Page 50 of Debt to the Mafia King
“Power does that to men,” she said absently. “Luckily for you,” she winked. “Viktor is nothing like his father.”
My lips thinned. Viktor was more like his father than she realized, but I wasn’t about to say that. “What was he like as a child? Viktor, I mean? You were with the family back then, right?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I’ve been with the family forever. Viktor was a sweet kid, and he idolized his mother. I remember him always being next to her.” She smiled at the memories. “He loved her that much, and they used to come in here and bake cookies together. When she left, he was crushed. He waited for her to come back for so long. Sometimes, I still think he’s waiting because I see the pained look in his eyes.”
I made a scoffing sound in the back of my throat before I could help it, and her eyebrows shot up.
“Don’t be fooled by the man he is now, Leah. He’s still that boy who is scared of being alone. Deep down.” She added with a grin.
“Yeah, real deep down,” I muttered under my breath with a roll of my eyes.
“He always vowed he wouldn’t get married, and believe me, there have been many women who tried to become mistress of this house over the years. Viktor was a handsome young man.”
He was still handsome now, even if he wasn’t so young. In fact, I couldn’t picture him ever being better-looking.
“I can imagine,” I muttered.
“But he never wanted any of them. No one was good enough, and honestly, we all kind of gave up hope that he would find a good woman to share his life with. Corrinne leaving damaged him in ways he would never admit. It’s one of the reasons he kept us all on. He doesn’t like to say goodbye to the people he cares about. He keeps those who are loyal to him close. And then you came along.” She speared me into place with her eyes.
“Me?”
“Yes, you, Leah, the moment he told us he was getting married, we knew you were special, and you are. Everyone here can see how much he idolizes you.”
I laughed. “Believe me, he doesn’t idolize me. I’m not even sure he likes me.”
Cathy paused, but just for a second. “Oh, he does. He might not realize that he does yet, but I’ve seen that fear in his eyes again. He’s afraid to lose you.”
I wanted to tell her she was wrong. My relationship with Viktor was a business arrangement and nothing more. He married me because he needed a wife, and not because he liked me in any way.
Hell, we hadn’t even had a date before I was his wife. Viktor didn’t like me, and there was no way he would ever love me, but I couldn’t tell Cathy that. She saw Viktor as the broken boy he used to be and not the cold, dangerous man he was now, and I didn’t want to be the one who broke that view.
It did explain a lot, though.
“He doesn’t like people leaving him,” I murmured, and her eyes widened.
“Please don’t mention I told you of his past. He won’t like that.”
“I won’t say a word, and thank you for telling me. I feel like I understand him a lot better.”
And I did. And it was all useful information. Viktor might be cold and sometimes hateful, but he had a reason. The powerful, completely in control Viktor had abandonment issues.
It wasn’t an excuse, but it was a reason.
“Can you teach me how to make the cookies?”
Cathy’s eyes widened in shock. “Why would you need to learn?“
“Christmas is coming up, and I have no clue what to buy him.” And I have no way of going shopping and no money to pay for a gift anyway, I added silently. “I thought if I cooked him his mom’s cookies, he would like it.” Self-consciously, I ran a hand through my hair. “It’s probably a silly idea.”
Silently, Cathy stared at me. I fidgeted uncomfortably. “He would probably hate it.”
“It’s a wonderful idea, Leah. I’m not sure how good a cook you are, though?”
“I can zap something in the microwave without burning it like seven times out of ten,” I joked and was rewarded with a laugh from both of the women.
“Well, it’s a good job, and I’m a great teacher. But it might take us a while to master it. Are you sure you want to spend all of your free time in here with us?”
I shrugged. “I have nothing else to do. But only if you have the time. I wouldn’t want you to get into trouble for teaching me.”
