Sweet Pain: A Dark Mafia Billionaire Romance (Amatucci Family Book 3)

  Sweet Pain

  Amatucci Family Book Three

  Sadie Jacks

  2020 Sadie Jacks

  All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means–electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise- without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by the United States copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher at sadie@sadiejacks.com

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

  Please note that this e-book is ONLY distributed through Amazon. If you obtained this copy from elsewhere, please email the author on the email address above, as this is a pirated copy.

  Editing by Niki Trento-Spencer

  Cover design by Natasha Williams with Dazed Designs. www.dazed-designs.com

  1st Edition

  Other books by Sadie Jacks

  Amatucci Family Series

  Chase the Pain (Released August 28, 2020)

  His Love is Pain (Released September 25, 2020)

  Sweet Pain (the book you’re reading right now)

  Needing Arturo (releasing November 27, 2020)

  Loving Talia (releasing December 28, 2020)

  Finding Domenico (releasing January 29, 2021)

  Freeing Massimo (releasing February 26, 2021)

  Keeping Raphael (releasing March 26, 2021)

  Circle of the Stars – PNR RH

  Breakaway (Released August 14, 2020)

  Bonded (Released on September 11, 2020)

  Brutal (Releasing October 9, 2020)

  Brilliance (releasing November 13, 2020)

  Iron Serpent Chronicles (series complete).

  Not your typical PNR RH. This series takes a wide step to the side in terms of harems. Please note, not all characters introduced at the beginning of the series are in one harem. But every main character does get their happily ever after.

  Caged Magic

  Wild Magic

  Warring Magic

  Broken Magic

  Magic Freed

  Dedication

  First and always, God. Thank you for letting me do something that makes me so happy.

  Niki and Cherrie: I don’t have the words to express my gratitude. In all ways, you guys are there for me. Love you!

  Karly, Kat, Mary, Theresa (AKA my angel dragons): Your support and encouragement continue to rock my world. Thank you!

  Mom and Dad, always last, but never least, thank you.

  P.S. Grandma—Yeah, this hasn’t changed from the last dedication. But…I am still working on the PG13 version. I swear. Love you, Gramma!

  TRIGGER WARNING: This book is for mature readers. Please be aware that there is talk of potentially triggering topics within this book with references and/or detailed descriptions of violence, physical, mental abuse, rape, suicide, murder, and other sensitive topics that some readers may find offensive.

  Chapter 1 – Willow

  “Willow! Wake up. We’re under attack!”

  Ryker’s shout had me snapping upright in bed before my eyes had completely opened. The sounds of shattering glass, splashing liquid, and gunshots were not really the best wake up call I’d experienced in my life before.

  He darted over, pulled me from the bed and down to the floor before he flipped the bed up on its side. “Stay here.” He pressed a kiss to my head and raced off across the room.

  “Ryker!” I shouted after him. I blinked, tried to get my brain to wake up so I could focus. Under the adrenaline rush, I was tired and achy. But the sheer power that pushed through my veins had me getting to my feet.

  I fished behind me on the floor, scooped up my inside out pants. I threw the panties back on the floor. Not today, Satan. I danced into my pants, flung my shirt on. I needed shoes.

  “Ouch. Dammit,” Ryker hissed from his spot at the door.

  “You better not be thinking of leaving me here, Ryker Penn. I’ll haunt you for the rest of your life,” I snarled at him as I crawled across the floor and picked up my shoes. I stuffed my feet into them. “You also need some clothes on. We might be under attack, but I’m not sharing your naked deliciousness with anyone else.” I glared at him as I stomped my left foot down into my shoe.

  “Then you need to get dress—” He stopped talking when he glared back at me.

  I raised an eyebrow. “You were saying?”

  He narrowed his eyes at me. “Bring me my clothes, cupcake. I have no idea where my shoes are at the moment.”

  I saw his discarded jeans but no shirt. I tossed him the denim. Took his position at the door. Whoever was firing on us didn’t seem to know where anyone was. It sounded like random sprays of bullets to keep their path clear.

  He pulled me aside, took the point position at the door. “My phone’s dead. What about yours?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know where it is.”

  He sighed. “Right. Stay behind me. And if you get shot, I’m going to paddle your ass so hard you won’t be sitting for a month.”

  I chuckled. “Promises, promises.” I slid my hand into his. Squeezed his fingers with mine.

  We eased out into the hall. Down to the right I saw at least four other shut doors. Hoped we didn’t have any family or friends behind those doors. Or if they were down there, hopefully they had guns. We were weaponless and sitting ducks if we stayed here.

  Moving left, we ventured forward at a snail’s pace. Honestly, the snail would probably have beaten us. Every few inches, Ryker would stop our progress and listen for any sounds.

  I cursed my lack of watch. What time was it anyway? And who was so rude to burst in on us while we were sleeping?

  I mentally chuckled. I was guessing de Silva and her crew. Not a lot of niceness and respect for others in a trafficker’s world.

  Another shower of bullets sounded. The clang of spent casings echoing against the cement floors and walls.

  “JESSA!” Rafe screamed.

  I darted forward. No. Not her. Not any of them. But not the gentle doctor with the heart of gold.

  Ryker grabbed my hand, forced me up against the wall. “Not until we’re clear,” he growled in my ear.

  I snapped my teeth at him. “I’m not staying here while she’s hurt.” I tugged and pulled on my hand. I needed to go to her. Help her. Hold her hand. Let her know she was loved. And that leaving wasn’t an option.

  Ryker’s grip only tightened. He shook his head. “I’m not losing you just so you can go give her cuddles. Not happening.”

  I saw the grief in his green eyes. The dread that peeked through the tight features and stern set to his mouth. He would choose me a thousand times over anyone else.

  I nodded. “Then start heading us in that direction. I need to be there as soon as humanly possible.”

  He dipped his chin in one short motion. “Stay against the wall. Let’s keep moving.”

  Like actors in a bad spy movie, we clung to the walls as we made our way slowly down the hallway. At the main junction, I saw Turo and Nik. Both dogged by sleep and chased with adrenaline.

  “What do we know?” Ryker asked.

  Nik, not bothering to hug the walls, pulled up her tablet. “We had four unknowns breach the main entrance. Camera feeds were disabled at each camera. No identifying features or marks. But at least one of them matches the height an
d weight of Antonia de Silva.”

  Turo smiled as he watched the younger woman. A touch of heat in his dark eyes. He looked back at Ryker. “My cell phone is useless down here.”

  Nik snorted. Held her hand out. “You just need to know how to bounce off the buried signal.” She made the ‘gimme, gimme’ motion.

  Turo slapped his phone into her hands. “The passcode i—”

  Nik chuckled. “Don’t need it.” Her thumbs were flying over the screen.

  “Cricket, you surprise me,” Turo’s tone was silk and sex.

  I smothered the chuckle. Cricket? I thought Nik was more black widow spider or something else terrifying and strong. Annoying leg-rubbing insect she was not.

  “Anytime you want to share with the rest of the group, Turo, you just let us know. We’re not waiting or anything,” Ryker said. His voice was dry as the Sahara.

  Turo flipped him off. “Honestly, with only four men, I’m not really worried. Between all of us, we have them outnumbered at least two to one. The only ones not packing are you three.” He held up his dark matte gun in his free hand. “If anyone is stupid enough to want to tango with our family, then they should be allowed to die in peace and pain.”

  I snickered. “And we have Mas.”

  Turo winked at me. “So fucking true, sorella. I’m sure they’re already mostly contained. We just need to watch our step and avoid any crossfire.”

  Whatever Nik did to Turo’s phone, it made the low humming buzz of a silenced ring. She handed it back to the man with the plan…well, at least the gun.

  Turo answered it and moved away, spoke in low undertones.

  Nik looked at me. Ran her gaze up and down my form. “You’re feeling better.” She made it a statement, not a question.

  I nodded. “Yes.” I didn’t say anything else, and she didn’t ask.

  “Good.” She looked up and down the long hallways. Kept her weight balanced on the balls of her feet.

  “Did you find out anything more from those videos that Ethan left for me?” I asked her. I knew Ryker had those answers, but I also knew both of us needed some space from whatever had happened.

  She startled. Nodded. Without looking up at Ryker—which I gave her serious credit for—she said, “Apparently, you’re the wealthy widow of a psychopath. You get to do whatever you want with the assets. Since Nico made the arrangements for the DA’s office to come pick up the evidence, I’m not sure that you’ll get to play with any of it.”

  I jerked back. “I wouldn’t keep any of it anyway.”

  She smiled, a bit on the toothy side “I would. Give it to shelters, set up some scholarships for counseling. Hell, make a clinic that provides wrap around care for trafficking survivors. Shove Ethan’s dead nose in the good you do with the money.”

  I smiled. “I love that idea. I’ll be making restitution for the families and victims. Whatever is left…” I looked at her. “Want to help me spend an asshole’s money on nothing but good deeds?”

  “Hell yes!”

  I nodded. “Great. We’ll get Tali and Jes—” My throat closed up on my friend’s name. “I heard Rafe scream for Jessa.”

  Nik nodded. “Yeah.” She tapped some buttons on her tablet. “I think he needed her help with a wound?” She turned the tablet around. There they both were. Black and white and so very alive.

  I almost wilted. “Thank the goddess.”

  Nik’s head tipped to the side. “Oh. You thought she’d been hit.” She shook her head. “If that had been the case, you’d probably have heard Ni—”

  “-co’s voice,” we said together. I nodded again. “Yeah, very true.” I slumped against Ryker. He was still at attention, making sure that no one was sneaking up on us.

  Turo came back over. “We’re clear. Rafe and Jessa are helping one of the insurgents. We need to get to the main space for questioning before she dies.” He grabbed Nik’s hand and pulled her with him.

  She tried to jerk her limb back, but had no such luck.

  Ryker and I brought up the rear. I struggled to keep up with everyone else’s long-legged strides. Nik and I were about the same height, but she was all legs.

  I saw her keep yanking on her hand. Chuckled when I saw Turo just close his hand tighter on hers. If I wasn’t mistaken, she threatened him in a soft tone.

  If Turo’s chuckle was anything to go by, he was looking forward to whatever she’d offered as punishment.

  Ryker huffed a quiet laugh as our group made our way out into the big space of the shoddy maze. “He’s going to land on his ass if he’s not careful. Nik doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do unless she’s paid handsomely for it.”

  I slapped at his arm. “I sincerely doubt that Nik is a hooker.”

  He laughed. “No, gutter brain. She isn’t. I meant she only takes orders in a professional sense. And her skills allow her to demand whatever price she wants to set. Turo’s got his hands full if he thinks to encroach on her freedom.”

  We slid to a slow stop in the opening of the maze. The rest of my family was standing around in various states of heightened disarray. Momma had her robe around her shoulders, an AR-15 in her hands.

  By her glare alone, I knew she didn’t really support the life-saving efforts going on in the middle of the hallway. But I also knew she wanted the information her sons could get from the wounded party.

  I looked down. A small beautiful woman was lying on the floor. A puddle of blood was growing in ever-widening circles under her abdomen. Her long dark hair and sunkissed skin spoke of long days in the blazing sun and rich blue waters.

  Mas knelt next to her, his hand pushing down into the wound on her belly. “Why, Nia?”

  The woman choked, smiled. “Because I could. Because it was my time to be in charge. He had no right to push me out. You understand families. How overbearing and hard bosses who are also our parents can be.”

  Mas winced. “A hard life doesn’t mean you should hurt innocents. Sell them like cattle.”

  Antonia smiled. Her teeth were covered in red. “She’s just like you. Soft. Weak. I need to beat it out of her.” She laughed. Blood, saliva, and other grittier, meatier things spewed from her mouth.

  Mas’ brow furrowed. “She who?”

  “Amara. But you’ll never find her.” She coughed again as Jessa and Rafe worked to get the bleeding stopped. She shook her head slowly, a fierce smile on her face “Never find her. She’s yours, but you’ll never get her.”

  The whole room seemed to still.

  Mas leaned forward. “Amara. She’s mine?” He shook Antonia’s shoulders. “My daughter?”

  Antonia just smiled, dipped her chin the slightest degree. “Should have joined me when you had the chance, huh? No one to blame but yourself.” She coughed again. A fountain of blood spurted upwards from her gaping mouth.

  Mas grabbed Antonia’s chin. Pulled her up to him. “If she’s mine, I’ll find her. I’ll save her. This I vow upon my honor.”

  We all inhaled at his promise. I’d never heard Mas make one. And knowing him as well as I do, I knew he wouldn’t stop until he found his daughter.

  If the dying woman could be believed.

  He dropped her head. It made a thick, meaty thunk against the concrete. “Stop,” he said as he glared at the woman he’d shared his bed and body with.

  Rafe pulled back, but Jessa kept up her ministrations.

  “Jessa, so help me God, if you don’t let her die, I’ll send you after her,” Mas said in his broken, hoarse voice.

  Nico snarled, pulled Jessa away from the body. “Stop, Jessa.”

  She fought him for a few brief moments. Sighed as all signs of life fled Antonia’s body. She wiped the back of her wrist over her brow. “We couldn’t save her.” She looked up at Nico. “I couldn’t save her.”

  Mas snarled and got to his feet. “She didn’t deserve to be saved.” He pushed from the huddling group of family.

  “Massimo,” Momma called after him.

  He shook his head an
d kept walking.

  Papa patted Momma’s arm. “Let him breathe for a little while.”

  She nodded, sorrow in her dark eyes. “How did they find us?”

  Everyone was quiet as we stood over the body of an evil woman. I had no answers. Didn’t really understand much of what was going on. Other than Mas was hurting right now. Hurting in ways I couldn’t even comprehend. To find out that he had a daughter, but that she’d been hidden from him?

  What kind of monster did that?

  “I think I have an idea,” Nik said.

  The sound of rushing feet and barked orders filled the giant room. “NEW TRENADIE SWAT. HANDS UP WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM. WEAPONS DOWN ON THE GROUND. DOWN ON THE GROUND!”

  Chapter 2 – Ryker

  I held my hands up, waited for the police to see that we were all participating with their orders. No fewer than five SWAT members and fifteen uniformed officers streamed into the bunker. The amount of noise they made was unbelievable.

  How we hadn’t heard them was a miracle. Although, I feel like we’d been pretty well occupied with other news. And we weren’t actually in trouble with these people. Or at least not bad trouble.

  Wright came in behind the uniformed police. “What the hell happened here?” he demanded as he made his way over from the catwalk stairs. He threaded his way through the Kool-Aid man holes we’d made on our first horrible trip through this hellhole.

  Turo stepped forward. “Would you like a full accounting now, or would you like to get the evidence you came for? We are completely fine in either case. We just ask that we be allowed to lower our arms.”

  Wright waved his hand. We all lowered our hands. “Your guns will be confiscated. Run through the system. If they are cleared, then you’ll get them back, provided you have the correct permits.”

  Momma looked a little weepy as she handed over her gun. She narrowed her eyes at the SWAT officer. “Do not hurt or scratch my baby.” She fished in her pocket. “Here is the magazine for it.”