Roses & Thorns: Conquer Read online

  “Has anyone’s dick been inside you since you last fucked me? How’s that?”

  Her eyes narrow. “Classy, Sven. No. Are you happy? I’m sure your ego is just,” she throws her hands up, “through the fucking roof now.”

  She huffs and turns away from me. She’s embarrassed.

  “I love it,” I whisper, rubbing my cock along her slick opening. She gasps and fists the sheets, still avoiding me.

  “Look at me, Rose.”

  “No.”

  I chuckle. Seems things haven’t changed. They probably never will, and well, I’ll thank whoever’s up there for that.

  “Is it nice, feeling like yourself again?”

  That gets her attention. She whirls around, moaning at the friction it causes between our two bodies.

  “What do you mean?”

  “The sweaters, the dumb waitress job, the bumfuck nowhere Iowa city, the insecurities… Is it nice to be who you are, instead of trying to be everything you’re not?”

  Her mouth opens and closes. Finally, she gets herself together. Her clear blue eyes look into me, and this time, they’re soft.

  “It’s really nice, Sven.”

  “You willing to break your little sex vacation?”

  She snorts. “You know I was holding off for you.”

  I grin. I did know that.

  “Who could blame you?”

  With those words, I thrust inside of her. Claim her.

  Mine.

  Boss

  One Month Later

  “Explain,” I order sternly, staring down at Lacey’s small, but focused form hovering over the computer, all while bouncing little Rose on her lap. Rose keeps calling for Daddy, but I can’t. Not right now. Not with what Lacey is telling me. I don’t know how the hell she does this. She’s been playing with Rose for the past three hours while hacking secret undercover files and trying to deal emotionally with what’s on them. Since our talk in the cells, she’s increased her therapy sessions. Enzio and her have become very close friends. I’m hesitant. My instinct is a big hell no, but he makes her laugh. She needs to laugh right now. So I allow it… with watchful eyes. She can’t afford to be hurt right now.

  “He’s been recruiting since the day his father was murdered.”

  I murdered… She doesn’t say that, though.

  “All over, Adam. As Sven’s contact said, Rose and her father are involved with him. Rose needs to be informed. I’m not sure they even know she’s alive, but I wouldn’t put it past Miguel to figure it out. It’s a blessing in disguise that she came here. She would have been unprotected in Iowa and he still would have found her. Maria’s probably in danger too, now that she’s associated herself with Rose so strongly.”

  “Alright.”

  “Lacey, the other thing you mentioned. I’ll need you to clarify on that, too.”

  I try to use a more neutral voice, but I’m pissed and it’s clear. Lacey clears her voice, hits a few keys, and starts to bounce Rose a little too aggressively to counteract her nerves.

  “He has files on Jamie. He had files on my parents too, but they were deleted with a red stamp that said ‘disregard.’”

  She’s disconnecting. For her. For Rose. The second we’re alone, she’s gonna flip that Jamie is in danger, but she’s a mom right now. She’s working. And she’s strong.

  “They won’t lay a hand on Jamie.”

  A slight squeak escapes her lips, but that’s only indication that she’s really struggling with this newfound information.

  “Lace, everything you told me about today... You’re sure of it?”

  “I don’t have one ounce of doubt,” she whispers.

  Rose starts to cry, so Lacey pulls her in tighter.

  “Hey, angel, what’s wrong? I got you. I got you.”

  She looks up at me. We better have her. Protect HER.

  “Wadar…” She sobs against Lacey’s chest.

  Radar. Her best friend at not even a year old.

  “Wanna see Radar angel? Let’s go call his mommy and daddy and see if he’s up for some play time. How’s that?”

  Lacey pokes her nose. Even though Lacey is in an indescribable amount of pain and bone-deep fear, Rose will never see any of that. She’s the best mother.

  “Weally?” Really?

  “Yep. Come on.” Lacey wraps her hand around our angel, and then turns to me. “Go talk to Rose and Maria about their safety. Discuss this information about Jamie with Sven. Find out what we’re doing about that,” she says with a firm voice and hard glare, “I’m gonna box. We’ll meet up after.”

  Not leaving any room for discussion, she walks out, hand in hand with our daughter. I guess I’m gonna go do exactly what she says. Sven’s out doing some hard bargaining with his contact. Trying to use him to recruit more people to work undercover for us. Enzio is Lacey and Rose’s bodyguard. They just don’t know it. He’s subtle. I have him rotate between the two of them depending on which one is at a bigger risk. Usually, it’s Lacey. She’s smart and can fight, but I’m terrified that they are going to manipulate her the same way they did to Rose. With Jamie in the picture, this is becoming even more of a real possibility. That said, I will not be interrupting Enzio. He’s doing the most important job here, and is not to be distracted.

  Except, obviously, by Lacey.

  I’m not looking forward to talking to Rose or her friend. Both of them drive me fucking insane, but I’ll do it. As much as I hate Lacey working on this, it’s been thirty days since Miguel has had the nerve to show up at my front door, and I haven’t been able to do shit. I don’t act irrationally; it just gets people killed. Although I’m quick to off disloyal men, I protect the people who work tirelessly for me. They all know I’d never send them off half-cocked into the line of fire. It’s one of the ways I encourage and breed loyalty amongst my men. Back to the topic at hand. In those thirty days since he showed up here, I haven’t gotten one bit of useful information, except that Rose’s father is somehow connected with Miguel. I found this out a day ago, and already have plans to meet with her father later this afternoon. With Sven, of course. Sven promised he could control himself, and he deserves to say his piece.

  Geez, fucking hell does he. I’d kill him if he pulled the shit he did with Rose on Lacey. But Sven can’t. I threatened Rose if he did. It’d ruin everything. It’d draw too much attention to us from the feds. I can’t afford that right now. I keep threatening Rose, but honestly, I don’t think I could hurt her if it came down to it. Not after Lacey.

  But that’s later. Despite my ego, the information Lacey got us is the first real breakthrough we’ve had since Sven got a guy undercover in his organization. This is big, because it’s been thirty days since Miguel’s last move and one is coming. Soon.

  I get to Rose and Maria’s door. I already know they are in there because Rose is laughing. Enough said.

  KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

  I pound on their door.

  “You know who it is,” I state bluntly through the door. “Let me in.”

  I hear shuffling, then it’s Maria who throws the door open, hip cocked to the side. I don’t know what the hell this girl is wearing. Some one piece jumper that leaves little to be imagined in the back.

  I prefer Lacey’s sweatshirts.

  I shove past her and enter the room. I look to Rose. Her eyes are filled with apologies for Maria’s behavior. Her cowardice just bugs me more.

  “We all have to talk.”

  “Wow, I’m included in on this one.”

  “Shut up, Maria!” Rose hisses.

  “Don’t you have a job?” I say to Maria, rolling my eyes.

  “None ya. Why were you just banging our door down?”

  I’m gonna kill her.

  “This is serious.”

  I glare at the two of them, but keep my focus on Rose. This will be hard for her. Luckily, Sven’s got her. I sent a text to him, letting him know we need to talk when he gets back and Rose will need him. Knowing this, I ope
n my mouth.

  “You both were here for Thanksgiving. The man who caused trouble that day has been an issue for a while. Rose, I just got word that he has an alliance with your father. So for your—”

  “What?” Maria shrieks. “Fuck no. How do we fix this?”

  “We?” I cock an eyebrow.

  “If you think I’m gonna let my friend get sucked into this black hole again, you are sorely mistaken. So yes, we.”

  “Alright, I’ll bite.” I stand straighter. “You two are going to remain vigilant. You are going to stay here until this shit gets cleared up. I am going to figure this shit out.”

  I glance at Rose. She looks pale, but there’s more there. There’s anger and hurt as well. Good.

  “Where’s Lacey?”

  I turn to Maria, planting a smug expression on my face. “What, you adopting her now, too?”

  “I doubt that would upset you,” she fires back.

  “Geez, Maria,” Rose grumbles in a hazy voice. “Where’s Sven?”

  “Out.”

  Rose rolls her eyes. “I gathered that. He’s not... I mean… he’s…”

  “No, he’s not with your father.”

  “When are you meeting with him?”

  I hesitate. “Today.”

  “I want to come.”

  “Absolutely not.”

  Maria and I say it at the same time.

  “I understand your hesitation, but there’s something I have to tell him.”

  There’s a determination, a strength, in her eyes that I’ve never seen before. It intrigues me.

  “You realize you will be put in direct danger? I’m not sure if Miguel knows about you yet. I’m being cautious. You go there, that shit will for sure get back to Miguel.”

  “The precautions are there whether he knows or not.”

  She’s got a point there. “The risk will be greater.”

  “I’m prepared for that.”

  “Did you ask your friend? Apparently you two have been a duo.” I’m sure Lacey’s felt replaced. “He digs into you... he finds her.”

  I point with my thumb to the fuming Latin woman next to me.

  “She knows I have her back, whatever she decides.”

  I admit I’m surprised by this. She seems like a slutty party girl, not the loyal best friend type.

  “Don’t you have a life?”

  “I asked you where Lacey was.”

  It’s not missed by Rose nor I how quickly she deflected that particular question.

  “You’re a tech, aren’t you, Maria? What’s it called when someone avoids questions about themselves?” I pause, tapping my finger on my chin. “Avoidance, right?”

  If looks could kill, I’d be in a pile of my own blood right now.

  “Lacey,” she says, still sounding calm.

  “She’s boxing.”

  Just like that, Maria goes blank. Nothing. All her fire fizzles out. Both Rose and I blink several times, trying to take it in.

  “Oh,” she says quietly, turning away.

  Just oh. I smirk. The irony of this! I actually laugh out loud.

  “Wait. You’re not afraid of me, a man who has an army at his command. A man known for his ruthless nature. But you’re scared of Cut? He may look scarier than me, but I assure you, he’s not a threat to you.”

  It takes everything in me not to bust out laughing. At this point, I was beginning to wonder if anything scared her, but Cut does. I mean he’s no teddy bear, but of everyone in this house, his violence is the most controlled.

  I glance at Rose, who is looking at her friend like she just grew a tail. I realize then that there is something more going on here that I don’t want to get involved in.

  “You want to come, Rose? Fine with me. But you have to get Sven to agree. I’m not getting in the middle of that. Bottom line of this whole conversation: don’t make the same mistake twice.”

  I slam the door before either of them can yell at me.

  Now, Jamie. Fuck. Lacey is the weak point of this whole family, and Miguel has found Lacey’s weak point.

  Jamie.

  I don’t know what I’m going to do about that. Pull him away from his home? Take him here? Lacey won’t like that. Have a man watch their house? Fuck. They can’t get their hands on Jamie. It will quite literally be the end of Lacey. Not only does she treasure him, but everything she went through was for him. If he dies, all she sacrificed will be for nothing. She’ll have suffered needlessly. I can’t let that happen, which means I’m going to have to make some decisions she isn’t going to like, but I do best at my job when I seperate my role as Boss from my duty as a husband and a father.

  I don’t need to have an open discussion about this with my men, like Lacey seems to think I’m going to do. Frances and a small group of my men will be assigned to watch Jamie. Subtly! That’s that. I will also be calling Lacey’s father. I won’t tell him much. Just enough to keep them on guard. He’s the one who got them into this whole mess anyway. Though if I know Lacey, and I do, she’s blaming herself. She somehow has convinced herself that it’s her fault Jamie is danger. I have to put that aside for now.

  The next few hours I spend with Frances, informing him of his new duties and the course of action he will take, and the importance of this job, and the consequences if he fails. He isn’t thrilled. That much is obvious, but again, which one of us would be thrilled to be watching an eight year old boy? None of us. I suspect his reasoning has more to do with a certain Latin woman staying here than having to follow the kid. Doesn’t matter, though. He has a job, and he’ll do it. I sent a small team of mine down to watch Jamie today, and I’ll let Frances go tomorrow. He has time to get his shit in order.

  Or get laid. Whatever. Who am I to judge that shit? I doubt Maria would be opposed.

  I’ll call Lacey’s father, then go see her. She’s long overdue for a day in which I take care of her.

  I hate calling this asshole. It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to go over and end that coward, but I can’t. Lacey’s come to terms with them the best way she knows how, and it gives her some kind of peace. I won’t ruin that for her.

  Twenty minutes later, that shitty part of my day is over. The man was undoubtedly flustered, but I promised him security and all the money he needed to keep them safe. Not that he needs any. He got paid by the Castellos for Lacey, and he got the guilt money I sent after I sent Lacey away. But I offered. Because with stupid, naive, self-centered people like the Lessers, money plus a security detail equals guaranteed safety. Truth is, there is no guaranteed safety in this life. That’s something I learned at a young age.

  You can never rely on somebody else for your safety, trained or otherwise. And you especially can’t rely on money and financial wealth to keep you protected.

  But I’ll let them be naive. It works in my favor in this instance.

  When I heard the click of the phone indicating the call had officially ended, I’d slammed it down on the receiver and rolled my neck, hearing the creaks as it spun to the left and then to the right. I hate this… I hate this… I fucking hate this.

  After receiving updates from a few of my men, including Sven, I leave my office. I need time with Lacey to talk, but most importantly, to be gentle with her. To make her feel loved, and to force her to relax. Those moments between us are some of my favorites. Since Rose is with Radar, I want to treasure the time we have together before I have to go meet with Rose’s father and demand answers.

  For everything.

  It’s way past time.

  Rose

  “Have you lost your fucking mind? No way. No. No. No. You’re right. This place makes you crazy. You are not going to meet with your father, you nut.”

  “Maria, I have to do this.”

  Hearing my father is affiliated with enemies of the Mafia, and Lacey’s husband, didn’t send me in a spiral like I thought it would. It actually calmed me. Maybe it’s a “calm before the storm” type of thing, but I’ve been running for
so long that the idea of getting answers is like a breath of fresh air.

  Why?

  Why did he do it?

  I’m done letting him ruin me. I thought my heart shattered the night I was shot. It probably did, but I’m not sure that’s actually a bad thing. Being here, after running for so long, is making me wonder if all he did was shatter the false loyalty I felt toward him. I don’t owe him anything, and I want him to know that. I want him to hear from my red lips that any promise I ever made was void the day he tried to put a bullet in my heart.

  I’m done running.

  A hand suddenly snatches my wrist. I’d know those nails anywhere.

  “Maria, what are you doing?”

  “We are getting Lacey,” she declares as she starts dragging me out the door. “She seems like someone who could talk some sense into you. She’s a badass.”

  “Maria,” I laugh. “Lacey of all people would understand why I need to do this. Besides, she’s boxing.”

  “So?”

  Maria is so not well-versed on the ins and outs of this house, and even if she were, she never follows rules. I groan.

  “Maria, I’m serious.” I don’t know how much to tell her. “Lacey likes to box in private.”

  “I’m just stopping in. I’d wait, but this is time sensitive.”

  The closer she gets, dragging me along, the more I start to panic.

  “Maria, Lacey doesn’t like to be seen without a jacket!” I blurt out.

  Maria freezes and drops my hand.

  “Oh.” Compassion washes over her face. For the big front she likes to put up, Maria is a kind soul. “Um, we can knock. You can’t see your father, Rose.”

  “You don’t get it, Maria.”

  “No, I don’t.”

  Her hand snatches my mine again. I try to pull away, but I can’t. I feel her nails digging into my skin as I twist around, but her grip doesn’t budge. She’s so freaking strong.

  “Seriously, Maria!” I start to freak out. “We can’t. I’m not kidding here.”

  “I need help. I’m running out of time.”

  Maria looks so furiously determined. She doesn’t get it. She’s gonna get me killed. Does she do whatever she wants at all times? Being in a mafia safehouse didn’t slow her roll at all.