CHAPTER 5 - DEADLY

We sat down at the long dinner table, which was made from the finest wood I'd ever seen. I quietly ate as Nikola and his parents discussed among themselves but I wanted to ask about my brother's.

I've never lived without them and I never wanted to.

"Could I be allowed to see my brother's. I finally asked working up the courage considering the last time I tried to speak up at dinner, I almost got into some serious shit.

Nikola's deadly glance shot towards me. I froze when his eyes met mine, I was unable to speak.

" NO", his deep voice responded quickly with a slight grumbled of irritation.

I felt my heart drop to my stomach. I loved my brothers , not being allowed to see them was torture.

"Please?" , I almost begged at the table with a soft tone so that I didn't come off as demanding.

Nikola's father began to chuckle evily the expression on his face because more irritated.

"How dare you !" His voice boomed through the dinning room, suddenly filling me with fear. I saw the lifeless expression on Nikola's face as he just watched his father.

"I'm sorry," I muttered worriedly as I put down my knife and fork.

"That's it, clearly she needs to be taught a lesson ", Richard demanded yelling at me , His voice echoed through the silent house. My eyes widened as Richard stood up from his seat and approached where I was sitting.

"No, please," I pleaded with terror, being reminded of my father once again.

I knew all too well what a lesson was; a beating. Richard grabbed my wrist only to be distracted by Nikola standing up. His heavy footsteps approached us, I'd rather have his father beat me than him.

However, He did something I wasn't expecting, he grabbed his father's wrist roughly forcing his father to release his grip on me, His father's eyes widening at him.

"She is going to be my wife if you ever lay a finger on her again, I won't hesitate to burn you alive."

Nikola growled furiously at his father, Richard groaned in pain from Nikola crushing his wrist with his grip.

" You think you're the face of this mafia, but you're wrong because your people will gladly turn their back on you to follow me.

Release her wrist now, and I might forget about this," Nikola whispered into his father's ear with a look of fire in his eyes.

I'll take you to see them tomorrow after school. Nikola turned to me.

"You're free to go to your room ." I nodded frantically before leaving to get up the stairs,I'm in constant fear of being abused again. I was never safe anywhere and that included here.

I could hear muffled yelling from downstairs as I lay in my bed as I pulled the pillows over my ears, I wanted to disappear lately.

My trauma was swallowing me slowly and I couldn't seem to save myself with these thoughts I drifted to sleep.

My eyes fluttered open to see Nikola standing out in the hall. My room door was cracked open so I could hear the conversation. " You will let her see her brothers or I promise, I will do something you are going to regret ," Nikola hissed angrily into the phone. ........." and I always keep my promises."

I propped myself onto my elbow as I rubbed one of my eyes. What time was it ?. Nikola turned towards my room," I didn't mean to wake you."

He uttered staring at me. There was a certain softness in his stare.

"It's okay........" I responded quickly still holding my blankets up.

"That was your father,in case you were wondering."

Nikola sighed as he walked into my room, I noticed that he closed the door behind him.

"If my father does anything to you, you tell me."

He was whispering so that his father wouldn't hear. I slightly nodded, like he was demanding me to tell him because he wanted to help me but knew that if anything has I wouldn't willing speak up.

They was an awkward silence filling the air as I avoided eye contact with him.

"Your father......." paused for a moment. "Never mind", I uttered shutting my mouth after grabbing Nikola's attention. I realised I didn't want it, his stare was so intense. I'm so stupid, why would I even mention that?.

His father probably didn't even mean it. "My father what?" He stared cautiously at me. I knew he wasn't going to let it go until I said it. "It was stupid, it doesn't matter," I muttered quietly, becoming shy as I pulled the blanket up to my face.

He grabbed the blankets away from me, "Marylin, tell me", Nikola had a slight grumble in his voice. I gulped while he glared at me. "He said he was going to replace my father", I uttered slowly as I stared at the blankets that were clenched in his hand.

" What does that mean?". Nikola questioned me quickly . "Nothing just that he wanted to be like a father to me" I stuttered nervously, realizing how stupid I was for mentioning this. what if this was a ploy he was working on with his father?

"If I found out you're lying, you're going to be punished, understood?" Nikola scowled at me as he stood up.

"Punished, what kind of punishment?" I asked getting a bit too brave. He had only told me a cousin days ago that he would never harm me.

"Not the punishment you're thinking, Have you got a problem with that" Nikola snarled.

"Get ready for school, I'm dropping you off and picking you up. "

He finally left my room. A heaviness fills my chest anytime he's near me, it makes it hard to breathe.

I got dressed slowly, taking my time so that I was late, I didn't want anyone to see Nikola; Even though he was going to be my husband, I eventually got into the car with Nikola.

"Do you always work?" I asked curiously, building up the courage to talk to him. "Most of the time, his deep husky voice voice grumbled". "Does it get boring?" I questioned. "If it was boring, I wouldn't do it, I do what I want." Nikola turned to me. it was like he was warning me.

"So, you could ditch work right now?" I questioned him as I played with my hands

"No, not today."

"Why what's important today?"

"Nothing" He sighed, becoming irritated due to my questions.

"You're going to kill someone?" I mumbled as a joke. "You know what I have to do, killing is part of it," Nikola muttered admittedly.

"I can't blame you" I replied, My voice becoming louder as I become more comfortable around him, I think he was shocked because I saw one of his eyebrows raise.

""You're forgetting I was also raised in the mafia, killing people is something you just have to do." I sighed hesitantly. He looked confused, I smiled at him slightly. I watched as the serious features on his face soften.

We finally pulled up to my school. "You're late," he muttered unimpressed. "I know,I did it on purpose." I grinned as I got out of the car. I'll be here at 4, don't be late." He raised his eyebrow warningly.