Meet Odin

J. Wine
This is a work of fiction.

Copyright © 2023 J. Wine

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form
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ISBN: 9798223877042
 Contents

Disclaimers

Prologue
1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10
Sneak Peek of Odin
About the Author
 Disclaimers

WARNING DISCLAIMER: This book is suited for Adults 18+ only. It

contains sexual situations and adult content/language.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: SA (This event is not on the page, but it is

shown through the character's recollection. It is descriptive, and may be a
sensitive topic to some readers. If you would like further information,
please reach out to the author.)
 Prologue

“Y
es, Daddy! Right there. Right there, Daddy!”
I pounded my dick into her pussy repetitively from behind.
She was a decent lay, but if she didn't shut up soon, I would have to gag
her with my tie.
It was obnoxious how loud she was, moaning and screaming into the
mattress.
I picked up the pace. I needed this to be over. When you have fucked as
many women as I have, there’s not much left to the imagination. This was a
job - nothing more.
I held her in place by her hip and let my other hand slide down to her clit.
I rubbed it fiercely, not caring if it burned. Bitch needed to come and come
quickly.
“Yes!” she moaned. I could feel the walls of her pussy quivering around
my dick.
“That’s it,” I praised her. Bitches got off on that shit. “Take everything I
have to give you.”
 I let my mind wander until I couldn’t deny that it felt good. It wasn’t
spectacular, but I’d come in a few, releasing a little tension. Perk of the job.
She pushed her ass back into my stomach, and I felt my lower back start
to tingle.
“Be a good girl and make me come.” She groaned and something about
that set me off. I felt myself release into the condom. It was like having a
snack. I was satisfied, for now.
I pulled out of her, smacking her ass so she’d fall forward onto the bed.
Her eyes were droopy, and within a few seconds, she was out like a light.
When I first approached her, I pretended to be a successful business man.
It wasn't hard to play the role, and I never threw a red flag that made her
question my validity. We hadn't been seeing each other very long, but I had
dropped hints that I was looking for a wife, and she jumped at the chance.
She never stopped to consider that things were moving fast. Too fast.
She was too eager to start the life she thought was coming, making the job
too easy. Within a few weeks of fake dating, she surprised me with a key to
her apartment. Making sure I was seen with her a few times was all it took,
and no one questioned my presence. I walked into the front lobby earlier,
greeted the doorman, and casually stashed my gear in her apartment—high-
powered rifle included. Surprisingly, no one suspected a thing.
A snore came from the bitch on the bed. It hadn’t been that great, so either
she was tired or didn’t get out very much. It was hard to tell. Sorry,
sweetheart. You picked the wrong stud.
The lights came on in the apartment across the alley.
This was my mission.
I slid the window open in her bedroom, positioning my rifle on its stand
and waited. It wasn’t long before I fired two shots, embedding them into the
brain of the man standing in the kitchen.
He looked out the window as his mouth dropped open. It was lights out as
he hit the floor.
Turning, I stared at the sleeping bitch. Today wasn’t her day, and neither
was tomorrow. I pulled out my Glock and screwed the silencer on.
Bang! Bang!
Problem solved.
I pressed number 1 on speed dial.
“Clean up, aisle two.”
“Got it.”
I didn’t say any more and hung up. Of course, they got it. This was their
mess I just cleaned up. You only call the God of War when you can't take
care of it yourself.
I whistled as I walked from the elevator into the lobby of the apartment
complex.
The doorman wished me a good evening, and I disappeared into the
night.
 Chapter 1

B
oy, Age 16
I was standing in the alleyway watching rich people walk down the
street, like they didn’t have two shits to give. They would never know what
it was like to be homeless, living in any dark corner they could find, making
friends, and trading skills.
I had been dumped off at an orphanage when I was too young. I couldn’t
remember my parents, and the nuns were more concerned with discipline
than finding out where I came from. I learned early on that it was easier to
go unnoticed. Most tended to ignore the silent kid with the baby face.
Two years ago, I had had enough. The food sucked, the dorm fights were
nightly, and the nuns misquoted scripture to serve their own agenda. It was
the first escape I had ever planned. I walked right out the front doors and
vanished. They never came looking for me.
I went back to watching the people on the street.
Too short. I would have to bend over to pickpocket.
 A woman with a stroller. Could be the nanny, and she was probably just as
poor as I was.
A couple. I watched them enter the jewelry store. I needed cash, not the
beatdown he'd give me to protect her.
An older man with silver hair in a suit. Jackpot!
I walked to the back of the alley and entered the store to my left. I was in
here enough that the employees knew me. When they had caught me a few
times, the owner had asked for a percentage of my scores. It was the price
to eat. Pretending to be a shopper, I made my way through the store and out
the front door. Turning to the right, I could still see my mark. My mouth
started to salivate with the thought of dinner. I walked with my head down,
and my hat pulled low over my brow. I could hear his measured steps
approaching me.
Five steps away.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
I bumped his shoulder with mine and reached for his wallet.
“Sorry, sir,” I said and kept walking. The wallet was safely secured in my
pants pocket.
I told myself to act normal.
“Boy,” he called after me in perfect Swedish. Fuck!
Don’t turn around. Think of dinner.
“I know you can hear me, and I would like my wallet,” he said to my
back. “If you’re going to pickpocket, you should have gone for my watch.
It’s worth more.”
 Aw, fuck. How did I get out of this one? I slowly turned around and made
a “Are you talking to me?” face. Maybe if I played innocent, he wouldn’t
call the police. He’d have to press charges, but at least I’d have a bed and a
warm meal. Decisions. Decisions.
Still not saying a word, I met his gaze. His eyes were blue, but they had a
weird shine to them, like he was excited. My instincts screamed that
something was off. Could I outrun him?
“Come here,” he said to me. “You’re not in trouble. Keep the cash.” He
smirked at me.
I didn’t move. I had never been in this position before.
“Your name, boy?”
“Nunya.” It was easier than telling him I didn’t know my birth name, and
I had been called boy most of my life.
He analyzed me from head to toe. “I think I shall call you Thor.”
I didn’t see the resemblance. I was a skinny blonde who hadn’t eaten in a
few days. There was no way I’d pass for Thor.
He continued to scan me. “No, that won’t do.” He was talking to himself,
and I almost took off running. Maybe he was crazy, and this was just a way
to lure me in.
“No…” he said more to himself than to me. Stroking the stubble on his
chin, he suddenly snapped his fingers. “Odin. That’s it. Your name is Odin.”
“The God of War,” I whispered.
“Smart boy. You’ll do well as a Deviant. Now, come along, and we’ll get
you a meal.”

***
I
don’t know why I followed him to his hotel room, but something told
me to hear him out.
He was staying at the poshest hotel in the city. At least if he tried to
proposition me for sex, I could grab some shit and run. This was getting
better by the minute, and I wanted to rub my hands together like the bastard
I was.
As we walked into the suite, he removed his suit jacket, setting it on the
chair near the door. He poured himself a bourbon, neat. He didn’t ask me if
I wanted anything, but he took his glass and picked up the nearest phone. I
assumed he called room service because he ordered a burger and fries. This
man looked like he ate Wagyu steak every night of the week.
I didn't know that he had ordered the food for me, until it arrived. I wasn't
picky, and it looked delicious. As I started to eat, the questions started.
Where was I from? Where was my family? Did I even have a family? I
answered with vague answers and ate like this was going to be my last
meal. I didn’t care about manners. I didn’t care if he was disgusted. This
had to last me at least a few more days.
“Stop looking at the door.”
We were sitting in the living room. I was on one couch, and he sat directly
across from me. I didn’t realize that I had been watching the door and
turned my attention back to him. The food was nearly gone.
“I am Atticus De Angelis, Head of the De Angelis Deviants,” he began.
“Who runs this city, Odin?”
I wasn’t sure where this was going, but I answered. “The gangs.”
He chuckled. “No, you just think they do. I run these streets.”
I frowned. Was this man for real? Everyone knew about the gangs, which
is why I had to find a safe corner to hide in every night. They had tried to
recruit me, but if I wanted to take abuse, I would have stayed in the
orphanage. They roped you in with big promises, but you still ended up
poor.
“You don’t believe me, but that’s okay. Listen, and if you still want to
leave, you can. No one’s stopping you, Odin.”
I shook my head. There was no harm in that.
“Have you ever heard of De Angelis, Inc?”
I nodded. You had to be living under a rock not to know. They were the
leading weapons manufacture of all shapes and sizes in the world. There
was a De Angelis factory on the outskirts of town, but I wasn't old enough
to apply.
“What people don’t know is that it’s a front for the Deviants. Think of it
as a better structured, less-family orientated mafia. If you hadn’t picked my
pocket, I would have kept walking. How much education do you have?”
“Year eight.”
“Maybe formal education, but you’re smarter than that. You read?”
“Yes, sir. It passes the time away.”
“Here’s the deal, my boy. I saw potential in you the minute you started
counting my steps."
I was good. How had he known that?
He must have read the question in my expression. "You have a tell. You
clicked your fingers in time to my steps. I didn't catch it until there were
three steps in between us. That’s street smarts that can’t be taught. It has to
be learned so that it’s ingrained into you. You, my boy, will be the perfect
Syndicate. Book smart so that you can integrate into regular society, and
street smart so that you won't be caught."
“What’s a Syndicate?” I asked.
 “My hitmen that are willing to eliminate our enemies at a moment’s
notice without questions asked.”
“Do they get paid?” I asked.
“Yes. They also have regular professions. They hide within the public
during the day, and at night, they do my bidding. The Silent Syndicate
Division.”
“How much do they make?”
“My boy, you’ll never have to worry about a meal or a roof over your
head again.”
I didn’t know all the details, but I didn’t care. I was going to be rich.

***

O
nce I agreed, Mr. De Angelis told me to shower. He must have sent
for clothes because there was a bag of essentials outside the
bathroom door. That night, I thought I died and went to heaven in the bed. I
made sure the door was locked, but so far, everything was okay. I could still
run, I kept telling myself.
The next morning, we left Sweden by private plane. It was the first time I
had ever flown. As I sat at the window and watched my country disappear
into the clouds, I wondered if I would ever make it back. I wasn’t sad to be
leaving, but I wasn’t excited for this next chapter. I didn’t know what to
expect, and I didn’t want to ask for fear of the answers.

***

W
e pulled into a circular drive in front of an imposing compound. I
didn’t know where we were, but I assumed this was Mr. De
Angelis’s home.
 “This is where I leave you, my boy," he said in English.
I turned to look at him. “What do you mean?” I asked, switching to
English. The orphanage had taught us the most popular languages for when
rich people decided they wanted a foreign kid. They can't pretend to show
you off if you don't speak the language.
“This is the Silent Syndicate’s home basis of operation. When you exit the
vehicle, walk up the stairs, and Mr. X will help you get settled in. You’ll
have an aptitude test first, and based on those results, we’ll figure out what
your pathway is.”
“I thought my pathway was working for you,” I said.
“Oh, it is, but there’s more than one way to skin a cat.”
I looked at the compound again. Steeling my shoulders back, I exited the
car and didn’t say anything else. When I made it to the front door, I heard
the car pull away. I didn’t know when the next time I would see Mr. De
Angelis.
Knocking on the front door, I waited.
An older gentleman answered. He was dressed in a fitted black suit with
tails and a crisp white shirt, black bowtie at his neck.
“You must be Mr. Odin. Come in,” he said to me. "I am Mr. X."
I walked through the door, scanning the entryway for any sign that I
needed to run.
“The time to run was before Mr. De Angelis offered you an opportunity.
That time is now over, Odin,” Mr. X said to me. He was watching me as if I
would steal the vases that sat in the entry way for pocket change. The
thought had crossed my mind.
“Come.”
 Mr. X led me up two flights of stairs to a hallway lined with doors. “All of
the boys have bedrooms on this floor. You will have a bedroom on this
floor. There are no girls here, so that won’t be an issue. However, please
keep your door closed at all times. No one wants to see you…” He paused.
…indisposed.”
He walked down the hallway to the third door on the right. Opening it, he
swung the door inward and then took a step back. I looked at him once, and
then I went in.
In the orphanage, all of the boys that were a same age had slept in one
long room lined with bunk beds. They were god-awful uncomfortable, and
if someone was having a rough night, no one slept.
This room was nicer than anything I had been given before. There was a
bed along one wall and a desk underneath a window.
“We have a dress code here. You will find acceptable clothes in the closet.
I’ll leave you to get dressed. Once you’re finished, come back to the
entryway on the first floor. I’ll meet you there.” He shut the door on his way
out.
“So, this is how the other half lives,” I whispered to myself as I whistled.
I laid on the bed and crossed my ankles with my hands clasped behind my
head. I could get used to this.
I don’t know how long I laid there, but a voice came out of nowhere.
“Mister Odin, we don’t have all day for you to lounge around.”
I looked around to see if I could find where it had come from.
“There is an intercom system. Get dressed.”

***
T
hey weren’t kidding when they said I was going to be given an
aptitude test. I was shown to an empty classroom, where they
promptly sat the test in front of me. I hadn’t eaten anything since the burger
and fries, and no one had offered breakfast. I was starving and rushed
through the test. I didn’t care. If they wanted me to do it over, I would, but
my mind was on my rumbling stomach.
As soon as it was over, they took the test to grade it, and a butler brought
in a plate of eggs and bacon on a tray. Finally! I took my time and savored
it. I didn’t know when I would eat next.
Mr. X walked back into the room with another man.
“Odin, this is Mr. Y, our school’s headmaster.” Mr. Y looked like a nerd.
He was thin with a suit that didn’t really fit him. I couldn’t tell if he was
wearing a toupee, but I refrained from trying to grab it. It was hard.
“Odin, how much school do you have?” Mr. Y asked me.
“I already told Mr. De Angelis. Year eight.”
“Tone it down. This isn’t the orphanage. I won't throw scripture at you
when you're disrespectful. I will beat your ass."
Kinky. Too bad Mr. Y looked like he’d blow over with one good push.
I had been sitting at a long table, and Mr. Y sat in front of me on the other
side. I watched as Mr. X stood off to the side of the door.
“You’re smart. Too smart. You have the highest test score of any boy
we’ve seen come through the Syndicate’s doors. Did Mr. De Angelis give
you the basics of this place?”
“He said I’d be paid.”
“Is that all that matters to you?”
“Yes.”
 “Interesting, well, at least we won’t have to worry about a shrink.” Mr. Y
continued, “The Silent Syndicate is exactly as it sounds. Men who silently
hide in regular society. We have police men, teachers, retail clerks, anyone
you can think of. They all start here. Once they pass their aptitude test, we
make a plan for their education.
"The only profession we don’t have is a medical doctor. We've never had
anyone we were confident would complete the required education. That all
changes today. You’re going to med school, Odin.”
“How? I didn’t graduate.”
“We’ve sent that test off to cover the diploma and to accept you into
college. This is merely a formality. We have contacts. You’ll spend roughly
three years there, and as long as you’re still doing well, you’ll move
forward. Mr. De Angelis will cover the costs.
"You’ll be expected to study during the semesters and summer school to
complete this stage as quickly as possible. Every break, you’ll be here at the
compound. The Syndicate are hitmen at night. They rid the earth of the
vermin. You’ll need to learn weapons training, the art of disguise, and much
more in order to become silent. If you’re caught, no one is going to rescue
you.”
No wonder they had picked me. I didn’t have a family, and no one would
come looking if something went wrong.
Mr. Y stood up and tucked the chair back in under the table. “Eat your
breakfast, and then you’ll join the other boys for class,” he said as he
walked towards the door. Turning around, he watched me as I shoveled
toast in my mouth. “You’ll need a surname. Do you want anything
specific?”
“Nystrom. I want Nystrom,” I said.
 He nodded his head to acknowledge that he had heard me, and as he
walked out the door, he took one last parting shot. “Chew with your mouth
closed.”
I smiled at Mr. X as I leaned back in my chair. Nystrom - the dark storm.
I liked it already.

***

M
r. Y had been right. They had sent the aptitude test off, and within a
few weeks, I received a diploma. It didn't matter that I hadn't been
to a traditional school in years. From there, I spent three years in college,
earning some bullshit science degree.
It had been a cycle. I went to the college of Mr. De Angelis's choice, and
every break I was back at the Syndicate compound.
The day I was accepted into med school, I walked into my room at the
compound, and there was a gift sitting on my bed. It could have only been
from one man. Mr. De Angelis had bought me my own medical bag with a
false bottom. I wasn't going to be a regular doctor. I was going to serve the
underworld. Lucky me, but at least it would pay well.
 Chapter 2

O
din, 32
I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling, contemplating the meaning of
my life. It was laughable that my mind had wandered there after last night’s
adventures. I should have been more focused on my aching bladder.
Taking a leak, I could hear my computer chime with the morning’s email.
It was too early to deal with this shit without coffee.
I made myself a cup and sighed as the first drop hit my tongue.
Graduating med school had been a turning point of sorts for me. School
was over, and I could fully embrace the life of a Syndicate. By day, I made
house calls to members of the underworld. Runny noses, sick stomachs, you
name it. By night, I'd quickly complete any jobs that came my way. It didn't
matter how much money I had, I craved more. It was never enough. My life
had been upgraded, but emotionally, I was still the hungry kid from the
streets. When there was a lull in work, I didn't handle it well.
It was during one of those lulls that I was called into Mr. De Angelis'
office. He told me that he understood my need for more, but I couldn't
continue down this path. I'd make a mistake and either be dead or in jail. He
convinced me that I was too smart to be taking jobs that were beneath me. I
should have been leaving them for the other Syndicates.
Mr. De Angelis smiled wide. "Odin, my boy," he said. "I have a
proposition for you."
"A few weeks ago, I instructed the Nerds to quietly solicit outside
contracts for the Syndicate. There's plenty out there, and we can use those
connections to our advantage. You'll have first choice, and whatever you
don't want will be offered to another Syndicate. However, there are
stipulations. The Nerds will filter through all available contracts, and the
legitimate ones will reach my desk for approval. Deviant work will always
come first, but this should keep you from going unhinged when things are
slow."
It was the solution I needed at the time, but over the last couple of years, I
had felt a shift. I couldn’t pin point exactly when it had occurred, but I had
started to become wary of new work emails. Works work, and I was not one
to judge, but there’s something to be said when you had to contact a hitman.
A well-connected hitman.
I may be a killer, but even I had standards. Most of these people wouldn’t
receive a response. They didn't even get a second look. This is a pay-to-play
world.
I noticed there was a wire transfer to my unmarked account for the hit last
night. Contract complete.
I started to scroll through my requests, not really seeing anything of
interest, until the last email sent a chill down my spine - Atticus De Angelis.
What could the old man want now?
 I owed him my life. He had made me into the man I was today. However,
there had always been something off about him. The man never aged. It was
unsettling.
Office, 2 PM
-AD
Fuck!
I wondered what he had up his sleeve. It wasn’t like him to call me into
the office in the middle of the day. I’d have to have a wig, a prosthetic nose,
and maybe a new chin. It’d take time to craft the pieces and make sure I
was unrecognizable.

***

I
walked into Mr. De Angelis’ office precisely at two in the afternoon. I
knew better than to be late. He had given me a life, but he held the
power within his pinkie to take it all away. I wasn’t going to risk it.
He sat at his desk as I walked in. Looking up from his computer, he
smiled at me. “Odin, my boy. It’s been a while.”
It didn’t matter how old I was, I always bristled when he called me boy.
He stood from his desk and stretched his hand out towards me to shake.
“Mr. De Angelis.” I’d never called him Atticus. First names were for
friends. We were not friends, not even acquaintances. I worked for him, and
he owned me. I wasn't resentful of that fact, although I hadn't really known
what I was getting into all those years ago. It is what it is, and the only way
out was death.
“Sit, my boy.” Taking a chair in front of his desk, I waited for him to
make the first move.
 He ran his eyes over me. I could tell he was taking stock of my
appearance. It wasn’t uncommon for the Syndicate to use disguises to go
undetected within normal society. I stopped questioning years ago how Mr.
De Angelis was able to recognize me.
“What do you know about the Giuseppe Lombardo and the Italians in
Chicago?”
“Just the basics, sir. How Lombardo started off doing odd jobs to support
his family, and when it wasn’t enough, he turned to a life of crime.
Recruiting Italian men in similar situations, he established the Italian family
over forty years ago. The rest is history. I thought the police raided them a
few months ago.”
“They did, and no one knows why.”
Ah, I knew where this was going. Mr. De Angelis liked to keep a finger
on the pulse of the underworld, no matter the location. From a business
standpoint, I could understand why. We didn't have friends, so we kept our
enemies close. To me, it didn't make any difference as long as I was getting
paid. My childhood scars ran deep. Realistically, I would never be the kid
on the streets again, but I also wasn't going to slack off.
“There are four factions in Chicago: the Italians, the Greeks, the Bratva,
and the Yakuza. It used to be that each faction maintained their own
boundaries, but, in recent years, they’ve started to intermingle. Partnerships,
marriages, and the like. Ilya Volkov is marrying his Greek bride in two
weeks time. The Italians are close with both factions, so they’ll be in
attendance. I have it on good authority they need a bartender. I
recommended you.”
That was a joke. The bartender was dead. I would take his place to gather
intel.
 “I want to know why the Italians were raided and if it's anything we have
to worry about. Giuseppe Lombardo is more concerned with his dick than
running his own affairs. We can’t have that happening, especially if it’s
going to backfire on us.”
I stood up from my chair. “I won’t fail you, sir.”
“No, my boy. No, you won’t.”
 Chapter 3

T
his wedding was a who’s who of the underworld.
A Bratva boss married a Greek mafia princess.
An Italian don was trying not to gather any suspicion.
I stood watching it all behind the oak bar, serving drinks. It gave me sick
pleasure to know that no one in this room knew my real identity. On the
outside, I looked like the bartender who should have been here. Meanwhile,
I could hear most of the conversations near me. I’d remember all of this
information for later when I would have to send a report.
“Bourbon, neat,” a blonde, brutish man said as he approached the bar.
This was the groom’s older brother, Adrik Volkov. I had done my
homework for the evening, memorizing the top members of each faction
and their families. I eyed him as I poured his drink. He turned to face the
crowd, a scowl instantly appeared on his face. It disappeared just as quickly
as he smoothed his features into a poker face. I couldn’t help but notice that
his jacket bulged over his holster. Dude was packing. Did he expect a
shootout? It appeared that I had brought knives to a gun fight.
 I placed his glass on a cocktail napkin at his elbow as he turned,
scrutinizing me.
“You have siblings?” he asked me. I shook my head in response. No one
had come out of the woodwork in the last sixteen years, so I felt pretty safe
in that department.
“You like the bride?” I asked him. He just looked at me. Finally, he
responded, “She’s good for my brother. Will give him dark-haired brats.
What more could he ask for?”
Taking a sip of his drink, he ended the conversation. I was actually
surprised he had answered me. You didn't want to give your enemy a chance
to exploit your weaknesses, and your family is always the primary target. A
lot of these men had been born with silver spoons. That’s why they hired
guns and kept their weaknesses buried.
The bride and groom were good at masking their feelings for each other,
but it didn’t take much to know that they were a love match. It was the little
things that gave them away. His hand never left her body. She’d smile
secretively at him. I had no doubt if shit went down, he could protect her on
his own.
I took the liberty to top off Adrik’s glass and went to the other end of the
bar to look busy. He seemed lost in his own little world and didn’t give a
fuck. I thought it was amusing. The groom kept shooting him glances, but I
hadn’t heard them exchange any words.
As I was wiping down the bar, a woman approached him from the side
and grabbed his drink out of his hand. She laid her other hand across his
back as she gulped the brown liquor.
Katalina Petrakis, the bride’s younger sister.
“Having fun?” she asked him.
 “It’s a wedding,” he replied.
Her laugh drew mine and every other man within the vicinity's attention.
“You and I both know that no one wants to be here for an actual wedding.
Not even the bride and groom.”
I slid a little closer to them in case this conversation was going to get
interesting. She wasn’t wrong. Most of these people were here to eat, drink,
and sign their next big contract.
They continued to banter. It was entertaining as she had the upper hand,
but I wasn’t any closer to learning why the Italians had been raided.
Adrik caught my attention for a refill. If I had to deal with that girl, I’d
need plenty of bourbon too.
As I laid the glass back down, I could hear her tell him, “I prefer to be a
realist. At least I don’t have to pretend that my shit doesn’t stink,” she
continued.
“You better not let your mother hear that mouth of yours.” You tell her, big
guy. Didn’t she know that mafia princesses were supposed to be seen and
not heard?
“Maybe I’ll just find someone who prefers my mouth’s other talents.”
It took everything in me not to react. She sauntered off, sashaying her
hips.
I took a quick peek over at Adrik. He looked like he wanted to strangle
her into submission. I could have told him it would be more hassle than it
was worth. She’d surrender to the right man, and that wasn’t either of us.
Eventually, he left his bar stool and, with a refill in hand, went back out
into the crowd to network. I looked for Katalina. She was talking to an
older woman that I’d recognize anywhere. Her mother, Maria Petrakis. Old
Battle Axe herself. The woman had her own reputation for being just as
ruthless as her husband, the Don.
I was too far to hear what they were discussing, but it didn’t look good.
Maria was clearly talking through clenched teeth as she kept a smile on her
face. I made a note of it.
The bar was busy in waves. I'd get a rush of people who would surround
the bar, and then, they would disappear like the tide.
Toward the end of the night, a slight movement to my left caught my
attention. Katalina slid out the side door of the ballroom that led to the
restrooms. If I hadn’t been facing her, I’d have never noticed. She was
stealthy.
If I wasn’t going to get any useful information, then I’d talk her into a
sample of her talented mouth. The venue staff had told me when I arrived
that I would have to restock the bar occasionally. Now seemed to be the
perfect time.
 Chapter 4

I
was the hunter searching for my prey. I gave her a few second lead, and
then I followed her out the same door. If anyone asked me where I was
going, I’d say I got turned around looking for the stockroom.
I could smell hints of her perfume, so I knew she wasn’t that far ahead.
My dick was hard at the anticipation. She walked past the restrooms and
turned the corner into a small hallway. As I approached the same corner,
instinct made me stop.
“Kat, I thought you would never come,” a soft voice spoke. My ears
perked up at the melody, and I recognized it immediately. I had served this
girl a soda. I had been intrigued by the sound of her voice, but she had
rushed off before I could identify her. Now, I needed to know who she was.
“My mother was suspicious, so I had to wait for her to turn her back.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
I peaked around the corner. They had picked the worst spot for this
conversation. Anyone who approached them would be able to see and hear
everything, and they would be none the wiser.
 Katalina was hugging her.
“Shhh,” Katalina whispered to her. “It’ll be alright. Tell me what’s going
on.”
Katalina was stunning, but when the other girl pulled away from the hug,
I was captivated. I could only see her profile from my spot. I couldn’t look
away from her. I wished she would turn so I could see her better.
My wish came true. As she took a deep breath, she shifted slightly to her
right. It was enough for me to see her beauty completely. My breath
hitched, and I knew who she was immediately.
Serena Lombardo, Giuseppe Lombardo’s granddaughter.
I had studied her family, and her picture hadn't done her justice.
I imagined running my fingers through her brown hair and kissing her red
lips.
“Do you remember when we were raided?”
Oh, fuck.
Could this be it? All of those made men in the reception, and these two
girls had loose lips? I couldn’t believe this.
“Shh, are you trying to get us killed?” Katalina was right. They shouldn’t
be having this conversation.
“You’re the only one I can tell.” Serena started to cry. Katalina brushed
tears from her cheeks. I wanted to be the one to hold her, to lick those tears
away and make sure she only smiled.
“You’re my best friend, Rena. I hate seeing you like this.”
“We have an undercover cop in the family.”
Jackpot!
“What the fuck?”
“You heard me, Kat. That’s why we were raided.”
 “How the fuck do you know?” Katalina snapped. I wanted to know the
same thing.
“Do you remember when we went to the movies a few months ago? You
met my father’s new soldier, Luca Carazzo?”
“Noooooo….him?”
“Yeah, him.”
“He was kind of a tool, but they all are. Cookie cutter assholes.”
“A few weeks after that, he caught me in the house by myself. I didn’t
think anything of it. You know how the guards are. They’re never in the
house unless requested. He cornered me, and told me that he’d destroy my
family unless I helped him. I didn’t take him seriously, and when I laughed,
it made things worse.” Serena was barely holding it together. I wanted to
hold her, to comfort her. Give her the strength she desperately needed right
now.
“Kat,” she continued on a quiet sob. “I tried to fight my way out, but he
overpowered me, pinning me to the wall. My hands were handcuffed
behind my back.”
Katalina’s demeanor changed instantly. “I’ll gut him. I’ll gut him like a
fucking fish.”
I could tell she was planning revenge, but I could have told her she didn’t
need to. I already had blood on my hands. A job was a job, and I never left a
job undone. I didn’t care that the Italians had walked an undercover cop into
their family. However, it infuriated me he had assaulted this girl. An
innocent. Cop or no cop. I’d exact my revenge in Serena’s name. No one
touched what was mine, and Serena was definitely mine.
I had to get a handle on my rage before they figured out they weren’t
alone, and I did something stupid. At least the fucker wasn’t here. He
wasn’t ranked high enough to warrant an invitation. If he was, he wouldn’t
have left alive.
Katalina came to her senses and grabbed Serena in a tight hug.
“How does your family not know?” she asked.
“I hid in my room for a few days after it happened. They didn’t even ask
questions. You know how they are. They’re oblivious. If I tell them, the
problem will be taken care of immediately, but I am afraid they’ll be too
emotional. They’ll have cloudy judgement, and then he wins if they get
caught. I can’t have them sent to prison. They won’t survive, and I don’t
want that on my hands.
"I didn’t get a chance to see a doctor. They would have questioned it, and
I didn’t have the answers to tell them. We’re eighteen, Kat. They’re going to
arrange my marriage, and what happens if my groom finds out? It’ll start a
war no one is prepared to fight. Even if my husband doesn’t know, what if
there’s damage? If I can’t have children…” She trailed off. Her eyes were
watering again, and her bottom lip quivered.
“Is the cop pressuring you?” Katalina was still outraged, but if she didn’t
tone it down, she’d draw unwanted attention. I had a feeling she was used
to that.
“Luca wants me to find evidence to use against my family. I feed him
bullshit documents that don’t mean a thing. When he figures it out, he
threatens me about the attack. It doesn’t matter that this happened to me. It
will be my fault, and I’ll be shunned on top of everything else.”
“Fucker! I am going to kill him, Rena. I swear, I will.”
“No, you won’t. I won’t lose you either, Kat.”
Katalina stopped mid-rant and took a good look at Serena. “Are you
alright?”
 “No. I shouldn’t have told you. This is a wedding.”
I was proud that she was able to reign in the spitfire.
“Toula’s wedding. You know this is formality. Are you alright?”
I wanted to know as well. I had already made a vow to protect her with
everything I had, but I needed to know where to start.
“I will be. I am just going to continue as before. He’ll make a mistake,
and that will be the end of it. I don’t care if they kill him for being an
undercover. I just don’t want them to find out about the attack.”
“I understand. I do, but we have to get back.”
I hid behind a set of potted plants, as they walked past me, arm-in-arm.
I’d take care of the cop. I was better than any of the Italians, and I was
pretty sure that Mr. De Angelis would approve the hit. I’d make Carazzo
pay for what he did. She was mine, even if she didn’t know I existed right
now.
His days were numbered. I made my way back to the storeroom to stock
the bar. There were only a few hours left, and then I could make my escape.
I had plans to concoct.
 Chapter 5

I
sent an email to Mr. De Angelis asking to meet.
He responded:
Office. 9:00 AM
-AD

***

I
walked into Mr. De Angelis’s office precisely at nine in the morning.
The wedding had been Saturday night, and Sunday, I had spent all day
making plans. I knew exactly who Luca Carazzo was. Serena was right.
He'd make a mistake.
Mr. De Angelis was sitting at his desk waiting for me. His suit was crisp,
not a hair out of place.
I knew him better than that. He was patiently waiting for me to give him
the report on the wedding.
“Odin, my boy. How was the wedding?”
 I didn’t expect him to make pleasantries first. “It was good,” I responded.
“I make a mean bourbon neat.” His lips twitched at my joke. “I bet you do,
my boy.”
Bourbon, the mafia’s drink of choice.
I went for the direct approach. “The Italians have an undercover cop
among them. He’s the reason they were raided.”
“Do they know? The raid didn’t yield anything.”
“No, they don’t. I suspect they have contacts within the department that
notified them prior.”
Mr. De Angelis leaned forward in his chair and steepled his fingers.
“Talk.”
He’d given me that command since I was sixteen. I handed him a file that
I had put together on the cop. He started to flip through it, but he’d want to
hear it from me.
“Meet Luca Carazzo. He’s actually the fire chief’s youngest son. It’s safe
to assume that he didn’t want to follow the family tradition. All of the sons
are firefighters except him. At eighteen, he graduated high school and
started to pursue a Criminology degree. When he graduated at twenty-two,
he immediately applied for the academy on his father’s recommendation.
There’s speculation that he had some help. He was the last in the class, and
by all accounts should have been cut.
"It took him two years to get a promotion, more than likely due to daddy's
intervention, not because he earned it. All of a sudden, he’s friends with
Sergio Lombardo, Giuseppe’s grandson. That’s how he was introduced to
the family. They say he’s moving up the ladder fast, but eventually, they’ll
ask him for loyalty. Depending on what the test is, he’ll have them. If he
doesn’t fuck up sooner than that.”
 Mr. De Angelis was still flipping through the file when he asked the
question that I dreaded. “How did you find this out?”
“A credible source.”
His eyebrows shot up as he peered at me. This was the first time that I had
ever avoided a direct question. I had never had a reason before.
“I have never known you to protect someone. Who is she?”
How did he know? I was that sixteen-year-old kid again who had picked
his pocket.
"You're trying to hide it, but with our history, I can see right through you.
I am not sure you would care if it was a made man, so I went with the
obvious answer. You met a woman, and she gotten under your skin."
“Serena Lombardo.”
He sat up and leveled a look at me. “Talk,” he said again.
“I caught the conversation by accident. Giuseppe's granddaughter is best
friends with Katalina Petrakis, the third daughter of the Greek Don. They’re
young and didn’t know anyone was listening. Serena told Katalina that
she’s providing the cop useless documents to keep him occupied until he
makes a mistake.”
“Do you think he will? Make a mistake?”
“Eventually.”
There was a pause. “You don’t like that plan?” I shook my head. “What
would you like to do?”
This was the first time he had ever asked my opinion. I was walking into a
trap, but I couldn’t see any way out of it. I wouldn’t lie to this man.
“He’s bullying an innocent woman. There’s no telling how long she’ll be
able to placate him. What happens when he’s no longer satisfied, or the
department puts stress on him? She’ll be targeted. Let me take him out and
put an end to this.”
He made a clicking noise in the back of his throat. Looking down at the
cop’s picture, he drummed his fingers against the desk.
“We can use this to remove Giuseppe. He’s too old and losing touch with
reality. Even without the cop, Giuseppe will eventually destroy them. His
son needs to take over. Lorenzo is more level-headed and groomed for the
business.”
I didn’t like where this was going. If this didn’t end with the cop’s head
on a platter, I didn’t know how I would react. I buried my sudden rage.
“No, I think we’ll let this play out for a little bit longer, and if it gets
worst, we’ll step in.”
“And Serena?” Fuck! I let that slip.
“What about her?”
“She’s in the line of fire”
“So?”
I wouldn’t betray her confidences, even if she hadn’t known she was
confiding in me. An idea sprung forward.
“They’re old world. What if we made an arranged marriage with them for
Serena? It would strengthen our connections so that you could exert control
from the outside. You’d also have a man on the inside to get a read on
things.”
“You’d be the inside man? Marry Serena?”
Fuck yes, I would! She belonged to me, and only me.
On the outside, I was the epitome of calm. “You can introduce me as your
personal physician. I already have a reputation for being discreet and
servicing the community. No disguise. I’ll be introduced to them as me. I’ll
cut off my outside work and only run assignments for you as a Syndicate.
It’ll cut down on my time away from her, and no one will suspect anything.
I can also feed her more documents that we control to the cop.” I left out the
part where she’d be my wife, and I would protect her.
This was a good plan. I just needed Mr. De Angelis to sign off on it, but I
knew he hadn’t bought my line of bullshit.
“You’re agreeable to this, right?” I asked.
“No, my boy. We’ll arrange the marriage, but this is what we’re going to
do.”
He proceeded to devise a new plan, but Serena was still mine. I’d just
have to wait a little longer than I wanted to.
 Chapter 6

I
pulled into the parking garage underneath De Angelis Inc. For someone
who actively avoided this place, I'd seen my fair share of the inside
recently. I'd received an email last night, letting me know that my presence
was requested at eight in the morning. There was no further instructions, but
I could only imagine today was the meeting with the Italians. I was one step
closer to making Serena officially mine.
As I pulled into a parking spot, I noticed there was a black Mercedes
idling near the entrance to the elevator. I wasn't in disguise, and although it
didn't really matter, I still sat in my car, observing. The driver's side door
opened, and, as soon as I saw his features clearly, I was transported to
another time. Mr. De Angelis had employed the same driver all of these
years.
I turned off my car and stepped out. With no way of knowing who might
be watching, I decided to make a show of it. Opening the back door, I
reached for my suit coat. Taking my sweet ass time, I ensured the buttons
were done correctly, and the sleeves lay flat at my wrists.
 I walked towards the elevator, but as I approached the Mercedes, the
driver turned towards me.
"Dr. Nystrom," he said. "Your presence is requested."
He opened the back door and stood to the side, waiting for me to enter.
"Get in, my boy. We don't have all day."
I wasn't late, but Mr. De Angelis had been waiting for me.

***

T
his reminded me of a long-ago car ride.
I was sitting in the back seat next to Mr. De Angelis. The only
sounds in the car were the small outside road noises and the gentle hum of
the engine. This wasn't a comfortable silence, but there also wasn't a need to
fill it with chatter. The plan had previously been set, and if it went well, I
would walk out an engaged man.
The Lombardo's had alerted the guards at the gate of our arrival, so we
were waved through. The driver followed the road until it circled into an
actual driveway. There would be eyes and cameras everywhere, so I sat in
my seat until the driver opened my door first. Exiting the vehicle, I made
sure that the driver had room to close the door, but I didn't drift any further.
When Mr. De Angelis walked around the front of the vehicle, I waited for
him to approach me. I let him walk in front of me, as we made our way up
the front steps to the main door of the compound. This was all about
presentation. Power. Control, and it wrapped around Mr. De Angelis like a
second skin.
As we approached the front door, it opened, revealing a butler. This was
deja vu, and I felt like it was my first day at the Silent Syndicate all over
again.
 "May I get you gentleman anything while you wait?" he asked. We both
declined. First rule of entering the enemy territory was don't drink or eat
anything when you're only visiting for a meeting. I didn't know what Mr.
De Angelis had said to arrange this appointment, but it wasn't an open
invitation. This was business.
We were escorted into a grand foyer, and the butler scattered off to
announce our presence. I took a look around as we waited. The foyer was
nothing more than a series of connected arches that led further into the
compound. As each arch met the next one, there were floral arrangements in
different shades of red. The vases were real gold. I didn't need to look at
them closely to know.. The walls had a fresco motif that extended to the
arched ceiling. This screamed Italian Renaissance, but I wasn't impressed. It
was gaudy as hell. If you have to show this much wealth to impress
company, chances were good, you really didn't have it.
It wasn't long before the butler escorted us to Giuseppe Lombardo's
office. The fireworks were about to begin.

***

tticus, to what do we owe the pleasure of this meeting?" Giuseppe

"A Lombardo said. Giuseppe looked like the perfect stereotype of every
Hollywood mafia movie. He was an older gentleman with black hair and
gray sideburns. He spoke out of the corner of his mouth, but there was
enough of an accent to know that Italian was his first language. The only
thing missing was the toothpick that he could pluck in between his teeth.
"It's no secret that you've been raided Giuseppe, and as you know, that
comes with dire consequences," Mr. De Angelis retorted.
"An unfortunate event indeed."
 "The other factions won't enlist you for new contracts, until you're no
longer a liability."
"Yes, well, we're resilient," Giuseppe declared confidently. However, it
didn't take much to see through the facade. The room reeked of fear.
Giuseppe occupied a grand chair behind an expansive desk, flanked by
guards on either side. His son, Lorenzo, was on my right side, while
Lorenzo's son, Sergio, was on Mr. De Angelis' left side. Three more guards
were at the back of the room. This was an unnecessary show of force.
"Time will tell, but that's not why we're here," Mr. De Angelis continued
as if Giuseppe was just a spec on his shoe. "If you're going to come back
from this, you need to reestablish your legitimacy. It doesn't matter that
you're resilient as you put it. It will only matter how you move into the
future."
Giuseppe tried to chuckle, but it turned into a dry cough.
This was like watching a ping pong match. Giuseppe would say
something, and Mr. De Angelis would volley back. It would continue until
someone lost the point, and then they would start again. I was only partially
paying attention. I didn't care about all of the business logistics. I just
wanted Serena.
The back-and-forth continued for an hour, before Giuseppe seceded.
"What do you propose?" he asked. He was no match for Mr. De Angelis.
This was the moment I had anxiously waited for. It wasn't my place to say
anything, but I started to watch Giuseppe's face closely for any clues that
the meeting would turn sour.
"An arranged marriage."
"You don't participate in the practice," Giuseppe retorted, attempting to
maintain his poker face. However, his neck had started to turn red, the color
creeping up into his cheeks. If the old man wasn't careful, he'd blow a
gasket. I didn't want to be the one to revive him.
"No, but you do. Consider it a sign of good faith," Mr. De Angelis
countered, cool as a cucumber.
"In exchange for what?" Giuseppe's voice rose.
"The Deviants will provide the legitimacy that you desperately need right
now. It will allow you time to clean house, sort of speak. In exchange, we
will have first rights to fund any upcoming project of yours that we see fit at
a five percent interest rate. Depending on the project, we may take an owner
stake up to fifty-one percent," Mr. De Angelis said as he drummed his
fingers against the arm of the chair.
"So, you'd cherry pick a deal for controlling interest? I don't see how that
would benefit us." The redness in Giuseppe's cheeks darkened.
"You're missing the point. You regain status in a world that doesn't want to
have anything to do with you. At least, it won't be for awhile. In fact, most
of them are waiting for you to implode, so they can rip your territory apart
and claim pieces for themselves. I would."
"Why don't you?"
"I believe in long-term plans, goals…," Mr. De Angelis trailed off. "I can
envision a future where having the Italian family is mutually beneficial. If I
didn't, I'd be the first in line, challenging for your territory. Unlike the rest
of them, I'd easily win. However, I will not offer you an unequal deal.
Legitimacy is priceless."
Giuseppe shifted in his chair, clasping his fingers together so that they
rested on his desk.
"Say I agree to this, what about the marriage?" he asked.
"Your granddaughter, Serena, to my Deviant, Dr. Odin Nystrom."
 "Absolutely not!" Lorenzo, Serena's father exclaimed. Like me, he hadn't
said anything either. It wasn't either of our places, but the apple didn't fall
from the tree. Lorenzo was a young carbon copy of his father down to the
graying sideburns.
Giuseppe raised his hand, silencing his son. "Serena is not available for
marriage," he stated matter of factly.
"You don't have daughters. She's eighteen."
"She's not available." Giuseppe was going to dig his heels in.
"She's legal for marriage, and you don't have anyone else that's even close
in age," Mr. De Angelis said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "The next
available granddaughter is twelve."
"Say we agree to Serena, your man isn't even Italian."
"When did that matter in an arranged marriage? He's a Deviant." If they
knew I was actually a Silent Syndicate, we wouldn't be having this
conversation. Syndicates were the worst-kept secret in the
underworld.People knew we existed, but they'd never be able to identify
one.
"He's not Italian," Guiseppe held firm, like being Italian was the end all be
all.
"You're right. He's not. He's Swedish."
"He doesn't have our values."
"Seriously?" Mr. De Angelis asked. "The next thing you'll say is that he
doesn't have a family. " He shook his head in disbelief.
"Well, the thought had crossed my mind."
"You should be thanking whatever God you pray to that someone is
willing to even work with you. Your only concern with Odin is that he
doesn't fit your perfect aesthetic I shouldn't have to read you his resume.
My word should be enough. He's my personal physician. He's a De Angelis
Deviant. He serves the underworld as a doctor in his spare time. What more
do you want?" I thought he had left out the better parts of my history, such
as all the contracts I'd completed.
Giuseppe tried to speak, but Mr. De Angelis leveled him with a look that
clearly screamed "Are you fucking serious?"
Eventually, Old Man Lombardo came to the correct conclusion. It was
easier to arrange a marriage for Serena than to be on the wrong side of Mr.
De Angelis. They gave us a date six weeks in advance for the wedding, but
I wasn't allowed to officially meet her. I'd have to take drastic measures to
make sure she was safe.
 Chapter 7

S
erena
I knocked on the door of my grandfather's office. I had been
summoned, with no notification on what had prompted this. I wasn't in any
trouble that I knew of, and I hadn't disgraced the family name that they
knew of. There was only one thing I knew for certain. My life was going to
change. Grandfather had never sent for me before.
"Come in," he called.
I opened the door and took a step into the office.
"Close the door and have a seat, Serena." I did as I was told.
He went back to looking over some paperwork, and I sat in silence
waiting for something to happen. I wasn't really sure what I was supposed
to do. Some time went by before he spoke to me, never lifting his head from
his papers. "We've had an offer for your hand, and I thought it was best to
accept. You will be married in six weeks from this coming Saturday. That's
all."
 That's all? I wanted to rage in his office. How could he brush this off like
it was nothing? Like I meant nothing? However, on the outside, I accepted
my fate. There was no use in complaining. My marriage had been officially
arranged.
"To whom, Grandfather?" I asked the top of his head.
"Dr. Odin Nystrom of the De Angelis Deviants."
"Thank you," I said as I stood up from my chair and walked calmly out of
the room.

***

I
called Katalina as soon as I made it back to my bedroom. I couldn't
form the words to tell her what had happened. Every time I tried, I
would just spit out half words or thoughts. I must have said enough that she
put it together.
"They arranged your marriage?" she asked me.
"Yes. To a Deviant." I told her. "I have no idea who he is. I just know his
name."
She made a clucking sound. "Can you meet me at Little Fox's for dinner?"
she asked.
I quickly agreed.

***

I
knew exactly why Katalina had picked Little Foxes. If you didn't know
anything about the restaurant's history, you'd think that it was a quaint
little place with really good food. It was, but there was so much love and
romance infused within these walls that it made me think I could have
something similar.
 I walked into the restaurant with my guard trailing behind me. I'd been
here plenty of times since it opened, and the hostess recognized me
immediately. She said hello and led the way to where Katalina was waiting.
After I was seated, my guard made his way to the bar. Over the years, he'd
caught wind of plenty of conversations that weren't his business. After
about the third awkward one, I made a deal with him on the way home that
night. He could make sure I was safe, and I wouldn't leave his sight.
However, he had to give me space to be with my friend without censoring
our conversation. It worked well unless my family was in the room.
"Hey!" I smiled at her. "Good choice."
"It's your new favorite," she smiled. "It's also a reminder that not all
arranged marriages are awful."
"Tell me how Little Fox's came to be."
"I've told you a million times." Kat's smile became bigger.
"Tell me again. I like hearing it."
"Toula's club is almost two-years-old. You know how it is though. My
father won't acknowledge that her club is the most successful business in
his legitimate portfolio. If someone asks, he'll say it's a family business.
That's bullshit. Toula put it together and made it what it is. So, before the
wedding, Toula wasn't sure she wanted to be involved in the daily
operations anymore. It has a management team, so it's not like they really
need her. She just has to monitor it from afar." Kat took a sip of water from
the glass in front of her. Setting it down, she traced the rim of the glass with
her finger catching the droplets.
"It wasn't a big secret that she was thinking about stepping back. I actually
think my father wanted her to so that he could say she cracked under the
pressure." Kat coughed slightly. She took another sip of water and
continued, "This is my favorite part. At one of the family dinners, Ilya
makes an announcement that he's planning on expanding his businesses.
"Ilya literally pulls out a leather-bound portfolio and hands it to Toula. My
father wanted to shit bricks when he figured out what it was. My mother
puckered her cheeks like she had something sour in her mouth. It was
hilarious, but of course, no one laughed openly.
"Ilya hired a realtor to photograph and make notes on all of his
undeveloped properties. I'll never forget when the Russian turned toward
Toula and told her to pick a place, develop it, and move on to the next one."
Kat grinned from ear to ear, as she'd shifted forward in her chair. Her
elbows were on the table, and she was clapping her hands excitedly. "This
was the first property she chose, and Ilya named it Little Fox's."
"Don't leave out the best part."
"Ilya's pet name for Toula is malenkaya lisichka. Russian for little fox,"
Katalina ended the story on a sigh.
"Do you think they were really an arranged marriage?"
"No," Kat answered. "I can't prove it, but I am sure they had history.
They're happy, so it doesn't matter."
The waiter appeared at our table, and we didn't say anything further.
"Good evening, ladies," he said. "My name is Dino, and I'll be taking care
of your every need. What can I start you off to drink?"
"Just water, please," I said. I didn't bother looking up at him. His tone had
been flirty, and I wasn't in the mood to be the third wheel. I should have
warned him about how this night would go if he kept that up. He'd flirt,
she'd flirt back while he was at the table, and at the end of the night, he'd be
fired for flirting with the owner's sister-in-law. Kat wouldn't think twice
about it. I'd asked her before why she does it, and she always tells me that
they had it coming. We were mafia princesses, and there was no pathway
for us where an outside relationship would be accepted.
When no one spoke, I raised my head and assessed the situation. Kat was
staring at me with her mouth slightly open. I shifted to look at Dino with a
slight smile on my face. I wasn't sure what I was going to say, but I had to
break the sudden tension. When I met his eyes, the first thing I noticed was
that they were bright blue. I was caught off guard. He was very handsome,
but his direct focus on me was unnerving. I'd never been in this position
before. Quickly grabbing my menu, I pretended to be enthralled with it. It
didn't matter that I had been here more times than I could count and already
knew what I wanted.
"Are you new?" I heard Katalina ask him. I knew her better than that.
We'd both been trying to come up with something to say, and she'd gone
with the first asinine thing she'd thought of. If I had to guess, she didn't
really care if he was new or not. He'd be gone as soon as she told her sister
what happened.
"Yes. I've been here a few days," he answered.
"Oh, that's why I don't recognize you," she said. "I'll stick with water too."
She raised her glass and smiled at him.
"Thank you, ladies. If you need anything else, please let me know. I am at
your service." He turned towards me and winked as he walked back to the
kitchen.
"Did you see that?" I asked Kat as I looked up from the menu.
"He winked at you," she rubbed her hands together again, like there was
going to be gossip to spill.
"It was strange."
"No. It's not. He's good looking. You should go for it."
 "Seriously?" I laughed. "I am to be married in six weeks."
"He must be a lucky man," Dino said as he appeared at my shoulder with
two pitchers of water. I was at a loss for words. I didn't think it would be
appropriate to tell our waiter that my grandfather believed my marriage was
a good business deal.
"Thank you," I responded. It was a simple answer, and he wouldn't be
able to ask any questions. Was this his way of getting a bigger tip? I'd leave
him double if he would just stop.
"Ladies, are we ready for our main course?" Kat and I both rattled off our
orders without any fanfare. This was getting weird, and we didn't know
what to say. We'd get rid of him quickly and gossip. Men never paid
attention to me. They certainly didn't pay me any mind when Kat was
around. I was pretty in my own way, but I was larger than what was socially
acceptable. If that didn't deter them, my guard would.
"What the hell was that?" Kat leaned over and whispered to me.
"I have no idea."
"You should go for it." I just looked at her with my eyes wide open.
"What?" she said.
"Are you serious right now?"
"Yes," she answered, while shaking her head.
"Even if I wanted to, how am I supposed to have a fling? Arranged
marriage? Guard?"
"If you want to, we could make it work."
"Kat!"
We looked at each other across the table and cracked up laughing. It was
exactly what I needed after today.
 After we had settled down, I detailed out the events of the day. She let me
talk it through until I felt better for sharing it with her.
I felt a brush against my arm, and as I turned to see what it was, Dino
arrived with dinner. Had he just ran his finger against the back of my arm? I
must have been mistaken. There was no way he'd openly touch me in a
mafia-owned restaurant, unless he was looking for a death wish.
Dinner went on like this. I swore something would lightly touch me, but I
never found the source.
After leaving the restaurant, I didn't think anything more about it. I
chalked it up to a one off situation.
A week after that, I had another strange encounter at a local coffee shop. I
had popped in for a quick drink and a scone, but the guy behind me had
started chatting. It felt random, and I wasn’t sure if I was being targeted
because of my family. I ended up thanking him for my order and making a
beeline to the door where my guard was.
I couldn't explain those occurrences, but even stranger things were
happening at night. After the attack, I was constantly afraid that it would
happen again. My biggest fear was that Luca would enter my room at night
and not stop until morning. The nightmares were relentless. He was crazy,
and I prayed for this to be over.
All of a sudden, I was sleeping through the nights. I woke up refreshed,
like I didn’t have a care in the world when that wasn’t the truth. I searched
the room for any sign of an intruder but came up empty each time.
Something had changed. I only felt safe at night, asleep.
 Chapter 8

O
din
I was bored.
I was trapped in my penthouse like a caged animal.
I had promised to cut off my outside jobs, so there wasn’t anything
pressing that needed to be taken care of. While I was in this limbo, I
wouldn’t get any assignments from Mr. De Angelis. I’d even take a sick kid
with a runny nose instead of sitting around. I was relegated to Netflix, with
no chilling.
I flipped through the available shows and still couldn’t get my mind off
Serena. I never thought I’d be engaged. When you’ve been in survival mode
as long as I have, you never think about sharing that shit with anyone else.
You’d think I’d be over it by now, but some traumas are ingrained until
death.
I couldn’t explain it, and the more I tried, the more it didn't make any
sense. I had been at that wedding to do a job. Every guest was someone to
be suspicious of. Trusting no one had seen me through most of my life, and
I wasn’t ready to change that philosophy. Until Serena.
When I had first heard her, it was like a lullaby that settled over me and
smoothed my rough edges. I hadn't been able to put a face to the voice, and
the thought had been fleeting. However, when I had heard her again, there
was this insane need to know who she was.
When I caught a glimpse of her profile, time seemed to slow down. On
the streets, thoughts of the future could get you killed. You live minute by
minute and hope you wake up in the morning. Looking at her completely,
my future played out like a highlight reel. Marriage. Kids. Grandkids. She
was meant to be mine, and I didn't fight it.
I promised myself I wouldn't go see her again, but I found myself getting
dressed for the evening. The occasion required all black.

***

A
s I unlocked the window of Serena’s bedroom, I had to laugh at these
Italians. You didn’t want me to marry your granddaughter, but you’re
failing to protect her. It had been too easy. I could only imagine what
attacks would happen if the cop figured out the same thing. When she
became mine, she’d be safe. I’d make sure of it.
I waited until the guards took their morning piss break at one in the
morning. Literally every guard would go to the restroom. What were they
doing? I didn’t want to find out if they were holding each other's dicks, but
it made me angry to think that no one was watching over the family, let
alone the grounds.
At first, I would sit in the chair near the corner of her bedroom and watch
her sleep. I didn’t know why was I was there, except that I had to be close
to her. She’d lay quiet and still until a nightmare would come. I wanted
desperately to wake her and chase the bad dreams away, but I couldn’t. In
time, she’d find out what a selfish bastard I was.
Near daylight, I’d slip out and head back to my penthouse. Every night, I
swore I wouldn’t go back. I’d even asked for an assignment to keep me
occupied, only to be denied. I had too much time on my hands, and she was
my obsession.
Breaking and Entering was supposed to be a one-night thing.
That was a lie. It was the same pattern, night after night.
I’d tell myself that I’d stay home. She was fine. She didn’t need me.
Midnight would approach, and I would get dressed to see her.

***

T
his would be the last time I risked it. I’d be a married man come the
weekend.
There was something in the air that felt different when I opened her
window. I had noticed that she slept on her side in the middle of the bed,
never shifting. I was able to sit and stare at her. Tonight, she was on the
right side, curled into a ball with her knees tucked towards her chest.
Instantly, my brain started to fire off questions. Had the cop hurt her? Had
he done something equally as stupid as the Italians? I wouldn’t know, but if
he tried to break into her room, he’d be met with a bullet. I was done
playing around.
Taking my seat, I watched her sleep for awhile. Seeing her on a different
side of the bed messed with my psyche. I needed to be closer to her. I
needed to know that she was alright. Standing up, I walked over to the other
side of the bed and removed my boots. Looking around, I could see a pile of
laundry on the floor. This was new. Serena was neat as a pin. On top of the
pile was a pair of red lace panties. Was she trying to kill me? Did she know
that I was here every night?
Walking over, I went to examine the pile of clothes. As I bent down, the
moonlight hit a slice of silver on her dresser, catching my attention. There
was a party dress over the top and a pair of heels on the floor. I wasn’t an
expert, but the red would have shown through. Serena probably figured
she’d pick it up later, depending on how late the event had run.
I grabbed the panties and held them to my nose. I wanted to memorize
everything about her, including her scent. It made my mouth water for her,
and I had never been harder. All the women I had been with, and no one put
me in a trance like her.
I walked back over to the left side of the bed with my nose still firmly
planted in the crouch of her panties. A thought came to my mind. If I had
her panties in my hand, what was she wearing? My dick jumped at that
thought and wanted desperately to find out. I knew I would have to take it
slow with her, but a man can dream.
I sat on bed and shifted the remaining pillows to get comfortable. This
was dangerous. If she woke up, I’d have some serious explaining to do. I
didn’t care. In a few days, she’d be my wife. She shifted backwards until
her ass was pressed firmly to my knee. Even in sleep, she was a temptress.
A few hours into the night, and I was about ready to break. I was pretty
sure I had a zipper indention imprinted on my dick. I had about an hour
before I would have to leave.
It was crazy, but her body was calling to me. I fantasized about waking
her, about sliding into her while she was still in a haze. Maybe one day,
she’d let me. Pulling down the zipper of my jeans, I thanked the gods that
my dick wasn’t broken from the pressure. I unbuttoned the top button,
leaving the flaps open. I didn’t move. I knew I wasn’t sane, but I couldn’t
believe what I was about to do.
Wrapping her panties around my dick, I squeezed my hand around them.
My mouth dropped into an O. This was good, so good. I could only imagine
what Serena would feel like. She’d be slick, and I’d slide right into her like
a glove. She had been made for me, and this wouldn’t be any different.
Rubbing the panties against my dick, I started to jack myself off. Turning
my head, I watched her. She was still touching me, and I wondered if she
knew what I was doing. I needed to come, or I’d never get my jeans back
on.
I imagined our wedding night as I watched her. I’d make love to her. Let
her experience pleasure like no other as I kissed and licked every inch of
her. She’d wither in the throes of passion, and I’d enjoy every minute of it.
Jacking my dick harder, I had to wrap this up. I needed to get out of here
before I woke her, or I was caught. I wasn’t really concerned that I’d be
found out, but I didn’t want to officially meet her like this.
My body tightened as I rapidly approached my release. Still watching her,
I jerked myself harder, faster. This was stupid, but it might have been the
best release of my life - so far. Serena’s lips parted, and her tongue peaked
out. I imagined her mouth around me, and it was enough to send me over
the edge. My dick spewed rope after rope of cum. When I was done, I tilted
my head against the pillows to catch my breath. Daylight was starting to
break through the windows.
I had to leave. Zipping myself up, I bent over and placed a gentle kiss
against the back of her head. Keeping the panties as a souvenir, I went out
the window like a thief in the night.
 Chapter 9

S
erena
Today, I was marrying a man I didn’t know.
A man, I had never met.
I only knew his name.
I stood in front of the mirror in the bridal suite of the church and stared at
myself. I had always been larger than other girls my age, but I knew who I
was. My size didn’t define me, and I was quite comfortable in my own skin.
Now, as I stood looking at my reflection, I couldn’t help but notice my
flaws. I had large breasts, my hips jutted out like mountain peaks, and my
thighs jiggled when I walked. I had never cared before, but I wondered if
my new husband would.
Dressed in a white wedding gown with a veil that trailed behind me, I
harbored a secret. I wasn’t the virgin my family had advertised.
I tried to avoid dwelling on the attack, especially on a day like today.
However, those haunting emotions from it never seemed to retreat far
enough away from my thoughts. I had been home when Luca Carazzo
ambushed me.
At first, he had tried to persuade me to help him. He said he needed all the
documentation that he could find to dismantle my family and put them
behind bars. I laughed at him, and I made it clear that I wasn’t a willing
participant in his plan. I didn’t threaten him, or even raise my voice. I just
simply stated that I wasn’t interested. I had no idea why he thought his plan
would work, but I tried to walk away as quickly as possible. He’d never
arrest the men of my family. We’re a multi-generational, organized crime
unit. We know how to hide the bodies where they will never be found.
My first mistake was that I turned my back to him in the hallway. I had
planned to make my exit, when he shoved me face first into the wall. I had
been trained in basic self-defense, but he was too strong and cuffed my
wrists behind my back.
He pinned me in place with his body, and one side of my face was
smashed against the wall. He told me that I didn’t have a choice. When I
told him to go fuck off, he lifted my skirt, pulled my panties down and
entered me. It was the most degrading thing I’d ever experienced.
My family would go ballistic if they knew we had an undercover cop
among us. It would be a hit to their pride that they missed the signs. If the
other factions caught wind of it, the consequences would be disastrous.
They would have ceased all business with us, and when we couldn’t pay,
they’d pick a part our territory for their own gain.
However, it wouldn’t hold a candle to how feral they would be if they
knew he had raped me. We weren’t as old world as some of the other
families. They wouldn’t care that I wasn’t a virgin. They would just assume
that it had been my decision and arrange our marriage. However, no one
would arrange a marriage with Luca Carazzo. There was no benefit. If they
accepted it, then they would be a laughing stock. If they didn’t, I would be
shunned. It didn't matter that I hadn't consented. They couldn't find out. I
wondered if my new husband would be able to tell. I started to frown at the
thought.
The door opened to the suite, and Katalina stuck her head in.
Kat and I had been best friends since elementary school, ever since she'd
fearlessly stuck up for me on the playground. She was the spark, and I kept
her grounded. We were besties for life, but I knew she kept people at arm's
length with her brashness. I wanted nothing more than for her to find
happiness with the right man, someone who would recognize the diamond
in the rough she truly was
“How much longer do I have to hide out in here?”
“I'm not sure. I am hiding from my mother and thought you could use
some company. You know. Maid of Honor duties and all.”
“Why are you hiding now?”
“I made the mistake of saying that I’d rather be some rich man’s whore
instead of his wife. It kind of slipped out in the heat of an argument. I didn’t
really mean it, but I couldn’t take it back.” Katalina shrugged.
“You didn’t double down, did you?”
There was a pause.
“Kat! You didn’t, did you?”
“Maybe.” She paused. “Okay, they invited one of their new capos over for
an introduction, and I said that if families were just going to sell their
daughters, I’d rather be a whore. At least you get paid to sleep with gross
men. He didn’t hear me, but my mother did.”
“I can’t believe you!” She would never learn.
 “My mother didn’t say anything until the capo had left for the evening.
That’s when she made sure I knew she was 'disappointed' in my behavior.”
Kat made air quotes. “My father wasn't in the room, otherwise, I am sure
they would have arranged my marriage on the spot.”
I liked to think I knew her better than anyone. “You want to be married
for love,” I said to her.
“No, I want to be free.”
“Do you think Toula is free?”
“It’s funny, Toula can do whatever the fuck she pleases, but she only has
that freedom because Ilya allows it. Seems barbaric. If I marry, I want a
man who’s going to leave me alone. I don’t need him slobbering over me
every goddamn day.”
“Marriage isn’t like that, or at least I don’t think it is.”
“You’re about to find out in an hour.”
“Have you seen him?” I asked her.
“No. He came in, and they immediately whisked him off to the other
suite.”
“It’s alright. It’ll be alright.” I needed a pep talk.
“Who are you trying to convince?”
“I just have to get through this, and everything will be alright.” I didn’t
have the energy to fight.
Katalina walked over to me and placed her hands on my shoulders.
Holding me away from her, she took a good look at my dress and then
hugged me tight.
“If he doesn’t fall in love with you, he’s a fool.”
“I love you, Kat,” I told her.
 “I love you, too. Now, are you ready?” I nodded. She nodded, and then
she slipped out the door.
A few minutes passed by when the door opened again. I figured it was my
mother or father. Hell, even my grandfather, but I didn’t think he’d come
find me. I had accepted my marriage without a fight, so there hadn’t been
any need to convince me.
I turned towards the door to greet whomever it was, but it was the last
person I wanted to see.
Silently, I held my ground. I didn't shift, nor did I look away from him.
No hint of fear would show on my face. This was my wedding day, and he
was taking a risk being here. My family could knock on the door at any
minute, or Kat could return.
He’d bought a new suit for the occasion, and although it fit him like a
glove, all I could see was the snake underneath.
“Don’t forget, Serena. You belong to me,” he sneered in my face.
“No, I never did. You took what I wasn’t willing to give.”
“How do you think your new husband will like knowing you're used
goods?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“You bet your sweet ass it does. I’ll go make your husband’s
acquaintance. Tell him how tight you were. He’ll have to take my sloppy
seconds.” He walked towards the door, but before he went through it, he
turned around and looked at me. “Don’t forget. You better have something
for me."
Once he was gone, I let out the breath that I had been holding. Was I
ready for this?
 ***

M
y father walked me down the aisle and presented me to the man I
was marrying. As I walked towards him, I took stock of his
appearance. He wore the tuxedo like a second skin, but I noticed that he
kept pulling at the bow tie around his neck. It drew my attention to his long
fingers.
Odin was a blonde with longer hair on the top that was tied at the back of
his head. The sides were shaved, but he had a full blonde beard. When I
found the courage to look him in the eye, I wasn’t sure what to think. His
blue eyes were only focused on me.
My father placed my hand in his, and I turned to face Odin. He gave me a
soft smile, and I returned it with one of my own. There were no words
exchanged.
The ceremony was a blur, and at the end, this was my husband.
When the priest pronounced us man and wife, he kissed me softly.

***

I
don’t know how I made it through the reception. I smiled. I spoke to the
correct people at the correct time. By all accounts, I was a happy bride.
Inside, I was full of nervous energy. At one point in the evening, I was
standing next to Kat, when my husband joined us. He took the glass of
water out of my hand and placed it on a nearby table. Holding out his hand
to me, he told me to come. I didn’t have a choice. I wouldn’t slight him in
front of all these people. He was a De Angelis Deviant, and I was a mafia
principessa. We each had our roles to play.
 “Don’t step on her toes. That shit hurts like a bitch,” Kat told him. I
couldn’t help chuckling because it was such a Kat thing to say. I quickly
realized that it might have sounded disrespectful to my new husband. They
didn't know each other, and Kat did push many buttons. I turned to look at
his face.
“I may not have had dance lessons, but her toes are safe.” He knew it had
been a joke and had accepted it as nothing more. In that moment, he earned
a little bit of my gratitude. Kat would always be in my life.
“Come,” he told me again and led me out to the dance floor.
He pulled me close so that we were dancing cheek-to-cheek. I assumed it
was so that he could whisper in my ear without an audience. I turned a little
to say something, and that’s when it hit me.
The citrus scent.
I had assumed it was the flowers or some decoration for the wedding. It
wasn’t. It was his natural scent. I was close enough to realize that.
It was also the scent that had invaded my bedroom the last six months.
Was my husband really just a doctor? Had he broken into my room each
night? How had he not been caught for six months? Did he know that I
needed protection, or had he just keep a vigilant watch over me? I would
save my questions for later. Now wasn’t the time.
We continued to dance as I curled my body closer to him. I laid my head
on his shoulder. Turning towards me, he kissed my forehead and whispered,
“Don’t worry, Serena. I’ll protect you.”
 Chapter 10

I
danced a few more times with my husband and ignored everyone else in
the room. I was enjoying my time with him. We didn’t know each other,
but I had a feeling we’d be solid eventually. I dreamed that he would love
me one day, but we weren’t there yet.
I was resting my head on his shoulder again, when I felt him shake with
laughter. “Your mother has decided that it's time tp prepare you for the
bedding. She’s getting irritated that I keep turning you every time she's
close enough to get your attention.”
I was amused. “Why would you do that?”
“I don’t want to part with you.” He turned me again. “Your mother isn’t
going to dictate my wedding night.”
I blushed and lowered my eyes so that they focused on his bowtie. I
wasn’t sure how to handle statements like that. They had never been
directed at me.
I did know that I was missing a pair of red lace panties.
“I'm not wearing red today,” I whispered to him.
 He looked down at me in confusion.
“My red lace panties are missing.”
His face shifted at the realization that I knew. It was comical. His eyes
opened wide, and he tried to adjust his poker face into one of innocence.
I left him on the dance floor. It was tradition in our culture for the
honored, married, female guests to prepare the bride for her wedding night.
My mother didn’t know that I wouldn’t need a sex talk. Kat had snuck
Playboys from our guards.
I didn’t get very far when Kat appeared at my side. She nodded toward
the dance floor, where I had left my husband. He was still standing there,
trying to appear innocent. We shared a look and then instantly cracked up
laughing. We had to hold on to each other to remain standing; we were
laughing so hard
When our giggles subsided, I noticed that Toula was heading our way.
“They sent you, didn’t they?” Kat asked her sister.
“Yes,” she replied. “They’re ready for the bedding,” she told us with a
grimace.
I didn’t know Toula very well, just as Katalina’s older sister. However, I
noticed that marriage agreed with her. She seemed to have this new sense of
peace, clearly hidden behind a poker face. I wondered if it came from
knowing that your husband loved and adored you. Would I feel the same
way eventually?
“Let’s get this over with,” I said. Wrapping Katalina’s arm in mine, we
strolled out of the ballroom with Toula behind us.
My mother and Mrs. Petrakis were waiting for us in the honeymoon suite.
They had placed flowers on the desk and sitting table. I happened to catch a
glimpse of the bed, and there were petals scattered along the duvet cover.
This was real.
“Let’s get you out of this dress. You’ll shower, and there’s a nightgown on
the back of the door. Change into it.” My mother wasn’t messing around.
“Hang on,” Toula told me. “How many pins are in your hair?”
I thought that was a strange question to ask. “I don’t know. My hair’s
pinned and sprayed to my head.”
“I thought so,” she responded. “Come here and sit. Kat, help me take her
wedding hair down.”
My mother clapped her hands as if it was the best idea in the world. I
wanted them all to leave quickly, so I didn’t fight.
“Your husband will want to run his hands through your hair. He can’t do
that if it’s pinned, plus it will be uncomfortable,” Toula whispered to me.
“So, Ilya’s grabbing your hair. That’s good to know,” Kat chimed in.
“I swear! Sex is all you think about.”
“Men can think of sex all the time. Why can’t women?”
We both looked at Katalina. I loved her, but there were times when I just
wanted to put a muzzle around her mouth. I am sure Toula felt the same
way.
They made quick work of my hair and shoved me into the shower. I was
just glad that they didn’t stay to supervise. When I was finished, I dressed in
the nightgown that had been purchased for me. It was a silver negligee with
spaghetti straps. I felt like a princess. I just had to get rid of the unwanted
mice in the bedroom.
Before my mother could say anything, I cut her off at the pass. “I
appreciate you being here, but I need a few minutes alone.”
 She hugged me tight. “You’re a lady. Remember that.” I didn’t want to be
traumatized knowing the details of my parents' sex life.
Mrs. Petrakis didn’t hug me, but she nodded in my direction and walked
out the door.
Toula didn’t hug me either, but she gave me strength through her words.
“You’re not in love right now, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t be in
the future. All marriages take time. If the dancing that I watched was any
indication, you both will find your way to happily ever after."
The conversation that I had earlier with Kat came to mind. “Are you
happy, Toula?”
She smiled and twisted her wedding ring absently. “I am free to be me,
but I don’t want to be with anyone else but my Russian.” She turned and
walked out of the room.
“Told you,” Kat said.
“I’ll be safe with him.”
“How do you know? You’ve only been married six hours.”
“He’ll keep me safe and treat me well. I am sure of it.”
Katalina hugged me and walked out of the room without saying anything
else.
I sat on the bed and waited for my husband. Odin. My husband, Odin.
I stared off into space. My mind was blank, and it felt amazing. There
were no worries that I’d have to hide from the past. No worries about what
would happen in this room. No worries for our future. For once in my life,
none of the what ifs plagued me.
There was a soft knock on the door.
“Come in.”
 The suite door opened, and my husband entered. He shut the door and
leaned against it, crossing his legs at the ankle. No one said a word. I didn’t
know what to do and started to the lower the strap at my shoulder.
“Leave it on.”
He started to pull the knot of his bowtie. “I don’t do monkey suits. Never
have except for special occasions and home appointments.”
He pulled his shirt from his pants and started to slide the cufflinks
through. Unbuttoning the shirt, he continued, “I am a doctor by trade, so I
am called out for any little ailment in the underworld.” He raised his
eyebrows and made a silly face at me. I laughed at his antics.
“Did you always want to be a doctor?”
“I was found on the streets when I was a teenager. Mr. De Angelis decided
I was smart enough for med school. That’s a story for another time.” He
undid his pants button and dropped them to the floor. He was only wearing
a pair of black boxers.
I kept taking sneak peeks at his body. He was god-like. Odin walked over
to me and stood in between my legs. He took my hands in his.
“I know you have no real experience. I want you to be comfortable
touching me anytime you want.” He brought my hands to the middle of his
chest and held them against him. Once I was comfortable, my hands started
to wander across his sculpted body. His pecs. His abs. His waist. He was
letting me take the lead for a few minutes. I didn't think I'd ever get tired of
touching him.
“I want to touch you. Lean back against the pillows.”
I wasn’t nervous, but an excited tremor slid down my spine. I turned
towards the bed and crawled to the top where the pillows were laid out. His
hand reached out and caressed my butt cheek. I stopped instantly. No one
had ever touched me so intimately. “You’re beautiful, baby.” He smacked
my ass and told me to get a move on. It was so quick, I didn't have time to
be nervous or overthink it.
Shifting, I laid on the pillows like he had asked. He crawled up the bed
over me like a coiled panther ready to spring. When he reached my lips, he
kissed me, giving my bottom lip a little bite. I let out a squeak. He was
amused and did it again. I moaned this time. Reaching for him, I wanted his
body on mine. He remained above me, still kissing me thoroughly.
“Not yet.”
Laying to my left, he reached over me and grabbed one of the petals on
the bed. He twirled it in his fingers as he said, “This is a nice touch. Remind
me to thank your mother.”
“Please don’t. I’d rather my family stay out of our bedroom.”
He looked down at my face. “There’s no one else here but you and me. It
will always be like that.”
He trailed the petal in his fingers down my right arm. He brought it to my
left side and did the same thing. It was soft on my skin. Each pass left a trail
of excitement in its wake. He trailed it up my left leg, then my right. He
threw that petal away and grabbed another one. “Your skin is soft. It makes
me want to be rough with you, so that my hands, and only my hands, leave
imprints on your body,”
I wasn’t sure if I would be able to handle that. I took a quick look at him
to see if he was serious. He was staring back at me. “You’ll beg me for it
when you’re ready.” I breathed a small sigh of relief.
He continued to trace the petal up and down my body. When he’d get
tired with the one he had, he’d throw it back on the bed and grab another
one. When there were no petals left, he threw the last one back on the bed
and slid the strap of my nightgown down my arm. Replacing his hands with
his mouth, he kissed my skin. Odin took his time learning me. I was so
turned on that I didn't care when he removed the nightgown. It was on the
floor, and I was completely bared to him. He kissed my stomach as he
kneeled in between my legs.
“One day, you’ll be round with my baby.”
My heart skipped a beat for this man. When my marriage had been first
announced, the women in my family took it upon themselves to prepare me
for the worst. My mother was particularly harsh in all the ways Odin could
mistreat me. I didn't have any life experiences to refute their claims. 'One
day' meant everything to me. There would be time to learn about my
husband without the added stress of trying to conceive.
“Practice makes perfect,” I said to him.
“I don’t need to practice. I need to be balls deep in you.”
Leaning forward, his hands bracketed my head. I waited in anticipation to
see what he would do. He just stared into my eyes, until he swooped down
and kissed me. My arms wrapped around his back, and I held him close to
me so that we were chest to chest. I could feel the outline of his hard dick
pressed against me, and I wanted more. I wanted to replace my first
experience with memories of my husband.
When I came up for air, I looked deep into Odin’s eyes and told him to
make love to me. I needed him more than I could have ever imagined. “I
need you to come, first.” He kissed me again. My bones melted at each
touch of his lips.
He rolled up and kneeled between my legs again, placing his hands on my
thighs and gently spreading them open.
 “Is this alright?” he asked me as he watched for any sign of distress. I
hoped he thought I was nervous as a virgin on her wedding night and not
anything else. I nodded my head yes.
He slid his hand gently from my hip, over my mound, to my clit. He
flicked my clit, and I instantly arched off the bed. It hadn’t hurt, but my
body had been shocked.
“More,” I moaned.
He placed the pad of his finger directly on my clit and started to rub small
circles around it. I was in heaven. This is what it was supposed to feel like. I
lost myself in his touch. In the pleasure that he was pulling from my body.
He wasn’t rushed, and every time I looked at him, he was looking right
back at me with a hungry look in his eye.
“You’re a good girl, letting me play with you like this. I have a confession
to make. I can’t wait to dirty you up. To take you anywhere, anytime I feel
like it. You’ll like it because you’re my wife.”
My body almost bent in two as I arched up from the bed, falling over the
cliff into a pleasurable abyss, his fingers still tracing circles on my clit.
I had been out running my worries for the last year. I worried that my
family would know I had been attacked. I worried that the undercover cop
would do it again, as a way to punish me for not participating in his
investigation. I worried that my husband wouldn’t find me attractive. I
worried that he wouldn’t want me for me, and I’d be left to a life of despair.
I constantly worried that I wasn’t good enough. I was mentally exhausted
from the juggling act.
As I slowly came back to reality, the worries that I had been outrunning
fell away. Looking at my husband, I didn’t have to worry anymore by
myself. I could rely on him, and he’d be strong when I couldn’t.
 My eyes fluttered closed, and I fell asleep - on my wedding night.

***

O
din
My wife was asleep.
One orgasm, and she had fallen asleep.
I chuckled softly as I stared down into her sleeping face.
I shouldn’t have been surprised. She had been running on empty for
awhile.
I licked her pussy one time to taste her. I wouldn’t beak her trust in me,
but I was a man. I wanted to taste my wife. I wanted her as a willing
participant, so even though I didn’t like it, I would wait. Sliding in next to
her, I shifted her onto her side and then pulled her into my body from
behind. Wrapping my arm around her, I held her in my arms. Kissing her
shoulder, I whispered to her “You’re mine, Serena.”

***
 Sneak Peek of Odin

O
din
It had only taken one orgasm to knock my new wife out.
I chuckled softly as I kneeled between her spread legs and stared down at
her peaceful face.
I wasn’t surprised. She’d been running on empty for a while. This didn’t
have anything to do with my bedroom skills. She was exhausted.
I licked her pussy one time to taste her. I wouldn’t break her trust in me,
but I was a man. A man who wanted his wife. Even though I didn’t like
waiting, I would for her. I stood up and walked over to the other side of the
bed. Sliding in next to her, I shifted her onto her side and pulled her into my
body from behind. Wrapping my arm around her, I held her. Kissing her
bare shoulder, I whispered, “You’re mine, Serena.”
I did everything I could to fall asleep next to her. I curled myself around
her, but when my dick hit her ass, I was instantly hard. Frustrated, I tried to
count sheep but that bored the ever-loving fuck out of me. I closed my eyes
and willed myself to fall. It was a waste. I was wide awake.
 I had spent most of my life living in the shadows of darkness. We were
good friends. You had to be when you were ridding the world of scum. I
didn’t judge, but I was their executioner. Easy in. Easy out, and no one was
the wiser. I’d have to work hard to keep my nocturnal activities away from
Serena. I wouldn’t tarnish her light.
I propped the pillows against the headboard, giving up on sleep. My hand
patted my wife’s hair, and I leaned over to kiss the cheek I could reach.
Serena would sleep peacefully as long as I was here, like she had those
weeks that I spent breaking and entering into her bedroom.
She had shocked the shit out of me when she mentioned her missing red
panties. It had never entered my mind that she would notice, or that she
would feel comfortable enough to bring it up on the dance floor. My wife
was full of pleasant surprises. I didn’t tell her they were a permanent
memory in my spank bank for when she was on shark week. Although, her
cycle probably wouldn’t stop me either. The God of War’s favorite color
was red.
Grabbing my phone, I started to look through work emails. I had agreed
not to take outside contracts to avoid any suspicion from the Italians, my
new in-laws. They were in enough deep shit without me revealing my true
nature. I still went through them to see if there was anything worthwhile I
could pass on for someone else. It was the normal. Drugs, sex, and rock and
roll, well maybe not the last one, but these were busted transactions, and
now the wronged party wanted revenge. I wanted no part of these. I was the
God of War, not the judge and jury.
I took another look at my wife. I had covered Serena with the duvet and
only her head was visible. I reached down and kissed her again. Up close,
like this, I couldn’t get enough of her. I hadn’t been allowed to meet my
wife prior to our wedding day, so I had taken drastic measures to make sure
she was safe and protected. I didn’t trust her security to anyone else.
When Luca Carazzo had stuck his hand out to congratulate me on my
marriage, I swear that fucker had a glint in his eye. I wanted to tell him I
knew everything. He had attacked Serena in order to get her to do his
bidding. He was an undercover cop, sent to destroy the Italians, but I had no
doubt he’d fuck up this assignment and die a slow, painful death at my
hands. I already had a plan in place to make sure it looked like a heart
attack. I had all sorts of neat tricks like that, compliments of med school.
I had pulled him close by his hand and tapped his bicep like we were
going to be good friends. He didn’t know that I had dropped a tracking
device in the pocket of his suit coat. Benefits of an ill spent youth. Like
riding a bike, even though I had never owned one.
I opened the app to the device. All the honored guests had rooms in the
hotel, so I didn’t think he would still be here. Once I had walked out of the
ballroom as a part of the bedding ritual, the guests would have been free to
stay or leave. As a soldier, he wouldn’t have had any choice but to leave.
I waited for the app to load and then sync up to the device. It was still in
his pocket. The fuckface was on the move. Where was he heading? I pulled
up the map and watched the dot progress down the street.
Our room was on the first floor in case I needed to sneak out. There were
also Deviant guards at the end of the hallway. There was no way he had
even a slight chance of approaching this room. What was he still doing
here?
I looked over at my wife. She was stunning, and I didn’t want to leave
her, but I had this weird suspicion that something was about to go down.
Closing the app, I texted Mr. De Angelis.
 I need to follow the cop. -O
He didn’t hesitate to respond.
I’ll make sure she’s safe until you return.
My office. Monday morning.
-AD
Of course, he’d want to know what I found.
Standing up from the bed, I went to my overnight bag and dressed for the
occasion. Checking my gun, I stuck it in the back of my pants. I snuck one
more kiss on my wife and proceeded to sneak out the balcony door
undetected.
Continue Odin and Serena's story in Odin here.
 About the Author

J. Wine is an exciting new author in the world of dark romance, specializing

in intricate and tumultuous romances. In her world, love is never a straight
line, and J. herself is no stranger to the complexities of romance. Her own
love story could easily fall into several tropes – best friends to lovers,
second chance, and much more.

J loves the escape from reality that reading brings and hopes she can give
that little bit of peace to someone else.

A native Midwesterner, J doesn't do well in the cold anymore and prefers

the Phoenix desert.

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Read J's Series

Mafia Romance
Bred to Be Owned Anthology
Guarding You

Silent Syndicate
Meet Odin (Prequel)
Odin

MC (Motorcycle Club) Romance

Iron Shield
Unveiled Desires