of walk.
There was no pause or switch-up in the flow of conversation coming from that direction and nobody called out to me. I’d been stressing over nothing. I ended the video call and walked into the diner.
A faint smile teased my lips as I took in the familiar establishment. The black tiled countertop with the checkered front and turquoise bar stools were lined with bottles of mustard and ketchup. A neon fountain sign hung on the back wall above the malt and cola machines.
I started to take notice of the friendly looks a few patrons were aiming my way. I’d been so focused on passing by the group outside I almost forgot who was inside.
People.
I returned one or two smiles out of politeness and walked down the center of the diner to where the girls were sitting. Alice was facing my direction and spotted me first. Her pretty face lit with a wide grin as I got closer.
“Sit here.” She patted the cushion of the booth and scooched over to make room for me beside her. I slid onto the bench and gave her a quick one-armed hug.
“Look, you made it in one piece,” Kansas teased.
“My stealth skills are so smooth they didn’t even notice me after my partners in crime damn near shouted my name.”
“Oh, they noticed,” Tiana chimed in, sliding one of the menus across the tabletop towards me.
“Yeah, they did,” Kansas agreed with a laugh. “Who wouldn’t notice you? You’re gorgeous.”
I flashed her a genial smile. “Did you guys order yet?”
“No, we were waiting on you. I’ll put it in at the counter when you’re ready,” Alice replied.
I leaned forward and studied the menu more out of habit than a necessity since I already knew what I wanted.
“They sure are fine,” Tiana looked out the window and mused.
“Uh-huh.” I didn’t even bother to glance up already knowing who she was referring to. I sure as hell wasn’t going to disagree.
“Titi, you’ve said that at least three times since we’ve gotten here. I’m starting to feel concerned. Have you finally succumbed to the lure of the Fables?” Kansas questioned jokingly.
I laughed when it registered what she was talking about. “Don’t tell me that’s still a thing.”
“Still? It never went away. It’s worse now than ever before.”
Alice brushed some of her long brown hair over her shoulder and slightly angled her curvy body towards me.
“A lot of people have gotten weird about it being brought up lately.”
“Really?”
“Yup. That’s why we shouldn’t be talking about it here,” Tiana stressed, aiming a shaded stare at Kansas.
She scoffed and pointed at her with an all-white fanciful acrylic. “You’re the one who brought them up. Carmine doesn’t want to hear about how fine those assholes are.”
Now how did I get in it?
Their conversation, as petty and innocent as it may be, was already starting to attract too much attention. The old man sitting two booths over was straining so hard he was liable to bust a vessel.
“What do y’all want? I’ll go order.”
The mention of food was enough to temporarily shut them down. As soon as I slid from the booth they started right back up again. Alice followed me to help carry the drinks.
I didn’t recognize the employees working so they must’ve been new or seasonal.
Most places around S-H kept the same crews on until they left for college or retired. The cost of living wasn’t too bad out here unless you were aiming to live on the opposite side of the pier. Then you needed bands and impeccable credit unless you knew someone who knew someone.
“How is it being back?” Alice asked quietly after we placed our order.
“It’s a little weird, but this has always been home. I’ll adjust. And I get to see my besties whenever I want now so, aye.” I grinned and did a small shoulder shake.
“That’s the best part, for sure,” she enthusiastically agreed, adding more seriously, “We’re always here for you, Minnie.”
I appreciated that she had waited to bring this up until we were away from the table and prying ears She’d done it in a vague fashion, but I understood her underlying meaning.
The only person seated at the countertop bar was a man I’d never seen before in my life. I was aware half the town had heard about the tragedy that brought me back, but there were still those that remained clueless. I preferred to keep it this way for as long as possible.
The girls knew too, better than anyone along with nearly all of my sordid secrets. The same could be said for me when it came to them. There were things the four of us had agreed best remained hidden.
I think that’s why we stayed so close over the years. Lots of people had friends throughout middle and high school, but the majority didn’t remain like day ones.
We’d been thick as thieves ever since we played a game of hopscotch way back in kindergarten. Over the years as life happened and we discovered more of who we were, it brought us closer.
We’d taken our toxicity, traumas, and therapeutic mischiefs and formed an all-girls club of the finest caliber. Even with me moving away we never fell out of contact for longer than a day aside from when I took a short, unintentional vacation.
They’d come to see me after that though and I saw them anytime I visited my Tinamatua. We even took a girl’s trip in between then. On all my visits including the last time I was here a few months ago, I had managed to avoid the situation in the parking lot.
That wasn’t going to be possible anymore. I turned my head and looked out the window to the source of what had been plaguing my thoughts off and on since I got back.
I was happy to see they were starting to disperse. I wouldn’t have to scurry back through the parking lot like a rat that had been caught raiding the kitchen.
One of the twins opened the door of a supped-up Challenger and then paused. Slowly, as if sensing my stare his head swiveled in my direction. I didn’t think he could see me because of the distance between us, but maybe I was wrong. It sure as hell felt like he was staring back at me.
Tiana had never been more right. These guys were a different kind of fine. Even the chicks grouped up with them looked good. I would feel some type of way if we weren’t so top tier ourselves.
Alice grabbed two of the root-beer floats that had just been placed down and followed my line of sight. “You don’t have to deal with them alone, okay?”
“Yeah, I know.”
I turned towards the counter as our malts were served up by an unfamiliar girl with a head full of red curls tucked beneath a hairnet.
“Here ya go, and here’s your order number for the table.”
“Thanks,” I replied with a forced smile.
As we made our way back to our booth, I thought about what Alice just said. It was a waste of breath to tell her I didn’t want them involved in what was sure to be some drama.
Kansas would cuss me out, Tiana would lecture me, and Alice would say in the kindest way possible that she didn’t give a shit if I wanted her support or not.
I couldn’t even be mad about it.
These girls were family to me in their own right and if tables were turned, I’d be all up in the mix going to bat for them. This wasn’t something that would eventually go away, though. It was now a part of my life I had been trying to pretend didn’t exist.
Call it kickass female intuition or elevated foresight, but something told me this would be different than anything we’d dealt with before. The unknown grated on me more than anything. I loved a good mystery when it pertained to something I was interested in solving.
This was not that.
Not yet anyway.
I’d have to take the first step in assessing the situation before I could make a sound verdict. Really, it shouldn’t be as big a deal as it had begun to feel.
I’d be meeting two boys who were nothing more than strangers with familiar faces. That was it.
They had a long way to go before I could entertain the idea of accepting them as my brother
Natalie Bennett, Vicious Dynasty (Reign & Ruin Book 3)
