Lark (Carter Family Book 1) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Lark

  Roxanne Greening

  Text Copyright 2017 © Roxanne Greening

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  The end

  Roast

  Stuffed Pepper Soup

  Glossary

  Lark

  The Carter Mafia Family

  Book 1

  Roxanne Greening

  Text Copyright 2017 © Roxanne Greening

  All Rights Reserved

  All rights reserved in all media. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission. Except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  The moral rights of Lark the Carter Mafia Family as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the copyright, designs, and patients act of 1988.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locales, and incidents are the products of the authors imagination and any resemblance to places or events is coincidental or fictionalized.

  Published in the united states of America 2017

  Dedicated to my husband and kids for their love and support. To my dad and my mom for making me who I am today. And the rest of my family for all their support!

  Prologue

  Lark

  In this life, we are certain of two things on the day of our seventeenth birthday, we make our first kill, we spill sanctioned blood for the first time. An initiation of sorts. Kill this person and welcome to the family.

  The second, our Capo chose our line of work. You get the job designed specifically for you. If he feels you are a guard then guess what asshole you’re a guard it’s a lifetime job. No time off, no paid vacations, no I quit.

  I was groomed younger than most. My father wanted any and all jobs to be possible for me. The moment I took my first step it started. I learned the trade skill of many different lines of work. I remember my first kill.

  The night air was crisp, most would be nervous or so I’m told. I had anticipated this day for years. Planning is a must but planning for every possible outcome was my forte. I over analyzed or so I’m told, but it takes moments for me to size up a situation and carry out the tasks needed to make any corrections.

  Reading people was a part of my job I needed to know what they were going to do before even they themselves did. My orders were to kill a man who owed our Capo a large sum of money. This is not a normal request. As they say dead men can’t pay.

  I was handed a folder telling me about his comings and goings and the crimes he’s committed in the name of our Capo. Crimes that our Capo had nothing to do with. Ted sold his wife to pay his debt, but never gave the Capo the money.

  Not that he would have taken it Mr. Carter is a very respectable Capo woman and children were off limits. We didn’t deal in the skin trade and we didn’t kill mindlessly. Killing was like breathing. It was natural to me. An extension of my body almost like an extra limb of sorts.

  I loved my job and I was the best there was. The problem with being the best. Everyone expects things. Consequences of failing to deliver were unknown what do you take from a man with nothing to lose?

  I was a contract killer who just turned fucking babysitter. My cousins Jaxson and Jason have decided I needed to be watching over some chick and her kid. What the fuck was next? Marriage and children? Not fucking happening.

  I hated having to put my contracts on hold I knew they were not patient people and I had a feeling this was going to blow up in their faces. I for one was not one to fuck with. I brought death and destruction everywhere I went.

  Chapter 1

  Bethy

  He didn’t come home. Once again, he let us down. We married to keep my sister’s daughter safe. We were supposed to be a team, but Joe always wanted more. The more I refused to be a real wife to him the more he disappeared.

  This time feels different. He’s been gone for over a month. What was I going to do? Was he dead? A part of me knew he was and with that both elation and disappointment. I need the money he was bringing in and yet I hated his constant touches and lewd comments.

  Joe was my one real mistake in life. So many times, I wanted to give him the papers I have stashed in my dresser. I wanted a divorce, I wanted out of this arrangement. I feared he would stop asking and start taking.

  I lost everyone when that plane went down and Lilyanna lost her parents. I became an aunt, mother, and grandmother to her all in one fleeting moment. Annulment was an embarrassing option but it seemed it may be my only.

  What was I going to do? We couldn’t stay here. If Joe came back and found out what I did, he would kill me. My chest constricted as Lilyanna ran through the house screaming about flying to the moon.

  Our finances were slim. I burned through my portion of the inheritance buying this place and putting Lilyanna in a good preschool. I wanted her to have the best this world has to offer considering it took everything from her.

  Most of the inheritance went to Lilyanna. Something I refused to touch no matter how desperate we became. How long would it take this place to sell? I needed out of here now.

  My heart sunk at the thought of once again uprooting her life. She finally adjusted to this change. Telling her about our family was more difficult than losing them. The quiet house had me jumping to my feet.

  I was so lost in myself, I didn’t notice Lily left. Rushing to the door my heart felt ready to burst from my chest. I was a terrible parent. Tears filled my eyes at the thought of losing one more person.

  “Lilyanna!”

  The scream ripped from my throat painfully. Terror didn’t cover the feelings swamping me in that moment. Lily was talking to some man in jeans, a black T-shirt and a buzzed cut hair style.

  The cold that radiated off of him as I stumbled towards the pair was shocking in its intensity. I watched in horror as he stood to his full height. I could tell with each smooth, graceful movement he was very toned.

  His eyes black as pitch started deep into mine. Fear wanted to coat me like a second skin. My tongue felt swollen and dry, making words impossible. There was a spark in his eyes followed by shock.

  I felt it as if it was my own feelings. An invisible line snapped into place connecting us. I’ve never felt this before. This connection to another human being.

  “Beth, I made a new friend!”

  Lily’s sweet voice so full of happiness had my eyes straying her way. She didn’t seem to understand not everyone was a friend. Strangers have been just that strangers. My sister would have argued that a stranger is just a potential unmet friend.

  Her optimism was always lost on me. It seems she past that trait down to Lily.

  “Lark.”

  His voice was smooth chocolate. Deep and rich. Confusion roes. What was Lark?

  “My names Lark.”

  My cheeks burned as the knowledge he heard my internal question.

  “Elizabeth.”

  Manners sucked. If they weren’t drilled into me, I would have snatched Lily and made a run for it. He had this darkness to him. Like shadows that moved with him. We're one with him.

  I had a brief silly vision of the soul collector. The Reap
er. Death was standing in front of me. Such silliness. I really needed to get my over active dramatics under control. But for some reason he brought out the real me buried deep inside.

  Something I pushed down deep when I lost it all. I needed to be a practical person and the old me was immature in a way. The spark in his eyes had fire blazing in my pussy. I’ve never felt such need before.

  That need spiked fear. Grabbing Lily, I try to rush her inside without being too obvious. Apparently, I wasn’t fast enough.

  “Want to come over for dinner?”

  Lily’s sweet voice had terror striking deep.

  “Sure bunny.”

  Bunny? Her giggle had a smile lighting my face even though I wanted to run away and pretend this never happened my damn manners had me going along with it.

  “Six.”

  His nod had desire shooting through me. If such simple things had my body going crazy, I was terrified what his undivided attention would do to me. I was completely confused on what was going on here.

  Twenty-three years of nothing only to have a few moments ignite flames I didn’t know existed.

  Chapter 2

  Lark

  Five weeks earlier……

  My knuckles brush against the black smooth fabric of my black dress shirt and press into the caviler vest as I slip the .45 semi autos into my shoulder holsters before pulling on my black suit jacket. Everything was black. Shirt, tie, pants, socks and shoes.

  This was my profession. The black kept the blood concealed. Placing two switch blades into each boot before pulling the leg of my dress pants over them. I was light today. I normally had more knives and a few more guns.

  This was a simple job kill the target by any means necessary. It was a simple, kill and dump. I could be clean and precise or messy and destructive. The black Cadillac helped keep me in the shadows.

  The drive to the targets location was short. I planned my route to match his timeline perfectly. The night air was chilled as I exited the car. I normally knew exactly how my target was going to die, but tonight well it was different.

  I had a list of possible executions. Quick in and out a precise shot to the front of his head. Clean and easy. Slow and steady a few knives to some well-placed areas before slitting his throat.

  The closer I got to my target the more time has slipped from me. It’s been a few days since I have had a nice workout. The choice was simple he needed to die and I needed the exercise.

  Death by fist was something I haven’t done in a while. Flexing my black leather gloved fingers, I let anticipation rise as my feet silently brought me closer to my personal workout.

  Walking through the back door like an old friend I let myself soak up the atmosphere. I was one with my surroundings. This wasn’t the first time I’ve been in his place, but tonight would be my last.

  “Fuck!”

  The game blared and over spilled into the kitchen I was currently occupying. Sounds like Deo here was losing another bet. The Russian family, he has been borrowing from is going to be highly unsatisfied when payment can’t be made.

  They will look for me, of course. They always do, but I will already be gone. Like a phantom in the night the shadows will surround me keeping me close. I was their master the bringer of death.

  The reaper who’s feared by many and seen by few. I liked my life simple so all the money I’ve obscured sits in safety deposit boxes. Want to keep the government from looking too closely.

  Keep your shit out of bank accounts. My money bounces from account to account before cash takes its place. The Carters keep shit going for me. Cash is always there when it should be.

  My cousins were very meticulous and the only people I trusted. The moment I found my sister, I knew there were few who could ever learn of her existence. Jaxon and Jason were the only ones I shared the information with.

  Jesse was a wise man he kept her happy and that kept him alive. Stepping into the light I slowly walk into the room. It takes Deo a moment. The implications of not being alone have finally hit home.

  “What the fuck are you doing in my house?”

  Why must they always ask stupid questions. You would think it was obvious. Their questions always go without spoken responses. When life is hanging by a thread it finally registers.

  I was here to kill them. Honestly the repetitive question gets tiring after a while. Deo pulls himself from the chair, his oversized beer belly making the task difficult. Another fat slob.

  I was thinking maybe a quick death would be preferable. His unwashed body, oversized gut and balding head were out of sorts. But I already had myself hyped for a workout so a work out it was.

  My fist slammed into his face, causing it to whip sideways. Yellow rotted teeth hit the floor. I don’t wait for his cry of pain to echo around the room fully. I continue to hit him over and over.

  At this point I’m straddling him. My fist has turned Deo’s face into ground up meat. His breaths were shallow. A few well-placed hits to his sides and internal bleeding joined the rest.

  His wounds were severe and my knuckles were swollen. I could feel them pressing tightly against the inside of my gloves. My fist his left side again. His rib snapped hard under the pressure of such force.

  Deo was choking on blood. His lungs would be slowly filling slowly drowning him. His own body his cause of death. Climbing to my feet I watch as he struggled to breathe through the blood and pain.

  My phone started buzzing as his gurgles became faint. Placing it to my ear I don’t utter a word.

  “Lark its Jaxon. We need you to head over to Old Orchard Beach. We need you to watch over a woman named Elizabeth.”

  He didn’t wait for a conformation the line was dead. He wanted me to go babysit? I killed people I didn’t protect them. Straightening out my suit I walk to the door. Deo was gone and I apparently needed to learn a new skill. Protect not maim.

  Climbing into the black leather interior I look at the address that Jaxon sent. His text was followed by another. Her beautiful face lit up my screen. Something inside me shifted and tightened.

  My whole life emotions eluded me and yet one glance at this woman I had them swarming me in their intensity. Confusion stabbed at me. It felt imperative I head her way tonight.

  Chapter 3

  Bethy

  My neighbor has been a mystery to me. A small part of me was curious. I was so wrapped up in Joe I didn’t have time to let that curiosity roam free. Roast was on the menu for dinner tonight.

  It was one of my favorite dishes. The smell of it cooking all day was a delicious torture. Sighing, I once again peek out the kitchen window. Lark moved in a few weeks ago. Bought the house in a quick sale right next door.

  Joe was already gone at that point thank goodness. Lark was striking in his intensity. His lightly tanned skin, black buzzed hair and the way he looked in blue jeans and a black T-shirt was fantasy inducing.

  Unfortunately, all that manliness was going to be suffocating in its closeness. I would have to sit across the table from him and pretend he didn’t have cylinders firing in a very embarrassing way.

  Even now my cheeks pinking at the thought. I wasn’t so sure I was going to survive tonight. This was all so new to me. Men didn’t affect me this way not once in my twenty-three years has a man touched me in such a way.

  What if Joe is coming home tonight? Oh, that would be a disaster of epic consequence. Fear skittered my spine at the thought, Joe would be back. His anger and hatred was becoming a living, breathing thing.

  I knew one of these days he would force himself upon me. It was a feeling that had settled inside me right before he disappeared. I needed to get Lilyanna away from her. I knew he would never hurt her, but he was my husband in a sense.

  “Auntie Bethy…”

  Turning I gasp Lilyanna let our guest in. What kind of parent was I? I needed to stop thinking about me and make sure the house was more secure. I knew I would need to have another talk with her.

  But it was lik
e talking to a magic ball that always responded with why. It was both amusing and irritating. I could never get my point across with her.

  “Lilyanna.”

  My voice was full of disapproval. Something told me he was safe a haven I needed, but that was just silly. Lily’s beautiful face turned down as tears filled her eyes. I instantly felt guilt.

  “Lily you really should be careful. Just because I’m your friend doesn’t mean I’m a nice person.”

  Lark's deep, rich voice caressed my ears. I wanted to moan it was that sexy. I forced myself to keep my focus on Lily. Her sweet face crunched up in through.

  “Okay Larky.”

  He did something I have been struggling months to accomplish. Shock coursed through me as I stood there like a fool. Just make it through dinner Bethy, you can do it.

  “Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll get dinner plated.”

  Rushing to the stove, I start putting everything on plates. I could feel his amused glare from here. He knew and that was more embarrassing than anything I thought could be.

  “Where’s uncle Joe auntie Bethy?”

  She has asked me that question at every meal. Each time the answer remains the same.

  “I’m not sure sweetheart.”

  I didn’t know what else to say. Glancing at Lark was a mistake. His eyes had turned a darker shade of black. Both anger and determination simmered in them. I should have been terrified, but I wasn’t.

  Slowly walking over to the table I set their plates in front of them before going to the fridge. Pulling a beer out for Lark I grab an apple juice for Lily. Once everyone was situated, I grabbed my plate and drink.

  Dinner was consumed in silence. Forks scraped plates. Once Lily was finished I gathered her up and headed upstairs. It was time for a quick bath and then bed. Tonight, was a little more rushed than normal I still had that walking, talking fantasy sitting in my Living room.