Captivated by the deadly mafia boss

“Yes. How do you know him?” A tinge of accusation colors his question.

I turn back to him, holding the small bouquet of flowers Nora was able to procure for me between us.

“He’s the head of the Ivanov family, Jakub. How would I not know who he was?”

He frowns at me. “I’m not sure I like you knowing as much as you do.”

I lift a shoulder. “It’s too late on that front. Besides. Just because I know who people are doesn’t mean I know anything about them. Dad used to talk about people, but never with any details.” My heart sinks when I think of my father. It would have been nice to have him here. To have him walk me down the aisle, glare down Jakub, make a few threats of what he’d do to him if he hurt me.

But things don’t go that way for me.

“I’m sorry your dad isn’t here,” Jakub says, touching my arm. It’s unnerving how easily he can see into my mind.

“It’s fine.”

Jakub’s eyes narrow, like he’s about to launch into a lecture about honesty or something similar.

“Should we go to the dining room, too?” I gesture toward the double doors of Joseph’s office.

“Yes. Let’s go. The sooner we eat, the sooner we can get out of here.”

As we enter the dining room, Dominik escorts his wife to a seat at the end of the long dining table that’s been decorated with white lilies and roses with light blue paint on the edges. It’s simple in design, but beautiful nonetheless. Lena and Micah are already seated at the other end of the table, leaving two seats for Jakub and myself.

Jakub holds out my chair for me, though his stern expression reminds me of a little boy being forced into using his manners. I take my seat, placing the small bouquet in front of my place setting.

“Thanks,” I mutter as he takes the seat beside me. All we need now is Joseph to take the seat at the head of the table and we can get this fiasco over with.

All of this theater is nauseating. No one here believes Jakub and I are happy about this arrangement. They can’t possibly believe this is anything other than a business deal waiting to blow up in all of our faces.

“Thank you, all, for coming tonight. I know it was all very last minute,” I say to his family while we wait for Joseph to finish talking up the judge and see him out.

“Nothing new for this family,” Lena says, tipping her wineglass in my direction before taking a long sip.

“Do you have to start?” Dominik says across the table, settling a heated glare on his little sister.

“She’s only saying the truth. Leave it be.” Kasia, Dominik’s wife, pats her husband’s hand.

“Yeah, Dominik, leave me be,” Lena teases.

I can’t help but smile over the sweet banter of these siblings. They’re grown adults, all with power of their own in this city that I could only have dreamed of as a child, but here they sit teasing each other as though they are in grade school. It has a certain sweetness to it I missed growing up as an only child.

“Well, that’s taken care of.” Joseph enters the dining room with a loud clap of his hands. “The judge sends his regrets,” he says to Jakub as Joseph sinks into the chair. As soon as he’s settled a coughing fit takes over and it’s several seconds before he catches his breath. He waves off Jakub who’s leaning toward him.

“I’m fine. I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine,” Jakub retorts. “You should see someone, that cough isn’t getting better.”

“Enough about my cough. Let’s eat and celebrate your nuptials to this gorgeous young lady.” Joseph casts a wide smile in my direction. For a moment I can almost let myself believe the warmth of his statement, but it’s not real. I have to make sure I continue to understand. This is temporary. These people are not my family. And Jakub will let me go as soon as it’s safe.

“Thank you, Mr. Staszek. For everything. It’s all been very nice.” I say to him, and I mean it. Even if it is just pretend, it was nice to have.

“Do you see?” Joseph points at me while giving a stern look at his children. “Finally, someone in this family knows gratitude.”

I sit back in my chair, my face heating.

“Don’t let him get started,” Jakub says, reaching for a basket of bread rolls in front of him.

The conversation falls into a comfortable banter between them all, leaving me to eat my meal in peace. Joseph’s housekeeper has put out a delicious spread for us. I stuff a forkful of potato dumplings into my mouth when I’m pulled into the conversation again.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Jakub told us about your father, Nicole. I’m so sorry to hear,” Lena says to me, brushing her shoulder against mine.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Do you have any other family?” Lena asks, stabbing a piece of ham from her plate.

“Lena.” Micah nudges her.

“It’s all right.” I take a small sip of my Pinot Grigio. “My mother died when I was in fifth grade. It’s just been me and Dad since then.”

“I’m so sorry,” Kasia says. “Was she ill?”

“No.” I shake my head, moving my gaze downward. It’s not my shame, yet still every time I repeat it somehow, I sense it inside me. “She was an addict. She overdosed while I was at soccer practice after school.” I take a much larger gulp of my wine.

Jakub tenses beside me. Maybe he’s just realizing there is so much we don’t know about each other.

“Oh, God.” Kasia frowns. “My mother died suddenly as well when I was young. I’m so sorry you went through that.”

After another sip, I put my glass down and dive back into my food. “Thank you. It was hard, but Dad was good. He took good care of me.”

Jakub’s knuckles casually graze over mine as our hands rest on the tabletop.

Dominik turns the conversation again and I push my plate away. I’m tired and no longer hungry.

“Are you ready to go home?” Jakub whispers in my ear then pecks my cheek.

“Won’t it be rude to leave so early? They haven’t even had dessert yet.” Not that I could stomach any more sweetness. It’s all been very much, and I would like to crawl into bed.

By the look in Jakub’s eyes, I think he’s thinking the same thing. But for very different reasons.

“It’s our party. We can leave when I say.” He pulls away from me and gets to his feet. “We’re going to head out. Nicole’s had a long day and…” He pauses. “Well, I want to leave.”

Dominik smirks, but quickly hides it behind his glass.

Joseph laughs. “Yes. Go. It’s your wedding night.” He winks in my direction. My face flames.

Before I can give a proper goodbye, Jakub pulls me from the dining room.

“Jakub, that was sort of rude, don’t you think?” I say as we walk down the front steps toward his car.

“I don’t really care.” He pulls his keys out and hits the fob to unlock the door.

“It’s not even that late.” I say, climbing into the passenger side of the car. He holds the door open and peers in at me.

“It will be by the time I’m done with you, wife.” He winks then shuts the door.

What in the world have I gotten myself into?