One Family Read online

  We’re so screwed.

  My father is ramping up the danger and trying to win a game we can’t afford to lose.

  The Feral Beasts have taken over Charles Donahue’s business and put a bounty out on two of my guys.

  I never dreamed making it to graduation and getting out of this corrupted town would seem this impossible.

  But I have my four guys by my side, finally, and we’re going to put up a fight.

  It’s a fight for survival. Trust each other.

  One Family

  One Family Copyright © 2021 R.A. Smyth

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  ISBN: 9798738599125

  Cover & Interior Design by Nikki Epperson. All Rights Reserved.

  Editing by Nikki Epperson & Rachel Smyth.

  Formatting by Rachel Smyth.

  “When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching—they are your family.”

  ― Jim Butcher

  Crescentwood Playlist

  Human – Rag ‘n’ Bone Man

  Broken – Lovelytheband

  Losing your memory – Ryan Star

  Little Talks – Of Monsters and Men

  Take on the World – You Me At Six

  Every Time You Leave – I Prevail, Delaney Jane

  Triggered – Chase Atlantic

  Fire Up The Night – New Medicine

  Kiss me Slowly – Parachute

  Family Tree – Matthew West

  Human – Christina Perri

  Sanctuary – Welshly Arms

  Spinning Over You – REYKO

  Dirty Diana – Shaman’s Harvest

  Alone Together – Fall out Boy

  Play Now

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  Yesterday

  Tonight is the fucking night!

  Everything I have been working for is about to come to fruition, and it tastes fucking amazing.

  “What the fuck is this about, Robert?” One of the arrogant one-percenter fucks demands, pissing all over my good mood. “I don’t appreciate being summoned last minute. Charles would never do such a thing.”

  “Speaking of Charles, where is he?” One of the other obnoxious fuckers pipes up.

  “I will answer your questions momentarily,” I assure them, doing my best to keep this fucking charade going for the sake of another few minutes. “Let’s wait until everyone has settled so I don’t have to repeat myself.”

  It only takes another few minutes for the last of the one-percenters to arrive, and once they enter the boardroom, my men quickly close the doors behind them. No one else seems to notice it, but I hear the subtle clicking of the lock sliding into place, cementing the future of these pathetic fools.

  Tonight can go one of two ways. The rich fucks that own this town can hand over control and bow down to me, or they can die. I really don’t care which they choose, so long as they don’t make me wait. I have other things to do and better places to be tonight.

  Once the remaining five families, minus Charles of course, are sitting around the table, glaring at me impatiently, I let the persona of Robert Montgomery slip away and I fully embrace who I really am, Kirk Jones, leader of the motherfucking Feral Beasts.

  Robert might not have been a good guy, but I’m the fucking devil in disguise.

  They all notice it. The subtle static of danger that suddenly zings through the air, that heightened sense of awareness you feel when you know a threat lurks nearby. They watch helplessly as I drop my cordial smile, donning a malicious smirk as I straighten my shoulders and stare down each and every one of them until they break eye contact and bow their heads. Fucking pussies.

  Saying nothing, I gather the neatly stacked pile of photos in front of me and fling them across the table, causing them to scatter, enabling everyone to get a good look at them.

  Gasps of outrage and horror fill the room as realization dawns. They thought I was just some sick rich dude wanting to invest in the sex trade and have easy access to free pussy, but they were so wrong. So. Fucking. Wrong.

  “What...who the hell are you?” One of them demands. At least that one’s got some balls, even if they will most likely get him killed. It even looks like he brought his son tonight, I’ll probably have to kill him too.

  I smirk, more than fucking glad to be done with the pretense. “I am Kirk Jones...Leader of The Feral Beasts.”

  More gasps and whispers. Of course they have heard of us, of me. They know what I’m capable of, what I do to those who cross me. Hell, the proof is right in front of them in high-def colored photographs.

  “What...what the fuck is this?” Another one of them stammers.

  “This,” I boom, my voice laced with vitriol and darkness, “is what happens when you cross me, go against me, do absolutely fucking anything that I don’t like or agree to. Charles thought he was in charge, the one calling all the shots. He quickly realized he wasn’t, unfortunately for him he was already dead by then.”

  “I don’t understand, what do you want?”

  Ignoring whoever asked the question, I tell them how things are going to be from here on out.

  “I am taking over the sex-trafficking business, including the auctions. Obviously, your services are still required and if you agree to continue working with me, then contracts will be drawn up.”

  “No way, not a chance. I don’t want any part of this,” a short plump man asserts, hastily getting up from the table and rushing to the door. He pulls down the door handle and...nothing. When the door doesn’t open, he pulls more frantically before giving up and banging on it. “Let me out!”

  I sigh heavily. I know I said I’d kill them if they didn’t get in line, but I was hoping they would use their fucking common sense and just do as they’re told. It would be so much easier for me than trying to source someone else to do whatever services they provided.

  Pulling out my gun, I flick off the safety and shoot. The guy drops to the floor, dead, his body collapsing in a heap at the door as blood seeps onto the wooden floor and puddles around his head
.

  Turning back to the rest of the table, I can’t help but relish in the mixed looks of shock and fear. It’s such an adrenaline rush, knowing you’re the most powerful person in the room, knowing everyone around you cowers in your presence. I slowly set my gun on the table, keeping it nearby and easily accessible while ensuring each of the fuckwits remaining around the table can see it.

  “Now,” I begin, getting back down to business. Like I said, I have better shit to do tonight. The rest of my men are arriving from Oregon to celebrate our win, and I’m ready to get the party started. “Does anyone else have any objections to the new changes?”

  Unsurprisingly, no one says a word. A few give a tight shake of their heads, but mostly they just stare dumbfounded at me, the pictures, the dead body by the door.

  “Excellent.” My lips curl up in a malicious grin, probably making a few of them piss themselves if the shuffling in their seats is anything to go by.

  “Who was that?” I demand, flicking my finger towards the dead body.

  “Donald Williamson.”

  When I continue to stare blankly at the person, they quickly hurry on.

  “He owns—owned—an import/export company.”

  “Right, well, I’ll need someone reliable to replace him then, and soon. I won’t lose out on good money because he was a pussy.”

  I stare expectantly at the guy until he frantically nods his head, telling me he’s on it. He better be.

  “Oliver,” I command, sensing him step forward from his spot along the back wall. I didn’t want to bring many men with me tonight and spook any of these fuckers before I had them in the room, but Oliver has proved himself to be incredibly useful these last few months. “Call Aiden and Ty, get them to come clean that up.” I demand, looking derisively at the body by the door. The blood has now spread into a large puddle around him, blocking the whole door.

  Turning my attention back to the rest of the men at the table, I once again survey each of them. They all appear thoroughly fearful, which I’m happy to see.

  “I think that’s all for this evening. Once we have a new import/export company lined up, I imagine things will return to normal. So long as none of you cross me, we won’t have any issues.”

  I go to stand when Steven pipes up. Of course. I knew he had been far too fucking quiet all night. Other than Oliver, he was the only other one in the room who knew my true identity. I’ve been keeping him in line for weeks by dangling the promise of Sophie over his head...I think I’ll hold out handing her over to him for a while longer.

  “Kirk, what about our deal? You said I could have her when you’re done with her.”

  “Yes, I know what I said,” I grind out. I’ve had enough of this same conversation week after week. She’s just one pussy, there’s nothing remotely special about her. “And you’ll get her when I’m done.” I glare at him until he backs down, not wanting to lose face in front of the others. “Don’t worry,” I chuckle darkly, “Aiden and Ty are keeping a close eye on her, she hasn’t fucked your son...yet.” I know it’s been a bone of contention with him, thinking his son might have gotten there first. Not that he cares about having his son’s sloppy seconds, he just wants to beat him to the punch.

  “Wait,” the kid says, speaking for the first time. “Aiden and Ty, the two new kids at school, are members of your gang?”

  “Who the fuck are you?” I snarl. What is with all these arrogant fuckers thinking they can boss me around and tell me what to do?

  “I’m Kurt, I go to school with Sophie.”

  So? I really couldn’t give a shit.

  “You said Aiden and Ty work for you, and are keeping a close eye on Sophie?” He questions. I can see his pathetic little brain overworking itself, but I don’t have all evening. I reach for my gun when he continues, his words freezing me in place, convinced I heard him wrong. “Aiden and Ty are, like, in love with Sophie. They follow her around like lost puppies. Are you sure they’re loyal to you?”

  I’d fully respect the balls on this kid if his words hadn’t just pissed me the fuck off.

  “What the fuck did you just say?” I snarl, whipping round to face him, my gun aimed at his head. I don’t even wait for a response before continuing on. “You know absolutely nothing about my business or my men. Aiden and Ty are free to fuck Sophie and do whatever the hell they want with her while following my orders.”

  I hear Steven protesting under his breath behind me. If he doesn’t shut the fuck up, he’s going to leave here with a fancy new hole in his body.

  I glare at the fucking kid, but unlike everyone else, he doesn’t seem fazed by the fact he’s one idiotic word away from death. Instead, he just nods like he agrees with me before pulling out his phone and, after a few seconds, turns it around to show me pictures of Aiden talking in a car with Sophie and showing her how to shoot in the woods. As he flicks through more photos, I see ones of Ty at a coffee shop with her and making out with her at a party.

  “These mean nothing,” I tell him. They were told to get close to Sophie. They are doing what I ordered. Kurt nods his head, turning his phone back round and tapping on it again before an audio file starts to play. At first all we can hear is what sounds like two people fucking, and I’m seriously about to blow his fucking head off when Ty speaks. It’s his words and the tone of his voice that has alarm bells going off in my head. That’s not the sound of a guy fucking some girl. It’s the sound of more. He sounds like he’s fucking worshipping her.

  This little shit is right. I’ve lost two of my most loyal men to some teenage pussy! That bitch has been more hassle than she’s worth.

  Storming across the room, I pause as I pass Steven. “She’s yours.” Pushing aside the dead fucker at the door with the toe of my boot, I make my way out of the house, calling Trey as I go. Aiden and Ty are no longer loyal, and we all know what happens to traitors of The Feral Beasts.

  Chapter 1

  We all travel back to the warehouse in silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts. Ty and Aiden look like they are on the verge of passing out again and I even catch Barrett glancing their way in the rearview mirror, casting them worried looks. We need to get them back to the warehouse and cleaned up so we can assess the extent of the damage.

  I can’t help but replay tonight’s events over and over in my mind. I may have been distracted at the time by Kirk’s tight grip on my hair, but I remember his words. He admitted to murdering my mum, and he said he was going to hand me over to Steven, like I’m a fucking possession to be bought and sold as pleased. Not to mention the obvious fact that he knows Aiden and Ty are disloyal to him. How did all of this happen? How did he find out about them?

  I came so close to losing them tonight. They nearly died. I choke down my sob, trying to hold myself together, but now that the adrenaline is wearing off all of my fear and worry is making itself known.

  Ty, sensing I’m falling apart beside him, squeezes my hand tightly. I squeeze back just as firmly, holding on to him, to both of them, with everything I’ve got. I can’t lose them. I won’t let Kirk take them away from me. He can’t win.

  I’m still trying to puzzle the pieces together when we pull up to the warehouse. No one moves to get out, each of us sitting in the silence for a beat before Preston breaks it. “Tonight was fucked up.”

  Yeah, that about sums it up. Preston might no longer have to worry about his father, but now all of us have Kirk and The Feral Beasts after us, and I have no idea how we’re meant to escape them.

  It’s only when Ty moans in pain again, that Preston and Barrett make a move to get out, coming to open the back doors and help Aiden and Ty. Thankfully, the movement and cold air seem to wake both of them up a bit, and between them, Preston and Barrett drag their beaten bodies into the warehouse and sit them down on the couch.

  Following closely behind, I head straight for the bathroom and search for the first aid kit. Once I’ve found it, I head back towards the living area where Aiden and Ty both have their shi
rts off and Preston is examining them for any further injuries.

  “Hey,” Ty hisses when Preston prods at a particularly tender spot on his rib cage. “Watch it man, that fucking hurts!”

  Preston just rolls his eyes. “Looks like you’ve broken a few ribs, or at least bruised them.”

  “No shit, Sherlock,” Ty continues to grouch. “The fact it hurts to breathe tells me that.”

  Ignoring the pair of them, I sit down in the space between Aiden and Ty and dab at the cuts on Aiden’s face, cleaning away the blood and ensuring they don’t get infected. He winces under my slight touch, hissing through his teeth at the sting from the antiseptic. There isn’t a part of his face that doesn’t look like it hurts. Every inch of it is coated in dried blood, swollen, or beginning to bruise, and I can see how much pain he’s in every time he moves, trying to find a comfortable spot on the sofa.

  Instead of worrying about himself though, he reaches out a hand to touch the band-aid on my forehead, his face darkening as his anger takes precedence over his exhaustion. “What happened here?” He growls out.

  I wave his hand away, much like I did with Preston and Barrett earlier. “It’s nothing. Kirk wasn’t too happy to find out I was the reason you two turned against him.” I press my lips together at the memory of him grabbing my hair, slamming my head against the wall and dragging me through the house. His treatment of me wasn’t the worst I’ve dealt with, but his anger was the most terrifying I’ve seen yet. I fully believe if he hadn’t thought giving me to Steven was a worse fate, he would have killed me there and then. The thought has shivers coursing through me and I quickly shake it off, turning my attention back to Aiden.

  He doesn’t say anything, but his face darkens further, if that’s even possible. I gently run my thumb over the creases on his forehead, ironing them out. There’s no point in him worrying about it now. What’s done is done, and compared to what happened to him and Ty, it’s barely a scratch.

  Once I’ve patched him up the best I can, I hand him some Tylenol. It will barely touch the pain but it’s the best I’ve got. Preston, who’s done poking and prodding at Ty, comes to do the same to Aiden, checking for any life-threatening damage as I move on to clean up Ty who’s sitting on my other side with his head tilted back and his eyes closed.