His Big Mountain Axe

  Not theirs. Not Nico's. Not for the fucking camera, so he can sell it to the kind of people who'll pay money for something like this. But, this sure as fuck ain't a perfect world, and the fact remains that they are here. Nico is here. And the camera is recording this.

  She doesn't deserve this. I'd say I don't either, but I know that's debatable. But whatever hell and whatever damnation I've brought on myself in this life, she doesn't deserve to be a part of it. She's too sweet, and too pure. She's too good for a man like me, and she's certainly too good to have her innocence stripped away from her on camera like this.

  "I'm gonna ask you one more time, fuck-o," Nico spits, taking a long drag of his cigarette. "And don't try and tell me you can't rise to the occasion, because I can see that fuckin' horse cock from over here."

  There are snickers from the shadowy faces behind the camera, and Rose pulls tighter into me. My arms flex and tighten, my large frame curling around hers to shield her from these fucking jackals, and from the prying, poisonous lens of the camera.

  "There's no problem," I hiss over my shoulder at them, my eyes flashing as I glare daggers right through Nico's face. "Just back the fuck off."

  Nico doesn't blink as he takes another slow drag from the cig, the smoke curling in the hot spotlight glare of the lights.

  "Take her fucking panties off, spread those pretty legs, smile for the fucking camera, and stick your big dick in her." He jabs the air between us with his cigarette. "You're gonna fuck her, right here, and right now. And if you don't, I'm gonna have to show you how it's done myself."

  I snap.

  I'm barely aware of the roar bellowing from my throat, and I'm about to charge right over and smash Nico's head through a wall, when suddenly, her soft hand stops me.

  “Dylan.”

  I stop, my pulse thundering in my veins and the fire roaring behind my eyes. Her touch soothes me. Her touch sends something through me that stops me and calms the beast inside. I narrow my eyes at the grinning, smug-looking mob captain before I turn back, pulling her into me again.

  "I need you to fuck me."

  Her voice is so soft and so pure, and there's something so wrong about that word leaving those lips. So wrong that it makes my cock throb, God help me.

  "Angel—"

  "Please," she begs quietly, her brow worrying. Her hand slips between us, and I groan as I feel her finger curl around my cock.

  I know what she's doing. I know there's no way in hell this is how she imagined her first time would be, but we both know what's at stake here. Even if every single part of me hates that this is how this will happen for her, I know the alternative is worse. They'll hurt the ones she loves. And fuck, they'd film this anyways, except it wouldn't be with me. The thought makes my blood turn to fire in my veins, but as her small hands stroke my thick length through my boxer briefs, and as her tongue darts out to wet those soft pink lips, that fire turns to lust.

  "Please fuck me." She says it so sweetly, and with so much innocence that my goddamn cock throbs in her little hand.

  "Fuck me, Dylan,” she whispers in a husky, thick voice. She drags her teeth over her pouty bottom lip. "I want it to be you," she says softly.

  "Jesus Christ, are we good here or what?"

  I close my eyes and take a deep breath, drowning out Nico's voice as Rose melts into me. Her lips brush mine, her hand strokes my thick cock, her tight, soft body presses to mine, and the last of my resolve shatters.

  I swallow, I open my eyes, and I look right into hers as I slowly nod.

  "Good." Nico claps his hands. "Now, let's make a porno, shall we?"

  1

  Dylan

  "You know, you really shouldna come back here, dumbass."

  I grunt as the fist sinks into my gut.

  Yeah, he's probably right, but it's not exactly like I had much of a choice. Joey's fist slams into me again, and I groan, straining against the two knuckle-draggers holding me back.

  "Aww, you know it's just that I missed you so much, Joey."

  I grin, blood trickling down from the corner of my mouth as he sits back and arches a brow at me.

  "Cute."

  "Well damn, Joey. You sure know how to flatter a guy."

  The grin fades from his gorilla face, and suddenly, that fist is slamming into my face.

  Worth it.

  "You know what? It's that fuckin mouth of yours that got you into this shit in the first place, dipshit," Joey hisses. His knee jerks up and catches me in the abs, doubling me over as his two goons chuckle.

  The mouth hasn't exactly helped things, but technically speaking, losing two million dollars of Gino Moretti's money that I was supposed to protect is what's gotten me into this shit. That and being the guy still standing when Gino's other guard is lying in a fucking morgue. Yep, if I were a betting man, I'd say those are most likely the reasons I'm in the basement of The Venetian restaurant in downtown Las Vegas getting the shit knocked out of me by this fucking douchebag.

  Except, taking some of Joey Luco's pussy-assed punches isn't exactly my biggest worry right now. Gino might be a rich fucking guy, but no one loses two mil and is happy about it. In a fair world, these guys would get that shit happens, especially when you're hauling illegal cash around in a town like this, two other families vying for control of The Strip.

  In a fair world, my entirely true story about Vinny — the other guard — turning his gun on me as soon as the heist started to go down would explain why it was one of my bullets that put him in that morgue. In a fair world, my explaining that Vinny was most likely in on the theft would be listened to.

  But then this is not a fair world. And Vinny was a made guy. And on top of all of that, the Moretti crime family isn't exactly known for being rational.

  So here we are.

  "Yep, that fuckin mouth of yours," Joey spits, sinking his fist into my stomach.

  Somehow, through the pain, I force myself to grin at him.

  "The fuck is so goddamn funny."

  I chuckle. "I was just thinking it was ironic that you put it like that."

  Joey's thick, gorilla like brow furrows even deeper. "Yeah? Why's that, funny guy?"

  I know pushing the buttons of a guy like this is a stupid move, but really, I can't help it.

  "Because your mom was just saying the same thing to me last night, but I really think she mean it in a different—"

  Joey's fists rain down on me, but I'm still laughing even as he splits my lip and doubles me over all over again with a huge punch to my mid-section.

  "Hang on."

  Joey hits me in the mouth again before the voice from somewhere behind him booms a little louder.

  "Jesus fuck, Joey, I said hang the fuck on!"

  The fists stop, and I groan, sagging against the two guys holding me up. Yep, that was dumb. Still worth it though.

  “Dylan, Dylan, Dylan.”

  I know the voice, and when I look up, it's exactly who I knew it'd be.

  Nico Moretti, Gino's dipshit nephew and second in command of the Moretti family out here in Vegas. In a weird twist, I actually went to high school with Nico, back before I enlisted in the Marines, back before he grew into his uncle's second in command, and obviously back before all this shit went down.

  I thought he was a fucking prick back then. Now, he's even worse.

  "Well well well, Dylan,” he snickers, shaking his head at me. "You fucked up pretty hard this time."

  I could go through the whole explanation again — about the other truck pulling up alongside ours outside the warehouse that was supposed to be secure. Or about Vinny pulling his Glock out and leveling it at me before I dodged and put a bullet in his chest. But I know it won't make a difference. Whoever stole their cash is long gone at this point, and since I'm the only guy left, with a made guy dead, I might as well be the guy to blame, right? Mob logic for you.

  "You know, that money was my uncle's, but it was earmarked for a special project of mine."

  I say nothing.
Joey might be a knuckle-dragging gorilla who’s fun to antagonize. But Nico is something different. Nico's a special kind of evil.

  "You know what though, asshole?” He smiles his evil little rat-like grin. "I'm gonna do you a favor. Anyone else in your shoes? Yeah, I'd let Joey here beat the ever-loving shit out of you before we dumped your ass in the desert. But..." He grins wider. "Seems there are some rumors about you."

  I raise a brow.

  "Oh?"

  "Oh yeah," he chuckles. "Rumors that catch my and my uncle's interest, especially with this new project of mine I've got goin on."

  My frown only deepens.

  "And this rumor is…?"

  Nico grins.

  "I heard you got a big cock."

  Joey and his two goons snort. I just arch a brow at him.

  Okay, he's not wrong, it's just a fucking weird ass direction for this conversation to take.

  "Excuse me?"

  Nico chuckles as he pulls a pack of cigarettes out his jacket pocket.

  "Your dick, douchebag. I heard you've got a big one."

  "And that has your interest?"

  Nico shrugs and nods at Joey's henchmen. "Let him loose."

  Joey starts to protest, but Nico shoots him a glare. "Relax, he's not off the hook. My uncle just has other plans for him." He turns and gives me an evil smile.

  "He's gonna pay us back in trade."

  I very quickly do not like the direction this is taking.

  "Look, Nico, no offense man, but I don't swing that wa—"

  "Oh fuck off, that's not what I fuckin' meant," he growls, his face darkening before he glares at me. "You a fan of the porno's, Dylan?”

  "What?"

  "Porn, dipshit. Jerk-off flicks. You a fan?"

  "I prefer an actual woman."

  He rolls his eyes. "Yeah no shit. But a man's gotta snack between meals, right?"

  I don't answer.

  "So, we're not putting a bullet in this asshole?"

  Joey looks legitimately upset. Nico just shakes his head though.

  "Nope. Not yet anyways. Mr. Horsecock here is gonna be a big star for us." He lets that slimy grin of his sink into me, making my skin crawl.

  "That new project of mine? I'm opening a porn studio. The money is huge, and with the right talent, you can strike fucking gold. And you, my friend — you and that big dick of yours are gonna be my talent."

  This time, I'm the one that snorts. "Like hell I am."

  "There's always option B."

  "Which is?"

  Nico shrugs. "You're not gonna like option B. Option B is Joey and me takin' you out to the desert, burying you up to your neck, and then using your fucking lips as a golf tee."

  Joey chuckles and Nico grins at me.

  "So, I think it's fair to say that smiling for the camera and gettin’ your dick wet is a slightly better deal, don't you think?"

  I grit my teeth, narrowing my eyes at him and saying nothing.

  Behind Nico, far across the empty, dingy basement, there's a knock on the big metal sliding door.

  "Yeah," Nico hollers over his shoulder. "Come on in."

  He glances back at me as the door slides open.

  "Trust me, fuck-o, you're going to enjoy yourself."

  The door opens, I look up past him, and suddenly, my whole fucking world goes still. Time stops, my heart skips a beat or three, and every cell in my body comes alive in ways they never have before.

  One look at the girl who steps into the room, and I know I'm a goner.

  She's an angel. Rich, chestnut hair falls in slight waves around her petite shoulders. Big, bright blue eyes that I can see shining even from all the way over here. A sexy, slight body and soft curves in every place they should be. Fair, unblemished skin and long legs looking insanely good in that little red dress.

  She's fucking gorgeous. It's not in a sexy pinup way — not in some overtly sexual way where she's flaunting what she's got and oozing sex appeal. Even with that stripper dress and the fuck-me heels, there's something wholesome about her — like the dress and the shoes are some gaudy costume she's put on. No, it's the opposite. She's gorgeous in this quiet, elegant, innocent way, and hell if my cock doesn't throb to life between my legs.

  "Hey Mikey, I think he likes it," Nico quips, elbowing Joey in the arm and chuckling. “Dylan, say hello to your co-star."

  No way.

  There is no fucking way this girl is some sort of porn star — not with that innocent, wide-eyed softness to her — not without the hard edges and broken seams that a life in an industry like that would do to her.

  "Who is she?"

  She doesn't belong here. It's so obvious it hurts, even if here she is, standing across the room and giving me furtive, quiet glances before quickly darting her eyes away. And the more I look, the more I can't look away. The more I lose myself in her, the hotter this feeling grows in my chest, until it's threatening to explode.

  "The hell difference does it make? She's here to a make a movie with you. That's all you need to know."

  Mine.

  It's primal, and fucking caveman as hell to think it, but it's the only thought that thunders through my head as I completely lose myself in her. She looks up, and when those big blue eyes lock with mine, it's like everything else around us just disappears.

  I want her, more than I've ever wanted anything in my entire life. It's instant, and like a bomb going off inside of me, but I know without a second's hesitation that I want every single part of her.

  She's going to be mine. Not for Nico. Not for Gino. Not for the cameras, or to settle whatever bullshit score they've got on me. No, she's going to be mine and all mine, for me.

  2

  Rose

  This isn't happening. This cannot be happening.

  Fear grips me as the men holding my arms tightly lead me through the empty Italian restaurant. They haul me through the kitchen, back to another door, and down a dark, greasy staircase into a dimly lit basement. I gasp as I lose my footing for a second, slipping in the stupid heels they've made me put on before bringing me here.

  "Easy there, sweetheart." The man's hand tightens on my arm, stopping me from tripping but also taking the moment to pull me closer than I'd ever want him to. He grins, his evil-looking eyes sliding down to the plunging neckline of the little red stripper dress he's made me wear. I shiver under his gaze, my skin crawling.

  His name is Nico Moretti. I don't know him, but I know of him, from Vinny. And I might not know much, but I know enough to know he's as dangerous as his reputation says he is.

  Just the same, I swallow thickly, determined not to show him how terrified I really am.

  "Where are you taking me?"

  "Disneyworld, sweetheart."

  He and the other guy leading me into the basement chuckle.

  "Please," I say it quietly, stumbling again as we reach the last step. "Please don't do this."

  Nico laughs, coming to a stop in front of a big metal sliding door.

  "Jesus, girl, did you think we were bringing you down here to shoot you or something?"

  Yes.

  I don't tell him that though.

  He grins at me. "Nah, we're not gonna kill you. Shit, what a waste that would be. This is just a business transaction, sweetheart. Your uncle Vin owed the family pretty big, and with his, uh, untimely end, I've found a, shall we say, creative way to see that his debts are paid."

  He knows that "Uncle" Vinny was in no way my actual uncle, and I'm betting he's smart enough to understand that in no way do I consider his death "untimely."

  …More like overdue.

  Vinny was my mother's most recent deadbeat boyfriend. The others had been bad, but Vinny checked every box: a drunk, a mean and fast temper, drug abuser, serious mob connections, and an eye that loved to linger on both my older sister Keeley and me. My mom was no saint either, but no woman in the world deserved Vinny.

  He's the one that got her back on opiates, and when she OD-ed about two years ago,
Vinny's the one who was suddenly the name on her mortgage and bank accounts. Keeley got out quick through her college scholarship, right after Mom died. But I stayed. Not out of choice, but necessity. I stayed and worked my butt off, trying to save enough money and hide it from Vinny until I could get the hell out of here.

  I came close too, until a few days ago, when it all blew up.

  At first, hearing that Vinny was found dead in a ditch after some sort of mob-related thing only made me grimly happy. He was gone, and really, that's all that mattered. I'd packed my stuff, gotten the money I'd saved together, and booked a bus ticket to LA. And I'd almost made it to the station too, before Nico and his guys suddenly showed up at the house.

  After that, I know there's no "getting away." The Moretti family runs this town, and if they say Vinny owed them a debt — and one that I now have to repay — I know there's no running from that. There's no use trying to make them see that I have zero connection to him besides my mother's terrible choice in men.

  They don't care, and now here I am, scared, alone, dressed like this, and in the basement of The Venetian.

  Could this be any more like some sort of bad mafia movie?

  Nico levels his mean little eyes on me, his sickly grin stretching across his face. "Vinny had debts to be settled, and it looks like you're going to be the one to settle those debts."

  There's something extra menacing in his words that sends a chill through me. His eyes dip down over my stupid, skimpy dress again, and suddenly, the nauseating fear comes rushing up grab me.

  You're going to be the one to settle those debts.

  "Oh, God, please don't do this!"

  He frowns for a second before he suddenly starts to laugh.

  "Calm the fuck down, that's not why you're down here." He rolls his eyes. "Fuck, what kind of guy do you think I am?"

  My silence makes him chuckle. "Well, fair enough. But messing with chicks who don't want it ain't my thing, sweetheart. So relax." He jerks his head towards a set of blinds hanging on the wall and when he walks over and yanks on the cord, they pull up to reveal a window into another, bigger basement room.