KELL (The Valisk Family Series Book 1) Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Prologue

  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 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Epilogue

  Meet the Author

  Books to date:

  Copyright

  Kell is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  KELL: A NOVEL

  Copyright © 2018 by Roxanne Greening

  All rights reserved.

  Editing by Michelle Areaux

  Cover design by KP Designs

  Published by Kingston Publishing Company

  The uploading, scanning, and distribution of this book in any form or by any means—including but not limited to electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions of this work, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  Dedication

  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

  Texas

  “Look at me, Texas,” Mother, snapped.

  I fought the urge to crawl into a hole, and looked at the horribly, hideous woman in front of me. She may be beautiful, on the outside, but she was nasty on the inside. Her black hair and green cat-like eyes gave her a beauty outside appearance that covered up her inner beast perfectly.

  “You are going to do as you’re told. We took you in, gave you a home, and fed you,” her voice was sickly sweet as she spoke those words.

  Something they reminded me of often. I didn’t let it fool me anymore, they wanted money, and I needed to work off my debt. With each job, my life darkened a little more. Soon my soul would be crisp and turn to ash at the first deep breath.

  They wanted me to kill again.

  To take another life.

  After the first time, I couldn’t look at my hands without seeing the red blood that coated them. I feared it would be a permanent thing. Like it would burn into my skin and never leave.

  “You need to make this one quick dear. Go in and get out, simple,” Mother, demanded.

  She grabbed my wrist and tightened her fingers in a biting hold. It stung, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing my discomfort. She pressed the cold steel gun into my hand. It was then that I got my first gift.

  The first little charm for the chain I wore. The chain that marked me as theirs. Turning I walked into my room and changed into the clothes that I needed to do my job. The job I needed to live another day. Survival was key, but one day I was going to kill them, and then I would be free.

  Chapter 1

  Kell

  It was a fucking shit storm. I was wading in disease-infested waters. Michael was dead, leaving me with his rabid followers who were in desperate need to be put down. I was my brother's second in command, and now I was the don. Sighing, I looked at Joe, one of the many who followed my brother and agreed with his methods.

  “Please, Kell.” Joe, begged.

  “Look at you beg. How many begged while you laughed?” I asked.

  His eyes, full of fear, grew bigger.

  “I’m not my brother, and the shit he did is over,” I added.

  I've looked in the mirror more than once to make sure it was still me looking back. My dark short hair, short scruffy beard, and dark blue eyes and well-toned build was what I would always see reflected back. My brother kept his appearance neat with a suit, short well-groomed hair, and clean-shaven face. I preferred T-shirts and jeans it helped you blend in better.

  Looking at Joe, I remember what I was doing, and why I was here. It was time to clean house. The family home also the organizations place of operations needed to be purged. I wanted to breathe clean air instead of the nasty stench these sick fucks gave off. They were a type of pollution in need of filtering.

  “I can change.” Joe, cried.

  “No. Diseases need to be cured. You’re like a fucking cancer, there is no saving you,” I spit the words.

  Turning, I looked at Ivan. His dark head was bent as his tan hand reached for another body wrapped in plastic. Ivan served five years in Iraq as a sniper the man was built like a tank and ruff around the edges. I look at the bodies that littered the floor behind him. Before looking back at him.

  “Ivan,” I called.

  He nodded and started dragging away one of the bodies. The plastic wrapped around whomever it was, which made it easier to glide across the floor.

  “Anything else to say?” I asked.

  “I… I don’t want to die.” Joe, cried.

  “And neither did all those women, but they did and so will you.” I stated.

  Placing the barrel to his head, I pulled the trigger. Blood sprayed the walls behind him, and the loud echo bounced around the room. Pulling one of the ear protectors, I looked at the new heap on the floor. Just another puddle of blood that needed to be cleaned.

  Running my fingers through my short brown hair I resist the urge to rub the dark scruff on my face. My breathing was slow, and even. The only joy I got in killing these animals was the retribution all those women deserved. Killing family was not something that shouldn't have been this easy. my heart stayed steady and strong as I looked at the carnage all around me.

  Blood sprayed the walls in front on me the splatter almost like art. Staring at it, I think of why I was here doing what I was doing. They tortured, raped, and sold women. Each and every one of these sick fucks deserved this and more.

  I needed a fucking break. A few of the pricks were running, and some were out having fun not knowing what was coming. The funny thing was at first, they were scared shitless.

  I gave them a month to calm their shit as I put together a list of whom needed to be ended and a list of those who didn’t deserve to breathe.

  “Kell.”

  Turning I looked at Ivan, the only person I trusted.

  “He went to the bar.” Ivan, stated.

  Ah, my brother's second had taken off for a little R&R. He had no idea what was coming, but he would.

  “Guess we’re going out. Have someone else clean this shit up.” i tell him.

  As soon as the words left my mouth Ivan nodded and walked away, knowing he would be coming along with me tonight. I walked out of the room and headed in the direction of my office. This place was filled with fucked up memories. When I was younger, it was my granddad’s office.

  He was a fucked-up piece of shit, and my father carried that gene as well. My brother and I were lucky as fuck to not end up like them. I wasn’t supposed to t
ake this seat, so they only trained him.

  They showed him how to do the nasty shit. I owed Jackal since he killed my brother and saved me from having to do it. Sometime soon I would need to make peace, but not until my house was squeaky clean.

  I was lost in a world of pain and darkness as my head throbbed with the memories of all the fucked-up shit I witnessed. I headed to the bar while my mind was trapped in the past.

  “We're here.” Ivan, announced.

  Ivan knew since we’ve been inseparable since childhood and kept quiet. When my father’s underboss his second in command died, Ivan and his son were brought into the family home. My mother begged and pleaded with my father.

  She was the reason Ivan was brought into the inner sanctuary. My father may have been batshit crazy, but he cared for my mom at times. She told him he owed it to Ivan considering his father knocked up one of the women they play with.

  She was one who unfortunately found themselves in my father’s garden. He liked to call it that because they come to him as seeds. He would say things, and he would do things to shape them into something beautiful and perfect.

  By beautiful and perfect, he meant hollow and tortured. Opening the door to the bar, I watched as the men gulped and tried to sink into the furniture. I didn’t see him and became disappointed.

  Chapter 2

  Texas

  I needed space. I needed a fucking break, just one night of peace. The necklace around my neck felt tighter today, more so than normal. To everyone else it was beautiful, but to me, it was a reminder that I belonged to someone else.

  It was my collar, and like a dog, I had a master. They reminded me daily that I owed them my life. They found me in a dumpster in Texas. Reminding me that I came from trash, so I was trash. I did things for them, things I’m not proud of.

  I’ve crossed a lot of lines, but I’ve never used my body. No matter what they threatened, that was mine and the only thing I had control over in this life. Looking around the little bar, i take in the old glass beer mirrors, the dark dingy tables, the laughing filthy men, and the sticky floors. Grabbing my shot glass and threw my head back letting the glass settle against my lips.

  The liquid poured down my throat burning as it made its way down. My target was supposed to be here tonight, but he wasn’t and I sure as fuck needed to drown out all the memories fighting to surface.

  I began to finger the little charms that were recently added to my thin chain that I was given when I was ten. I waved for another round of whiskey, a southern favorite. I smiled at the man behind the counter and threw back the shot and tapped the dark cherry wood bar top with my glass.

  Without a word he refilled it, and I knew he thought that I was a sure thing. He thought he was going to get into these red lace panties. I laughed low to myself since the only person getting into my silky thong, was me.

  The air was stale and filled with the stench of cigarettes.

  The door opened, bringing a wave of heat into the air-conditioned room. The man who walked through the doors had me swallowing my tongue. He was sexy as fuck with darkness that rubbed the edges.

  He looked dangerous with a face of an angel, just like Lucifer. The devil was once an angel before he fell from grace. His dark blue eyes locked on mine, and a feral smile graced his lips.

  Lips, I wanted to bite. Juicy lips, I wanted to be pressed against mine. What. The. Fuck? Never have I felt this way before. I’ve never wanted a man. The bartender whom I’ve completely forgotten about whimpered slightly before backing away.

  The fucking pussy. Long strides ate the distance between us and then he was standing in front of me. His hair was dark and short the scruff covering his cheeks and the tall muscular frame of his body had me wanted to run my fingers over his shirt to see if he was as hard as he looked.

  “Little sweetheart, what are you doing here?”

  I wanted to snarl at the endearment. I was no one’s sweetheart. But the words caressed my ears and had me melting. He was the flame to my candle.

  “Working and you?” I reply coldly.

  His eyes darken further as this air of anger wafted from him. It was almost suffocating in its intensity.

  “Working?” Disgust dripped from his tone.

  Heat rose to my cheeks burning my skin. He thought I was one of those women?

  “Yeah, and not like that you, sick fuck.” I growl.

  His eyes crinkled around the edges as I put him in his place and the smile returned to his lips as amusement danced in his dark green eyes. His accent was Russian and sexy as fuck. My panties almost combusted.

  “Thank fuck.” He replied his voice was full of relief.

  Tilting my head, I gave him a calculating look. His short brown hair was spiky in a messy, I don’t care, kind of way. It was almost like he was running his fingers through his hair and pulled on it.

  I needed more alcohol. I turned my head back to the where the bartender was hiding. My blond hair curled slightly on the ends and bounced against my breast as I whipped my head back to the man.

  It was sad really. Sighing, I fought the urge to pull the knife from the strap around my thigh and slip it against his throat. The same knife that barely was covered by my short dress.

  “I need a drink, and it seems you have people wetting themselves. So, if you don’t mind, please move the fuck along.” I demanded my voice full of humor.

  His laughter was loud and surprising. It filled the room and echoed around the silent room.

  “What’s so funny?” I asked.

  I was irritated, and it quickly became unmanageable. Thoughts of my past, my target failing to show, and now this?

  “Nothing. What’s your name?” he asked.

  I glared at the adorably annoying man in front of me.

  “Texas,” I reply.

  The venom that leaked from my voice would have made a lesser man give me the bird and walk away. I was poison. But this man was a predator. I could see it in his eyes.

  “Texas. Real fucking funny. What’s your name” he demanded in frustration.

  His fingers latched onto my chin and forced me to look him directly in the eyes as he spoke. The bastard was the same as everyone else.

  “It’s fucking Texas, you prick.” My voice was calm and dark.

  The biting grip loosened, and his smile grew bigger. My panties already close to catching fire and spontaneously combust. Normally I would cut fingers, maybe even hands off for touching me like that. Huh?

  “The lady needs a drink,” he said.

  Not once did his eyes leave mine as the bartender scrambled to make my drink.

  “Don’t you want to know my name?” he asked.

  “Why? You’re not worth the memory,” I reply.

  His smile grew bigger.

  “I like you Texas,” he said.

  I snorted and gave him my best crazy smile. The one that won over all the men. More like made them run. Instead of backing away and calling me the ice bitch or some other fucking stupid name, he smiled bigger and sat down right next to me.

  His jean covered leg touched mine and heat shot through my blood and straight to my pussy.

  “And that’s supposed to make me what? Drop to my knees and beg you to let me suck your dick? Beg you to pet me and tell me how sweet I am? Not happening,” I demanded.

  His laughter once again filled the emptying room as men were sneaking in the direction of the door. It was comical, really. The same men who were not so long ago looking at my legs and thinking about them wrapped around their waist were trying not to fall over themselves while they left through the door.

  “You really know how to clear a room.” I said in observation.

  He ruined it. My already bad night just getting worse. My target wasn’t coming, and now that this jerk was here drinking, my peace was out of the equation.

  “I would say it's nice meeting you, but we both know that would be a lie.” I tell him.

  I slapped four twenties on the bar and stood to
walk away. The bill was probably like forty, but this guy was going to have a ruff fucking night, I could see that.

  “You’re not going anywhere, Texas,” He stated quietly.

  Giving him my best-disgusted look, I took about two steps before the monster of a man behind him blocked my path. Looking him up and down, I made a quick calculation. Should I kick his ass or pretend to be weak?

  Weakness won. Letting out a long sigh, I sat back down.

  “What the fuck do you want”? I asked.

  “Why are you here”? He asked instead of answering my question.

  I had a moment. This was bad if he knew who I was or what I was after. It could all blow the fuck up in both our faces. I needed to finish my job, and if he got in the way, it would be the both of us who paid the price.

  “Drinking, or at least I was until you scared away the natives,” I reply.

  Chapter 3

  Kell

  My trip to the bar was better than I had hoped. I went to end a life, but now this little firecracker had my cock standing at attention. Her take no prisoners, fuck you attitude, shouldn’t have had me wanting to strip her bare. But it did, and I wanted to bend her over the bar and fuck her hard.

  Her tits would be smashed into the smooth, cool surface. My fingers would dig into her hips, leaving bruises as I pounded her hard from behind. I would dominate her and fuck the fuck you attitude out of her system, even if it was for only a few minutes.

  “They should run,” I tell her.

  Her laughter was beautiful like little bells ringing. At that moment, I liked bells.

  “You are such a cocky bastard,” she said.

  “Oh, little sweetheart, you have no idea.” I replied.

  “You really should move along, I’m not going to fuck you,” she told me right to the point I liked that.

  Now it was my turn to laugh. I didn’t question that I’ve laughed more since walking in this door than I have my whole life.

  “Challenge accepted,” I told her.

  “That wasn’t a challenge,” she replied.