Page 1 of Dark Daddies

Daddy’s Problem

By Sinistre Ange

Chapter One

Ivy

Lying in my cage, I wondered how bad death was going to be. I could hear the rattle of Don Bianco’s breath, increasingly labored, before he snored so loud that he snorted and then turned on his side. Too bad. I’d been hoping that was the end of it.

Closing my eyes, I rolled too, tugging the rags that are used as both clothing and bedding around me. Thankfully they didn’t smell too bad as they were washed two days ago and Don Bianco hasn’t been feeling well enough to use me the past two nights. Neither has he allowed any of his men to have me.

It’s been a nice break.

I didn’t expect it to last past tonight. Tomorrow night at the very longest.

But hopefully tonight.

The don was on his last legs. His last stuttering breaths. They couldn’t come soon enough, even though I know what it will mean for me. The sound of his snoring is growing again, his labored breathing continuing regardless of what position he’s in.

Something in the room changed, and my senses went on high alert.

The sound was so quiet, I almost didn’t hear it. I shifted very slightly where I lay. There was just enough moonlight for me to make out the sight of the Don’s bedroom door opening. A massive shadow moved quickly through the room, despite his bulk, as I watched.

Don Bianco didn’t hear it. He was still snoring.

The hulking shadow picked up a pillow and put it over the don’s face. The old man’s hands started to lift, but it was already too late. The shadow shot him through the pillow, muffling the noise of the gun, but I was close enough to hear it. The hands dropped down again with a quiet thump.

This was my chance, I realized.

A quick death, rather than one of torture and rape and pain.

I got to my feet, clutching the largest dirty rag of a sheet to my chest. Not that I had any modesty left, but I couldn’t tell who this quiet assassin was. I didn’t want to distract him with my naked body. I didn’t want to give him ideas, although if sex was the payment I had to give for a quick exit, I’d do it. There’s a tiny part of me that wondered if maybe I could even try to escape…

But he was much, much bigger than me and I didn’t think he was one of Don Bianco’s men. None of them were that big. Escape was unlikely.

The huge shadow paused, pointing his gun at me, despite how quietly I got to my feet. I looked at it.

My salvation.

Hopefully.

“Please,” I whispered, my voice husky from disuse. I swallowed hard. “Kill me.”

The shadow was unmoving and both hope and despair flickered through me. I moved closer to the cage bars, wrapping my fingers around one of them.

“Mercy,” I begged. “Kill me. Don’t leave me here alive for his men to find.”

The huge shadow shook, his shoulders and his head, and my heart sank. He walked forward, stepping out of the shadow and into the moonlight that was coming in through the window. Huge. Mean-looking. Dressed in all black. His face looked like it was carved from stone. His left ear was cauliflowered, which meant he’d been hit there. A lot.

Enforcer.

That was the first thought that rolled through my head.

As he came closer, I tilted my head back, because he towered over me. The cage I was in was six feet high, even though I’m far shorter. Sometimes Don Bianco liked to put one of his men in the cage with me, and watch, which meant it needed to be tall enough for a man. It wouldn’t be tall enough for this man though. Even with his head bent, I didn’t think he’d fit.

His brow furrowed.

“Who are you?” His voice was deep, gruff.