Master Of Sin Page 8

I’d touched a nerve. Good. He deserved it after thinking I'd hurt Starlight on purpose. Yes, I'd fuck her, corrupt her, and make her mine for as long as she wanted, but I'd never intentionally hurt her.

  "Ahh, there's my boy," Draco Jackson said in an accent that was more Japanese than American.

  Draco rarely, if ever, was seen in public. He was virtually born into the Ninkyō Dantai, or more widely known as the Yakuza, the mafia that ruled the underworld of Japan. His father and most of his family were high-level members of one of the ruling clans in the organization.

  As a boy barely over the age of eighteen, he was sent to California to expand his family's reach. Instead of settling in LA or San Francisco, he chose to move to Nevada and establish himself in Las Vegas.

  He'd changed his name to something "more American" for anonymity and ruled with an iron fist behind the scenes.

  Now over half a century later, he had expanded beyond Vegas to major cities across the US and had a stronghold to rival the organization he'd left in his youth.

  The almost-seventy-five-year-old pulled me into a tight bear hug as he whispered in Japanese, "I hear you have finally captured your Starlight."

  "Captured is not the word I'd use, Oyabun. More like coerced." I responded in fluent Japanese and addressed him with his title as the "boss."

  As part of my training at the beginning of my work, Draco insisted I learn multiple languages. Today, outside of the Greek and English that I learned to speak as a baby, I was versed in Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, and French. All the languages used by major mafia syndicates around the world.

  We took our seats, mine being in between Draco and Zack and with Pierce across from us.

  We remained quiet as Draco was settled with a drink. He would have to be the first to speak as per the decorum he expected. Though Draco had lived in America, he followed very traditional etiquette for business. The fact he showed open affection for me was an anomaly even his family couldn't understand.

  “Before we talk about your Kipos issue, I want to know how the Popov situation went.”

  I held in a groan. The last thing I wanted to discuss was Mike, but I had no choice.

  “It’s handled. Popov won’t bother you again.”

  “Excellent.” Draco nodded, not asking for further clarification, something I was grateful for.

  I’d taken care of Mike, but not in the way Draco expected. At this very moment, Mike Popov was on his way to Russia via a cargo hold and then would be transferred to a work facility run by one of Draco’s associates.

  Mike would spend his life separated from his daughter, but at least he’d be alive and I wouldn’t have more blood on my hands.

  “Now to the reason we are here,” Draco now said in English. “After our conversation the other day, I learned some interesting things. Jacob Kipos was in the process of changing his will when his car wrapped itself around a tree."

  "It is only to be expected, since he was filing for divorce." Zack stirred the olive in his martini.

  "I am positive no one knows the changes went through." Draco smiled. "The will that was never made public states Dara would get a stipend for the rest of her life, but the controlling interest for Kipos would be divided between Adrian and Persephone. The only way Dara profits is if the company is sold. Then she will get a lump-sum payout."

  "So in other words, Dara had the means to manipulate the situation in the aftermath of Jacob's death," Pierce added. "That explains why she was so determined to control Penny."

  "And why Dara is so determined to sell Kipos to the highest bidder before Adrian turns twenty-one," I added.

  Last night when my brothers had decided to visit me, it was to tell me that Kipos International was open to a buyout. The information was presented to select companies, one of them being a company HPZ had acquired a few weeks ago.

  "Yes. Now you're catching on. I found—"

  "What does this have to do with any of the information related to Jacob Kipos’s accident?" Zack asked, cutting off Draco, which resulted in a glare from him.

  When it came to Draco, it was well known that respect was a big deal. No one dared to interrupt him. He tolerated my idiot brother because he was still young. But even that had limits, and the last thing I needed was Zack offending Draco.

  A pissed-off Draco could mean a world of trouble for us.

  "Zacharias, you have the least patience of the three of you. Just like your father. Don't make his mistakes. Money isn't the only power in this world." Draco shook his head at his men who had moved closer to us, seeing his irritation.

  "I apologize, sir."

  Draco inclined his head, accepting Zack's apology. "Now back to what I was relaying. My second and third lieutenant are personally tracing all the information up to and following the accident."

  At that moment, one of Draco's men set folders in front of us.

  "Here is a copy of the executed will. I can assume you plan to purchase the company."

  None of us either confirmed or denied.

  Draco smiled. "Good, keep it quiet. Dara Kipos is a snake waiting to strike, but your job is to be the grey mongoose. Immune to the cobra’s venom and ready to tear her apart the second she turns her back."

  I released a sigh. It was amazing how the man could come out with some wise but pertinent statement and use animals as examples.

  "Oyabun, may I ask what you will require in payment for your help?" I held Draco's gaze and saw amusement crinkle his eyes.

  "From Pierce—" Draco's attention went to my brother, "—I want ringside seats for the heavyweight bout he is planning to negotiate between his prizefighter and the one signed under Amelia Nephus. Rumor has it you two have unfinished business."

  Then his focus moved to Zack. "Outside our earlier discussion, I require access to your property on the island of Bora Bora for my granddaughter's wedding. She told me it was booked out for the next year, but I'm sure you can rearrange some things for her."

  "And you." He moved his onyx eyes to me. "I want three cases from the unlabeled reserve your Starlight is hiding from the world. My sources say she is a genius and has created the best batch of her whiskey to date."

  All the hairs on my arms stood up. How the fuck had he discovered Starlight's secret? I wouldn’t question him. Not now, when my brothers were around. My relationship with Draco was strong, but there was a time and place to challenge him, and this was not it.

  "As you wish, Oyabun. But I will warn you. It may take some convincing to get her to part with any of that bottling. Especially if no one is supposed to know about it." My tone couldn’t hide that I was referring to my brothers.

  Draco smirked and continued. "As long as you get them to me before you firstborn arrives, I'll be fine."

  Firstborn?

  Immediately a vision of Starlight round with our child appeared in my mind.

  "What a second." Zack broke into my thoughts. "Are you fucking kidding me? Penny is the reclusive owner of Firewater? Not some overweight, overindulged heiress on an island in the Indian Ocean?"

  I kept quiet.

  "Now it makes complete sense—the restaurants and the clubs. Damn, asshole, you're obsessed. When she finds out, she is going to have your stalker ass committed. You are seriously one crazy fucker."

  Draco cleared his throat, essentially stopping Zack's profanity-laced opinions.

  "Are we in agreement, gentlemen?"

  Pierce, Zack, and I agreed and then for the next thirty minutes discussed the plans for the opening of the hotel and the party that would take place in a few weeks.

  After Draco left via a private access area, I readied myself for an inquisition. But to my surprise, neither Pierce nor Zack said anything. They only stared at me with shit-eating grins on their faces.

  "Care to share?" I asked, which only made them laugh out loud.

  "Never did I think I'd see the day Hagen Christopher Lykaios would fall. And for a naive little nature nymph." Pierce lifted a glass to me. "This is
going to be fun to watch."

  "Whatever. Go make a deal with your ex or something."

  "How long have you known Penny was the mastermind behind Firewater?" Zack picked up a cigar, lighting it and then taking a few deep puffs.

  "A few years now."

  "And you didn't think it was important to let us know?" Zack leaned back in his chair. "We could have helped her. Hell, we could have negotiated better deals for the whiskey."

  "Or she could have gotten more out of your tightwad ass with a game of cards," Pierce added, resulting in Zack shooting him the bird.

  "The point of keeping quiet was so she could do it on her own. She's phenomenal at her job both at Kipos and with PSK Distilleries."

  "Shit," Pierce exclaimed. "I should have known that PSK stood for Persephone Starlight Kipos. Damn, she's good. I can't believe she never slipped during one of our monthly poker games."

  Poker games. Why the fuck was my woman playing poker with my brothers?

  My woman. I liked the sound of that.

  "What poker games?"

  "The ones you never show up to. She subbed in your place a few times and then became a regular. She's a card shark, by the way. She's cleaned us out too many times to count," Zack added. "I thought I was good, but that girl has a computer for a brain and it’s like watching a processor analyze faces, reactions, and tells while keeping a serene facade."

  Zack was by far the best poker player I'd ever encountered. A game of cards and a twenty-million-dollar pot were what launched the beginnings of his real-estate empire.

  "By the way, does she know her cover is blown?"

  "She only found out I knew yesterday. But I'll have to tell her that Draco and you two doofuses know."

  "Like we'd rat her out." Zack sounded offended.

  I pushed back from the table and rose.

  "Where are you going?" Pierce lifted a brow.

  "To see how my new roommate is settling in."

  CHAPTER NINE

  Penny

  * * *

  SO THIS WAS how the ballers of the world lived.

  I sipped my wine and gazed out at the incredible view of the Las Vegas Strip. The lights twinkled like stars, and cars buzzed around, making it seem like a world far away from where I was instead of at the bottom of the building I would now live in.

  After I left Hagen gaping in the lobby, I spent twenty minutes trying to decide what to make of my change in circumstances.

  I was technically unemployed but technically not. I was technically homeless but not.

  Now I was settled into the palatial bedroom I would share with Hagen and not knowing what to expect. As of this afternoon, my virginity was history, and now I belonged to Hagen, or so he said. Whatever that meant.

  If I kept thinking this was all temporary, I wouldn't get sucked in too deep. That was the only way to handle a relationship with any of the Lykaios boys. They weren't the settling-down type.

  I had to view this as stepping onto the ride of my life. It would be something I could brag to my children one day about.

  No, never mind.

  I wasn't ever going to brag about my sexual escapades with any future offspring. Hell, I couldn't even discuss it with Adrian.

  Thinking of…why hadn't he called me? I moved to the coffee table where I'd set my phone. However, before I could pick it up, the elevator opened.

  I paused, feeling goosebumps prickle my skin.

  Hagen stepped off, and immediately my breath hitched. He was so sexy with his disheveled hair and blazing blue eyes.

  "Starlight," was all he said as he dropped a large envelope on the coffee table and stalked in my direction. He slid a hand around my waist, capturing my lips in the process.

  The kiss was all demand and possession, making my nipples bead and my cleft grow damp.

  I wrapped my arms and legs around him as his hands cupped my ass, pressing me against his hard, thick cock.

  I pulled back, gasping for air, and breathlessly said, "That's some hello, Mr. Lykaios."

  "I try." His fingers flexed under my bottom. "You have the best ass of any woman I've ever seen."

  I rolled my eyes. "Okay, I buy that. You’re surrounded by pin-up girls."

  "They're plastic. I don't do plastic. I have a thing for petite, raven-haired nymphs with curves." To emphasize his words, he pushed me back against the glass wall and rubbed his length up and down my slick cleft.

  Tilting my head back, I closed my eyes. "You're good at that."

  "Starlight, this is only the beginning." He brought my feet back to the hardwood floor. “Are you sore?”

  I felt embarrassment creep into my cheeks. I was tender but not truly sore. The thought of having to wait a day or two to have sex again was out of the question.

  “No.”

  Hagen cocked his head to the side. “I want the truth. I’m not touching you again until I know it won’t be painful for you.”

  I held his gaze and said, “I’m tender but not in pain. I don’t need recovery time. This isn’t some Victorian romance where the young virgin can’t be touched so soon after losing her innocence.”

  He shook his head. “Woman, I never know what’s going to come out of your mouth.”

  He released me, walked to the coffee table. "This is for you."

  He picked up the envelope and handed it to me.

  My head, still in the haze of desire, tried to focus on what he'd given me. "What is it?"

  I pulled out the contents of the envelope.

  "It's my health report. I get tested every few months. This one was from last week. It's no secret that I have a past. But I wanted you to know I'm clean and I’ve never had sex without a condom." He ran a hand through his black hair and watched me.

  God, I hadn't even thought to ask. Maybe I was as naive as everyone believed. At least there was one of us who had a functioning brain.

  "Thank you for this."

  "You're welcome."

  I tucked the papers back in the envelope and returned them to the table.

  "Now what?" I asked, feeling the crackle of energy between us ignite again.

  "Now you strip."

  I swallowed. "Here? In the living room? But the lights are on, and we're surrounded by windows."

  "And we're too high up for the world to see in. I've fantasized about taking you in this room. Tonight, I plan to make fantasy a reality."

  "Oh." My heartbeat drummed in my ears as my pussy clenched.

  Slowly he came to stand in front of me. His blue gaze was almost black with desire. He lifted his hand and ran a thumb over my lips, down the column of my throat, and between the open collar of my shirt.

  Immediately, my body heated.

  "Take off your clothes, Starlight."

  Licking my parched lips, I held his stare and unbuttoned my blouse. Hagen pushed it from my shoulders and onto the floor.

  I reached behind me to unzip my skirt. As with my top, Hagen helped the material pool at my feet.

  When I moved to unclasp my bra, Hagen covered my hands with his. "Let me do the rest." His voice was rough and deep, filled with arousal, and the bulge of his cock strained against the seam of his pants. "It's too bad you put on another pair of underwear."

  "I can't walk around commando all day."

  "Of course you can. From now on, I insist."

  The thought of going naked under my skirt made a pang of uncertainty and arousal course through my body.

  As his palms glided around my rib cage to unclasp my bra, his breath teased the skin of my neck, and I couldn't help but tilt toward him.

  He smelled so good.

  I could have gotten lost in the intoxicating blend of his cologne and his natural essence mixed with the hint of cigars.

  "Did you just sniff me?" There was a tinge of humor in his words.

  My face heated, and I knew I was probably beet red with embarrassment. "Maybe."

  "Good to know you enjoy how I smell." He slowly lowered to the ground and rubbed his n
ose along the damp seam of my crotch. "Because I sure the hell love the scent of you, especially on that beautiful, innocent pussy of yours."

  He gently bit my mound, and a shocking wave of desire spasmed deep in my core.

  I braced one hand on the back of the couch to keep my balance while the other gripped his hair.

  "I'm not innocent anymore."

  "Baby, you’re more innocent than you could ever know."

  "Then I suggest you corrupt me."

  "Believe me, I plan to." His lips curved as his tongue darted out and he licked my fabric-covered pussy.

  I arched my head back, loving the erotic sensation.

  He gripped the sides of my thong, tore it from my hips, and then threw it over his shoulder.

  “God, you are so fucking sexy,” he said as he gazed up at me.

  Before I could respond, his lips descended on my swollen clit. He sucked and teased the sensitive bud until I was writhing against his mouth. The second my pussy quickened, he plunged his tongue deep. My back bowed as he devoured me.

  The sensation was too much.

  I tried to pull away, but he held me tight against his unyielding mouth.

  "Come, Starlight. Come for me." He plunged a finger deep inside me, curving it against the sensitive bundle of nerves at the top.

  “Oh God, Hagen.” My body detonated.

  I bucked and screamed, pulling on his hair and reveling in the ecstasy. The movement of his hand and the tenderness I still felt were a heady mix of pleasure and pain.

  I never expected sex to feel this way. As I began to come down from my release, Hagen lifted me into his arms and carried me to his bedroom.

  As he lowered me onto the bed and settled between my legs, I said, "I thought you wanted me in the living room."

  "Your first time should have been pure seduction and on a bed. Not in the office of a kink club. I want to remedy that."

  Lifting up onto my elbows, I nipped his jaw. "I have no complaints. But if a bed is what you want, I have no objections."

  "I'm happy you're willing to accommodate my needs." He turned his face and covered my mouth with his.