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

by Elizabeth Knox

  Shutting my eyes, I nod, hating that I have to admit this. “The man I hired . . . he didn’t listen to what I required of him. He did it with the boys around. I was hoping he’d take care of her while I was out of town with my son and stepson, however I wasn’t so lucky.”

  “Stepson?” Sofia questions.

  I nod, “Yes, Anastasia had a son before our child was born. Aleksei was also there when his mother was shot. It infuriates me to this day, makes me angrier than anything else. You can’t un-see things like that. Aleksei will be scarred until the day he dies.”

  “I didn’t know you had a stepson.”

  “Yes, he isn’t mine by blood but I treat him as though he is. His little brother needs him.” Sofia surprises me when she reaches her hand out across the table and places her hand over my own.

  “Family is the most important, above all else. I don’t know you well, Valentin, but if I’m being honest you continue to flabbergast me. I mean that in the best way possible, of course.”

  A warming sensation swarms across my chest. I haven’t felt this in years. Fuck, not since Anastasia. I lean in closer to Sofia, snake my hand around her neck and slowly inch my way closer to her until my eyes are on hers and our lips are merely a millimeter apart. “I would like to kiss you now. Do you object?”

  Instead of an answer Sofia tilts her head, pressing her lips against my own. I can tell she’s inexperienced with her novice style, unsure of how to kiss. Although, every movement she’s making is sinfully sweet. Knowing she’s a virgin eggs me on even more, causes my cock to grow hard under my pants but I can’t act. When I take my sweet fiancée, it will be something she won’t be expecting.

  I just have to calm the beast and take my time with this one, but damn, I just know she’ll be worth the wait.

  Chapter Seven

  Don’t trust words, trust actions

  ~ Unknown

  Sofia

  It feels like I blinked and the last week has flown by. I’ve spent every day with Valentin watching how he handles business— the little I’ve seen of it— and touring around Moscow with him. Yesterday we went into the Red Square and Valentin educated me on the history of Moscow. Apparently, back in the olden days the square used to be where merchants would bring their carts and set up their stands. It was known as the heart of Moscow and some still believe it is to this very day. In this day and age the President lives in the Royal Citadel. It has been enlightening to spend so much time with Valentin over the last week. Not only have we been able to bond and get to know one another, but I believe I am starting to understand the type of man he is and his character.

  One thing I’m not too fond of is how Fredrik lives only a few minutes away, and he’s constantly in the apartment. You’d think he’s physically holding a leash on his son, being as close as he is. Something about Fredrik gives me the creeps and makes me want to stay far away from him. I mean, I know I’m not wrong in feeling the way I do. He’s the one who ordered my hymen get checked like I’m some woman back in the seventeen-hundreds. Even more than that, he fucking drugged me like a dog. While I understand I need to put my trust in my fiancé, I will never be able to trust his father. He’s already shown me with his actions how deceitful he is.

  Today Valentin and I are staying in the apartment because Aleksei and Aleksandr are coming back from a short holiday trip they took with their nanny, Natalia. He informed me last night that he asked her to take them on a trip up North for a week while he and I became acquainted with one another. I told him he was ridiculous and we could’ve done everything we had with the children, but he disagreed telling me that an eight-year-old and a four-year-old screaming and running around wouldn’t exactly have given us time to focus on the two of us.

  “When are they supposed to get here?” I ask Valentin, who’s sitting beside me on the couch.

  He glances up at the clock hanging on the wall, “Any minute now I suppose. However, Natalia is always late when it comes to the boys.”

  “What do you mean by that?” I question, not really understanding.

  “Oh, she will just spend more time allowing them to do the fun, silly things they want to versus sticking to a schedule. When I originally hired her, I complained to her religiously, but she stuck her ground and told me the boys should enjoy their childhood. After that, I simply allow it to happen. It took another person telling me to implement it in their lives. My boys' lives won’t always be so carefree, so I’d rather they enjoy every moment they can while it lasts.”

  I smile, nodding. “She sounds like a lovely person with good insight.”

  “She is. I’m lucky to have found a woman like her.” Something in the way Valentin speaks causes me to feel like I was punched in the gut. Surely, he didn’t mean it the way it came out, however it stung quite a bit.

  Before I can express my feelings I hear the deadbolt turning and trampling feet come running down the corridor. Valentin rises from the couch and opens up his arms for the two running children, “Moi mal’chiki! Vy khorosho proveli vremya s Natalia?” I don’t understand a word of what Valentin is saying to his sons, but the taller one who must be Aleksei starts excitedly replying.

  Words come flying out of his mouth and his younger brother, Aleksandr starts adding in a few choice words here and there. After a few minutes of replying back and forth Valentin chuckles, places a hand on each of his boys’ shoulders and looks over to me, “We should practice our English so Sofia can understand us, da?”

  Aleksei looks over to me with judgmental eyes and replies to his stepfather. Valentin cuts him off mid-way through his sentence, “We must speak in English because Sofia doesn’t understand what we are saying.”

  “Then she must learn to speak Russian like we must learn to speak English,” The spirited young boy states, shooting a glare over to me.

  Valentin looks like he’s angered for a moment and is about to reply hastily, but I put up my hand and speak instead. “In time I hope I can learn your language. But you’ll need to help me. Is that okay?” The boy with thick, dark brown hair chuckles at my question.

  “Obviously I’ll help you. You must learn from the best. Who else than a Russian boy, right, otchim?” He looks to Valentin as he finishes, obviously questioning him.

  “Yes, now tell her what otchim means,” Valentin instructs the boy.

  “It . . . means stepfather.”

  Valentin smiles with joy, “Good job, Aleksei. Now, Aleksandr why are you acting so shy?” My attention is shifted to the smaller version of Aleksei who hides behind his older brother.

  Aleksandr spits out his words so quickly that I don’t even think what he’s said is an actual language, but when Aleksei and Valentin both burst into laughter he must’ve said something good. Valentin holds his hands out to his youngest son, urging him to come into his embrace and the little boy goes into his father’s arms. “Aleksei, please tell Sofia what Aleksandr said.”

  Aleksei grins widely, “My little brother thinks you are very beautiful and wants to marry you, but he’s too chicken to ask.”

  My heart warms up from the sweet nature Aleksandr has. Valentin runs his hand through Aleksandr’s dark hair and snickers, “I’m afraid you cannot marry Sofia, my syn. It would be me who is doing that.”

  “Ah, you are the fiancée,” a woman’s voice states. While I’ve not been around too many nannies in my life, I feel as though Natalia is dressed as a prostitute. She’s wearing a tight skirt, with a blouse where her bosom is amply on display.

  I stand up from the couch and nod, extending my hand out to Natalia as a way to show respect. She obviously sees my hand but shoots me a glare and then looks to Valentin. “Val, I’ll be in my room. If you or the boys need me, please let me know.” Natalia changes her attention back to me before she starts walking away. “It was lovely to meet you, Sarah.”

  Val? Since when does he go by Val? I roll my eyes and look to Valentin expecting to get some sort of answer out of him. Now isn’t the time, though. Right no
w we need to focus on the children. We have a private dinner tonight anyway. I’ll be sure to bring up how I’m uncomfortable this woman is living in our home as well.

  No one ever treats me that way and gets away with it.

  Chapter Eight

  Be kind and full of love . . . but have boundaries like a motherfucker

  ~ Unknown

  Sofia

  “Are they all tuckered out?” I ask Valentin, who comes from the boys' shared bedroom. He nods almost instantly.

  “Yes, it must be quite exhausting to spend their entire day with such a wench,” he says coming up beside me as he flutters his fingertips against the back of my neck. We walk side by side down the hallway into the kitchen. “Do you want to eat, or would you rather hit the hay yourself?”

  The boys wanted to eat dinner with us, so we opted to make our dinner a family affair. Valentin cooked a full traditional meal for me. We had chicken Kiev which is chicken breast stuffed with cheese, mushroom, and various herbs. The outside is breaded and baked in oil. He served the chicken with something called mors, which is a sweetened berry juice I think. It’s what it reminded me of anyways.

  “I’m stuffed. I could always go for a drink, though,” I admit, needing one for the conversation I’m about to have with Valentin.

  He chuckles, “Good thinking. I imagine I have some vodka around here somewhere.”

  I snort at his sarcastic tone and watch as he goes into the cabinet above the refrigerator and pulls out a bottle of vodka. Just like at the restaurant he doesn’t bother handing me a glass. Instead he takes the cap off and hands me the bottle. I take a couple of gulps before giving the bottle back to him. The alcohol should give me a bit of courage when it comes to discussing the massive elephant in the room named Natalia.

  “You seem like there’s something on your mind,” he states.

  “Oh, there is. Have no doubt about that,” I respond, trying to think of a mature way to bring this up. We’ve only known each other for a week and I don’t want him to think I’m coming in here to disrupt his life.

  “Whatever it is, I can tell it’s frustrating you,” Valentin states, placing the bottle down on the kitchen counter. “What is it, Sofia?” He moves closer to me, putting those ice-cold hands of his on my body. Any time he does I feel a bolt of lightning course through me, almost as if he sparks me to life.

  I take in a deep breath and stare past Valentin into the dark accents of his kitchen. I haven’t seen anything quite like it, with jet black matte cabinets and gold accessories. The man has a thing for gold, that’s for certain. “I’m not a big fan of the disrespect I received from Natalia earlier today. I offered her my hand as a way to show her while she is below our hierarchy, I respect and appreciate what she does for us. But instead of taking my hand and acting like an adult should, she ignored me, spoke to you and called me by another name on purpose.”

  Immediately Valentin’s expression shifts from down to earth to irate. From the looks of it, I’m not the only one who noticed she was being a bitch. He clenches his jaw and balls his hand into a fist on the island. “I want to firstly apologize for her crass behavior. Natalia knows not to test my limits when it comes to people in our family. She was trying to make a jab at me today and used you to air out her frustrations. However, they should’ve been directed at me. Not you.”

  Why would the nanny want to hurt Valentin anyhow? I’ll ask the question, but not yet. “She didn’t call you Mr. Volkolv like everyone else has. She called you Val. Why is that?”

  Valentin sucks in a sharp breath right before he takes a swig of the vodka. “There’s no point in lying to you. Natalia and I were fucking before you arrived. Although, she knows nothing will come of it anymore. When I say I’m committed, I mean it.”

  I expected to hear he cut her pay or didn’t allow her off work, not that he was screwing the nanny. This is practically a telenovela. “Let me get this straight. Instead of having relations with someone outside of your household and trust, you started fucking the nanny . . . the woman who watches the children? The one person who can harm them more than anyone else. Wow, that’s smart.” I end the last bit with anger lacing through my voice, obviously sarcastic by saying it was smart.

  “It started one night after the boys were asleep. I had a bottle of wine that would go bad if it wasn’t drank soon and offered to share some with her. One thing led to another and . . . well,” he confesses.

  “How long ago was that night?” I inquire, afraid of the answer he’ll give me.

  “Almost two years ago. Natalia knew I’d marry a prominent woman at some point and here you are. Everything was crystal clear to her, Sofia. There is truly nothing to worry about. I don’t have eyes for her anymore. I only have eyes for you. You are my future, not her.”

  My head tells me how men in the criminal world lie time and time again, mastering the art of deception. But Valentin’s last words speak directly to my heart and everything we’ve discussed until now is thrown out the window. I inch closer to him until my breasts are pressing into his silk dress shirt, stand up on my tippy toes and kiss him like I never have before. My lips speak a language of their own, begging him to love me. Silently pleading this is the truth and he’s not lying straight to my face. More than that, they’re craving him just as the other parts of me are.

  Over the last week I’ve spent almost every waking hour with Valentin. Whether it’s been eating meals, spending time in the penthouse or exploring the beautiful city I’ve come to know as Moscow. I know in his heart he’s a good person and my madre always told me the way to a man’s heart is between her legs. She and my papá are no longer with one another, but she admitted that was her fault for not being there for him in the way he needed her to. It’s the sole reason he started having a mistress and it’s why my mother went off and left him, resulting in the birth of my youngest brother, Roman. I’ve decided to take a note out of my mother’s book. If Natalia is so damn tempting, I’ll be tantalizing every second of every day, starting tonight.

  Valentin might not know it yet, but he’s about to take the thing I promised my husband. We haven’t made our commitment in front of God yet, but if I don’t make a move I know what will transpire between him and Natalia. She’ll obtain some type of hold over my fiancé and I’ll never truly have him. Fuck that.

  I slide my hand up his chest and snake it around his neck, moaning lightly. Back home I watched telenovela. I know what women need to do to entice a man. It’s simply mastering the art of seduction.

  “Sofia, we should stop,” Valentin whispers with a heavy breath.

  I look up to those frosty blue eyes of his and bat my lashes, “I don’t want to stop, Valentin. We are to be man and wife within the month. What I want is to get to know every part of you, and vice versa.”

  “Sofia,” his tone is a warning, but one I won’t listen to.

  With my free hand I glide it down to his pants and feel the hardness of his cock. I’m a novice and don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I’m sure as hell trying to look like I know something. I’m thankful for all the discussions my madre had with me to prepare me for this day. She’s always told me a woman’s one way of controlling a man is through sex. Let’s hope she’s right. I run my hand over his cock and hear him hiss. I believe it to be a good reaction so I continue until he’s leaning his head against my shoulder.

  “Valentin . . . please,” I ask in a pleading tone, taking his hand in mine I step backward slowly until we’re both on our way to my bedroom. While we’re making our way there, he’s stripped off his dress shirt and undershirt. I’ve discarded my blouse in the living room and am standing in solely a pair of pants and camisole.

  He pushes my back against my bedroom door and stares deeply in my eyes, “If you want to change your mind, now would be the time. Once I start . . . I don’t think I’ll be able to stop.”

  Instead of giving him a verbal answer, I place my hand on the doorknob and turn it, entering the room. To give him ano
ther sign, I unbutton the top of my pants and slide them down my legs, revealing the pair of panties I’m in.

  Valentin quickly shuffles in the room and slams the door shut behind him, locking it. He rushes over to me, plants his hands on my hips and hooks his finger under my underwear, pulls them toward him and I feel the rip of the cotton against my body.

  “Blyad!” he hisses out as he glances down at my body, sliding his fingers up, he bunches the material of my shirt and pulls it over my head, tossing it onto the wooden floor beside us.

  “Mind translating for me?” I tease, sucking in my bottom lip.

  “I said fuck,” he growls out, running his hand over my erect nipple. While I enjoy the new sensations coursing through my body I place my hands at his belt and unhook it, unbutton and unzip his pants, allowing them to fall to the floor in a pile.

  “Why’d you say that?” I inquire, gliding my fingers under the waistband of his boxers so I can rid him of the confining fabric. Warmth pulls in my belly while Valentin continues to tease my nipples, but the sight of his manhood is a bit alarming. His shaft is wide. If I had to guess I’d say three inches Not only that, but he’s long as well. I keep thinking there’s no way that thing will fit inside me, but I can’t look afraid. If I do, Natalia will ruin my relationship before it even starts.

  I want this to work with Valentin. I want to have a true love story. I don’t want to be like so many other couples in the mafia world.

  Placing my hand over his cock I continue running my hand along it, hearing hisses and groans as I tease him. “Fuck, Sofia. Your hand feels so good.”

  I grab the back of his neck with my other hand and pull his mouth down to me, kissing him chastely, hoping it’ll bring him to the point I want him to be. Much to my surprise, Valentin sticks his hand between my legs and snickers at the juiciness between them.