Sweet Lies and Silent Vows

Chapter 1

D id you know, once a year, the wealthiest leaders of the underground network gathered together at a venue with their associates and laid down their arms? At least once a year the city slept soundly, unknowingly that the ruthless, most dangerous gangsters, drug lords and criminals were band together to celebrate Christmas. Today was one of those rare occasions.

I had spent most of the evening taking turns dancing under the chandeliers with whomever happened to step in front of me. Due to downing a sparkling wine flute between songs, I lost track of them hours ago. Logan was far too eager to have me all to himself on the dance floor, but thanks to my cousin Erica, I managed to slip away unnoticed. Despite his many attempts to win me over for years, I wasn’t interested in him. Or in any other guy for that matter.

Being the direct descendants of the most influential crime lord of the city had its risks. More often than not, the loved ones were the first to suffer. Just like my mother, just like so many others before her had been used as a pawn and paid the price, and I was not ready to join them. Instead, I enjoyed what little freedom I still had before my time was up.

My eyes wandered around the glamorous ballroom from the festive garlands to the massive pine tree in the corner decorated with hundreds of glass baubles, velvet ribbons, and bells.

Securing another glass in my hand and successfully avoiding another dance with Logan, I slipped behind the band and shimmied my way to the balcony. The city was never quiet even on a silent night such as this. Somewhere below I heard the siren of a fire truck howling. As I stayed in the cold, I formed vapors in the air which felt wonderful against my heated cheeks.

Eventually I was forced to meander back inside in search of the bathroom. A tall figure stood near the door, completely taken by the shadows, only the glow of their cigarette illuminating their features. He was dressed in a well tailored suit, a black shirt and shiny leather shoes. I would have to walk past him to get back to the ballroom .

“Excuse me.” I said, clearing my throat as I shuffled through the archway in attempts to avoid touching him. He made no movements to let me pass and continued to stare at me along their nose. Prick.

“You are excused.” He exhaled a puff of smoke. Something in his voice had all the hair in the back of my neck standing up. When I looked back, I could have sworn his eyes were glowing red. Or maybe it was the wine playing tricks on me. I quickly gathered my composure and tossed my hair back.

“Did you know you are standing under a mistletoe?” I nodded to the small green bundle hanging from the ceiling right above the archway.

“Are you expecting a kiss?”

My eyes fell on his lips. Hell yes. I made the assumption he would be a great kisser, but he acted as if that was the last thing on his mind.

“No.” A white lie. I wouldn’t mind being kissed by a tall, mysterious and handsome man in the dark, but I wasn’t going to admit that to his face. “Just a friendly warning.”

“We’re not friends.” He muttered, taking another inhale of his cigarette and blowing out the smoke.

“Then perhaps you are the one waiting for a kiss.” Was I flirting with him? Maybe the last glass of wine was too much, I thought to myself. I was feeling bold, leaning on the door frame, licking my lip seductively. I was dying to taste him.

“You shouldn’t wander alone.” He leaned in, stealing my breath as he stared menacingly into my eyes. Damn, he’s handsome. He had that old school charm about him, just like they did in the old black and white movies. His sharp jaw complimented his straight nose and high cheekbones, carved to perfection.

“I’m not alone, am I?” Seriously, I've got to stop. No more sparkling wine for me tonight. My voice was ridiculously breathy, I hardly recognized myself. He stood so close to me I could feel the heat radiating off his body.

“You keep dangerous company.” He placed one hand on the granite wall behind my head, flashing the empty holster for his gun. It was big, making me wonder what else was big about him. The other hand traced the contour of my side, making me sway, chasing his touch. This is a bad idea.

“I like danger. Isn’t that what we do? Play with danger every day?”

“I don’t play.” His hands weaved into my hair, tugging at the roots, making my back bend for him. He pressed me up against the wall and caged my body entirely as his teeth grazed my neck. The deep rumble against my sensitive skin was my undoing. “I control it.”

His lips fell on mine and I was unable to withhold the moan as he sucked on my bottom lip. Our tongues danced and breaths mingled in a wild collision of our desire to devour one another. He tasted like cigarettes and whiskey, and the way his hands roamed along my body set my insides ablaze.

Far too soon, I heard approaching footsteps coming towards our direction. I recognized the voices of my father’s guards. They were looking for me. Shit. The man above me went rigid as he too had heard the intruding notion. He pulled me further into the shadows, and then we waited for them to pass while holding our breaths. He was so close I could kiss him again by a slight tilt of my head.

“This was a mistake.” He whispered, when they had gone, and took a few steps back, making distance between us. The air felt cold once more and it was a slap of reality. It had been a mistake. A wonderful, sexy mistake. He raked the gel in his hair, smoothing over what I had destroyed, returning his appearance to the flawless statue.

Missing his touch, I groaned. It had been the most intense feeling I had experienced in my entire life. I wasn’t a virgin for a long shot and had had my fair share of one night stands, but none of them held a candle to what had just transpired between us. Reeling back some of my composure, I finally managed to tear my eyes away from him.

“Yeah, I agree. This can’t happen again.” No matter how much I wanted it.

Seeing my own reflection in the window, I appeared every bit disheveled. My makeup was smeared, a few ringlets had fallen out of place and my dress had hiked up my thighs. I looked like I had just been hit by a sex tornado and I couldn’t stop smiling at the culprit. Our eyes met, and before I even had a chance to straighten up my appearance, his mouth was all over me again, branding me.

“Never again.” He murmured, nibbling at my jaw.

“Never.” I kissed him long and hard one last time, and then he was gone. His scent lingered on my skin and the feel of his body was still fresh on my fingertips. How I craved to be touched by him again.

But that’s all it was, a craving, a moment of lust. I would never allow myself to get attached. I entertained the idea of commitment long enough to feel a warm body laying on top of before never seeing them again. It was for the best. No loved one meant no one to hurt, no one to lose and no one to miss when they were gone. It was better that way, I thought, leaving the bitter cold that followed me in my heart.

After another round at the bar, I spotted my cousin, who was frantically trying to get my attention across the room.

“Where the hell have you been?” Erica hissed, grabbing me by the elbow just as I swallowed a crabcake; my favorite of the hors d'oeuvres. “Your father is furious. He was gonna send the dogs after you.”

“I was just in the bathroom. What’s gotten his panties in a twist? ”

“I don’t know, but he told me to find you asap.”

“One night. Couldn’t he relax for one night just like the rest of us?”

“I wish. He is upstairs. Go.” She gently guided me towards the stairs. I began the intimidating ascent, one hand on to the railing and my other hand holding on to the hem of my dress. Looking down I saw Erica still following my steps with her eyes. She gave me a wink, tossed her black hair over her shoulder and mouthed silently. “And find me when you’re done. I just saw the Laurenzo boys enter the ballroom.”

She was a hopeless romantic. Almost the polar opposite of myself. Where she dreamed of a big wedding, a doting husband and a handful of chubby babies, I just wanted to live alone, in some house with a back yard, away from the city and this dreadful life.

Below me was the glimmering ballroom, filled with people dressed to the nines and to my right large oaken doors leading to the private lounge. I corrected my lipstick, straightened the wrinkles out of my dress and raked my hair once over before stepping towards the door. The two goons standing at guard nodded and ushered me in.

My father was sitting in a leather chair close to a fireplace, turning the ice in his glass. Another man sat opposite of him, his back to the door. A handful of men stood guard by the windows and doors. The atmosphere seemed charged even though the room was set up with cozyness in mind. Striding across the carpet, I leaned down to greet my father before settling beside him.

“You summoned me, Papa?”

“Valentina, do you remember Mr. O’Hara?” He said with feigned enthusiasm, gesturing to the man who stood up and offered their hand to greet me. He had a prominent mustache and a receding hairline, and when he smiled, wrinkles gathered in the corners of his eyes.

“Ah yes of course. Mr. O’Hara, glad you could make it this year. It’s so good to see you again.” I have no memory of when I last saw this man. Am I supposed to? Why does that name ring a bell? I keep up with my perfect smile but give my father ‘the eyes’ screaming ‘help me’.

“Pleasure is all mine, angel.”

He sat back down, taking a long swing out of his glass and measuring me up and down with his eyes. I suppressed a shiver when he lingered on my breasts for far too long to be appropriate. Ew.

“Yes, she will do.” He hummed, satisfied with me apparently and waved one of his ringed fingers. He whispered something to one of his goons who saluted and left without saying a word.

“What is this about?”

“Ah, well, you see, Mathias and I have some special business together. Very special.”

“It’s Christmas, Papa. Can’t that wait?”

“What better time to seal the deal when all the participants are under the same roof and properly softened with drinks and good company, eh? ”

“If you say so, but what does this have to do with me? Why am I here?” I had an odd feeling in my gut and it had nothing to do with the alcohol I had consumed earlier.

“Malyshka, you will serve as insurance till the deal has come through.”

“Insurance? What do you mean ‘insurance’?”

“We have decided you will be married off to-”

“Married?!”

“The wedding will be held before the New Years, nothing fancy, just a formality really. You will have to move in with him of course. And if there should be children, well, that’s your problem then. Don’t expect the boy to pay any child support. It will all be in the contract.”

“Wait wait wait, wait just a damn minute. Marriage? Children? Contract? Absolutely not.”

“Malyshka! You’re being rude to our guest.”

“Papa, you can’t be serious. I can’t get married.”

“You can and you will. End of.”

“She has a temper. Jax will like that.” My eyes flew to Mr. O’Hara who placed one leg over his knee, leaned back and put on a sleazy smile. Who the hell is Jax? I couldn’t recall for the life of me anyone named Jax from all of my father’s associates. “Think of it this way. It’s only temporary. Give it a year, maybe two. As long as the deal doesn’t fall through, you are free to go and carry on with your life.”

“And if it does?” Both of them exchanged looks. They acted like bestest of chums, but under the fake smiles and pleasant conversation lay the hearts of venomous snakes. I could guess the consequence was a life in servitude or death.

The walls in the room began to fold in. I couldn’t believe what they were suggesting. No, not suggesting. They had already decided my fate. Should the business go bust, I was to remain with the O’Hara’s and they would be entitled to do whatever they pleased with me. A shiver ran along my spine and I swallowed the whimper that threatened to escape me. They could have me work till I was raw, or dead, it was all the same.

Or I could be stuck being married to someone I didn’t even know. Hell, just being married was punishment enough. I had witnessed first hand what it was to be married to one of our kind. The countless times my mother begged for mercy that never came and one time it was too much, she couldn’t take it anymore and she took her own life. That was the fate of a mafia wife.

I tried to steady my breath but there was no air left in the room. I was suffocating under the pressure of their eyes on me. I realized there was no escape if they had their way. No matter what they chose, I would be doomed either way. I couldn’t let that happen. Biting down to my last shred of fight left in me, I put my foot down and stood against my father.

“No. I’m sorry but the answer is no.”

“Valentina!” There was a threatening rumble in his voice, but I was too stupid and ignored it .

“No! Please reconsider. There has to be another way.”

He moved faster than I had ever seen him move. He lunged out of the chair, wrapped his hands around my neck and squeezed in tightly. My vision blurred and all I could see was his red face staring back at me. My nails dug into his arms in a desperate attempt to free myself from his grasp, but it only made him press on tighter on my windpipe.

“I’m done talking about this. My decision is final.” He hissed in our native tongue.

“I-I won’t go through with this. You c-can’t make me.” I choked out.

“Defy me again and I will show you just how easily I can make you. You don’t make the rules here. I do. Now apologize to Mr. O’Hara and then I don’t want to hear another sound out of you for the rest of the evening, are we clear?” When I didn’t answer he rattled me in his hold till I caved and nodded. “Good.”

He released me and with a heavy gasp I returned the air back into my lungs. His handprints were already throbbing and I bit my lip silencing the cry just thinking about the bruises that would form on my neck come morning. I bowed and gave a meek apology to our current company, keeping my head down even when I heard the oaken door open. Shined shoes appeared before me but I did not dare to look up.

“Ah, Jax, just in time. Come meet your new bride.” There was a short pause before the man spoke. His voice was deep and mundane, like he was bored just being here.

“And what do you expect me to do with her, father?” Father?

“Keep her till I tell you otherwise, understand? Alive preferably.”

“Fine.” Just fine? That’s it, no fight? If he only had disagreed with the older men I might have had a chance to plead my case again, but no. He accepted it, simple as that, like it meant nothing. Like I meant nothing. “And you agree to this?”

Another pause and I assumed he was asking me since I felt my father squeeze my arm more painful than was necessary. He was sending me a message. I nodded, like a damn fool, but it was the right response, because I felt my fathers fingers loosen their grip again.

“So it is settled. You two kids will make a lovely couple.” Mr. O’Hara announced, clapping his hands together. “The ceremony will be held soon and I’ll see that the papers are in order.”

“Let us toast to the wonderful union of our families. Cheers.” I heard the glasses clink and then the contents gulped down. I was not offered one and I wouldn’t have taken it either. They were celebrating my funeral.

I kept my eyes to the ground, silently waiting for the whole thing to be over, until finally father grabbed me by the elbow and escorted me out, murmuring our farewells like I’ve had too much to drink for the night. Daring to look up after the car door slammed shut, I was only able to make out the silhouette of the man who would be my husband, and who held my life in his hands.