Merciless Punks: Enemies to Lovers romance (Dolls and douchebags Book 3)

It’s almost too easy. Does Franco think hiring a few guards with big guns at his gates will protect him from the outside world?

“All clear on the left perimeter,” one of Franco’s men mutters into a radio, passing right by without seeing me, just a few feet away from him.

That pisses me off to no end. My queen is behind these gates being protected by a bunch of fucking idiots. The urge to steal her away, even if she’s fighting me, always comes on strong when I see shit like this.

Dressed in all black from the neck down, I sneak out of the shadows by the fence that’s surrounded by shrubbery and silently walk behind him until I’m practically breathing down his neck.

“El tonto.” Calling the guard a fool is probably the nicest thing I’ve ever said in Spanish.

Before he can turn around, I wrap my forearm around his neck and squeeze. Choking the life out of him makes me feel better, one less idiot in the world and it’s a big fuck you to Franco when they find his body tomorrow morning. He breathes his last breath, his body going slack in my grip and I quietly drag him over to the bushes. Kicking his feet into the greenery, I straighten and crack my neck side to side while brushing dirt off my expensive Adolfo Dominguez suit. Just because I came from the hood doesn’t mean I can’t dress in style. I’m setting an example for my gang and enemies.

Don’t fucking mess with me, I’ll put a bullet in your head while wearing a suit that cost a couple grand. It’s good for my men to see a strong leader that will set the path for the next generation.

I button my black jacket, smooth out the wrinkles and walk across the yard towards the front door calmly like I own Franco’s house. One day I just might. I’ll take everything away from him. My eyes narrow on the door handle as it turns easily under my hands. I’m going to have to bash Logan’s head in too. If anything happens to Tillie under his roof because of their stupidity, I’ll burn his house down with him inside. Striding to the staircase on silent feet, I grab the banister and take the stairs two at a time.

My lips twitch when I hear laughter coming from Tillie’s bedroom. I could find her room with my eyes closed, it’s that easy for me. Scoping out Franco’s house for years, standing over his bed as he slept peacefully, wondering if that was going to be the moment I killed him…It became an obsession of mine to fuck with Franco without him knowing I could effortlessly get to him anytime I want to. I don’t want him to have an easy way out, I want his world to crash and burn around him as he begs for mercy at my feet.

“This one video has thousands of views already. Mrs.Sullivan was fired and dragged out of school in handcuffs by two officers.” Tey snickers in delight, I want to punch his face in when I see him and Tillie’s heads together on her bed as they stare at his phone.

The fucker sent me a text today with only two words and the video he’s probably watching now. Tillie’s work. I was in the middle of selling a new product of Mary Jane that gets you high within minutes to some new investors but the moment I clicked play on the video, I was canceling my meeting with no explanation. The investors flew all the way from New York. The Marijuana I distribute is grown all over Mexico and on some farms in California. It’s the best shit you can get on the market. I didn’t care about any of that though when I opened my phone. I drove two hours, going faster than the speed limit and cursing myself for being on the farm so far away from the city. Which leads me back to now, sneaking into Russo’s home to make sure my queen is okay.

I need a fucking smoke.

“Jesus H. Christ! How the hell did you get in?” Logan shouts, cursing up a blue streak of Italian and standing up from a chaise lounge by the window the moment he sees me leaning in the open doorway.

It’s too bad we don’t see eye to eye and he’s been brainwashed by his father, otherwise, I might actually like him. Aggressive, angry Italian, dressed in expensive Italian clothes, and he’s not a bad shot with his Glock.

“Maybe you should lock your front door and no one would sneak into your house without your knowledge,” I reply back smoothly, pulling out a small metal case from my back pocket.

“He killed one of your father’s henchmen. Almost missed him on the feed,” Nicky speaks up, his almond-shaped eyes glancing up from the computer on his lap and locking with mine.

Dare I say he looks impressed?

I like this one even if his sperm donor is Jin.

“Remind me to upgrade my security system,” Dalton grumbles, laying back at the end of Tillie’s bed with his arm over his head.

“You have a death wish don’t you?” Logan paces back and forth. If he doesn’t quit, he might leave a hole in the rug.

“Are you going to kill me, Russo, or is daddy dearest?” I ask in a harsh voice, flicking my lighter and inhaling deeply as I put the joint to my lips.

“If you pass that around, I’ll tie up Logan if he tries to kill you.” Tey sizes Logan up, smirking as his amigo glares at him before turning his gaze towards me.

They say you can see into the soul of someone by just looking in their eyes but when you look in this crazy fucker’s eyes, you don’t see a damn thing. His bright, blue gaze is eerie and I can’t even keep eye contact without getting a shiver down my back.

“Why not? It’s my new product, enjoy.” I take one more puff and walk over to the bed, my gaze locking with Tillie’s as she smiles up at me.

Tey takes the joint out of my hand, inhaling in bliss as I lean over him and gently grab Tillie’s jaw. She opens her mouth under the pressure of my fingers and I exhale smoke from my mouth and into hers, my lips pressed lightly against her exquisite, parted lips.

She coughs a little as I pull away, blinking rapidly as she holds her breath and blows out the rest of the smoke from her mouth before relaxing back into Tey’s chest with a content sigh.

“That’s some good shit, my brother. I think I’ll keep you.” Tey grins dreamily, pulling Tillie closer into his chest.

“Fuck it, it’s been a long day. Give me some.” Logan snatches the joint out of Tey’s hand and continues pacing while exhaling towards the ceiling.

“How was your day, mama?” I ask casually, grabbing her desk chair and flipping it around to straddle it.

“Oh, you know. Same old, same old. Just violence and fucking, a normal day.” She waves her hand and looks towards the end of the bed at Dalton with a smirk.

“I like normal days.” Dalton chuckles around a yawn and winks at her before shutting his eyes again.

“She kissed her teacher, Mrs.Sullivan, fucked Dalton in front of her, and got said teacher arrested all in one day,” Nicky says in a bored tone, not bothering to look up as he types on his laptop like a maniac.

I heard he’s good with a computer but I have yet to see that skill set of his. That’s a bit worrisome for me, what if he hacked into my shit? I narrow my eyes at him, seeing it’s pointless as he doesn’t glance up. His fingers stall for a split-second on the keyboard as Tey starts running his fingers through Nicky’s hair. Watching them for a while now, seeing the sexual tension even from afar, it’s about time they started acting on it. Love is love and I’m all for it. My gaze trails back to Tillie only to find her gaze locked on mine with a tilt of her head.

“No comment?” she asks.

“No. I expect nothing less from my queen.” My eyes become hooded, picturing her fucking up people’s lives while enjoying herself.

“Just like that?” She continues to stare at me like I’m a mystery.

“Just like that.” I shrug, crossing my arms over the top of her desk chair.

“No more kissing anyone else outside of your harem, little bitch,” Dalton mutters sleepily.

No wonder he’s denying a joint, he looks seconds from passing out. He fucked our girl to next Sunday and the fact that he is also now Prez… Life fucks you in the ass some days, but on good days there’s pussy like Tillie’s to sink yourself inside to escape everything else.

Her face grimaces as she shudders, likely from remembering kissing her teacher before she watches Logan pace the room through hooded, high eyes.

“Do it again and I’ll cuff you to the bed,” Nicky threatens with a grin like he enjoys that idea and finally glances up from his laptop. “Since we are all here and Franco has taken Diana to a charity dinner, now is the perfect time to discuss some things I’ve found.”

Logan stops pacing, standing at the end of the bed with his arms crossed. This will be interesting, I wonder if they took my advice to not trust Franco and start digging deeper.

“Just get it over with and tell me who I have to kill,” Tey says, nuzzling Tillie’s hair with his eyes closed.

I bet he could kill someone with his eyes closed and go for ice cream right after. I shift my gaze back to Nicky and see him staring at me with a knowing glint in his eyes.

“Dom was right. You did give some bread crumbs to follow at the rave.” Nicky shuts his laptop, takes a deep breath, and grabs Tillie’s hand in his like he needs the extra strength. She is the strongest woman I know, I don’t blame him for seeking her comfort. “Franco is now in the skin business. Has been for months,” Nicky says without emotion but squeezes Tillie’s hand harder.

“I can’t say I’m surprised. It was only a matter of time. What else did you learn from the hard drive I gave you?” Logan’s facial expression hardens, preparing himself for whatever else the hacker is going to say.

“As you already know, Jin has requested that Tillie dance at the auction. I’ve seen the guest list and the Los Muerte leader, Carlos, is going.” After Nicky delivers that bit of news that I already know, I lean forward to rest my chin on my forearms to watch the show.

“That son of a bitch! What is he doing?! I’m going to kill him! Fucking kill him!” Logan pulls at his neatly styled hair that always seems to never be out of place and spins around, punching the wall.

Tillie untangles herself between Tey and Nicky, climbing over Dalton at the end of the bed to stand behind Logan as he stares at the hole in the wall. She places her hand on his heaving back and when he doesn’t react, she plasters her body against his from behind while wrapping her arms around him. My eyebrows reach my hairline as I see him take a deep breath, gaining control of himself by just her touch alone. He turns around and wraps his arms around her like he’s never letting go. I huff out a breath when a surge of jealousy goes through me but it quickly calms when I see the way she stares up at him. The way she stares at all of us. She cares about these guys, us, even though at times I want to steal her away, she’s good for them. For all of us.

“It’s going to be okay. We’ll figure it out together. I need you to listen to this part.” She taps his temple with her index finger and places her hand over his heart. “And not this place. We have to think smart about this. What does Franco gain from this?”

“Power. All the power. Do you get it yet? Your shipments aren’t missing, it’s being stolen from right under your noses by Franco this whole time. Timing is key to everything and if he ordered you to take out the leader of Los Muerte by accusing them of stealing, what would you do?” I ask Logan, seeing the puzzle pieces start clicking together.

“I’d do it without questions. A rivalry breaks out, gang against gang. No one is left standing except Franco.” Logan looks flabbergasted like he was just knocked off his feet, squeezing Tillie one more time before letting go to pace again.

“He’s dipping his hands into all aspects. Gangs and motorcycle clubs. I wonder if my dad suspected anything? Does Jin? What is your father doing with all the guns he stole from my club?!” Dalton suddenly sits up, practically shouting and looking very awake.

“I would think, probably selling them to each gang for a full-on war in the streets.” I stroke my jaw, seeing that happening and many lives being lost, civilians too.

“Holy shit.” Tey grabs his legendary knife out of his boot and swirls it between his fingers as he stares off into space.

“Nothing gets past my father. Nothing,” Nicky says, banging the back of his head against the headboard as he stares up at the ceiling.

“You know Jin used to have my father sell on the streets for him right?” Everyone turns towards me as I casually drop that bit of information, something that’s always bugged me.

“What are you saying?” Nicky asks darkly, sitting up as his full attention focuses on me.

“You’re right. Jin has always had eyes and ears everywhere. You never thought it was suspicious that the man he did cocaine and heroin business with suddenly gets accused of murdering a cop’s wife who was looking into the coming and goings of drugs made by Jin’s men?” All the blood drains from Nicky’s face, his gaze darting over to Logan who hasn’t said a word.

“Those drugs were never linked back to Jin. It was coming from your father’s meth houses. Franco did his research, undercover for months before my mother was murdered by your father.” Logan strides over to me with his fists clenched, but gets interrupted by an angry, little Latino.

“Hold on a second. Why do you think Jin supplied drugs to your father’s gang?” Tillie turns to me, blocking Logan’s path with her hands on her hips.

“Because I used to see Jin come visit the house I grew up in,” I reply, thinking back to my hiding spot on the staircase whenever my father had guests come over.

“I want this product on the streets and sold within two days. All of it.” A man in an expensive suit stands in the middle of our living room with his back turned towards me.

Even I knew he was loaded, probably had so much money he didn’t know what to do with it. His shoes shone, pressed suit without a wrinkle, and slicked back hair. This man didn’t belong in our rundown house. At twelve years old, I could feel the tension coming off him that told me he was dangerous. His wide shoulders were relaxed while he stared down my father as if he didn’t fear anything because he was the thing to fear.

“That’s not enough time. I can’t—” My dad rubbed at his mustache, a sign he did when he was nervous.

It wasn’t often my dad became nervous, he usually instilled fear into people. But with this guy, he was sweating and glancing around so he didn’t have to look into the man’s eyes.

“You can or I will find someone else to run my drugs.” The stranger said, his voice deep and threatening that had me leaning farther into the staircase so he couldn’t see me.

“Of course. I won’t disappoint you, Jin.” My dad cleared his throat, taking a step back as Jin stepped towards him.

“See that you don’t,” Jin said, waiting a few seconds in silence before turning towards the front door.

His almond-shaped, brown eyes flicked up at my hiding spot as if he knew I was there the whole time. He stared at me with a grin as he walked by, his face smooth and young looking compared to my dad. Though he had a streak of grey hair near his temple, telling me he wasn’t young by any means. Appearances are deceiving, I knew that. A snake could hold still, staring you right in the eye, trying to distract you by the beautiful scales that glistened in the sun and never giving you a warning it was going to attack you until it was too late. That’s what this Jin man reminded me of.

A snake.

“If you’re saying what I think you are…” Nicky speaks up, never taking his gaze off Logan, who stares right back at him.

“We’ve been lied to. Everything I was taught to hate, to destroy was all for nothing. Absolutely nothing,” Logan whispers, walking away to go stare out the window with his back turned towards us.

“Can someone tell me what’s going on?” Tillie glances around at all of us, looking for answers that’s about to shatter their reality.

“Jin came for Franco when he was at his weakest, planting a seed in his mind,” I reply, clearing my throat when it becomes too thick to speak.

“I wonder if Franco knows.” Dalton sits there in stunned silence, his gaze staring off into space.

“Knows what?!” Frustration is clear in Tillie’s voice as we try to skirt around from actually saying it out loud.

“If it’s true, that means when Franco was undercover looking into the drugs that came from Jin all along… Dom’s father could have been set up. The possibility that it’s been Jin this whole time,” Dalton explains aloud, shaking his head as if he can’t wrap his mind around it.

It took me a lot of time to come to that conclusion too. Many years, a whisper in the back of my head telling me nothing was adding up. It wasn’t until the money started flowing, inviting myself to social events to watch the people that put on an act and are completely different behind closed doors that my path led me straight to Jin after so many years. It’s like the puzzle pieces came all together, clicking into place as memories flooded my senses.

“My dad wasn’t a good man by any means but he wouldn’t have killed a woman who had a child waiting for her at home. Family meant something to him,” I mutter out loud, almost startled when Tillie palms my cheek as I got lost in my thoughts.

“What does this mean?” Tillie questions, seeing right through all the hurt and anger that’s been locked inside me for so many years.

“Jin,” Nicky says flatly, getting up from the bed to stand behind Logan. “It’s possible that he could be the one responsible for your mother’s death. A set up from the beginning.”

Tillie gasps, her eyes going wide as she finally sees it. Her red eyes flood with tears as she leans down to kiss my forehead. My eyes drift closed, absorbing the way she’s healing me inside and out. It’s like she’s taking all my pain whether I want her to or not. Finally, after so many years, the truth is coming to the surface and I won’t be fighting my battles alone anymore.

My Queen.

She pulls back with a sad smile and crosses the room to Logan, stopping at his side while glancing out the window without saying a word. She only reaches for his hand, offering her support.

“You’re not going to that auction, both of you. I’ll slaughter anyone from limb to limb who stands in my way,” Tey says seriously. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen him without a grin on his face.

“What choice do we have?” Nicky continues to stare at the back of Logan’s head with stiff shoulders.

I can understand where he’s coming from. A weight bigger than he can handle now rests on Nicky’s shoulders. One of his best friends finds out his father is responsible for killing Helen… The guilt starts eating you alive even though you didn’t pull the trigger.

“We can’t run. We all have too many responsibilities and people counting on us,” Dalton growls out, resting his head in his hands.

He’s right. Each of us has someone counting on us. The families that stand before our ruling, putting food on their tables and a roof over their heads.

“No.” Logan lifts Tillie’s hand and kisses her knuckles before letting go and turning around to face us. “No running. It ends right where it began. Everyone who’s wronged us, hurt our girl, ripped families apart… they answer to us.” He steps forward, laying his hand on Nicky’s shoulder as he stares into his eyes.

“They will pay,” Nicky speaks up in a dark, deep voice, nodding once before walking back to his laptop with purpose and a murderous glint in his eyes.

“In blood.” A sinister grin starts spreading across Tey’s mouth. I wouldn’t be surprised if the crazy fucker bathed in his enemy’s blood with a rubber ducky in the mornings.

“Where do we begin? The club will stand behind me on this. They want blood spilled ever since Pike was murdered. Payne’s death wasn’t enough for killing their Prez,” Dalton says with a grunt, cracking his big fists and straightening his leather vest while smoothing out his facial expression until it’s almost blank.

I would not want to be the man who sees those fists heading towards my face. I can hold my own but Dalton has hammer fists that could probably kill a man. I’m betting that since Pike died, he’s been gunning for Demon Jokers’ blood. Both for his father’s death and for Tillie’s suffering. I’m right beside him on the last part. I shake my head to clear it, turning my gaze to Tillie, watching as she takes this all in without an emotion on her pretty face.

“Mama, you haven’t said anything. What’s going on in that head of yours?” I question, noticing the guys going silent as we all stare at her.

“I’m just beginning to realize how connected we all are. I thought I wanted to run from this life but instead of running away, I’m running towards the violence.” Her voice comes out soft but strong, I’m thinking we’ve only just glimpsed, on the outside, how incredibly strong our girl is.

“Does that thought scare you?” Logan glances down at her, his brow raised, challenging her which she just meets head-on, and crosses her arms while glaring up at him.

“No. It gives me life.” She starts to grin, finally showing her true colors.

“Hey, fucker, where do you stand?” Tey asks me before quickly glancing at my queen and grinning like a loon as he blows Tillie a kiss then directs his crazy eyes back on me.

I meet his blue gaze in a stare down without blinking, my dark eyes clashing with his. One of us may appear angelic while the other is sinister but inside we both bleed red. Guess that makes me crazy too.

“It could be the weed talking, it seems to make you all sappy but fuck it. I’m in. We’ll take them all down together even if I have to put up with your annoying, dramatic ass.” I give Logan a head nod, chuckling as his upper lip curls in disgust.

Dramatic but at least we are on the same page.

I can work just fine alongside him, kill everyone who stands in our path and make sure my queen is protected. I only have one small problem with him right now and that’s him thinking he can hurt Tillie. He doesn’t know it yet but his little adventures to my clubs weren’t just watched by me. Seems a reporter loves to follow him around and he’s going to pay dearly when Tillie finds out what he did. I’ll be right here for my queen, not hesitating if she wants him dead. He better fix his wrong before she finds out herself.