Eliana:
I walked into the room which Maria, Vladimir’s mum had showed me to.
The flight was a long one, and I couldn’t help but want to fall asleep the second I entered the house. Thankfully, Maria had prepared the room for me knowing that Vladimir and I wouldn’t be sharing a room. We had both made it clear enough that we didn’t want anything from one another. Well, that of course didn’t mean that my own family knew of this.
Father would be having my head if he finds out that I wasn’t ‘pleasing’ my husband, and his own term of pleasing wasn’t a mutual agreement between the couple. He had sent me as a wife to a man who he knew could easily break every bone in my body, he believed that he was ruthless, and he wanted me to suffer for simply being born.
“Is there anything that you need, Eliana?” Maria asked softly. I smiled and shook my head not wanting to trouble her, she had done enough for me by preparing this room, the maids had already fixed my things inside the closet for me before I even arrived to the house.
“Thank you, Maria” I said smiling. She nodded and nodded at my dresser where my jewelry boxes were set.
“I had the maids put them there, they are still locked. I didn’t know where or how you wanted to fix them, and you may have a special or expensive jewel here or there. I didn’t want to risk it getting lost” I nodded and smiled at her kind gesture. Had it been the other way around, and that I was heading to my father’s house, the man would have taken and sold the jewels before I even tried them on. But being sent as gifts from other mafia families, and some were even gifts from the Romanov family, the man knew that he couldn’t do so. Therefore, he had them sent to the Romanov Estate the second I got them.
Maria walked out of the room without saying another word, and it was at that moment when I felt alone. My family had abandoned me, literally.
I knew that Ian wouldn’t call me as he wouldn’t want to risk me getting in trouble, and mum didn’t even have a phone to begin with. The woman wasn’t allowed to communicate with anyone outside the family Estate, and despite her being loyal to dad throughout all the years she’s been with him; I was always an issue that reminded him of a past he wanted to forget. A past that my mum had lived before she was sold to him.
I ran my fingers through my blonde hair as I wondered how I was going to make this work when I already drew lights to myself with what Vladimir had seen occur between me and my father, not that it mattered. Seeing as our marriage was simply on paper, the two of us would only need to be seen together at public gatherings, and knowing how our family was, those only happened once or twice a year.
I took a deep breath and looked at my reflection in the mirror, giving myself an encouraging smile “you will make it through this, Eliana”
************************
“Good morning” I said entering the living room. I didn’t know where else to go in the house, I hadn’t had the time to roam around or familiarize myself with my surrounding, but I had seen the living room when I entered the house. Thankfully, Ivan was in the living room, sitting on the couch when I had entered, his best friend, Dimitri, stood by the bar holding a glass of whiskey.
“Drink?”
“This early in the morning?” I asked before I could stop myself. Dimitri smirked and handed Ivan his glass before going to sit on the single couch beside Ivan’s.
“How’d you sleep?” Ivan asked.
“Well, thank you” I said politely.
“You do realize that I am not your father and you do not need to speak as if you were plugged into a programmed machine, right?” Ivan asked patting the couch beside him. I hesitated for a second before forcing my feet to move and going to sit by his side “we did not bring you here to hurt you”
“I know” I said quietly. I didn’t lie when saying that, if they wanted to hurt me, they would have last night. Their son didn’t even take advantage of me despite knowing that I was his wife, he could have easily entered my room to take me the way he pleased. It was known in the house that this was how it went for mum, her and dad didn’t even share a room, he would take different maids every night if he pleased, or he would walk into mum’s room and take her until he knew that she couldn’t handle it anymore.
It sickened me that he wanted me to live the same fate. He had tried building such a life for me, however, that didn’t seem to work with Ian around. Therefore, I knew that he was hoping for HIS own benefit from this family, no matter what turned of me.
“Have you eaten anything since last night?” Ivan asked and I shook my head.
“I went to bed after showering and getting changed, my body wouldn’t help me out of the room if I tried” I said shyly. Ivan nodded at me and got up motioning for me to follow him.
“This is the kitchen” he said opening the door “from here on out, you are a family member in this house, you needn’t be shy. If you want to eat or drink anything, you can simply ask one of the girls to make something for you, if you prefer making something for yourself; the fridge is there, oven, all the utensils…”
I couldn’t help but smile at his words, I wasn’t allowed in the kitchen at my own house. I wasn’t allowed to gain an extra pound, and was forced to remain on the meals that the family had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Any snacks in between weren’t allowed for me.
“And this is my daughter” Ivan introduced me to the half asleep woman who just entered the kitchen. Her hair was sticking everywhere and she was still in her pajamas, which consisted of shorts and a long sleeved shirt “Audrey”
“Hi” she said smiling at me. Her blue eyes similar to her dad’s despite her mum and brother having brown eyes “you must be our unlucky bride”
“Hi” I laughed.
“Audrey, shouldn’t you freshen up before going down for coffee?” Ivan asked his daughter.
“That would require energy, and I need coffee for energy” Audrey said answering her father who shook his head at her. She shrugged and turned her attention to me, her eyes showing a mischievous demeanor “I am your savior and your one and only escape in this house”
She extended her hand to me and I laughed shaking it “I take it that you two will get along fine”
“Judging by the number of men that are in this house, yes, I needed reinforcements to put you all down”
“Audrey, are you drunk?”
“No, I may or may have not had glass or two with Uncle Dimitri…”
“When? We were literally there three minutes ago”
“I can drink a few glasses in three minutes!”
“We will talk of this later, have you seen your brother?” Ivan asked and Audrey shook her head in no.
“He went out last night, he still hasn’t come back, and I have a feeling that I know where he is” Audrey said pumping the air. The idea of it made me look down at my feet in embarrassment, the maids who were in the kitchen tried stifling their laughs. However, the glare on Ivan’s face told us all that he saw them, and that he didn’t like it.
“Let him come to my office when he’s back home, and you go sober up before breakfast” Ivan said looking at his daughter who nodded suddenly tensing up “get something to eat, Eliana, then after Audrey has sobered up, she will give you a tour around the house”
“Wait, what?”
Vladimir:“Fuck” I hissed before coming undone. My eyes screwing shut as my body tensed.The woman, Nina, shrieked under me as she reached her point before I pulled out of her.My chest rose and fell as I caught my breath and Nina smiled laying on top of me, her finger running over my chest as I wrapped my arm around her waist pulling her to me. I smiled down at her as she laid her head over my racing heart.“I thought that I wouldn’t be seeing you again” she spoke after a while of silence. Her brown hair curled over my chest slightly tickling me.“Now, why would you think that?” I asked looking down at the woman who smiled at me.“Well, with the rumors that have spread…”“They weren’t rumors” I said stopping her. Her eyes widened and she tensed for a second before nodding.“So, it is true that you got married” she stated. I raised an eye
Eliana:I brushed my hair after taking a shower as I waited for it to dry.I have been isolated in my bedroom since Vladimir got here. As far as I was concerned, he was out banging a different woman, and that was something that was something that I didn’t want to think of.The fact my father could hear of this worried me. The man would have my head without even blinking, and the funny part was, I would have no say about it. He gave me his conditions; it was me who wasn’t following my part. At least, that is what they would all be telling me.The bedroom door was knocked making me frown in confusion before calling “come in”The door opened and Audrey walked inside carrying a tray in her hands making my eyes widen. I quickly got up and took the tray from her, setting it down on the dresser. Looking at it, I was surprised when I saw hot chocolate, cookies, and brownies.“I figured you might want something sweet. Th
Vladimir:“Where are you going?” Mom asked raising an eyebrow at me. I had gone to my room to shower and change after leaving Eliana’s room, and now was headed out to finish some unfinished business that I had to take care of.“I am really surprised that you’re questioning me where I’m going when I’m twenty-six” I teased mom wrapping my arms around her. She tapped my chest twice and I chuckled kissing the crown of her head before she pulled away to look me in the eye. I was never one to raise my voice at my mom, it was something that was unspoken or thought of to begin with. Dad and Dimitri were against, we were raised to respect women, and if they were family members; we were to die before even considering breaking their hearts.“You are a newlywed man, at least try and give your relationship a chance” mom’s eyes met mine and I raised an eyebrow at her making her laugh “not even the slighte
Eliana I scrolled through my phone when the house’s door slammed against the wall as someone opened it, startling me. I frowned in confusion putting my phone back inside my pocket. “WHERE IS SHE?” I heard Vladimir’s voice making me frown in confusion. “Vladimir, what the…?” Ivan started when Vladimir walked into the living room and grabbed me by my neck forcing me to stand. His grip tightening making my eyes widen as he cut off my airway. “Vladimir! LET THE WOMAN GO!” Ivan yelled pulling his son away from me only for him to take his gun out of his waistband and point it at my abdomen. Luka pulled Ivan away from Vladimir, whispering something in his ear all while I tried removing the bastard’s hand from around my neck. “What are you doing here?” Vladimir snarled. My heart raced against my ribcage as I feared his expression. The anger he held though I wasn’t sure of what it was made me want to hide. I couldn’t even miss the blood which w
Vladimir:“Do you trust she’s telling the truth?” Luka asked and I sighed putting my hands under my chin as I tried to think straight.I thought of every option, and every reason to find one lie in what she said. But the woman could have been killed, she wouldn’t have lied in such a state, her racing heart against my body. Her frightened eyes, I wasn’t blind not to see them.“Yes, why she had told me the complete truth? I don’t know, she could have found a lie to give, but she didn’t…”“Well, if that’s the case, then that means we have a problem” Luka said. I sighed getting up from my leather chair, I walked to the bar and poured both Luka and I a drink. Handing the man his glass, I sat on the chair in front of his and shook my head, questions swarmed my mind at this state, those who I had no answers to.“We have more than just a little problem, but for now, I real
Eliana:“Vladimir!” I heard the woman he brought over tonight shriek as she reached her orgasm.I sighed and walked down the stairs heading down to the dining room. This has been going on for two weeks now; the man would come home every night with a different woman, and she would leave in the morning before breakfast.I smiled when I saw Audrey, her eyes met mine and she nodded at me to sit by her side on the couch. Her eyes studying my expression only to frown in confusion at the fact that I wasn’t my cheerful self this morning. I couldn’t be, no matter how much I did try, it became harder to smile nowadays.“Has he always been like this?” I asked Audrey. The question has been bothering me for days now, maybe he was always sleeping around and now he was just doing what he was used to. I didn’t like admitting it, but it was starting to annoy me that he was.“Who?”“Your brother&rdqu
Vladimir:“Need I ask where you two have been?” I asked Luka who walked inside followed by Eliana.“Tvoya zhena decided to go and get something from the store, but she didn’t seem to find it” your wife, Luka answered nodding at Eliana who wouldn’t look at me. Her eyes glared daggers at Nina who raised an eyebrow at her. However, neither one of them bothered to approach the other as Eliana walked past us and up the stairs.I nodded at Nina dismissing her and watched as she walked out the door before raising an eyebrow at Luka “what really happened?”“Just forget about it, she just needed to understand who she was married to. I believe she got her lesson” Luka answered making me frown in confusion.“And that means?”“You’re not going to let it slide until you find out, are you?” Luka asked and I smirked. He shook his head at me and sighed.
Eliana:Vladimir’s fingers softly removed the glass shards from my foot before sanitizing the cut.I couldn’t help but hiss and grip on the sink’s edge as I sat on the counter beside it.Despite me fighting the man to leave, he wouldn’t. His arm wrapped around me as he lifted me bridal style and took me to the bathroom. I had slapped his chest a few times before giving up when I realized that he wouldn’t take no for an answer.He opened the bathroom’s cabinet and took out a first aid kit, slowly bandaging the cut “let me know if I tighten it too much, we just need to stop the bleeding”He wrapped bandage twice before I flinched when he squeezed it a little too tightly. He nodded and loosened it before he put the rest of it away. He sighed and washed his hands before taking my hand in his and cleaning the cut that has formed earlier when I broke the things down to begin with. I couldn’t help but
"Vladimir, I am not going to sit around while you..." Eliana snapped at her husband."You cannot expect me to sell you to the man, Eliana. That is out of question, so no!" Vladimir said glaring at his wife."We need to get inside, Vladimir. You and I both know that's the only way to do it"***************It started out with a marriage.A simple contract signed.But when their love conquers even the mafia's darkest desire of revenge.Things start taking a different path.Both Eliana and Vladimir Romanov would be forced into a war like no other. It is one of power, strength, and money.And remember, the Mafia's world only has one rule "there is no rule to follow when it comes to power"Would they be able to do what it takes?Will their love strive to survive through it all?Or would both crumble under it?
“Boss, it’s for you” the secretary said walking toward her boss. The one man that everyone feared, the mysterious man known as the enemy of all mafia families “it’s your son” He nodded at his secretary to leave the office, leaving him to talk to his son. The woman knew not to let her boss repeat himself twice. She knew the consequence of defying the man. He wasn’t a normal one anyway, a normal boss would fire his employee. This man would do it literally. “Leonardo” he said answering his son. His eldest son, his and his love’s first born. The man’s blessing and curse. The one person he knew that he would be willing to die for, well, that was in the past anyway. He wasn’t so sure about that now. “You sent me a message to call, Lorenzo” he said calmly. He didn’t like calling his father, the man knew that for fact. Having blamed him for not living with his mother, then hearing of her death after years of waiting to be reunited with her. The man wanted nothing mor
Eliana:“Be sure to call us when you arrive, yeah?” I asked hugging Kiara.“Don’t worry, love, we’ll call. Plus, now I have an excuse to pop up at LA every once and a while” Kiara teased and I laughed “you have an English sister by your side whenever you need me. Just one call, and I’ll be here by your side, yeah?”“Thank you, for everything, really” I said hugging her again. I watched as Vladimir and Nikolay said their goodbyes before Nikolay walked toward me. His eyes gentle, and his smile genuine as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in for a tight hug.“Stay safe, Eliana, and be sure not to get kidnapped again” he teased. I laughed pulling away from the hug watching as he cupped my cheeks and kissed my forehead “we’ll be coming back and forth, and I’m sure the same would go for your family. Whenever you need anything, just let us know, you have a fam
Vladimir:I wrapped my arms around my wife, holding her to my chest.“A penny for your thoughts?” She asked looking up at me. It’s been days since her breakdown, and despite her not shedding a tear in front of anyone. I was glad that she trusted me enough to open up to me.“I was wondering whether or not you wanted us to leave town for a few days. Just you and me, away, on the beach?” I asked looking down at her. She raised herself to look at me, and despite her love for the beach, she shook her head.I sighed but didn’t say a word to object knowing that she was still mourning. I wouldn’t lie when I said that I didn’t like her mourning over a man that did everything in his power to break every spec of confidence she ever had in her. But I couldn’t expect her to just live, move on, and forget that the man was her brother after all. She grew up with him, and no matter what she tried convincing herself ab
Eliana:I washed my face trying to wake myself from the trance that I was falling into. The pain that I was in, everything which was eating me alive. My husband who didn’t want to look at me, him holding me the way he did…I shook my head at myself, snapping myself out of it. I walked toward the bed and laid on it, gripping the blanket tightly as to keep myself safe from the world. I didn’t know what I was expecting next, and Ian’s words kept playing in my head as I tried closing my eyes.“Eliana…” Vladimir’s voice broke my heart, partly because of what he had heard, and because of what happened. I felt the bed dip beside me as he sat down beside me. He slowly removed the blanket from over my shoulder, revealing my face; however, I closed my eyes and turned around, giving him my back.Vladimir sighed and ran his finger over my bruising arm, where he had gripped it “I’m sorry, malyshka”
Vladimir:Eliana and I walked toward the basement’s door and I sighed when Eliana stopped a few steps back as not to hear her brother’s bone shattering.Riley was upstairs in her playing room with Grace and Kiara, and the TV was loud enough as for her not to hear what was happening down here.“Eliana…”“Vladimir, I want to go and see him” Eliana said stopping me. I froze for a second not sure if I had heard what she said right. Her eyes met mine and I could see the seriousness in her expression “I have to hear this from him, Vladimir”“Eliana, what are you going to hear from him? More specifically, would you be able to look at him?” I asked. Eliana stopped for a second to think, before nodding.“I am sure, Vladimir. I wouldn’t be able to live with this if I don’t hear this from him, and whether or not I’ll be able to handle the vision; I don’t kn
Eliana:“We aren’t the ones who are practically kicked out of the house” I heard the maids mock inside the kitchen.“One more word and I will be sure to rip your tongues off” Aurora snarled.“Do try, you know, boss wants you out of the house…”“What is the meaning of this mockery?” I asked walking inside the kitchen. The girls who were watching as Aurora cut the onions. Their hands which were crossed over their chests, and their heads which were held high lowered to their feet as they avoided my eyes. None of them opened their mouths to speak, and Aurora continued to chop the onions for tonight’s dinner.“Rather than working, you’re choosing to mock a family member?” I asked angrily. I could hear Aurora stop chopping, though she made no attempt to turn to face me.“We apologize, M’lady…”“Pack your things, and thankful t
Vladimir:“Well, well, well, if it isn’t our beloved snake” I said entering the basement where Ian was locked. Luka, Nikolay, Viktor, dad, Dimitri, Richard, Sebastian, and I were inside while the girls waited for whatever we were to tell them when we walked out. I knew that Audrey wanted to be here, but I was going to give it a while before I’ve allowed her to walk inside. There were still answers that I wanted to get.“Ah, boss decided to arrive. What happened? Couldn’t find what you were looking for?” Ian smirked.“If you’re referring to your boss, then I’ve found what I needed, for now. However, I was to make sure that you begged to die before I watched you bleed to death” I whispered to the man before dragging my knife along his jawbone. The man fought to stay quiet, but I could tell by his shivering that he was already frightened of whatever fate I decided to give him.“Now, I&rs
Eliana:I watched as my husband walked inside the hotel suite where I was sitting with Luka waiting for him in the living room. My hands were crossed over my chest as I sat after growing tired of pacing around the room like some psychotic woman who was on the verge of killing someone.Vladimir smiled at me and wrapped his arms around me when I got up and walked toward him. He kissed the crown of my head and I laid my head on his chest, right over his beating heart, relaxing in his embrace.We pulled away to look at one another and Vladimir cupped my cheek, softly pecking my lips. Luka got up and crossed his arms over his chest, waiting to hear what happened since he was sent here with me. The poor man has been bearing with my rant since then, well, it wasn’t technically a rant, it was just me snapping at myself for being a fool and believing whatever anyone has told me.“Two were dead, the rest are on our sides…” Vladimir told Luk