Prologue

INNESSA

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“Nina!” I ignored my little sister’s call as I rushed out of the ballroom where the party for my eighteenth birthday was going on. Or, should I say the celebration for my upcoming nuptials? Even the thought of that made me want to hurl.

Since the moment the Capo of the major crime family: Rossi, had died my father had lost all his privileges and power in the underworld. He had been trying all these years to get back the power and position he once had, but the current Capo: Antonio Rossi, didn’t seem inclined to get cosy with anyone his father once associated with. Rumor even has it that he was the one who actually kîlled his own father when he was just a child himself. Sometimes, I wonder if he could teach me a thing or two about it because if I knew how to get out of it I’d commit patricide in my next breath.

What? Don’t look at me like that. My father deserves it, if you knew him you’d say the same thing. He is the man who doesn’t deserve kids, and he doesn’t even deserve to live in this world. Still don’t believe me? Then get this, I wasn’t just running away from the celebration of my nuptials, I was running away from the man who was fifteen years older than me and who had a penchant for leaving bruises on me whenever he touched me. And, that’s my fiancé— Zaman Glico. The man my father chose to marry me off to, so he could get what he once had.

Zaman was a half Russian, has blôod ties to the Russian mafia on his mother’s side. And my father was taking his help in some way or manner to do something drastic to get into good graces of Antonio Rossi. I didn’t think it’d work, the man hasn’t ever paid any attention to my father and didn’t even grace him with a meeting no matter how much my father begged him to.

With another glance behind me, making sure no one was following me, I slipped out through the backdoor. I hated my house, the inside was like a prison that seemed to suffocate me but this part of the land that my father owned, I loved it. Here no one can find me. I could spend hours in these trees, losing myself in this forest that adjoined the river at the end and no one will ever think to search for me in these woods.

I walked down the porch, ready to slip away from all the people that ruled over me but a strong hand clamped my wrist in a tight grip. “There you are.” I shuddered at his slimy voice. Zaman pulled me toward him, his fingers twisting my small wrist, grinding bones together. “I was looking for you.”

“Let me go.” I said, keeping my fear at bay. He was a kind of man who feasted on my fear. The first time I had tried to appeal to his kindness he had laughed in my face and told me to forget that I’ll ever get out of this arrangement.

“I will.” He stepped closer into me. His alcohol laced breath making me gag. “But first, I want to have a kiss from my soon to be bride.”

“We are not married yet,” I replied, inching away from him.

“We will be. Only a month.” Pain burned around my wrist where he so mercilessly gripped me, but anger was also overpowering. “Oh, don’t be shy... you are going to be my wife soon enough. Your father all but sold you to me.”

Not just a month. But one month. Two weeks. Three days. But who’s counting, right? And with each day that passed it felt like a noose was tightening around my neck. Fear coiled in my stomach like a viper, its venom spreading through my veins with each panicked breath as I thought about that day. I cursed my father for his betrayal, for sacrificing me on the altar of power and ambition. For not being a father he should be to me or my siblings.

He leaned closer, his fingers almost snapping my bones when I tried to move away as he bent his head down to forcefully take the kiss I wasn’t offering. I jerked back, and gagged when I felt his lips brush my ear. I knew I shouldn’t do something that could fire back at me but it was instinct as I pulled my free hand back and punched him in the nose. I hated that there was no sound of broken bones, but I wasn’t done as while he grunted for the pain in his nose, I pulled my knee up and smashed his balls in.

“Don’t try to force me again,” I said, getting away from him.

He bent down, his hands going to cup his junk. “I am going to make you pay for this.” Chills spread down my arms as he straightened and started to walk toward me. “I’ll teach you a lesson to not do this again.”

Every instinct inside me screamed for me to run. So, I did. I ran like my life depended on it, because there was a chance it might be.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I raced through the moonlit garden, the night air thick with the scent of jasmine and fear. Behind me, the heavy footsteps of the bastard echoed, each one a menacing reminder of the trap my father had set up. And with that reminder burned a new burst of hatred inside me for him. One day I will kîll him.

I heard his pounding footsteps pursuing me and heard his sick words that made dread coil in my stomach. “I am going to fûck you and then kîll you, and fûck you again in your own blôod.”

I was sure he meant each and every word which was the reason I knew I could never marry this man. Heart pounding like crazy in my chest, I ran and ran. I ran in the direction of the forest, trying to hide in the darkness. Fear coiled in my gut like a poisonous snake every time he closed on me but all I could do was run. I hated how I had nowhere to go, no one to save me and a life that I’d rather end than live.

He was catching up to me, I could almost feel his rancid breath on the back of my neck even though I gave it my all, didn’t stop for branches that cut into my skin as I ran to get away from him. I felt a stitch on my side and I stumbled, my eyes closing as I readied myself to get hurt but then suddenly I heard a loud crack, followed by a heavy thud.

I came to a halt. My hand braced on a tree as I breathed heavily, afraid to even turn around and see what had happened, because I could no longer hear him. There was complete silence. Slowly, very slowly, I turned around with my breath held in my lungs. And my eyes widened as I looked at the man, the nightmare I was running away from, lying unconscious on the forest floor.

I looked around myself, moving in a circle, searching for an answer. In the dark I couldn’t find anything. There seemed to be no answer for what just happened. There was just dark and silence. And then I felt it. The air changed around me. Turning colder, frigid. Goosebumps pebbled all over my skin, making me shiver as I looked into the darkness, feeling eyes on me. It seemed even the moon chose that moment to hide engulfing everything in complete darkness.

A whisper of air sounded behind me and I turned around, stumbling back. “Who’s there?” Leaves crinkled and I heard a soft footfall. I took a step backward. “W-who is there?”

And then I watched as a shadow removed himself from the darkness and took a step toward me. Instead of running away I froze like a deer in the headlights as that shadow started moving toward me. “S-stop. Please.”

He didn’t.

And somehow, I was afraid of this shadow more than the man lying unconscious behind me.

Finally, my muscles unlocked and I turned around ready to run back to the house. But then I heard him, his rough words that seemed to be wrapped in warm honey. “Run and I kîll you.”

I stopped.

Even though I wanted to run, my feet seemed to have grown roots like the trees that surrounded me. I closed my eyes as I heard him come closer. I felt him behind me and then he came to stand in front of me. In that moment I was like a prey being inspected by a predator as he decided how to devour his meal. Cold fingers grabbed my chin, startling me and I swàllowed hard, wondering if it was the last day in this world for me. And thinking how pathetic it was that I wasn’t even sad to die if this stranger kîlled me now.

“Apri gli occhi.” Open your eyes. He was speaking Italian. Maybe he was just one of the father’s guards. “Now.”

I obeyed.

I opened my eyes.

And, the moon finally decided to cast us in its silvery light.

The first thing I noticed about him was how tall he was. Taller than anyone I knew. And imposing. And dangerous. Then my eyes locked on his hair. The golden locks that shone in the moonlight like rich threads of gold.

Slowly, I allowed my gaze to lower to his face and if I wouldn’t have been scared for my life I’d have gasped in appreciation for the beauty of the man that stood in front of me. It was like one of those nocturnal creatures that my mother scared me with to stop me from hiding in the forest has come to life, but unlike what she had said about them being ugly monsters this was wrapped up in all the beauty god has to offer while he created him.

A shiver ran down my spine, and as I met his gaze, I realised all this time while I looked at him he was staring at me too. I noticed his eyes, they glinted in the moonlight like steel and I knew without a doubt they would be grey. An exquisite grey and they would be the last thing I’ll see before I die.

A soft press on my chin had me being aware of the fact that he was still touching me. I tried to step away from him but his grip on my chin hardened, barely there, just making me aware of his strength and that if he wanted then he could hurt me. “Who are you?” I whispered.

He leaned closer, his breath falling on my lips. Vodka. One of my favourite drinks, even though Father hated it because it was the poison Russians drink. “In this stance, your saviour.”

I looked at him once again. My saviour. Even if God himself told me that I wouldn’t believe it, because in all my eighteen years no one had ever come to save me. He couldn’t be my saviour, but maybe my death that God sent with a silk bow to make it less painful and more pretty. I almost smiled at that.

“Thank you,” I said to him. “I need to go back now.”

He shook his head. “Not so fast.”

I licked my dry lips. “What do you want?”

“Payment for my kindness.”

I doubted he had ever done anything out of kindness in his life but that wasn’t my business. I needed to go back to the house before everyone comes searching for me and finds me with that unconscious bastard. “What do you want?”

“Why were you running away from him?”

My eyes flickered to the man whom I’d have to marry if I didn’t find a solution anytime soon. “He was trying to force me.” Anger seeped into my words, coming back with vengeance. I gritted out, “So I punched him and then knéed him in the balls.”

He laughed. A rich throaty sound that echoed like a dreamy song in the forest. “And, here I thought I was saving a damsel in distress.”

I frowned at him. “I told you, now let me go.”

“That wasn’t my payment.”

“What? What else do you want?”

“There’s so much to ask. But I will settle on a kiss.”

“The last man who tried to take a kiss from me got knéed in the balls.” I gestured behind him.

His smile didn’t leave his face and it actually made him more handsome. He said, “He was taking it. You are going to give it to me.”

“Never.”

“Fine.” He shrugged. “Next time I see you getting chased by some lunatic you are trying to avoid, I’ll just stand by and watch you getting mauled by him.”

I started to turn away from him as he finally dropped his hand, no longer holding me in place by my chin. But then I paused as his words registered. Meeting his eyes, I asked, “Are you saying you’ll protect me whenever I’m in need of help?”

“You will never find out now, will you?” He said, his words rolling around in that rough caress.

“Tell me.” I insisted, a time spark of hope wanted to burn bright inside me.

“I am not in the habit of giving out favors unless I get something in return.”

I glared him, and then said, “You can’t save me.”

“Maybe not. Or maybe, I can arrange for your escape so you wouldn't have to marry him.” I stared at him in utter shock. He knew. He added, “But I guess, you are fine with what your future holds.”

He started to turn around to leave and my heart almost gave out on me for missing the opportunity faith has presented me with. I moved on pure instincts, my hand shot out and I grabbed his shoulder. I have never kissed anyone before but I didn't think about it as I screwed my eyes shut and pressed my lips against his.

It was just a mere second before I pushed him back and met his eyes. He looked amused like he was on the verge of laughing but my heart was running a mile per second. I said, “I did what you asked. Now, you will have to help me.”

“Do you call this a kiss?” He asked, his thumb brushing along his bottom lip and that action made me feel strange for some reason.

“This is the kiss you are getting.” I replied, continuing to put distance between us.

He nodded. “Next time it won't work and remember each payment will be greater than before.”

“We will see.” I turned around ready to flee.

And then his next words fell between us and once again I froze. “Doo sleduyushchego raza, lisichka.” Until next time, little fox.

He was speaking Russian.

And now I understand why his words rolled like that and why that tenor of his voice felt like a rough caress on my skin. Even when Zaman spoke in Russian it always felt like nails scratching on iron. But this man’s Russian was absolute melody to my ears.

He wasn't one of us.

I turned around to face him again.

But he was already gone.

.

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Hello, my dear beautiful readers...

How did you like their first meet?

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A. Gupta