Chapter 1

One

Aster

A t eleven fifty-eight on a gloomy summer morning I fell in love.

And it ruined my life. I tried to resist, but I lost the internal war with myself when they looked into my eyes. Worse than that I don't think they realized the damage they did to my young heart.

Everyone talked about them. Selfish, ruthless tatted up bastards who would kill rather than save lives. But not to me. I saw them as protectors who guarded the ones they loved. Who fought to give the world to the people they cared about.

Me.

Standing in my virginal white dress surrounded by my father's many enforcers as witness, Viper pressed his warm lips across the back of my hand and promised to always protect me to the end. He might as well have put a wedding band on my finger with those words.

One by one his blood brothers—Mirsha and Luther—followed, vowing to be my lifelong guardians.

But words were not enough for them, thinking back on it. Not for those three. They always loved a good show, but I never expected the glimmer in their eyes was a hint to what they really had planned.

To this day I can feel the warmth of their touches.

While my father—always with that air of arrogance around him—looked on, they each lowered their muscular bodies to one knee at my feet. And as I looked on, Mirsha drew a silver blade across his palm before passing it to Luther. When it was Viper's turn he held my gaze, never flinching.

With crimson spilling from their hands all three spoke with a soul-deep power I've never felt before or since.

"Aster Constantine, with our blood and our lives, you will be protected until we no longer draw breath."

Though I'd known them my whole life, my father's most loyal friends became my godfathers that day. It was my sixteenth birthday.

I've never been the same since. And that is where the real danger lies.

Before you curse my soul to hell for craving the most forbidden desires with men literally double my age, give me a chance to live this one night as their angel.

Mirsha, Luther and Viper. Criminals and mafia bred down to the very last drop of blood in their veins. Ruthless, violent men who consider my father a close friend. Which should clue you in on the kind of man my father is.

All three of my men are villains. And my darkest desires. Assassins. But I don't judge them for who they are. I only love them for who they are to me.

My protectors.

My lovers, I hope.

An enormous, exceptionally dirty craving my father will kill me over if he ever finds out I've gone against his orders to keep my virginity intact until he marries me off to someone he can use to further his criminal ambitions.

I'm not even joking. My father doesn't take any slight against the family name with grace. He's the type who acts with the full force of his violent nature rather than find reason and understanding.

Daughter or not, if he discovers I have a thing for my godfathers, I will become the daughter he had instead of the one he has. I've seen him kill for less, so I know what I am talking about.

Knowing all of this, I have never wanted someone so deeply that my soul actually aches from need. But it's the only way to describe this force driving me to disobey my father's unbendable rules. Whatever this is pushing me to do wrong can't be driven from my mind any more than I can erase knowledge of my godfathers' existence from my heart and soul.

God, make it stop, I plead for the hundredth time today.

I splay the palm of my hand across my stomach to ease the quivering. It takes a lot to ruffle me but my knees turn into melting butter every damn time I think of the way they offered their lives and their blood to protect me.

Normal girls usually got ridiculously expensive cars for their sweet sixteen. Not in my twisted realm. The moment they placed their bloodied palms over my heart and kissed my cheek, I silently swore my heart to each of them.

Like a damn fool, I should add. I wish I could take back my love. I wish I could reset the clock on my heart and never fall in love with forbidden men.

No such luck.

But that was two years ago. I've learned a lot in the past twenty-four months. Namely, how to take what I want, when I want it. According to my father that is how you make wishes come true, the cost be damned. I prefer a more suave approach to the same end.

A brunette in a tiny dress and heavy eyeliner passes in front of me. Her tart, nasally complaints of needing more champagne send her man running off to find a waiter.

I shake my head. Some people don't know what they have.

I grab a fresh drink from a passing waiter, not at all worried about what the amber liquid might be. Fingers of warmth slide through me and pacify my nerves for a while longer.

Now, back to my story. Want to know what else I received for my sixteenth birthday? A fucking broken heart. One I'm still trying to mend. The only thing keeping it together right now is an unreliable case of hope. Lousy, I know.

My world shattered and fell to the floor among all the party favors crumpled napkins that night. And frankly it's still there waiting for them to pick it up.

Tonight, I plan on helping them do just that.

I slip into the mingling crowd of Chicago's most elite, each one hoping to earn favor with my father and make my way toward the nearest exit.

I reach the arched doors and inhale deeply when fresh air fans over my heated cheeks. I would love to bust out of here and just leave this place behind me. But not yet. They are indebted to my father and if I leave it would take me away from them.

I can't imagine a day without hearing Viper's deep laugh or Mirsha's calming voice. Luther always finds a way to brush his fingers over the back of my hand, my arm. Something.

If I break that connection I might as well wither and die. It would be less painful.

Since leaving isn't an option, Plan B will have to do. I don't want to suffer anymore. I don't want to spend yet another year not knowing what it feels like to have their lips on mine.

White curtains sway in the cool night air. I catch the ends between my fingers and slowly fade into the darkness they keep at bay. Everyone's attention pulls to the far side of the ballroom where my father glides across the polished wood with my mother. Good. Noone cares about the birthday girl when the king is in the room. Now is my chance.

I glance at the elongated arms of the overly large gold clock mounted on the far wall of the ballroom.

My grin is instant. My mother's parties start at the stroke of midnight rather than wind down.

I don't know why or how, but I can feel the second their eyes are on me. Goosebumps skitter across my bare arms. Heat blooms in their wake. My nipples fight the constraints of the silk covering them.

My gaze darts around the room but my mother's dedication to flaunting her wealth is in my way. A colorful canopy of flowers drape above our heads while leafy vines dangle to play over the guest's shoulders.

Pretty, but annoying too.

Wait. Warmth brushes over my body. My attention lands on a familiar face and I immediately fall into a set of deep gray eyes.

I lick my lips. Even from this distance I can see his attention roam to my mouth. His cool steel gaze traces the wet path of my tongue. "Mirsha." His name slips from my lips on a soft sigh.

As if hearing his name over the orchestra, my godfather turns his large body my way. In an imperceptive move, Mirsha tilts his head; his expression calculating.

He knows I'm up to something.

I flash him a smile composed of sass and watch as he silently signals Luther and Viper I'm about to do something reckless. Two more sets of eyes zero in on me. Amongst the flowers above our heads, hangs a blush pink banner with my name written in a flourish of gold letters. Beneath my name reads, Happy birthday!

It's quaint and catches the eye of a few people when it flutters in the breeze coming in from behind me. Damn it. I don't need someone closing the doors and shutting off my exit because someone gets chilled.

If I'm going to do this, the time is now. Blurred faces move by me as guests glide around the dance floor without a care in the world, it seems.

No one is paying attention to you. Move, Aster.

Despite my thundering heart, I follow my own instructions. I can do this. I've wanted this for two years.

My feet move over polished wood as I run through my mental pep talk one more time. Moonlight skims over the lace and thin silk of my dress as I slip from the balcony doors. Without a backward glance, I head for the stairs leading to the massive gardens below. Darkness embraces the sides of the chiseled stone walls of my father's mansion. Using the tips of my fingers, I feel the still sun-warmed edges until my feet touch the edge of grass.

It's only now that I risk a quick look over my shoulder.

I catch the hint of a devilish grin on Viper's face before he heads for the same stairs I just used. Luther and Mirsha are not far behind him.

There's no time for me to reconsider my plan or think of all the ways tonight can blow up in my face.

I slip my satin stilettos from my feet.

"Aster."

Luther's voice chases after me. His long black hair spills over his shoulders and catches my imagination. I want to feel the ends play over my skin as he kisses me. I want to experience all those tatted up fingers caressing my skin.

I dash across the pristine lawn until I can safely hide among the tall hedges of my mother's maze. I always hated this thing, but tonight I'm sending up a thankful prayer for every lush green leaf.

I pick up my pace and tuck around the edge and continue on down the well-known path I memorized years ago.

Heavy footfalls thud against the ground behind me.

A cool blast of air carries hints of their cologne through the night air—a heady mixture of masculinity and virility. Of sin and hopefully pleasure.

"Aster."

Viper is losing his patience.

Deep. Powerful. Husky. Viper's voice is never far from my mind and tonight it is the sound of my fantasies coming true.

Darkness fell hours ago, and music from the party spells out into the night.

"Aster, if you're looking for trouble, you are about to find it. Stop running."

His words slide over me like the finest whiskey. The allure of following his command nearly stops me where I stand.

But we are exposed. I smile and glance over my shoulder. Moonlight bathes us both. Viper's long strides close the distance between us quickly. Muscles ripple under the fine material of his suit slacks. The material grips him in all the right places. He's ditched his suit jacket and tie, leaving the top buttons popped open.

Fuck. He's a walking sexual fantasy made for me. The way his massive body glides through the night is nothing short of orgasmic.

"Why don't you catch me."

Sin moves over his expression. My godfather growls at me when I slip from his touch just as his fingers catch wisps of my loose hair.

"Come." The other two have fallen off, but I know they are close by. Waiting.

Viper swears under his breath, giving me a mixed look of patience and frustration.

I keep several steps ahead of him. "Do you like my dress, Viper?" As I walk, I put a sway in my hips and the deep rumble of appreciation I get pushes a blush through me from head to toe.

I picked a white silk dress that drapes over my curves and hugs my skin in a way my father's disapproving scowl silently told me was too revealing.

To me, it is perfect.

"If you make me catch you, I will expect a price to be paid."

My step falters at the raw tone to Viper's voice. "Don't tempt me to take you up on that promise," I quip. "I have other plans. Come. It's not much farther," I whisper, afraid one of my father's armed enforcers will overhear us.

I tuck around another corner and find the secret part of the hedge that is easy to push through.

Viper's warmth reaches me a moment before his hands settle on my hips.

"This way."

I lead us through the hedge and pull him into a hidden part of the garden I've kept secret from them. "I like to come here when I need a moment alone."

There's a moment of silence. A swath of grass cushions my steps as I move back to Viper's side, placing my hands on his powerful chest.

"Why do I not know of this little spot?" He brushes his fingers through my hair and looks down at me in a way I've dreamed about in my fantasies. It's dark, sure, but enough moonlight filters through to reveal the heat in his eyes and the sin in his expression. It's nearly palpable.

"Viper." There's uncertainty in my voice and we both hear it. Only he doesn't pull away like I fear. His name lingers on my tongue. My heart quickens. I rise to the tips of my toes. Our breath mingles. His heart thumps against the palms of my hands.

"Yes," he murmurs a few heartbeats later. I don't know if he is saying I can kiss him or if he's giving himself that permission. I don't really care. My touch caresses over his shoulders in a way that makes me feel possessive. Like he belongs to me. Doesn't he? My brain and heart both scream yes as our lips meet.

Raw heat explodes through me as his tongue caresses over the seam of my lips. "Open for me, my Aster. Let me taste you. Just once."

The taste of fine whiskey and sin brush hits my senses the second he claims my mouth.

Strong hands slide up the back of my head and I'm held captive as my godfather takes what he wants from me.

Low-hanging branches from an aging willow tree seal us in our own little world. Tonight not even the light of the moon can break apart this dream.

My heart races as Viper slides his other arm around my waist and pulls my smaller frame into the hard grooves of his body. Miles of muscles press against me.

I break our kiss and linger in his arms. It takes a minute for me to say the words running through my mind.

A finger brushes under my chin, and Viper pulls my gaze to his.

He leans his impressive weight against the tree and pulls me with him. "Talk to me, beautiful. Don't hide your words."

I pull his hand up and trace the pad of my finger over the scar across his palm.

"In my fantasies, you belonged to me the night you bled for me. Silly as it sounds, in my head you, me, Luther and Mirsha formed a bond that could never break. I've ached for this since then. I know I'm young, but I know what I want. I dreamed about us being together." The more I speak the more my nerves tremble. The throbbing between my legs deepens and every inch of me tries to touch as much of Viper as possible.

"We are bonded. Our blood is yours." Golden eyes peer down at me. "Until we stop breathing."

"Why did you never let me know how you felt?"

"You know why," is all he says before a slow smile forms over his lips. Even in the darkness I can see the intent written all over his expression.

Action speaks louder than words, because instead of answering my question further Viper's hands find the edge of my dress. Callused fingers roam over my smooth skin made warm by the rush of blood flowing through my veins at warp speed.

"You do things to me—to us—that are unnatural between family."

I jerk in his arms, but his hold on me is too tight for me to pull loose. My brows draw together. "Family?"

"Godfathers might as well be family, Aster. It's in the title."

His words turn heated, but his touch says they hold little meaning. He doesn't care about the godfather status any more than I do.

Sarcasm grabs the tip of my lips and throws it high. I lean in a little closer and though I can't see the gold glitter of his eyes fully, I can feel the heat in his gaze reaching for me.

My voice dips low as I taunt him with my sass.

"Should I call you daddy, then?"

Strong hands—no, possessive hands—roam from where they are gripping my hips to settle over the globes of my ass. One by one I feel each of his fingers dig into the flesh.

He inhales sharply. "Fuck, Aster. Son of a bitch. You're bare?" His words are sharp. Strained.

My hands find the buttons of his shirt and I slowly slip them from their tiny holes. For a woman who has never undressed a man before, my fingers are moving fluidly.

Energy shifts and the soft sound of petals brushing against one another alerts us we are no longer alone. But I don't need to see to know who it is coming into our secret hiding place.

"Mirsha. Luther."

"Aster," they both say in a dark tone filled with chained desires. I know because I feel those same needs locked behind a gate made of societal expectations.

I don't know how they knew to find us here, but I'm suddenly surrounded. Heat envelopes me. And then the faint touches we shared on the dance floor earlier this evening between godfathers and goddaughter turn into something more.

"Did you hear what I told Viper?"

"We did." Luther comes up to my right as Mirsha moves to my left. Their body heat holds me as close as their arms do. My body relaxes into their touch.

Hands glide over the smoothness of my dress. There are no more words needed. Not now anyway. Breasts, hips, the small slope of my abdomen. Nothing is off limits. It's as though they want to memorize every inch of my body.

Thin straps fall off either of my shoulders and I'm lifted into someone's arms as my dress slips to my waist from the top and pushes to my waist from below.

Protective arms come around me and I'm held in place by two of my godfathers as the other lowers himself in front of me.

"Viper?" The roughness of his evening stubble is unmistakable.

"Shh, beautiful." Lips caress over my smooth folds.

"You came to your birthday party bare under all this skimpy silk?" His whisper is so soft, pleading. Like I'm breaking down his defenses every second he touches me and he fears the consequences as much as I do. "You could have at least put something between me and your sweetness. Now I can't…my God, woman."

I sink into the instant pleasure of his soft tongue pushing into my pussy. A second later his grip on the flesh of my ass turns claiming. Flesh yields and I cry out as my virgin walls give a little to the intrusion of his fingers easing into my core. My body clenches. I sigh.

My mouth falls open. "Viper." I cry out.

But my other godfathers are there to silence me with kisses. First one, then the other. My sighs and gasps become delicacies between them as their friend fingers and licks my wet, forbidden entrance.

I fall into the real life fantasy and make a silent wish to always possess every ounce of their passion and love.

Mirsha slides his fingers through my hair and cradles the back of my head in the palm of his hand. He turns me to face him and whispers a rough plea against my lips. "Just for tonight. While no one is watching, let my brother feel the grip of your pussy clenching around his fingers, beautiful. Give Viper what he wants and he'll make you feel so good. Be a good girl for us. Come for Viper. Don't let him leave you in need."

Helpless to the power of Mirsha's softly spoken pleas, the fire living in my core for so long spreads to every blood cell in my body. Sensations I've never felt before flow through me.

I hold them close to me as I rock my hips against Viper's wicked tongue and fingers. He delves in, strokes my walls and slips out. Over and over again, he pushes me toward completion, causing more of my juices to rush from me and fall over his greedy tongue.

Fingers find my nipples and tug on the hard tips, milking them firmly.

My release tumbles through me ready to leave me in ruin for any other man.

"I'm so close. Oh, God! Please don't stop. I won't survive the pain if you do." The plea sounds like a prayer and then it's lifted from my lips as the air is stolen from my lungs with a kiss.

"What the fuck is going on here?"

The roar of the king's voice shatters my fantasy. The wall of willow branches thrash open and light floods into the darkness.

I cover my eyes but I'm moved behind a massive wall of muscle as my godfathers close ranks around me.

"Father?" I blurt out.

Fire thunders through me. But this time it is fear and not arousal making my voice quiver.

"Move away from my daughter before the bullet in my gun drops you where you stand."

What? Oh, Go. No. "Move!" I shout at Viper but the mammoth of a man doesn't budge. "Damn you three! Move! Let me talk to him. He just needs to see I'm okay."

If only I knew how na?ve I was.

"You might get one of us, but I promise you Constantine, you won't get all three of us before your blood spills to the grass at your feet."

Chills run the length of my spine. I've never heard death's voice before but the reaper speaks through Mirsha tonight and the sound leaves me frozen in place.

What have I done? I fix my dress and push my hair out of my way. I still can't see much but I can feel the energy of our warm space shift from welcoming to deathly cold.

I place a hand in the center of Mirsha's back and quietly plead with him. "Please. Let me go to him. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Shh, beautiful."

A hand finds mine. Luther, I realize. His pinky ring is unmistakable. I squeeze back and for one second I think maybe everything will work out. We can talk and my father will realize I'm not a little girl anymore.

Think, Aster. Come on. But a solid plan of how to explain this all to my father slips through my fingers at what I hear next.

"I trusted you with her life. Nothing else. You don't get to take what I haven't given you."

Bile rises to the back of my throat, burning. Tears swim along the rims of my eyes. My heart stutters. "What…what the ever-loving fuck…"

Wind leaves my lungs. One second I'm wrapped in their warmth and in the next I'm being jerked away by Godzilla-sized hands.

Steel beams wrap around me and I'm suddenly thrown over a shoulder. Bone digs into my midriff and any hope I had of breathing doesn't happen. Arms and legs flail before I'm dumped like trash at my father's feet.

"Ugh." It's a grunt more than a groan.

Before I think better of it I kick out, landing the heel of my foot against a vulnerable part of the enforcer's knee. "fucker," I seethe.

"Shut the fuck up, girl." Knuckles strike the back of my cheek, stinging.

I sense their movement more than see Viper and Luther draw blades and slit the throats of the enforcers closing in on them. Others stand behind my father with powerful flashlights highlighting the horror show unfolding in front of me.

Rage pulls my godfather's once handsome faces into masks of revenge. "You're next, Constantine."

That is Mirsha. Luther and Viper flank him.

Death has taken over.

Strong fingers dig into my hair and I'm suddenly hauled to my feet by my cold-hearted father. The depths of his brown eyes reveal pits of hell burning deep in his soul. I try to fight his hold on me but the more I struggle the tighter his hold becomes.

"Your betrayal will handled later." Cold metal presses against my temple. And my father whirls me around.

Feet shift and the men at my father's side close in, guns aiming for my godfathers' hearts.

"Come a step closer and you will watch her die before my men end your pathetic lives. You of all people know how I handle betrayal."

"Come a step closer and she dies."

My godfathers' chests heave with the wrath of a thousand demons. Invisible chains made of sheer willpower keep them from rushing forward. If they didn't obey my father's command the amount of blood that would spill…oh, God! I can't let them get killed over my impulsiveness.

"Listen to him," I urge furiously. Fear widens my eyes and I can see they are on the cusp of not giving a shit if they die tonight. Luther's eyes bore a hole into the hand gripping me by the hair. One little push and he'll be on my father beating the shit out of him. And dying. He would very much die if he tried to save me.

"Stop!" I force all my love into that one word hoping they calm down long enough to hear me. Flames flicker in their eyes when they finally drop to mine.

"If you love me, walk away. Just go." I force my voice not to tremble, but it's not working.

"No."

That's Viper.

"Stubborn fools."

My father's laugh is evil enough to wake the dead. "Leave and I'll let her live long enough to suffer my punishment for her betrayal against the family. Royal blood does not mix with the filthy of mere killers."

If this is how he treats his best friends, I can't imagine what he's done to enemies.

"One more step in her direction and you will all watch me bury a bullet in her head."

Fear slams my eyes closed. Silence takes over. Coldness drowns the heat in my veins and I instantly plunge into a sense of dread feet first.

Please go. Please go. Please go. I silently send my words to them.

When I surface and dare open my eyes again they are gone. Wisps of a fantasy that no longer exists.

The grip in my hair forces me to do a one-eighty on the ball of my heel. Evil fills my vision.

"I thought you loved me." Never in all my life did I think he would go to such lengths to ruin me.

"Who are you?" I hear myself ask, fearing the answer before it fully leaves my lips.

"If that filth touches you again, I'll end all of you."

Murder glitters in the depths of his eyes.

"I won't stop until I see your blood on my hands. I swear this truth on my life. You will never let them touch what belongs to me. Swear it! Let me hear you!"

I felt nothing for years after those words fell from my lips.

I guess you could say I survived that night. But my heart? It died in the bloodied grass at my feet.