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

“Here is something you need to know about me,” I said, my voice quiet in the darkness of the night.

My words were only for his ears. He trembled, his eyes widening with fear when I took a menacing step closer.

“I always get what I want. It doesn’t matter how or what I need to do to get it. In the end, it’s mine if I want it,” I continued. “I don’t give a fuck about the consequences.”

He shook his head, trying to beg for his life, but I ignored his desperate plea.

“And I want her.”

I saw his throat working as he tried to speak, but he stopped when I crowded his space. Crouching down to his level, I smiled. I pulled the knife out, and he fell to his side, his face twisting in agony.

His eyes went to my knife as I twirled it around my fingers. The blade whispered over my skin but never cut through.

I brought the knife closer to his face, dragging the tip of the blade down his face and then his neck, until I held him captive. One wrong movement…and his death would be signed.

I made a tsking sound at the back of my throat before speaking again. “Unfortunately for you, you are in my way. To get her, I will need to get rid of you. Sadly.”

“When…Valentin finds out that you have taken an interest in Valerie…it will be war,” Igor whispered through clenched teeth. “Don’t do this. Remember, you and Valentin need to be one to bring down the Ivanshov. If you go against him…”

I laughed—because little did he know.

Leaning closer, I muttered in his ear. “Oh, I can’t wait for this…war.”

He opened his mouth, but no words came through as I dug my knife into his neck, breaking through his artery. Blood sprayed around us. It wasn’t a clean kill—it was rather messy as he choked on his blood, the gurgling sound of his impending death music to my ears.

I dragged my knife out of his gouged throat and wiped it with my handkerchief. My suit was drenched with his dirty blood, but that was thing about black—it hid all the messiness of this beautifully fucked-up life.

Well, that was gentle enough.

Standing up, I gave him a final look and couldn’t stop the smirk that pulled up across my lips.

With my gaze on the bloody gorgeous artwork, I watched the life drain out of him, his body convulsing and slowly going still.

I turned my back to him, but not before whispering words that he heard as his life left him completely.

“I will send my sincere condolences to your wife and kids.”

Chapter 20

Viktor

The estate was dark and silent when I walked in. It was in the middle of the night, everyone locked in their room, sound asleep.

And here I was, walking down the corridor that led to Valerie’s room.

Right after killing her bodyguard in cold blood. Removing the first obstacle in my path.

I would deal with the aftermath afterward, but now, I just needed to see her. Stopping in front of the closed door, I just stared and breathed. She was inside, sleeping. She would never hear me walking in.

She would never know I was in there, watching her. Touching her.

It would be my secret to keep.

I opened the door and walked inside. The door closed behind me, the lock clicking in place. Her room was dark, the night lamp casting a small glow around. From where I was standing, I saw her on the bed. She was still, sound asleep, her covers hiding her from my sight.

I stalked closer, stealthy—my gaze still on her.

My feet stopped next to her bed. My eyes drifted across and met her face. It glowed beautifully under the small light. Her blonde hair spilled over her pillows in soft waves, and my fingers itched with the need to touch them.

Her face was peaceful, her lush pink lips slightly parted as she breathed slowly in her sleep.

She was a vision I couldn’t escape from—a beautiful goddess laid out to tempt me into doing something so wrong. Yet it felt…so right. This felt more right than anything in my life.

It wasn’t my first time watching her sleep. Three nights in a row, I stood right in this spot and watched her sleep. Three nights and I still couldn’t get enough. I wanted more.

Leaning closer, my fingers feathered over her cheeks, down her jaw and neck. Her eyes fluttered but didn’t open. Valerie stayed still, but I saw her chest moving, her breathing accelerating just a little bit.

The comforter was up to her waist. My hand moved down her body, pushing it away. She trembled but still didn’t wake up. Good.

Her body was covered with her white night dress. This way, with her dressed in pure white and sound asleep, she looked innocent.