Her Crimson Reign Read online

  I pulled up security on my phone when we first arrived to see if the man I am supposed to meet is already here. He can count himself lucky for being on time. I notice him sitting in a booth next to the bar watching one of my girls perform.

  “Hey, Six. Didn’t see you come in.” My head of security, Damon, makes his way over to me and kisses both cheeks.

  “Good to know I can still be a sneaky bitch.” I laugh and continue. “You see that guy in the booth over there? How long has he been here and does he seem off at all to you?”

  Damon glances off towards the man, then back to me. “He seems a little nervous by the looks of it. Not sure why though.”

  “Okay. Thanks D.” I head to the bar and grab a Long Island Iced Tea. Or as I like to call it, an L.I.T., then stroll towards the table and slide in across from the man. He’s an attractive man with fairly decent looks, but my gut is telling me to be careful with this one.

  He glances at me and rolls his eyes as if I’m being dismissed, then does a double take, clearly noticing my black crown. I give a small smirk, waiting to see how he’s going to react to me so I can feel him out. He sits there. Just fucking sits there and stares at me.

  “Dude. What the fuck is your problem? You wanted to meet here so get to it.”

  His eyes go wide and he takes a deep breath. “My name is Devin. Devin Moretti.” I blink without letting a flicker of emotion cross my face as I recognize the name. It’s possible he’s related to the Moretti crime family. If he is who I think he is, I’ve done business for his father in the past and Piero, who I often call Pops, is a close friend to my father and myself. I’m wondering if whatever he’s about to ask me is sanctioned by Piero or not. But I won’t let him know that just yet. Time to play it up a bit.

  “Well then, right this way, Mr. Moretti. Let’s take you to the V.I.P. area then.” A slow, cocky grin breaks across his face. He seems to think I’m impressed and sorely underestimates my acting skills.

  Taking him by the hand, I lead him up the stairs to my room. Poor guy does not understand what he’s getting himself into.

  I set him up in what I call my throne room. He thinks this is the VIP room. Everything is white, aside from a black and silver throne that sits against the back wall of the room in the middle on an elevated platform.

  It overlooks the whole club right above the primary stage. It also has one-way bullet proof glass. I call Damon up and have him monitor Devin while I go to the restroom.

  Once I return, I have a seat next to Devin at the table closest to the glass overlooking center stage.

  As the music changes, I see Kat take the stage. Great. Now I definitely know I'm going to be pissed tonight. I can already sense his eagerness not only for me but for my friend as he leans forward staring at her body intensely.

  I have nothing against people appreciating my dancers' beauty. But Devin isn't a regular patron. He's someone who set this meeting with me, likely to kill someone for him.

  If my suspicions are correct, it's a target I don’t plan to pull the trigger on.

  "So tell me, Devin, what did you call this meeting for exactly?"

  He turns his gaze to me, sweat beading on his forehead, and replies. "I'm hiring you to take out my father."

  I take him in from head to toe, then roll my eyes. Within seconds I've reached up my dress, taking out my Karambit knives from the holster wrapped around my leg, and have one pressed against his throat with the other pressed against his dick.

  Karambits are shaped like a tiger’s claw and are just as effective, if not more, when you know how to use them correctly.

  Standing behind him, I whisper against his ear, "I'm sure that hell just froze over if you think you can tell me anything. Do you think you can dictate that I’m working for you without even asking?" I feel him swallow as his Adam's Apple bobs against the blade of my knife. "You forget your manners, Devin. Remember who you're speaking to. They don't call me the Crimson Queen for taking orders. I earned that title for a reason. I would hate to have to make you learn the hard way. On second thought, I would love to show you. Watch yourself, Moretti."

  Stumbling over his words, he replies, "I apologize! Request. I meant it as a request!" I pause for a moment then remove the blades, twirling them around with my fingers through the thumb holes on the handles.

  "Well, why didn't you say so?" I plaster on the biggest smile I can fake as he breathes a sigh of relief and drops his guard.

  I've dealt with his kind before. Snakes. I wonder if his father knows that he has a snake in his garden. Loyalty. Where the fuck is that? I can't make him be loyal. But I can introduce him to karma, and she's a five feet one inch, white-haired, gray-eyed bitch.

  I put away my Karambit knives and with one swift movement, I exchange them for a different knife and stab him in his upper thigh, digging the blade in and applying pressure.

  Savoring his delicious screams as if it's music to my ears, I suggest that he answer my questions.

  "Why are you taking a hit out on your father? What did daddy do to make his own son turn on him?" No answer. Nothing. He's crying like the little bitch he is. I twist the knife harder. "I would answer my questions or I'll start with those beady little eyes of yours."

  Damon walks in and leans down to relay a message so that only I can hear it. I nod my head in reply. With a genuine smile on my face, I bend down so that Devin can see my expression. "Oh, sweetie. This was just a little show for my own amusement. The main event is about to start and I have a little surprise for you. Are you ready for it?"

  His face pales as he catches something out of the corner of his eye. No. Not something. Someone.

  He looks up at the older man with salt and pepper colored hair and finally musters up the courage to speak.

  "Father?"

  Chapter 4

  Six

  I sit on my throne laughing as his father, Mr. Piero Moretti, shakes his head in disbelief that his own son would take a hit out on him.

  Disappointment floods his eyes, but only for a split second before he masks his genuine feelings behind his cold eyes and a blank expression across his face. Piero questions Devin, asking why he would turn on the family, but he remains silent. I can see the mask slipping as Mr. Moretti grows frustrated with his son's lack of compliance.

  I signal for Piero to step away, silently asking for his permission, so I can get what he wants from his son and he nods his head in agreement, giving me his blessing to play my games.

  I walk towards Devin. Earlier, I bound his arms and feet to the chair. His forearms lay along each arm of the chair with his palms facing down, resting flat against the surface.

  Straddling his lap with an enormous smile on my face, I lean forward as if I'm about to kiss him. He would only be so lucky. But right before his lips find mine, I take both Karambit knives from my legs and stab them through each of his hands simultaneously.

  Holding onto the knives, I slowly twist them in the back of his hands. "Now Dev, I believe your daddy asked you a question. Are you going to answer him or do I get to earn my title again today?"

  Devin cries out then narrows his eyes, staring at me. "Father, I don't know what she's talking about! I didn't take a hit out on anyone!" Leaning back and inspecting him, I now know that if he wasn’t already fucked from what he tried to pull on his father, he is now completely and utterly fucked by what he just tried to insinuate about me—that I am a liar. Like I said, snakes.

  With a glance towards Mr. Moretti, I see that he knows this is not true and is now giving me free rein over the situation. Everyone clears the room, leaving me with the traitorous bastard. I spent almost two hours inflicting pain on him from head to toe. Puddles of blood pool at our feet and he’s missing a few fingers and toes, but we finally have an answer.

  Calling Mr. Moretti back, I let him decide his son's fate. “Devin has decided to speak after all.” I stand back while he steps towards the chair, speaking to him. “Do tell me, Devin. What made you turn against your o
wn blood?” He’s barely conscious because of the blood loss, but he replies quietly. “I heard you. Talk... talking to G. You never…. never planned to hand the business over to... to me. It was going to be him all along.”

  Mr. Moretti shakes his head in disbelief. “Spoiled. Spoiled and ungrateful. You think I should hand you everything? Your brother has worked his ass off day in and day out for years to earn what I’ll give him. Do you think someone handed me anything? No! But you! You think I should give you everything without so much as lifting a finger!”

  I step out of the room and Kat approaches. “Girl! You need a shower before you go walking around the club looking like that.” I look down at my hands and smile. She squints her eyes, inspecting me, and murmurs. “Oh, I know that look.” I smirk at her before telling her what was going on and then send her away so she doesn’t get involved in the mess this kid has made.

  Piero comes out shaking his head. I can tell he’s not only disappointed, but what happens next will break his heart. It’s written all over his face.

  As much as I love shedding blood, I almost feel bad about taking this life. Few people know this, but Piero Moretti helped me when I was younger. I had enough money to live on from the trust my father had set up. But Piero was a friend of my father’s, so when he heard I left my family behind, he sought me out, and taught me a few things that came in handy. Not the least of which was how to get paid to be a killer instead of doing it for sport like I had been.

  Through all the times I met with Piero though, I had met no one else in his family aside from him. Probably best when dealing with a kid who has as much blood lust as his strongest of men, if not more.

  I walk back into the room and do what I do best.

  I didn’t kill him right away, but I made it quick. Not as much fun, but unlike him, I know something about loyalty. And Piero has earned not only my loyalty, but my respect. Although, he says he can’t stand the name I gave him, I think he secretly likes it.

  After cleaning up in the back, I say my goodbyes to Pops and go to the dressing room to see Kat and the other girls. After such an eventful night, I let them talk me into doing the one thing I've never done here at the club. Dance.

  Chapter 5

  Giovanni

  The room is pitch black and has the smell of cheap cologne and the powerful stench of stale cigar smoke.

  I’m waiting for him in his home office.

  Sitting in the man’s chair, I spin around and around impatiently behind a large oak desk in the dark. I don’t mind the darkness. In the shadows is where I work best.

  I remember spinning in my father’s office chair when I was a child. The memory is oddly comforting. But that was a different time. A time when I thought demons were only in fictional stories you heard as a child.

  I really wish this bastard would get his ass home so we can get this over with. I usually enjoy this kind of night, lurking like the predator I am, but I have somewhere to be tonight.

  I hear a vehicle pull into the driveway and a door opening from the garage to the house, the faint sound of footsteps padding through the house. I can see a flicker of light shining down the hall, letting me know they're getting closer.

  I pull out my customized brass knuckles and slide them on. They can do a good amount of damage on their own, with sharp points coming out of each knuckle and curved blades at both ends.

  The footsteps grow louder and I quietly walk around the desk and step behind the door, out of his line of sight.

  I feel the calm wash over me as it quiets the storm I constantly feel. These are the moments I live for. I work best in the shadows where my demons are free to come out and play.

  He steps inside the room and I quietly come out from behind the door, wrapping my arms around him while pressing the blade from my knuckles against his throat.

  I can feel him relax in my arms. He knows he's done for. "Why did you betray your family, Tony? You know what happens to traitors." Tony takes a deep breath and replies. "He threatened my family G. I just couldn't risk it. Please? Just give me the chance to make it up to him. I'll do anything!" I shake my head in disgust. "You should have come to us from the beginning. But you use our contacts, our allies, to take down the head of our family, your own family."

  Turning him around, I push him down on both knees so I can look into the traitor’s eyes when he leaves this world. So he can look into the eyes of his nephew, his own blood that he betrayed, as I end his existence.

  Grabbing his hair with one hand, I pull his head back to force his gaze up to mine. I used the other hand to drag the spiked brass knuckles across his face, ripping part of his flesh from his face to hear him scream. And scream he does.

  Not having time to enjoy my kill tonight, I slash the blade hard and fast across his throat as blood sprays across the room and watch him bleed out. I then raise the sleeve on his shirt and filet the skin on his arm, removing the tattoo that symbolizes la familia and his omuerta tattoo. A code of silence. I drench my hand in his warm blood and smear it across his face, painting it red.

  Not having time for much else, I drive back home to wash up and deliver the pieces of my uncle to my father. After a quick shower, I change into a white tee and jeans, then make my way to the other traitor, my very own brother.

  As I enter the club, I take in my surroundings. It’s obvious this is a more upscale club and not a cheap establishment, with black marble floors, black leather booths with white accents, and several black chandeliers throughout the room.

  I walk to the bar while sweeping my eyes across the room looking for my father, but he’s nowhere to be found. I continue to order my drink then notice a man that appears to be security. “I’m Giovanni Moretti. I’m looking for my father, Piero Moretti. I assume he's here?”

  The man shakes my hand and introduces himself. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Moretti. My name’s Damon. I’m head of security. Your father and brother are upstairs with Six, handling some business. I’ll let him know you’re here.” I nod my head and thank him, then make my way to a booth.

  I slide into the booth and sip on my whiskey while observing everyone in the room. It’s a habit in my line of work. We never know what threats we may face. I see my father approaching and stand to greet him. “Dad. I have resolved the matter on my end.” My father pats me on the back, then squeezes my shoulder. I recognize the sadness in his eyes. It’s the same look he had when someone murdered my mother. “She’s taking care of it.” I look at him with questioning eyes. “Six is taking care of Devin.”

  I’ve heard of the Crimson Queen throughout the years, and I admire her work. She’s made quite the name for herself in our world. But I’ve yet to meet her. My father sits down across from me and I flag down the waitress to bring another round of drinks. One for each of us. It feels like shit to lose my brother, but my father has lost his son because of Devin’s own greedy impulses. He knew the rules of our world. He knew what loyalty was and what it meant if he broke it. So, I can’t understand why he would do what he did.

  As we drink our whiskey in silence, taking a moment for my brother, I see the stage is now empty, and the music is fading out. I guess they’re changing dancers. A girl with red hair takes the stage with the microphone and everyone goes silent. “We have a special performance for you all tonight! Believe it or not, she’s never danced on stage, but that changes tonight! Please welcome to the stage for a special performance, our very own Queen of Reign!”

  The audience looks around in disbelief, some in excitement. There're whispers, cheering, whistles. Who the hell is this Queen of Reign? I look to my dad with one eyebrow raised in a questioning gaze and he smirks at me and shakes his head as he laughs. What the hell is his problem? He swallows the rest of his drink and stands.

  “Where the hell are you going?” He looks at me with his brows raised as if I’m a dumbass. I’m thinking I very well might be. It seems I’m the only one not aware of what’s going on.

  “I’ll see you tomo
rrow, son. I can’t watch this. But you should.” He laughs and shakes his head as he walks out the door.

  I turn back around and face the stage as the sexiest woman I have ever seen, and I mean ever, walks onto the stage. I mumble under my breath. “Fuck. Me.”

  Chapter 6

  Six

  Standing offstage, I’m watching Kat announce my debut performance and I can’t help noticing Piero is sitting in a booth talking with someone. Jesus fucking Christ! You have got to be kidding me.

  I am about to show my ass in front of my mentor, who is like a second father to me. I fear little, if anything, but this has to be right up there with embarrassment maybe? I don’t think that’s an emotion I have ever felt before. How embarrassing would it be to do this in front of him?

  As Kat walks towards me, I notice that Piero is standing up and laughing and makes his way towards the exit doors. Oh thank fuck, I think to myself. He knows it’s me, and he wants to see me dance practically naked about as much as I want him to.

  I’m wearing a black costume, much like a one-piece bathing suit with spaghetti straps. It has black leather with metal rings that cross around the neckline and run down under the suit between my breasts. There are hooks in the hip area of the costume with a black leather piece that runs down to my black stockings above my knee and two other leather straps that circle around the upper part of my thigh and again at the lower part, above the knee, giving off a BDSM vibe.

  The lights go out as a signal for me, and I walk on stage and take my position, facing away from the crowd with my back against the pole.

  As the bass thumps through the club, “Six Inch” by Beyonce (featuring The Weekend) plays.

  I slowly lower myself down the pole with my knees together. The platform turns and I’m now facing the front toward the audience, still with my knees pressed in a squatting position and head looking down. On beat, as the words start, I snap my head up and use my hands to pop my legs open wide.