The Mafia Contract Series

I can’t take anymore. It’s too much and as Ivan told me my brutal story, it tore out my heart and left it bleeding into the cracks of insanity. I killed my mother, and my father hates me. He probably wants me back to kill me in revenge. My own parents lied to me all this time by making me believe I was their own flesh and blood. An innocent boy was traded for me and if anyone does, he must understand and then there’s the man who is holding me so gently and trying to comfort me who caused my bubble to burst in the first place.

The only person I have now is myself and it’s a very lonely place to be. I’m to be traded with someone who has so much love heading her way. She’s wanted. I am not. She’s the lucky one, I guess, because she gets to start again. I, on the other hand, get to end something I never knew had begun.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Ivan does his best, but I can tell he’s uncomfortable and so I drag myself away and say with a deep breath, “It’s fine. I’ll be ok. The truth sucks and I wish I hadn’t asked.”

I try to smile and joke through my tears, but the storm in his eyes tells me he’s not laughing.

“Charlotte, I…” I hold up my hand. “It’s fine. You did what you had to do and I’m fine with it. This is my life, and I must deal with it. Face my real father and try to work out where I go from there.”

“But…”

“No, Ivan. I don’t want to hear anymore. Just do what you were instructed to do. I’ll be ok.”

I swing my legs off the bed and say with a deep breath. “Maybe we should eat and then get some sleep. Everything will seem much better in the morning.”

I plaster on a brave face and attempt a smile and then, to my surprise, he follows me and pulls me hard against his body, his arms wrapping around me and holding me so tightly, I don’t think I can breathe.

“I will find a way, malyshka.”

“What way?” I’m confused, and he sighs heavily and buries his face against my neck and whispers, “I won’t send you to him.”

It’s as if I’m attached to a defibrillator because my heart jumps back to life for a moment and I hate the hope lacing my voice as I whisper, “How?”

He says gruffly. “That’s the part I haven’t figured out, but I won’t give you willingly to him.”

“Why not?”

I am so confused and as he pulls back, I gasp at the anger flashing in his eyes mixed with something I can’t put a name to.

“Because I don’t want to watch you walk away from me, Charlotte. Don’t ask me why, but I can’t let that happen.”

I reach up and hold my hand flat against his cheek and, staring into his eyes, I whisper, “Thank you.”

My eyes fill with tears as I grasp the lifeline he’s throwing me and as he lowers his lips to mine, I know we are about to step over the line in the sand, and it can’t come soon enough for me.

Kissing this savage Russian will never get old. Even during a complete meltdown, he gives me something pure to cling onto in a life that appears anything but.

With him I feel safe. Don’t ask me why, but it’s as if I am meant to be with him and I completely understand his comment because if I had to walk away from him, I’m not sure if I could.

I’m guessing it’s because he’s the only one I can trust right now and the fact everything is different. I’m clinging onto him because I trust him, although the jury is still out on that. Can I trust him? The fact he kidnapped me makes that the craziest thought I’ve ever had, but there is something between us that is carrying me through the storm. As if he is the lifeboat and I am being taken to safety. With him.

When he pulls back, I almost howl with disappointment and his gruff voice is more comforting than threatening.

“We need to eat. It’s been a long day and, like you said, everything will seem better in the morning.”

I’m not sure if he even believes that himself, but I sigh and plaster a brave smile on my face.

“Yes, let’s see what delights the iPad can offer us.”

He nods and walks away to retrieve it and, feeling slightly lost, I sit on the edge of the bed and stare at the dancing flames of the fire. If I had one wish, it would be to freeze this moment because locked in this amazing house, high up in the alps, is like heaven on earth because I am here with him.

The bed dips as he sits beside me, and he holds the iPad between us as we make our section. To be honest, it all looks like the finest cuisine and my mouth is watering at the descriptions alone. We settle on Coq au Vin with a starter of oysters in champagne and Ivan selects a bottle of wine that I wouldn’t even know how to pronounce the name of.

As he presses send, he looks at me with concern.

“Are you ok, Princess?”

“I think so.” I test my heart and find it beating with excitement rather than fear and I say shyly, “Ivan.”

“Yes, malyshka.”

“Can I ask you a favor?”

“You can try.” He laughs softly, and it causes me to smile, and I say with a hint of nerves. “If my life is about to become, well, shall we say, complicated, I was wondering…” I falter and he nods his encouragement. “Go on.”

“Well…” I laugh nervously. “Can we pretend this is an, um, well, date?”

His raised eyes make me say quickly, “It’s just that, well, I’ve never had a proper one and if what you’re saying is true, this may be my last chance for one. I know it’s not. I mean, well, you would never ask a girl like me out but…”

I’m surprised when a firm hand rests against my mouth and two flashing eyes look at me with amusement and he whispers huskily, “Charlotte Richmond. Would you like to go out to dinner tonight, as my date?”

He grins as he says the word, and I can sense myself blushing as I nod. “I would. Thank you so much for asking.”

He laughs and drags his thumb across my lips and whispers, “Then I will pick you up in one hour.” He winks and jumps up from the bed and points to the dressing room. “There may be something in there you could use. I’ll head next door because according to this iPad, that’s Malik’s room and, knowing him, there will be a dressing room crammed full of the best outfits that money can buy.”

“Then whose room is this?”

I’m interested and he shrugs. “I’m guessing it’s a guest room and knowing my friend, he will have provided everything his guests need.”

I watch him walk away and as soon as the door closes, it strikes me that this is the first time I’ve been truly alone in a very long time. At school I’m in a dorm with six other girls and there is never a time one of them isn’t nearby. Now I have a room to myself and possibly a treasure trove of delights concealed in the adjoining dressing room, and I can’t wait to test out Ivan’s theory.

I WASTE no time and head straight there and it appears he was right because when I pull open the white doors edged in gold, rails of dresses are a feast for my hungry eyes and on further investigation it appears they are not alone. Skirts, tops, jackets and jumpers in every color and fabric make my mouth water and nestling in white velvet lined drawers are silky items of lingerie edged in lace. With a squeal of excitement, I wonder if one hour is long enough and I start pulling out designer dresses and matching underwear as if I’m a kid on Christmas day.

How can one person bounce between heaven and hell without feeling the bruise because one minute I’m in an open pit of despair trying desperately to claw my way out and the next I’m floating on a heavenly cloud without a care in the world? I am currently riding high on one of those clouds and so I suppress any fear left inside me and embrace the moment, because this one could well be the best one of my life.