Sweet Poison: A Small Town; Enemies To Lovers; Mafia Romance, page 1
Sweet Poison
Georgia Carre
Some Books Ltd
For Sandra Hayes,
You wanted a Mafia book, so… here you go!
Contents
Author’s Note
Prologue
1. Montana
2. Montana
3. Montana
4. Cole
5. Montana
6. Montana
7. Cole
8. Montana
9. Montana
10. Cole
11. Montana
12. Montana
13. Cole
14. Cole
15. Cole
16. Montana
17. Cole
18. Cole
19. Cole
20. Montana
21. Cole
22. Montana
23. Cole
24. Montana
25. Cole
26. Montana
27. Cole
28. Montana
29. Cole
30. Montana
31. Cole
32. Montana
33. Cole
34. Montana
35. Cole
36. Montana
37. Montana
38. Montana
39. Cole
40. Montana
41. Cole
42. Montana
43. Cole
44. Montana
45. Cole
46. Montana
47. Cole
48. Cole
49. Montana
50. Montana
51. Cole
52. Montana
53. Cole
54. Montana
55. Cole
56. Montana
57. Cole
58. Cole
59. Montana
60. Luca
Epilogue
Coming Soon…
About the Author
Also by Georgia Carre
Author’s Note
As you already probably know the town of Bison Ridge doesn’t exist, but I am now certain, it should!
Prologue
Cole
“Shall we practice one more time, honey?”
My daughter chewed her bottom lip and nodded solemnly. “Okay.”
“What is your name?”
She folded her little arms in front of her. “Anya Swift.”
“Good. And your father’s name?”
“Cole. Cole Swift.”
“Very good,” I encouraged, with a smile. “And if anybody asks you where you come from?”
“Manhattan,” she said clearly.
“Did you live in a big house with a housekeeper and maids or a small apartment?”
“A small apartment.”
“What floor was the apartment?”
She looked upwards. “Mmm… Fifth floor.”
“Have you ever had a chauffeur?” I threw at her suddenly.
“Nope.”
“What about a gardener or a nanny?”
She shook her head decisively. “Never.”
“Excellent. Why have you and your father moved to Bison Ridge?”
“Because he wanted me to attend the brilliant Shadow Wolf Academy.”
I grinned at the creative addition of brilliant in her answer. “Well done. Where did you go to school in Manhattan?”
“The Avenue Sc-,” she began to say.
But I shook my head slightly, and she immediately covered her mouth with both hands and said, “Oops. Sorry, Daddy.”
“It’s okay,” I reassured gently. “You have enough time to get this right. Try again.”
“I was home-schooled.”
I nodded. “That’s better. What does your father do for a living?”
“He’s an accountant. He files other people’s taxes for them.”
I nodded approvingly. “Next question, where is your mother?”
Her expression remained unchanged, but her voice felt robotic. “My mother abandoned my father and me.”
“And if anybody asks for more information about her, what will you say?”
“It’s hard for me to talk about my mom. Can we talk about something else, please.”
I touched her little nose with my finger. “Good answer. What about your grandparents? Where are they?”
She looked sideways at me. “They live in Miami?”
“Exactly. But don’t look as if you’re unsure. Try again. Say it naturally. You don’t want to make anyone suspicious, do you?”
She shook her head vigorously. “No.”
“Where do your grandparents live?” I repeated.
“They live in Miami.”
“That’s much better.” I was smiling at her, but inside I was dying. A part of me was floating above us and watching what I was doing in disbelief. I was purposely and deliberately ruining my own daughter, teaching her to lie with a straight face… but there was no other choice. It was this and survival or death.
I couldn’t look her in the eye another second longer. I glanced at my watch. “I think that’s enough for tonight. Looks like it’s your bedtime anyway.”
“Will Mommy ever come back to see us?”
My heart broke for her. “I don’t know, honey. She’s busy with her new life. Maybe one day, when you’re older you can go visit her, huh?”
“Daddy?”
“Yeah.”
She looked down at a blue button on her dress. “I know Mommy is busy with her new life and she doesn’t have time for us anymore, but will you check up on her sometimes and make sure she’s alright.”
At that moment I felt so angry with Arianna. How easily she had abandoned her own daughter. I nodded. “I will. Now, bed.”
“Daddy?”
“Yeah.”
She took a deep breath. “When we go to the new place, to Bison Ridge, to start our new life, you won’t leave me like Mommy did, will you?”
Fierce love filled my heart. I looked deeply into her big sad eyes. “Never. I will never ever leave you, Anya. Do you understand me?”
She nodded gravely. “Yes.”
I smiled at her. “I’m afraid you’re stuck with me for the rest of your life. And when you get married, I’m moving in with you and your husband.”
And just like that she switched from being sad and started giggling softly. “Where will you sleep?”
“Under your bed,” I said, and grabbing her began to tickle her belly while she wriggled and laughed uncontrollably. I stopped when she began gasping for breath. Gently, I stroked her soft hair. “Bedtime, Princess.”
“Um… one last thing, Daddy.”
“What?”
“Can I take my butterfly shoes with us? They’re my favorite and I don’t think I can bear to leave them behind.”
“Darling, we can’t take anything from this life with us. Nothing that will remind us, or trip us up. Remember we’re not supposed to be rich. You never went to an expensive preschool, and never owned any designer gear.”
“What about if I scuff them so that no one can see that they’re expensive?”
Looking at her hopeful face made me feel incredibly sad for her. It was wrong and it was dangerous to make concessions, but I couldn’t say no to her. It was such a tiny thing she was asking.
“All right. You can bring the shoes with you, and you don’t have to scuff them. If anybody asks, just tell them they’re fakes from Hong Kong, okay? We bought them at a flea market.”
“Yay! I’ll tell everybody they’re fakes from Hong Kong,” she repeated, beaming with innocent joy.
“And now, it really is bedtime. Go brush your teeth and get into your PJs and I’ll come to read you a story and kiss you goodnight.”
“Okay.” She scrambled off the sofa and ran towards the stairs. I heard her running on them, her butterfly shoes clacking on the specially imported Italian marble slabs.
I didn’t know if she could pull it off. But if she couldn’t, I was ready. I was ready for the river of blood that would flow.
Chapter 1
Montana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KG2O5PSCSs
I’d only come into the office to change into riding boots when the phone rang. Diane was off sick and Dad was in the storeroom stock-taking. I looked at the ringing phone but hesitated. Generally speaking, I was too impatient and blunt to deal with the public, but I could hardly ignore the shrill sound. My dad would probably break a leg trying to get back for it. I picked it up on the third ring.
“Shadow Wolf Academy, can I help you?”
“Gwen Garrison here,” a woman announced crisply. “I was going through your prospectus, and I have a few questions. Would you be able to answer them for me?”
“Shoot.”
“Right. It says here that children are taught outdoors regardless of the weather conditions. Does that mean rain as well?”
“Yup. Rain or shine we’re out there.”
“But Basil gets sick even if a drop of rain falls on his head,” she lamented.
Oh God! She named her son Basil. I was glad she couldn’t see my expression. “What’s the next question?”
I heard the rustling of paper. “It states here on page two that children as young as eight will be allowed to use hammers, nails, Swiss army knives, and saws. Surely that can’t be right?”
“Yes, that’s right. This is a survivalist school. We teach children life skills and how to effectively fend for themselves. Hammers, nails and knives come in very handy in the wild.”
“I see,” she muttered, her voice filled with doubt. “But they will be supervised at all times while they’re using these dangerous objects though, won’t they?”
“No,” I denied cheerfully. “They won’t. We believe in our methods.”
“My goodness,” she gasped with shock. “What a cavalier approach, not to mention how terribly unsafe. What if they hurt themselves or the other kids? I don’t think I could trust a bunch of armed little brats around my Basil. He’s a very sensitive child.”
I glanced at my watch. I knew I shouldn’t have picked up the phone. Here was the point where I should explain that children who were not terminally bored or taught how to correctly use these utensils hardly ever hurt themselves or other children, but quite frankly, it sounded as if she’d already irreparably ruined Basil, and the poor child would probably remain a traumatized snowflake for the rest of his life.
“Perhaps this is not the school for your son,” I suggested.
“Oh! Are you denying my son a place in your school?” she blustered, suddenly furious and indignant.
I sighed. “Look, Ma’am. Call back tomorrow and ask to speak to Diane. I’m sure she’ll be able to explain how everything works, and if you’re still minded to enroll your son you could go on the waitlist for next year’s intake. Right then, bye.”
Before she could reply, I quickly cut the connection and took my sorry ass towards the stables where Lola was waiting in all her gleaming white glory. No matter how many times I saw her it struck me anew how beautiful and graceful she was. She tossed her head and her mane danced like a Chinese dragon in the dim light of the stables.
I held out a strawberry on the flat of my palm and she chomped it up voraciously, the edges of her teeth strong and hard against my skin. She could, for sure, be unpredictable and wild, and no one else dared ride her, but she'd been my horse for so long I didn’t mind in the slightest. After saddling her, I led her out into the bright sunshine and mounted her.
Turning away from the academy, I rode out of Shadow Wolf Ranch westwards. Once we were in the open fields, I leaned forward and let Lola fly, and fly, she did. It was a wonderful feeling. We travelled for miles, the hot wind rushing into us. Afterwards, I led her into the woods where there was a stream.
While she drank from it, I sat on a sun-warmed rock and watched the evening draw in. I didn’t know why, but that day memories of my mother came flooding back. She used to brush my hair every night until it shone, but now she was only a song in my heart. A song of peace, unbridled joy and laughter.
I heard a rustling sound behind me and turned my head.
A sweet little deer had stepped into the clearing. I knew him.
“Hello, Henry,” I said softly, as I hunted around in my pockets for a few pieces of dried apple. He came closer and ate them off my hand. His tongue rasped on my skin.
“That’s it. No more,” I said.
But he carried on begging with his marvelous liquid eyes.
Gently, I scratched the top of his head. “Sorry, but it’s really all gone, Henry. Finished. No more.”
He must have understood because he reluctantly wandered off. I turned back to look at Lola and suddenly a voice in my head said, ‘It’s time for a change, Montana.’
I frowned.
Change?
Was change coming?
For some weird reason, it made me think of excitement, accidents… and death. I froze. Whatever it was, I for sure wasn’t looking forward to it. My scowl grew deeper. I didn’t want change. I liked my life as it was. As a matter of fact, I loved my life and didn’t want it to change at all.
Then I laughed aloud at my runaway thoughts. I was just being silly. Change was not coming. Change never happened in this small town. I’d lived here for twenty-four years and nothing exciting had ever happened.
I got back on Lola and rode to the Watering Hole.
It was Friday night and that was where I met my three best friends for a drink once a week. There was Pearl, who taught money management and history; Natalie, who schooled the kids in science and geography; and Kelly, who gave them biology lessons.
Chapter 2
Montana
“Ugh,” Natalie groaned, flicking her flaming red hair back over her shoulder. “I wish we’d go to another bar. I really don’t like this place.”
“Why?” Pearl asked.
“It’s obnoxiously loud, and it smells like feet and sweat.”
“It’s a majority male bar. Of course, it smells like sweat and feet.” Kelly laughed, already a bit giddy and excited.
“Maybe we should go to the Lake club next time? It’s quite sophisticated,” Pearl suggested.
“No, no. Absolutely not. I'm avoiding Jack,” Natalie said fiercely. “He’s working in the kitchen tonight.”
“Why are you avoiding him?” I asked.
But before Natalie could answer there was a sudden roar.
“Just our luck.” Pearl groaned. “There's a game on.”
“Better chances to meet more men,” Kelly answered gleefully as she led the way towards a corner booth. She threw her purse on one of the seats, pushed her tiny miniskirt down her hips and smiled at the rest of us.
“What do you guys want to drink? I’ll get it because I have my eye on the bartender.”
We looked over and indeed found him to be very cute. He reminded me of a younger version of Justin Timberlake, but I was very much not into that.
“I’m having orange vodka,” Kelly announced.
“French Martini, please,” Natalie said.
Pearl nodded at Natalie. “You have the most excellent taste in cocktails. Same here.”
Kelly looked at me. “What about you, Miss Hermit?”
“Get her a Sex On The Beach. That’s the only sex she’ll be getting.”
“Cranberry vodka,” I said dryly and pulled out my phone to check if my father had sent a message.
“No!” Pearl snatched the device out of my hands. Before I could even begin to protest, it was already locked away in her purse.
Really?” I complained, but she didn’t give a damn.
“Yes, really,” she replied authoritatively. “I successfully drag you out once a week and you’re not going to cheat on me with your phone.”
Kelly sashayed away and we focused our attention on Natalie. “Go on,” Pearl said, “tell us why you’re avoiding Jack.”
“I … I think he’s planning on proposing.”
Pearl screamed and almost exploded with excitement. Nothing about marriage thrilled me that much so I couldn’t work up the same enthusiasm, but I was quietly happy for her.
“Pearl looks more excited than you,” I noted. “It’s about time, isn’t it?”
“I guess so, but …” Natalie sucked her breath through her teeth.
“Uh oh, are you having doubts?” Pearl asked, wide-eyed.
“I still love him, of course, but-”
“But what?” Pearl pushed.
“I thought he’d be more by now, you know. We had big dreams, dreams of getting the fuck out of here. He said he was only getting a job at the Lake club to learn from their top-class Chef, but now ... he seems … so content. Sometimes I think he would be perfectly happy to rot in this small, nothing-to-do town forever, but me, I’m restless and bored. The way I see it, it’s only downhill from here. Sedimentary and dull.”
