Page 1 of Misconduct & Manipulation

Prologue

JOHNNY BLACK

It was always my father’s dream for me to follow in his footsteps and carry on the Blackthorne legacy at Stonewall University. A dream I was all too happy to bring to fruition because it meant I no longer had to be fight for his attention or beg for his affection. I thought if I just did what he wanted, then maybe he’d acknowledge me.

Perhaps even love me.

But I, like so many others, was just an unsuspecting fool.

A privileged little asshole too blinded by his desire to obtain his daddy’s approval, that he didn’t see what was right in front of his fucking face.

My father was not a man a boy should strive to be.

He was an evil monster who preyed on innocent students and Stonewall University was his lair.

He wrote the code on misconduct and manipulation.

That’s why I shot him.

But instead of taking a life, I saved one that day and now I must pay the price.

Chapter1

JOHNNY BLACK

Swaying on my feet, I lift my bloody hand and reach for the glass door. Flinching slightly, I pull it open and drag my sorry ass into the lobby, finding the wall of mailboxes to my right. Accompanying each mailbox is a doorbell. My eyes struggle to focus as I scan the names, partly from the swelling but mostly from the excessive amount of alcohol flowing through my veins

A smarter guy would’ve run.

He would’ve taken the beaten those motherfuckers gave him and fled Stonewall, setting fire to his dreams. Afterall, there was nothing idle about the threats that were delivered to me. Anyone with a working pair of eyes could see that the Scorpio Society had a new a target and it was me.

Finding the correct bell, I press my thumb against it. Pain shoots across my abdomen and a stream of curses slip past my lips. Training for the MLB camp starts tomorrow and though I won’t know my fate with the league until I actually attend the camp in June, I can’t show up for my training session looking like I went ten rounds with Mike Tyson.

I wonder if the Scorpio Society took that into consideration when they decided to beat the fuck out of me.

Probably not.

I lift my hand to take another stab at the bell when the door behind me swings open. Closing my eyes, I lower my head and silently curse myself. I should never have come here. It was too risky…too fucking dangerous.

I push off from the wall of mailboxes and open my eyes, drawing in a ragged breath as I brace myself for another brutal punishment. Maybe if I’m lucky, they’ll fucking kill me this time. It’s not likely, though. They want me alive. They want me under their thumb, indebted to them.

Thanks dad.

Most parents die and leave their children their homes, their savings—all their heirlooms and all their assets. My father died and left me his seat at the Scorpio Society’s table, an inheritance I would rather die myself than ever accept.

But it’s not that easy to say no.

All these years I’ve been thinking my career with the Stonewall Sinners has been a result of hard work and determination when in all reality, my father paved the way for every success. It’s not talent that’s gotten me this far, it’s my father’s sins.

Now they want me to follow in his footsteps.

If I don’t, I lose everything.

Grasping for any ounce in fight left in me, I turn to face the enemy, but instead of finding a heard of men dressed all in black wearing ski masks to shield their faces like I expect, a petite brunette with eyes the color of whiskey stares back at me.

I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding as she sizes me up, taking in my disheveled appearance. Anger surges through my veins and I ball my fists, flinching as the raw skin stretches over my knuckles.

“You again,” I sneer. Her eyes lift and lock with mine and an exasperate sigh that sounds more like a growl escapes my lips. “Thought I told you to fuck off.”

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