BODY! THEY BARKED: A heart-warming and hilarious seaside sleuthing mystery. (Merry Summerfield Cozy Mysteries Book 4) Kris Pearson Writing As Kristie Klewes
For my wonderful family who believes in me no matter what.
Contents
Chapter1
Chapter2
Chapter3
Chapter4
Chapter5
Chapter6
Chapter7
Chapter8
Chapter9
Chapter10
Chapter11
Chapter12
Chapter13
Chapter14
AboutWillowSinclair
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About His Sacrifice
OurunionwasplannedfromthetimeSarafinawasachild,twoofthelargestandmostpowerfulmafiafamiliesjoininghouses, until tragedystruck. After witnessingher father’s murder, Serafina’s destinywas altered forever. Soonto be married offto another of the powerful families inPhiladelphia, Serafina is prepared to fulfill her role withinthe familybyacceptingthe highestbidforherhand.
Years have passed since Lorenzo’s father married her mother to offer the onlyprotectionhe could, changingall their lives forever.Now,poisedtotakeoverhisfamily’sempire,Lorenzoisforcedwithanimpossibledecision.Watchhisstep-sisterbe marriedofforgiveintotheunexpectedlongingstirringwithinhimthatthreatenstoshattereverythinghe’sworkedfor.
This should be business Plain and simple Serafina is nothing to him, or she could be his everything Will he sacrifice everythinghe’sbuilttomakeherhisown?
MY FATHER’S fingers dugintomybicepas hedraggedmetothesideoftheroomwherewecouldn'tbeoverheard Whatever pulled himfromthe other heads of the families had pissed himoff. They were supposed to be negotiating new territoriesinPhiladelphia
"Itold youto keep her inline." Giovanni Casella, myfather, and the head ofthe strongestmafia familyinPhiladelphia, glaredacrossthecrowd.
Ididn'trespond. Who the hell had made me her fuckingbabysitter? She was eighteen. She should know how to behave, especiallywithallthefamilieshere.WhenTonygrabbedherass,sheswungbacktohithim.Iintercepted,grabbingherwrist, swingingheraroundtofaceme.
“Ishouldbeouttheresocializingandtalkingwiththeheadsoffamilies.Instead,Ihavetokeepaneyeonyou.Youcan’t fuckingbehaveforonenight?”Ireleasedmygripatadasshegulpedforair Beingthisclosetoherwasneveragoodthing It mademewantthingsthatwerebeyondmygrasp.
“Iwasbehavingmyself.”
“LettingMoreno feel youup is behavingyourself? Are youtryingto starta goddamnwar, or are youjusta needylittle slut?”Mycocktwitched.Whydidthislittlegirldrivemecrazy?
Iwas thirtyyears old Ishouldn’t have to babysit a fuckingteenager Iscrunched her dress up, exposingher “Athong, sister?Ithoughtyouwerebehavingyourself?”
“Enzo,please,”shesniffled Herfakepleasdidnothing Iwatchedherassturnredundermyhand “Fuckyou,bastard” Yep,thatwastheSeraIknew.She’dbeenasweetgirl,butwhenherfather,MatteoRosetta,wasgunneddowninfrontof her, itchanged everything Giovanni Casella stepped inand married her mother to protectthemfromthe other families who hadn’t liked her dad’s power play and those who wanted to claw their way to the top. Her mother died when Sera was fourteen.Losingbothparentschangedher.She’dquicklylearnedtoturnheremotionsintoweapons.Itwassomethingshewas goodat.
Ipulledupherthongandreleasedher,bringinghertomylap Cuppingherface,Iturnedhertome Mycocktwitchedunder her ass whenI saw the beautifullyapplied makeup streakingdownher cheeks. God, her tears had me envisioningthings I shouldn’t Shewasmydamnsister
Ineededtosee aboutsendingher awaywhile we negotiatedthe new terms andterritories ofthe city The families were alreadytryingtonegotiateforherhand,andFatherwashesitating.Itwouldbeeasierifsheweren’there.Itwouldalsohelpme tonotbendherovermykneeagainandclaimherasmyown.Talkaboutsomethingthatwouldstartawar.
Mica putthe top backonthe decanter, thencame around and satinthe chair nextto me. “Itold youto take the dayoff, cousin”
“Itkeeps me busy.” I’d beeninVegas withMica for sixmonths, digginginto his business finances atthe requestofthe Casellafamily I’dbeensurprisedwhentheyhadn’tcalledmehomewhenIfinallygraduatedfromfinishingschool
The firstyear, I’d gottenkicked outtwice. The second time, Lorenzo was pissed. Moaningabouthow muchmoneyhad gonedownthe drainafter he’dpaidtokeepme there thefirsttime Ihadstoodinthedean's office witha blankexpression, whileIwascheeringinside.Mycelebrationhadn’tlastedlongbeforehesentmetoanotheroneinItaly,runbythemafiafor girlslikeme.Oneyearofschoolturnedintofour.Thefirsttimethey’dtakenacanetomehadbeenthelasttime.Itwasn’tlikeI startedbehaving,Ijustgotbetteratnotgettingcaught
I stood, kicked off mystilettos, and padded toward the floor to ceilingwindows that looked out onto the Strip. It was beautiful.Toanoutsiderlookingin,Iwassomeoneeveryonewantedtobe,butfewknewthetruth.Therealreasonwhynoneof Mica’s staff would dare meet my gaze for fear of being accused of flirting with me. Last month, Mica insisted I take two escorts to walkthroughthe casino floor to remind me whatwould happenifIforgotwho Iwas for evena second and leta commonerflirtwithme Imightappearfree,butIlivedinafuckingcage,eventhousandsofmilesfromPhilly AssoonasIheardMicaputthephonedown,itrang.
Igrittedmyteeth My composure is my power, IrepeatedasIreachedforhisofficedoortofindtwomenrightoutside IspunbacktofindMicabehindme.
“I’mjustfollowingorders,Sera Lookslikeyou’regoingtohaveaChristmaswedding” He knew how Ifeltaboutthis whole fuckingthing. He also knew I’d find a wayto run, whichwas whyI’d beenunder heavyguardthewholetimeIwashere “Ithoughtyouweremyfriend,”Ibitout.
“I’ll be backintownfor the wedding, but I trust youto take care of the details,” he finished before he hungup, and I slammedmycellphonedownonmydesk.
I’dbeenrunningthings inPhillyfor thelastseveral years,all whiletryingtokeepSerasafeandoutofharm’s way She hadn’tmadeiteasyforme.IjusthadtokeepheroutoftroubleuntilImarriedheroff.
Iclenchedmyfist.ThiswasthelastthingIhadtimefor.Islammedmypaperdownandstormeduptotheeastwingofthe house I’dbeenworkingonbusinesssincesixthismorning Whentheybroughtherin,shehadbeentoldtobeatbreakfastat eight.Itwasnowalmostnine.
“Isthathowyougreetyourbrother?”Ihissedinherear,notabletogetthesightofherperkybreastsoutofmyhead “Letmego,youbastard.”Shekickedback,butIside-steppedher. Ishoved her to the bed and bentover and picked up the knife “Dear sister, youknow how Ifeel aboutweapons inthe house.”
Enzo had caved and allowed me to have lunch on the balcony overlooking the gardens It wasn’t the same and only reminded me how, eveninmyhome, Iwas a prisoner. Butfor justa moment, whenthe breeze hitme, Ifeltfree. He didn’t understand Iknewwhatwascoming Sure,theyhadn’ttoldmewhatfamilyIwassettomarry,buttheselastweeksbeforethe weddingwouldbemylastchanceofanythingresemblingfreedom.
SERA POSITIONED her dressjustrightassheslidtoher knees Lord,shewasgraceful Ithoughtthiswouldget hertogobacktoherroomandleavemethefuckalone,butasshemetmygazeandmovedtoundomypants,mycockhardened withanticipation
Ihissedwhenshereleasedmefromtheconfinesofmyboxerbriefsandwrappedherhandaroundme.Howmanytimeshad Idreamed ofthis since Isenther away? She’d beenanannoyance as a child, butwhenIbenther over mylap thatnight, I stoppedlookingatherasthelittlegirlIwasmeanttoprotect Instead,she’dbecomemyobsession Overtheyears,I’ddealt withseveralmenwholookedatherwrong.Dolingoutharsherpunishmenttothosewhodaredtouchher.
Hertonguedartedoutandswirledaroundthetip,lickinguppre-cumasshewent SerafinaRosettohadherhandaroundmy cock.Shelookedupatmethroughherlonglashesasshelickedherbottomlipbeforeshetookmeinhermouth.Shetookmeas deepasshecould.Igroanedwhenshereleasedmetolickupanddownmyshaft,coatingitwithhersaliva.Hergrasptightened as she started working me back and forth with her hand, then she took me in her mouth again. She bobbed up and down, swipinghertonguewitheachpass,butitwasn’tenough.
Shethoughtthiswouldgiveher theupper hand,butsheneededtolearnwhowasincontrol anditcertainlywouldnever fuckingbeher.HowwasIsupposedtosellhertothehighestbidder?TomarryherawaywhenallIwantedtodowaslockher upandkeepher for myself? Ifistedher hair andseta gruelingpace She releasedmycocktopushagainstme,butIwasn’t havinganyofit.
“Calmdown.Breathethroughyournose.”Ipulledouttoallowheraquickbreathbeforeplunginginagain,hittingtheback ofher throat She stopped pushingagainstme and gripped mythighs, her sobs onlymakingme quickenmypace Mythrusts wentdeeperanddeepereachtime,givinghernochoicebuttoopenuptome.Shecouldstopthis allshehadtodowasturn herface.Instead,shetookeverythingIgaveher.
Mascara randownher cheeks mixed withtears as she squirmed where she knelt Icouldn’tstop watchingher Was she gettingoffonthis?“God,Iknewyouwereaneedyslutbutthis?Fuck,Sera.”Itightenedmygriponherhairasthenervesinmy spinetightened “Youbettertakeeverylastdrop Youdon’twantitonyourdress,doyou,sis?” God,Iwasgoingtohell.
She sobbed but didn’t pull backor lookaway I held her downas I came and unloaded myself, watchingher swallow beforelickingmeclean.Thereweresomanythingswrongwiththepicture,butIwouldn’tletmyselfthinkaboutthisrightnow. Ituckedmyselfawayandleaneddown,wipingthedribbleoffherchin.WhenIshovedmythumbinhermouth,shesucked mycumoffofit “Goodgirl”
mefiveminutestostopshakingafterIsteppedintothebathroom ItwasluckyIhadeverythingIneededinmy pursebecauseIlookedwell-fucked.ThoughtheacheinmycoretoldmeIhadn’tbeen.IstaredatmyreflectionasIwipedoff the mascara running down my cheeks Had I really just done that? Loving it the whole time when he took control of my movements?Thiswasmorethanfuckedup.
DanteMorenowalkedup."Lorenzo,Serafina,sohappyyoucouldjoinus."Hetookmyhandsinhisandkissedbothofmy cheeks. “Youlookbeautiful, mydarling. It’s a shame you’ve beenawayfor your schooling.” He turned and politelyshook Enzo’shand.“It’sabouttimeyouletheroutofhercage,”hesaidwithasmirk. Ismiledandgrittedmyteeth,knowingmyfacewasgoingtohurtbytheendofthenight That’swhatwedid Wesmiledand playedalongwithwhatevertwistedgamethemenhaddreamedup.
My smile got a little wider, my face hurting a little more. “As expected, sir.” I’d ignored all talk of the wedding at breakfast “Lorenzo,let’stalkaboutthisarrangement.”Dantelookedmeupanddown.“IfonlyIwasyounger.”
Dante laughed at the reference to his wife. “She’s visitingfamilyinItaly.” He glanced around the large room. “I know Antoniowillbehappytohearyouarehere.Weweretoldyouwerestilltiredfromyourjourney.”HeeyedEnzo.
“It’sdownthathall,mydear Thiswillgivemeachancetotalkaboutmen’sstuffwithyourbrother” Ismiled,notmissingthefactthatEnzowaspissed,butDantehadhisearnow.SlowlyIwalkedaway,unabletogetmore thana few feetbefore someone stopped me and told me how happytheywere thatIwas backintown Sure, they’re happy They are also rightfully nervous. Enzo's family rules over sixty percent of the city's businesses belonging to the mafia. Of course,everyoneansweredtotheCasellas,butotherfamilieshadtheirownterritory.Theterritorythathadbeeninsafekeeping until Imarried couldsolidifyconnections Or starta war Enzo hadn'ttold me who the suitors were or how they'd chosen I knewenoughaboutmyplacetoknowIhadnosay.
When I finally reached the hall, I glanced back and if looks could kill, I'd be over his knee again I clutched my legs togetherasheflexedhishand.Turningaway,Ismiled.God,Iwasintrouble.
“Let’shaveteanextweek.”LacylinkedBritney’sarmbeforesaunteringaway. I craned my neck, spotting Enzo and Dante still conversing. I was tempted to get the hell out of there, but when Tony, Dante’sson,turneddownthehall,Iduckedintothebathroomandlockedthedoor.
Once I finished and washed my hands, I stared at my reflection in the mirror Would the Casella family really leave something this important to a fucking auction? I took a deep breath and clutched my hands into fists. Well, I could stop wonderingaboutwhoitwouldbe Onlythreefamilieshadachance,andtheMorenoswereatthetopofthefuckinglist They’d beenafterthedocksforyears.
Fuckit,Ineededtogetbacktotheparty.
Idouble-checkedmymakeup,thenslidoutofthebathroom Someonegrabbedmyforearmandtuggedmeaway “Hey!”Islappedathim,knowingrightawayitwasn’tEnzo. We turnedthe corner,andhe flippedaround,pullingme tohim “I’ve beenlookingfor a few minutes alone withyouall night.”
“It’s notlike youcanstill marryher.” He tooka dragfromhis cigar while Irotated the one he’d givenme betweenmy fingers Iglancedbackinside,waitingforSera ThispartywasthelastplaceIwantedtobe,butasheadofthefamily,itwas expectedofme.
“I’mguessingwhoever tookout Rosetta didn’t thinkabout himleavingthat clause inhis will, did they?” I could have swornheflinched,butheonlysmiledwhenheturnedbacktome.TherewasareasonRosettahadsatattheheadofthetable wheretheCasellassatnow.Hewassmart.Itwaswhatmadethebetrayalandhisdeathsohardforeveryonetotake.
IsmiledandshookhandsasImovedthroughtheroomtothehallSerafinahadgonedown.WhenIreachedthebathroom, someonewhowasn’tSerasteppedout.Doesn’tsherealizeeverythingIdoistoprotecther?It’sallI’vedonesinceIpulledher outofthe fire thatconsumed her father and mostoftheir staff I’d gone after her father, buthe had beenstuck He made me promise I’d gether out, whichIhad. Never ina millionyears had Ithoughtthe nine-year-old little girl Icarried outofthe housewouldgrowintosuchabeautiful,feistyforcetobereckonedwith
I bounced her up off my shoulder and she struggled to catch her breath when she came back down We passed a few caterersandsecurityontheway,butmadeittothefrontdoorwithoutinterference.OncesomeonefoundTony,itwouldbea differentstory
“That’stheproblem Youarestillachild,anduntilyoustopactinglikeone,Iwilltreatyoulikeone Areyoutryingtostart awar?Dantewillcallforyourhead.”Tony’swoundhadn’tbeendeeporfatal,fromwhatIcouldtell,sowe’dbedealingwith that
Aldo pulled the car to the frontentrance ofthe house, butIdidn’twaitfor himto openthe door. Iheld myhand outfor Serafina,glaringatherwhenshedidn’tautomaticallytakeit “Doyoureallywanttomakethingsworse?”Shereluctantlytook itandIpulledhertome.“Gowaitformeinthestudy.”
“The restofthe families would burndownthe city, butwe mightnothave a choice now. The Moreno familywill want retribution.”Thiswassupposedtobestrategic,andnowitwasallfuckedup.
NoddingatAldo, Iheaded into the house, wonderingifSera had done whatshe was told. Istopped inthe doorwayand watchedasshepaced,wringingherhands AsmileformedasIsawthefearandanxietyofnotknowingwhatwascoming We didn’thavemuchtime.TheMorenoswouldcomeforpayback.Ineededtocallmyfather,butIwantedtodealwiththishellcat first Sheneededtolearnheractionshadconsequences
I tooka deep breathand adjusted myhalf-hard cock. At least the talkabout Moreno had gottenmymind off her inthe fuckingreddressshewore ShejumpedwhenIclosedthedoorshutbehindme,hereyesflyingwidewhentheymetmine "Enzo,hewaslying.Iwouldnever."Shesniffled,buthercheeksweredry.Itlookedlikeshe’dcleanedupthebloodonher hands.Iunfastenedmybeltandslowlysliditoutofmypants.Herbodyshook."Hegrabbedme."Sheflashedherarmwhere hisfingershadleftbruises
"Formakingoutwithhim?Wasitallatrick?Areyouactuallytryingtostartawar?” Angerflashedinhereyes,andImissedherarmswingingatmeuntilitconnectedwithmycheek.Shetriedtoshovemeoff her "Youbastard Youneverlisten"
Iwaited for her to saysomething, butshe didn't. WhenIdropped mybeltonthe desk, the buckle made a loud clanging sound, causingher to jump. Myhand traced downher arm, leavinggoosefleshinits wake. "Youknow whyyouneed to be punished,don'tyou?"
I stepped back and flipped her around, so she faced the desk, pushing into her, not even trying to hide the fact I was painfullyhard "You'reasickbastard."
Whensherubbedherbare ass against my cock and leaned into my hand, I was lost. She wasn’t my stepsister at that moment she was the beautiful womanIwantedtoclaimformyown.
Hetenderlyranhistongueoverthebitemarkbeforepushingawayandstalkingtothebathroomwithoutaword.Isatupon the desk, coveringmybreasts, confused all to hell Whathad justhappened? He reappeared moments later, all buttoned up, withascowletchedacrosshisface.
“Give me five minutes,” he growled into the phone before disconnecting the call and throwing it across the room. He breathedoutadeepsighbeforegrabbinghisjacketandholdingahandouttome Iplacedmyhandinhisandwincedasmy soreasspulledawayfromthedesk.Enzowrappedhisjacketaroundmyshoulders,coveringmynakedness.
THE FUCKhadIdone?IclosedmystudydooraftermakingsureSerawalkedintherightdirection away fromthedrawingroom.Itonlytookmeaminutetograbmyholster,slipiton,andmakesureIhadbulletsinmyclip.Moreno wasn’thereforasocialcall Icouldn’tthinkaboutthefactIjustfuckedmybeautifulstepsisteronmydesk,becauseIhadtogo make peace witha monster Iwanted more thananythingto putdowninstead. One deep breathand Iheaded to the drawing room,hopingSeralistenedtomeandstayedinherroom.
He paused inthe doorwayand chuckled. “We will see.” He pushed pasta returningAldo, and Ipulled mygunfromits holster Aldoplacedhishandovermine,shakinghishead “Lethimgo.”
Itookthestairstwoatatimeandstoodoutsideherdoor.Asmuchaswomenwerepawnsinourworld,whydidthisfeel wrong? She’d be married to the family that would benefit us most The door creaked as it opened, and for a moment, the silencewas deafening.Closingthedoor,Isteppedfarther intoher roomtofindher onher bed,lookinglikeshe’dshowered andcurledupinmysuitjacket
Imadesurethesafetywasonmyweaponbeforeslippingmyholsterandshirtoff,easingthemtothefloor Ishouldwalk away. Bythe end ofthe week, she’ll be someone else’s wife. ButIcouldn’tfind itinme to give a shitas Ispread her legs open Ineededjustonetaste
SERAFINA
MY EYES FLUTTERED openas Imoaned Ihadtostill be dreaming Painradiatedfrommyass whenIturned ontomyback.Itstill hurtfromhisbelt,butohmygod,I’dnevercomesohardinmylife.Ihadn’tevenknownIcouldcome fromjustsex Sure,sexfeltgood,buthadalwaysbeensorushedinfearofmybodyguardscomingacrossus
Ifeltwarmthfloodthroughmeasmyorgasmhitandhegruntedthroughhisown Hehadclaimedmeineverysenseofthe word. Iwas his. The lastthingIremembered before blackingoutwas himcollapsingontop ofme, rollingto his side, and pullingmetohim
Eleven LORENZO
I STAREDatGiovanni CasellabeforemygazemovedtotheheadoftheAgosti familyandtheRomanofamily Hewas kickingmeoutoftheroom?HadIheardhimright?
Clenchingmyteeth, Ispunonmyheels and leftthe meninthe drawingroom. Iwas his righthand and had beenrunning thingswhileheenjoyedhisretirement IranmyhandthroughmyhairandgrumbledwhenIsawAldoattheendofthehall “Senttoyourroom?”
Theurgetograbherandpinheragainstthewallconflictedwiththeonethatwantedtosweepherawayfromallofthis.I movedaroundtosteadythebag "Isthathow you'resupposedtotalktome?"Sheswungandmissedmyfacebylessthanan inch, but I refused to flinch. I wanted to tell her it was goingto be okay, but I knew, evenwithmyheavyhandedness and sadisticnature,thefamiliesnegotiatingforherhandcouldbeworse.
