AZURA
Cartel?
All traces of sleep vanish as I stare at the man before me. A man who, for a second, I am unable to recognise. How can Leo be part of a cartel, and I had no idea about it?
He is watching me emotionlessly, but I know he is analysing my reaction. How do you react to that? I look away, feeling a sudden pressure in my head. A cartel.
"So… when you say a cartel, do you mean like a secret Mafia boss?" I ask, my voice sounding hoarser than I planned.
"There is a difference between a cartel and a Mafia boss… but yeah, they are similar enough."
"So…" I run my hand through my hair, trying to organise my thoughts. Gangs. Just like him…
"You know Judah had a gang…" I say, feeling my emotions all over the place. Although his was just totally different, and they terrorised people.
"A gang is different from an organisation, but do you remember anything about it, or what they called themselves? Any information could help us," he asks sharply. My eyes flash as I look at him.
"We are discussing you, but no, I don’t. I just know he has a gang of idiots on bikes with him all the time. Let’s not change the topic," I remind him, frowning deeply.
"Alright… what do you want to know?"
Our eyes meet and I feel my heart squeeze. What do I want to know? He isn’t a bad person… he isn’t…
"Azura."
I can’t think properly, running my hand through my hair again as I exhale slowly. The Heimtückische Wölfe… now that he said it, I have heard of it. An organisation that was mentioned on the human news several times. Wait… aren’t they the ones responsible for the explosion of that private jet not long ago? Although there were no arrests made - then there was the fact that they were just unable to link anyone to the Heimtückische Wölfe Cartel. Now it makes sense.
His hand touches my thigh, snapping me from my thoughts. My chest is heaving as I look at him.
"Did you not think this was something I should have known about?" I ask icily. "I told you everything about me."
"I told you everything important. The cartel is just something on the side -"
"On the side? Leo! The entire world knows of it! It’s a growing criminal organisation birthed in the United Kingdom, not even that old, yet it has grown at a terrifying rate! One that is responsible for the largest quantity of drugs being brought into the country, and you just miraculously forgot to tell me?"
"There are far worse crimes than drugs. If it’s not me bringing them in, then someone else would," he replies quietly. I know that, but that doesn’t mean it excused him from telling me. I wish I knew what he is thinking, but he has his walls up. A cartel…
"Fine. Whatever," I say quietly as I turn my back on him and lay down. I am no angel myself… but what hurts the most is that he hadn't told me. That I don’t even know what Leo Rossi, or should I say my cartel boss of a mate is? He is far more of a mystery than I had thought.
"Baby…"
"Don’t call me that, it irritates me!" I snap as I feel his weight shift on the bed, and his arms wrap around me, pulling me back against his chest. The warmth of his body is pleasant. Sparks dance through me, and I bite my lip to not react as the feeling of his firm, sexy body, pressed completely against me, ignites a fire that only he can.
"Fine, I won’t call you that for now. Look, the last few weeks have been fucking crazy, there wasn’t time for us to go over everything…" His voice is calm as his lips meet my neck, that rippling soothing effect working like damn magic. "I know… it’s a crime, but I assure you we have limits. There’s no human or organ trafficking. My men are made to hold the values of the organisation. There are crimes that are forbidden, and anyone breaking the code of conduct by abusing the defenceless and innocent… or killing them, pays the consequences. The only things we work with are drugs and weapons." I frown; he is missing the damn point here, but I want to hear what he has to say anyway.
He sucks on my neck, and I feel him throb against me, making my eyes flutter shut as my breathing becomes heavier.
"Don’t you dare try to use the mate bond to calm me down," I growl.
"I’m not. I just need you to hear me out." Why is his voice so soothing and calm?
"Hurry up," I growl. Another tantalising kiss is placed on my neck before he continues,
"I created the cartel to make sure that we have the money to protect ourselves if the need arises. To make sure that all the orphans and children of our pack have the financial support to continue in life. Slowly, the organisation began growing, and my claim and position soon gave me power over other gangs in the area. It gave me a thrill, a purpose… Dad refused to hand me the title, and so I had to find a way to provide for those who had nothing and my own purpose. I put a stop to crimes that even the police could do nothing about. The law needs proof, and, without it, many who are worse than me would walk free. I don’t want to fucking seem like I'm trying to make it sound like we do good when I know my actions don’t sit right with you."
"Then you don’t even know me," I mutter, sighing heavily. Slowly, I turn in his arms and look up at him. "I'm no angel, Leo… I don’t even have an issue with you being a cartel boss…" It’s kinda sexy; yes, I'm weird, and I love toxic crap. My words take him by surprise. So even the mighty smart Leo Rossi gets shocked at times. "I'm upset that you never mentioned it to me," I say quietly.
"I'm sorry. I have been planning to tell Dad soon… somehow I didn’t even think to let you know." His fingers run through my hair before he grips the back of my neck. The look in those ice-blue eyes tells me he is telling the truth.
"What else do you do that I don’t know of?" I ask sharply.
"I own high-end nightclubs around the country, strip clubs, my own search engine company safe from humans, and a security company which is in the works that will provide high-tech security. I have stakes in many powerful companies worldwide, and I own a string of hotels across Europe… and…" I see the hesitation in his eyes as he licks his lips, exhaling. "I’m the creator of the Alpha X Gen games."
My heart thuds as I stare at him, shock flaring through me at the mention of the illegal underground games, which is becoming a powerful trend worldwide from the shadows… something that Jayce had first brought to my attention. His adamance to take part when he hit eighteen had gotten him in trouble with Liam. People die in those games…
I remember Skyla wanted to attend but had no idea how to get a ticket. No one knows how to access it, or if the rumours are true and the spectators are ‘chosen’. Despite it being known and unknown at the same time, it has gathered a cult following. It is a way to prove you are powerful, even if you aren’t an Alpha. It is a game made for the strongest. The survival of the fittest.
Leo isn’t just an Alpha… The capacity of his mind is incredible, and all this just feels like far too much information to take in right now.
"So… I'm mated to an underground Don and a game master…" I declare, slowly pulling away and getting off the bed, trying to clear my head.
"Depends how important that factor is to you," he says quietly, standing up. With his body full of tattoos, those chiselled muscles, and the way he carries himself, I was a fool not to realise that Leo is far more than just the ruthless, heartless, rogue Alpha. He is far too powerful, and his intellect is incredible.
He comes towards me, and his powerful aura that I have become so used to surrounds me. I back up until I am against the wall, crossing my arms, and he cages me between his arms, his knee forcing me to part my legs as he leans in.
"What’s on your mind, beautiful?" He asks, his voice a husky whisper that makes my pussy clench. "Talk to me."
How do I explain my deepest thoughts? How do I tell him that despite all morality of good and bad, I don’t have a problem with what he does? There are crimes I can’t forgive, and he has made it clear his cartel has a code of conduct. Even taking the law into his own hands, which I am all for. The system is often corrupted or manipulated, and without enough proof, many walk free. I get that… and I know maybe I am trying to justify that I really am okay with all of this. How do I tell him that maybe I am sick in the head? That knowing what he is only makes me find him even hotter? I am weird, I really am…
How do I tell him that he is my perfect dark fantasy without him thinking he is mated to a freak?
My heart is racing as I stare into his eyes, my entire body on edge at his closeness. His body heat envelopes me. Maybe it is the haze or his closeness, but… I’m not bothered.
How do I tell him I am just a crazy little psycho who really has no issue aside from him keeping it from me?
"You don’t need to tell me anything when I’ve already heard it all," he whispers huskily, his lips pressing against mine in a deep, enticing kiss.
You’re not sick or a freak. You’re mine, made for me…
I whimper against his lips, the pleasure dancing through us both. I had my walls down, and he heard all my thoughts…
His hard dick presses against my stomach before he suddenly lifts me up, pressing me against the wall as his tongue slips into my mouth. Oh, fuck…
I’m fucking sorry that I didn’t tell you. I didn’t think.
I know that.
I lock my arms around his neck as I feel him lower his walls, too, letting his emotions and feelings bleed into mine. His thoughts enter my head… his belief that I am made for him, his appreciation of my reaction, his relief that I am fine with it, his fear of me turning away from him, his promise to never do anything that I wouldn’t approve of. His will to do better…
Mine… Yeah, he is mine, as I am his.
We both have darkness in us, and we both are different, yet we truly are made for one another.
I know that many would feel angry that I am okay with him being involved in the cartel, but I'm not perfect either. Maybe someday Leo will step away from that path, and when he does, I’ll be the first to be proud of him and help him, but for now, I will be by his side as his greatest supporter because my mate is my entire world.
His phone beeps, and he pulls away, sighing in frustration at the interruption.
"The meeting?" I whisper, thinking I am down to fuck him all over again, but it is an important meeting. He nods, looking at me.
"Thank you… for being you."
"Hmm. You’re not forgiven for keeping it from me. I will think of a punishment."
He raises his eyebrow, looking so damn sexy that I almost want to drop to my knees and give him one hot blow job, but, no, I'm meant to be angry with him, not worshipping that cock that I love.
"I'm not?" He replies, smirking cockily, and I realise he has heard my thoughts; I quickly slam my walls up, wondering why no one ever talks about how hard this is?
"No, you’re not," I say before becoming serious, tilting my head and looking at him. "And just so we're clear, you are to go to those clubs for a show. If I find out, Leo…"
"I won't. Rest assured, you are the only one who I fucking want to look at."
"Good," I reply, running my fingers through his hair before gazing into his eyes. "You’re far more powerful than you let on…"
He lowers me down, slowly kissing me deeply before releasing me. He picks me up and carries me to the bed, placing me down with one final kiss on the forehead. He walks across to his wardrobe and takes out a smart white shirt and black pants, and gets dressed quickly, looking damn sexy in the process. What exactly is Leo Rossi?
"Let’s just say… I'm the king in the shadows," he replies with a sexy wink, looking at me over his shoulder as he slips his shoes on and heads to the bedroom door. The king in the shadows "I’ll be back soon, beautiful."
Nodding, I stare at his broad back as he looks at me one last time, giving me a tiny smirk before he closes the door after him. A king…
In this world, there are many different types of people… yet Leo, Leo has something that truly is at the level of a true king. I mean, I'm not being biased, but I think Leo could even give Alejandro a run for his money…