What the hell was wrong with me?

Clearly, the pain and years of being neglected had gotten to me.

How could I even want to be kissed by that kind of monster? Getting to my feet, I left the bedroom. With these thoughts running around my head, the last place I wanted to be was anywhere near when he’d finished in the bathroom.

I hid in the spare bedroom and stayed there. He didn’t come to find me. For the rest of the night, I stayed in my special chair, wishing for a life that I knew would never come to me.

****

Slavik

I stood in the dance hall with my wife on my arm, and I stared around the room, checking for any possible attackers. Our enemies would be close. I wouldn’t put it past them to try to take Ivan out even while we were in a room full of civilians. Parties like these were unnecessary in my opinion. I saw no reason to mingle with the world who pretended the horrors taking place behind closed doors and in the cover of darkness didn’t occur.

Ivan needed his top six men all in one place. This was a political ploy as Roger Hampton, an up-and-coming public figure, was trying to gain popularity by threatening people like Ivan. He promised the public he’d drive out the threat and stop the flow of illegal activities. How men and women would be able to walk the streets without fear.

The truth was it would never happen. Anyone who offered that kind of freedom was a fucking idiot who didn’t know what they were dealing with.

Aurora was tense on my arm, but I didn’t let her go.

A passing waiter offered us some champagne, but I sent him off before she could reach for one.

Ever since our confrontation about my possible mistress, it had been even more tense between us, which pissed me off. I had a feeling I knew who was responsible for filling her head with lies. The moment I caught him, Sergei would learn to keep his mouth shut. The very fact he’d tried to turn my wife against me made me want to kill him.

My thirst for blood and violence was always close to the surface. All it took was a small switch to make it happen.

“It’s a busy night,” Aurora said.

We were in the watchful eye now. With the game constantly being played and the power at work, I had to make sure people saw only strength, no weakness. I was a man in control of his wife, the daughter of a Capo.

Leaning down, I whispered against her ear. “Tonight is about business. It’s a show of force but also a little reminder to our good friends in charge.”

Aurora gasped and tilted her head to look at me. Her long hair had been curled once again. Some of the strands were pulled back and tied at the base of her neck. I wanted to touch it, to run my fingers through the long locks. More than anything, I wanted to hold her hair as I fucked her hard, to finally show her what it truly meant to be my wife.