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Title: The Power Behind The Throne
Author: Rose_the_Hat
Pairing: Jared Padalecki/Jensen Ackles
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: ~ 29,000
Summary: In which Jensen is a powerful mob boss and Jared is his Enforcer…and so much more.
Notes: This is the product of reading too many M/M mafia romances and listening to too much Type O Negative. Apologies in advance for all the Type O references and for putting the late great Peter Steele in this
Beta’d by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jdl71
3- Love You To Death
PART 2
After having more than proven their loyalty and usefulness Jared and Petrus were welcomed into Jensen’s Inner Circle and given quarters at the Ackles compound. Jensen was not surprised Jared found his way to Jensen’s private quarters on his first night. It was nearing eleven, Jensen was heading to bed for the night. Jared’s rooms were on the second floor, along with the other members of the Inner Circle. Jensen was buttoning his pajama top when the door to his room opened. Turning, ready to tear whoever was intruding on his personal quarters a new asshole, his scolding died on his lips as Jared slipped in dressed in a black wife beater and soft-looking grey knit pants. Jensen swallowed at the very visible bulge of Jared’s cock.
He hadn’t extended Jared an invitation to his bed but both knew it was inevitable.
Jared closed the door silently behind him and turned the lock, brow cocked and a smirk firmly in place. Jensen’s heart raced and his stomach fluttered as Jared stalked across the room. He looked like a big jungle cat, a tiger or jaguar, eyeing its prey. Jensen flushed all over and his cock grew half hard.
“We doin’ this, baby?” Jared asked, gaze lingering on Jensen’s growing arousal.
Unable to find his voice, Jensen jerkily nodded.
Jared’s predatory eyes glittered and he took a step closer, pressing against Jensen, the younger man’s body radiated heat. “Gimme words, Jense. You want me to fuck you?”
Jensen ached. In Jared, he sensed, a man who could give Jensen what he needed, what he has always longed for, but could never ask for with his previous lovers. He licked his lips, dropped all his affectations, and sank to his knees.
“Yes, Sir, please, fuck me.”
Jared reached out and cupped the back of Jensen’s head, trailed his fingers along Jensen’s jaw, tilted his head up slightly. “You have a word?”
Jensen’s soul sang. Jared saw him, understood what he needed. “Cinnamon, Sir,” he sighed.
“Slow down?” Jared inquired further.
“Ginger, Sir.”
Jared nodded. “You have anything you like to be called? Bitch? Boy?”
“Just my name, Sir, and I…I….” Jensen paused, he cheeks suffused with warmth.
“Tell me.”
“I liked it when you called me baby.”
“Things you don’t like?”
“Watersports. Scat. Humiliation. Sounding. I don’t like pain but don’t mind spanking.”
“Bondage?”
“Light bondage is fine, Sir.”
Jared nodded. “I think that’s enough to start.” He petted Jensen’s head again. “It’s hard being the Big Boss Man all the time, isn’t it? You want to lay it down for just a little while, don’t you?”
Jensen’s throat constricted and he could feel the sting of tears. Jared saw him so clearly. It’s a little frightening. “Yes, Sir. So much.” Jared’s substantial erection tented out his pants. “Please, Sir, may I suck your cock?”
“No,” Jared answered. “I’m going to fuck your hot mouth and throat. If I like that well enough I’ll think about taking that cute little ass of yours.” Jared peeled off his wife beater, exposing a well-defined six pack; then, pushed his pants down his long legs.
Jensen couldn’t help the whimper that escaped him as Jared’s impressive length was freed. His ass clenches in anticipation. It’s been so long since anything but his own fingers had been inside him.
“Strip and lie down on the bed, hang your head over the edge.”
Jensen pushed back to his feet and hurriedly takes off his silk pajamas. He could feel Jared’s eyes on him, moving all over his body. He does as Jared ordered, unsure of the odd positioning. Then, understanding dawned as Jared stepped up to the side of the bed. His heavy cock and balls are at the perfect height for Jensen to suck; his mouth floods with saliva at the prospect.
Jared cradled Jensen’s head in both hands, fingers firm on his throat. Jared could easily kill him, strangle him, or break his neck; this position left him so vulnerable.
“Open wide, baby.” Jared’s voice was a low husk. Jensen shivered all over at the tone and endearment.
Obediently Jensen opened his mouth as wide as he could. The hot hard length of Jared’s cock slipped in. Jensen’s eyes rolled in his head and he moaned at the salty taste, the weight on his tongue. Jared pumped his hips gently, nudging in further. Jensen went to seal his mouth to add a little suction, but Jared removed his cock from Jensen’s mouth and slapped him across the cheeks with it.
“No. Be good and let me use your mouth and throat.”
“I’m sorry, Sir,” Jensen said and opened his mouth again.
Jared slid his cock back in, rocking his hips, urging his cock deeper with each thrust. Understanding dawned and Jensen relaxed his throat muscles and the head of Jared’s cock breached his throat. He gagged and wanted to cough.
“Tap my hip once if you’re okay or twice if you need me to stop,” Jared said breathing harder.
Jensen tapped his hip once. “So good, baby,” Jared praised and began to fuck Jensen’s mouth and throat, with slow deep sure strokes. Jensen struggled with his gag reflex; he’s had his mouth fucked before but not by anyone with Jared’s girth. Jared thrusts in deep and holds himself there, cutting off Jensen’s air before slipping out again. Jared’s hands, which had been holding Jensen’s head at the right angle, tightened around his throat further cutting off his air. Jensen’s heart gave a panicky throb, as he remembered how vulnerable he was right now. He couldn’t breathe around Jared’s cock clogging his throat and now Jared was squeezing his already constricted throat.
“Once for yes, twice for stop,” Jared reminded thrusting a little faster, giving Jensen’s mouth a good fucking.
Jensen tapped once, and closed his eyes, and gave himself over to Jared.
“You should fu-fucking see what I do. Your throat fucking bulging with my cock ramming down it. So fucking hot.”
Jensen tried to moan but he could make any sound. He couldn’t breathe. His eyes watered. Spit and Jared’s precum leaked from the corners of his mouth. Jared babbled as he fucked Jensen’s mouth and throat mercilessly. He alternated between cutting off Jensen’s air with his cock and hands. His big heavy balls covered Jensen’s nose giving him a nice whiff of Jared’s musk; soap, sweat, and testosterone. Jensen’s own cock was leaking a puddle of precum on his belly. He wanted to touch himself so badly but he can’t ask Sir for permission.
Jared withdrew his cock almost completely from Jensen’s mouth, his hands grip Jensen’s throat, completely cutting off his air. Time ticked by; Jared thrusts shallowly into Jensen’s mouth as he continued to strangle him. Jensen’s pulse raced, his heart beat a painful tattoo against his ribs, but his mind was calm, as calm as it had ever been. Jensen was on the verge of blacking out when Jared’s fingers relented. Pressure gone from his throat Jensen sucked in a ragged breath of air. His near strangulation did nothing to curb his erection; he was still hard as nails and aching. Jared’s fingers grabbed a handful of Jensen’s hair and pulled him up and off the bed.
“Fuck, you’re amazing,” Jared praised sounding awed, eyes dancing with wonder, mouth a breath away from Jensen’s. He closed the infinitesimal distance between them and kissed him, once more stealing his breath. Jensen wrapped his arms around the other man, gripped him tight. He threaded his fingers through all that soft brown hair, feeling his nape and temples damp with sweat.
Jared broke the kiss. Jensen clung to him as if Jared were the only thing in the world, as if he would spiral into a deep black abyss if he let go. His throat felt scraped raw and his jaw aches in the best way. “Thank you, Sir.”
“So good for me, baby, letting me use you. I think you deserve a treat.” He tapped Jensen’s hip. “On the bed, on your stomach, spread eagle.”
Jensen blindly turned to the bed and promptly flopped down on it, lying on his stomach after reaching down to adjust his painfully hard cock. Jared’s hands trailed across his back and shoulders. “Strong shoulders to carry all the weight that you do. Gorgeous back,” Jared commented, “so wide and narrowing down to this…” He gave Jensen’s asscheeks a little playful swat. He felt Jared climb onto the bed with him.
“Thank you, Sir. Lube and condoms in the bedside table, Sir.”
Jared hummed noncommittally. “We’ll get there.” He drawled. Jensen felt something tickling his lower back. He had a second to register it was Jared’s hair before Jared spread Jensen’s cheeks and licked him from his perineum to the top of his crack.
“Oh Jesus. Oh fuck!” Jensen moaned, a little shocked.
“Has anybody ever done this to you before?” Jared asked. He blew a stream of cool air across Jensen’s hole.
“No, no, Sir. I never….” He had wanted someone to rim him but had never asked always afraid of feeling so open and vulnerable. Something he could never allow himself to be. He opened his mouth to try and explain but Jared shushed him.
“It’s okay, baby. With me you don’t even have to ask. Fuckin’ crime for an ass this fine to not be properly appreciated. I’m just the man to do it.”
Jensen lost track of time, only aware of Jared tonguing his ass and the steadily building ache in his balls. His hands gripped the sheets, hips moving on their own either to get some much needed friction on his cock or to get more of Jared’s mouth on him. Jared ate his ass like a starving man at a buffet and Jensen moaned like a fucking shameless whore. That fact that Jared was enjoying what he was doing, and not doing it solely for Jensen, heightened his pleasure. It was too much. It was too good. His balls tingled and tightened with impending orgasm.
“Jared! Jared! Jared! I’m going to come! Can I please come? Please, please, Sir?”
“So good. Yes, baby, you can come. I want you to come with my tongue in your ass.” Jared went back to work feasting on Jensen’s ass.
When Jensen came it was like a supernova behind his eyes, he heard himself wailing in pleasure as he shuddered and his cock erupted onto the duvet. His orgasm seemed to go on and on, verging on painful. When he was through, he was exhausted and boneless and more replete than he had ever been in his life.
He heard Jared chuckling low and liquid behind him. “Oh, you ain’t done yet, baby.”
Jensen whimpered as, with gentle hands, Jared turned him over onto his back. He gazed down at him with such intensity, such desire.
“Are you green?” Jared asked.
Jensen swallowed, Christ, this man was almost too much for Jensen. His chest tightened with emotion, knowing Jared was asking after his wellbeing, if Jensen was okay to continue. Jensen had no doubts that if he said ‘cinnamon’ Jared would stop.
Jensen nodded his consent for Jared to fuck him.
“Words, Big Boss Man.” Jared raised a brow, teasing little smirk quirked up the corner of his mouth.
“Yes, Sir, I’m fine and would very much like you to fuck me with your gorgeous cock, please.” His gaze drifted down to Jared’s cock, so thick and flushed so dark with blood, Jensen knew it had to hurt. He wanted to alleviate that hurt, he wanted Jared inside him, splitting him open and ramming in deep. God, it has been ages since he’s been used the way he liked, if he ever had been.
Jared reached for the bottle of lube and a condom. Jensen’s hand covered Jared’s. He shook his head. “I want to feel just you in me. I want to feel it when you come, I want to feel it run out after. I’m safe,” Jensen said. It had been more than six months since he had a lover, and he always got tested regularly. “If you aren’t, or don’t know if you are, I’ll understand.”
“I’m clean. Been too busy with this new career I’ve been embarking on to focus on my sex life, although I think that might be changing.” He tossed the condom aside and slicked up his fingers.
Jensen is so relaxed from the rimjob and his orgasm that Jared doesn’t need to spend much time opening him up. One finger quickly became two, became three, grazing over his prostate causing pleasure to ricochet through him and his spent dick tried to rise once more.
When Jared pushed inside for the first time Jensen felt like his heart was cracking open, not to break, but to allow Jared to take up residence. He moved in slow lazy strokes, that girthy dick stretching Jensen wide, filling him up so good, and reaching places inside him never touched before. It wasn’t long before Jensen was fully erect again and begging Jared for more, harder, faster.
Jared hitched Jensen’s legs higher around his hips and leaned down over him. He clasped Jensen hands in his own, interlacing their fingers. He held them up on either side of Jensen’s head.
“Who’s in charge here?” Jared asked grinding into Jensen.
“You are, Sir.” Jensen said around a breathy moan as Jared’s cockhead tormented his prostate.
“That’s right. Take what Sir gives you and be grateful.” The reprimand in Jared’s voice made a wave of regret wash over him.
“Yes, Sir. I’m sorry. Sir.”
Jared fucked him slow, deep, and hard. Jensen didn’t think it was possible, but he climaxed for a second time that night, even though his balls don’t have much to give.
After, they lay together, Jensen resting his head on one of Jared’s broad shoulders as their breathing powered down. Jensen wasn’t sure what was going to happen now. Jared had stripped him bare and tore him down. He had never allowed a lover to know his most secret desire and he hadn’t even had to tell Jared what it was. Jared just seemed to know what Jensen craved, for all his poise and control in every other aspect of his life, was to let go, be dominated, told what to do, and how to do it, to put himself in someone else’s hands. Would Jared want to keep this up? Could they? It could be dangerous. If any enemies got wind that they were anything other than boss and employee they would use that against them.
“We have to be careful, Jared,” Jensen began after an interval. “What goes on in this room is just between us. I don’t want you acting as if we are anything other than boss and employee outside these walls.”
Jared, perceptive as ever said, “You don’t want our relationship used against us. I get it. That’s cool. I like knowing I’m the only one who gets to see this side of you.”
“Not even Petrus,” Jensen reiterated knowing the two men were extremely close.
Jared chuckled. “I swear you’re the only person who has ever called him that. And, no, not even Petey.”
“What’s the deal between you two?” There was sharpness in the way the question came out, annoyance born from jealousy, he couldn’t keep from his tone. If Jared heard it he gave no sign.
“You don’t know?” Jared replied.
“I know you’re close. He seems protective of you. Were you two…ever….?”
Jared laughed, low and liquid. “Hell, no. He’s so straight, a ruler ain’t got nuthin’ on him. I doubt he knows I’m gay.” He went quiet for a beat. “He’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to family. A brother.”
“How long have you known him?”
“Since I was ten. I ran away from a foster home after the father tried to bad-touch me.” He said it in a self-deprecating way that was reminiscent of Petrus.
“Jesus! I’m sorry.”
Jared shrugged. “It’s okay. I killed the guy a few years later when I was fifteen.” A jolt of worry shot through Jensen. The casual mention of committing murder at a young age reminded Jensen that the man sharing his bed right now was very dangerous. He wondered if that had been the first time Jared killed. There was so much he didn’t know about Jared and he wanted to know everything. Before Jensen could ask for more details Jared spoke again.
“Anyway, I met Petey at the park I had been living in. I used to sleep in one of those tube slides.”
“You were ten for fucks sake. How did you even get by?”
“Picking pockets and shoplifting. Wasn’t hard. I was cute and an adroit liar.”
Jensen pictured Jared as a child, a mop of brown hair, innocent dimpled smile, and big hazel blue eyes getting him out of trouble he might have managed to get in. “Artful Dodger,” Jensen grinned, turned his head into the crook of Jared’s neck and licked along his jugular.
“Yeah, for a bit, but then I had Petey to look after me. We looked after each other. He used to park my ass in the library for hours to make me read and learn. Best education I could have ever got.”
“How old was he?”
“Sixteen.”
Jensen pondered that, tried to imagine why a sixteen year old would want to look after a ten year old kid, especially a kid he didn’t know. He would have to ask Petrus one of these days. Finding out about Petrus wasn’t nearly as interesting as finding out about Jared. “What kinda stuff did you read?” Jensen asked having a notion it wasn’t Green Eggs and Ham or Goosebumps.
“Mafia books mostly. Puzo at first. Then biographies of the greats: Capone, Siegel, Luciano, Gotti. All those guys. I wanted to be just like ‘em. Guess now I am.”
That certainly explained Jared’s manner and style of dress. He had patterned himself after his Mafioso heroes. Jensen even thought that was charming. A man infatuated with the underworld and Jensen himself, an underworld kingpin. They were a hell of a match.
“This isn’t exactly La Cosa Nostra, Jare.”
“Maybe not, but we both know its close enough. It has the same glamour and violence I fell in love with reading about, the same code of honor. You just call it an “Organization” instead of a “Family”.
Jensen tilted his head up and caught Jared’s gaze. Once again that shiver, that awareness, that Jared was dangerous, zipped through him. He wasn’t afraid. It thrilled him.
“I love you, Jensen. I’d do anything for you. I’d rip anyone to shreds who even tried hurting you, betraying you, defying you, denying you anything you wish, or keep us apart.” Jared’s eyes burned with the kind of devotion Jensen had only seen in religious zealots.
Jensen swallowed. His heart stumbled in his chest, as if it forgot how to beat. He’d never expected a love declaration this soon, if at all, from the enigmatic man. Thought maybe this might be just a sex thing for Jared, but no, Jared loved him. It was crazy. What was even crazier was that Jensen loved him back.
He slammed his mouth across Jared’s, their teeth clashing so hard that he tasted blood. He drove his tongue into Jared’s mouth and climbed on top of him, bracketing the other man’s hips with his knees. He felt Jared’s cock hot and hard beneath him. Jensen doubted he could get hard again, forget about coming, but he wanted nothing more at this moment than Jared inside him.
He reached behind himself, grasped Jared’s cock, and guided it to his hole still slick with lube and Jared’s come. “You, too.” The words felt too insignificant, too puny, to convey the depth of what he was feeling. But maybe Jared knew, understood, because he felt it too. He took Jared easily, relishing the fullness and the stretch.
“Anything. Anything for you, Jensen. Anything,” Jared intoned over and over, a vow, as Jensen rode his thick cock, lifting up and slamming down hard. His hands gripped Jensen’s hips tight, fingers digging into the skin. Jensen hoped he would have bruises in the morning. Jared didn’t issue orders or control the rhythm of this fuck. He let Jensen use him, let him take, gave Jensen everything. All the while his eyes blazed and his lips spoke benedictions, swearing his love and loyalty.
Jensen had been wrong. He could get hard again and he did come once more before blacking out.
Above all Jensen was a businessman, even if half of his business happened to be illegal, and he ran things accordingly. After having gotten rid of the traitors and disloyal soldiers in his Organization Jensen decided a little shuffle of personnel was needed, so he had appointments throughout the afternoon with the leaders of each crew.
The guns, fencing, and trucking operations all needed new leaders installed. Immediately after the attempted hijacking Jensen had assigned Stevie Guitar and Kane to take over the gun running operations in the interim. They were beyond reproach, but had other jobs and territories to oversee. Jensen didn’t want them stretched too thin.
“Mr. Ackles, sir,” Jensen was behind his desk looking over his list of appointments when his chauffeur, Mitch Pileggi, stepped inside. He was a stocky bald man of fifty and had been driving for the Ackles’ for years.
“Yes, Mr. Pileggi?”
“Will you be needing the car today, sir?”
“No. I’m working from home today. See that they are washed and detailed though.”
“Of course, sir.” The man inclined his head in a respectful nod before he left.
Jensen’s first appointment was with Misha Collins. He didn’t plan on replacing him, but there was the little matter of the lewd and disrespectful comments he had been overheard saying. Jensen planned to let Jared put a little scare into him.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Collins,” Jensen motioned for the man to have a seat. “I won’t detain you very long. How’s business?” Jensen asked.
“Good. Steady. No complaints from the girls or guys working for me and my crew. I run a tight clean business, Mr. Ackles. Customers appreciate that.”
Jensen expected as much. “I like to hear that.” Jensen slipped into the ice cold mask and fixed Misha with a hard stare. “What I don’t like to hear is some of the shit you talk about me.”
Jared entered the office then, silent as shadow. Before Misha knew what was going on, Jared had him pinned to the desk by the back of his neck, cheek pressed into the dark wood, barrel of a gun snug against his temple.
“Wh-wh-what did I say?” Misha stammered. “I have never said anything about you!”
“Shut your filthy disrespectful mouth! He ain’t done talking yet,” Jared’s voice was fucking arctic but his eyes burned with hunger. Jensen knew he ached to pull that trigger.
“I heard you like to hypothesize about my sexual appetites and rhapsodize about my appearance,” Jensen said. “Don’t bother to deny it. This information comes from an unimpeachable source.”
Jared pulled the hammer back on the pistol.
“All right! All right! I said some stuff! I didn’t mean anything by it! You’re a fucking good-looking guy, Mr. Ackles! That’s all I meant!”
Jensen gave Jared a nod, for a fraction of a second the idea that Jared might not obey flitted through his mind. He needn’t worry; Jared uncocked the pistol and released his hold on Misha. Misha straightened up, panting and dripping sweat as he stumbled away from Jared, eyes wide, and fearful.
“Keep your mind on your business and your lecherous thoughts to yourself. If you can’t do that I’ll replace you with someone that can. Get the fuck out of here.” Jensen waved a dismissive hand.
Misha turned and bolted for the door, but Jared was there, blocking his way, that cold dead look in his eyes.
“Jared,” Jensen snapped.
After one last glare Jared moved aside. Misha rushed through the door.
Jensen rose from behind his desk and crossed to Jared, reaching behind him to close the office door. He looked up at the man he loved.
“You hate him. Why?”
“I’m not talking about it.” Jared’s voice was as flat and dead as his eyes.
Something about Misha causes Jared to utterly shut down and Jensen longed to know what it is. If he could help in some way.
“Do you know him? From before you came to work for me?”
“No, and I told you, I’m not talking about it.”
Jensen wanted to push the issue but he didn’t want to risk pushing Jared away. “Okay,” he nodded, and gripped Jared’s bicep, to offer comfort and reassurance. “But you know you can tell me anything and it will go no further.”
Jared gazed down at him, there was true anger in his eyes directed at Jensen for the first time, but also something else, fear mixed with shame. This man was such a puzzle wrapped in an enigma. “Drop it, Jensen.” His tone brooked no argument.
Jensen backed away. He returned to his seat at his desk, looked at his appointment book. “Penikett, Cohen and their guys are next,” Jensen said evenly.
Jared inclined his head and returned to his position to the right, just behind Jensen.
Fifteen minutes later there was a knock at the door.
“Enter.”
Tahoma, followed by his number two man, Brock Kelly, Matthew Cohen and his number two man Jake Abel all filed in. They each tried to appear unintimidated, but failed. Their shoulders and back were stiff with tension and their steps were measured as they approached the desk, like they would rather run the other way, especially once they saw Jared standing behind Jensen.
“Gentlemen,” Jensen greeted then cut right to the chase. “I’ll assume you know what this is about.”
“Mr. Ackles, sir. We had no idea what Olsson was up to,” Tahoma was quick to begin.
“You think you would still be alive if I even thought you had?” Jensen asked.
He watched the young men swallow and shift with uncertainty. Their gazes flitted over to Jared once more. “No, sir?”
“Exactly. My men didn’t turn up anything duplicitous in their investigations of you. You’re all young and seem eager to prove yourselves, so you followed your boss’ orders.”
“Yes, sir. Your Organization has been real good to us,” this from Matt, who was good looking with dark hair and blue-grey eyes.
Jensen took the measure of each young man. “You trust the men under you, Mr. Penikett? They are loyal to you?”
“Yes, sir. We all came up together.”
Jensen shifted his attention to Matt and Jake. “What about the men under you, Mr. Cohen?”
“Oh, yes, sir,” Matt replied. “Loyal to you most of all.”
“I like to hear that. I like action and proof even better.”
“Whatever you ask, we’ll do, sir.” Tahoma said standing tall and proud as any soldier would.
“You feel up to the challenge of taking over for the late and unlamented Mr. Olsson, Mr. Penikett?
“I do, sir.” Tahoma answered.
“And you, Mr. Cohen, feel up to stepping into Mr. Omundson’s vacant role?”
“Yes, sir,” Matt replied with a firm nod, standing up straighter.
Tahoma opened and closed his mouth, appearing thoughtful and apprehensive.
“Yes? Something to say?” Jensen prompted.
“Maybe I should have figured out what Ty was up to. He said I was doing a good job so he let me take over some smaller operations. That felt good. He probably did it to distract me and not because he had faith in me. I do sincerely apologize, Mr. Ackles, sir.”
“Yes, perhaps,” Jensen purposefully didn’t clarify what he meant. Let them stew on it. “Consider it a lesson, Mr. Penikitt. I am, however, showing faith in you. Do not show me that faith has been misplaced. I can forgive ignorance. Once,” Jensen added, pinning each man with his cold gaze. “You see those shipments get to where they are supposed to—on time every time and we’ll all be happy.”
“Yes, sir,” Tahoma replies, eager. “Thank you for the opportunity. You can count on us.”
“We’ll see. Good afternoon, gentlemen,” Jensen dismissed them with a lazy gesture.
After the door closed behind the four men Jensen asked, “What do you think?”
“Maybe keep Kane or Stevie around to give them a little more guidance, but I think they’re on the level. They respect you and are a bit scared of you.”
“You’re not,” Jensen observed.
“No,” Jared said simply, no bullshitting. “But you are scared of me.”
Jensen turned in his seat and gazed up at Jared, heart rate ratcheting up. Is there anything about him Jared didn’t know? Didn’t see? It was disconcerting and soothing at the same time, to have utterly no secrets, and free to be completely himself.
“You’re the one person who doesn’t need to be. Well, apart from Petey.”
Jensen grinned. He returned to his agenda and checked names off his appointments list. “Oh, hell. Chad Murray is next,” Jensen said.
“What?” Jared asked sharply, on alert. “I didn’t think he was cause for concern.”
“He’s not. He’s just a little sleazy is all. If you spend any time around him you’ll understand what I mean.”
There was a jaunty rap on the door.
“Yes,” Jensen said. “Do come in, Mr. Murray.”
The door opened and the blond man strolled in.
“Mr. Ackles always a pleasure, Boss,” his sky blue eyes took Jensen’s measure. “Could make it more of one, ya know.” He gave Jensen the elevator eyes treatment before winking.
“Sit down, Mr. Murray,” Jensen said with a snap in his voice.
“Anything you say,” He grinned suggestively as he sat across from Jensen’s desk.
Murray’s behavior wasn’t anything Jensen wasn’t used to but it annoyed him. Still, he knew there were some people you couldn’t change. What mattered to Jensen was how well the gambling operations ran and he never had cause for complaint. This meeting was more about touching base than replacing Murray.
“I’m meeting with all crew leaders, Mr. Murray,” Jensen began, lacing his fingers together on his desktop and regarding Chad impartially. “How is business?”
“Good. There’s always someone wanting to make a quick buck on a hand of cards or a hunch to play on the ponies.”
“Any trouble collecting from those that lose?”
“Not too much. Miss having Big ‘n Little around, but my guys get it done.”
“Glad to hear it,” Jensen stood and came from behind his desk. “And the guys under you, you trust them? They loyal to the Organization?”
Chad turned uncharacteristically serious, probably remembering what happened to those who were not loyal. “Yes, sir, Boss. They wouldn’t have much of anything if they wasn’t working for me, err, you, sir. If you ever need anything, Mr. Ackles you only need to ask.” He wagged his brows and leered at Jensen again.
Jensen was glad to send Chad on his way. He felt as if he needed a shower though. He glanced over to Jared, expecting to see some sign of anger or irritation, but he was as impassive as a Sphinx; just a bodyguard, nothing more. There was a knock on the office door.
“Yeah?” Jensen answered.
Petrus entered and Jensen relaxed; he had been worried that Chad was coming back for some reason.
“I checked on those shops like ya asked me to, sir.”
“Hey, Big Boss Man,” Jared spoke up suddenly. “Mind if I take a little break? Grab something to eat now that Petey’s here?”
“Of course,” he dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
“Want anything, Petey?”
“Already ate.”
Jared waved and was gone.
Later that night, Jared slipped into Jensen’s bedroom with a small box beautifully wrapped with shiny metallic blue wrapping paper and topped with a gold velvet ribbon. Jensen was unsure what to think. There was something in those mercurial eyes of Jared’s that was unsettling; as if some part of Jensen’s lizard hindbrain registered that the lanky young man in front of him wasn’t quite right. That he’s dangerous, and Jensen knows dangerous men, but that Jared might actually be unhinged.
“It’s not a bomb or anything.” Jared’s voice was quiet, eyes downcast. Jensen detected a vague hint of hurt in Jared’s voice. Jensen felt guilty. Hadn’t Jared told him earlier in the day that he was one person who should never be afraid of him?
Jensen smiled. “I didn’t think it was. It’s late for my birthday and too early for Christmas.” He tugged on the ribbon, untying, and removing it; then, tore off the bright cheerful paper revealing a plain white gift box. It felt light but nevertheless Jensen knew whatever was inside had indefinable weight. He removed the top and stared down at what Jared has gifted him. It took a few seconds for what he was holding to register. A pair of glazed and misshapen blue eyeballs rested on a silk pillow. He knew to whom they used to belong: Chad Michael Murray.
He looked up at Jared caught somewhere between shock and flattered. He supposed Chad may not be dead, that Jared just blinded him and left him maimed, but Jensen knew Jared wouldn’t have allowed him to live. The transgression was too great. It should scare him how easily Jared will kill for him, or because of him, but he doesn’t have it in him to be. With Jared he was undeniably safe. It was everyone else who should be afraid.
“’And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee’ Matthew 5:29,” Jared quotes. “His eyes offended you, so I plucked them out.” He shrugged and smiled his dimpled but malicious grin, eyes glittering with cold delight. “It won’t come back on you, if that worries you. I took care of everything.”
Jensen wasn’t worried about that. He was a little miffed because now he had to find someone new to run the gambling rackets.
Jensen fell asleep thinking that if Jared would do that to someone who looked at him, what in God’s name is he going to do to whoever has kidnapped him.
Author: Rose_the_Hat
Pairing: Jared Padalecki/Jensen Ackles
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: ~ 29,000
Summary: In which Jensen is a powerful mob boss and Jared is his Enforcer…and so much more.
Notes: This is the product of reading too many M/M mafia romances and listening to too much Type O Negative. Apologies in advance for all the Type O references and for putting the late great Peter Steele in this
Beta’d by
jdl713- Love You To Death
PART 2
After having more than proven their loyalty and usefulness Jared and Petrus were welcomed into Jensen’s Inner Circle and given quarters at the Ackles compound. Jensen was not surprised Jared found his way to Jensen’s private quarters on his first night. It was nearing eleven, Jensen was heading to bed for the night. Jared’s rooms were on the second floor, along with the other members of the Inner Circle. Jensen was buttoning his pajama top when the door to his room opened. Turning, ready to tear whoever was intruding on his personal quarters a new asshole, his scolding died on his lips as Jared slipped in dressed in a black wife beater and soft-looking grey knit pants. Jensen swallowed at the very visible bulge of Jared’s cock.
He hadn’t extended Jared an invitation to his bed but both knew it was inevitable.
Jared closed the door silently behind him and turned the lock, brow cocked and a smirk firmly in place. Jensen’s heart raced and his stomach fluttered as Jared stalked across the room. He looked like a big jungle cat, a tiger or jaguar, eyeing its prey. Jensen flushed all over and his cock grew half hard.
“We doin’ this, baby?” Jared asked, gaze lingering on Jensen’s growing arousal.
Unable to find his voice, Jensen jerkily nodded.
Jared’s predatory eyes glittered and he took a step closer, pressing against Jensen, the younger man’s body radiated heat. “Gimme words, Jense. You want me to fuck you?”
Jensen ached. In Jared, he sensed, a man who could give Jensen what he needed, what he has always longed for, but could never ask for with his previous lovers. He licked his lips, dropped all his affectations, and sank to his knees.
“Yes, Sir, please, fuck me.”
Jared reached out and cupped the back of Jensen’s head, trailed his fingers along Jensen’s jaw, tilted his head up slightly. “You have a word?”
Jensen’s soul sang. Jared saw him, understood what he needed. “Cinnamon, Sir,” he sighed.
“Slow down?” Jared inquired further.
“Ginger, Sir.”
Jared nodded. “You have anything you like to be called? Bitch? Boy?”
“Just my name, Sir, and I…I….” Jensen paused, he cheeks suffused with warmth.
“Tell me.”
“I liked it when you called me baby.”
“Things you don’t like?”
“Watersports. Scat. Humiliation. Sounding. I don’t like pain but don’t mind spanking.”
“Bondage?”
“Light bondage is fine, Sir.”
Jared nodded. “I think that’s enough to start.” He petted Jensen’s head again. “It’s hard being the Big Boss Man all the time, isn’t it? You want to lay it down for just a little while, don’t you?”
Jensen’s throat constricted and he could feel the sting of tears. Jared saw him so clearly. It’s a little frightening. “Yes, Sir. So much.” Jared’s substantial erection tented out his pants. “Please, Sir, may I suck your cock?”
“No,” Jared answered. “I’m going to fuck your hot mouth and throat. If I like that well enough I’ll think about taking that cute little ass of yours.” Jared peeled off his wife beater, exposing a well-defined six pack; then, pushed his pants down his long legs.
Jensen couldn’t help the whimper that escaped him as Jared’s impressive length was freed. His ass clenches in anticipation. It’s been so long since anything but his own fingers had been inside him.
“Strip and lie down on the bed, hang your head over the edge.”
Jensen pushed back to his feet and hurriedly takes off his silk pajamas. He could feel Jared’s eyes on him, moving all over his body. He does as Jared ordered, unsure of the odd positioning. Then, understanding dawned as Jared stepped up to the side of the bed. His heavy cock and balls are at the perfect height for Jensen to suck; his mouth floods with saliva at the prospect.
Jared cradled Jensen’s head in both hands, fingers firm on his throat. Jared could easily kill him, strangle him, or break his neck; this position left him so vulnerable.
“Open wide, baby.” Jared’s voice was a low husk. Jensen shivered all over at the tone and endearment.
Obediently Jensen opened his mouth as wide as he could. The hot hard length of Jared’s cock slipped in. Jensen’s eyes rolled in his head and he moaned at the salty taste, the weight on his tongue. Jared pumped his hips gently, nudging in further. Jensen went to seal his mouth to add a little suction, but Jared removed his cock from Jensen’s mouth and slapped him across the cheeks with it.
“No. Be good and let me use your mouth and throat.”
“I’m sorry, Sir,” Jensen said and opened his mouth again.
Jared slid his cock back in, rocking his hips, urging his cock deeper with each thrust. Understanding dawned and Jensen relaxed his throat muscles and the head of Jared’s cock breached his throat. He gagged and wanted to cough.
“Tap my hip once if you’re okay or twice if you need me to stop,” Jared said breathing harder.
Jensen tapped his hip once. “So good, baby,” Jared praised and began to fuck Jensen’s mouth and throat, with slow deep sure strokes. Jensen struggled with his gag reflex; he’s had his mouth fucked before but not by anyone with Jared’s girth. Jared thrusts in deep and holds himself there, cutting off Jensen’s air before slipping out again. Jared’s hands, which had been holding Jensen’s head at the right angle, tightened around his throat further cutting off his air. Jensen’s heart gave a panicky throb, as he remembered how vulnerable he was right now. He couldn’t breathe around Jared’s cock clogging his throat and now Jared was squeezing his already constricted throat.
“Once for yes, twice for stop,” Jared reminded thrusting a little faster, giving Jensen’s mouth a good fucking.
Jensen tapped once, and closed his eyes, and gave himself over to Jared.
“You should fu-fucking see what I do. Your throat fucking bulging with my cock ramming down it. So fucking hot.”
Jensen tried to moan but he could make any sound. He couldn’t breathe. His eyes watered. Spit and Jared’s precum leaked from the corners of his mouth. Jared babbled as he fucked Jensen’s mouth and throat mercilessly. He alternated between cutting off Jensen’s air with his cock and hands. His big heavy balls covered Jensen’s nose giving him a nice whiff of Jared’s musk; soap, sweat, and testosterone. Jensen’s own cock was leaking a puddle of precum on his belly. He wanted to touch himself so badly but he can’t ask Sir for permission.
Jared withdrew his cock almost completely from Jensen’s mouth, his hands grip Jensen’s throat, completely cutting off his air. Time ticked by; Jared thrusts shallowly into Jensen’s mouth as he continued to strangle him. Jensen’s pulse raced, his heart beat a painful tattoo against his ribs, but his mind was calm, as calm as it had ever been. Jensen was on the verge of blacking out when Jared’s fingers relented. Pressure gone from his throat Jensen sucked in a ragged breath of air. His near strangulation did nothing to curb his erection; he was still hard as nails and aching. Jared’s fingers grabbed a handful of Jensen’s hair and pulled him up and off the bed.
“Fuck, you’re amazing,” Jared praised sounding awed, eyes dancing with wonder, mouth a breath away from Jensen’s. He closed the infinitesimal distance between them and kissed him, once more stealing his breath. Jensen wrapped his arms around the other man, gripped him tight. He threaded his fingers through all that soft brown hair, feeling his nape and temples damp with sweat.
Jared broke the kiss. Jensen clung to him as if Jared were the only thing in the world, as if he would spiral into a deep black abyss if he let go. His throat felt scraped raw and his jaw aches in the best way. “Thank you, Sir.”
“So good for me, baby, letting me use you. I think you deserve a treat.” He tapped Jensen’s hip. “On the bed, on your stomach, spread eagle.”
Jensen blindly turned to the bed and promptly flopped down on it, lying on his stomach after reaching down to adjust his painfully hard cock. Jared’s hands trailed across his back and shoulders. “Strong shoulders to carry all the weight that you do. Gorgeous back,” Jared commented, “so wide and narrowing down to this…” He gave Jensen’s asscheeks a little playful swat. He felt Jared climb onto the bed with him.
“Thank you, Sir. Lube and condoms in the bedside table, Sir.”
Jared hummed noncommittally. “We’ll get there.” He drawled. Jensen felt something tickling his lower back. He had a second to register it was Jared’s hair before Jared spread Jensen’s cheeks and licked him from his perineum to the top of his crack.
“Oh Jesus. Oh fuck!” Jensen moaned, a little shocked.
“Has anybody ever done this to you before?” Jared asked. He blew a stream of cool air across Jensen’s hole.
“No, no, Sir. I never….” He had wanted someone to rim him but had never asked always afraid of feeling so open and vulnerable. Something he could never allow himself to be. He opened his mouth to try and explain but Jared shushed him.
“It’s okay, baby. With me you don’t even have to ask. Fuckin’ crime for an ass this fine to not be properly appreciated. I’m just the man to do it.”
Jensen lost track of time, only aware of Jared tonguing his ass and the steadily building ache in his balls. His hands gripped the sheets, hips moving on their own either to get some much needed friction on his cock or to get more of Jared’s mouth on him. Jared ate his ass like a starving man at a buffet and Jensen moaned like a fucking shameless whore. That fact that Jared was enjoying what he was doing, and not doing it solely for Jensen, heightened his pleasure. It was too much. It was too good. His balls tingled and tightened with impending orgasm.
“Jared! Jared! Jared! I’m going to come! Can I please come? Please, please, Sir?”
“So good. Yes, baby, you can come. I want you to come with my tongue in your ass.” Jared went back to work feasting on Jensen’s ass.
When Jensen came it was like a supernova behind his eyes, he heard himself wailing in pleasure as he shuddered and his cock erupted onto the duvet. His orgasm seemed to go on and on, verging on painful. When he was through, he was exhausted and boneless and more replete than he had ever been in his life.
He heard Jared chuckling low and liquid behind him. “Oh, you ain’t done yet, baby.”
Jensen whimpered as, with gentle hands, Jared turned him over onto his back. He gazed down at him with such intensity, such desire.
“Are you green?” Jared asked.
Jensen swallowed, Christ, this man was almost too much for Jensen. His chest tightened with emotion, knowing Jared was asking after his wellbeing, if Jensen was okay to continue. Jensen had no doubts that if he said ‘cinnamon’ Jared would stop.
Jensen nodded his consent for Jared to fuck him.
“Words, Big Boss Man.” Jared raised a brow, teasing little smirk quirked up the corner of his mouth.
“Yes, Sir, I’m fine and would very much like you to fuck me with your gorgeous cock, please.” His gaze drifted down to Jared’s cock, so thick and flushed so dark with blood, Jensen knew it had to hurt. He wanted to alleviate that hurt, he wanted Jared inside him, splitting him open and ramming in deep. God, it has been ages since he’s been used the way he liked, if he ever had been.
Jared reached for the bottle of lube and a condom. Jensen’s hand covered Jared’s. He shook his head. “I want to feel just you in me. I want to feel it when you come, I want to feel it run out after. I’m safe,” Jensen said. It had been more than six months since he had a lover, and he always got tested regularly. “If you aren’t, or don’t know if you are, I’ll understand.”
“I’m clean. Been too busy with this new career I’ve been embarking on to focus on my sex life, although I think that might be changing.” He tossed the condom aside and slicked up his fingers.
Jensen is so relaxed from the rimjob and his orgasm that Jared doesn’t need to spend much time opening him up. One finger quickly became two, became three, grazing over his prostate causing pleasure to ricochet through him and his spent dick tried to rise once more.
When Jared pushed inside for the first time Jensen felt like his heart was cracking open, not to break, but to allow Jared to take up residence. He moved in slow lazy strokes, that girthy dick stretching Jensen wide, filling him up so good, and reaching places inside him never touched before. It wasn’t long before Jensen was fully erect again and begging Jared for more, harder, faster.
Jared hitched Jensen’s legs higher around his hips and leaned down over him. He clasped Jensen hands in his own, interlacing their fingers. He held them up on either side of Jensen’s head.
“Who’s in charge here?” Jared asked grinding into Jensen.
“You are, Sir.” Jensen said around a breathy moan as Jared’s cockhead tormented his prostate.
“That’s right. Take what Sir gives you and be grateful.” The reprimand in Jared’s voice made a wave of regret wash over him.
“Yes, Sir. I’m sorry. Sir.”
Jared fucked him slow, deep, and hard. Jensen didn’t think it was possible, but he climaxed for a second time that night, even though his balls don’t have much to give.
After, they lay together, Jensen resting his head on one of Jared’s broad shoulders as their breathing powered down. Jensen wasn’t sure what was going to happen now. Jared had stripped him bare and tore him down. He had never allowed a lover to know his most secret desire and he hadn’t even had to tell Jared what it was. Jared just seemed to know what Jensen craved, for all his poise and control in every other aspect of his life, was to let go, be dominated, told what to do, and how to do it, to put himself in someone else’s hands. Would Jared want to keep this up? Could they? It could be dangerous. If any enemies got wind that they were anything other than boss and employee they would use that against them.
“We have to be careful, Jared,” Jensen began after an interval. “What goes on in this room is just between us. I don’t want you acting as if we are anything other than boss and employee outside these walls.”
Jared, perceptive as ever said, “You don’t want our relationship used against us. I get it. That’s cool. I like knowing I’m the only one who gets to see this side of you.”
“Not even Petrus,” Jensen reiterated knowing the two men were extremely close.
Jared chuckled. “I swear you’re the only person who has ever called him that. And, no, not even Petey.”
“What’s the deal between you two?” There was sharpness in the way the question came out, annoyance born from jealousy, he couldn’t keep from his tone. If Jared heard it he gave no sign.
“You don’t know?” Jared replied.
“I know you’re close. He seems protective of you. Were you two…ever….?”
Jared laughed, low and liquid. “Hell, no. He’s so straight, a ruler ain’t got nuthin’ on him. I doubt he knows I’m gay.” He went quiet for a beat. “He’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to family. A brother.”
“How long have you known him?”
“Since I was ten. I ran away from a foster home after the father tried to bad-touch me.” He said it in a self-deprecating way that was reminiscent of Petrus.
“Jesus! I’m sorry.”
Jared shrugged. “It’s okay. I killed the guy a few years later when I was fifteen.” A jolt of worry shot through Jensen. The casual mention of committing murder at a young age reminded Jensen that the man sharing his bed right now was very dangerous. He wondered if that had been the first time Jared killed. There was so much he didn’t know about Jared and he wanted to know everything. Before Jensen could ask for more details Jared spoke again.
“Anyway, I met Petey at the park I had been living in. I used to sleep in one of those tube slides.”
“You were ten for fucks sake. How did you even get by?”
“Picking pockets and shoplifting. Wasn’t hard. I was cute and an adroit liar.”
Jensen pictured Jared as a child, a mop of brown hair, innocent dimpled smile, and big hazel blue eyes getting him out of trouble he might have managed to get in. “Artful Dodger,” Jensen grinned, turned his head into the crook of Jared’s neck and licked along his jugular.
“Yeah, for a bit, but then I had Petey to look after me. We looked after each other. He used to park my ass in the library for hours to make me read and learn. Best education I could have ever got.”
“How old was he?”
“Sixteen.”
Jensen pondered that, tried to imagine why a sixteen year old would want to look after a ten year old kid, especially a kid he didn’t know. He would have to ask Petrus one of these days. Finding out about Petrus wasn’t nearly as interesting as finding out about Jared. “What kinda stuff did you read?” Jensen asked having a notion it wasn’t Green Eggs and Ham or Goosebumps.
“Mafia books mostly. Puzo at first. Then biographies of the greats: Capone, Siegel, Luciano, Gotti. All those guys. I wanted to be just like ‘em. Guess now I am.”
That certainly explained Jared’s manner and style of dress. He had patterned himself after his Mafioso heroes. Jensen even thought that was charming. A man infatuated with the underworld and Jensen himself, an underworld kingpin. They were a hell of a match.
“This isn’t exactly La Cosa Nostra, Jare.”
“Maybe not, but we both know its close enough. It has the same glamour and violence I fell in love with reading about, the same code of honor. You just call it an “Organization” instead of a “Family”.
Jensen tilted his head up and caught Jared’s gaze. Once again that shiver, that awareness, that Jared was dangerous, zipped through him. He wasn’t afraid. It thrilled him.
“I love you, Jensen. I’d do anything for you. I’d rip anyone to shreds who even tried hurting you, betraying you, defying you, denying you anything you wish, or keep us apart.” Jared’s eyes burned with the kind of devotion Jensen had only seen in religious zealots.
Jensen swallowed. His heart stumbled in his chest, as if it forgot how to beat. He’d never expected a love declaration this soon, if at all, from the enigmatic man. Thought maybe this might be just a sex thing for Jared, but no, Jared loved him. It was crazy. What was even crazier was that Jensen loved him back.
He slammed his mouth across Jared’s, their teeth clashing so hard that he tasted blood. He drove his tongue into Jared’s mouth and climbed on top of him, bracketing the other man’s hips with his knees. He felt Jared’s cock hot and hard beneath him. Jensen doubted he could get hard again, forget about coming, but he wanted nothing more at this moment than Jared inside him.
He reached behind himself, grasped Jared’s cock, and guided it to his hole still slick with lube and Jared’s come. “You, too.” The words felt too insignificant, too puny, to convey the depth of what he was feeling. But maybe Jared knew, understood, because he felt it too. He took Jared easily, relishing the fullness and the stretch.
“Anything. Anything for you, Jensen. Anything,” Jared intoned over and over, a vow, as Jensen rode his thick cock, lifting up and slamming down hard. His hands gripped Jensen’s hips tight, fingers digging into the skin. Jensen hoped he would have bruises in the morning. Jared didn’t issue orders or control the rhythm of this fuck. He let Jensen use him, let him take, gave Jensen everything. All the while his eyes blazed and his lips spoke benedictions, swearing his love and loyalty.
Jensen had been wrong. He could get hard again and he did come once more before blacking out.
Above all Jensen was a businessman, even if half of his business happened to be illegal, and he ran things accordingly. After having gotten rid of the traitors and disloyal soldiers in his Organization Jensen decided a little shuffle of personnel was needed, so he had appointments throughout the afternoon with the leaders of each crew.
The guns, fencing, and trucking operations all needed new leaders installed. Immediately after the attempted hijacking Jensen had assigned Stevie Guitar and Kane to take over the gun running operations in the interim. They were beyond reproach, but had other jobs and territories to oversee. Jensen didn’t want them stretched too thin.
“Mr. Ackles, sir,” Jensen was behind his desk looking over his list of appointments when his chauffeur, Mitch Pileggi, stepped inside. He was a stocky bald man of fifty and had been driving for the Ackles’ for years.
“Yes, Mr. Pileggi?”
“Will you be needing the car today, sir?”
“No. I’m working from home today. See that they are washed and detailed though.”
“Of course, sir.” The man inclined his head in a respectful nod before he left.
Jensen’s first appointment was with Misha Collins. He didn’t plan on replacing him, but there was the little matter of the lewd and disrespectful comments he had been overheard saying. Jensen planned to let Jared put a little scare into him.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Collins,” Jensen motioned for the man to have a seat. “I won’t detain you very long. How’s business?” Jensen asked.
“Good. Steady. No complaints from the girls or guys working for me and my crew. I run a tight clean business, Mr. Ackles. Customers appreciate that.”
Jensen expected as much. “I like to hear that.” Jensen slipped into the ice cold mask and fixed Misha with a hard stare. “What I don’t like to hear is some of the shit you talk about me.”
Jared entered the office then, silent as shadow. Before Misha knew what was going on, Jared had him pinned to the desk by the back of his neck, cheek pressed into the dark wood, barrel of a gun snug against his temple.
“Wh-wh-what did I say?” Misha stammered. “I have never said anything about you!”
“Shut your filthy disrespectful mouth! He ain’t done talking yet,” Jared’s voice was fucking arctic but his eyes burned with hunger. Jensen knew he ached to pull that trigger.
“I heard you like to hypothesize about my sexual appetites and rhapsodize about my appearance,” Jensen said. “Don’t bother to deny it. This information comes from an unimpeachable source.”
Jared pulled the hammer back on the pistol.
“All right! All right! I said some stuff! I didn’t mean anything by it! You’re a fucking good-looking guy, Mr. Ackles! That’s all I meant!”
Jensen gave Jared a nod, for a fraction of a second the idea that Jared might not obey flitted through his mind. He needn’t worry; Jared uncocked the pistol and released his hold on Misha. Misha straightened up, panting and dripping sweat as he stumbled away from Jared, eyes wide, and fearful.
“Keep your mind on your business and your lecherous thoughts to yourself. If you can’t do that I’ll replace you with someone that can. Get the fuck out of here.” Jensen waved a dismissive hand.
Misha turned and bolted for the door, but Jared was there, blocking his way, that cold dead look in his eyes.
“Jared,” Jensen snapped.
After one last glare Jared moved aside. Misha rushed through the door.
Jensen rose from behind his desk and crossed to Jared, reaching behind him to close the office door. He looked up at the man he loved.
“You hate him. Why?”
“I’m not talking about it.” Jared’s voice was as flat and dead as his eyes.
Something about Misha causes Jared to utterly shut down and Jensen longed to know what it is. If he could help in some way.
“Do you know him? From before you came to work for me?”
“No, and I told you, I’m not talking about it.”
Jensen wanted to push the issue but he didn’t want to risk pushing Jared away. “Okay,” he nodded, and gripped Jared’s bicep, to offer comfort and reassurance. “But you know you can tell me anything and it will go no further.”
Jared gazed down at him, there was true anger in his eyes directed at Jensen for the first time, but also something else, fear mixed with shame. This man was such a puzzle wrapped in an enigma. “Drop it, Jensen.” His tone brooked no argument.
Jensen backed away. He returned to his seat at his desk, looked at his appointment book. “Penikett, Cohen and their guys are next,” Jensen said evenly.
Jared inclined his head and returned to his position to the right, just behind Jensen.
Fifteen minutes later there was a knock at the door.
“Enter.”
Tahoma, followed by his number two man, Brock Kelly, Matthew Cohen and his number two man Jake Abel all filed in. They each tried to appear unintimidated, but failed. Their shoulders and back were stiff with tension and their steps were measured as they approached the desk, like they would rather run the other way, especially once they saw Jared standing behind Jensen.
“Gentlemen,” Jensen greeted then cut right to the chase. “I’ll assume you know what this is about.”
“Mr. Ackles, sir. We had no idea what Olsson was up to,” Tahoma was quick to begin.
“You think you would still be alive if I even thought you had?” Jensen asked.
He watched the young men swallow and shift with uncertainty. Their gazes flitted over to Jared once more. “No, sir?”
“Exactly. My men didn’t turn up anything duplicitous in their investigations of you. You’re all young and seem eager to prove yourselves, so you followed your boss’ orders.”
“Yes, sir. Your Organization has been real good to us,” this from Matt, who was good looking with dark hair and blue-grey eyes.
Jensen took the measure of each young man. “You trust the men under you, Mr. Penikett? They are loyal to you?”
“Yes, sir. We all came up together.”
Jensen shifted his attention to Matt and Jake. “What about the men under you, Mr. Cohen?”
“Oh, yes, sir,” Matt replied. “Loyal to you most of all.”
“I like to hear that. I like action and proof even better.”
“Whatever you ask, we’ll do, sir.” Tahoma said standing tall and proud as any soldier would.
“You feel up to the challenge of taking over for the late and unlamented Mr. Olsson, Mr. Penikett?
“I do, sir.” Tahoma answered.
“And you, Mr. Cohen, feel up to stepping into Mr. Omundson’s vacant role?”
“Yes, sir,” Matt replied with a firm nod, standing up straighter.
Tahoma opened and closed his mouth, appearing thoughtful and apprehensive.
“Yes? Something to say?” Jensen prompted.
“Maybe I should have figured out what Ty was up to. He said I was doing a good job so he let me take over some smaller operations. That felt good. He probably did it to distract me and not because he had faith in me. I do sincerely apologize, Mr. Ackles, sir.”
“Yes, perhaps,” Jensen purposefully didn’t clarify what he meant. Let them stew on it. “Consider it a lesson, Mr. Penikitt. I am, however, showing faith in you. Do not show me that faith has been misplaced. I can forgive ignorance. Once,” Jensen added, pinning each man with his cold gaze. “You see those shipments get to where they are supposed to—on time every time and we’ll all be happy.”
“Yes, sir,” Tahoma replies, eager. “Thank you for the opportunity. You can count on us.”
“We’ll see. Good afternoon, gentlemen,” Jensen dismissed them with a lazy gesture.
After the door closed behind the four men Jensen asked, “What do you think?”
“Maybe keep Kane or Stevie around to give them a little more guidance, but I think they’re on the level. They respect you and are a bit scared of you.”
“You’re not,” Jensen observed.
“No,” Jared said simply, no bullshitting. “But you are scared of me.”
Jensen turned in his seat and gazed up at Jared, heart rate ratcheting up. Is there anything about him Jared didn’t know? Didn’t see? It was disconcerting and soothing at the same time, to have utterly no secrets, and free to be completely himself.
“You’re the one person who doesn’t need to be. Well, apart from Petey.”
Jensen grinned. He returned to his agenda and checked names off his appointments list. “Oh, hell. Chad Murray is next,” Jensen said.
“What?” Jared asked sharply, on alert. “I didn’t think he was cause for concern.”
“He’s not. He’s just a little sleazy is all. If you spend any time around him you’ll understand what I mean.”
There was a jaunty rap on the door.
“Yes,” Jensen said. “Do come in, Mr. Murray.”
The door opened and the blond man strolled in.
“Mr. Ackles always a pleasure, Boss,” his sky blue eyes took Jensen’s measure. “Could make it more of one, ya know.” He gave Jensen the elevator eyes treatment before winking.
“Sit down, Mr. Murray,” Jensen said with a snap in his voice.
“Anything you say,” He grinned suggestively as he sat across from Jensen’s desk.
Murray’s behavior wasn’t anything Jensen wasn’t used to but it annoyed him. Still, he knew there were some people you couldn’t change. What mattered to Jensen was how well the gambling operations ran and he never had cause for complaint. This meeting was more about touching base than replacing Murray.
“I’m meeting with all crew leaders, Mr. Murray,” Jensen began, lacing his fingers together on his desktop and regarding Chad impartially. “How is business?”
“Good. There’s always someone wanting to make a quick buck on a hand of cards or a hunch to play on the ponies.”
“Any trouble collecting from those that lose?”
“Not too much. Miss having Big ‘n Little around, but my guys get it done.”
“Glad to hear it,” Jensen stood and came from behind his desk. “And the guys under you, you trust them? They loyal to the Organization?”
Chad turned uncharacteristically serious, probably remembering what happened to those who were not loyal. “Yes, sir, Boss. They wouldn’t have much of anything if they wasn’t working for me, err, you, sir. If you ever need anything, Mr. Ackles you only need to ask.” He wagged his brows and leered at Jensen again.
Jensen was glad to send Chad on his way. He felt as if he needed a shower though. He glanced over to Jared, expecting to see some sign of anger or irritation, but he was as impassive as a Sphinx; just a bodyguard, nothing more. There was a knock on the office door.
“Yeah?” Jensen answered.
Petrus entered and Jensen relaxed; he had been worried that Chad was coming back for some reason.
“I checked on those shops like ya asked me to, sir.”
“Hey, Big Boss Man,” Jared spoke up suddenly. “Mind if I take a little break? Grab something to eat now that Petey’s here?”
“Of course,” he dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
“Want anything, Petey?”
“Already ate.”
Jared waved and was gone.
Later that night, Jared slipped into Jensen’s bedroom with a small box beautifully wrapped with shiny metallic blue wrapping paper and topped with a gold velvet ribbon. Jensen was unsure what to think. There was something in those mercurial eyes of Jared’s that was unsettling; as if some part of Jensen’s lizard hindbrain registered that the lanky young man in front of him wasn’t quite right. That he’s dangerous, and Jensen knows dangerous men, but that Jared might actually be unhinged.
“It’s not a bomb or anything.” Jared’s voice was quiet, eyes downcast. Jensen detected a vague hint of hurt in Jared’s voice. Jensen felt guilty. Hadn’t Jared told him earlier in the day that he was one person who should never be afraid of him?
Jensen smiled. “I didn’t think it was. It’s late for my birthday and too early for Christmas.” He tugged on the ribbon, untying, and removing it; then, tore off the bright cheerful paper revealing a plain white gift box. It felt light but nevertheless Jensen knew whatever was inside had indefinable weight. He removed the top and stared down at what Jared has gifted him. It took a few seconds for what he was holding to register. A pair of glazed and misshapen blue eyeballs rested on a silk pillow. He knew to whom they used to belong: Chad Michael Murray.
He looked up at Jared caught somewhere between shock and flattered. He supposed Chad may not be dead, that Jared just blinded him and left him maimed, but Jensen knew Jared wouldn’t have allowed him to live. The transgression was too great. It should scare him how easily Jared will kill for him, or because of him, but he doesn’t have it in him to be. With Jared he was undeniably safe. It was everyone else who should be afraid.
“’And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee’ Matthew 5:29,” Jared quotes. “His eyes offended you, so I plucked them out.” He shrugged and smiled his dimpled but malicious grin, eyes glittering with cold delight. “It won’t come back on you, if that worries you. I took care of everything.”
Jensen wasn’t worried about that. He was a little miffed because now he had to find someone new to run the gambling rackets.
Jensen fell asleep thinking that if Jared would do that to someone who looked at him, what in God’s name is he going to do to whoever has kidnapped him.
