Ruthless smile the damne.., p.1
Ruthless Smile (The Damned Crew Book 2), page 1
RUTHLESS SMILE
THE DAMNED CREW #1
TATUM RAYNE
Ruthless Smile
The Damned Crew #1
Copyright © 2023 Tatum Rayne
Published by Hudson Indie Ink
www.hudsonindieink.com
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.
This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it wasn’t purchased for your use only, then please return to your favourite book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referred to in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorised, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Ruthless Smile/Tatum Rayne
CONTENTS
1. Marcus
2. Marcus
3. Ryan
4. Marcus
5. Marcus
6. Ryan
7. Marcus
8. Ryan
9. Marcus
10. Ryan
11. Marcus
12. Ryan
13. Marcus
14. Ryan
15. Marcus
16. Ryan
17. Marcus
Epilogue
Afterword
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also By Tatum Rayne
Other Authors at Hudson Indie Ink
This is for everyone who was told to wait for their Prince Charming,
but they prefer the broken Bad-Boys instead.
1
MARCUS
“Boys, meet Ryan.” Hellion’s words rattle around my head as I glower at the woman in front of me, she doesn’t seem phased by anything… Not even the look on my face saying I want to murder her ass where she stands. Nope, instead, she’s standing there with a big ass grin on her face. Has she not looked around? Hasn’t she realized she’s in a place full of people who wouldn’t think twice about killing her with one command from Hellion? I feel my brothers stiffen at the side of me, a demonic sound rumbling in Kane’s chest.
My head whips around to look at him as the noise continues, it’s at odds with how he’s been since Diamond came along. I thought he had finally become a sensible being, but that noise tells me that the brother I know is still well and truly under the shell of the father figure.
Hellion, the little tease, looks over her shoulder. Our eyes connect and she winks, a smirk tipping the edge of her lips.
“What’re you doing here?” Hellion’s voice is strong as she watches the newcomer, her body language is relaxed which only adds to my confusion. I step forward to back her up as she steps down off the porch, bringing herself closer to the cocky bitch.
Ryan lifts a single shoulder in a shrug, then turns her attention to her fingernails. She’s using one of them to pick under her nails like she has all the fucking time in the world. What the fuck is going on? Who the fuck is this bitch not to be bothered by Hellion's presence, I cock my head, either this girl is more than we know, or she’s got a death wish.
“Oi! You ignorant twat, Hellion spoke to you!” I growl, moving forward again, which brings me to the middle step of the porch.
Her eyes meet mine and a feral look takes over her features, she’s looking at me like I’m nothing, her mouth is pinched. One brow lifted, like she could lose her shit any second but I can tell all this is a front from whatever is playing in her mind, but she doesn’t show it as her gaze slowly working up and down the length of me.
“So?” she sasses, her eyes taking in her fill of me. “Now where the fuck have you three been all my life?”
“Ho—”
“It’s fine, Cheshire,” Hellion interrupts me, snapping out her words snap like the crack of a whip, stopping my insults before they can fly like poison darts.
“Like fuck, Hellion,” I growl, taking another step down so I’m only one away from the ground. “Who the fuck is this bitch?!”
“Who the fuck are you talking to, Fido?” Ryan steps closer, and my body tenses as she whips two knives out of nowhere, her eyes gleaming like death itself. A massive, evil smile is on her face, showing too many teeth as the savage look takes over her features.
My eyes stay locked on hers, the challenge clear on her face. I launch off the step, my strides eating up the ground as she stands there. Yells fill the air and as I get closer, Hellion steps in my way. My eyes drop to hers as she glares at me. I growl at her, pissed that she blocked me from the disrespectful cunt. I sound like a bull as streams of hot air come from my nose because I’m breathing so heavily, but my feet stay planted where they are. Hellion steps away from me, looking at my brothers still on the porch when the glint of something streaks through the air.
I hit the deck. “What the fuck?!” I yell, hearing my brothers cuss up a storm behind me. Pushing myself to my feet, I see the smirk on her face. My lip curls up in a snarl as I turn and look over my shoulder, eyes narrowing on the shiny object sticking out of the door.
An animalistic roar fills the air, and I whip my head round as Kane yells something incoherent. Hellion has turned feral; her punches are vicious as she attacks the girl. I fold my arms across my chest in anticipation of Hellion finishing this bitch for coming here and doing this. My brows furrow as the fight continues, Ryan meeting Hellion blow for blow.
“What the fuck?” Kane breathes in shock, he comes down to stand at my side as grunts and yells fill the air. The noises catch the attention of the crew as they increase tenfold. They all watch the two women going to town on each other like they can’t wait to see the other die.
“Motherhood has made you slow, Reaper,” the pink-haired angel of death taunts, then cackles, dancing away from Hellion's blow, her steps are light like she has done this before. “C’mon, I know you can do better than that,” she continues to goad her.
“Rip her fucking head off, Hellion,” I roar into the air, hoping it’s the encouragement she needs to end this shit. The grunts and curses coming from both of them have us all shocked, I don’t get it, Hellion’s normally ended someone by now.
“C’mon, pretty bird,” Kane calls. Liam stands on my other side eagerly watching the shit show in front of us.
“Have you ever seen her take this long to finish someone?” I ask my twin, he trains with her every day, so he is the one who knows her true fighting capabilities better than any of us.
“No, I’ve never seen her take this long,” he says.
I can see the worry shining in his eyes. A roar of pain draws our attention. I stare with my mouth on the floor as Hellion tries her best to get out of the other’s hold.
“Tap out,” the words are growled as Hellion splutters under her boot. The ferocity on her face even though she’s gasping for air has my anxiety spiking. “Tap out, Reaper!”
“Fuck. You,” the words come with a savage snarl, she punches Ryan in the kneecap. Her leg gives way instantly and she hits the floor with a thud, and the area is silent as we watch on, waiting to see what happens next.
Manic laughter fills the air as my brothers and I look at one another when another high-pitched manic laugh joins in, making sort of an eerie melody. I watch, stunned, as Hellion pushes herself to her feet, extending a hand out to Ryan on the floor, a huge beaming smile on her face as she looks down at the girl like a long-lost family member. She lifts her to her feet with ease, pulling her into her death grip of a hug as Ryan laughs her head off.
“I’ve fucking missed you, girl,” Hellion says, gripping the pink pixie with a death grip.
“Woah, back the fuck up, Giz!” my twin brother booms, his arms crossing over his chest. Kane mimics his movements, staring down at the newcomer, and all three of us dwarf the two women. But neither of them look bothered by the three pissed-off men glowering at them.
“Plug it, Frosty,” Ryan snaps, her eyes narrowing on my brother.
His mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water and I burst out laughing, which is echoed by Ryan, making a shudder pass down my spine. My eyes meet the bluest ones I have ever seen, the feeling intensifying at the contact.
She smirks right back at me as we have some sort of weird showdown, her laughter still echoing through the air. The tinkling sound is cut off when a heartbreaking cry rings out, making my whole body freeze. I shoot off into the house without a backward glance, taking the stairs two at a time and scaring the crap out of the guy who Kane passed my diamond off to. He yelps as I barrel past him to see a head popping over the edge of the cot, and the gut-wrenching sound stops. I scoop her up, bouncing her ever so slightly as she does the biggest yawn ever and snuggles that little bit closer to me. Moments like this make the black tar on my heart crack that little bit more.
“Marcus?” the guard says from the doorway, I turn to face him with a stoic expression. “Boss lady has asked if you can meet them in the kitchen.” I make my way out the door and down the corridor with the little bundle of joy in my arms
“What’re you doing here, Ryan?”
“I came for a visit, Ri, is that so shocking?” Ryan asks as she grabs a steaming cup off the kitchen island top, bringing it to her lips.
My eyes follow the movement intently, my tongue running across the edge of my lip, wishing I was the rim of the cup.
“Erm, Ri, any reason the pervert is hiding around the wall?” The chuckle that follows has a weird sensation washing over me, but the words hit like a ten-ton truck. I step out of my hiding spot when a squeal splits the air.
“Fucking hell, man, don’t wake her up,” I snarl at the psycho pink weirdo bouncing across the kitchen to me. She stretches out her arms, a huge smile on her face, and I tuck Rikki in tighter to my chest. “Don’t fucking touch her.”
The pink pixie cants her head to the side, staring at me, then the bundle in my arms.
“Don’t touch her when her Uncle Cheshire has hands on her,” Hellion chuckles darkly, while my brothers grumble their agreement. “He’s a little protective.”
“So what’re you doing here, pinkie pie?” I ask with a sneer, and Kane glares at me.
I’ve learned that’s his way of telling me not to cause shit while I have a hold of Rikki.
Do I want to know why Ryan’s here? Of course I do. So I make my way over and pass Kane his daughter. The lightness I felt with her in my arms instantly disappears and the darkness tugs at the edges of my mind.
“It’s not your concern, Cheshire.”
2
MARCUS
My mind races with the possibilities of why she would be here, my hands pull at the hair on the top of my head as I pace up and down my room. I had to leave the kitchen because the smug look on the bitch’s face had me wanting to rip her head off. She’s a danger to us all, I can feel it in my bones. I’m never wrong when I get a feeling like this and no matter how much I do notice her, I have to do the right thing. I need to protect my family.
I have to tell Hellion, she’ll believe me. Would she though? From the snippets of conversation I got, they were best friends growing up in boarding school and the pink one took Hellion under her wing. So why would she believe me? They’ve been friends forever, but then why didn’t Hellion call her and ask for help when all the shit went down with Pete? I have to try. I throw the bedroom door open, the wood connecting with the wall with an almighty smack as it ricochets off it.
“Jesus! Fuck?!” one of the grunts shrieks as I step out of my room. “You scared the shit out of me!”
“Where’s Hellion?” I snap, not wanting to make idle chit-chat with this dick.
“Office, I think,” he stammers, his hand trembling as he points the way to the office like I don’t know where the damn thing is. I scoff at his stupidity.
“Fucking idiot,” I snarl as I make my way down towards the office. The corridors are quieter than normal and I don’t hear my brothers’ voices. They’re not hard to miss, which tells me if Hellion is in the office, then Kane has Rikki with him and Liam is off doing god knows what. He prefers to spend most of his time at the pit, it’s home to him. Plus he won’t admit it, but babies freak him out. I remember the first time Hellion passed him his niece so she could do something, I fell off the stool laughing as he held her out at arm’s length with terror in his eyes while she cried. In my inner musings, I’ve worked my way through the house. The office door comes into view and I raise my hand to knock. But my hand freezes mid-air.
“What’s the real reason for you coming to visit, Ryan?” Hellion demands, I lean forward slightly, noticing the door is ajar. I quickly have a peak, seeing Hellion sitting behind her desk and Pinkie Pie sitting across from her. I lean back against the wall, stepping sideways as much as I dare so I’m just brushing the edge of the frame.
“I came for a visit, Ri, what’s so wrong with that?”
I grind my teeth because I can hear the smirk in her words. The disrespect she has for Hellion annoys the shit out of me, she needs to learn some fucking respect. I have to grip the wall to keep myself from rushing in there and grabbing her by her throat and breaking her fucking neck. Like who the fuck is this bitch?! She comes here like this and…
“Cut the bullshit, Ryan,” Hellion snarls, losing her temper. “You and I both know that’s a croc, so what the fuck are you doing here?!”
“I stabbed my dad in the eye,” the bitch says flippantly.
My mouth drops open at the admission and the room inside goes silent. Hellion being quiet is freaking me out.
“What the fuck do you mean you stabbed your dad in the eye?!” Hellion roars.
I hear the scrape of the office chair flying away from the desk telling me Hellion is on her feet at the admission. “How the fuck are you standing here?”
“Meh,” Ryan says.
“Start fucking talking now,” Hellion demands. I hear the thwack of what must be her palms on the desk.
“Not a chance when we have someone listening,” the other says with a dark chuckle. “My secrets are my own, Reaper, you know that.”
My heart stills in my chest as both women go silent, with the corridor being absent of noise it would be possible to hear a pin drop. How the fuck does she know I’m standing here? Nah, man, she has to be bullshitting, she can’t know I’m here. I don’t do anything other than keep myself firmly pressed against the wall. I look at my feet as the beam of light from the office cuts through the darkness in the corridor, hoping my shadow doesn’t show itself to them. Unless she’s already seen it.
“Cheshire, get your ass in here!” Hellion demands. I can hear her teeth grinding together, even before I take the step to reveal myself.
“How the fuck did you know I was there?” I question the bitch who just smirks at me.
My lip curls up in a snarl and I glare daggers at her, hoping to see that calm, cool exterior crack but her face is unmoving. My hands are shaking with the overwhelming urge to strangle the bitch, I have to curl my hands into fists
“I can do a lot of things that you couldn’t even imagine,” she says, her tone thick with sarcasm.
“Watch who you're talking to with that smart mouth of yours,” I demand, losing a semblance of control I’m desperately trying to keep ahold of.
“Or what, Cheshire?” she sneers back, jumping to her feet.
Everything goes black, there’s a weird scratching in my head that sounds suspiciously like white noise. I feel my hand has a firm grip on something and a splutter fills my ears as the sounds of the office come back into the forefront of my mind. Then I hear manic laughter as the darkness slowly starts to clear. I see the pink-haired one in my grasp as I squeeze my hand tighter around her throat. Most people have fear clear in their eyes when I lose it like this, but not her. All she does is smirk at me as she pushes forward on my hand.
“Cheshire, let her go!” Hellion screams at me, pulling on my arm. Seeing the smug look on Ryan’s face has the darkness within rushing to the surface, begging me to snuff the light out of her.
“She’s a danger to us all, Hellion,” I snarl, squeezing just a touch harder, hoping to see the fear in her eyes. The look that shines there has the darkness rising even further, it doesn’t like to be challenged as much as I do. The snarl that escapes between my lips is more animal than anything.
“Marcus!” I hear my name being called, but I’m too far into the void now. I can feel the tendrils of it tugging me deeper into the blackness. I know from the tone, one of my brothers must have turned up.
