Blood & Agony: A Dark Criminal Romance (Pins and Needles: Moscow Book 1) Read online

  Blood & Agony

  Pins & Needles Book 1

  Elizabeth Knox

  E.C. Land

  Contents

  Available Now

  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

  Epilogue

  Blood & Agony

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, organizations, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.

  Blood & Agony. Copyright © 2021 by Elizabeth Knox & E.C. Land. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in articles or reviews. For information contact E. Knox & E. Land.

  Cover Design: Clarise Tan, CT Cover Creations

  Editing: Kim Lubbers, Knox Publishing

  Proofreading: Jackie Ziegler, Knox Publishing

  Formatting: E.C. Land, Knox Publishing

  Created with Vellum

  Available Now From

  Elizabeth Knox

  Series: Skulls Renegade

  Reign

  Redemption

  Revenge

  Relentless

  Reckoning

  Reclaimed

  Reckless

  Regret

  Reclusive

  Retribution

  First Generation: A Skulls Renegade MC Boxset

  Series: Steele Bros.

  Tough as Steele

  Stripping a Steele

  Protecting a Steele

  Steele her Heart

  Stolen Hearts: The Complete Steele Bros Boxset

  Series: Reapers MC

  Scarred

  Blackjack

  Here Kitty, Kitty

  Booger

  Widow

  Kade

  Hawk

  Bull

  Cobra

  Mouser

  Dixon

  Zane

  Amara

  Grim

  Chaz

  Frost

  Zorro

  Series: Iron Vex MC

  Enraged

  Bossed Up

  Vex’s Temptation

  Series: Royal bastards Mc: Baltimore/Knights of retribution mc

  Bet on Me

  Rely on Me

  Hate on Me

  Series: Satan’s Raiders MC

  Inc’s Regret

  Series: The Clans with Iris Sweetwater

  Promised

  The Trade

  Cherished

  Deceit

  Love is War

  Defiant

  Shattered

  Ruthless

  Covert

  Heretic

  Venomous

  Flawed

  Demise

  Series: The Mackenzie & Volkolv Duet

  Deceptive Love

  Series: The Mackenzies

  Forbidden Love

  Corrupted Love

  Sin City Fets with Linny Lawless & Aubree Valentine

  Switched

  Surrender

  Full Throttle with Erin Trejo

  Against All Odds

  Sharp Edges

  Pins and Needles with E.C. Land

  Blood & Agony

  Coming Soon From

  Elizabeth Knox

  Axel

  (Reapers MC #17)

  Degrade

  (DeLancy Crime Family #1)

  Filthy Valentine

  (A Dungeon Demons MC Prequel)

  Sweet Treats Anthology

  Ransom

  (Love Hack #1)

  Venom’s Secret

  (Iron Vex MC #4)

  Twisted Steel: An MC Anthology

  (Second Edition)

  The Elites: A Dark Secret Society Collection

  Do you like Paranormal Romance?

  Check out Elizabeth’s Alternate Pen Name, Liz Knox.

  Available Now From

  Liz Knox

  Series: Bloodlines Trilogy

  Fated by Blood (Free Prequel)

  Series: Nightshade

  Blood Oath (A Prequel)

  Series: Lone Wolf MC

  Origins (Free Prequel)

  Series: Hells Gateway MC

  Caym’s Fated Mate

  Shax’s Destined Mate

  Series: Bloodborn Academy

  Bitten Magic

  Anthologies

  Romanticizing the Gods

  The Elementals

  Available Now

  Available Now

  By: E.C. Land

  Devil’s Riot MC Series

  Horse’s Bride

  Thorn’s Revenge

  Twister’s Survival

  Reclaimed (Devil’s Riot MC Boxset Bks 1 – 3)

  Cleo’s Rage

  Connors’ Devils

  Hades Pain

  Badger’s Claim

  Burner’s Absolution

  Redeemed (Devil’s Riot MC Boxset Bks 4 – 6)

  Devil’s Riot MC Originals

  Stoney’s Property

  Owning Victoria

  Blaze’s Mark

  Taming Coyote

  Luna’s Shadow

  Choosing Nerd

  Ranger’s Fury

  Carrying Blaze’s Mark

  Neo’s Strength

  Inferno’s Clutch MC

  Chains’ Trust

  Breaker’s Fuse

  Ryder’s Rush

  Axel’s Promise

  Fated for Pitch Black

  Tiny’s Hope

  Dark Lullabies

  A Demon’s Sorrow

  A Demon’s Bliss

  A Demon’s Harmony

  A Demon’s Soul

  A Demon’s Song

  Royal Bastards MC (Elizabeth City Charter)

  Cyclone of Chaos

  Anthologies

  Romanticizing the Gods By: Corrine Falls

  Santa’s Naughty Helpers

  Available on Audible

  Reclaimed

  Cleo’s Rage

  Connors’ Devils

  Hades Pain

  Badger’s Claim

  Coming Soon

  By: E.C. Land

  Devil’s Riot MC Originals

  Cane’s Dominance

  Venom’s Prize

  Protecting Blaze’s Mark

  DRMC Southeast

  Hammer’s Pride

  Inferno’s Clutch MC

  Their Redemption

  Fuse’s Hold

  Nora’s Outrage

  Tyre’s Wraith

  Brielle’s Nightmare

  Aligned Hearts

  Embraced

  Entwined

  Night’s Bliss

  Finley’s Adoration (Co-Write with Elizabeth Knox)

  Cedric’s Ecstasy

  Satan’s Keepers

  Keeping Reaper

  Toxic Warriors MC

  Viking

  Standalones

  Frozen Valentine

 
Raiders of Valhalla MC with Elizabeth Knox

  Malicious

  Delancy Crime Family with Elizabeth Knox

  Degrade

  Deprave

  Prologue

  Kronid

  7 Years Ago . . .

  Laughter fills in the background of this city bar from a bachelor party sitting a few tables behind me. They keep drinking, ordering more pints of beer every ten minutes. And I sit here, staring down at my phone for the Romanian to show up. He’s not a businessman or someone I’d typically enjoy speaking to, but my father’s allies gave me a heads up about his impending arrival. From what I was told he didn’t come alone either, and I know for a fact he and his friend have been seen with my younger half-sister, Bianca Petran.

  Her parents killed my father and while he wasn’t a saint, he was the only person I had left in my life to care for me. After his death I was thrown into foster care and after my fourth foster home I made a promise to myself. A promise about how I’d go after those responsible for my father’s death, how I’d hunt them down and make them regret ever changing my life. I doubt they’d ever know about the terrors I went through being thrown around like a sack of potatoes, but they’d know my name before they died.

  At least that was my plan before I discovered the circumstances surrounding my father’s death, and about the horrors he committed as well. I’d never call him perfect. He wasn’t anywhere close to it, but he was still my father and I still cared for him. After my mother’s death he became the only one who I could rely on and when he died, the only person I could truly rely on was myself.

  Today I met with one of my father’s oldest friends, a man deeply integrated in the Romanian mafia who sat me down and told me the truth. The gritty, ugly truth about my father and what he’d done. It’s been a couple hours since he left the bar and I’ve been nursing vodka ever since, drink after drink, using the vodka to settle my mind. So far it hasn’t worked.

  My father made himself seem like a royal when I was a boy. He made it seem like he was the man on the right side of the tracks and the people he was fighting with were the ‘evil’ ones. It turns out he was the evil one, and while I knew he wasn’t telling me the entire truth. I assumed he was being somewhat honest with me. What I never expected was to discover this—my father was a murderer, kidnapper, pedophile, and rapist.

  My father stole my sister’s mother from her childhood home when she was sixteen, after murdering her parents. He kept her captive in his home for years, continuously raping her which resulted in my sister’s birth.

  I remember Bianca when I was a child, but we’ve never had a relationship after that. She was so young I doubt she even knew I existed.

  “Want another?” the bartender asks me, motioning with his eyes toward my half-empty glass.

  I nod, picking it up I down the rest of it and hand the glass over. “Yes, that’d be great.”

  “I’ve worked here for years and I’ve never seen someone take their alcohol like you have. That’s saying a lot since I’ve witnessed so many groups like them.” He motions with his head toward the group celebrating a few tables behind me.

  “Yes, well, it’s a hidden talent I have,” I joke, hoping it’ll get the guy to shut up. I’ve never been a fan of talking to strangers, especially when I’m mulling over what I’ll do next. It seems pointless to keep going after the Romanian mafia when the reality is they’ve done nothing wrong. The person responsible for the wrongdoing is dead, so I need to drop it and move on with my life.

  I could go to Portugal, Greece, or even Australia. They’re three of my favorite places to travel and would make a great home for me. Luckily, my father left me some money if he ever passed before I was an adult so I’ll be able to take care of myself.

  Grazing my hand over my pants leg I realize the edge of my passport is starting to fall, so I yank it out and open it, staring down at the name I’ve gone by for a few years now—Kronid Aldea. I abandoned my father’s surname during my quest to seek vengeance, a vengeance he never deserved in the first place. Closing it, I slide it in my suit jacket pocket and the bartender hands me my glass as a shadow appears on my right side. The bar isn’t overly packed, but it’s quite busy.

  Metal screeches against the floor and I clear my throat. “You can take another seat. There are plenty around,” I grumble, finally looking to see whoever’s beside me.

  Much to my surprise, Stefan Dalca has arrived early. He’s rumored to be my younger sister’s boyfriend, yet he’s almost as old as her stepfather. Oh, how scandalous. “Did Bianca send you to come after me?” I chuckle, downing a bit of the vodka. I want to keep my wits about me, but damn I need more alcohol in my system.

  “She sent me here to show you mercy before her parents ordered your death,” Stefan states so matter-of-factly. It’s enough to cause me to cock a brow. For a moment I believe he’s fucking with me, but the growing silence between us confirms he’s anything but kidding.

  “I understand why they want me dead, but what I don’t understand is why Bianca wants me alive. We haven’t seen each other since we were small children.” She might’ve been three when I saw her last.

  Stefan stares me down. “After what you’ve done you should die. But, it’s not my place to order your death.”

  “Then what is your place?” I question him, waiting for Stefan to grace me with the arrogant remarks. I’ve often wondered if the man actually lives up to his reputation.

  A sharp stinging sensation hits me on the alternate side of the neck. I turn to glance at whatever’s stuck me and see a tall brute. He has teardrop tattoos going down one side of his face and I start to weave to the left and the right.

  The bartender who’s been serving me over the last few hours comes over from the other side. “Shit, looks like the alcohol’s finally catching up with him. He a buddy of yours?”

  “Yes, my brother,” the tear drop man responds just as my eyes flutter one more time. The last thing I hear is him say, “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of him.”

  Chapter One

  Dema

  Present Day . . .

  If you asked me when I was sixteen where I’d be at twenty-one, I’d tell you I’d be working with my mom in her ballet studio in Richmond, Virginia. Along with having my art being shown in galleries all throughout the country.

  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d lose my mom and father to a drunk driver who caused the head on collision, killing them both instantly on impact.

  Without any relatives in the U.S., I ended up leaving the country. My entire world turned upside down as I moved to Moscow, Russia. Talk about a culture shock. I knew my mom and I were both from Russia and moved to the States when I’d been no more than a few weeks old. She was a prestigious ballerina who ended up pregnant, but when she started showing her obvious pregnancy, she was let go from the company.

  She met my dad, the man who’s raised me from day one, they married and were together until the end for them. It’s romantic in a sad way if you ask me.

  After their death I ended up being shipped off to Moscow to live with my grandparents. Don’t get me wrong, I love them to pieces, it’s just difficult when it comes to fitting in. I’m not fluent in the language which makes things even harder. I sometimes want nothing more than to go back to the States, but then I feel horrible because it would mean leaving my grandparents alone without anyone to take care of them.

  I’m their primary caregiver after all, whether it’s financial or physical. Thankfully my mom left me with a trust fund. I technically don’t have to work but I prefer to keep my hands busy. Being an artist means it isn’t easy to make an income, so when I was able, I applied for an apprenticeship with Meghan at Pins and Needles tattoo parlor. It’s one of the most prestigious, elite tattoo parlors in the entire world.

  Now I’m a tattoo artist who works as much as possible. Other than the people at Pins and Needles, I don’t associate with anyone. It makes me an outcast in a country where I’m already
a stranger and it’s been five years since I moved here.

  Since I’m an outcast and refuse to become a prostitute like a lot of women here are, I stick to myself which means I don’t date. It also means at the ripe age of twenty-one I’m still a flipping virgin. Sure, I’ve kissed guys but those were boys when I was back in the States and my life was grand. I haven’t done anything like that since moving here.

  Sighing, I clean up my station after finishing the final touches of a Khokhloma tattoo a guy wanted going on his entire right shoulder blade. Since this was our last session, he’d allowed me to take a picture of it for my portfolio. Khokhloma tattoos are exceedingly popular. When I did my first one, I ended up doing a lot of research into the meaning of the tattoo and found the design started in the seventeenth century when people who were fleeing the persecution of officials were seeking refuge.