Hunted: A Dark Mafia Romance Read online

  I wasn’t entirely certain what that said about my character. Maybe I really had sold my soul to the devil a long time ago.

  My gut churned, my instinct on high alert. There was a story that no one wanted to tell and one I needed to find out. That would take one thing with the beautiful woman.

  Breaking her.

  I glanced into the rearview mirror again, studying Grady’s face. This was in his best interest, although I doubted that she’d allow my decision to stand without a fight.

  She stiffened as I pulled into the driveway, gripping the dashboard, her breath skipping.

  “He will be all right,” I offered, trying to add as much comfort to my voice as possible. What the hell did I know about comforting anyone?

  “You don’t know that, and you don’t give a shit. You’re just a murderer.” She was shaking as I pulled the Jeep to a stop.

  “Wake him up and explain. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” I gave her no time to object, exiting the vehicle and walking toward the front door. Before I reached the entrance, the door was opened, Lola appearing. She closed it behind her, folding her arms as she glared at me before leaning over so she could see the occupants of the Jeep.

  “I don’t like this and neither does Tom,” Lola said quietly.

  “I’ll make certain you are compensated for whatever you need to purchase for him.”

  “I can’t believe you’re doing this.”

  “I have no other choice if I want him to stay alive.”

  Lola glared at the Jeep again. “Who is she?”

  “Someone I’m determined to protect.”

  My sister laughed, shaking her head. “I doubt that’s what you want to do. I don’t know what happened to you, but you’re not the brother I always knew, the one I looked up to.”

  “Things had to change, Lola. I can’t get into the same argument at this point. I have no time.”

  She continued to shake her head. “You know what I went through.”

  “And you know exactly what I went through. I’m trying to save his life, Lola. That doesn’t mean I’m a good man.”

  “No, you’re not a good man.”

  Sighing, I rubbed my eyes. I’d made a mistake. “If you are telling me you changed your mind, then do it now. I’m out of time as well as options.”

  The tenseness between us was sickening.

  “Fine. Bring him here. We’ll do our best to keep him safe, although at some point you’re going to tell me what the hell this is about. I deserve to know.”

  “I will tell you what I can when I can. You and Tom need to make certain that you call me if anything isn’t right. Do you understand me, Lola?”

  She pinched her mouth, glaring at me with hateful eyes. “I got it, Dominik. I’m no fool, although I think you are.”

  She had no idea how her words cut through me like a knife. I knew exactly the kind of man I’d turned into.

  A coldblooded killer.

  I took a step backwards, hearing the vehicle’s door opening. I also heard Grady’s cries of anguish.

  “Come on, baby,” Hope encouraged. “This is just for a little while.”

  Lola huffed behind me, opening the door to the cabin. When the dog rushed out, I held my breath. I’d forgotten all about the Golden Retriever. Maybe the dog’s presence would help the boy adjust.

  “Look, baby. A dog!” Hope squealed, doing her best to keep a happy tone in her voice.

  I took long strides toward the Jeep, removing one of the suitcases. Hope immediately charged in my direction, pulling the other one into her hands. Then she gave me a nasty look.

  Grady stood still, tears streaming down his face. His reaction forced me to look away as I moved closer, dropping the suitcase near the front door. I noticed Tom as he leaned against the doorway, staring at me with contempt on his face. While we’d never gotten along, he’d been good to my sister. If he hadn’t been, he would have faced my wrath.

  Hope crouched down in front of him, caressing his face as the dog tried his best to nuzzle against the little boy. “It’s okay, baby. Mommy will be back in no time. I promise you.”

  “Hi,” Lola said as she knelt down. “I’m Lola and this is Tom. And this bundle of love is Jessie. Do you like dogs?”

  Grady took a few seconds before nodding, yanking the damn bear I’d given him closer to his face.

  Lola smiled at Hope, trying to give her some level of encouragement. I couldn’t tolerate this shit. I just wasn’t good with giving comfort or care on any level. So I did what I always had before. I walked away.

  As I heard a crack of twigs behind me, I bristled.

  “What are you doing, Dominik?” Tom asked as he flanked my side.

  “Trying to save a life.”

  He snorted. “Look, while I’m hopeful that maybe you’re finally going to get the hell away from killing people, putting a child’s life or your sister’s life in danger isn’t cool with me. I agreed to this because Lola begged me. But if anything happens, I swear to God that I will hunt you down myself. Do you get it?”

  I turned my head, studying Tom’s face. I had to admire not only the level of love he had for my sister but his loyalty as well. “Yeah? Take a number, Tom. I’m certain someone is going to beat you to it. You call me if you notice any disturbances. I will return.”

  “And the woman?”

  “She’s coming with me.”

  Tom shook his head. “God help her.”

  Hope hadn’t said a single word since we’d left the cabin. While tears continued to stream down her cheeks, she refused to make a sound after being forced back into the Jeep. Her despair was understandable, although I had to shut down that portion of my mind. We’d spent far too much time making certain Grady was okay in his new surroundings. Now I was even more on edge.

  The twenty-four hours Viktor had given me was ticking.

  Making the decision to protect her could mean forfeiting the one secure location that I’d never allowed anyone I’d ever contracted with to know about. I’d taken careful steps over the years to keep my personal life away from anyone who might use it as a weakness. Why I’d felt such a strong need, I wasn’t certain.

  However, answers were needed. We would stop for the night and she would talk. While I could push on through, I wanted to make certain I knew exactly what I was dealing with before reaching my final decision. As the sun began to set, I pulled into a location that I’d frequented more than a few times. The owners knew me, or at least they knew of Sacha.

  She finally turned her head in my direction, her chest still heaving from her mixture of anger and anguish. “What are you doing?”

  “I assume you’d like to get something to eat.”

  Her laugh was bitter. “What is this? My last meal in some backwoods diner? Aren’t you the grandiose man.”

  “You need to eat.”

  “Not if you’re going to kill me.”

  I cut the engine, taking my time before answering her. “I’m not going to kill you, Hope. In fact, I’m going to protect you.”

  She stared at me with an incredulous look on her face. “Why? Why would you do that?”

  “Because I don’t think you should die. We are going inside and you’re going to keep quiet as we are led to a table. I’m going to ask you some questions and you will answer them honestly. That’s the price you’re going to pay for me keeping both you and your little boy safe. Are there any questions?”

  “Why the hell are you doing this?”

  “I have my reasons.” I got out of the vehicle, tucking my weapon into my jacket pocket. The small motel located within yards of the restaurant would be perfect for the night. I guided her inside, happy to see there were very few customers.

  “Sacha. My God. It’s good to see you.” The aging man walked from behind the counter, heading in my direction.

  “Wally. It’s been a long time. How is business?”

  He shrugged. “We have our ups and downs. You just passing through?”

&nbs
p; “I am. Do you have a quiet table somewhere?”

  Wally glanced at Hope, nodding several times. “Sure. Let me take you to it. A special night?”

  “Like I said, just passing through.”

  “Good enough. We have a mighty mean Salisbury steak tonight if you’re interested.”

  Laughing, I patted him on the back as he guided us to the back of the place. The table was perfect, no other customers in close proximity. She remained completely uncomfortable as we sat down.

  “What do you two kids want to drink?” Wally asked, beaming at both of us as if we were on a date.

  She eyed him warily, her lovely mouth twisting.

  “Have something, Hope. Anything you’d like. I’ll take a bourbon. Neat.”

  Hope exhaled, gazing at the small bar. “A glass of red wine if you have it.”

  “Of course,” Wally said, laughing. “We are a full service restaurant. Your server will be right over. Don’t forget what I said about the steak. It’s pretty yummy. If you’re staying the night, I’ll get you signed up with a key.”

  “That would be great, Wally. I appreciate it.”

  Her eyes didn’t leave him for a few seconds as he walked away. Then she turned her attention in my direction. “Sacha?”

  “A name I use.”

  “Who are you really, Dominik? Wally knows you and for some crazy reason seems to like you, although I don’t know how that’s possible since you’re a fucking monster.”

  She had no idea what pushing my limits would do. I reined in my frustration, trying to remember the predicament she was in.

  “I’m a man with no existence. That’s all you need to know.” The look of contempt on her face almost brought a smile to mine. “Pick something to eat.”

  “I just don’t understand why you’re doing this. I just don’t…” A single tear slipped down her face.

  When I reached across the table, sliding my finger through the salty bead, she bristled, pulling away.

  “Don’t touch me. Please.”

  Exhaling, I waited until our drinks were brought to say anything else. “Does anyone know about your brother?”

  She shook her head, her hand shaking as she reached for her wine. “Jeffrey wants nothing to do with me any longer. I can’t say I blame him. The answer is no.”

  “That might save his life.”

  “They’re never going to stop until I’m dead. And they’ll take my baby.”

  “It’s possible they will try, but no one knows about Lola or Tom.”

  “Who are they? How do you know you can trust them? You may hate me for what I did, but that little boy has done nothing to anyone!”

  I glanced around us to make certain no one heard. “Keep your voice down.”

  “Or you’ll punish me. Of course. Again. Why should I care?”

  The bourbon was rotgut, but the drink was needed at this point. The woman wasn’t going to cooperate without a few answers. “Lola is my sister, Tom her husband.”

  Her eyes opened wide, but she said nothing.

  “I’ve come here on several occasions when traveling through to a place I own. Sacha is what Lola used to call me many years ago when we still lived in Russia. Traveling with a child isn’t in our best interest. They will keep him safe. They are good people.”

  She hid behind her glass, taking a few sips before nodding.

  “Now, we are going to order some food.”

  “Okay.” The single word was barely whispered.

  She followed my command, although I doubt that she even knew what she was ordering. “Why did you agree provide evidence to the prosecutors? I’m certain you were given instructions by a member of the Ivanov family on what to say or do if the office was compromised.”

  “You mean threats? Of course, and I tried. The asshole FBI agent invaded the office without notice, bursting in with guns. I said all the right things the first two times I was taken in, kept for hours. Do you have any idea what that did to Grady? Do you know how many nightmares he’d had? Of course it was on the news. My little boy was terrified that his mommy was going to be taken from him.” Her hand was wrapped around the glass so tightly that her knuckles were white.

  I’d known people who could lie with ease. This time that wasn’t the case. Hope was genuinely terrified, but there was something she wasn’t telling me.

  “I can imagine. How did they break you? Did you have evidence that you kept at your house?”

  “Are you kidding me? The minute I walked out of my office, I tried to pretend I was leaving just any job. I had never carried anything incriminating with me. Everything was locked down at the end of every day.”

  “Then how did the FBI get ahold of the information?”

  Hope took a few seconds glancing around the restaurant, blinking several times. “I went back one night to the office. I just…” She looked away, her breathing rattled.

  “Why? Didn’t you understand what would happen to you?”

  “I knew, but I had no choice. None. By then the prosecutor was involved, refusing to leave me alone. God, I just wanted to run away. After the last meeting, I couldn’t take anymore so I decided to pack up and leave town. That’s all I could do. I had to protect Grady. I had to.”

  Jesus Christ. What had convinced her to make such a rash decision?

  “And why is that?” I asked under my breath.

  She opened then closed her mouth, shaking her head several times. “It doesn’t matter any longer.”

  “It does, Hope. You need to tell me. If you want me to try and help you, I have to know.”

  Shaking, she glared at me before leaning over. “The bastard threatened me. Okay? The fucking prosecutor made certain we were alone. Then he threatened me with a smile on his face. He said there was no other choice. That’s all you need to know.” She threw out her hand as she closed her eyes, trying to control her breathing.

  I could see we were getting nowhere. However, I could also tell that she wasn’t lying. The asshole prosecutor had used something against her. I didn’t need for her to have a breakdown here. “Why did you take the job in the first place? You’re a smart girl. You had to know what you were getting in the middle of.”

  “Of course I knew. Do you think I wanted to? Do you think anyone willingly wants to work for the mafia?” She cursed under her breath, jerking back as the server brought the food. Almost immediately, she shoved the plate away.

  I pushed it back. “You will eat. Period.”

  “Says the big, bad Russian.” After a few seconds, she picked up her fork.

  I allowed her to take a few bites before pressing her again. “Just eat a little bit, Hope. You’re going to need your strength. Now, why did you take the position?”

  Sagging, she closed her eyes, still pushing food around on her plate. “Because no one wanted to hire me. I applied to at least two hundred jobs. I wasn’t exclusive. Hell, I applied for secretarial positions, retail, call center operation as well as cleaning companies. When they found out I had a child, the majority shied away. Oh, they had perfect excuses, but I knew the real reason. After two months, I was offered three positions, but they were far away from my apartment with long hours. I wouldn’t be able to afford childcare, let alone I’d never see my son.”

  “Jesus. Why didn’t you move?”

  She leaned even further over the table. “At that point I had fifteen dollars in my bank account with no way to pay the upcoming rent. None. My son and I were going to become homeless in a few damn days. I noticed an ad in the paper and sent in my resume. See, I’m not some deadbeat. I have a full college education with a degree in accounting. But nobody cared. I didn’t think there was a chance in hell, but I received a call. At first, I had no idea who the company was. They offered enough of a salary to allow me to get off my feet, including benefits like freaking childcare on the premises. Do you know what that meant to me?”

  Her statement confirmed that Viktor had known from day one about the child. That put Grady in immedi
ate danger. I took a deep breath, processing what she’d told me. “I’m not here to judge you, Hope. What I care about is the reason you betrayed the Ivanov family. What did the prosecutor threaten you with?”

  “That no longer matters. Does it? Just leave me alone. Do what you need to do. I have no life without my son. You made certain to take the only thing that matters away from me. I fucking hate you and trust me, Dominik, I will find a way to kill you.”

  While she managed to eat several bites of her food, even enjoying a second glass of wine, she refused to answer any additional questions, pretending as if I didn’t exist. To her, I was nothing but a monster.

  She was exactly right. So was my sister.

  I pushed away the plate, noticing Wally motioning me toward the counter. I grabbed the bill the server had dropped off, leaning over the table. “Listen to me, Hope.”

  The woman ignored me as usual.

  I grabbed her arm, yanking, forcing her to look into my eyes. “I’m going to get a key for a room and pay the bill. You’re going to stay here. Do you understand me?”

  A wry smile crossed her face. “Why, yes, sir. Why would I dare move away from such enjoyable company?”

  I’d hunted down the kind of men who deserved to die. They were nothing but scum of the earth, pretending they were gods. My assignments had ranged from rival mafia leaders to politicians, but at no time had a single one of them dared to defy me. They’d simply realized they had no choice but to die. Only a few of them had begged for their lives.

  This woman was something else entirely, managing to rile the fuck out of me while enticing the hunger that I’d squelched for far too long. Inhaling, the lingering scent of her perfume was enough to make my cock push hard against my pants. If I could, I would take my time exploring every inch of her body, indulging in my passion until she begged for more.

  But that wasn’t going to happen.

  Easing back, I jerked up from the booth, starting to walk away then tapping my fingers on the edge of the table. “You should be grateful that I was sent for you, Hope. Any other assassin and you would already be dealt with.” I was able to catch a glimpse of her lower lip quivering before I walked away. Perhaps I was finally getting to her.