180 Proof Vega

In the Company of Shadows #0.1

by Santino Hassell

Emilio Vega is a shit-talking, eighteen-year-old gunrunner who is dragged out of the world of crime he grew up in, and forced to work for a covert organization that deals in assassination and political intrigue.

The full version of Volume 1 is expected to be published in 2015.

Note: The first three parts of Volume 1 are available for free on the author's GR profile.

Genres: M M Romance, Dystopia, Dark, Abuse, Action, Science Fiction, Crime

ebook

First published February 10, 2013

About the author

Santino Hassell was raised by a conservative family but grew up to be a smart-mouthed, school cutting grunge kid, a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into a grumpy introvert and unlikely romance author with an affinity for baseball caps. His novels are heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, and his desire to write relationships fueled by intensity and passion.

He’s been a finalist in both the Bisexual Book Awards and the EPIC Awards, and was nominated for a prestigious RITA award in 2017. His work has been featured in BuzzFeed, Huffington Post, Washington Post, RT Magazine, and Cosmopolitan Magazine.

Santino@santinohassell.com
www.santinohassell.com
http://santinohassell.com/newsletter/
amazon.com/author/santinohassell
https://www.facebook.com/groups/getha...
https://twitter.com/SantinoHassell
https://www.instagram.com/santinohass...
https://www.patreon.com/santinohassell

Reviews

[Amina · Rating 2 out of 5]

✰ 2.5 stars ✰

“But Emilio had never been still. His thoughts were always racing between training, learning, and the anticipatory fantasies of seeing Cameron again.”

Well, if nothing else, 180 Proof Vega showed that Emilio was still as wild and rambunctious and volatile as he was at 18 years of age, then he was well into the future. It always hits hard at how incomplete these stories are - how much untapped potential remained to be seen and shed on his past life. But, I'm glad I got a little peek into the person he was - how he ended up at the Agency - his fueled obsession for his captor and aggressor - and the equally expressive way in which he met certain key players of the future.

The writing was still as sharp and energized as the series that came out from these humble beginnings. True, there's not much to go by - it just gives you the briefest of hints of what Emilio's life would have been in the Agency - how long and how hard he would fight to give into the rules and regulations of their demands. Emilio always was an explosive character, and this one proved no exception to that assessment.

[Mara]

I JUST started reading ICoS but I was perusing the author's profile and stumbled upon the long freebie excerpt of this upcoming series. I cannot WAIT. And apparently it's a prequel so I don't need to finish ICoS to read it. (Because. . .if I want a social life, I have no idea when that will be. >.>)

The writing is... GUH. And Emilio is hot.

Excerpt and reason why I fell in lus. . .I mean LOVE with this guy without even getting halfway through ICoS:


There was a brief pause, and then: "You like trouble don't you, bitch?"

"No. But I'll suck your dick if you let me make a call. Just one call." There was no response for a moment, and Emilio leaned back slightly. He could feel tension in the other man, but he didn't back off. "The guys say I have dick sucking lips," he informed Cameron with another grin. "And I can take it all down my throat."

There was a low exhale against his neck, and Emilio turned his head slightly. He didn't even try to hide the smug smirk that was creeping across his face. He fucking loved playing this game.

"I thought you were some kind of criminal prodigy," Cameron said evenly. "Not a pretty little bitch who likes to get used by his gang."

"Can't I be both?" Emilio asked, raising his eyebrows. "I'll suck your dick, swallow-- or you fuck me after and come in my ass, just for a phone call. Your choice, handsome."

"I could just fuck you anyway."

Emilio scoffed, shaking hair out of his face. "I'm more trouble than I look like. Rape ain't so good when the victim ain't so much of a victim. You'd have more fun if I'm begging for it and you ain't spending the time trying to protect your balls."

"Heh." There was a pause, and the weight of Cameron's hand on Emilio's shoulder shifted. "You think you know what I like?"

Emilio scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Just 'cause you're clean looking and blond don't make you different than any other hard up, mean, motherfucker who likes tagging ass. Let me guess-- spent time in jail? Army? Somewhere like it? I bet you like getting yourself a bitch to turn out."

Cameron grunted but said nothing. He was getting distracted, his breath coming a little faster, and Emilio felt the beginnings of hardness against his ass. Hook, line, and motherfucking sinker. Emilio licked his lips, shifting his own weight minutely.

"You could keep me for a few days. Like you said, use me. Do whatever you want. No lube, ass to mouth, whatever, I've done it all. If you let me make a call."

Cameron's hand shifted again, this time to turn Emilio around. As soon as the motion completed, Emilio's own hand swung out like a viper. In one quick succession of movements, he jabbed his finger in Cameron's eye, reared back, slammed his elbow against the man's face, headbutted him and then rammed a knee into his half-hard dick.

Cameron released a shout of pain and staggered backwards. Emilio immediately shifted his weight, darting around Cameron and bolting towards the mouth of the alley in a dead run. A hand caught his ankle and jerked, completely throwing him off balance. Swearing in annoyance as he went crashing down to the filthy concrete, Emilio rolled onto his back and narrowly avoided slamming his chin hard against the ground.

"You fucking--" Cameron grit out, trying to get to his feet as he hung onto Emilio's boot. His face was flushed, eyes widened, and nostrils flared. Emilio had no idea how the guy was still functional given the way he'd just smashed his dick.

Arching his back, Emilio kicked out with his free foot and nailed Cameron in the face. Still unbalanced from the blow to his groin, the other man fell backwards with a grunt. Emilio shoved his shoulders against the ground and flipped backwards into a crouch. By the time he landed, Cameron had already gotten to his feet again and goddamn, this guy was going to be a pain in the ass to shake.

[Joana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

I'm torn! I want to give it a full 5 stars so much but IT'S NOT COMPLETE!!!!

Everything Emilio Vega, I'm in paradise.

Things ended right when they were starting to get really good.

I'm so curious to see how things will go. I mean, I already know the big picture because of ICoS but still...

Seeing Emilio at 18 is something else. Boy is WILD! He is different from the Emilio I'm used to, but at the same time he's still the same Emilio only more undisciplined and hotheaded. Very hotheaded.

Things with Cameron... I don't even know what to say about it but I want to know how it will.... develop... I know Cameron dies because Doug mentioned it to Archer in 1/27, but I don't think we ever got many details about it all.

And Dough appeared right in the last chapter and urghhhh give me more!

I want to see Bree, Vivienne, Archer and Zach come into Emilio's life. And Hsin, obviously!

Seeing the Agency years before ICoS's events it's strange. By this time the bombs hadn't even hit and everything feels so different. And seeing people that to me were already dead, and people that I never knew of... it's unsettling.

There's one thing, thought... I felt what I usually feel when reading Santino's solo works, like there is something lacking in the writing. I can never be sure exactly what, and I sure as hell can't put it into words but... there's always something... missing. Not in the characters, not the plot, just the writing itself and the feeling it gives me.

Anyway that isn't important right now, it wasn't a really noticeable thing in this book and seriously, give me Emilio and everything Emilio and I'm happy.

So... around 7 months ago Santino posted this on his Tumblr: "So I finally figured out what I'm doing with this "series". Emilio's backstory will take place in about 4-5 volumes that will likely go from 70-100 pages each. Each volume will be about a specific time period in his journey. Zachary won't be in it until the third volume." and I've read his GR asks that contradict this a little but it's all dated from 2 years back and.... it's 2017 and as far as I know he hasn't mentioned anything more about it (recently at least) and it kills me because I really need these books (and ICoS sequel). T-T

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooooookayyyyyyyyyy....that was intense. I don't have any other words for it. Do I want to read more about Emilio Vega and Cameron, HELL YEAH!! This two men are either going to kill each other or end up in one hellaciously intense relationship. So this was my baby step towards the rabbit hole that leads to the world of ICoS, I decided since it is such a huge undertaking to start slowly with this short story and if I liked it then I was going to continue, if not I was going to take a break read something else and try for that rabbit hole at another time. Well everyone as much as real life will permit here I gooooooooooooo downnnnnnnnnnn the rabbit hole to ICoS!

[Ran ♠ · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG i just fucking love Emilio!! I'm excited for the continuation!! A 17/18 year old Emilio is a perfect thrill to the bone!

♥Emilio Fucking Vega FTW♥

[monika]

You don't deserve my time, my rating, my money, because

https://ingloriousbitches.wordpress.c...

https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...

[Vallie]

It's a shame. This author was one of my favourites. Thank you to all who came forward and shed light into the psychopathic, fraudulent behaviour behind the alias "Santino Hassell."

Statement from Riptide

[Chippy Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good that it hurts that there's no more left for me to drool over.

[CAPASA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great review, that´s a good book, I enjoyed this book too much, its plot seemed too good and it´s very clear, its character are excellent, it makes you get involved in the book, it´s really incredible and i would read it again and again.

[Eugenia]

Rating removed. (Although I freaking loved this series).

[Dark_Shadow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really hope to find out more about what happened with Emilio and Zach after Fade!
Also it will be soo cool to see things through Emilio's eyes, his feelings for Hsin and Zach from the beginning! Can't wait

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emelio jumps off the pages and sucks you in from the beginning. This well paced, visceral, prequel was a wonderful taste of what is to come in the rest of the series.

[Tolk]

Though I wish it had never come to this: I've removed my review.

[Leyna]

Nope, because of my comment below

[Scarletine]

So far , so amazing! Only the first three chapters but I was salivating for more. Wonderful to read about the 17 Year old Emilio, running his filthy mouth off and making grown men want to come in their pants at the sight of him and his tirades of dirty talk! Brilliant! I just realised that with Emilio at 17, Sin was only 3 years old stuck in Hong Kong with his Ho mamma, madness! Great to get it all in context...Can't wait for the rest.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know it’s not complete and probably never will be finished but I loved the iCos series back in the day and this short story, snippet- whatever one wants to call it- is still hot, entertaining, funny and amazing!

Love the writer, the characters and the sex!!!

A fab read.

[Topher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was trying to spare myself the torture of reading this knowing that there's no update yet on the continuation.
Emilio. Just. Fucking. Yes.

[Kirara7 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this finished in Patron or is still in chapter 10.

Is this going to be free or i have to pay a subscription in Patron and when (aprox) are going to come out the rest of the vols? are there any new about this series of vols.

Thanks.

I'm really eager for the rest of the story

[Thiliel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuck yeah, teenage Emilio.

[Sy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's Emilio, I can't dislike it... But there was barely any further character development past what is already there in the original books, so it kinda feels like it's written for the horny bits.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read up through chapter 10 and can't wait for more!

[Dev · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok yeah i'm technically rating this when there's only 8 out of 12 chapters out but this is 100% perfect and there is not a thing that could happen to make me give it less than 5 stars. after i read the first volume of evenfall i decide to read this before moving on to volume 2 because 1) it's a prequel so i can't get spoiled and 2) i had a feeling i was going to love emilio even more than i liked sin and oh boy was i right. what a little asshat, i want ten. ♥_♥

[Marita Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've finished reading the 3 chapters available and as usual have rated Santino's work 5 stars. I don't think he can write anything that isn't worthy of 5 stars. In 3 chapters he had me panting for more. It is so good. I absolutely loved young Emilio and Cameron looks like an interesting hard-arse bastard. I definitely want to read more about them. I'm also hoping to see a young Doug. I loved Doug in 1/27.

[Chi chi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far so f**ken good. Damn!!! Emilio is sexy. I just love him. I can't help myself and seriously I don't wanna. Can't wait to completely read this.

[C. Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

VEGA!!! :*

[E luvs Dan, Qhuinn, Tate, Po, Rule & Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anything about Vega senior and I'm game :)

[Peche Esse · Rating 5 out of 5]

First 3 chapters of volume 1. Awesome. Want more. Desire to send SH money to have more.

Read the rest when they arrive.

[jazz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emilio Fucking Vega!!! I love him so much sjsjsk Cant wait to see Doug and Carhart and their relantionships

[Illuminated · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I need to reread ICoS after this. And I still want to know about Zach.

[Erin Bethea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finish this book!!!