Page 2 of His Dark Desire

It takes us almost an hour to get there, but when we arrive, I see Lucas waiting, a big grin on his face. He's earned a bonus for the work he's put in to find Wells. He had him found within a week, it's taken another one to ensure that we have his location secure. Now, we can finally let loose and give Wells exactly what he deserves.

"He has no idea he's been watched, Boss," Lucas says with a chuckle. "Fucking ass thinks he's made a clean break. Stupid fucker."

"Let's get this shit done," I say and follow Lucas up the stairs to the apartment building where Wells is holed up. It's not as flashy as I had expected. Wells has always been one to show off his wealth. Fancy cars, tailored suits, and the newest shit that he could buy. So, to find him holed up in this shitty worn-down apartment complex lets me know that he's not doing as well as he'd have liked.

I chuckle when Lucas gets into the apartment without breaking down the door, he's great at picking locks. For a man that's on the run, Wells really should have invested in better security.

Wells is in the kitchen eating food when we arrive. His eyes widen as he takes the three of us in. "How did you find me?" he asks, resignation clear in his voice.

"It wasn't hard. You did a piss poor job of hiding your tracks. You think working for The Henderson Mob was going to give you anonymity?"

He runs a hand through his hair, it's longer than the last time I saw him, it’s also a hell of a lot grayer. The man has gotten old in the past two weeks. "So, you know everything?"

"Pretty much," I tell him as I take a seat opposite him. "What I haven't figured out is why you betrayed me. Why did you betray the men?"

"I'm dead no matter what I say," he grunts. "Why would I give you that satisfaction?"

"If you want your daughter to live, Wells, then you'd better fucking tell me," I grunt. His wife is beside herself, unable to believe how foolish and selfish he's been, he upped and left while she's seven months pregnant. From what Laura's said, he's not called her once, she has no idea where he's gone. One moment he was home, the next he was packing a bag and she's not heard from him since.

His eyes narrow and he sits up taller. "This," he hisses. "This bullshit is why. You're the big mighty mafia boss, Joe. You've got everything you could have wanted, it's not enough. You think you're indestructible. Well, it was time to knock you down a peg or two. You're so fucking ruthless, not once did you think about the men that have got you to the top."

"That's where you're wrong," I growl. "I've always, always praised my men. I've always made sure that you are always rewarded accordingly. I have acknowledged the hard work and the time that my men have put in to help me become the man I am today. But don't get it twisted, Wells, I have done despicable things to ensure I rose to the top. You put my men at risk with your stupid reckless behavior. You threw your toys out of the stroller, for what reason?"

"Because you passed me over, time and time again for a promotion. I'm always going to be a grunt, doing the shit work that those that are beneath me do."

I stare at him in disgust. "Beneath you?" I growl. "You are not worth shining their boots. You did not deserve a promotion. Other men proved themselves, were able to show true leadership. Your words have shown me just how right I was. You are not a member of the Denver Mafia, Wells, you lost that privilege a fucking long time ago. You allowed your brothers, my men, to be killed and injured just because you wanted something that didn't belong to you. For that, you're going to pay the price."

His face pales. "Joe?—"

"You're now stealing women and trafficking them," I say with unbridled anger. "You aren't a man, Wells, not anymore. You're nothing but a fucking sick individual. Your wife and kid will move on, and they'll be happy not to have you taint their lives." I reach into my holster and pull out my gun. I've thought about killing him in many different ways, but he doesn't deserve the right to be tortured, to be killed in any special way. No, he'll die as a nobody. Shot in the head just like a peasant would be. His words showed me that he lacked respect for my men, for those that have laid their lives on the line to have his back. He doesn't get to have a death that I put any effort into. No fucking way. He'll have the disrespect he showed my men.

I raise my gun and focus it on his head, pulling the trigger is easy, my aim true as my bullet sinks into his head, right between his eyes. He died the moment the bullet entered his brain.

I turn to Lucas. "Make it so that we were never here," I instruct him.

"Yes boss," he says with a grin. "It'll be done."

It's time to get the fuck out of here. I've done what I came here to do. I have another three days here in Manchester. It's time to let loose and have fun.

I press a kiss to Carmella’s lips. Christ, I actually really like her. That’s something that hasn’t happened before. The past three days, the gorgeous brunette has kept me company. I’m an asshole, I know that. I’ve never claimed otherwise. Marrying Christina was a business deal, if she weren’t such a bitch, I’d have probably grown to care for her. As it stands, she’s my wife in name only, and even that is too fucking much. Carmella isn’t the first woman that I’ve cheated on Christina with, hell, I doubt she’ll be the last. I’ve learned a long time ago to keep business and pleasure separate and I don’t fuck around where I live. It’s that simple. The rules are easy to follow and I’m always careful. I couldn’t give a fuck if Christina found out. I’m pretty sure that she knows about my extra-marital dalliances, but she’ll never say anything. She hates me just as much as I hate her.

“It was a great weekend, Joe,” Carmella says, her words heavily accented with a Spanish lilt. “Have a safe flight home,” she tells me with a grin.

This is what I enjoy, women who know the score. It’s less messy when they want the exact same thing as you do. “It was a great weekend,” I agree, knowing that this will probably be the last time that I see her. It has been a fucking fantastic trip, regardless of why the fuck my ass was brought here, I found a woman to spend the weekend with—someone who is sweet as fuck, a far cry from how Christina is.

I watch her leave; she glances back at me and smiles brightly.

Donavan enters the room once she leaves. "The plane is fueled and ready, boss, we good to go?'

I nod. "Yep, it's time to go home." The mere thought of being anywhere near my wife makes my blood go cold. I wish there was a way of ending the marriage but that's not possible, not right now. I'm new in this world, I've been growing this business for the past five years, I'm at the top in Denver but there's a fucking lot more to do, in order for that to happen, I've made the deal with the devil and there's no going back. Not anymore. I signed my fate a long fucking time ago.

Stepping onto the plane at Manchester airport, I feel relieved, Wells is gone and I had a fantastic weekend. Now it's back to reality.

Fourteen Weeks Later

"Boss," Donavan says, his voice hesitant as he enters my office. "We've got a problem."

"What's wrong?" I ask, wondering why he looks so worried.

---