Page 7 of Savage Mafia King

“I understand,” she says softly, lowering her gaze again.

Good.

We continue the tour, and I show her the sunroom, the hot tub, the sauna, and the indoor pool. I explain the rules, the procedures, the people she needs to talk to. It’s all business. But my eyes, my body—they’re tuned to her every movement. The slight sway of her hips as she walks in front of me, the way her long skirt clings to her body in certain places. It’s enough to drive a man insane, but I keep my composure. I’ll have her soon enough. Patience is key.

She questions me about security, about Marie’s school, and I lay down the law. There’s no room for negotiation here. She’ll do as I say because it’s the only way to keep them both safe. People are still after her. Her enemies are my enemies now, and that’s a dangerous fucking line to walk. I can’t afford mistakes. She must obey.

“I understand,” she finally says, her voice resigned.

“Good,” I reply, and I watch as she turns to leave. Her skirt hugs her curves as she walks away, and I catch a glimpse of the woman underneath—the one she keeps hidden beneath the layers of grief and duty. I want to rip those layers apart. I want her stripped, exposed, vulnerable under me.

Those aremycurves, and I’ll make damn sure she knows it.

When she disappears down the hall, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. The sight of her walking away stirs something dark and possessive in me. I won’t lie to myself—I want her. Not just in the way a man wants a woman, but in the way a predator wants to sink his teeth into soft flesh and leave his mark. I want to ruin her for anyone else. She’ll be mine, body and soul.

But not yet.

There’s more at play here than just my desire for her. This marriage is about power, alliances, and survival. Her father’s death left a hole in the criminal world, one that other wolves are eager to fill. But with Elena under my roof, they won’t touch her or Marie. They’ll stay in line, or I’ll rip their throats out myself.

Still, as I walk toward my office, I can’t shake the image of her standing there, eyes downcast, waiting for me to command her. The memory of last night creeps into my mind—her trembling form, the way her voice barely whispered, “Yes, Daddy.” It was enough to drive me wild then, and it’s enough now to send heat racing through my veins.

I can picture her tonight, laid out in that lacy lingerie, her hair falling down her back, her body trembling under my touch. I want to pull her close, wrap her hair around my fist, and hear her scream my name. But I’ll wait.

Tonight, she’ll be mine. And when I claim her, there will be no turning back.

With that thought, I step into the den, shutting the door behind me. There’s work to be done—things Enzo needs me for, tasks that require my attention. But even as I sit behind the desk, my mind is already elsewhere. On her.

Tonight, Elena will learn exactly who her husband is.

7

Elena

"Are we being followed?" Marie’s small voice trembles as she clutches my hand, her wide eyes darting toward the shadows.

I force a smile, trying to mask the growing unease that’s been gnawing at me for days. How can I tell her the truth when I barely know it myself? I feel eyes on us constantly—whether it’s paranoia or reality, I can’t say. But how could I let her worry about the same dark fears that haunt me? She’s just a child. She’s only starting fifth grade, for God’s sake. She shouldn’t have to live with this constant fear.

"No, love." I squeeze her hand reassuringly. "We’re safe." I point to one of the guards stationed a few feet away, his presence solid, unwavering. "See him? He and the others are here to keep us safe."

"Because Dimitri told them to?" she asks, her voice full of curiosity. There’s a hint of wonder there too. To her, Dimitri is like a fairytale figure—this powerful, enigmatic man who has swooped in to change our lives in ways she doesn’t fully understand.

I nod. "Exactly. Because I’m his wife now. That means he’s also your brother-in-law."

"I have a brother?" she asks, her eyes wide, as though the idea is too grand to fully comprehend.

"You do," I tell her, my voice softening. "And today you’re starting your new school. It’s a lot fancier than the one you were at before."

"So I don’t have to see Katie Petrov anymore?" she asks, her lips twitching as she mentions the girl who tormented her at her old school.

"That’s right. No more stinky Katie Petrov." I scrunch up my nose dramatically, making a ridiculous face that sends Marie into a fit of laughter. The sound is like a balm to my soul, a brief moment of normalcy in a world that feels anything but.

Her laugh—it’s the only thing that’s felt real since our father died. Everything else has been a whirlwind of chaos. One moment we were living in the modest home Father had left us, and now we’re in this sprawling mansion with guards, horses, and a man I barely know. Marie has her own suite of rooms, she rides horses every day, swims in an indoor pool, and eats dinner with me and Dimitri. It’s a far cry from the life I could have given her.

But it’s not real. Not really. This life feels like a dream, one I’m afraid I’ll wake up from at any moment. We’ve been thrust into Dimitri’s world, into his protection, and while I know it’s better for Marie, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve lost control of everything.

Father is gone. The words echo in my mind, sharp and cruel. I’ve been running on autopilot, doing what I have to do to survive,but I still haven’t fully processed that he’s gone. That I’ll never see him again. And yet, I have to keep moving forward. I have to keep going for Marie’s sake. For my own.

But what about Dimitri? If I don’t give him what he wants—if I don’t give himme—he’ll ask for a divorce. I know he will. And then what? How will I keep Marie safe without him? How will I survive without his protection?

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