Scarred Wife (Villains #1)

Chapter One

The moment Diago walked into the party, everyone suddenly tensed up. It wasn’t unheard of for Diago to randomly stop by. Vanessa Norma knew most of the time when he would arrive, and many people feared him. The man was cruel; in fact, many considered him evil to the core.

She’d never had many dealings with him, but she knew her father wasn’t a big fan of his, although she didn’t know why. She wasn’t allowed to know why. As a woman, her only job was to be quiet and look pretty. There was a time she was considered pretty, but the scar down the left side of her face, which she’d gotten during her kidnapping several years ago, had left her less than attractive.

Glancing toward her father, she knew he was beside himself because there were no marriage proposals. He’d tried to make multiple deals with other prospective family members, but to no avail.

Many within their circle considered her a lovely woman. Kind, gentle. Again, not traits often seen in a female from a mafia family, but she had acquired them. She figured it was due to spending most of her time with a nanny who was taken from her once she turned eighteen.

All her memories were of sweet Maureen, her nanny, who was only eighteen years older than her, but Vanessa didn’t have a clue where her nanny was or what she was doing. No one would tell her anything. She had tried to do some searching, but so far to no avail.

She had even started using these random parties to ask the women questions. Most nannies moved around within the family. No one knew where Maureen had gone, and it was starting to test her patience.

The party had grown silent as Diago walked right into the middle of it, but there was no stopping him, as he went straight up to the cabinet that held the drinks. He didn’t say hello to anyone, didn’t even smile. He picked up the expensive bottle of whiskey, poured plenty into his glass, and then drank it up. Vanessa couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer force of him.

No one listened to her, not even her brother. Her father had started to beg families to consider taking her as a wife. She’d learned to sneak around when she was little, so listening in on conversations wasn’t hard to do. Her father wanted to marry her off, to extend his family, to create more wealth. The only problem was, no one wanted her. They complained about her scar, or her weight, or the fact they didn’t think she was ready. The best excuse being that she was damaged goods because she had gotten kidnapped.

Again, being kidnapped at eighteen hadn’t been her fault. That had been down to her father and the guards they had placed on her. She’d been granted one guard, and he had sent her out shopping because he wanted her away from him.

His enemies had known he would be weak, so they had used it against him, which is why they were here now. She had a scar, and no prospects.

There had been a time when she had loved her father. He had seemed like the most amazing man in the world. In the last seven years, as she had aged and others around her had gotten married, he’d changed. No longer did she see him as a good father, but cold.

She couldn’t help feeling a little joyful in seeing him squirm with Diago in the room. In fact, Vanessa wanted to laugh with glee at just how uncomfortable most of the men in the room were. They were all afraid of this one man.

But then, Diago didn’t hide who he was behind pristine designer business suits and false smiles. The few occasions she had seen him, he always wore a scowl; in fact, he rarely spoke. That had always fascinated her, because in her experience, most men loved to hear their own voice.

Vanessa stood in her small alcove taking it all in. She held a small glass of water in her hand. Most of the time, at parties, she was alone. Her mother would stand with her from time to time, but she would always find an excuse to leave her alone.

How the scar changed everything.

There was a time her mother would interrupt her and Maureen, while she was still around, to start talking about parties and fashion, and attempt to do the mother-daughter bonding. It had all been a lie. Her parents had been trying to prepare to send her off into married life. She’d seen through it all.

Maureen had advised that she not be so cynical. After her kidnapping and subsequent scar, they had gotten rid of Maureen. Her only hope was that they didn’t kill her. She had no idea how Maureen ended up working as a nanny for the Norma family, but Vanessa hoped and prayed it hadn’t ended with her death. Maureen didn’t deserve that.

Vanessa would never forgive them, but she was no fool. She knew what people in their world did to others. Once people were inside the mafia, there was no way out unless it was six feet under.

“Diago, a pleasure as always,” her father said, finally approaching the man who’d crashed their party.

The man himself took a second sip of whiskey and shook his head. “Tastes like piss,” he said.

His voice was so guttural, rough, and Vanessa quickly took a sip of her water to hide her smile. No man had ever insulted her father on his taste of fine wines and liquors. He considered himself a connoisseur on such matters. Her father would always buy the most expensive barrel or case he could find. She’d often heard people complain about the taste of such fine … alcohol. It was all crap.

Again, as his only daughter, she couldn’t express such opinions. Her father never wanted to hear anything from her.

Just this past week, he had taken her to a plastic surgeon’s office. He was hoping to remove the scar that had become part of who she was. He wanted her to go under the knife because he couldn’t marry her off.

She’s also been told that once the scar was gone, he intended to put her on a strict regimen to lose weight. She’d heard him complain about her fat ass. Sometimes, the walls were a bit thin, and she was able to hear entire conversations.

Vanessa watched as her father tried to compose himself at the insult that had just been thrown his way. She’d seen a lot of men and women get punished for such an insult, but not Diago. Her father was afraid of him, she was sure of that.

“I can find something more to your liking,” her father said, clicking his fingers.

She already saw a waiter headed toward him, but Vanessa didn’t see anything else, as Diago, for some odd reason, was looking straight at her. She’d lowered her glass during their interaction, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he’d seen her laughing at her father’s complete submission to this man.

Crap. The last thing she wanted to do was cause trouble. She remained perfectly still.

“Yes, you can offer me something new.” Diago walked straight past her father, and then headed in her direction. The whole party had stopped in their tracks and were now watching the man who was quickly closing the distance between them. She tried not to freak out or make a scene. She knew how much her parents hated scenes.

At first, she thought Diago was going to move straight past her, but that was insane. There was nothing but a wall behind her.

All too soon, he reached out and grabbed her arm. He didn’t tug, nor was his grip painful. Vanessa didn’t fight him. It seemed pointless to fight him. She simply followed him as he moved closer to her father. She still held onto her glass of water, but then they were in front of her father.

“I’m taking her,” Diago said.

“You cannot take my daughter.”

“Oh, but I can, and try to stop me, Norma. Just try it. You knew this was going to happen, and like I said, debts always need to be paid.”

And with that, Diago took her.

No one tried to stop him, and the truth was, with her heart racing, Vanessa didn’t want anyone to stop them.

****

Diago had always hated Isaac Norma. The bastard was a pretentious son of a bitch, who often lived way above his means.

Seven years ago, he’d been close to bankruptcy, and it was only the prospect of his daughter being put up for sale to the highest bidder that helped him out of a tight patch. Then of course, there were the deals offered to him out of pity, once the extent of Vanessa’s injuries came to light.

He’d waited, bided his time, watched as Isaac had once again squandered his fortune, and listened to the whispers as he tried to sell off his daughter.

Vanessa still held the glass of water he’d seen her trying to hide behind as she was entertained by what was happening at the party. He didn’t hurt her, because he didn’t want to hurt her. He doubted she even remembered when he had come for her seven years ago.

Vanessa Norma, he’d been told, was the sweetest, kindest young woman he’d ever meet. Isaac had asked him to find her, but he couldn’t afford the price for his services.

Several men and women had offered to pay, believing the only reason Isaac couldn’t deal with this was because of genuine upset. Isaac was a master manipulator, but Diago had found himself curious about the young woman. He had discovered that everything everyone had said was true.

Even with her face cut and bleeding, and dealing with blood loss, she had tried to tend to his wounds first. She’d been a little delirious at the time, but it hadn’t stopped her from trying to take care of him.

He’d taken her to a private hospital, where they had tended to the wound. The sons of bitches who’d kidnapped her had been enemies of Isaac, and they wanted the man to suffer. The scar had become infected, and for a short time, there had even been a question as to whether Vanessa would live or die.

Diago had retreated to the shadows, keeping an eye on her. Sneaking into her room to watch the blonde sleep. She’d been placed in a coma in an attempt to give her body time to rest. No one had known he’d stuck around.

And as he kept to the darkness, he’d heard the real Isaac Norma. He was pissed off that his daughter was considered damaged goods. He’d even requested they attempt to find out if his daughter was a virgin. He hadn’t cared that Vanessa was out cold, in a coma.

Diago wouldn’t allow anyone to touch her. He’d even paid people at the hospital to stop all virginity testing or investigating. He knew he wouldn’t be at the hospital twenty-four hours a day, but he wouldn’t leave her alone.

One thing he had learned during his lifetime, was that everyone had a price. All he had to do was find the right one. And he did. It didn’t take very long.

Vanessa didn’t say a word as he pulled out of her childhood driveway and made his way back onto the road.

He expected her to constantly question him. Instead, he knew she randomly glanced over at him. She kept pursing her lips together, then opening her mouth and closing it, like she wanted to say something, anything, but kept silent. This was new to him. He was used to women not being able to stop talking. This was interesting, and somewhat refreshing.

Diago kept driving. Tonight, he had decided to take back the debt Isaac had owed him. It was a monetary debt that would no longer be given back.

No one would take Vanessa, and he’d grown tired of hearing her described as damaged goods. Vanessa wasn’t damaged, and anyone who believed the scar on her face was ugly was a fucking moron. They didn’t know true beauty when they saw it. She was a fighter.

He put his foot on the gas, weaving his way through the roads, until he was about five minutes from his destination. Turning to the right, he came to a large metal gate. He pulled the window down, and then pressed a series of buttons, and the gates opened.

Diago only had a short time to make it past the gate, and then they’d close—another security measure he had in place. No one had any idea he had a home. Over the years, he had acquired several pieces of property, and his country home was by far his biggest investment, and for good reason.

He drove up to his home, parked the car, and climbed out. This home had the most security. If anyone stepped foot on his land, he knew about it. In the beginning, even squirrels or rabbits would set off his alarm, and from time to time, larger animals.

Stepping out of his car, he started to walk straight up the main steps, toward his front door.

He heard the car door open, and Vanessa scrambling to catch up.

“Uh, hi, I’m Vanessa,” she said.

She followed him into his home, and he closed the door behind her, turning his full attention to her.

“I know who you are.”

“You do? Oh, right, okay, I, uh … I didn’t know. Well, I mean, I don’t know you, but seeing as you took me, and you have some kind of beef with my father, that kind of fills in the blanks.” She pressed her lips together and then smiled.

She was in fact charming, he would give her that. Still, he didn’t have anything else to say to her, so he made his way through to the kitchen, and as he passed the dining room, he told her as such.

“This is the kitchen,” he said, going to the fridge and grabbing himself a bottle of water.

He glanced over at her.

The dress she wore hid her curves, and reminded him of a fucking funeral.

“Do I get to know why I am here?” Vanessa asked.

“Simple. Your father owed me a debt, I’m taking you as payment. You’re mine now, Vanessa. Get used to it.”

With that, he walked past her and went toward his office. He had business to attend to.

“What do I do?” Vanessa asked.

He got to the door of his office and turned toward her.

“I mean, are you going to give me a tour of this house?” she asked.

“Are you stupid?”

“What?”

“It’s a simple question. Is that why you need me to walk you around? You don’t know how to move from room to room, or have they manipulated you so much that you need a man to tell you exactly what to do?”

She recoiled. “N-no.”

He stared at her.

“I … uh, I can go anywhere in this house?”

“Yes,” he said.

She looked toward his office door.

“No.”

“But that’s anywhere.”

“My office is off limits. Everywhere else is yours to go and freely look at.” And with that, he opened his door and stepped inside, closing it behind him. He didn’t have time for hand-holding or any of that bullshit.

However, he was curious about what Vanessa would do, so he turned on the wall of monitors that kept track of every detail of his home. She was still outside his office.

At first, she stayed perfectly still, then he watched as she took several steps away, only to come back as if she wanted to interrupt him. He kept expecting a knock on his door.

None came, and he watched as she finally found the courage and wandered through his home. She walked and acted like she was in a horror movie, expecting the bad man to come jumping out at a moment’s notice.

There was no one in his home but the two of them. He hired cleaners to regularly come into his home, and they were heavily vetted. No one entered his home without him knowing every detail of their life first. Vanessa was no different.

She stopped at the dining room and stepped inside. Her hands kept clenching and unclenching at her sides.

She looked so nervous. There was no reason for her to be nervous.

Diago sat back and watched his cameras as his guest learned his home. She wandered downstairs for a good hour before venturing upstairs, and he couldn’t help but smile. No one had ever seen him smile before.

It wouldn’t be long before her nervousness was a thing of the past.

She had nothing to be afraid of while she was with him.