Afon Read online

  “Afon” The Dudnik Circle Book Three

  By Esther E. Schmidt

  Copyright © 2018 by Esther E. Schmidt All rights reserved.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, without permission in writing from the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Incidents, names, places, characters and other stuff mentioned in this book is the results of the author’s imagination. Afon is a work of fiction. If there is any resemblance, it is entirely coincidental.

  Afon might be considered a dark romance. So a warning comes with this book. It’s not a typical light and fluffy, it’s closer to a dark and twisty romance.

  Afon is not intended for readers and anyone who is unable to read books containing, kidnapping, murder, and assault. Do not read if sexual situations, violence and explicit language offends you.

  Cover design by:

  Esther E. Schmidt

  Model / Photographer:

  Joram Krol Photography

  Proofreader:

  Christi Durbin

  Editor:

  Virginia Tesi Carey

  Dedication

  To all of you:

  Don’t let things in life consume you,

  turn the tables and consume the hell

  out of that sucker.

  Table of Content

  Chapter 01

  Chapter 02

  Chapter 03

  Chapter 04

  Chapter 05

  Chapter 06

  Chapter 07

  Chapter 08

  Chapter 09

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  Get a taste of “Crane” Lost Valkyries MC #1. Chapter one, is included in the back.

  Chapter 01

  In a killer mood.

  ***Afon***

  Immense strength is coursing through my veins. There’s a need deep within me to tear this fucking mansion in front of me apart. All because she’s close. I can fucking feel it, and it’s not just a gut feeling either. I’ve been on her trail for a few days now, slowly closing in; but she’s always one step ahead of me. It has taken me months to get this close to catching up to her. Yegor texted me a little over an hour ago with some intel that made it possible for me to pinpoint her exact location.

  Who am I talking about? Andreana Datano. That’s who. Although everyone calls her Andy. She’s Buca Di Volpe. That’s right…a headpiece of the Italian-fucking-mob. She runs it along with her brother Ricca. Both are as ruthless as they are skilled. Ripples of their past have carved them with darkness, withholding any beauty life has to offer. And yet it’s her inner charm and strength that shines right fucking at me.

  She’s fucking perfect. A predator in full glory that’s trained to handle anything, and she’s been hunting for a while now. She’s one who takes vengeance to a higher level. Except Yegor’s information told me that Marco’s men grabbed her. Somehow I doubt that she’d slip up like that, even though I know she’s been captured once before by Marco. And fuck…before that? When she was barely eighteen?

  I can’t even replay the shit her brother told me that happened to her in the past and I’m sure I don’t have all the damn details she went through either. She…my heart gallops in a tearing rhythm that rings up a new wave of fury. Born into the mob means blood is always around; flowing through veins with respect or decorating the fucking pavement for all to see. No one understands this better than I do, for I live that exact life. Yet I’m dead set to add a bonus to enrich her life; Andy needs to be safe and cherished. By me.

  Ever since I laid eyes on her that first time, I felt the connection scorching my skin. Not your normal introduction of shaking hands or anything. Fuck no, we exchanged a show and tell of our scars. Andy almost bared her fine tits to me to show me where a large knife sliced her from side to side.

  I showed her the one I carry on my skin as well as mentally. It’s spread from left to right across my throat. I almost fucking died when the head of a rival gang cut me open in front of my boss to make a statement. He isn’t alive to gloat because that’s what happens when you mess with me and mine. You might get a single shot to strike once, but you gotta damn well make it a good one, because if you don’t? This fucking world won’t be big enough to keep you alive.

  Didn’t you get the hint yet? I’m always hungry for a taste of retribution with the need to purge. I’ve drowned in my own blood and welcomed the taste until it fueled me to revive. I’m Afon Nikolin, third in command of The Dudnik Circle. The Russian Mob, in case you need a label.

  I just explained that my woman was Italian mob, right? Most keep in their own circle to prevent even more conflicts between gangs. Hell, there’s enough struggle between rival families. So add two different gangs with their own traditions, rules…it doesn’t bid well to mix Russian and Italian gangs. Yeah, I don’t fucking care one single bit.

  Love is blind, right? Or so romantics say. I’m by no means a romantic fucker and my eyes were wide open when I got hit. Love, lust, adoration, call it what you want but I damn well knew she was my woman right then and there.

  And I say my woman, but that’s also something she doesn’t know yet. I have a signed contract, written in black and white that she’s mine. I haven’t been able to tell her straight to her face because she’s been gone for months. Andy went into hiding to let herself heal because she escaped from Marco when he took her with him as a hostage. She jumped out of a truck while tied up, I might add.

  Fucking hell, she had several injuries, but the worst was a shattered shoulder which required hours and fucking hours of operating to reconstruct. Ricca gave me the title of fiancé at the hospital so I could see her and get the information firsthand on how she was doing. Andy spent some time in the hospital, and afterward she needed time to regain strength in her shoulder. But she vanished barely three days after she was taken to the hospital.

  Ricca was livid, but Andy texted her brother to let him know she checked herself into a private clinic and she needed time to herself. Except we damn well knew she was planning revenge…to kill Marco without our interference.

  Ricca was there when I met his sister and even then, gave me friendly advice about her because he’s the only one who knows the type of person she is. She doesn’t let anyone close. When she ran I staked my claim; Andy’s mine, and I’m dead set on finding her and bringing her home safe. Maybe that’s what made the decision easy for Ricca to whip out a contract; because in his eyes I was qualified enough to handle her.

  In the Italian mob, it’s a tradition for the fathers, or the head of the family, to search for a suitable partner to give a woman’s hand in marriage to strengthen a connection or make a profitable one. The reason for a marriage in their circle is always to gain something from the union; hell, some are even arranged by the syndicate.

  Yeah. I have a signed fucking contract and I might be a scumbag to gloat, but I’m not the only sonofabitch here since Ricca’s signature is on there too. A contract where Andy is promised to me. My wife. And screwed up as it is…I’m actually looking forward to telling her that little piece of information. E-fucking-nough said. I need to keep my head in the game.

  We’ve got a visual on the mansion her cell phone pinpointed. Why didn’t I use that nifty technology until now? Because she picked up a new burner and no one knew it, except for Yegor’s wife, and my boss Tarzan. Some kind of girl code, only spilling the info when shit hit the fan. I’m not complaining though, they reached out when Andy needed it. Hence th
e reason I have a visual on her now, that’s what matters.

  “Are you seeing this?” Jakov whispers from my right.

  The corner of my mouth twitches. Oh, I’m seeing it alright. My woman. In her damn element. I should have known I didn’t need to worry but I had to see it with my own eyes. And damn, what a magnificent sight.

  The house we’re inching closer to has two large floor-to-ceiling windows. All the lights are blazing in the living room while Andy is gracefully in the midst of it all, moving around, smooth as silk on a summer’s breeze, handling a knuckle knife in each hand.

  Reaching down, I have to adjust myself because I need to focus and not be hard as fuck from just the sight of her. Don’t judge, I haven’t seen her in months and to be confronted with seeing her in action turns me on.

  “Aw, fuck...get a grip already and not on your junk, man,” Jakov mutters.

  Ignoring him, and my junk, I move in and get ready to slide into the living room.

  “Hold up, Capo. You don’t wanna disturb her when she’s like this,” Vinci interrupts and with that he’s annoying the fuck out of me.

  “I ain’t a fucking Capo, Vinci,” I growl low. A fucking Captain? No way. That’s passed from father to son in their Italian gang.

  I’m Russian. Although my father had Welsh forefathers, hence my name, but I’ve got no fucking Italian blood, nor am I part of his damn Italian gang. Ricca sent Vinci with me, along with two others for backup. Jakov is part of the Dudnik Circle and has been my friend for years, I needed him with me. Hell, I didn’t even have to ask him when I headed out, he was just right there next to me.

  With my gaze set on my woman, I assess my surroundings. Dead silence greets me. Well, except for the rough breathing of Andy. Her hands are down, still gripping the knives in a way that leaves her knuckles white. Slowly my gaze travels up and now that I see her up close…anger rises within me.

  Even when she’s covered with blood and wearing a tank top, I see her collarbones protruding. She’s lost a lot of weight since I last saw her and dammit, how long exactly was that? A few weeks, mere fucking months? Fucking hell. With her fierce appearance she looks invincible, and yet I can see right through her and know what’s going on inside her. The fatigue and the neglect of taking care of herself is staring right at me.

  Andy’s eyes flash toward me and I can tell she’s not seeing me. She’s seeing someone that’s still alive and needs to be killed. Hence the reason Vinci warned me; when she’s in a killer mood she’s not herself. Vinci’s forgetting one crucial thing. For years I’ve been second in command where my boss was a woman. One who was deadlier than any top of the line assassin. She used to get like this from time to time, and guess who was her sparring partner when she trained? Right. A slow smile spreads my face as my mind opens up, screaming ‘bring it’.

  Chapter 02

  Respect the fucking contract.

  ***Andy***

  Another one…no, wait. I take a deep breath and concentrate. There are at least three more alive in this room. Not for long they won’t be. I step forward and place my foot on the edge of the coffee table to push off and lunge at the first guy. I only manage to nick his forearm and that pisses me off. I never miss.

  The idiot chuckles and somehow the sound ignites a shiver that rocks through me. An awareness of recognition. A rumble rips from my throat that enhances my frustration before I go for my second attempt. The man has nice reflexes, I’ll give him that. My third and fourth attempts come up empty and that’s something that’s never happened to me. I just slaughtered twenty guys by myself without much effort, mainly because they underestimated a woman alone, and yet here I am mustering on my tiptoes to end one freaking guy right now?

  Okay, maybe I’m down to my last stretch of energy or something. I know damn well I should have taken better care of myself these last few weeks, but it couldn’t be helped. I’m consumed with vengeance. And the worst thing? I let Marco slip through my fingers again. Cazzo! The man snatches my wrists from behind, holding me in a tight grip.

  “Now, now, anima mia.” My soul. “Couldn’t you find a nicer word to greet me?” Those raspy words stroking my ear are followed by that husky chuckle I heard a moment ago.

  What’s he doing here? Afon. I only had a brief encounter with him months ago, and then he was there at the hospital when I got hurt. As if he belonged to be the one by my hospital bed as my next of kin. Such brief encounters and yet he imprinted my body with so many emotions, I couldn’t even comprehend. Like now. My breathing slips out of rhythm and the room slowly starts to get smaller. I need to fight, I have to. Marco is out there, I need…

  “Fuck. You’re bleeding. Vinci, call it in and get the doc ready. Jakov, call ours too…I need more than one fucking doctor.” Afon’s voice starts to trail off as my legs give out from underneath me.

  I’m fading in and out of consciousness. Every time I manage to get my eyes open I’m instantly fading back out. I have fragments of awareness where I’m in a car, being carried up some stairs…all of this is wrapped up in Afon’s scent. It’s probably the only reason I surrender without fighting to wake up. And the fact that all the fight has drained right out of me.

  During the fight earlier, a knife was lodged into my thigh. Previous to that, the fucker I was fighting managed to cut me a few times before I sliced his head clean off. I know damn well it was stupid to go in there all alone, but I had to. I’m so driven by vengeance I was too blind to see I wasn’t in shape anymore. The time I needed to let my shoulder heal, not eating properly, hunting down Marco all snowballed out of control.

  I take a deep breath and suddenly panic floods me. It’s not the spicy, sandalwood with a hint of citrus I was wrapped in; the clean and yet masculine scent of Afon. No. I’m surrounded by lavender with a hint of vanilla. Surging up, my eyes fly open, yet my surroundings are blurry. I blink a few times and rub my eyes furiously. Dammit, how long was I out?

  There’s something warm and wet licking my face. Dog breath. What the…my sight is sharp and clear when I open them a second time. Just as sharp as the teeth I’m staring at. Holy hell, that’s one big ass dog. Instantly I know what breed it is, a Caucasian Shepherd.

  This one is white, like a massive polar bear with heavy hair. The paws are large and freaking heavy. I should be scared and yet the dog is licking my cheek and cuddles closer, draping her, or his, body over my chest. Shit. I try to shift the heavy beast somewhat off me so I can breathe. Why did I neglect myself these last few months? I’ve never felt this weak, not since…

  I cut off my own thoughts because I don’t need a trip down memory lane. Not now, not ever. So instead I focus on another approach to get some space between me and the beast.

  “Hey, baby. Gonna give me some room here?” I ask the beast in a sweet tone while I scratch behind its ear.

  It’s like he knows he’s crushing me because he turns onto his back and snuggles into a position that fits the both of us. Meaning it allows me to scratch his belly…also the reason I know this beast is a male.

  His teeth go around my forearm as if he’s keeping me in place so I can’t stop scratching. His tongue lolls out in between while trying to lick my arm. The absurdity of it all gives me the giggles. Something I haven’t done in what feels like years. I should be panicked not knowing where exactly I am with this massive beast on the bed beside me, and yet he’s on his back in full surrender, comforting me.

  With every movement I make, I become aware of my sore muscles. Not to mention the throbbing in my thigh. Shit. Some flashes come back to me as I remember the fight from…last night? I glance around but I don’t see a clock. It should matter, I should panic…yet I’m lying in this clean bed, one hell of a large cuddle bear…well, dog, whatever, right next to me so who cares.

  I take a deep breath and let it slowly slide out of my body. Safe. Warm. Content. I’ve not felt this in a very long time. Closing my eyes, I decide to get some more sleep and drift off.

  Shifting weight on th
e bed wakes me back up. I hear faint voices outside of the room. More than likely why the dog is now giving me his back while he faces whatever is happening outside of the room.

  “What is it, baby?” I stroke my hand down his white thick fur while he gives a low growl directed at the door in return. “Good boy,” I whisper while I keep petting my bodyguard.

  Normally I would grab my gun or knife, whatever’s nearest, but something deep inside me tells me this dog is the deadliest weapon in here. Besides…I already glanced around…no other weapons in sight.

  I can’t make out what they’re saying until the door opens slightly. The dog doesn’t do anything yet, probably because the door isn’t fully open. From the sound of the two voices it’s my brother and Afon arguing.

  “You can’t fucking do this,” Ricca seethes.

  It’s apparent that Afon is the one holding the door when he says, “Watch me. I told you I’m not letting you see her. The message I sent was very clear and all you needed to know. She’s safe, unharmed, and with me. I specifically said she wasn’t taking visitors. Three days. Then, if she wants to see you, you can come over.”

  There’s some shuffling outside the door, the dog lets out a low growl.

  “Leave,” Afon snaps. “She’s promised to me, my wife, respect the fucking contract and get the hell out of here.”

  My heartbeat picks up. A contract? I’m promised to Afon? They…he…my brother honored the Italian tradition? One he promised, swore to me, never to do…because I simply can’t. I could never be somebody’s wife. How could Ricca do this? Betray me like that, and Afon for that matter, when he knows I will never be able to fulfill any husband’s…whatever.

  “Fine,” Ricca snaps. “But you’d better have her call me when she wakes up.”

  Afon chuckles. “That’s up to her, not me. But I’ll be sure to let her know.”