Deceptive Love: A Dark Mafia Duet (Mackenzie & Volkolv Book 1)

by Elizabeth Knox

  Miguel has given us a lot of shit for wanting to take my bride back with us. He complains about how it isn’t custom for the bride to go back with her husband before they’re officially married. However, we’re not in a traditional setting. I worry about allowing my fiancée to stay here in Mexico because of the long list of enemies my family has. My family and I don’t always play by the rules and in being rebels we happen to piss quite a few people off. We anticipated Miguel would fight us tooth and nail, however when it comes to Sofia’s safety he wouldn’t put her in jeopardy. This is the only reason he’s allowing me to take her. Although, he informed us she doesn’t know about our plans. He expressed Sofia would be heartbroken if she knew she was leaving ahead of time, therefore he decided to keep it from her.

  “How far away are we?” I ask my father, who sits beside me in the town car we’ve rented for the day.

  He pushes down the privacy screen and looks to the driver, “Do you speak English?” he asks with his thick Russian accent. Most people can’t understand him when he tries so I typically speak for him.

  “Yes. Inglés,” The driver nods. “How may I help you, Sir?”

  “When will we be there?” my father asks, seeming a bit irritated.

  “We’re pulling up to the restaurant now. You want me to wait out here until you return, yes?”

  “That is what you’ve been paid to do. You’ll take us back to the airport in a couple of hours. Do not leave.” Oh boy. This man is already pissing him off. My father angrily shuffles back against the seat and stares out the window, not wanting to continue striking up a conversation with me or the man who is transporting us through this foreign territory.

  The car pulls beside the restaurant and parks on the street, directly in front of the entrance. I take off my suit jacket and throw it over my arm before we get out of the car. Back in Russia it’s around twenty degrees Fahrenheit whereas here it must be in the seventies. I didn’t think to prepare for this. In Russia it’s rarely ever this warm unless it’s the peak of summer.

  Placing my hand on my door both my father and I exit the vehicle. He slides out behind me and slams the door shut. “Fuck, it’s too bright here,” he grumbles, moving his hand above his eyes. While he’s complaining the hint of saltiness in the air hits my nostrils and I realize just how close to the water we really are.

  “We’re only here for a few hours. Surely you can handle the heat,” I hiss, annoyed with his attitude. If he acts in this manner before Sofia is with us and we’re on our way back home, everything could fall apart. I simply won’t allow it to happen, not when this has been our goal for years.

  I look around for a moment in an attempt to figure out where the stairwell is that leads up to the restaurant when I’m grabbed by the throat and shoved into the wood next to me. My face is scraping against nails and staples which are supporting the balcony. “Syn, it’s best you remember who you’re speaking to.”

  “How could I forget?” I snap, turning around to face the old man. As soon as I turn, I’m staring into the barrel of a gun. I can’t help but scoff, glancing from the gun to look in his eyes. “Are you really going to shoot me?”

  “I’m thinking about it. My swimmers still work. I could simply pull this trigger and produce another heir to the Bratva. There are plenty of slaves who would love to give me a child.” His words sicken me beyond belief. Threatening me and already figuring out how he’d continue the lineage of our family. Sick motherfucker.

  I cock a brow and grow a pair. For the first time in my entire life I stand up to the old bastard. “You wouldn’t dare. Your dying, old man. You’d be lucky to even get a woman pregnant before you croak. Then what would happen? One of our enemies would move in and take what our family has worked so hard on? I don’t think so,” I snarl, shoving him in the chest I walk toward the stairwell which leads up to the balcony and go up the stairs.

  A gust of wind blows in my direction and a burning sensation strikes me against the cheek. Placing my hand on my skin I wipe it across and bring my fingers into view, seeing blood. Fuck, I must’ve nicked myself on a nail. I pull out my black pocket square from my suit jacket and put it against my face, applying pressure for a few moments in the hopes I’ll stop bleeding. I don’t want to meet Sofia looking like some New York gangster.

  Glancing behind me I notice my father hasn’t come up the steps. Maybe he’s left me to tend to this meeting myself. Not that I wouldn’t mind. I’ll do whatever I can to ensure this goes smoothly. I approach the double doors which lead into the restaurant and pull on the door. Within a moment, a man in a suit comes to the door and speaks on the other side.

  “Lo siento, señor. Estamos cerrados para un evento privado.” I don’t speak Spanish, so I have no fucking clue what this man is saying.

  I raise my brows and shrug my shoulders. We might not be speaking the same language, but hopefully he understands body language. The man continues to stand there, speaking in a louder tone. “Sal de aquí antes de que llame a la policía y te saquen. Esta es propiedad privada. Te estoy diciendo que estamos cerrados. Por favor, vete.”

  “Look, I don’t know what you’re saying. I don’t speak Spanish dude. Only English!” I grumble out just as a woman in a bright pink dress walks past. We both share an intense stare and something seems familiar between us both. She cocks her head and approaches the door, but it appears that the man is upset at her actions.

  “Señorita Ramírez, mis disculpas. Estoy intentando que este señor se vaya. Sin embargo no me está haciendo caso. Por favor perdoneme,” he states, glancing back between the two of us.

  She gives him a half smile and nods before she speaks. “Por favor no te disculpes, Carlos. Este señor no habla español. Hablo inglés, así que permíteme traducir.”

  The man looks unsure, “No me gusta esto señorita Ramírez. Tu Padre tendrá mi cabeza. Me dieron instrucciones que se mantuveria alejada de las puertas y ventanas. Por favor tomé asiento afuera.”

  The woman rolls her eyes, looking frustrated for a moment. “Carlos is trying to tell you the restaurant is closed for a private event for the day and he’d like you to leave. Many apologies but come back tomorrow when they’re open again. Alright?”

  “Ah, I’m afraid I can’t do that. You see, I’m meeting two business associates here alongside my father.”

  She cocks a brow, “What’s your name?”

  “Valentin. Valentin Volkolv,” I state, and within a second everything changes between us. Suddenly the sassy woman I saw roll her eyes at this man is replaced by a timid lamb. I knew today would be interesting, but now I’m intrigued. The reason she’s changed her demeanor speaks volumes to me. I guess we’ll see how this goes.

  Chapter Three

  People say a lot. So, I watch what they do

  ~ Unknown

  Sofia

  This is Valentin? An incredibly handsome man who looks like he could be a runway model, minus the scrape on his cheek. His sandy blonde hair is trimmed professionally. Not too long, but not too short. He’s wearing a black business shirt with matching trousers and shoes, while a gold watch adorns his wrist and a suit jacket is thrown over his arm. His belt buckle matches the same gold on his watch and I can immediately tell this man commands a room's attention.

  “Are you going to let me in or should I stay out here and roast, Sofia?” he jokes. While I should retort something back to him, I can’t. His presence shocks me to my core and I realize I’m not ready for this. My father told me no one has ever seen a photograph of me so I can’t help but wonder how he knows who I am.

  “How do you know my name?” I inquire.

  He purses his lips together and chuckles, “Because you looked terrified when you heard my name. Only a woman who knows of me would be so afraid, and . . . well, there’s only one woman who would hear the dirtiest, darkest rumors about me.”

  I take in a deep breath and nod, unlock the door and open it for my fiancé. Valentin walks in, turns around and locks the door behind him.
“Am I right to be afraid?” I ask, wondering how he’ll respond back to me.

  “You’d be stupid if you weren’t,” he states, grazing his eyes up and down my body. “Now I understand why your father never shared photographs of you. If the other families saw how beautiful you are, everyone would’ve wanted you.”

  His compliment causes blood to start rushing to my face. I’m notorious for blushing when anyone says something sweet, and surprisingly Valentin did. “Sofia!” my father yells from behind me and I turn, instantly able to tell he’s angry.

  I’m about to speak when Valentin cuts in, extending his hand to my father. “It’s an honor to finally meet you, Senor Ramirez. Thank you for inviting my father and I to come meet you in person to finalize our agreement.”

  My father gives a once over to Valentin, “Speaking of your father, where is he?”

  “Outside I believe. He’s a bit jet-lagged.” I don’t know how I can tell, but I feel like Valentin is lying about that last bit. He has a fresh scrape on his face. That doesn’t just magically happen.

  “Ah, of course.” My father offers Valentin his hand and the two men shake. “We’ll allow your father to have some time to get acquainted.” My father finishes his sentence in Spanish, asking Carlos to go outside and get Fredrik in ten minutes. Carlos nods at my father’s order.

  “Shall we go out onto the balcony? It sits right above the water and is breathtaking this time of day,” I suggest, needing to get out of this stuffy restaurant. I feel as if I’m suffocating being this close to these two men.

  “Yes. A great idea, mija,” my father replies, motioning for the two of us to follow him. Valentin allows me to follow directly behind my father, but I bet that’s because he wants a good look at my ass. The way he was staring at me earlier makes me feel like he’s a dog, and I don’t mean that as a compliment.

  The group of us descend a small set of stairs and walk out to where a sliding door opens us to the deck. What Valentin doesn’t know is that this is my favorite restaurant in all of Cancun. One of my father’s associates owns it and allowed us to use it for the day. Considering a day will come within the next couple of months where I won’t know whenever I’ll be here again, I wanted to spend as much time as I could. Father respected my request and was glad to give me one of my final moments here. When I get back home tonight I’m going to see if Alejandro wants to come here with me next week. I can never say no to the food and drinks. Whatever they create, it’s divine.

  My father pulls back one of the luxurious velvet-covered chair for me at the table right on the edge and I sit down. While he and Valentin take their seats, I pick up the glass of red wine in front of me and take a sip.

  “You weren’t lying about the view,” Valentin says in my direction, but then looks to my father. “However, I can’t help but feel like this location is opportune for many of your enemies. How do you secure it?”

  My father smirks at Valentin, “I always have my men around my family and me, even in plain sight. You’d be smart to remember that, Volkolv.” If I’m not mistaken, my father just subtly threatened my fiancé.

  “I understand, now I hate to cut to the chase but we should probably get down to business. My father and I are only in town for a few hours before we leave.” I’m shocked at what Valentin has just said.

  “Really? Your flight had to have been long,” I say.

  “It was over thirteen hours. However, we have business to attend to tomorrow evening back in our home. Unfortunately, both of our meetings are high priorities to us, so we’re giving our immediate attention to both,” Valentin replies.

  “I understand. I appreciate you both coming out on such short notice,” my father says, but the way he says it gives me a weird feeling. I don’t know whether it’s my intuition or what exactly . . . but something in my gut doesn’t feel right.

  “Of course. It’s a pleasure. Now, your shipment will be here by eleven this evening. You have men prepared to pick it up and store it. Correct?” Valentin asks my father who nods.

  “Yes, and you’ll be sending a shipment every month as promised?”

  Valentin confirms, “Yes, that is the deal.”

  “Fabulous,” My father reaches out his hand to Valentin and they both shake on something. They barely said a thing and yet understood the other perfectly. “Now, we should move onto the other bit of business.”

  The distinctive sound of the sliding door opening and closing causes me to look to my left. I see another man who looks very similar to Valentin walking beside Carlos. They both come down to us and Carlos explains in our native tongue that Mr. Volkolv has arrived. “Ah, perfect timing. Your son and I just shook on our agreement. Now we’re ready to move onto the next event of the night,” my father states.

  I look to Valentin trying to gauge if he knows what’s going on, but he looks as confused as I do. My father sticks his hand up in the air and snaps his fingers, “Sofia, please come along with me. We have one last thing to do before I can officially hand you over to Valentin.”

  “O-okay,” I stutter out, wanting to trust my father but I can’t. Something within me is screaming at me to run but I don’t. Instead I follow my father as he walks back into the restaurant and I hear the footsteps of the Volkolv men closely behind us.

  We’re in the main part of the restaurant at this point continuing to the center of the room where there’s one table without any chairs on top of it. When the restaurant is closed they always have chairs on the top. It makes it easier for the cleaning crew to do their job. Why would the table be bare?

  I continue walking and stop when my father does. All of a sudden, I’m forced down onto the table with my jaw being shoved against the cloth. I’m fighting to understand what is happening right now. With a swift movement I feel a hand at my bum and my dress is being lifted while my underwear is being slid down. I thrash, moving in whatever way I can. “Get over here and help me hold her down!” my father orders out. Within seconds I feel multiple hands on me.

  “You want me to verify she isn’t deflowered, is this correct, Miguel?” a man’s voice asks. It’s one I don’t recognize.

  “What on Earth!?” I scream out, kicking my legs while I thrash my arms. More hands are placed on me and I feel a strong pressure entering inside me. It’s uncomfortable, tight and hurts. I bite my lip, immediately stop what I’m doing because I don’t want to move and hurt myself. As the thing inside me flutters I realize they’re fingers. He pushes in and out a couple of times.

  “I can confirm Sofia is still a virgin,” the voice states, removing his fingers from inside me.

  “Good. This deal wouldn’t have ever happened if we weren’t sure,” another voice says, but I notice the thick Russian accent which adorns it. This is Valentin’s father . . . he wanted this. I think that’s the worst bit, but I’m sadly mistaken as he continues. “If you want to fuck her now, you might as well.”

  “You ordered this?” Valentin sounds furious with his father.

  “Did you not hear me? Stick your cock in the girl and get it over with. If you’re lucky, we’ll have another Volkolv born soon.”

  “No. Not here,” Valentin hisses out. Within an instant my underwear is pulled up and my dress is covering my ass once again. “Everyone better get their hands off of my fiancée before I put a piece of lead in their fucking heads!” he roars, grabbing me by the hand.

  Valentin and I both share a silent look. He may not know it but I’m thanking him with my eyes. “We should get going. The plane leaves in a couple of hours and I’d rather us not spend more time here.”

  “Wait. What?” I ask, confused beyond measure.

  “Ugh, you foolish boy. You’re giving her the opportunity to make a fuss. You have so much to learn,” Valentin’s father says to him right as I feel a sharp prick in my arm.

  Suddenly, everything starts to feel fuzzy and I start to go down.

  Chapter Four

  If everybody likes you, you have a serious problem


  ~ The Idealist

  Valentin

  A light knock comes to the door and I glance up to see it being slid to the left, revealing my father. “You have some nerve coming in here after what you did,” I say from my seat on the plane. Sofia is asleep on the bed in one of the two private rooms we have on my father’s jet.

  Shrugging his shoulders, he approaches me. “It’s obvious you don’t see it now, but one day you’ll understand. Women can’t ever be trusted, Valentin. However, they can be controlled. Of course, you made a grave mistake with both of those when it came to Anastasia. Didn’t you?”

  I struggle to refrain from clenching my jaw as he brings up my deceased wife’s name. I loathe her more than anyone else on this damn planet. In my eyes, she got what she deserved for betraying the family. Clearing my throat, I speak, “Not everyone is Anastasia.”

  My father chuckles, grazing his fingers over the built-in cabinets. “Ah, yes. Sofia here isn’t a street rat you were dead set on saving. Hopefully she’ll be smarter than the traitor you married. With any luck she’ll understand her place in our family and be an amazing stepmother to Aleksandr.”

  “And Aleksei,” I remind him, refusing to leave behind my stepson. While Anastasia was a despicable woman, I won’t punish her child for her actions. Anastasia had told me he was a product of rape. Of that I have no doubt. After her death my father told me I should turn him over to the orphanage but I couldn’t ever do that. He and Aleksandr are far too close. I would never break a bond like the one they share. Especially when I never had a sibling growing up. Their lives will be hard enough growing up without a mother, I couldn’t take away the only other comfort they had in one another.