The Mafia and His Obsession: Part 1 (Tainted Hearts 4)

I showed him the notepad, and he read the words slowly. When I saw no reaction from him, I started writing again. Feeling frustrated at his lack of understanding, I was close to begging now.

Why don’t you understand? If I have to beg, I will. You really don’t understand. Please.

With the notepad still on my lap, he was reading the words and then smirked. “Oh, I would love to hear you beg, silent myshka.”

His face came closer, our noses almost touching. “Just not the type of begging you are thinking. Trust me, when you beg—you are going to do it for a whole different reason. And I’m going to love hearing you beg me.”

My eyes widened in shock at his words. He couldn’t mean…

His hand came up, and he thumbed my lips almost roughly, his fingers then moving to my cheek. They slowly inched their way to upward, his fingertips feathering just below my ear.

It tickled, but the warmth his fingers left in their path made me forget about everything.

“Were you always deaf?”

I blinked, and then my mouth fell open.

Wh-at?

How…? No! Nobody—

My thoughts screeched to a halt when he grasped my neck, pulling me closer. I trembled in shock and went limp, letting him control my body.

What’s happening? I screamed in my head.

His fingers tightened around my neck. It wasn’t hurting—not like when Valentin would hold me. Viktor’s hold held so much dominance in it, but it was…gentle.

I swallowed nervously, and his thumb rubbed the column of my neck softly, forcing my eyes on him again.

“Answer me, Valerie.”

His face darkened and eyes glowed almost fiercely. Those brown irises were darker—almost black now. Viktor looked dangerous, angry. Like a killer, his mind set on his next victim. I saw him grinding his teeth together, his jaw locked.

Still staring at his face, I shook my head mutely.

If possible, Viktor looked even more furious.

“Did Valentin do this to you?”

The question left me shivering because, oh little did he know…

I shook my head again. Viktor raised an eyebrow at me, his hold tightening just a little. He pulled me closer, our lips now inches apart.

In this position, it was harder for me to see his lips. I couldn’t see what he was saying. So I just closed my eyes. In closing my eyes, I let myself feel. His touch, his voice.

I felt his breath next to my ear, so close. Instinctively, I brought my hands up, my fingers latching on his arms.

Two different holds.

Dominance. And submissive.

Strong. And weak.

Powerful. And desperation.

I just held him, while he held me.

There were whispers, my ears trying so hard to catch the words.

“…Valerie.”

My eyes snapped opened, and my heart froze for a half of a second before it started beating again, harder and louder.

My hands shook, and I held him tighter, tears blinding my vision.

Did I…?

My name…

He said my name…

I heard him…

He slowly moved his head in front of me, and I just stared at him.

Say it again, I begged. Please. Say my name. I want to hear it.

Viktor stared at me for a second before his lips moved again.

“Valerie.”

I saw him speak…but my ears didn’t catch his voice. His words fell into a pit of silence and darkness.

Closing my eyes, a tear fell down my cheek. I choked back a sob. What a cruel fate.

Before when I had heard his voice, it was almost silent. But I knew it was deep. I imagined that his voice was rough, deep and strong—just like him.

I want to hear you.

I felt his touch, this thumb brushing over my cheek. He swiped the tear away while his other hand released my neck. My eyes opened to look into his.

His brown ones were soft, focused intensely on me. As if I was the only one he could see.

Viktor brought his hand up, and his finger touched his lips. Instantly, my gaze went to his lips. He has found another way to communicate with me, letting me know that he was about to speak. He wanted me to catch every word he was saying.

“I don’t know what you are hiding, Valerie. But I am going to figure it out. Whether you like it or not, I am going to figure you out. You can hide from Valentin, but not from me.”

He brushed my hair out of my face. “All your secrets, Valerie. They will be mine. I want them. But I will wait for you to give them to me willingly.”

His face was close to mine again, and he smiled, a beautiful, breathtaking smile. “Remember, I am not Valentin. I am Viktor. And you can’t hide from me, silent myshka.”

With those as his final words, he stood straight. Viktor gave me a final glance, nodding, as if we now shared a secret. Maybe we did.

Our secret.

He left the room, and I was left staring at the wide windows, staring into the darkness of the night.