ENTANGLED WITH THE MAFIA BEAST

David Rye Ramos hates these small gatherings. His brother arranged this to invite him and his new wife, as well as Stan Elthen Indelcio of the Stygian Beasts Group.

He saw the man give her a hug, and all he knew was that he was digging at him, or telling him in some way that he wasn't good enough.

Stan told him multiple times that he was nothing more than the best of the worst. He didn't understand what the big deal was. He married his sister, and business between them went well. All the boxes for this union to operate are ticked, yet Stan still looks at him like he wants to slit his throat.

It just so happens that the feeling is mutual. He doesn't like Stan Elthen Indelcio.

This man was not a born Mafia, but he became the leader of the Stygians after his father, it was in his blood. There's no denying that Stan worked hard from the ground up to build a reputation for himself and become a feared crime boss. His name was compared to that of Ramos due to fear. People were so loyal to him that they never betrayed him even when threatened or tortured.

David's older brother, Darius Ramos, is impressed and wants to finally meet the man with whom no one can break with. They can't even keep their own skin.

Who instilled that kind of loyalty?

The man in front of him was simply fatal. David saw it in the man's eyes. There was nothing there, and he had heard rumors that the only people who could be safe from this man were his sisters, especially his youngest sister, Kezen Aslani Indelcio.

So much rumor and gossip follow this man.

David didn't believe any of this. He took a sip of his whiskey and stared at the man over the rim of his glass. He's not afraid of Stan.

David is the only person in Mafia history to kill a man at the age of eight in order to save his parents. Serving his brothers, the Verments and the Ramos are in his blood, and it's like being boss, and when Darius settles down, his older brother will hand him the reins. At that time, he had to follow his brother's orders.

How's your married life?" Stan asked.

"Very good." He gritted his teeth, wanting to beat the man in front of him to pieces. There was not much age difference between them, with Stan only a few years older than him. Stan is 28 and he is 25.

Unlike the women in their world, he hadn't married before he was twenty. Most of their daughters were usually engaged at twelve and married at eighteen or twenty.

Kezen was twenty-two years old, and she was nothing like the women in his world. She didn't put her head down, or try to hide. She stands tall and proud. There was also provocation in her eyes. His brother told him about her refusal to take the virginity test, and how Stan refused to enforce it.

Stan says his sister is a virgin and he believes her. David didn't believe it. He also hadn't slept with her, hadn't consummated their marriage. He wanted Kezen to tell her brother they weren't having sex, but she remained silent. He doesn't know what her game is, but he intends to find out.

No one took him for a fool.

Speaking of Kezen, he has arranged for someone to find out her weaknesses. So far, she hasn't shown it. She also wasn't proven to be a liar, which baffled him.

Stan giggled. "Very good."

"I think we should get down to business," Darius interrupted.

"I've heard-business is a morning thing, where alcohol isn't as freely available yet," Stran said with a smirk. "Do you think I got here by listening to drunks?" He turned his gaze back to David. "I have good evidence that you and Danica are flirting."

David tensed up. He doesn't know how Stan knows about his ex-lover or her name, and he's honestly not happy about it either. He kept his private life very private and his lovers were always protected.

Since he got married, he hasn't enjoyed another woman, not even his wife. He has been preoccupied with dealing with the consequences of marrying a stranger. Kezen Aslanin Indelcio is very different. She didn't know their customs, and was often alone, ignoring everyone, or just playing safe, he wasn't quite sure.

What's up with her? He can't read her.

Women like his former lover Danica are interested in power and money. They only want what's best for them. When it came to Kezen, he wasn't sure what that was. Nor could he find the information he needed to know more about her. Her brother kept it all a secret.

No one knew anything about her in his family and it pissed him off.

Whenever he asked a computer guy to do something, there was always some glitch or problem that prevented him from finding out everything about his wife.

"My brother will not break his marriage vows," Darius interrupted.

This is not entirely true. His brother pulls him aside and says that if he needs it, there will always be a mistress to help with his needs. In addition to his wives, Darius also had mistresses.

David has no interest in going to another woman. Marriage was not what he expected. First, he has to make sure Stan doesn't find out that he hasn't actually consummated the marriage.

The only message he can really get is that Stan Elthen Indelcio loves his sister. Adore her. She is cherished by him, which makes her an interesting pawn in this game.

Stan Indelcio is an ally, and his brother tells him to respect Kezen. Well, he has no interest in hurting a woman.

"I had dinner with Danica at her request a few weeks ago. She had a problem and needed me to fix it."

Her boss was getting more hands-on, and with his marriage to Kezen being announced in the media, people thought that the women in his life are now easy targets.

He hadn't seen Danica in a long time, and they ended things between them and they're good friends.

David finishes his whiskey as Stan glares at him. "My sister hasn't come back yet. Go find her."

Following his brother's wishes and fulfilling his dream of ruling the mafia world someday, he must get along well with his estranged wife, his brother, and their crew.

David is willing to do anything to find a weakness in them and use it against them at the right time.

But how can he find weaknesses in them if he doesn't know them and their sheilds too strong to break.

In his brother's house, he did not expect to obey orders from anyone but Darius. He glanced quickly at his brother to see him nodding. It annoyed him to even be seen doing what the jerk asked him to do.

Still, he turned and left the main party, walked down the corridor, and stopped when he saw Harold, a close friend and assistant of his, with his wife.

Harold tried to wrap his arms around Kezen, but she stood up immediately. She hasn't met David yet.

"You know what, I think it's time to get back to the party. Nice to meet you, Harold." She walked away, stopping when she saw him.

"David."

"Kezen." He stared at her from the tip of her head. She has black hair. It was thick and fell around her like a wave.

From the brief time he'd spent with her, he knew she'd wear it a lot, mostly in a bobby pin and rarely off her shoulders. Gazing at the length of her body, he saw that her black dress was more suitable for a funeral than a party, and it wasn't very flattering either. The fabric fell to her nipples and then seemed to hang from her body. Her gorgeous curves are not on display. He knew that she hadn't chosen the dress herself.

The maid who came to clean his house five times a week had chosen it for her. He made a note never to ask her to help his wife again. No wonder women make scathing comments about her behind her back. She looks gloomy and dead.

Neither of them spoke, and Kezen's gaze moved from his to the wall, then to the floor, then back to him. "I'd better go and join them," she said.

"I'll be there in a while."

She didn't stop, just nodded and continued walking.

"I think you're wrong about her," said Harold, standing up.

He stared at his friend, turning his head to one side. "How can you say that?"

"She doesn't like me near her. Do you see? She's not an easy type," Harold murmured.

"The moment you put your hand on her, I saw her move like protecting herself."

"Yes, she was kind enough to remove my hand from her thigh, too," Harold said.

"What?"

"You let me get close to her. You said no limit, go all the way if needed. I just put my hand on her lap." Harold's eyes flicked to him. "But tell me, David, if you don't care about your wife, and you want everyone to know she's a manipulative, cheating bitch, why are you clasping your hands and looking like you want to kill me knowing I touched her?"

"I don't want to kill you. Well, it's well done." David doesn't like that feeling. Kezen means nothing to him. She's a business. A woman he's imposed on. She plays the role of the innocent sister very well, But he knows the truth. She's a slut and one of Stan's greatest weaknesses. He's going to find out the truth somehow.

He hadn't forgotten that Stan had given them the keys to make his life miserable. They could kill her and start a war. It's so easy.

His brother told him he respected and valued Stan Elthen Indelcio. No war will be fought with that one. David felt that once he found out the truth about Kezen, he would get his way.

Harold approached him and patted him on the shoulder. "You've always believed this bro. I know the truth. I've known you for years and you tried to slit my throat. Fine, but maybe you need to know what you want before asking someone else to do it."

"Kezen is a slut."

"I don't think she is. If so, then I'm not the kind of guy she wants. We all know ladies take their panties off for me."

David couldn't help but look at Harold's neck, thinking how nice it would be if it was oozing with blood.

"You know that murderous rage you're feeling right now? That's not how a guy who wants to fuck other men with his wife should feel." Harold winked at him before leaving to rejoin the party.

With one hand stroking his face, he tried to collect his thoughts. Tonight is not going well.

He ran after only a few hours of sleep and was, frankly, exhausted. For the past five days, he's been chasing a damn rat that wants to trade their secrets for money and a safe life. Here's one of their science nerds, the son of a bitch who hasn't been out of town so far. The bastard has been able to make another day. He might still be after him if his brother hadn't told him he had to be here tonight.

Maybe what he needs to do is stay home and make sure his wife falls into his trap. She had proven him wrong so far, and he didn't like it.

***

For the first time since her marriage was arranged, Kezen Aslani Indelcio felt a surge of excitement. She walked across the university campus, found the garden where she usually ate lunch, and sat down on the bench.

It's been five days since she last saw her brother, but last night, he went to David's penthouse, where she was staying after the party, and told her she needed to go back to arms and self-defense school. She didn't need to be with David all the time and argued because of staying home, waiting for things to happen, and trying to find his own entertainment. It was a welcome relief to be back at this kind of school for her training.

The sun was shining brightly in the sky, forcing her to take off her cardigan, and she slid down from the tree, crossing her legs and pulling her pack between them.

Since she packed herself a few sandwiches, a bag of chips, and some fruit, she grabbed her apple, ate that first, and waited for the fun to happen but she felt bad like there were some bad things to happen-

Kezen is so hungry. This morning, she only got a few slices of toast. After a few bites, the banana was gone, so she grabbed the apple and took a bite. She opened her eyes wide and stared at the entire campus. It's full of life, and she likes it. She loves to learn.

For the longest time, she wanted to go to college and train. Stan doesn't want her to do that. He offered to pay for a tutor and trainer and let her study at home, but she declined. She wants this experience.

He didn't force her to homestudy through high school. She went to a public school, which was "interesting."

Her bodyguard, Aiden, has been present. Well, he wasn't there, but Aiden followed her to school after a day of serious bullying and black eyes.

Glancing toward the parking lot, she saw him standing there, looking at her. She raised her hand and waved him quickly.

In response, he raised his hand. It looked more like an alien gesture, but she accepted it. He means well.

After finishing her fruit, she grabbed her sandwich. Since his marriage to David, he has denied the existence of Aiden. This man works for her brother, so he doesn't allow another man to come near her.

Last night, her brother told her that he would send someone to take care of her. She would now be a target, not only his enemy but Ramos' enemy as well.

Personally, she did nothing wrong, but in their world, it seems like it likes to make people pay for other people's mistakes.

Leaning against a tree, she slows down her eating so she doesn't get a stomachache. She misses Aiden, misses her brother. Missing her siblings, in particular, Zaneah, her stepsister at home who loves to cook her delicious food. That woman has a way of making her feel loved and safe.

David has a chef in charge of the meals in one of his restaurants. They deliver at the same time every day. Breakfast is served promptly at eight o'clock. Lunch at twelve and dinner at six. She never had an opinion on what was cooked. The food looks pretentious like it's spent its entire life trying to win awards. Kezen hated it.

Zaneah's corn soup, beef dumplings, chocolate champurrado, and mango waffles, the list goes on, those are the best. Thinking of them now made her a little homesick.

After dusting off her hands, she puts all the trash together and starts searching for the necessary trash cans. She put the trash in, then looked down at the time. She has five minutes to go to the next class.

Looking back into the parking lot, she saw Aiden there. She wanted to walk up to him, thank him, or at least hug him, but she knew he wouldn't like that. Aiden likes to keep things strictly professional. At least outside, in the open air. When they were alone, he made her hug and cry on his shoulder. He's like the number two brother.

With her loneliness out of her way, she walked to the next class but stopped when she saw David Ramos. He didn't look at her, and she stepped behind a thick mahogany tree and glanced at her husband. He was talking to a man, but she didn't know who he was. He didn't come to pick her up, what did he come to school for? Does it matter?

David glanced at her as she leaned against a tree, not wanting to be seen. Her heart started beating wildly. Did he see her looking? She should just be able to take the next class. Snooping or espionage is not for her.

Kezen was about to break free when his fingers wrapped around her wrist, stopping her. She turned to her captors and saw David there. How did he come to her from where he was standing so quickly?

"What are you doing?" David asked confused.

She tugged at her wrist. "Let me go." She didn't want to cause a stir. There are not many people around, but there are a few. She hates getting attention.

"Why are you here?" David asked. "Who sent you here?"

Why did he accuse her? "I'm going to class," she said. "Please, I don't want to be late."

"Sir, I suggest you let her go." This is Aiden. This would be very bad.

She looked at David, then at Aiden, then back again.

"Why are you here?" David asked Aiden.

"I had strict orders to watch her while she was at school, to protect her," Aiden answered.

"She was my wife. She'll come with me."

Aiden walked up to David and stopped him. She tried to get Aiden to step aside, but he was her brother's guard, her brother gave the order to Aiden.

"Kez, go to class," Aiden said. He didn't take his eyes off David as he put the phone to his ear. "Stan, I have David here, and he's trying to get Kezen out of school."

She saw David grit his teeth. This is not good. This is very, very bad. David took the phone as she looked between the two men. He didn't take his fingers off her wrist.

"What?" David asked.

Aiden had a hand on his waist and she knew he was about to strike. Aiden is at his deadliest when he appears calm and composed. This is not going to end well.

David handed the phone back, but he didn't let her go. In fact, he grabbed Aiden's jacket.

She gasped as he headbutted another man's head, which startled Aiden and knocked him out before he let him rest against a tree.

When he did, he let her go, and Kezen had tried to escape. She left him several steps, but he refused to let her go. He grabs her, and they walk across campus. She said nothing, but fear ran down her spine and she felt sick. With a hand on her stomach, she tried not to throw up.

Why did her husband show up out of nowhere?

Aiden!