by Bella King
Jacob lets out a deep laugh and looks back at Viktor. “I like her. Please, come in and put some proper clothes on. Are you hungry?”
“I’m starving,” I blurt out as Jacob begins to turn.
“Good,” he replies. “You two will join me for lunch. Then, we can talk.”
I cling tightly to Viktor’s large bicep as Jacob strides through the castle with the utmost confidence. He appears to be a man who has everything figured out, and actually makes Viktor seem a tad bit meager, but I would never want a man like that. Jacob appears pompous, which I detest. He’s not unlike my father.
“Viktor, I believe we can cut a deal later, but it will have to be between you and I. Your fiancé won’t be able to join the meeting,” Jacob says as we walk down the cold stone corridor that leads deep into the castle.
“Certainly,” Viktor replies. “I’d like to get these Malaugurio fuckers off my back.”
Jacob laughs again. He seems to find everything amusing. “Good, good. Then we shall eat our lunch, and then we will have the meeting. Your woman can explore the garden or something.”
I don’t want to leave Viktor’s side, but I also don’t want to be involved in their mafia deals, especially if they don’t want me there. A nice walk in the garden might be just the thing I need to clear my head and think about what I’m going to do about Viktor.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Viktor
Jacob Peterson is a man I know unfortunately well. While I have good relations with him, he’s always made it a point to show me up every chance he can get. I’ve never quite wanted to kill the man, but our relationship has been tense since the beginning.
Now that I’ve amassed a great mafia force in Russia, he’s interested in what I have to say. Sure, I might be trouble, but he knows as well as I do that I’ve gained significant power over the past five years. I’m a formidable force in the mafia game.
“You’re on the run from the Malaugurio,” Jacob says as he pours a glass of syrupy crimson wine into a diamond-encrusted glass. He’s flexing his wealth to me, but that’s what all the mafia bosses do when we encounter each other.
“Only until I give their money back.”
“Six million is a lot to repay,” Jacob notes, lifting the glass of wine to his lips.
“It’s nothing to me,” I say, obviously boasting.
“Well, in that case, there’s no need to make any deals, since you can pay it all back yourself,” Jacob replies playfully.
I purse my lips. “Perhaps it would be better to make the deal, depending on your terms.”
Jacob smiles, lowering his glass back down onto the stone table between us, the stain of wine on his upper lip. “I’d be willing to pay them the entire sum, and make sure they never speak to you again.”
I’m surprised by his offer, but I know there will be a hefty price to pay. I bite my lip. “What’s the catch?”
“There’s no catch, Viktor. There are only deals to be made here. You must obviously offer something in return for my generosity.”
I chuckle. “Yes, I figured as much.”
“Your connection in Russia are valuable. The mafia is strong there, but they’ve never tasted the wrath of an Italian before,” Jacob says, a smirk overtaking his thin lips.
“What are you saying?” I ask, leaning in and narrowing my eyes.
“I’m saying that you seem preoccupied with other things. Perhaps someone else should run your business in Russia for you.”
I laugh. I can’t believe the words that are coming from his mouth. Jacob wants to buy my entire mafia organization for six million dollars? It’s taken me years to build it up that large. It’s worth ten times that amount, at least!
“There’s nothing funny about what I said,” Jacob says, his face turning gravely serious. “I want to buy your mafia in Russia and expand my power there.”
“I don’t think they’ll take too kindly to you doing that. I have some pretty tough enemies there as well,” I warn him.
“I can handle it,” Jacob insists. “You just have to hand over the title, and I’ll make sure all of your problems disappear.”
“Six million isn’t nearly enough though,” I say, testing him.
“I’ll double it. You take home six million, and I give the Valivonia mafia six million. You’ll have enough to buy a nice little cottage for you and your lovely fiancé.”
I don’t want to accept his offer yet because it’s too low, but it’s starting to sound appealing. Technically, I could start over again if I had to, but what’s to stop me from going straight for the first time in my life? Why not? Cora would like it. That’s for sure.
“Twenty million,” I say, standing up from the plush emerald couch. “And you have the keys to unlock all of Russia.”
Jacob shakes his head. “Ten million.”
“Fifteen.”
“Ten.”
“Well, now you’ve talked yourself back up to twenty,” I say, crossing my arms.
Jacob rolls his eyes. “You always were terrible at negotiations. Take fifteen and leave my fucking castle before I turn you over to the Malaugurio mafia so that they can hang you from the treetops by your intestines.”
I nod as Jacob stands up and holds his hand out toward me. I shake it.
The deal has been made, and I’m no longer a mafia boss. I wonder how Cora will feel about all of this when I tell her. She’s quickly become the only thing that’s truly important to me anymore, and I’m not the shrewd criminal that I once was. She’s softened me up, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing. I’ll probably live a lot longer this way.
“It will take me a moment to collect the cash,” Jacob says as he steps back from me. “We will meet again in a week, and then go to Russia together to finalize the deal.”
“I’m getting married in a week,” I reply.
“Then it will be after the marriage. No rush. I’ll pay your bounty immediately, however, since I would prefer you not get yourself killed before we can finish our business together.”
“You’re a saint,” I reply.
“Only to those who I respect, Viktor. Love is a more noble conquest than simple crime. Unfortunately, I am still a simple man.”
“I was too, until recently,” I say, appreciating his kind words.
“Protect your love with everything you have, Viktor. You’re doing the right thing. Believe me. Power is a never-ending battle. Love, however, is a never-ending beauty.”
A few weeks ago, I would have laughed at his words, but now I believe them with every ounce of my being. Love tastes sweeter than any other victory I’ve had. For me, Cora is my ultimate victory, and I would like to keep it that way.
I thank Jacob, and we shake hands again. It’s time for me to leave and have an honest heart-to-heart with Cora. I can only hope that she sees that I’m not all that bad.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Cora
The sun dances across a patch of golden flowers, reminding me of the lazy summers I once spent in the comfort of my father’s estate. Those days are over, but only if I truly want them to be.
I squat down in front of the flowers, running my hand over their delicate petals. They’re innocent like I once was before I was picked by the devilishly handsome Viktor Kazakov and whisked away to a new life filled with danger and romance.
There’s a seductive appeal to that kind of lifestyle. It’s certainly more interesting than anything I’ve done in the past twenty-two years that I’ve been on this planet. Viktor has opened my eyes to so many things, and he has opened my legs to so many others.
I smile to myself at the thought of making love to Viktor again. If he does truly want to marry me for reasons of love, then I will do it, but only for love. I won’t fall into a trap meant to give Viktor more power. He must repent from his life of sin and start anew with me. It’s the only way things will ever work out between us.
Sadly, with whatever deal he’s making with that snake, Jacob Peterson, I doubt he wil
l be willing to give up on his twisted pursuit of power. I wish he would understand that love is much greater, but maybe he’s not the right man for me. Maybe love isn’t his journey, and maybe it isn’t even mine.
I stand up straight, cupping my hand over my eyes to shield them from the lemon rays of the sun. I gaze across the yard to a willow tree, slumped over in the heat. It reminds me of the ones that are at the estate I grew up on. They’re so beautiful, but they hold so much sorrow in their leaves. There aren’t many trees that are so expressive as the willow tree.
I ponder whether I should wander that far away from the castle without Viktor. He told me to stick close to him, but then promptly abandoned me to walk in the gardens while he did business with Jacob.
A breeze sweeps through the flowers, bringing up a fine dust of pollen. I sneeze.
“Bless you,” Viktor says from behind me, his voice deep and gentle.
I spin around. “Viktor. I thought you were still in the castle.” My heart beats fast as he steps into the cluster of flowers with me.
“I’m finished with Jacob. It’s time for us to leave.”
“Where are we going to go? The Malaugurio mafia is still after us,” I reply.
Viktor shakes his head. “No,” he says, taking both my hands in his and looking me in the eyes. “I’ve made a deal.”
My heart skips a beat. “What deal?”
A bittersweet smile spreads across Viktor’s face, and I’m worried he has done something terrible. I wanted all of this to work out, but if he forces me into more dangerous situations, I’ll have to go back to my father. I can’t marry a man who will put me in danger.
I blink a few times, tears starting to roll down my cheeks. I can’t control them. I never cry about such silly things, but my emotions have been all over the place since I met Viktor, and now things have come to a peak. It’s hot outside, but my tears are even hotter as they roll down my chin and neck.
“What are you crying for?” Viktor asks softly, raising a finger to my cheek to brush a tear away.
“I don’t want to lose you,” I say, my voice cracking as I admit my feelings. My throat feels tight enough to suffocate me, and suddenly, my body feels like I could collapse in this patch of flowers and die. I might just do that without Viktor in my life. It’s funny how a week with the perfect man can change your life completely.
“You don’t have to lose me, Cora,” Viktor says, the tight line of a frown between his dark eyebrows. “We can still get married.”
“No, we can’t,” I reply, shaking my head as the tears start to fall faster. “You’re in the mafia. That’s not the right life for me.”
“I told you, Cora,” Viktor says, lifting my chin with his finger and looking into my blurry eyes again. “I made a deal with Jacob. I’m handing over operations to him in return for paying off my debt to the Malaugurio.”
“What?” I ask, confused as to why Viktor would ever do such a thing.
“You heard me. It’s over. The mafia stuff is done. I still have to fly out to Russia after the wedding to close the deal, but we won’t have to worry about it any longer.”
I wipe the tears from my eyes. “You’re serious, aren’t you? I mean, you’re not lying to me again.”
Viktor gives me a half-smile, keeping his face serious. “No, and I should have never lied to you in the first place. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Just do better this time,” I say, gazing at him with a smile spreading across my flushed cheeks.
“Cora,” Viktor says, matching the intensity of my gaze. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I blurt, unable to hold myself back.
Viktor laughs. “Well, I guess that means you’ll be sharing my bed again tonight after all.”
“I can think of nothing better,” I reply, licking my lips at the thought of enjoying him again.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Cora
“Mrs. Johnson!” I exclaim as she appears from a crowd of finely dressed people.
“Cora, dear,” she says, a smile spreading across her face.
“Where have you been?” I ask, holding out my arms to give her a hug.
“Oh, you know, I had a nice vacation with some fine young Russian men. They sure do know how to party,” she says with a suggestive chuckle.
“You were in Russia?” I ask, confused.
“Your new husband Viktor sent me there when I stumbled across his, uh, mafia operations,” she replies, stepping back from my hug.
“He’s not doing that anymore,” I am quick to say.
“Of course not, darling. Otherwise, I would still be in Russia with his minions. They are pleasant people, though. I have half a mind to go back once this reception is through,” Mrs. Johnson says.
“Jesus, I’m glad Viktor didn’t have you killed or something,” I say, dusting a crumb of yellow wedding cake from my bosom.
“Speak of Viktor, where is he? I still haven’t gotten the opportunity to speak with him after everything that happened,” Mrs. Johnson says, looking around the crowd of people in suits and dresses.
“I think he’s already talking my father into getting him into the senate,” I reply, glancing over my shoulder to where I last saw him. He’s not there anymore, but neither is my father, which probably means they’ve sauntered off somewhere private to speak.
“Oh, well, I can wait,” she says. “I just wanted to ask him who that guy with scars on his face was. I never got his name while I was in Russia. I figured he might know.”
“Dimitri?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Could be,” she replies. “He was rough around the edges, but also a real charmer.”
I laugh. “That’s Dimitri. He used to be Viktor’s driver before he got fed up with it and hightailed it back to Russia.”
“He could drive me any day,” Mrs. Johnson says, a grin on his pretty face.
I laugh. “I’ll let him know that you asked about Dimitri.”
“Perfect. I’m going to go get another glass of wine. I’ll see you later,” she says, placing her hand on my shoulder before she leaves. “I’m happy for you. I know that you and Viktor will have a nice life together.”
“Thank you,” I say with a bright smile, and I watch as she walks away.
My wedding was fantastic, and the reception is turning out to be full of pleasant surprises. Everyone I’ve ever known is here, which is admittedly very few people, but there are plenty of others who Viktor and my father are close to. Even Jacob decided to show up, pulling in stares from some of the women here.
I can’t wait until Viktor, and I set off to enjoy our honeymoon. We’re going to travel across the world, dine under the moonlight in France, sail through the turquoise rivers in Italy, and marvel at the ancient ruins in Greece. It’s going to be a whole new adventure, and I can’t think of anyone better to join me than Viktor Kazakov.
The End.
Bonus Content
Want to read a bonus chapter that is absolutely steaming hot?
Get your steamy bonus chapter here.
But don’t say I didn’t warn you.
This is dripping with raunchy content that may surprise you.
Once you’re finished enjoying that, be sure to check out some of my other books that pair up rugged mafia bosses with women who don’t know any better but to have a taste of the fast life.
Enjoy!
More Mafia Books by Bella King
Mafia Baby: A Secret Baby Captive Mafia Romance
I’m pregnant, and I’m certain it’s his.
The only problem is, I don’t know who he is.
The only thing I have is a name, a pair of dazzling green eyes, and an irresistibly handsome face.
I never expected it to lead me to the Russian mafia.
Being captured and held captive by a bratva boss isn’t easy.
Especially when he’s used to getting everything he wants.
But he doesn’t know that we have a deeper connection.
He doesn’t know that he’s the one who knocked me up.
The mafia life is brutal and ruthless.
Bad boys come out on top, and women like me fall for them.
This wasn’t the life I had in mind, but it was the one that chose me.
Now, I had to rise to the danger, or be swept away by it.
Mafia Baby is a dark and twisted secret baby Russian mafia romance with lustful scenes, action-packed sequences, and a writing style that will keep you turning the page.
Read Mafia Baby Now…
The Secret Vow
“You really know how to treat a lady, don’t you?” I say, my voice oozing with sarcasm and disdain.
Rurik Petrov rests his chin on his large fist, his blue eyes studying me as I remove my dress in front of him. His fingers are decorated in jewelry, a blue sapphire glinting in the light from his middle finger. It matches his eyes perfectly.
He leans forward in the old wooden chair, and his voice rumbles from deep in his chest - commanding, dominant, and firm. “The panties too.”
I push my thumbs into the waistband of my red lace panties, glaring at him. “Is this really necessary?”
“Yes,” he replies, keeping his words short and impactful. He has been like that the entire time I’ve had the misfortune of being around him.
“Don’t look,” I say, trying to rescue what little dignity I have left since meeting Rurik. I still don’t know who he is or why he has taken me from my home, but I’m not about to let myself be bullied by him. My father taught me better than that.
A smile flickers across Rurik’s serious mouth as he unfolds his fingers from the fist under his chin and raises them to his eyes, shading them from the view of my body. His rings glimmer under the yellow lights of the old room as my panties hit the wool rug that I’m standing on.
I’m naked in front of a man I just met today, wondering how the hell I managed to get mixed up in this mess. Rurik says he’s here to help me, but I doubt it. From his thick Russian accent and his Italian leather shoes, I gather he’s not from the United States. What he wants with a woman like me, though, is beyond my knowledge.