Betrayal : (The Dove Series) Book One (The Dove Series Book One 1)

  Betrayal

  Book One

  The Dove Series

  RENEA PORTER

  Copyright © 2021 Renea Porter

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover design by Black Widow Designs

  Editing & Formatting by Genevieve Scholl

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your preferred vendor and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Synopsis:

  Dove, that was what he called me.

  Being the daughter of one of the most notorious crime families in Texas, it always put my life in danger. I never thought much of it, knowing my father would protect me.

  Sitting around a table, cards in one hand and a drink in another, my father was dealt a bad hand. That was when my world came tumbling down. It was time for Damon to collect. And this time, he was collecting me.

  I hated my father for letting me go, and not putting a bullet right between Damon’s eyes right then and there.

  He was weak.

  I wasn’t.

  But everyone has a weak link.

  I was Damon’s.

  And he was mine.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  About the Author

  Special Thanks

  Readers, thank you so much for choosing me. I really hope you enjoy this book.

  Chapter One

  KARA

  I’ll admit, I liked the attention Damon Alessio gave me. Those dark lustful looks he gave made my panties wet. I had dreamt about the things I would want him to do to me. But there was nothing I could do about it in real life. He was just a fantasy to me. I was the daughter of mob boss Arturo Ricci. I was untouchable.

  I was serving drinks while my father played cards. Everyone loved my father. He was easy to get along with as long as you didn’t piss him off. He doted on me in front of his colleagues and he’d shoot anyone that laid a hand on me.

  But Damon, well, he was more powerful than my father. Younger but maybe a little older than me. Somehow, my father never noticed the way Damon looked at me. Like I was his prey. It was like he was ready for his last meal. Maybe he wanted to chew me up and spit me out. Maybe I would let him.

  While the guys threw jabs at each other and joked, Damon was quiet. When he did speak, his voice was like velvet. Smooth and sexy.

  The only problem was, my father never knew when to stop. He owed people money but always managed to get out of it. “Another round of drinks,” my father demanded while waiting on the cards to be dealt. I think Dad was a bit on the drunk side tonight.

  Damon stood, buttoning his jacket. His stance alone exuded power. “I think that’s enough, Arturo. You owe me enough money as it is.”

  “But…one more round. You know I’m good for it.” Dad didn’t meet Damon’s gaze. His eyes seemed to turn black.

  “You’re only good for losing, Arturo. You have a choice. I kill you or take this pretty Dove here and she can repay your debt.” Damon grabbed me firmly by the wrist.

  “Please don’t take my baby.” Dad said with a bit of slurring. “She’s my only daughter.”

  Damon removed a gun from his waistband. “Then I suggest you get on your knees.”

  My heart raced inside my chest. I thought it would burst and plop right at my feet.

  “You’ll return her once the debt is paid?” Dad sadly questioned.

  “I’ll return her when I see fit.”

  What the hell? “Dad!” I whined. I did not like this one bit.

  “I’m sorry, baby girl. But don’t worry, I’ll get you back.”

  My father inched toward me, and I took a few steps back. The feel of betrayal washed over me and tears threatened to sting my cheeks. “I can’t believe you would do this to me!” I looked to Damon, his hand still holding my wrist. “Do I need to go pack some clothes?” I questioned through my gritted teeth.

  “No. I have everything you need.”

  I moved my free hand to wipe my tears. My father just betrayed me in the worst way. I couldn’t figure out why he didn’t just put a bullet in Damon’s head. Fucker was weak, that’s why. And if my father taught me anything, it was never to be weak.

  I wasn’t weak.

  “Just so you know, you and I will never happen,” I spat out with anger as we entered the back of Damon’s black car.

  “Oh, Dove. You have so much to learn. And you and I will happen.”

  I was furious. “We will never happen, Damon.”

  He chuckled. No, he outright laughed at me.

  I scoffed and reached to slap him for laughing at me. He moved swiftly, grabbing my wrist and putting his other hand around my throat. “Never, ever call me Damon. It’s fucking Master to you.” He gritted. “You’re my fucking property now and you’ll do what I say.”

  He squeezed my throat for a moment longer, then removed his hand. I closed my mouth, turning my head to look out the window, I realized Damon’s soul was as black as the sky. The city lights went out of view as we drove farther and farther out of the city. Damon’s hand was resting on my leg. I almost wanted to smack it away. But I wasn’t sure what he was capable of. Not yet, anyway.

  A good fifteen minutes passed when his driver pulled through a huge black iron gate and drove into a circular driveway with a fountain in the middle. The sprawling estate came into view. Of course he would have a house this size. It was three times the size of the one I’d grown up in.

  While the driver opened the door, Damon stepped out then turned to offer me a hand. The place in front of me was humongous. I couldn’t imagine how many rooms it must have had. Closing my eyes, I mentally put a cage around my heart. That was the one thing Damon would never have. Ever. When I opened my eyes back up, the front door was opened by an older woman. I could see in the light she had gray hair and piercing ice colored eyes.

  “Master,” she greeted.

  “Susie. This is Kara. She’ll be staying with us for a while. You know where to take her.”

  “Whe…where is she taking me?”

  “Once you learn you can do this the easy way, I will show you everything you can have. Until then…you better think how you want to play this cat and mouse game, Dove.” He walked away while Susie escorted me down some stairs.

  “Am I being turned
into a sex slave?” I asked.

  “Just do what the Master asks of you. And you’ll be allowed to see everything he has to offer.”

  “What does he offer you?” My words had bite to them.

  “A roof over my head, bills paid. Anything I need, really.”

  I laughed manically. “I bet you suck his cock real good, huh.”

  “We don’t have that type of relationship.”

  “I bet you don’t.”

  We descended downstairs; the room below was huge. Just a glow of light filtered through. The windows were high, small, and rectangular. I couldn’t reach them if I tried. Susie flipped on the light switch as she turned. The light was more of a spot light than anything else. In that moment, my stomach growled loudly.

  “I will return with some food.”

  I didn’t bother responding. I knew when I should keep my mouth shut. She was Damon’s employee so I knew she wouldn’t be befriending me any time soon. I read plenty of books to know how this game was played. And right now, this was my reality.

  “Let’s get you in bed.”

  I settled on the soft mattress. Susie took my wrist, securing it to a post with handcuffs attached to a short chain. “Really? I pretty much came willingly.”

  “Don’t get any ideas in that blonde head of yours.”

  “How am I supposed to go to the bathroom?”

  “Here’s a bucket.”

  I rolled my eyes. Wonderful. I get to shit in a bucket if it comes to that.

  “I’ll be down every so often to empty it.”

  “Jesus Christ, how long am I gonna be down here?”

  “Less smart mouth, more obedience,” Susie demanded before heading to the stairs.

  Quiet settled around me. I couldn’t even hear anything going on upstairs. I wondered how many other women Damon had taken against their will. There had to be others. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be this prepared. Would he?

  Chapter Two

  DAMON

  I settled in my office, watching Dove on the video screen I had set up. I’ll admit, I wanted the blonde beauty the second I laid eyes on her weeks ago. I’d been preparing for her arrival for weeks now. Clothes had been bought; her bedroom was set up. Everything she needed, she’d have. That’s only when she realized she had to obey me. She enjoyed when my fingers lightly grazed hers whenever she served me a drink at the card games I attended. I could tell she wanted me as much as I wanted her.

  I’d never taken a woman before. The employees that worked for me were here willingly and were free to leave anytime they wanted. However, they were loyal. And these days, it was hard to find people that stayed loyal. I never asked them to call me Master or even to bow whenever they spoke to me. However, it sort of stuck. And I knew it was out of respect. So, my Dove would not be any different.

  Dove just sparked something in me. Her smart mouth would definitely get her in trouble if she didn’t learn to do things my way. My cock twitched in my dress pants as I watched her on the screen.

  Helpless.

  But she wasn’t weak.

  She had fight in her. Eventually, I intended to break her. Her ivory skin looked like it was smooth as silk. I bet it felt soft to the touch. As much as she denied we would happen, the more I wanted to prove her wrong. I’d claim her as mine. But in due time. She wouldn’t be able to get enough of me.

  I watched as Susie delivered a meal to Dove. She was quiet while she ate with one hand.

  Susie headed up the stairs, leaving a low light on. The one that was more of a spotlight.

  A light knock on the door startled me out of my thoughts. “Come in.”

  “Is there anything else, Master?” Susie asked meekly.

  I looked at the screen and then back to Susie. “That’ll be all for the evening.”

  She offered a small bow before closing the door behind her. Walking over to my bar, I made myself a drink before sitting back down.

  Once Dove fell asleep, I headed up to my room for sleep myself. It had been a long day.

  ***

  At the long dining room table, I ate breakfast alone, like every day. I didn’t mind but it did get old after a while.

  I looked to Susie who was serving me. “How is she this morning?”

  “She seems fine, Master. She’s already eaten and is ready to follow your next instructions.”

  “Don’t feed her again until dinner.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  My right-hand, Matteo, appeared just as I pushed my empty plate away. “We have a situation down at the dock.”

  I stood and buttoned my suit jacket. “What kind of fucking problem?”

  “Caught some Mexicans bringing in drugs. Obviously, they don’t know who runs this territory.”

  Cracking my knuckles, I chuckled at the thought of killing someone. It had been a while since my last kill. I ran this town. I said who came and went. “Let’s go.”

  We loaded in to the SUV. “Are all the guys on board?” I asked.

  “They are holding the men at gunpoint, waiting on your directions.”

  “How many are there?”

  “Only three guys.”

  Okay, three guys to my five. It was a no brainer. I pulled my leather gloves on. “Gun?” Matteo placed the gun in my hand and I checked the bullets in it.

  Arriving at the dock, I stepped onto the boat, finding a few of my men pointing guns at the Mexican crew. “Who’s your boss?” I asked, before taking a second to crack my neck, relieving some of the tension.

  The men remained silent and they didn’t seem to be willing to talk to me at all. If their boss would have come to me first, we might have been able to negotiate something. But when fuckers came in my territory without my permission, that was what pissed me off.

  “Are you prepared to die for your boss? You’re just minions. So, you’ll be dying for no good reason.”

  One guy held his hands up. “Okay. Fine.” He tilted his head up to look at me.

  Matteo crossed his arms across his large puffed out chest. “Talk.”

  “We work for Jose Macias.”

  The other two guys looked at him like he just gave up the ultimate betrayal.

  “Fuckin’ Macias, trying to claim my turf.”

  “Kill them. Except this one.” I pointed to the guy that talked. “Just let him go.”

  There was no way that guy was going back to his boss, not when, eventually, they would find out he talked. Because I planned on taking care of Jose.

  When I got back home, Susie began setting dinner out for me, fresh and hot from the oven. Instead of eating alone at the dining room table, I carried my plate to my office, where I could watch Dove.

  She was shoveling food in her mouth like she hadn’t eaten in a few days and hadn’t skipped just one meal all day. I knew she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. I wondered what she was thinking. Did she think she would be down in the basement forever? Only obedience would get her upstairs. Maybe she was finally ready to come up.

  I continued watching Dove like a damn stalker. But I didn’t feel the least bit guilty over it. I could be ruthless as they come. Kara just found herself in the crossfire between her dad and me. Someone had to pay for their sins. Lord knows I’d meet my maker one day. When that day came, I’d be ready to face the devil.

  Finishing my food, I pushed my plate away and reached for a decanter. Pouring the amber liquid in my glass, it burned my throat as it slid down. Glancing back to the monitor, I realized I hadn’t seen Dove cry once. The girl was a fighter, that much I knew. After all, she was raised by a mobster. She knew the drill.

  She thought I couldn’t break her.

  But I would.

  Chapter Three

  KARA

  I wondered how much longer I’d be down here, handcuffed to this damn bed. I refused to allow Damon to think he’d won. Rage burned my gut and came up like acid but I swallowed it back down.

  Judging by the meals Susie had been serving me, I’d say I had been here three or fo
ur days. Surely, he wouldn’t keep me down here forever. I was a fucking Ricci. But the more time passed, I wondered what my survival rate was. Probably 50/50 if I put up a good enough fight.

  It was early when Susie came downstairs. She leaned in to uncuff me. “Give me any trouble and Master will punish you.” She released my restraint and I rubbed my sore wrist.

  “God I practically came here willingly. Obviously, I’m regretting that now,” I said with a hint of snarkiness.

  Susie just looked at me and said, “Follow me. I’ll take you to your room and then I’ll bring you breakfast.” Susie was a very matter of fact person. She didn’t ever say anything too personal. But she worked for Damon.

  Once on the main level of the house, we took the fancy spiral stairs up another floor. The attention to detail was beautiful. The stairs practically wrapped around a massive teardrop chandelier. The décor was very dramatic and made a statement. Damon didn’t spare any expense. We passed a few rooms, or what I assumed to be bedrooms because the doors were closed.

  “Will I be locked in my room?”

  “For now. The master needs to know you’ll behave.”

  “I’m not a fucking child!” I shouted.

  Again, Susie just looked at me, silently scolding me.

  We made a right and entered a room. I was in awe, but I didn’t voice it or show it. The room was big and spacious. The walls were a dark slate color, the canopy bed was white with pink and black accents. The gauzy fabric hung down, giving the bed a romantic feel.

  “Closet is over here. You’re expected to change into something for dinner this evening. You have your own bathroom as well.” Susie pointed to the right.

  I didn’t respond as she stepped out of the room, locking the door behind her. The closet was huge, with a vanity and everything I could ever possibly need. It was filled with gowns to jeans, everything in my size. There was also a vanity I could sit at with all the things to make me pretty. I was never much of a makeup person, but I did like playing with eye shadow that went with my blue-green eye color. But one thing I always used was mascara. I’d never leave the house without sweeping some over my lashes.