Arranged Mafia Daddy

Chapter 3Sage

3

Sage

T he limo glides through the night, the city lights gradually giving way to the darkness of the countryside. I sneak glances at Viktor, trying to gauge his mood, but his expression remains unreadable as he drinks the entire bottle of champagne by himself.

I’m marrying a madman. That much is clear. The regret I feel is immense, but there’s no way to turn back now that I’ve committed to it.

As we approach his mansion, the vast estate slowly comes into view, illuminated by soft, golden lights. I can already tell that it’s impressive, though I wouldn’t feed Viktor’s ego by admitting that to him.

Besides, he obviously acquired this wealth through immoral and devious dealings. He ruined my father’s life with his gambling operations, and judging by the towering mansion we’re driving toward, he’s ruined countless others along with it.

Good looks and a touch that gives me goosebumps don’t make up for being evil. Nothing does.

As the limo rolls to a gentle stop, Viktor opens the door, jumping out and extending his hand to help me. “Welcome to your new home,” he says.

I take his hand, still cold from the champagne bottle, and step out of the limo. It feels like a dream, getting out in such a beautiful estate. It would be the perfect evening if the circumstances were different.

As it stands, my beautiful dream is becoming more like a nightmare with every passing hour.

Viktor leads me into his mansion, passing through two towering oak doors with gold lion heads as knockers on the front. Everything here screams opulence, from the intricately carved railings to the jasmine vines that creep up the front of the house.

The sweet floral smell hits me as I walk in after Viktor, but it’s quickly replaced by a crisp linen smell and the faintest hint of smoke. I can smell his cologne drifting behind him as well, and I quicken my pace to be closer to it. I’m drawn to his scent, even if I hate him.

Inside, I quickly become distracted by my surroundings. The marble floors gleam under the chandeliers, and the walls are adorned with old oil paintings. It’s worlds away from anything I’ve ever known, even though my dad is rich.

Well, he was rich, or so I thought. His prior wealth doesn’t compare to what Viktor has. It’s not even close.

I try not to get too wrapped up in it, but the idea of marrying someone this rich does come as a bit of a relief to me. At least I won’t be living in a trap house with a junkie who abuses me. Viktor appears to have much more class than that.

But even so, I can’t forget that he’s a dangerous criminal. He’s already admitted to being in the Bratva, and that alone is unforgiveable.

I hold my chin up a little higher as we ascend a marble staircase up to the top floor. I’m winded by the time we reach it, but Viktor doesn’t seem the least bit out of breath. The man has stamina, I’ll give him that much.

“Our room is at the end of the hallway,” he says, looking over his shoulder at me. “Tomorrow, you’ll have a new wardrobe. No offense, but jean shorts don’t tend to fit in our community.”

I look down at my faded pair of cut-offs. They’re cute, but I understand what he’s saying, and I’m not offended by it. Compared to his suit and mansion, I look like he just picked me up off the street.

As we arrive at the end of the hallway, we arrive at a single red door with a silver handle. Viktor’s large hand encircles it, turning the knob slowly and opening it to reveal the master bedroom.

The room is dominated by a large, canopied bed with black silk sheets that glisten under the soft glow of the lamps. The canopy drapes are a deep, rich red, just like the door, sweeping around the bed and splitting in the center to allow a person to crawl in.

“This is our bedroom,” Viktor says, turning to face me, his blue eyes almost green in the yellow light. “We’ll be sharing it from now on.”

I swallow hard, my heart racing. The reality of the situation crashes over me like a wave. This isn’t just a marriage of convenience. Viktor intends to claim every aspect of my life, including the most vulnerable and intimate moments I have. How can I defend myself from him while I’m sleeping? It would be impossible.

But then another realization dawns on me, something even more powerful than the dread scratching at the inner walls of my stomach. He’ll be just as vulnerable as I am when he’s sleeping, and it only takes one swift movement across the throat to kill a man.

I can’t imagine myself doing something so horrible, but if I feel threatening, I shouldn’t hesitate to retaliate against him. He’s already threatened to kill my dad. There’s no telling what else he will do.

I fold my arms over my chest, as though to guard my soul from revealing what my bitter thoughts are.

Viktor, of course, can’t see them. He’s unbothered as he walks over to a dresser and shrugs off his suit jacket. “I sleep naked,” he says casually, as if discussing the weather. “I hope that doesn’t bother you.”

“And if it does?” I ask, taking a sharp breath as he begins unbuttoning his shirt.

There’s a mirror in front of him on the dresser, and his eyes catch mine in it. He smiles. “Then I guess you’ll have to toughen up. It’s only a bit of skin.”

It’s far more than skin, and that becomes blatantly obvious as he removes his shirt to reveal a perfect body, a tight six-pack, and a broad chest that’s littered with tattoos. I hadn’t realized he was so covered. He looks like a beast under his clothes.

I try to suppress the stir in my belly as he turns to face me, gripping his shirt in his vascular hand. His veins pop in the low light, crawling up his arms like the jasmine vines outside the house. Why do all the terrible men have to be so hot?

“I don’t mind if you see me naked,” he says, a smile hiding somewhere in his husky voice. “There’s no reason to be shy. I’ll undress right in front of you.”

He reaches for his belt buckle, and I turn away, my cheeks burning. “Do you expect me to do the same?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady as I listen to the clink of his belt.

He chuckles softly. “Not unless you want to. You can undress in the dark if that makes you more comfortable.”

I hear his pants fall to the floor, and then the lights go out. “Let’s go to bed, darling. I have to be up early tomorrow,” he says, his voice traveling around me in the darkness as he makes his way to the bed.

I can’t see a thing, but that’s probably for the better. I’ve already seen enough of his perfect body. It’s frustrating and confusing, and I don’t want to watch him undress again. I might not be able to look away next time.

“Come to bed,” he says from about three feet away from me. That’s where he must be. Waiting in bed, under those cool black silk sheets, his bare skin pressed into the mattress.

My heart pounds in my chest as I fumble with my clothes, the cool air of the room teasing my skin as I strip down to my underwear. Every sound feels amplified, and I’m acutely aware of Viktor’s presence. I’m afraid he can see me in the dark, like a panther in the woods.

I undo my bra and drop it onto the floor, following it with my panties. They’re warm against my cold feet, giving me a moment of false comfort before a slight draft causes me to shiver.

It’s too cold in here. Maybe he did that on purpose to get me to sleep closer to him, but I wouldn’t do it. I’d rather freeze to death than enjoy the feeling of his bare skin against mine.

I consider my options. It’s a bit too late to make a run for it, but I don’t feel drawn to leave the room anyway. I feel drawn to the bed, which concerns me because I’m not even sleepy. It’s far too early to be going to bed. It only just got dark outside.

“Do you usually go to bed this early?” I ask, covering my breasts with my arm as I take a careful step toward the bed.

“It depends. Sometimes, I don’t sleep at all, but how can I pass up the opportunity when I have such a lovely woman in my bed tonight?” he replies.

I laugh through my nose. “So, this is all a ploy to get me into your bed. I feel like there are easier ways to get a woman to have sex with you. Threatening to kill her dad and then forcing her to marry you is an interesting choice.”

“You father owed me money, and without it, I had to take the next most valuable thing,” he replies calmly.

I take another step toward the bed, then stop, considering his words. “You value money over me?”

“Over everything.”

“Sounds like a miserable way to live,” I reply.

“Why don’t you come here, and we can be miserable together. I’m not going to bite. At least, not yet. We might wait until marriage for that.”

He says it like a joke, but I know it’s not. The moment he can sink his teeth into me, he will, and I’ll be helpless to escape him. He’s like a great white shark, and I’m just a little fish in an ocean that’s far too big for her.

I find bravery somewhere deep inside me, and slip beneath the silk sheets, the fabric cool and smooth against my bare skin. My body betrays me, a surge of arousal coursing through me despite the fear and anger simmering beneath the surface. I can hear Viktor moving on the other side of the bed, and my mind races with conflicting thoughts.

The bed dips slightly as he joins me, and I hold my breath, my body tense. The warmth of his skin radiates through the sheets, and I fight the urge to move closer, to seek comfort in the heat of his body.

I told myself I wouldn’t, and I’m holding myself to that promise. I can’t give in on the first day.

Nor can I give in on the second. Or the third. Or ever.

“Goodnight, Sage,” Viktor mumbles, his voice low as he turns over to his side.

“Night,” I whisper back, my voice barely even a whisper. I can’t tell him to have a good night. I’d much rather him die in his sleep so I can be done with this disaster.

I don’t have the guts to kill him myself, at least not tonight. I just lie here in the dark, my senses heightened, every atom in my body vibrating so hard that it feels like I’m buzzing.

Sleep comes slowly, but it does come. I’m exhausted from the adrenaline, unwilling to force myself to stay up longer than I need to. Once I hear the sound of Viktor’s breathing slow, and I’m certain he’s asleep, I allow myself to join him.