Mafia King: A Mafia Royals Novella, Rachel Dyken [i am malala young readers edition .txt] 📗

I nearly choked when I noticed it was two hundred-dollar bills.

The bellman said, “Thank you,” refusing to look down, and then a lady in an all-white uniform smiled brightly at us. She had red lipstick, curly brown hair, and curves I knew King was already memorizing since Maksim smacked him on the back of the head when she turned around, showing a tight ass.

“What?” King rubbed his head. “I was appreciating Cabo!”

“Appreciate the birds.” Maksim gave him a hard shove and pointed skyward.

“Like you should talk. Literally every guy in this family’s a manwhore. It’s like a badge of honor!”

Izzy snorted.

Serena glared at Junior as if he were cheating. He held up his hands. “Thanks, guys.”

And Ash just reached for Annie’s hand and kissed it.

Maybe my hell wasn’t Tiny.

Perhaps it was watching all the happy couples while I tried to stay alive and keep the small one from getting drunk off her ass.

I tried not to look too stunned as I followed the group around the property. There were seven pools—that I could see.

A gorgeous blue ocean that didn’t look real to the naked eye, and a sunset that instantly relaxed me.

I glanced around and dumbly wondered why I didn’t see that many guests. In fact, I didn’t see any guests.

Only staff.

At least a dozen restaurants that were nearly empty.

I elbowed Ash. “Why is it so deserted?”

He grinned. It honestly freaked me out how much he smiled now. Then again, he was in love, half-healed, though still half-monster if you crossed him. “It’s ours.”

“Ours,” I repeated. “As in yours? Like you rented it all out?”

“No.” He shrugged. “Ours, as in my dad owns it.”

“The senator? Chase? Your dad?” I gaped. “Owns this?”

“What can I say?” Ash said. “He likes nice things.” When I didn’t answer, Ash just whispered, “Close your mouth, bro, and try to enjoy it. You deserve it after all the times I kicked your ass in the ring this last year and all the times in the future I will make you bleed.”

“Comforting,” I grumbled.

“I try.” He patted me on the back and then whispered something to Annie.

Kartini was on my other side, her giant Prada sunglasses perched high on her face. Her lips were pressed together in a scowl, and her hand clutched her purse so tightly, I wondered if she was upset about something.

“You all right?” I asked as we turned another corner.

“Huh? What?” She looked up at me. “Sorry, was daydreaming…”

“Yeah, I look scared shitless when I daydream, too,” I said under my breath. “You know, if you ever need to talk—”

“Ah, a babysitter and a therapist, how’d I get so lucky?”

“You don’t have to be a bitch,” I hissed. “God, I was just trying to help.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“Clearly,” I muttered. “Look, I’ll do my damn job while here, but let’s just try to keep as much space between us as possible.”

“Agreed,” she sneered.

“Fine.” I felt like a toddler.

“Great.” Her smile was syrupy-sweet, all white teeth and bright red lipstick.

I nearly collided with Ash’s back when we all stopped.

“We’re so happy you’ve come back to NC Resort and Spa.”

“NC?” I muttered.

“Nixon, Chase, one of their many joint ventures.” Maksim piped up. “Oh, look, the bungalow…” And then, with a sprint, he held out his hand to the woman. “Can I have that one, pleasssssseeee?”

She gaped and then handed him a room key. “Wait for me!” King chased after him.

“Oh no, you don’t!” Izzy squealed, grabbing her own keycard and jogging after them toward a gorgeous beach bungalow with a treehouse located right on the water.

Screaming ensued.

I could have sworn I heard a gunshot go off—and let’s be honest, it probably did—as they took over the beach bungalow.

Hell, Maksim better sleep with one eye open—or both…both would be better.

“Honeymoon Suite.” Junior stepped up and held out his hand.

And they were off.

Ash and Annie followed suit.

Then Valerian and Violet.

Leaving…

Yup, you guessed it.

Me and Satan’s mistress.

“The last bungalow.” The woman beamed. “It’s one of my favorites. You can see the sunset every night.” Goody. “Besides, you two look like you won’t be venturing outside a lot anyway. I know these things.”

I barely contained my sputter of denial when Kartini leaned against me and straight-up petted my chest with her dangerously long fingernails. “Aw, you could tell?”

“Lots of sexual tension. Your auras are…” She shuddered. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Yes, well…” Tiny’s fingernails raked down the front of my shirt. Holy shit, was she ripping it open? “I would be so lost without my big, bad, sexy bodyguard.” She smacked my ass. “Have you seen this hunk?”

The woman blushed. “I’m Michelle. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call the concierge number on your phone.”

“Perrrfect.” Kartini took a keycard. “Actually, can you have a bottle of Patron sent to the room along with a deck of playing cards? Oh, and a bottle of Dom Perignon.”

And here we go!

“Oh, and cigars,” she added. “Oh, wait, do you have blow—?”

“Holy shit, Kartini,” I ground out. “That’s illegal.”

“It’s Mexico.”

“FBI agent,” I reminded her.

Michelle’s eyes widened.

“Don’t worry,” Kartini grinned. “He’s kind of stuck with us, so even if you do have other party drugs, he’ll be quiet. Won’t you, Tank?”

I just shook my head. “If you die, I die. So, no, I won’t be quiet.” I turned back to Michelle. “No drugs, she’s barely legal drinking age here as it is. Just the alcohol and some Advil.”

“Awww, baby, did the trip give you a migraine?” Kartini clung to my biceps with both hands.

“Yes. The trip. Of course, what else could it be?” I glared down at the tiny, insane human. “Let’s go.” I grabbed my keycard, and off we went as Michelle grinned after us like we hadn’t just asked for illegal drugs fifteen minutes into our trip.

“Unbelievable,” I ground out as I slid the card across the black pad on the door three minutes later. “Are you seriously doing drugs now? Be honest because I won’t stand for it. I won’t, Kartini.