Savage Beginnings: A Dark Mafia Arranged Marriage Romance

by J. L. Beck

  “The only thing I feel guilty about is not believing you sooner. Everything you said was true. He never loved me.” The truth weighs heavily on me. He never loved me.

  “I love you.” Julian’s deep voice interrupts my thoughts, but it’s not his voice that has me hanging on by a single thread.

  “You love me?”

  “Yes, I love you, Elena. I should have told you sooner. I love you. I have for a long time, and I was a coward not to admit it before. I was convinced I could make myself fall out of love with you. I was so afraid of falling for you, of becoming vulnerable, that I didn’t realize I already was.” My heart soars to life in my chest.

  Leaning down, I press a kiss to his lips.

  “I love you too, so much, and I’ll never doubt you again. I’m your wife, and from now on, I’ll behave like it. I’ll be by your side, always.”

  Always.

  Epilogue

  Elena

  I stare down at my small rounding bump. I’m pregnant. I still can’t believe it. Not long after the shootout with my father did Julian and I discover we were having a baby. And every day, I stare down at my belly with wonderment, watching as it grows each day. It’s still shocking that Julian and I will be parents in six months. Me, the princess from the ivory tower who found freedom with her captor. Him, the mafia made man, that shows only strength and never weakness.

  To imagine him with our children, wrapped tightly around their tiny fingers. It makes my giddy with excitement. I know he will be an amazing father, even if he doesn’t yet believe in himself.

  “You’ve smoothed your hand down the front of your sundress ten times now. Is something wrong, beautiful?”

  I shake my head. “No, nothing is wrong. I’m just not used to the bump or the way my body is changing. Somedays, I feel huge, and others I don’t feel like I’m pregnant at all.”

  Julian crosses the space between us and wraps his arms around me. His hands come to rest gently on my belly, and my stomach flutters as if there are a thousand butterflies inside of it.

  “Personally, I would like it if you lost the dress and walked around the house naked, but unless you want me to kill every person in this house, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  Whirling around in his arms, I look up at him. “I agree. There has been enough bloodshed on these floors as of lately.”

  A shadow crosses Julian’s face. Ever since Lucca’s betrayal came to light, he’s been even warier of his men. I know he feels that if Markus was here, my father never would’ve gotten in, but then he wouldn’t be dead either. We’d still be looking over our shoulders, wondering when the next attack was coming. He says Lucca is a traitor, but I understand why he did what he did. I can’t fault someone for protecting someone they love.

  I would do the same, would I not?

  “I will always be here to protect you. Nothing will ever happen to you or our child.”

  “You can’t protect me from everything, Julian.”

  “I can, and I will.”

  All I can do is roll my eyes. “Where are we going for dinner?” I ask, wanting to change the subject and divert it away from us.

  “Our favorite spot, of course.” He winks and leads me outside to the terrace.

  As soon as we walk out, I gasp. The table is decked like usual, but there are candles placed all around the table and along the rail. The outside lights are shut off, so the only light is coming from the hundreds of candles.

  “How romantic. I didn’t think you had it in you.” I grin.

  “I had help. Plus, it’s a special night.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes, sit down, and I’ll tell you.” He pulls out a chair for me, and I take it, wondering what he could possibly want to talk to me about.

  “What is it, Julian? Is everything alright?”

  “Yes.” He takes the seat across from me. “I realize that I’ve always made choices for you, and before that, your father did the same. I know you have been longing to be free, and even though I can’t give you all the freedom you deserve, I do want to ask you… What do you want, Elena?”

  For a moment, all I can do is stare at him. What do I want?

  Those words are foreign to me. No one ever asks me what I want. So, what do I want?

  “I want to be with you.”

  “And that will never change.” Julian gives me a knowing grin. “But what about beyond that? What do you want for your life? Do you want to go to school? Study? Do you want a career, or will you be content being a wife and mother? I don’t want you to feel trapped, and I don’t want to control every part of your life. I want you to have hopes and dreams, be free as much as I can let you, without risking your safety.”

  “I don’t know what to say…” Seriously. I’m speechless. “Honestly, I’ve never thought about it.”

  “Good thing, you have all the time in the world now.”

  Julian’s phone rings, interrupting the moment. He curses under his breath and shakes his head.

  “Of course, he would choose now to call…” he growls. “Nice to hear from you, how is your…” He pauses, and the voice on the other end fills the phone. “What are you talking about? Wait… I see. Yes, I suppose I can help.” Julian hangs up the phone and turns to me, a devilish glint in his eyes. “That was Markus. He needs help, killing someone.”

  THANK YOU FOR READING SAVAGE BEGINNINGS! If you are curious about Xander’s story, you can one-click Keep Me now!

  Keep reading for a sneak peek of our international bestseller Cruel Obsession…

  Curious about Markus? Add his book Violent Beginnings to your Want to Read list on Goodreads!

  Cruel Obsession Sneak Peak

  CHAPTER ONE

  Dove

  Paranoia skates down my spine as I walk a little bit faster down the sidewalk. The cold night air fills my lungs, and my heartbeat thuds loudly in my ears. All I can see and feel is that creeper from the party coming up to me and grabbing my wrist. His fingers biting into my flesh. The smell of alcohol on his breath as he spoke into my face.

  “Dance with me…” He didn’t ask, he demanded, and there was no way I was going anywhere with him, so I kicked him in the nuts and left the party. But now I can’t help but feel like he’s following me.

  Reaching the end of the sidewalk, I chance looking over my shoulder. My gaze falls on nothing but darkness. The light pole above my head does very little to illuminate the street, and when I look back again before crossing the street, I find someone walking toward me.

  Panic bubbles up inside of me, and this time, I start running. The air rips through my hair, and my lungs burn as fear implants itself deep in my gut.

  Run. Don’t look back. Just keep running.

  Cutting down a side street, I hope to throw the guy off, but as I continue running, I can still hear his footfalls behind me. This has to be a nightmare, something I’ll wake up from any second now.

  Glancing over my shoulder, I realize it’s anything but a dream. My eyes catch on the plaid pattern of the man’s shirt. Instantly, I know this is the creep from the party. Shit. Instinct tells me to run, but deep in my gut, I know what I should do.

  My hands shake as I try and pull my phone out to dial 9-1-1, but my fingers slip over the sleek device, and I keep putting the wrong passcode in. Panting, I make it underneath an illuminating streetlamp and force shallow breaths into my lungs.

  A grunting sound meets my ears, and when I look over my shoulder again, the man is gone. Just gone, vanished like he wasn’t there at all.

  Dazed, I stare at the exact spot he was in, fearing he’ll reappear any second, but he doesn’t. A strange calmness washes over me. It makes zero sense, but I don’t dwell on it long enough to digest it. Instead, I shove my phone back into my pocket and run the rest of the way home.

  By the time I reach my apartment, the exertion is evident, I’m gasping, and a sheen of sweat has formed against my forehead. I fumble with my keys, almost dropping them before finally
getting the damn door open. Once inside, I slam the door closed and lock it before turning and sagging against the door.

  A moment later, Max is by my side. The eleven-year-old cat I rescued from being euthanized last year has been my most trusted friend. I sink my fingers into his long fur and let his low purring calm me.

  You’re okay, everything is okay… I repeat to myself.

  It’s been years since I’d felt fear like that, not since I was a little girl living in foster care. My skin crawls, and I suppress the thought.

  All that matters is that I’m safe. That I’m in my apartment and nothing happened to me.

  Everything is going to be okay…

  CHAPTER TWO

  Zane

  Slamming my fist into the fucker’s face, I watch with glee as agony overtakes his features. He should’ve known he would die, especially after touching what was mine.

  An image of my beautiful Dove fighting to get away from him. Her big, blue eyes brimmed with fear, her plump bottom lip trembling. Clenching my fist, I let the anger from that memory sink deep into my bones.

  “What were you planning to do when you got her alone? Huh? Why were you following her?” I growl, my patience withering away with every passing second. Part of me doesn’t want to know what he had planned, but the other, bigger part does. I want to hear the words, want them to fuel my anger even more.

  “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” the bastard sneers, playing stupid.

  I cock my head to the side and give him a bemused expression. “You must think I’m a fucking idiot, huh? That I didn’t see her tell you no. That she didn’t push you away? Or that I didn’t watch her run out of the house and down the street? That I didn’t see you follow a short while later.”

  If it wasn’t for me, he would’ve hurt her, but I was there, just as I’ve always been. And just like all the others who have tried to hurt Dove, he too will die at my hands.

  “You’re fucking crazy!” he spits. Blood drips down his lip from the punch I landed against it, and all I can do is stare at it. I can’t stop the cruel smile that splits across my face. My blood sings with joy, and the dark beast inside me cheers with elation at the sight of his blood.

  Grabbing him by the hair, I tip his head back, reveling in the scream that pierces the air. Ahhh, there is nothing like when they scream or beg for me to let them go. The hope that shows in their faces before all is lost. Before I snuff the light out of their eyes with my hands.

  “Crazy? You haven’t seen anything yet,” I sneer.

  Clenching my fist a little tighter, I pull back my arm and land another punch, this time, my knuckles meet the bridge of his nose and the satisfying crunch of bone cracking fills my ears.

  The monster inside me is terrifying, real, and it consumes me. I don’t stop as his screams continue to echo through the warehouse. They all cry and beg, but at the end of the day, it’s their own fault. Had they made a better choice, they wouldn’t be here.

  By the time I’m done, his face is unrecognizable, and he’s slumped over in the chair I’ve tied him to. Turning, I grab a knife and lift his chin, or what’s left of it. Then I slice him from ear to ear. I feel nothing as I do this, no that’s not true. I feel something. Joy, happiness, relief. His death makes the weight on my chest a little lighter.

  Dove is safer now that I’ve extinguished him. Safer now that another worthless person is gone from her life. Another person wanting to hurt her that won’t ever get the chance.

  I was put on this Earth to protect her, to ensure her safety as long as I lived.

  I might never have her in the way I want, but at least I can always make certain no one hurts her. She will forever be mine, even if she doesn’t know it.

  Walking away from the body, I head to the sink and wash the blood from my hands. I spend way too long watching the reddened water swirl down the drain. When it finally runs clear, I scrub my hands with soap, rinse, and dry them. Pulling out my cell, I text Rob to tell him to get the cleanup crew together.

  Most people would probably feel guilt or at least some type of emotion after doing what I just did, but I don’t feel anything.

  Not that I can’t feel at all, because I can, I just chose not to. Feeling all the time would make it hard for me to kill people for the mob, on top of protecting Dove.

  My phone chimes and I see Rob’s name flash across the screen, letting me know that he’s gotten my message. When he arrives, I walk out to my car like nothing ever happened. I consider just driving home, but at the last second turn onto the street to Dove’s place.

  She lives in a relatively safe area, but that didn’t stop me from putting cameras and motion sensors in her house. I would go to any length to ensure her complete safety. Even in the safest neighborhood in the country, no one knows what happens behind closed doors.

  Parking on the street a few houses down, I shut the car off, and look up at the apartment building. How much longer can I do this?

  Subject myself to her sweet scent, soft murmurs, and beautiful face. How much longer can I go on before I’m forced to claim her? My need for her is starting to consume me, eating away at every single rational thought that I have. Every day I’m forced to tamp it down, but I’m not a saint, and soon enough, I’ll break.

  Forcing the thoughts away before they take root, I exit the car and walk across the street at a leisurely pace. It’s quiet, and if you look hard enough, you might see a few stars hanging in the night sky. When I reach the door to the apartment building, I slide my keycard into the door, waiting for the click to push it open. No one even glances my way as I walk inside. I’ve been here so many times most people probably think I live here.

  In fact, I know one of Dove’s neighbors actually thinks I do. Of course, I don’t correct her. What would be the fun in that? I use the walk upstairs to clear my mind, and by the time I reach Dove’s door, I’m a little more composed. Pulling out my phone, I check the surveillance feed in her bedroom one last time. The image confirms that she’s sound asleep, tucked nicely into her bed. Unlocking her door, I enter her apartment slowly. I’ve done this so many times it’s like riding a bike to me.

  Quietly, I close the door behind me. I’m welcomed by the darkness of the apartment, feeling at home in more than one way. The dark is where I thrive and the shadows my best friend. It’s the only place I can be myself. But Dove, she is light, pure, vibrant, and innocent. My darkness threatens to taint that light, to snuff it out... and that reminder alone keeps me away, but never too far.

  I’ve only taken one small step inside, but Max is right there, curling his fury body around my leg, purring loud enough to wake the dead. He, too, thinks I live here. Bending down, I pat the top of his head before shushing him away.

  The soles of my shoes make little noise as I move through the house like a ghost. I know where every corner, every creak, and every piece of furniture is. I know about every window and every door, and even what’s hidden in each cupboard. I know how she likes her coffee, what her favorite books are, and what time she gets up every morning.

  There isn’t one thing about Dove that I don’t know about. I know her inside and out, maybe even better than I know myself.

  Standing just outside her half-open door, I clench my jaw. Her sweet scent of vanilla and sugar surrounds me. The scent stirs a deep primal need within me. One that urges me to go to her and claim her completely, without mercy or care. It slams into me, gripping me by the balls and urging me forward. I don’t want her to be mine. I need her to be mine.

  Swallowing thickly, I grapple for control. The beast wanting to be set free so he can mark her. Barely containing myself, I sneak into the bedroom. There’s a tightening in my stomach when I first see her. It’s like butterflies taking flight, like riding a roller coaster. She’s lying partly on her stomach, her cheek resting against the sheets.

  Dark brown locks of hair shield most of her face, and I’m forced to suppress a laugh, realizing she’s kicked most of her
blanket to the edge of the bed. Parts of her are still the same, while others have changed. Drinking in the view before me, I become mesmerized by her perfect legs that lead up to a plump ass. Her firm globes are covered by a pair of sleep shorts that leave very little to the imagination. Saliva fills my mouth at the thought of parting those thighs and licking her virgin pussy, feasting on it, eating until I’ve had my fill.

  Fuck, I wonder what she would taste like; if she would beg me to stop or beg me to keep going? My muscles clench, and my cock presses against the zipper of my jeans painfully. It’d be so easy to take her right now, to cover her mouth and take what I want, to sink deep inside of her and let her innocence coat my cock… Taking a step toward the bed, I almost give in to the urge, but at the last second, I pause and curl my hands into fists to stop myself from touching her.

  One taste would never be enough. I could never give her up, so I’ll refuse myself while I still have the strength. Letting my gaze wander, I move to her heart-shaped face. Long lashes fanning out like crescent moons against high cheeks. Soft, pink lips that are slightly parted, and an adorable button nose. My angel.

  I don’t know how long I stand staring at her, watching as her forehead wrinkles, and she rolls over, tossing her leg over a pillow.

  Every inch of me is being pulled toward her, and when I can’t withstand the burn any longer, when the pain in my chest becomes too much, I pick up the blanket and cover her back up. She murmurs something inaudible in her sleep, and I force myself to walk away even when everything inside me is screaming to go back there.

  This is something I put myself through almost every night. Loving Dove is my greatest weakness, but I won’t give it up… I can’t. No matter what I do, no matter how many people I kill, she will always be mine. The devil already owns too much of my soul for me to allow myself to let her go.