Chapter 16 Kira
KIRA
“Holy crap, Kira, did you freaking see the size of this place?” Gem stares around with her mouth hanging open. She’s lit up like a firecracker as she wanders the halls of Stellan’s house. “It’s enormous! And look at all these old, original details? They’re beautiful.”
“Yeah, gorgeous.” I frown at the ancient crown molding and the hand-carved wooden banister. “Also probably a death trap.”
“No way. It’s been restored. Look at how everything shines.” She runs her fingers down an old grandfather clock resting in a corner. “I think this thing is at least a couple hundred years old. Look at the craftsmanship.”
Gem gushes throughout the tour. Stellan’s house is situated deep in South Philly in a quiet neighborhood.
The street is narrow and paved with cobblestones.
He owns almost the entire block, and the house is absolutely massive.
It’s one of those ancient Philadelphia Victorians, most of which are in disrepair, but Gem’s right.
This one’s been lovingly restored over the years, and now there are more rooms than a single man could possibly occupy.
The movers carry our things inside. Stellan appears intermittently, half helping direct our furniture and half showing us around. He takes us to the third floor and gestures at the hall. “This will be Gem’s.”
“Which room is mine?” she asks, poking her head into one.
“All of them.”
She turns around, eyebrows raised in alarm. “Are you joking?”
“I assume you’d be more comfortable this way. You’ll have your own bathroom, bedroom, an office, and a small library. The door to the stairs locks if you need more privacy.”
I swear, Gem starts vibrating with excitement.
She’s mature and brilliant, but still a teenage girl who reads too much.
I bet she’s freaking out at the idea of having her own floor at the top of a beautiful mansion with a freaking stairwell door that locks.
She’s probably picturing herself going on adventures into Narnia or something.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I tell him as we go back down to the second floor together. Gem’s still upstairs bouncing from room to room and trying not to scream. “She’d be fine down here.”
“The place is empty anyway. Someone should use the third floor. Might as well be her.”
I nod slightly as Stellan takes me to the far end of the hall. I pause, not sure I want to follow, but eventually force myself to step into the master room.
A huge bed dominates the back wall. There’s a dresser, an enormous walk-in closet, en suite bathroom, and beautiful furniture. “I thought you’d sleep in a coffin. You know, like a vampire?”
“Hilarious.”
“This is nice though. I mean, really nice.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I figured it would be more—” I shrug a little, gesturing around. “You know.”
“I really don’t.”
“You’re a single guy… living alone… with a dangerous job…” I trail off, realizing how silly I sound.
“You expected dead bodies and empty whiskey bottles?”
“Pretty much.”
“I hate to disappoint you. I could always procure a corpse if you want.”
“Pass. Thanks though.” I sit on the edge of the bed and bounce slightly.
I glance over my shoulder and try to imagine him lying down beside me, his big body taking up all that space and putting out heat like a campfire.
He watches me from across the room, clearly trying to let me acclimate myself. “This is weird.”
“I understand what you’re feeling.”
“Are you sure I can’t have my own room?”
“That’s not negotiable. If you’re going to be my wife, you’re going to act like it.”
I tilt my head and turn away, thinking I’d rather act like we’re married but estranged, though I doubt he’d think that’s funny. For how young and handsome he is, he’s also strangely conservative and old-fashioned.
Which is how I know he won’t like this next part.
“I need to tell you something.” I clear my throat, working up the courage as he comes closer.
“What’s that, wife?”
“Can you skip the playful nickname?”
“There’s nothing playful about being married to me.”
“Solid point. I’m starting to learn that.” I force myself to meet his gaze. “I want to keep my apartment.”
He stops moving and frowns slightly. “You do?”
“Not necessarily for me, but maybe sometimes I’d stay here? Mostly for Gem though. We’ll live here, but what if, I don’t know, we need that other place?”
“I can’t imagine what for.”
“I know, I know, but let’s say it’s like a safety thing.”
He nods once. “That apartment is yours.”
“Wait. Seriously?”
“I mean that literally. I’ll have the deed drawn up. You can keep it, sell it, whatever you decide. Gift it to Gem when she graduates from Harvard or Yale.”
I wrinkle my nose. “If she’s going Ivy, it better be Penn.”
“Even better.”
“Why are you doing this? I thought you were going to be angry.”
He steps closer and drops down to his knees.
I pull back in alarm, but he takes my hand between his and holds it tightly as he gives me this intense stare.
It makes me shiver with fright and sends a buzz of desire into my core.
This man’s good at scaring the crap out of me and also turning me on. It’s confusing.
“The apartment means nothing to me. If having that place makes you feel safe, then you can keep it. None of that matters.”
“Then what does matter?”
His jaw works. “In a few days, you’re going to meet my family.”
“Oh. Your family? I didn’t think you had siblings?”
He shakes his head. “I’m talking about my famiglia, my organization. They want to speak with the woman who will marry their Don.”
“Wait. Hold on a second.” I pull my hand away and abruptly stand up. I move away from him as he stands too. I back away toward the window. “Did you just say don, as in, like, the head of the mafia?”
“That’s right.”
“I thought that was just crap you see in movies.”
“It’s very real.”
“And that’s you… which will make me…” I shiver and hug myself. “I’m not sure how I feel about this.”
“None of it matters. The council will accept you whether they like it or not. When that happens, I will ascend and take what’s rightfully mine. All you have to do is play the part.”
“Happy, blushing bride?”
“No, wife. I don’t need you happy or blushing.” He looms near me like a beast. I’m very aware of his size. “I need you obedient.”
My mouth opens. Anger flares. Sometimes this guy can be such a bastard. I forget, but he inevitably reminds me. “What the hell does that mean?”
“The men in my family are old school. They like their women meek and submissive. I understand that isn’t you, but you will play the part anyway. Head down, hands clasped, speak only when spoken to. If they insult you, let it slide. If they ignore you, feel blessed. These are dangerous men.”
“What the hell did you get me into, Stellan?”
“You’ll survive. I didn’t choose you for no reason. You’re strong. That’s good.”
“What happened to meek?”
“That’s what they want. I didn’t say it’s my preference.”
Frustration ripples through me. I want to tell him off, but isn’t this the whole point of our arrangement? I give him what he wants and he gives me what I need. He gets a nice, submissive, meek little Italian wife, and I get money and a future for Gem. That’s how this works.
I just hate the idea of bowing my head and acting like a I’m some cute little mouse.
Fuck that shit. I busted my ass for years to take care of my sister.
Now some rich prick rolls up and I’m expected to be his pretty trad wife.
I bet he’ll start requesting blowjobs while he’s watching football next or something.
I lick my lips, glaring hard. “It’s a game.”
“That’s right.”
“Nothing more. When we’re here, I’m myself.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything else.”
“Good, just so it’s clear. I might play a part, but if you try to bring that crap home with us, I’ll put you right back in your place.”
He laughs darkly, but there’s no sparkle or humor in his eyes. “I love it when you act tough. But don’t forget, we need each other.”
“Unfortunately.”
I have some other choice words, but they get interrupted when the movers start bringing in my bags. I glare at Stellan, but he ignores me and helps place boxes into the closet and next to the bed. When that’s done, I wait to make sure everyone’s gone before I start to get ready for my diner shift.
Gem’ll stay at the apartment tonight. She’s still got a few things to pack.
That’s good, since I’m not sure how I feel about her being alone in this house yet, even if she does have her own floor.
I don’t think Stellan’s the kind of man who would go anywhere near my sister, but he’s clearly mixed up with some dangerous people. I don’t know what to expect right now.
I have to dig to find my diner clothes. When I finally get them laid out, I strip down to my underwear. I’m about to tug on my pants when the door opens and my husband steps into our room.
He stops short and looks at me. I glance back over my shoulder.
My ass is practically bare. My panties are wadded up as I bend over and shimmy to tug my jeans on.
His mouth opens and his gaze darkens as I get myself adjusted, humiliation burning in my cheeks.
His eyes flit to my chest, barely covered by a black bra, and I yank my jeans up quickly before he can enjoy the show too much.
“I guess it’s too much to ask for some privacy?”
“You don’t live alone anymore. Besides, I don’t mind.”
“I bet you don’t.” I clench my jaw and face him. “We need ground rules. The biggest and most important one is I’m not your fuck toy. You need sex, you go somewhere else. That’s not me. Got it?”
“You’re not? I like the idea of you acting like a little slutty toy. Dripping wet and begging.”
“No, thank you. Cut that out right now.”
“Why are you changing, anyway?”
“I have a shift at the diner.” I hurry into the bathroom, intent on getting ready, and I really don’t want to show him how that brief bit of dirty talk threatened to completely unravel me.
Words. Just words. Meaningless words. Really hot, frustrating, sexy words, but just noises from his big, dumb face.
“You realize you don’t have to work anymore?” He watches me from the bed. He doesn’t seem angry. More curious.
I don’t want to admit that I hadn’t. The idea seems ludicrous. For years, that’s all I’ve done. Work during the day, work all night. Barely enough sleep. I’ve drifted in a fog of exhaustion. And now he’s saying I don’t need to do it anymore?
I could cry from the relief.
But not yet.
“I’m scheduled. I don’t want to screw over Pam.”
“You don’t owe them anything.”
“Says the man who’s probably never worked a real job before.”
“My job’s real. It’s just not traditional.”
“I’m not quitting. Not yet, anyway.”
He nods once. “That’s fine, for now. But once you’ve met my family and you’re officially mine—”
“Not yours. Not owned by you.”
“Not my toy?” A vicious, teasing little smirk. God, I hate how sexy I find him right now. “No, the wife of the Don doesn’t take graveyard waitressing shifts anymore.”
“You should probably ask her before you make statements like that.”
“Imagine how good it will feel to be here every day when Gem gets home from school. How much more time you will get with your sister before she leaves for college. You don’t need to kill yourself anymore.”
God, that’s tempting. He makes a fantastic point. The time with Gem alone will be worth it.
“Another time, okay? I’ll put in my notice. I just won’t hang them out to dry.”
“Admirable.”
“Call Gem a car and get her back to the apartment when she’s ready.” I slip past him before he can answer and gather my bag. I shove my keys in my pocket and hurry down the steps. Stellan doesn’t follow. I walk out into the evening and pause, turning back to look at the house.
This doesn’t make sense. A week ago I was living in a cheap, crappy apartment, barely making ends meet, struggling just to pay our bills.
Now my sister’s got an entire floor to herself in a gorgeous Victorian mansion.
“At least I’m not selling myself cheap,” I mutter as I force myself to hurry to catch the next bus.