Cyprus Cordova

The dress is tighter than it should be. The slit up the side is more scandalous than I’m used to. Definitely more than I'm comfortable with. But I have to remember, this is all for appearances and I can’t fuck this up. Not if I don’t want to be punished for it.


It’s a gold number. Floor length and ready to turn heads. Spaghetti straps are the only thing that holds the plunging neckline.


I’m showing just enough skin that Darin could be happy enough to say that I was dressed seductively enough to show me off, but also covered enough to let everyone know I belonged to him and I was off limits.


An eyepiece, so to speak. One only he could touch. A face never meant to be forgotten. Only to be desired. It’s the whole reason he chose me. Picked out from a long line of women with good genetics, women in need, cause it certainly wasn’t for love.


I needed his money, and he needed arm candy. A way to show the crime families he could make it in their world and be just as ruthless as they are, if not more. A place where appearances mean everything.


His hand tightly curves around my back. His touch makes my muscles tighten up on instinct. My smile slightly wanes as his fingers dig into the fabric. It’s been ages since I’ve felt the night air like this.


He leans close and runs his nose up the side of my face. Making it look like we’re in love. Like we actually chose each other on purpose. Not because he approached me, offering me everything he knew I needed.


“Make sure you smile, Solara. I’d hate for you to see the inside of the padded room before you even had time to breathe outside of it. You haven't saw you father in a while. Remember that." He sneers.


The dreaded room. It’s dark and cold in there. With only a mattress on the floor to sleep on. It's a place he puts me in as punishment. This time, it was two weeks. All because he caught me talking on the phone when I shouldn’t have.


Only to pull me out tonight like a forgotten dog and tell me to get cleaned up and make myself look pretty. And reminded me that he controlled me and every aspect of my life. I widen my smile and fake the happiness in my eyes.


“That’s my girl. Now let’s get inside. Cyprus is supposed to be here tonight, and I need to have a meeting with him.” He says.


Cyprus Cordova. I’ve only heard of the man, but the rumors aren’t good. One of the rulers of the underworld and the man nobody wants to mess with. Deadly and merciless. It’s said he works directly for the Pakhan himself.


Cyprus is prestigious and highly respected in the Bratva, and the Pakhan sends him to do his dirty work. The only time the Pakhan will step in is when it’s time to destroy one of the families.


A moment you won’t see happening until he shows up with a cigar hanging from his mouth and a drink in his hand. The ring on his pinky finger with the family insignia shining in the moonlight.


“I’m running to the restroom, Darin,” I tell him.


“You do that. Make yourself presentable.” He sneers.


By the time listen to the other girls fan about Darin and which one has slept with him and which one wants to, I make it back and I can no longer find him.


Which doesn’t surprise me, nor does it honestly bother me. Last time, he took off with one of the servers to one of the back offices and didn’t come back for an hour.


A few minutes later I watched as a server walked back in with a huge grin on her face and smeared lipstick across her cheek. The look of a freshly fucked daze written all over her face. You would think that would shatter me.


It doesn’t.


You have to be happy within a relationship. I haven’t felt anything since the day I agreed to his terms. Since I gave up my life for the life of my family. I knew what I was getting when I signed that dotted line.


I head to the bar, and order a drink. I couldn't care less what he is doing. As long as he keeps his hands off me, it's a win-win in my book. As I take a sip, I feel a strong presence take the seat next to me. I hear him chuckle and lean forward.


“Doesn’t he know what I can do to you if left unattended?”


Chills erupt along my skin at the timbre of his voice, and I turn to look and see who dares speak to me. My breath catches at this beautiful man. Wide as he is tall, with eyes dark as night. His jaw is sharp as glass, and there’s something about his aura that screams safety, yet danger.


“Excuse me? Just who are you?” I snap at him.


He smiles and leans even closer. We’re now almost nose to nose.


“Tell me you’re not happy, and I’ll take you away right now and dare him to do a damn thing about it.” He demands.


It's then I realized just who this man is. Why he has such a strong aura. And there's no way in hell I’m telling this man the truth. The whole reason I'm with him to begin with.


Cause I signed my life away for my father. And sitting in front of me, looking like he can read straight through me, is none other than the man Darin was waiting for.


Cyprus Cordova.