Maxim

Did Carlo sell me to the Bratva to make amends with Maxim? If so, I was in for a life of suffering. I was scared for my life. If the Bratva was anything like the Sicilian Mafia, I knew I would wish I were dead.

Viktor, the man who bought me, and the other one who he spoke to, started walking while dragging me with them. I wanted to run away but I was in a foreign country and I didn’t want to get beaten.

I wouldn’t get far anyway. I was tied up and blindfolded and who knew how many men were in the house? I had to bid my time and wait for the right moment.

I was hesitant in my movements but the man who bought me was resilient.

“You’re giving me a fucking hard time!” He yelled and slapped me across the face. He pulled my hair and shook me around a little. “Either be compliant or I’ll cut off your legs.”

I nodded my head profusely in fear of what he would do. He had a temper.

Suddenly, everything and everyone was quiet. There was tension in the air and I could sense the fear radiating off of everyone. I could sense someone had entered the room–someone powerful.

“P-Pakhan….I brought you a girl. I thought you may like her because–”

“You know the Bratva doesn’t buy or sell women, men, or children. Why would you buy a girl for him?” A man spoke. “Pakhan, I’m sorry about him.”

I could tell the one who spoke wasn't Pakhan. However, I knew he was in the room. No one dared to breathe or make any sudden movements. Even while blindfolded I could tell the Pakhan had a certain effect on everyone.

“This one is special. She is–” Viktor said but he was cut off.

“Take off her blindfold,” a deep velvet voice said.

Viktor did as he said and took off my blindfold. He proceeded to untie me but he kept his hand firmly around my arm to prevent me from going anywhere.

I looked around the room. There were four men. One of the was Viktor. The other one stood beside Viktor while the two other men remained opposite me.

One of them carried the room with his presence. He radiated confidence and power all in one gaze. I couldn’t look away from him. His gaze almost made me want to cower but I didn’t allow myself to.

He was tall, muscular, and he was covered in tattoos. However, that wasn’t what caught my eye. His eyes were odd. One of them was brown and the other was green, and had a faint scar that ran across his left eye.

Despite this, he was beautiful. I had never seen a man that hot before. He had a chiseled jawline and features that could rival those of a Greek god. His five-o’clock beard made him look manly and hotter.

He also wore glasses. I had never seen a man in the mafia, let alone a Pakhan wear glasses before. It was odd. His face was impassive and his gaze revealed nothing. He seemed unbothered by everything happening around him.

He looked at me with a bored expression as if he couldn’t care less that one of his men bought me as a present for him. His eyes raked all over my body like he wasn’t impressed. I’d never felt more insecure.

I had a feeling it had to do with the fact that he was beautiful. However, no matter how beautiful he was, he was just like every other man in the mafia. It was a life I had worked so hard to escape.

The mafia men distributed drugs, killed men, and trafficked women and children. I didn’t want to be a part of it. However, it didn’t seem like I had much of a choice.

The fear of what would happen to me got to me. I imagined being tortured and raped and suffering for my father’s choice to kill Maxim's sister. No matter how good he looked, I couldn’t forget he was a monster.

I made a decision I should have not made. I panicked and stepped on Viktor’s foot. Once he let me go, I grabbed his junk and twisted as hard as I could.

I turned and ran even though deep down I knew I wouldn’t get away. It didn’t help that I had on heels. I didn’t get far before my hair was yanked and I was pulled back. I was dragged deeper into the house and I pushed back.

“Come here, you bitch. You’re not going anywhere.”

My scalp was on fire. Viktor slapped me across the face.

Viktor hovered above me ready to slap me again when he was shot in the side of his head. Blood splattered all over my face and clothes and I let out a scream so loud it reverberated through the house.

I looked behind in time to see Maxim drop his hand. He handed someone the gun he was holding.

“Tell Maxim’s men to remember what he said. The Bratva doesn’t deal with the sale and exchange of flesh.” The man next to him said. “I will torture and execute whoever disobeys him and does this.”

“He told me this one was special but he didn’t tell me why…” The man who had been standing next to Viktor said.

“I don’t fucking care if she’s the queen’s daughter. We don’t kidnap or buy women. He knew that.” Maxim’s mouthpiece said.

I called him Maxim’s mouthpiece because he spoke on behalf of Maxim. Maxim had only spoken once when he asked Viktor to remove my blindfold.

Maxim wouldn’t stop looking at me. He seemed to be analyzing me. At first, I thought he recognized that I was Alfonso’s daughter but he didn’t. Those thoughts were washed away when his mouthpiece spoke.

“If she’s so special, who is she?” Maxim’s mouthpiece asked.

My chest bubbled with joy. They didn’t know who I was.

The only man who knew I was a Rossi was dead. That meant there was hope. It meant I had a chance to survive the Bratva. Although, that thought seemed far-fetched when I remembered that Maxim was a dangerous man.

“What should we do with her?” Maxim’s mouthpiece asked.

Maxim looked at me like he was asking himself that very question.

For a moment, I thought he might let me go. After all, the men had made it clear that they did not deal with human trafficking. That hope was crushed when Maxim held out his hand for me. 

I stupidly took it and allowed him to pull me to my feet. I couldn't explain it but I knew he wouldn't hurt me. 

“Tell Giulia to prepare a room for her in the West Wing. Give her food and water and make sure she’s cuffed to the bed. We’ll figure things out in the morning.” Maxim’s mouthpiece said.

It was a mystery how the man who spoke for Maxim knew exactly what he was thinking.

Maxim grabbed my chin and looked into my eyes. His scent was almost intoxicating–a mixture of sandalwood, spice, and a hint of smoke. I couldn't think of anything manlier.

I saw darkness swirl in his eyes and I realized why he was feared so much. I saw the monster swimming within the man who looked like a nerd in his rectangular glasses.

I hated how his gaze and touch made me feel. I had no business getting goosebumps all over my body and body tingling with awareness. Maxim was an enemy—every man in the mafia was.

Maxim let me go and walked away. He looked calmer than the man I imagined him to be. I hated that I was disappointed he didn’t linger longer.

As soon as he was gone, his mouthpiece approached me.

“I’m Mikhail. I hope you understand that I can’t let you go because you’ve already seen Maxim’s face. I don’t trust you not to run to the police.”

“Please…I won’t…I won’t say anything.”

He smiled evilly and shook his head.

“Take her away. If she screams and yells then sedate her.” Then he turned his attention to me. “Don’t make us throw you in the dungeon so behave. We are doing you a favor by letting you sleep in a comfortable bed and feeding you. Don’t abuse that privilege.”

Before I could respond, I was pulled away and thrown into a room. I was cuffed to the bed and asked if I wanted any food or water but I refused.

I wouldn’t be fooled by their fake kindness. If they were truly kind, they would have let me go.

And if they found out who I was, they would kill me. It was only a matter of time.