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

I wheezed for breath, my throat and chest hurting.

Through blurred eyes, I saw him speaking. “Wash yourself with it.”

Swallowing hard, I pressed my lips together and did as I was told. My hands came up, pressing against my chest, and I rubbed his cum over my body.

His eyes flared with possessiveness—almost territorial. He nodded in satisfaction, letting me know he was pleased with me.

I stood up and let the water wash away his filth. After soaping up my body, I quickly rinsed myself. His gaze stayed on me, watching my every movement. When I was done, we stepped out of the shower.

Valentin stood still as I rubbed the towel over his body. Even at his age, he was a fit man. In his younger days, it was obvious he took great care of his body. His muscles still were defined, although he had gained a little more weight.

His hair was grey on both of his temples. The corners of his eyes wrinkled, and now he was keeping a beard. He was a handsome man, and I knew he was even handsomer when he was younger.

But sometimes beauty was only for the eyes. The outward appearance was pointless compared to the inner self of a person.

What was outside beauty when one held no inside beauty?

Valentin showed me the truth. He was a monster in disguise, and as long as I played the prey in this game, I had a chance at staying alive.

I snapped out of my thoughts when he gripped my cheeks and pulled me closer. His lips slammed on mine, kissing me hard, brutally. His teeth bit down on my plump lips, drawing blood.

He licked the droplets, his fingers digging into my skin. His grip on my jaw hardened to the point of pain, and I was almost scared he would shatter my bones.

The bruising grip didn’t relent, and he was walking us backward, out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. He continued kissing me. I stayed lifeless in his arms, refusing to return his kiss.

When his lips released mine, his hand pushed down on my shoulders. I sank to my knees without a second thought.

I watched him walk away and retrieve something from the chair, something that wasn’t there before. He must have placed it there when he walked in.

I had been too lost to notice.

With the box in his hands, he sat on the bed in front of me. Valentin opened it, showing me the inside. My breath left me in a loud whoosh.

My gaze snapped back up and he smiled. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” His voice dropped low, almost seductively.

It was beautiful. Truly.

But the meaning behind me left me shuddering. His depraved thoughts were written all over the beautiful jewel.

“It’s made with diamonds and sapphire. The most expensive crystals just for you, Valeria. Something beautiful to match your beauty,” he explained as he took it from the box.

He held the necklace for me to see.

It was thick, and I knew it would cover most of my neck. It was adorned with diamonds, both large and small. Around it, there were teardrop shapes made with sapphire. In the middle, there was a small crystalized loop.

It wasn’t just a beautiful piece of jewelry.

It was a collar.

A reminder that I was nothing more but his doll, a pet. He fed me. He clothed me. He made me dance to his tunes. Without asking, Valentin leaned forward and held the collar to my neck, latching it from behind. He moved back and admired his handiwork, his eyes flashing dangerously.

Valentin looked like a man out of control, the beast inside of him ready to be unleashed. His new way of branding me had pleased him.

His finger went inside the loop, and he dragged me closer by it. His next words were used to break me. Completely and utterly broken.

I shattered at his demand, the few pieces left of my heart broke away—the shards lost in the empty darkness.

“Dance for me.”

I choked back a sob, my chest tightening and my throat working against the tears. My eyes burned, and I forced myself not to cry. How could someone be so cruel?

It was all for nothing. I had nothing left of me.

Dancing used to be my dream, my solace. My everything. It was my very breath.

When Valentin took me, I left dancing in its shielded box. He forbade me to dance, and I was thankful for it.

I thanked my lucky stars, because at least then…something so beautiful wouldn’t be tainted by this cruel world.

Dancing was white and pure.

Valentin was dark and tainted.

The two would never merge, yet here he was—destroying another beauty.

Seven years and I hadn’t danced—seven years, and I had protected myself. I had protected my dreams, the wings on my back that would help me fly when I would dance.

My head snapped to the side, my cheek aching at the sudden harsh slap. It brought me back to the present.