Dark Angel

DARK ANGEL Sue Brown DARKER DADDY BODYGUARDS #4 Copyright ©2023 Sue Brown Published by One Hat Press First Edition Cover design by Meredith Russell Formatting by Format4U/Pippa Wood All Rights Reserved This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee. Such action is illegal and in violation of Copyright Law. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Dedication To Morticia Knight, friend, mentor, and ass-kicker. Thank you, my friend. Contents 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 Epilogue Also by Sue Brown About Sue Brown Chapter 1 Hell fell in on a Thursday. Alessandro leaned against the door frame of the study. It hadn’t changed much since it acquired a new occupant as his boss, Nico, had been too busy to think about redecorating. “You called me, Don Domenico?” he said. The young man sitting behind the walnut desk, Don Domenico Acierno, the Prince of Darkness, gave him a bleak look. His twin’s expression was even grimmer. These two men, just in their early twenties, were the heads of the Seattle Mafia crime family. Alessandro worked for them, just as he’d worked for their father. He was the fixer. The man who made problems go away. Usually with a bullet. Sometimes more creatively. He dealt with the problem. His partner, Christian, cleaned it up. Alessandro didn’t have any issues killing people. It was a job like any other. He received the order; he did the job. Recently though, his life had changed. Since Nico had taken over, he’d only killed one man, and he’d had to find other ways to occupy his time. He was a qualified pilot and spent most of his time flying the senior members of the family around the country for business. He liked the freedom it gave him. From the twins’ expressions and the tension in the room it looked as if that was about to change. Their bodyguards stood to one side, arms folded, legs braced, as if they were expecting trouble. They were both huge men and seemed to swallow up the oxygen in the room. Alessandro wasn’t afraid of them. He was half their size and knew he scared them both, even Leon Trasker who was a hard bastard. Alessandro’s reputation was legendary. “We need to talk,” Nico said. “Come in and shut the door. Christian is…on another assignment.” Alessandro did as he was told and sat in the leather chair opposite his boss. He guessed what was coming next. “They gave you the answers?” ‘They’ were his cousin, Finn Acierno, and his now partner, Matteo di Salvo, who’d been chasing down who had kidnapped Paolo almost a year ago. The kidnapper, a thug for hire had been easy enough to find, and Alessandro had disposed of him over Seattle. But finding who had given the order had proved more elusive. At first, Matty had been in the frame, but Finn had exonerated him. For six months Finn and Matty had been chasing names. But now Nico’s patience had run out and he’d forced the issue earlier that day, threatening them if they didn’t give him the information. From his expression, Alessandro had a feeling Nico wished he’d hung on longer. Nico sighed. “I know why Finn and Matty held back, even if I’m furious they did.” Alessandro made no comment about the two men. It wasn’t his place to interfere in family politics. He just did as he was told. “What happens now?” he asked. “It leaves us with only one choice.” Nico’s twin, Paolo, spoke. Alessandro was surprised to see him here. Since his return after being abducted, he’d all but retired from the family business, too fragile to cope. He’d found solace going through the family archives. But now, in his furious expression, Alessandro could see the old Paolo make a return. Nico fixed him with a stare. “Now it’s war, Dark Angel.” The family had names for people. Alessandro was Dark Angel. He wasn’t stupid. He knew why. All the Acierno men had an edge of prettiness, but Alessandro looked like a Botticelli angel. It was deceptive though. There was nothing angelic about Alessandro. His mama said he’d been born with the devil in his soul. Alessandro gave a grim smile. “I guess my retirement is over.” He didn’t miss the way Nico and Paolo exchanged glances. “What? Do you doubt my loyalty to the Acierno family?” Nico expelled a long breath. “I notice you said the family. Not me or my brother.” “You are the Acierno family,” Alessandro said simply. “Where do I start?” “Good answer,” Nico said. “But it’s not as simple as that.” Alessandro leaned back in his chair and waited. Nico handed him a sheet of paper. Alessandro scanned it, got to the second-to-last name, then the last, and swallowed hard. He glanced up to see his boss studying him, clearly waiting for his reaction. “Okay,” he managed. “Can you do this?” Nico asked, his tone almost gentle. “I fix these two, and you put a target on my back forever.” “I know.” “If I agree, then I’m gone once it’s done. Out of here. You can’t call me back.” “Agreed.” Alessandro narrowed his eyes at Nico’s ready acceptance. Nico huffed. “I’m not a barbarian, Alessandro. I know what I’m asking you to do.” “You’re sure about this?” Alessandro waved the paper in his hand. “Every name on this list?” “Finn