Bash

Jayla Talbot Bash Copyright © 2023 by Jayla Talbot All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission. This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental. Jayla Talbot asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. First edition This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy Find out more at reedsy.com Contents Author’s Note 1. Sebastian 2. Tessa 3. Tessa 4. Sebastian 5. Sebastian 6. Tessa 7. Tessa 8. Sebastian 9. Sebastian 10. Sebastian 11. Tessa 12. Tessa 13. Tessa 14. Tessa 15. Sebastian 16. Tessa 17. Tessa 18. Sebastian 19. Sebastian 20. Tessa 21. Sebastian 22. Tessa 23. Sebastian 24. Sebastian 25. Tessa 26. Sebastian 27. Tessa 28. Sebastian 29. Tessa 30. Tessa 31. Tessa 32. Sebastian 33. Tessa 34. Sebastian 35. Tessa 36. Tessa 37. Sebastian 38. Tessa 39. Sebastian 40. Tessa 41. Tessa Thank You Also by Jayla Talbot About the Author Author’s Note Books can provide a catharsis and a safe place to work through our own personal fears and traumas. But please be mindful of your mental health. This is a dark romance and will not be for every reader. It is intended as a work of fiction, not a representation of safe sexual practices. Please be advised of the following content warnings. References To: Child Neglect/Abuse Scenes Depicting: Attempted Kidnapping Drowning Murder Torture Violence Orgasm Control Degradation Impact Play Blindfold Play Breath Play Bondage Female Dominatrix 1 Sebastian The smell of burnt flesh permeated the air making my stomach grumble. I really needed to eat before I tortured people. But I still remembered the first time my father had handed me the knife and told me to cut a man’s flesh. The sight of the blood had sent my dinner back up my throat and spilling on the floor. I wouldn’t soon forget the feeling of embarrassment. Or the look of failure in his eyes. Bosco Bianchi had no use for a weak son. I’d only been twelve and already a disappointment to him. My father had been a soldier for the most ruthless mafia boss since before I was born. He beat my true nature out of me until all that was left was a shell. Until I could look at the violence, commit it, and not feel a thing. Until the sight of blood was just another color in my world. The metal can rattled in my hand as I walked past the charred body at my feet. I stared down at the next man kneeling on the harsh concrete of our warehouse. He sputtered and coughed as I poured the gasoline over him. The viscous liquid dripping off him and splashing across the floor. It clung to his eyelashes, coated his skin, ruining the suit he wore. I felt nothing as I crouched in front of him, the matchbox dangling from my fingers. No excitement. No remorse. I was empty inside. This was a job to me. The same as every other I’d had. “I’ll ask again.” The emotionless tone of my voice making him shrink back in fear. He was smart enough to know that I didn’t have to be filled with rage to kill him. “What’s Carmine planning next?” Carmine Gallo had decided he was no longer satisfied with coming second to my employer, Leonardo Vancini. He wanted Sayton City for his own. The Vancinis had been running the criminal hub in the Midwest since my father’s time. Leonardo had taken it with a show of strength and blood. And now Carmine was trying to do the same. He’d started with the gambling clubs, luring clients away. But it hadn’t satisfied him. So he moved on to stealing weapons shipments. When that didn’t work, he’d tried to take out the Capos. Only he’d made the mistake of starting with Maddox, my boss and… friend. Well, as close to a friend as Maddox could have. First, he kidnapped his girl, Kincaid. But he’d underestimated how psychotic Maddox was and the length he would go to to get her back. He’d sent Carmine a box of his men’s heads. And tonight Carmine had tried to end Maddox’s life once and for all. He’d set Entice, our strip club, on fire to lure out the guards and allow the opportunity to kill him. He’d failed, of course. It turned out Kincaid was just as ruthless as her man. And now I was stuck cleaning up the mess. The man before me sputtered and gagged as the thick scent of gasoline stole his breath. I was immune to the smell at this point. Just like the scent of death and the sounds of screams, they were background noise to my life. An everyday occurrence. I didn’t want to be this way. I didn’t enjoy this life. It wasn’t in my nature, not like Maddox; he was a true psychopath and took pleasure from the torture. But I had no choice. This was the world I was raised in. It was this or death. Over time I’d adapted to it. Let it be a part of who I was. It was all I knew. I wasn’t entirely without morals or feelings. I believed in an eye for an eye. They’d tried to burn down our club so they’d die by fire. I also felt a sense of loyalty to the Vancinis. I was raised beside Maddox and his brother, Leif. I’d trained with them. Learned the business. They were the only family I had. They treated me the same, and for that I would be