Savage Elites, page 1
Savage Elites
Royal Elite Academy Series
M.A. Lee
Copyright © 2022 by M.A. Lee
Book Bliss Publishing
All rights reserved.
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.
Contents
1. Ason
2. Scarlette
3. Ason
4. Scarlette
5. Ason
6. Scarlette
7. Ason
8. Scarlette
9. Ason
10. Scarlette
11. Ason
12. Scarlette
13. Ason
14. Scarlette
15. Ason
16. Scarlette
17. Scarlette
18. Ason
19. Scarlette
20. Ason
21. Scarlette
22. Ason
23. Scarlette
24. Ason
25. Scarlette
26. Ason
27. Scarlette
Ruthless Elites
Afterword
About Author
Chapter 1
Ason
My destiny had been sealed, even before I was born.
I guess being the son of one of Savannah’s most notorious mafia Capo’s, Aiden Antoni, it was just expected that I would follow in his footsteps. My legacy defines me in ways that both excite and anger my soul.
I come from a family of power, wealth, and prestige. My father became a made man when he was a teenager. Not much older than what I am now—seventeen-years-old. He built an empire and has ran the Antoni Mafia Family with ease for years. I will inherit his empire and someday work for him and his crews, gaining a status and bank account that would set me up for the rest of my life.
The only problem; I don’t want any of it.
Not the power.
Not the endless supply of girls that seemed to pop up everywhere I went.
Not even the money I was destined to inherit even before I was an adult.
Though, I wished more than anything that I could say those things aloud, I just couldn’t.
I knew that there were men who would literally kill to be born into a powerful mafia family like mine. Even my ‘uncles,' Ryder and Solly, had fought with their lives to get into our family. I knew that saying I didn’t want to be part of the mafia would surely destroy my father—so that’s why I shut my mouth and pretended to enjoy every moment I endured.
A slap on my shoulder jolted me from my thoughts as I stared out over the vast landscape of my house.
“Son, what are you doing?” my father asked, as he stepped out onto the porch.
His dark hair was starting to show flecks of gray, but he still looked suave and dangerous as always. His brooding personality had everyone around him trembling with fear, but I had never really been afraid of my dad. He was different with me and my mom. Gentle and loving—a stark contrast to the persona he worked so hard to obtain. But still, there was a darkness that surrounded him that on occasion, had me slightly fearing what he was capable of.
“Hey, dad. I just got home from hanging out with the guys,” I replied.
I was still in my school uniform and the gentle breeze from the willow trees made the air feel nice.
“I need to talk to you,” he said, glancing down at his gold watch. “I have a meeting in an hour, but your coach called me this morning,” he began, his dark eyes narrowing on me.
Sighing, I ran a hand through my dark hair. I knew that I was in hot water with my coach. He knew about my skipping class lately and my dad had on more than one occasion, caught me paying other students at school to take tests for me.
“What about?” I asked, acting as though I didn’t have a clue as to what could be wrong.
Dad leaned against one of the stone pillars on our back deck. “Ason, your coach was close to kicking you off the team. You are failing several classes and skipping. I had to pay for new stadium seating at the ball field to entice him to keep you on the team. Things need to change,” he warned.
I heard the anger in his voice and knew he was pissed, but I didn’t bother to look away from the fading sunset that lit up the evening sky. Reds, oranges, and purples were painted before me, almost like mother nature was creating a masterpiece.
“Ason, do you have anything to say about this?” he asked, his tone sharp like a double-edged sword.
This time, I glanced back at my father. I knew that he thought what he was doing the best for me, but really, he was only adding to the suffocation I felt. I wish I had the nerve to tell him that I hated my preppy school and all of the assholes that filled the classes. I wanted to tell him that I didn’t care about my baseball team or becoming another guy in his mafia world. I didn’t, though and knew that I never would.
“I’m sorry,” I said, trying to sound sincere.
My mom opened the glass French doors that led from our kitchen out onto the patio. A smile struck her face and I saw my dad soften a bit at the sight of her. They had this weird kind of love that sometimes made me sick. I guess it was the only nice thing in my life—I had parents who actually loved one another. Most men in the mafia cheated on their wives and had mistresses hidden all over the city, but not the Antoni men. They loved fiercely and with a protection that can only be described as animalistic. In their kingdoms, they are the kings and there is only room for one queen.
“Ason, you know your dad and I love you very much, right?” mom asked, glancing between me and my dad.
I knew that she could feel the tension growing between us and she hated when we fought. Unfortunately, our bickering had become a daily thing around here.
“I know, mom,” I sighed. I wish they would just get off my back. This was my senior year and I just wanted to enjoy it as best as I could.
My dad pushed himself off the pillar and stood next to me. “Get up, Ason,” he ordered.
This time, I didn’t try to act indifferent. My dad was royally pissed and I knew that I needed to listen to him.
Standing, I stood there between my parents, watching as creases formed in their brows as they grew frustrated with me and my attitude.
“I made a call with the school. You will attend weekly tutoring sessions until your grades are passing, and that I am confident that you won’t let them slip again,” dad began.
“What? You can’t be serious?” I almost yelled out.
Anger flooded my vision and I wanted to scream out in rebellion. Tutoring? Me? There was no way I would be forced to such shitty circumstances. We were the Elite, after all. If there was ever a time to be proud of my circumstances, this was it.
“I am very serious,” dad warned.
“Ason, we won’t stand back any longer and let you spiral out of control. It’s time to put our foots down,” mom chimed in.
I saw her eyes mist over and her bottom lip tremble. I swear, if she cried, that would be my undoing. I may be tough with a hard exterior, but I can’t stand to see my mom cry.
“Can’t you just pay the school again? I’m sure they could use a donation for a new gym or something,” I began, but dad held up his hand to silence me.
“Ason, at some point, I have to stop throwing money at your problems. I have worked very hard to get the success I have today. I won’t watch my only son throw his life away because he is spoiled.”
His words cut like a knife and I winced. Spoiled? Sure, I enjoyed nice things, but I never asked for anything. And, what’s the point of having money, if you don’t use it?
“You will go to your tutoring session and you are suspended from the next three games. You will still attend practice and no more skipping classes,” mom added, before wiping a tear away.
Shaking my head, I felt the urge to scream. My face was hot and my fists were balled up at my sides. My anger had always been one of my biggest downfalls. I had a temper and when it flared, it could get really ugly.
“This is insane,” I bit out.
I didn’t trust myself to say anything else.
Nodding, dad looked at mom and then she went back into the house. He stepped closer to me so that we were nose-to-nose. His dark eyes were smoldering as he stared me down. I had never feared my father until that moment. I knew what he was capable of, but I never would have thought he would hurt me...
“Listen to me, Ason. I refuse to allow my son to throw his life away. You mope around here and are wreaking havoc at school. I’ve built an empire that will be handed down to you one day. This life that you so carelessly dismiss is not one to be tampered with. You will do this until I am pleased,” he stated.
He continued to stare me down for what felt like forever. My own stubbornness took over and I stared back at him, refusing to back down. I may not be the capo, but I was strong, nonetheless
“When do I have to start this?” I asked, though gritted teeth.
“Tomorrow. Your tutor is being notified tonight. Her name is Scarlette, I believe,” he said, dismissing it.
I perked up at this. There was no way it could be her—could it?
I only knew of one Scarlette at my school who was a tutor and it was someone who I had claimed only in my dreams. A girl that was too good for a criminal world like mine. This was worse than I could have imagined.
Finally, dad stepped away and I listened as his shoes clicked against the concrete patio. I waited until he was gone before I exhaled a deep breath. I knew that I had been fucking up,
Chapter 2
Scarlette
When you live in a fake world, it is difficult to recognize anything real.
Take for example, my high school. At Royal Elite Academy, everyone here pretends to be someone or something they are not. We are all wealthy through our parents; of course. However, that doesn’t change the way over half of the population act as though they are better than everyone around them. Walking through the halls of the prestigious private school, Royal Elite Academy, I inhale a deep breath. My nerves go wild as I hold my laptop close to my chest and adjust my backpack on my shoulder. The pristine white walls feel sterile and uninviting. The world around me feels like it is spinning out of control and I am lost in this abyss that I will never escape from.
“Hey, move,” someone growls out, shoving my shoulder as they walk past me.
I mutter an, “I’m sorry,” as I side-step out of the way.
It’s too late, though. All I can do is watch as though in slow motion; the Elite walk past me. Gabby, Talon, Micah, and Ason glide down the hallway like they are walking on air. The girl who had pushed me, now stands beside me, her mouth opens wide as she stares their way. Everyone parts for them, no one daring to get in the way of the schools most notorious group of friends.
No one dares to speak to the Elite without being spoken to first. It’s been that way forever it seems. The air around them shifts, almost growing too heavy to breathe. They are all so strikingly beautiful that it is almost painful to look at them. The hype is in full swing today since it’s the first day back from Spring Break of school of our senior year. Over the break, the Elites had vacationed away from Savannah and hadn’t been seen until now. Everyone speculated where they had gone—of course, together—but no one really knew where they went. It was always a secret, for their protection, I guess.
Ason turns my way, and I drop my head. Refusing to look his way, I hold my breath until I feel the crowd begin moving again. It’s been this way forever. Even in kindergarten, we all recognized the difference between the real Elite and the rest of us. Yes, we were all wealthy as our families afford us the privilege of attending an elite private school in downtown Savannah, Georgia. However, there was always something different about them. Magical almost. We all felt the differences. The power they held and still hold even to this day. They run this school and we all allow it.
“Scarlette, wait up,” I hear from behind me.
I turn in time to see my best friend, Macy, running down the long, white hallway. Her black heels click against the shinning floor as she hurries toward me. I stop walking and wait.
“Hey,” I say, once she catches up to me.
“I saw the Elite walk past you,” she says, quirking her eyebrows.
Handing me a steaming cup of coffee, Macy and I begin to walk toward our lockers. I take a sip of the liquid gold and sigh. She must have picked it up from the school coffee cart.
“Yeah, and the whole school bowed down to them,” I jested, rolling my eyes.
Macy shook her head, causing her long, wavy blonde hair to sway all around her face. “Don’t you ever wish you could be one of them?” she asked, smiling a little.
We opened our lockers, grabbing our books for the day. I hesitated and took much longer than needed to get all of my things organized. I hated how everyone wanted to be part of the Elite’s circle. It was like a coveted society that everyone desperately desired to be part of. Only, none of us had really ever had a chance. I mean, the Ason, Talon, and Micah got any girl they wanted, but as for really being friends with them—none of us had ever stood a chance.
You had to be part of their world. A world filled with dark rumors and dangerous lifestyles. Maybe that was the real fascination with them all. They were so elusive that it made us all want a piece of them.
Well, everyone but me. While everyone around us had craved to even be talked to by the Elite, I had always kept my distance. Being popular wasn’t as important to me as it was to most of my peers. I wanted to get out of Savannah and start a life far away from this world.
Shaking my head, I slammed my locker closed. “No. There is nothing about their lives that I want,” I say a little too bitterly.
Macy gawks at me as she falls in stride next to me. We walk toward our first class of the day—English. She has always envied the popularity of the Elites, while I have never seen the real appeal of them. I mean, don’t get me wrong. They are all beautiful, but other than that, there really isn’t anything special about them.
As we walk into our classroom, we make our way down the aisles until we find our seats in the middle of the room. Sliding into my chair, I begin gathering my things for class. Macy sits down next to me and leans over.
“It’s our senior year. We need to at least go to a party this year,” she whispers to me.
Macy has always wanted to be part of the popular crowds. She had friends and always went to parties, but I never went with her. She’s begged me for years to try and fit in with our peers, but I just didn’t care. We only had one year left and then I would more than likely never see them again. My plans were to get out Savannah and travel the world as a teacher. I’ve already applied to Emory University and a few other schools, but Emory is where I really want to go. Growing up, I was always lonely. As an only child I found myself in the company of nannies and maids, more than my parents. I guess I found friendships with characters in the books I would read and that seemed to suffice any needs I had. Macy would come over and play with me when we were children, and I guess I never understood why she was my friend.
With her long, blonde hair, dazzling blue eyes, and legs for days, she was beautiful and attracted the attention of guys everywhere. I was plain with brown hair, dark eyes, and a small frame that helped me blend in with the crowds. I didn’t stick out and I was forever grateful for that.
Sighing, I blew a loose strand of hair out of my face. “Macy, you know that isn’t my scene,” I replied.
“Nothing is your scene,” she jested, rolling her eyes.
I knew that I could exasperate Macy, but she still loved me anyway.
“Then you know that I don’t go to parties,” I smirked.
“You are so frustrating,” she laughed, leaning back in her chair.
I allowed a slight giggle to escape from my lips but then I snapped my mouth shut when I felt a pair of eyes staring right at me.
I hadn’t seen the Elite's walk in. But there they were, walking toward the back of the classroom where they always sat. They seemed to make their own assigned seats and the teachers never said a word. I think even the adults were afraid of them.
Ason’s deep blue eyes were trained on me, a deep scowl on his face as he stared at me.
Oh, shit.
Why was he looking at me like that?
A few other students noticed that he had stopped and their heads turned to see what had captivated him. Even Macy turned to look at me.
“Ason, why are you stopping? We sit in the back, remember?” Gabby asked, shoving her cousin to keep walking.
Fire red hair flashed past me as Gabby moved around Ason and to her seat. Her green eyes glanced at me for a brief moment when she passed, and I shuddered from being in her vision.
Ason began to move again, swiftly walking down the aisle and as he passed me. I took in the sweet aroma of his cologne and felt the air around me thicken to the point that I almost couldn’t breathe. Once he was to his seat, I finally found my breath again. Everyone else shifted in their seats and turned their attention to the front of the room as our teacher, Mrs. Lee, walked into the room.
“What was that?” Macy mouthed to me; her eyes wide with curiosity.
As class began, I couldn’t shake the strange feeling of still being watched. I couldn’t focus on anything my teacher was saying. All I could think about was Ason and the strange way he had looked at me. We had never spoken before, so there was no reason for him to even know me. But the way he looked at me, that quick glance of disdain, sent a wave of unease flowing through me. Curiosity got the best of me and as I slightly turned my head back, I locked eyes with Ason again.
