Chapter 1
Chapter 1
The Past
Temperance
You know the story of the princess locked in the tower, and the handsome prince comes to save her from the evil dragon. Well, while growing up my life was similar to that. Only there was no prince coming to rescue me. Hell, there was no one in this world that could save me from my future husband. Wolf Romanova is not only scary, but he’s also ruthless and deadly. Of course, all the men in our world are.
It’s the way the mafia world has always been run. The men are raised to be stone cold killers, and us females are born to do as they all say. Eventually, to breed some rightful heirs to continue the legacies of the family. My life was planned out for me since the day I was born. My mother and father absolutely hated one another, and from what I understand he had to do some awful things to get her to give birth to one child.
Imagine his disappointment when I came out a girl. I don’t know much about my parents other than, they both came from prominent families. My father being one hundred percent Irish, my mother Italian. Both their fathers were the heads of the family, and they needed a reason to bring peace to this world if they were to rise to the top.
So, an arranged marriage was set in stone, with my mother apparently kicking and screaming the entire way down the aisle. Once it is done, there’s no turning back. You marry someone in the mafia, there’s only one way out. Death. From what my grandmother has told me, she tried their wedding night to take her own life, but she hasn’t been successful yet.
My father is like his father before him. Ruthless, unforgiven, and a sadist. His own mother despises him. See, where she’s involved, it’s strange because she wasn’t forced to marry my grandfather. Apparently, he came to Vegas for a weekend getaway. He was of course good looking, and my grandmother was looking to lose herself for a time. He happened to be the best option.
They knew of each other, as my great grandfather worked with his father in the casino business. Amongst others I’m certain. My grandma Addie hadn’t expected her birth control to fail, and to give him his only son. He was already married and had three teenage girls. The only reason she became important is because of the little boy she was carrying.
Apparently, he treated her better than his actual wife. All for the simple fact she gave him a boy. Unfortunately, once my father was born, he was shipped off to Ireland, to be raised by the family. My grandmother, Addie, was sent photos and updates on how he was fairing. She got to go and see him occasionally and received the cold shoulder of course from the wife.
She never let it get her down though, my grandmother is strong, I’ve always admired her for her courage. Wishing some of it had rubbed off on me. Once the visits are over, she went back to Vegas, and worked her ass off to become who she is today.
When I was born into this world, she was allowed to come and meet me. My father wanted nothing to do with me, but my grandfather knew I would become important to the family someday. The Russians hadn’t been making things easy in the mafia world, and it just so happens the grandson of the Romanova family, is four years older than myself.
My grandmother had described the day of my birth as something she will never forget. Not only was her granddaughter born into the world, but the man who she had one night of passion with held me in his arms. Looking down at me as though I was the key to family salvation. She said there was a pit in the bottom of her stomach at the glow in his eyes when he looked at me.
Knowing she had to do something, she started coming up with a plan in her head. How she was going to save me from growing up in the dreadful world they had created. Surprisingly, my grandfather had agreed with her that my life would be safer with her in America. Being under the radar. Although, she says she knows the true reason he was fine with the idea.
Wolf’s father Slade had moved to Las Vegas when he was eighteen and started some of his own businesses. Although, from what I know of Wolf’s heritage, he’s not fully Russian. His own father fell in love with an American, who happened to be of Italian descent. He married her anyway, to the dismay of his family.
He and his wife had two sons, Wolf, and Hawk, and he raised them to be a force in this world. One’s that would tear this world to pieces and leave nothing but carnage and debris in their wake. Knowing all this, my grandfather allowed me on the flight back to Vegas with the woman he was obsessed with.
Since I was young, I knew about my destiny, however I’ve also only met my other immediate family a handful of times. The only constant in my life has been Grandma Addie and her ladies. The ladies of the Doll House to be exact. After she had my father, she decided she wanted to start a playhouse in Vegas, one where the elite and rich can come and get their deepest desires clenched.
All the women who live here and work, are here by choice, and get swept off their feet by some of the most powerful men of this world. For the sweet spots of their body, men pay a lot of money, lather them with gifts, and in the end both parties get what they want. Some of my grandmother’s ladies came looking for family, and in a strange way that is what this place is. Family.
I wasn’t the only child that grew up around here. I met some of my best friends, who are more like my sisters growing up here. Three others grew up here like me. My best friends are River, Rain, and Winter. Together my grams call us the four troublemakers. Although, in my eyes we are all as sweet as pudding, and innocent as angels. Whenever I tell her, she laughs hysterically at me.
It just so happens that one of the men who comes in for a good time on a weekly basis is Slade Romanova, Wolf, and Hawks very own father. The soon to be king of the Russian Mafia. Whenever he came around, sometimes multiple times a week, he always brought his sons. I overheard my grandfather speaking to Grandma Addie about how this has worked out more perfectly than he could have imagined.
She saw me the one time, as I listened in, her eyes growing with such sadness as they looked down at her feet. She turned away from me, dismissing me from the corner where I listened. Trying to keep me in the dark as much as possible, my entire life of what really was going on.
I still remember the first time I met Wolf, my body shaking even here and now. He was foreboding, even at the young age of eight years old. His brother was standing proudly beside him at six. I briefly said a polite hello to their father, who eyed me as though he was trying to figure out my secrets. I paid him no mind, my full attention being directly on my possible future husband.
Of course, back then I hadn’t known that. Only that he was a boy that looked cruel. Like he had the whole world at his feet, and he knew damn well he could have anything he wanted. Whether rightfully given to him or taken with no regard for anyone else. I remember tilting my head to the side and blatantly looking at him. Which was unheard of, even in our small world where we grew up.
Winter elbowed me, reminding me to put my head down before I got in trouble. As the adults walked away, I figured that meant we were free to go and play. I was only four years old after all.
“Who said you had permission to leave.” The sound of his ominous tone sent cold chills down my spine.
I stopped dead in my tracks, turning to face the foreboding little boy who had walked into my life. With one dark eyebrow raised, he looked at me head to toe, before walking closer to me. I took the time to study him. He had dark brown hair, that almost appeared black, and the most unique blue eyes I had ever seen. His right eye looked as though there was a lightning bolt cutting through, with a light green color. Once that caught my eye, I wasn’t moving one inch even if my mind was begging me to.
I expected him to stop once he was standing in front of me, but instead the little bastard circled me like a shark ready to pounce on its prey.
“You’re not much to look at. With you stringy red hair, freckled white skin, and dark blue eyes.” His tone was distasteful.
The words falling from his mouth hurt. My hands went to my long red hair, to study the strands. They aren’t stringy. I was appalled with his first impression of me.
Once he did two full circles around me, he stopped in front of me. So close, I could study those beautiful irises up close.
“It’s my choice whether I want you. As of right now, it’s not looking good for your family.” His words felt like a dagger to the heart.
If he doesn’t want me what will that mean for my future with the family?
He said nothing more, only scrunched his nose at me, and pushed me hard onto the floor. I laid there, tears rolling down my cheeks as I looked up at the boy who would become my torturer in the future. He gave a sinister smile, as he turned and walked away. His younger brother was looking down at me with sadness in his brown eyes.
“Hawk!” At his older brother’s command, he scampered off, leaving me crying against my best friend’s shoulder.
