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

Closing my eyes, I leaned into him. His warmth enveloped me, shielding me from any coldness from this messy world.

Viktor’s arm wrapped around my waist, and he pulled me into his body. I felt his fingers on my neck, drifting up, and then he was pulling my lips from between my teeth.

He thumbed my lips roughly, and then his lips descended on mine. Viktor kissed me so softly and oh so sweetly.

It was hard to believe. A man like him, unbreakable—to kiss as if he was scared to break me.

As he pulled away slightly, I opened my eyes and we stared into each other.

Viktor and I—together we glowed. Just like the moonlight shone in the dark sky, our light illuminated this dark world.

Even though our ending was not a guaranteed happy ending, we still chased it.

Viktor gave me a half smile, the corner of his lips turning up in a small smirk. His other hand wrapped around my waist, and he lifted me up high.

I laughed silently, holding on to his shoulders as he carried us to the bed. He laid me in the middle and climbed beside me. When he placed the notepad and pen between us, my smile widened.

This was our moment. We would talk about nothing and everything. We shared the little things in our lives. Small happy moments. He would find ways to make me smile—and that was all that mattered.

“How are you today?” he asked.

I am better, now that you are here.

Valentin didn’t visit me today. I was thankful for that, only because I didn’t want him to taint whatever Viktor and I had.

When he would visit me, I wasn’t my own afterward. I knew Viktor hated it—he loathed it. If he could, he would have killed Valentin.

I knew that—but I also knew he was helpless.

I didn’t know Viktor’s reasons, he wouldn’t tell me, but whatever they were—I understood.

I understood because I was just as helpless.

Viktor dragged a finger through my hair, and I moved closer, laying my head on his chest. He held me while I bathed in his smell.

Except something was different.

Pulling away, I found my notepad and pen again.

You smell like blood.

Viktor froze, and his arm tightened around my hips, his fingers digging into my flesh. I winced, and he quickly let go. He breathed out, and his lips twisted ruefully.

“Yes. You are right. I smell like blood,” he replied.

I swallowed nervously, blinking up at him through the darkness.

Did you hurt someone?

He read my words and then stared at me unblinkingly before opening his mouth to speak again. “I didn’t just hurt someone. I killed someone. Not one. Four men.”

The news stole my breath away. I knew the type of man Viktor was. He wasn’t exactly a Prince Charming, although I liked to think of him as one.

He was a killer—as dangerous as a crime lord.

But I didn’t expect him to say those words as if he didn’t care, almost heartlessly.

“Valerie, I do things you will hate. I kill men for a living. You knew that before, then why that expression on your face? Why did you just lose this beautiful smile I love so much?”

His thumb caressed my cheek softly, his eyes never leaving mine. Viktor touched the corner of my lips. “Smile for me, silent myshka.”

I imagined his voice soft and smooth as he said those words. Like I always knew, he was the puppet master. And he manipulated my fragile heart with his words.

“Your smiles are beautiful too.”

“Then I will smile. For you.”

“I will make you smile. Promise.”

“Promise?”

“Pinky promise, silent myshka.”

I remembered those words—his voice ringing through my ears. The dream I had after Valentin had drugged me.

Taking the pen in my hand again, I quickly scribbled down.

You said that my smiles are beautiful. In my dream.

He looked down at the paper and then smiled. “They are, Valerie.”

Swallowing nervously, I wrote down my next words.

Then I will smile. For you.

I stared at his face, watching his eyes move over the words. I watched his reaction, waiting and waiting.

Finally, our gazes met again. His appeared darker, unreadable. He stared at me for a moment, his expression so serious. My heart thumped hard, and my veins throbbed in my neck.

Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe my words were a mistake.

But his fingers threaded through my hair, fisting the strands around his hand. I sucked in a harsh breath. He pulled me closer and claimed my lips hard.

A hard kiss—a promise.

Viktor pulled away, his lips so close to my ear. I felt him talk, although his words were soundless.

“…make you smile…”

My eyes widened, and I quickly pulled away. It wasn’t the first time this happened. The first day his voice—barely, but it was there.

This time again, his voice sounded underwater, the words hidden under blankets, but I heard them. Very slightly. Softly spoken.