Year Three (Kingmakers, #3)

by Sophie Lark

I will never allow love to make me weak again.

Of all the pretty girls in the world, none adored him more than his twin sister Yelena. Then she betrayed him. She married his mortal enemy, Sebastian Gallo.

I bet he plucks them, the prissy bitch.

“A man does not drink from a toilet when he has fine wine at home,” Dominik replies dismissively.

“I know what you did . . . “I saw you . . . “I won’t tell. But understand this . . . I own you now. When we come back to school, you’re mine. My servant. My slave. For as long as I want you . . .”

She has to do whatever I say, she has no other choice. The extent of that control is intoxicating.

“Who’s Professor Snow?” Bram says. “You don’t think . . .” “What?” “Filip Rybakov fought under the name Snow.” Bram stares at me, uncomprehending.

“He was the heavyweight champion. He held all four titles at once.” “When?” Bram says. “Twenty years ago.” “You think he’s here? To teach us?” I shrug. “Could be. He got his start in St. Petersburg in the underground matches. He could be Bratva.” “We’ll find out soon enough,” Bram says. “First class is tomorrow morning.”

Remember, if you fuck up in golf you get a mulligan, if you fuck up in the ring, you’ll wake up eating through a straw.”

“You think because you have abs, you’re ready to box?”

“You think because you can beat up a boy, you’re ready to face a man?”

My wife Sasha is a doctor. She agreed to fill in for a year until they could find someone permanent. I’m just tagging along.”

“Fuck off, Black Death,” Dean snarls at her. “Eat shit, Zack Morris,” Rakel sneers back at him.

“Good girl,” Dean says softly. His low purr sends a thrill through my body.

I hope he chokes on these fucking grapes. I’d like to ram them right down his throat.

Instead, I pluck off one dusky purple orb and hold it out to him. Dean’s full lips part as he opens his mouth. I place the grape on his tongue. As I pull my hand back, my fingers graze his lower lip. A shiver runs down my spine. I’m certain Dean sees me twitch. He doesn’t miss a thing. He bites down hard on the grape, crushing it in his mouth.

This time, his tongue slides against the ball of my thumb as he takes it from my fingers. That instant of wet, hot friction sends a flushing warmth through my whole body. I know my face is bright red, I know I’m squirming in my seat. I don’t understand how my body can betray me like this when I fucking hate Dean!

Cat is a gift that fell into my lap.

She’s my own personal doll that I can dress to my tastes.

Cat Romero is pretty. Her beauty isn’t as obvious as her sister’s.

“I knew I would win because I promised Sasha I would,” he said. “And I’ve never failed her yet.”

“I’m starving,” I hiss. “Not as hungry as you’re going to be if you keep whining.” “What the fuck does that mean?” “It means I’ll tie you up in the ice house and leave you there for a week if you annoy me.”

“I’m hungry!” I complain even louder. “I’ve got something you can swallow,” Valon sneers.

“Shut your fucking mouth,” he barks at Valon. “What the hell?” Valon says, glowering. “I was just joking.” “Your jokes are stupid.”

“She belongs to me, not you,” Dean says.

“I own you, Cat. Don’t you ever fucking forget it.”

“You think there’s a difference between you and me, because you did it for Zoe? There’s no fucking difference. All mafia crime is committed on that premise. We’re all doing what we think needs to be done for the good of the family. It’s the core ideology of our world. You can justify each individual action any way you like, but the difference between a civilian and mafiosi is that we put the good of our family above the law.”

Dean seizes me by the back of the neck and kisses me hard. I taste the blood on his lip, like salt and iron.

“We don’t have to fight, little kitten,” he says. His voice is smoother than melted butter. “If you’re an obedient pet, I could be a very kind master . . .”

He has everything I should have had—parents that love him. A safe and happy childhood in Chicago. A network of uncles, aunts, and cousins, and now a baby sister too. And Anna, the only girl I ever admired, wildly in love with him.

“I want more.”

A strip of leather with a single metal ring in the center. A collar. “I want you willing,” he says softly. “I want you obedient. And I want you completely under my control. For one month. From now until Christmas.”

I want praise. I want it badly. And I especially want it from this man, who doesn’t like anyone or anything.

He looks at me, then takes my chin in his hand. He pulls me forward so he can kiss me, not giving a fuck that I still have his cum in my mouth. “Good girl,” he growls.

Snow is a man worth impressing. He knows nothing of my family, and he doesn’t care. He only cares how I perform here and now in this gym.

Hedeon pulls her chair back for her because her hands are occupied by her tray. That simple chivalrous act sends a bolt of fury down my spine. I’ve never thought about Hedeon Gray for two seconds, but all of a sudden I think he might be my mortal enemy.

Can’t he see, clearer than day, that Cat belongs to me? The evidence is wrapped around her neck.

I’ve never eaten pussy before. I always thought it was beneath me. But I tasted Cat on my fingers and I want more.

I need you. No one has ever said that to me before.

“Me encanta tu fragrancia,” she moans, as she starts to cum. I’ve never heard Cat lapse into her native language. Her English is perfect and unaccented. That’s how I know she’s lost all control. And so have I. Her voice echoes in my head. Me encanta tu fragrancia. I need you. I need you. I need you.

“Move your ass!” Dixie David bellows at us on Lola’s behalf. “I’d like to shove this log up her ass,” Rakel mutters to me.

It might even be worth the fact that Leo’s ego will need its own zip code.

“MOVE!” I roar, shoving my way through the mass of students around me. Despite how close we were to finishing our own tower, I can hear Leo and Ares likewise dropping their work, dashing along after me. I don’t care if they’re following. I’m shoving everyone out of my way, sprinting to the place where I saw Cat fall.

“Is this your sister? Cousin? Lover?” Sasha says, noting my intense concern. “She’s my . . .” I look at Cat, and now those dark eyes do open, and fix on mine. “She’s my friend,” I say, squeezing her hand once more. The corner of Cat’s mouth twitches in quiet amusement.

“Don’t worry,” she says. “I’m not that injured. You’ll still get your month’s worth.” “I don’t care about that!” I retort angrily. Then I see Cat’s teasing smile.

“Did you catch me?” “No.” I shake my head. “But I did dig you out.” “Maybe next time . . . try to catch me,” Cat says.

“Next time give me a little warning,” I say. “You’re so fast . . .” Cat whispers, her voice drifting across the space between us. “Not that fast,” I say. “You could catch me . . .” Cat says, her eyes half closed.

Her hand is no longer cold and limp inside of mine. Instead, she intertwines our fingers.

It’s so lonely wearing this mask.

“It’s been so long. What if it’s all for nothing?” I hold her by both shoulders so I can look her in the eye. “Then we kill them all,” I say.