Page 15 of Winds of War

Cian nodded, then, almost without realizing, brushed his lips against the guard's jaw. With infinite tenderness, Soames responded by touching the blond's petal-like lips with his own. When Cian granted access into his mouth, the guard explored it for a few seconds, tasting its sweet nectar, then gently tugged at the blond's lower lip, sucking it.

Our first kiss, Soames thought, lightheaded as he brushed his lips over the corner of Cian's mouth. The seal of our pact to love each other forever.

CHAPTER 12

“What the hell is wrong with you, woman? How many times did I tell you to not disturb me when I'm having a good time? You're lucky I already finished here, because if not...” Montemayor left the bed, casting a poisonous glare in the direction of Lauren Briggs, his secret advisor.

“You really have no limits.” The woman rolled her eyes. “The idea of kidnapping the teenage boys related one way or another to prominent gangsters and mafiosi was meant to help you keep the bastards in line and sell the kids to the highest bidders, not...”

“Well, you're right. I can't get enough of these little, tight asses, and your idea offered me a new source of fresh meat.” The Mexican gangster looked at the pale, naked boy splayed on the bed, staring absently at the ceiling. “This one was an epic fuck, so tight, obedient, and quiet. I'll get a nice buck on him at the auction next month.”

“I don't think so,” Lauren shook her head, casting a disapproving look in Montemayor's direction. “Not after ravaging him like you did. No one would spend money on spoiled merchandise. I've told you a thousand times, but you still don't get it.”

“And I’ve lost count of how many times I've told you that I'm the boss, so I do whatever I want, whenever, and to whoever floats my boat at the moment.” Anger seeped into Montemayor's voice as he stepped into the bathroom. “I'll take a bath with the beauty, so if you want to tell me something, you better come here. I have orders for you, so you'll have to come, anyway.”

The contempt in the Mexican gang leader's voice and the commanding tone he used made Lauren Briggs see red, but she knew better than to act defiantly. It wasn't the right time or place for that. “Very well, boss. What are your orders?”

”That's more like it.” Montemayor gave the woman an evil, satisfied smile, stepping back into the bedroom, taking the boy on the bed, and going back into the bathroom. “You'll tell Doc Benson to come and stitch the little one, make him like new, then put him in isolation until the auction. I want him trained in the art of sucking cock, but whoever does it must be gentle with him. I want my little gem to love having his pretty face fucked by huge cocks.”

“Everything will be done according to your orders.” Lauren dipped her head, speaking in a calm voice. “Now, may I have your attention, please? There are certain matters that require your attention.”

“Shoot. Let's see what’s so important that it made you barge into my room while I was having fun with this pretty boy,” Montemayor growled, impaling the teen on his rock-hard cock.

“You'll have some visitors later in the afternoon. Important people,” Lauren answered cautiously. “the kind you shouldn't keep waiting. Seamus MacAtee and Cahal Sinaris, Nigel Warthon's bastard son.”

Montemayor's eyes went wide with surprise. “Is MacAtee already out of jail? I thought that bastard Saint-Clair put him there for the next thousand years. Well, it seems that the man has more friends in high places than I thought, which makes him a useful connection,” the Mexican gangster continued between pants. “As for Warthon's bastard, fuck him. His old man's history.”

“With all due respect, boss, allow me to disagree with you,” Lauren replied as politely as she could. “Nigel Warthon accumulated an enormous amount of wealth, and his bastard son may be the only one who has access to it. Or he comes to you asking for assistance to get to his daddy dearest’s fortune. Anyway, I think you should listen to him.”

“Are you suggesting I should help the kid to get to his old man's assets, then get rid of him and keep everything for myself?” Montemayor's eyes were shining with interest. “That's a hell of a good plan, especially since I've heard the little bastard has an exceptionally beautiful best friend who happens to be exactly my type. By the way”—the Mexican gangster gestured with his head to the boy sagged against his chest—“I'm keeping this one for myself.”

“Very well, sir. I'll make the arrangements,” Lauren said in the same flat, almost robotic voice. “Now, if you'll excuse me...”

Montemayor waved his hand in a dismissive gesture, and the woman left the bathroom and stepped out of the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Lecherous bastard, she thought, shaking with anger, another good hundred thousand bucks lost because you don't listen. I have to stop him somehow; otherwise, we won't have any virgin boys to sell, and everybody knows they are the most valuable merchandise.

Lauren hurried to leave the imposing villa, where the members of the staff loyal only to Montemayor spied her every move and climbed into her car. Locking the door, she let out a long cry of anger and frustration, cursing the Mexican drug cartel leader and calling him every name under the sun.

Four years earlier, when she’d given her son Lucas to Montemayor, Lauren expected to become the drug lord's equal partner in return, especially since the extraordinarily beautiful boy became the Mexican's obsession for almost two years. For a while, their collaboration went smooth, then the bastard changed his mind, drastically cutting into Lauren's share of the profit. Montemayor also became very arrogant, treating her like dirt and taking credit for all the ideas she put into his head.

I have to do something and stop the bastard before everything goes down the drain, the woman thought, hitting the steering wheel in frustration. She cursed the Fates or whoever was responsible for making her a woman in a world where women, no matter how resourceful and intelligent, didn't belong unless they were backed up by a man.

One strong, loyal guy who would be capable of killing or dying for me, that’s what I need, Lauren said to herself, finally taking off. Someone like Van, the woman continued her trail of thoughts, the name of her former lover effortlessly coming into her mind. For the first time in years, Lauren asked herself what became of the man who fathered that boy she hated so much that she gave him to Montemayor, fully aware of his fate.

Had she known back then how ungrateful the bastard would become, she would have searched for her former lover and convinced him to help her build their own crime empire. Van wasn't like the other men Lauren knew. he would have let her run the organization, watching over her from the shadows. What's done is done, the woman sighed heavily, there's no point crying over spilled milk.

*************

“Yes, mama, I'll tell him. Tell Papa and Costa not to worry; we’re safe. I have to go now. Talk to you later,” Spyros said in Greek, then ended the call. “I can't believe these people.” He shook his head, a shadow of a smile ghosting on his lips.

“Your folks?” Van gestured to the phone on the bed. Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I walked into the room a couple of minutes ago, heard you talking in a foreign language, and... I apologize for overstepping the line. I shouldn't have asked you.” The man plopped down on the bed, then lay down, hands folded under his head.

“No, it's all right.” Spyros gave his temporary roommate a sincere smile, then imitated him, putting as much distance as possible between the two of them. “I was talking to my mother. She knows about this...mission. All three of them know. She asked me to tell Seamus she carries him in her thoughts and prayers.”

“Your mother is worrying for your friend but not for you? How come?” Van gave the other man a sympathetic look.

“Because she knows that as long as Seamus is alive, he'll do his damnedest to get me home in one piece, even if he gets killed in the process. He already saved me more than once, and he saved our whole family from disintegration.” Spyros's eyes had an expression Van had never seen before, a mix of affection and admiration. “For my parents, Seamus is like a son, and my younger brother Costas worships the ground he walks on,” he continued in a voice thick with emotion.

“I didn't spend a lot of time in your friend's company, but what you just said helps me to know him better. When did the two of you meet and how did you get so close? If you want to tell me, that is...” Van's attitude was cautious, the sudden change in the other man's behavior confusing him a little.

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