H.E.R. (Torres Crime Family #1)

H.E.R.

by

Vera Roberts

Copyright

For BESM.

© 2017 Vera Roberts, All Rights Reserved

Smashwords Edition

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Other Titles

The Breakaway Series:

Breakaway

Game Misconduct

Face-Off

Power Play

Scoring Chance

The D’Amato Brothers Series:

The Nanny

To Love and Obey (BDSM)

Where I Wanna Be

All I’ve Ever Wanted

Love

War

Nothing Even Matters

One More chance

The D’Amato Brothers/S&M Crossover (BDSM):

Anticipation

Yes, Master

I Need You

The Feeling Some Type of Way Series:

Feeling Some Type of Way

Bad and Bougie

Not About That Life

The Jackson and Liane Series:

Daddy’s Angel

Fire We Make

When Love Calls

The Scott & Mariana Serial (BDSM):

S&M

S&M II

Discipline

S&M III, Vol. I

S&M III, Vol. II

S&M IV, Part 1

The Ex-Factor

Stronger Than Pride

The State of Affairs Series:

State of affairs

Superpower

Standalone Novels:

I Knew You Were Trouble

Wait for Love

Soul Infinity Crew (under Maya Brooklyn)

Short stories:

Blow by Blow: Diary of a Call Girl #1

Blow by Blow: Diary of a Call Girl #2

Dear Diary

Gettin' It

Hot Like Fire (Sweet and Clean Romance)

The Train Ride (Free on Smashwords.com)

The Erotic Intoxication, Vol. I: Bad Girls

The Painter

Til Tomorrow

What About Us?

Facebook Page:

www.facebook.com/ms.vera.roberts

Blog:

www.veraroberts.com

eroticamistress.tumblr.com

Blurb

Love, honor, and respect.

The motto has maintained the Torres crime family for decades. It’s why they were always ten steps ahead of their adversaries. It’s also why they were the most-feared crime family in all of New York. It’s also why there was such a brotherhood between Pablo Torres, and his right-hand man/best friend, Clyde Lewis.

The two men formed a solid bond when their children became best friends, attending each other’s birthday parties, graduations, and other celebrations in a twenty-five year time span. The sons grew up to become mafia dons in their own right, controlling all of Harlem.

But all good things must end.

When an associate of the Torres’s mistakenly takes out a member of the Lewis family, all love, honor, and respect is thrown out of the window and is replaced with hate, disappointment, and revenge.

But what happens when the grandchildren of the rival families fall in love with each other?

H.E.R. is a two-part series dealing with revenge, true love, and if time really heals. It’s a modern-day remix of Romeo and Juliet.

Prologue

Queens, 1970s.

Shoot! Patsy Lewis opened her wallet and searched her billfold. The groceries came out to ten dollars and fifty cents. She had exactly eight dollars. She looked at her basket and tried to decide which of the necessities she could do without for a week. The problem was she needed all of them.

She decided the rump roast was just going have to wait until the next week. Her husband was going to be livid that night without his roast. Maybe he’ll settle for some ham. I’ll put back the roast.

Okay, Miss, the man behind the register noted. He looked behind Patsy and froze in his tracks. Um, second thought, it’s on the house, Miss.

What? Patsy questioned. She’d shopped at the same grocery store for years and never received anything for free. She shook her head, her ebony Afro remaining firm in place. I don’t believe it.

Oh, believe it. A man with a deep voice answered behind her. All of your groceries are covered.

Patsy turned around and locked eyes with a man everyone in Queens was familiar with, but very few interacted with. The very definition of tall, dark, and handsome, Pablo Torres was a force to be reckoned with.

Chestnut skin. Rich, ebony hair. Dark, mesmerizing eyes. Pablo Torres stood over six feet tall and was hardly seen without wearing his standard three-piece suits. If he wasn’t wearing a suit, he wore simple dress slacks and a shirt.

The patriarch of the Torres crime family, they ran New York alongside the Italian mafia. Racketeering, murder, and theft were just some of their crimes. They owned numerous properties and had dozens of associates.

The urban legend of Pablo was what made many fear him. From firebombing a car of his enemies to framing members of the FBI, Pablo was naturally feared without any confirmation. It didn’t matter if the other stories never happened; there were plenty more that were very true.

Your family deserves that roast, Miss Lewis. He winked. Take it.

Patsy felt her bottom lip quiver and found herself mute. No one ever said no to Pablo Torres. She was also disturbed how he knew who she was. I can’t repay you, Mr. Torres.

Please, call me Pablo. He flashed his panty-wetting smile again. And no worries. Your son plays with mine. They’re best friends.

Patsy’s son, Rodney, mentioned a best friend, Santiago. Patsy never put two and two together as she never met Santiago. I see.

I would love for our families to meet and get to know each other, Pablo mentioned, and you can make that roast.

Patsy glanced down at the roast that was now back in her cart. It wouldn’t be enough for both families.

Oh, Pablo slightly shrugged, then I guess we simply need more, don’t we?

~~~~~

Baby, I’m home! Clyde Lewis bellowed as he entered their home. A factory worker during the day, he worked long hours to provide for Patsy, their son, and baby daughter. He put down his work equipment and made a beeline to the restroom to freshen up. He walked throughout the home, leading to the den. Baby, dinner smells fantastic! You wouldn’t believe the day I had at work today! Man, if Billy doesn’t give me that promotion, I might have put my foot in his…

Hello, Clyde. Pablo greeted him. He was holding their baby, Theresa. Patsy was sitting next to him.

Honey! Patsy jumped up and greeted her husband with a kiss and a hug. He barely returned the affection. I ran into our new guest, Pablo, at the store today. His wife and other sons will come over later.

Clyde kept his jealousy at bay as he knew who Pablo was. Really? Clyde deadpanned.

Your wife was struggling to buy groceries today. That made me uncomfortable. Pablo lazily crossed his legs. I want to make sure you two will never have that problem again.

Patsy felt her nerves going haywire. The roast wasn’t on sale like I thought it was and I was about to put it back when…

We don’t need your money, Clyde firmly said, we’re fine. Things are tight right now but I might be up for a promotion soon. Once I get that promotion, we’ll be fine.

Pablo slowly nodded. Do you like to make deliveries, Clyde?

Deliveries? He asked. What kind of question is that?

What if I told you if you did a couple of drop-offs for me, it’ll cover your expenses for the entire year? Pablo grinned as he bounced Theresa on his lap.

I’m not going to be a drug runner, Clyde declared, I don’t participate in that kind of stuff.

Who said anything about drugs? Pablo softly replied. You’ll pick up a delivery for me and then drop it off at a different location. No drugs, no money, nothing illegal. He held Clyde’s gaze. And you’ll never have to worry about anything for the rest of your life.

Clyde didn’t appreciate Pablo coming in his home and questioning his manhood, especially in front of Patsy. Patsy, go check on dinner. He ordered.

Patsy cowered like a dog in trouble and went into the kitchen. Clyde waited to hear to the kitchen door shut before he addressed Pablo. Listen, man, I don’t want any trouble, all right? I make a good, honest living. I go to work, and come home to my family. Sometimes I play poker with the fellas. Sometimes we go out to nightclubs. But I don’t want any trouble.

I’m not here to make trouble for you, Clyde. Pablo reassured. I’m here to make friends. Our boys are best friends and we’ll probably see each other a lot more. He stood up and walked over to Clyde. He pulled out a thick wad of cash. And I want to make sure our families will forever be in good standing with each other.

Clyde stared at the money for a long minute. He’d never seen so much money in his life. He already started thinking about the numerous repairs he could make around the home. Hell, he could buy a brand new one with that cash. And new cars! And the children could have their own rooms.

Clyde thought about his reputation in the community. He was active in the church.