Once A Crime Lord (Crime Lord Series Book 3) Read online

  Contents

  Title

  Dedication

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Author's Note

  Books by Mia Knight

  About the Author

  Once A Crime Lord

  Crime Lord Series, Book 3

  Mia Knight

  Copyright © 2017 Mia Knight

  All rights reserved.

  DEDICATION

  To my fans who have made all of this possible. I appreciate you so much!

  CHAPTER ONE

  Lyla

  Lyla Pyre rocked her four month old daughter as she nursed and ran her hands through Nora’s full head of jet-black hair she inherited from her father. Nora’s eyelashes fluttered, revealing silver blue eyes identical to her own. Nora was perfect from the top of her head to her tiny, pudgy toes. Lyla couldn’t imagine life without her, yet she had come so close to never experiencing this. She held a miracle in the crook of her arm.

  What sounded like a pig snort interrupted Lyla’s thoughts. She glanced down at Beau, a gray Pit bull, who was fast asleep at her feet. She saved Beau from a dog shelter after volunteering there for several months and he had become a loyal companion. She ran her foot down his back and felt the ridges from bullet wounds. Beau got shot trying to protect her the day a handful of bodyguards turned on her. It had been a long recovery for Beau, but he was alive and that’s all she cared about. He spent most of his time in Nora's nursery, keeping guard.

  Lyla switched Nora to the other breast so she wouldn’t have to pump. There weren’t many things she was proud of, but creating a human being was a pretty big deal. Having a baby with Gavin Pyre, the man she loved, was a blessing. She wanted to offer Nora the world, but first her daddy had a few things to take care of. Gavin’s first priority was killing the man who bribed her guards to gun her down while she was seven months pregnant and who brutally murdered his father, Manny Pyre two years ago.

  Nora fell asleep with her mouth open. Lyla dabbed Nora’s mouth with a bib, smoothed her top down and rested Nora on her shoulder, rubbing her back lightly. She closed her eyes as she rocked, taking comfort in the quiet. The nursery had become her sanctuary in the past four months, a peaceful room untouched by the horrors of the outside world. Here, they were safe.

  Beau’s head rose suddenly, which caused his dog tags to clink together. A man stood in the doorway. Even as her heart jumped into her throat, she recognized her husband. She’d seen him only a handful of times over the past four months. His scruff made him look even more dark and dangerous than he already did on a regular basis. The air around him simmered with a coiled tension that made people get out of his way.

  Beau trotted over and sat in front of him. Gavin looked down at the dog for a moment before he pat him on the head and then scratched him under the chin. Sometime during Beau’s recovery, Gavin had finally accepted him as part of the family.

  Gavin strode forward, hazel eyes glinting in the dim light. He set his hands on the arms of the rocking chair and stared at her. Her heart stuttered.

  “Gavin?” she whispered.

  His eyes moved to Nora. He reached for her, gently lifting the baby from her shoulder. He cradled Nora’s head in one hand and her body with the other. He scanned his daughter, taking in every detail he missed in the three weeks he hadn’t seen her. Nora frowned, hands reaching out for an anchor. Gavin kissed her forehead and then placed her on his chest, her little face tucked against his neck. Nora relaxed instantly and let out a shuddering breath as she drifted back to sleep.

  “Everything okay?” Lyla asked.

  It was hard to determine his mood. When Gavin came home, he was capable of anything. The aggression and brutality he exerted in the underworld clung to him. The most communication she had with Gavin was over the phone and that was infrequent. Gavin spent ninety percent of his time in the underworld and the rest in the business world where he was CEO of Pyre Casinos, a chain on the notorious Las Vegas Strip. When he could carve out time, he spent only a handful of hours at home before he was gone again. It had been hard on both of them. Lyla reassured herself that this was temporary.

  Gavin stared intently at her. “Did you have a good day?”

  Lyla rose from the chair. “What are you talking about? What’s going on?”

  Gavin walked towards her, cupped the back of her neck and hauled her against his side.

  “Gavin—”

  He kissed her, a deep and carnal kiss that made her body go up in flames. She clutched his arm and dug her nails into his chest, very aware of Nora’s weight against her arm. Apparently, he was capable of kissing her mindless and holding Nora without a problem because he did so until Lyla forgot her own name. When he pulled back, she stared at him with her body throbbing.

  “I watched you in our bedroom this afternoon,” he said.

  “What are you—?” Her voice died out and her face went up in flames. “Oh my God.”

  She tried to push away, but his arm kept her banded against him. He kissed her forehead, cheek and then jaw.

  “You had your checkup with the doctor, but you didn’t say we could have sex,” he said against her temple.

  “I—” she fumbled and then swallowed. “You’ve been busy.” She couldn’t ask her husband to come home to have sex when he was trying to find a serial killer.

  “I’m never too busy to make you come.”

  “Gavin!”

  “What?” He captured her lips again and squeezed her ass. “You’re ready, right?”

  She still had her pregnancy weight and her body definitely wasn’t something most men would call beautiful since her chest and abdomen were marred by gruesome scars. It should have been impossible for her to feel sexy in sweat pants and a loose top, but the way Gavin was looking at her made her feel like the most desirable woman in the world. Lyla winced as her breasts began to leak. That was definitely not sexy.

  “I’m, um—” she stammered.

  “I’ll make you ready,” he said and moved towards the crib.

  Deprived of his heat, Lyla swayed before she found her balance. Gavin nuzzled Nora and kissed her on the mouth.

  “Sleep, baby girl,” he murmured before he set her in the crib. He turned and then strode back to Lyla. “Bedroom.”

  “Gavin, you haven’t—” She bit back a shriek when he picked her up and strode to the master suite.

  “You don’t want to fuck, then I’ll go down on you and you go down on me.”

  He kicked the bedroom door shut, dumped her on the bed and braced himself over her, hands on either side of her head. His face was hard and drawn with lust. He definitely didn’t look like a sweet lover.

  There had always been something dark about Gavin, but now that he was back in the underworld, the feral part of him was close to the surface. There was a storm inside of him, fighting for release. Desire warred with insecurity. Her body tingled with the knowledge that if she let him, she could be thoroughly fucked tonight.

  “What’s it gonna be?” h
e asked.

  “Gavin—”

  He straightened and yanked her sweat pants off. In the next second, her legs were being spread as Gavin knelt beside the bed and bent his head. Her body convulsed at the first lash of his tongue. Gavin went deep, gorging on her while she sank her hands into his hair and closed her eyes against the lash of pleasure. His fingers intruded as he lapped at her clit, driving her crazy.

  “Gavin.”

  His fingers curled and she erupted beneath him. He growled and did it again.

  “Gavin,” she panted.

  He didn’t speak, didn’t stop.

  Her hands slid from his hair to the back of his neck, dragging him into her heat, raising her legs high. His eyes flashed up to hers. Those mesmerizing lion eyes commanded she give herself to him. He sucked on her clit and curled his fingers again. Her heels slammed down on his shoulders and she arched. Gavin’s hands cupped her ass, grinding her against his mouth. She collapsed on the bed as the orgasm passed. Gavin didn’t move his mouth from between her legs. He continued feeding from her. She tried to squirm away, but his hands flexed on her hips, keeping her in place.

  “Gavin,” she moaned.

  She jerked, shuddered and ran her hands through his silky hair. When he stopped, she opened heavy eyes and saw that his were dark and hungry.

  “What do you want?” she whispered.

  He yanked and she slid off the bed onto his lap. His hand sank into her hair, gripped and held her still for his kiss. He drank from her as if she was life itself. She ran her down his chest and felt him shudder. He clutched her tight as if he wanted to absorb her.

  When he pulled back, her lips were swollen and pulsing. Gavin rose and left her on her knees in front of him.

  “Suck me,” he ordered.

  Her mouth quirked. She ran her hand over his crotch and felt the hard bulge beneath. She traced the length of him through his slacks and tempted the beast by nuzzling him. Gavin stood with his legs braced apart, arms clasped behind him like a soldier. He said nothing, but a muscle in his jaw locked.

  Lyla took her time exploring him through his clothes, even reaching down to cup his balls and give them a gentle squeeze before Gavin’s control snapped. He gripped her hair and gave her a punishing kiss.

  “I’m not in the mood to be teased,” he said against her mouth.

  “I am,” she said as she traced his jawline.

  Gavin resumed his pose. “You know the consequences.”

  She sure did. She was getting wet just thinking about it. She undid the buckle, slowly dragged the belt free and unhooked his slacks. She dragged the zipper down, the sound magnified in the hushed quiet. His cock, unencumbered by boxers, fell into her hand before the zipper was all the way down. Lyla ignored his erect dick and reached up to unbutton his shirt. A low growl of impatience filled the room and she ducked her head to hide her smile.

  Lyla wrapped her hand around the base of his cock and slowly stroked him. A drop of precum formed at the tip of his penis. She captured it and Gavin bit back a groan. Her body began to heat again and milk leaked from her breasts. She ignored the sensation and tugged his pants down so she could cup his balls. Gavin obligingly spread his legs and rocked forward, imbedding half his length in her mouth. Lyla groaned and heard him swear as the sound vibrated along his sensitive cock. Lyla leaned back and swirled her tongue around the tip and then traveled along the length of his shaft to his balls. She licked delicately.

  “That’s it,” Gavin hissed.

  Gavin yanked her up Even as she braced her hands against the wall, Gavin lifted and then sank his cock into her. He gripped her hips and didn’t stop until he was fully imbedded inside of her. Her body stretched and yielded. She panted as Gavin dropped his face in her hair.

  “I need this,” he growled before he pulled out and slammed home with such force that she cried out.

  Gavin moved, deep thrusts that made her teeth clench. He was a man possessed. Lyla took everything he gave and asked for more by arching into his thrusts. Gavin brushed her hair to the side and bit her neck, hard enough to shock her.

  “You’ll never be free of me.” He collared her throat as he continued to plunge home. “I’ll never get enough of you.”

  “Gavin!”

  His hand moved to her chest. Lyla panicked and shoved his hand away before he could feel her damp bra. Gavin’s rhythm faltered. Without warning, he pulled out, whirled her around and pinned her back against the wall. Gavin was a carnal beast and not about to be denied anything. He looked half savage, half warrior in his unbuttoned starch white shirt, suit jacket and nothing else.

  “You don’t push me away,” he ordered and went for her breasts again.

  Lyla knocked his hand away and he bared his teeth.

  “What the fuck did I just say?”

  “I-I’m leaking,” she muttered, mortified and turned on at the same time.

  She wasn’t prepared when he ripped her loose top in half. She wore a nursing bra, which wasn’t even close to cute. Why the hell did he have to see everything? She raised her hands to cover herself, but he wasn’t deterred. He deftly undid the hooks on her bra and it fell away. Lyla tried to escape, hands clamped over her damp breasts, but he boxed her in.

  “When I get aroused, I start leaking. It’s embarrassing—” she began.

  Gavin gripped her wrists, spread her arms and examined her breasts, which definitely weren’t as perky as they’d been before she gave birth. Sex was about fantasy and her post pregnancy bod, scars and leaking breasts dimmed her libido significantly.

  When his head ducked down, she collided with the wall. She sucked in her breath, which did nothing to prevent Gavin from capturing her nipple in his mouth. He suckled. Lyla screeched and tried to stomp his foot. Gavin dragged her up so her breasts were at the perfect height for him to feast. Lyla shoved at his head, but he didn’t budge.

  “Gavin, stop!” she shrieked.

  He ignored her. As he sucked, more milk gathered heavy in her tits. Gavin switched to the other breast and she fought the sexual pull, but he was relentless. Knowing there was no escape, she stared down at him as he fed. Gavin wasn’t turned off by her lactating. On the contrary, he seemed frenzied and hungrier than ever. As she watched, the place between her legs went liquid. When she couldn't take anymore, Lyla yanked his head back and covered his wet mouth with hers.

  Gavin let her drop low enough for him to slide back inside. He fucked her hard, raising one thigh to go even deeper. Gavin wouldn’t allow distance between them and accepted everything about her, even the things she didn’t like about herself. How could she not love him?

  Gavin’s unrelenting thrusts pushed her over the edge. As her body milked him, Gavin came, gripping her ass and mashing their bodies together until he stopped pulsing inside of her. She panted against his naked, heaving chest and waited for her body to calm down.

  “Okay?” he murmured.

  “Yeah,” she said lazily.

  Gavin didn’t move for a long time. When he finally disengaged, he carried her into the bathroom. He turned on the taps in the bathtub and shrugged out of his clothes. When the tub was full, he settled her in front of him. Lyla leaned back against his broad chest. They sat there with the occasional slosh of water echoing in the massive bathroom.

  The charged energy around him had dimmed somewhat, but it would never vanish completely. It was a part of him.

  Outside these walls, the world wasn't a beautiful place. It was dark, brutal and grim. The underworld was a place filled with untold horrors and people with no souls. Gavin had been taught not only how to survive in darkness, but to control it.

  It had taken her being nearly gunned down while seven months pregnant for her to come to terms with the fact that the underworld needed a ruthless dictator at the hilt... and that man was Gavin. He spent the last four months reclaiming his territory. It was clear from Gavin’s cold fury that he hadn’t been able to locate Sadist, the man who claimed Gavin's title for almost two years.
Sadist haunted Lyla’s dreams, which were amplified with fear now that she had Nora.

  “I miss having you beside me at night,” he said and rested his face in her hair and inhaled. “It’s been hell, baby.”

  “I miss you too.”

  “Nora’s getting so big.”

  She smiled without opening her eyes. “She is.”

  His arms tightened around her. “You haven’t been sleeping much.”

  She dropped her head back to see his face. “What do you mean?”

  He tapped the watch on her wrist. “It has a heart monitor. You barely get five hours a night and it’s not because of Nora.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Gavin.”

  “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

  She didn’t answer. He cupped her cheek and ran his thumb over her bottom lip.

  “Your panic attacks are becoming more frequent.”

  She scowled. “Blame Blade. He keeps springing surprise attacks on me throughout the day to see how I’ll respond.”

  “It’s a precaution.”

  In case she had to fight for her life. Again. “I know.”

  “You’re becoming better than a decent shot.”

  His voice was warm with approval. She tilted her chin proudly.

  “Yup and I can kick ass.”

  His mouth twitched. “You’re cute.”

  She surveyed Gavin who was made of muscle. “Well, I can’t kick ass like you, but I put two of your men down.”

  “Because you did a crotch shot.”

  Of course he knew that. “How often do you watch me on the surveillance cameras?”

  “Enough.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “How much, Gavin?”

  He kissed her forehead. “A lot.”

  “I can’t believe you watched me this afternoon,” she grouched.

  “You should be happy I watched or I wouldn’t be here right now.” He cupped her breast and thumbed her nipple, making her jolt. “Why didn’t you give me the green light if we could have sex?”