Owning the Mafia Don

Proserpina

When I came awake in the morning, I realized that Lucien had not come up to bed. Puzzled, I went looking for him but the study was deserted. Frowning, I went to the kitchen and found Beston sitting at the table, sharing a cup of tea with Camille. She leapt up to her feet, pink-cheeked but Beston rose to his height in a more leisurely fashion.

‘Ma’am.’ he murmured in greeting.

I came straight to the point.

‘Tony,’ I said, “where is my husband?’

He looked back at me, perplexed. ‘The boss left for the townhouse last night.’ he said, and I quickly turned away to hide my confusion.

‘Oh yes, I remember now,’ I said lamely but I caught Beatrice’s anxious eyes as she watched me. I left the room, unsure whether to be angry or just surprised.

Why had he left last night? Surely some urgent work had not come up at midnight?

I tried to call him but he did not answer the phone. To my surprise, I found that Schwartz had also left.

When my lover strode in towards mid-morning, he looked hassled. He had not shaved and the day’s stubble made me want to pull his head down and kiss him. But with a sharp look in my direction, he disappeared into our bedroom. I stood, trying to decide whether I should tail him but a loud crash from the study room shared by the twins and Paddy, had me trotting across.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Calamity.

Claude had managed to pin poor Paddy under the desk and the boy was giggling as Claude tried to push him further under the table, kicking him with his plump legs for effect.

I shouted,

“No!’ and dashed across to smack my belligerent little son who promptly sat down on the floor, wailing. Affronted was more like it, I thought furiously, resisting the urge to shake him hard.

I turned to Paddy who had to be dragged out by the nurses and the twins. he had gotten used to being Claude’s favourite victim and smiled hesitantly at me. I stretched out my arms to him and he rushed over. I noticed that he had a bump on his head and a bruise on his left cheek. Hugging him, I turned to glare at Claude who had stopped crying and was watching Paddy with interest.

How did I give birth to this monster, I asked myself in despair.

“It is okay, Mumma,’ came Ria’s soft voice at my elbow.

Piers chimed in, his expression grave,

‘We can handle this.’

I sighed and left, taking Paddy with me. By the time the child’s cuts and bruises had been tended to, I could hear Lucien roaring for me in the hallway.

I hurried out.

*

Lucien Delano stood, the light from the open doorway behind him, playing on his dark grey suit, his phone in his large hand. A couple of his bodyguards stood a little way off while Beston waited with another three men on the front porch.

When my lover glanced at me, there was an unreadable expression in his eyes.

I went to him, standing on tiptoe to kiss him and he immediately drew me into an embrace, his mouth fused to mine, his tongue plundering me.

I sighed when he released me and stood for a while, inhaling the citrus fragrance of his cologne, leaning my head on his jacket.

Gripping my chin as he kissed the corner of my mouth, he said commandingly,

‘I am busy today. Don’t call me.’

And with that terse command, he was gone.

*

Sighing, I stood watching the cars leave. I loved him so completely, that sometimes, I wondered bitterly if there was something wrong with me. He only had to look my way, his thick brow raised quizzically and I felt myself go weak at the knees, melting into him.

‘Maybe, just once, he could have …’ I thought wistfully and turned at the sound of Melissa’s soft voice.

“The caterers are calling. They needed to know the details…’ she said softly. I nodded briskly and walked back into the welcoming warmth of the house.

*

Dusak

His uncle ensured that he was the one who ‘broke in’ the most resistant of girls and women who were reduced to blubbering masses after Dusak had used them. There was always one of them, fresh and spunky, who fought her captors. But the fight only made him lust after the woman more.

He took those feisty women again and again, repeatedly, enjoying the cries, the screams, the sound of his hard hand on their flesh. His uncle had warned him that he might go too far one day but Dusak shrugged his shoulder mentally. These women were unwanted anyways; if one of them died, so what?

And all the while, he stared at the picture of the little blonde girl with the sparkling blue eyes and the wide smile and he grinned to himself.

Yes, the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children, he thought gleefully, tracing the small figure with his forefinger.

Watching him, his uncle, Paval, felt his chest swell with pride. The boy was a true torchbearer of the Rudenko family. he would avenge the death of Paval’s brothers.

***

Proserpina

When I went upstairs to change, I found in some surprise, that my dress had been replaced. The simple lilac suit I had decided to wear was nowhere to be found.

In its place was a pink floral print tie-strap tiered maxi dress in textured woven chiffon, with a colourful floral print throughout. When I wore it, for there was no time to go searching for a replacement, I discovered that the dress had tying shoulder straps, a straight neckline, and a princess-seamed bodice with smocking at the back. It looked exquisite and I caught my breath. It was simple and elegant and a dream to wear, clinging to my body, showing off the tops of my breasts with the deep neckline. The full maxi skirt was accented with tiers that gave it a rich effect.

The back was deep and I blushed as I realised that I cut a seductive figure. Sighing, I sank to the dressing stool and noticed the blush satin ankle strap heels which matched my outfit.

Rachel! I thought with a smile.