Knox Brotherhood

by Knox, Elizabeth

  “Este bine? Este bine?! Bianca!” Mariana’s voice cracked as she asked her little girl if she was okay, Bianca nodded “Momma…”

  “Oh, honey. Don’t cry, no, no, no, it’s okay” Mariana tried to shush Bianca as the tears came down her cheeks, the poor little girl was trembling in my lap. I didn’t know what I could do, so I did the only thing that came to mind and wrapped my arms around the little girl. Whispering in Romanian that she was fine, she’d be safe with her mother and me, that we’d be home soon.

  “Momma….I was scared” Bianca hiccupped, staring at Mariana’s concerned face. She could still see me in the background with the way Bianca was holding the phone.

  “There’s nothing to fear now little one,” I tell her, she turns from her mother and looks at me, furrowing her brows. Mariana does the same thing when she doesn’t believe something. I want to laugh; I can already tell that Bianca will be giving us all a run for her money when she’s a teenager.

  “Listen to Ion, baby” Mariana was right in what she’d already told me about Bianca, her little girl is bright and full of spirit, just like her mother. Bianca lay her head against my chest, within a moment she’d almost dropped the phone and was fast asleep. I took Mariana off of video chat and pressed the phone up against my ear.

  “She’s shaken up but seems well, given the circumstances.”

  “Ion.

  “I did what you asked, draga. I did not kill him, for you I did that.” She was the only reason he didn’t die at my hand today. Mariana deserved her revenge, and she would have it. “We will handle him when Bianca is acquainted at our home.”

  “Ion..” Her voice was soft, like a whisper.

  “Yes, dear?”

  “Thank you. Thank you so much” I could hear her crying through the phone, I could imagine those soft tears flowing down her beautiful face. I never wanted her to cry in her life with me, not at all. If I had any say, she would never shed a tear ever again.

  “Stop crying, love,” I told her, I wasn’t as authoritative as I usually am. It was a command, but a small one. “There is no crying today. I have her; she is safe and well. I will bring her home to you. She is safe my dear Ana; she is safe.”

  “U-understood” Mariana trembled.

  “I expect a kiss when I get home,” I told her, smiling on my end of the receiver. I heard a soft chuckle on her end, and the line went dead.

  I feel like I’d finally made her happy.

  ***

  Mariana

  I had been pacing the fancy tile floors of Ion’s place for the past several hours, waiting for the door to open with Bianca in tow. I didn’t know too much. I knew they had gotten word from the Balan clan that Jonas was somewhere in Tennessee. Why he was there or how he got there undetected was a mystery to all of us, but I didn’t really care about him. He could disappear and rot in hell. I just wanted my daughter, and Ion had her. He had my little girl.

  I heard the click of the lock and ran to the door expectantly, but my heart stopped beating the moment I saw her, held up in Ion’s arms and clinging to him for dear life. I could also see she had been harmed. There were bruises up her arm and on her wrists just like the ones I had when I was with Jonas. He had hurt his own child, and it made me sick. But she was home. She was with me.

  “Mama!” she whispered, rubbing her eyes with her hand as Ion let her down. I crouched down to the floor to receive her running hug, tears streaming down my face already. My reason for living was given back to me, and all I could think about was how grateful I was that Ion had kept his promise to bring her back to me.

  “I missed you so much, Puff,” I told her, not wanting ever to let go of her. I looked up at Ion whose eyes met mine. He mouthed one thing to me, barely audible, but I knew what he was telling me. “Kiss.” I couldn’t help but smile at him, a small chuckle escaping past my lips. I knew he wasn’t serious, he had a horrible sense of humor, but it was there.

  “Thank you,” I mouthed back to him, picking Bianca up. I probably shouldn’t have, but Ion said nothing about me carrying my daughter, even with my injury. “Let’s go find you a room,” I told her with a smile that I didn’t know I would be able to muster ever again.

  CHAPTER 11

  Mariana

  It was now two weeks since I had come to stay with Ion, and I was beginning to feel a little more at home. Or at least as home as I could feel while I was still being watched. Ion had just returned from Europe the day before because he had met with all the clan leaders. I had stayed back to enjoy my time with Bianca, but I felt like I had more eyes on me then than when Ion was at home. But it didn’t matter so much. I had been cleared for light exercise earlier that morning, and I had my daughter happily by my side. She was beginning to heal and find herself more at home than I was. Ion had even hired someone to help decorate her new room just the way she liked it. I may not have been thrilled to be there, but I was happy for Bianca. Her life would be different now.

  As I bit into an orange, feeling peckish, I noticed a small stack of mail sitting on the bar and looked at it curiously. I wondered if I should sift through it.

  “Yes, you have started getting mail here,” Ion commented, making me jump. I didn’t realize he was there, but he had come into the kitchen from the other side, making himself a Bloody Mary. The man did like to drink.

  I stood up and went over to the stack, pulling out only one envelope which was for me. I could hardly read the handwriting of the return address, but I could tell by the postage it came from out of the country. I opened it with shaking hands, worried what I might find there. I certainly did not expect what I was reading. It felt like I was in some strange dream.

  My dearest Mariana,

  I first wanted to give my deepest condolences for the loss of your family and for the horrors you must have endured over the last eight years. I assure you, had I known where you were and who had been holding you captive, his end would have come painfully and swiftly.

  We have never met, but I knew your father very well, and so did my father. We are all happy to hear that you have been rescued and are back with us. There is a lot of hope for the clans now that a Vasile is back with us. There has been much turmoil with you away.

  I want to express my greatest gratitude to Ion Petran and the rest of the Petran clan for bringing you back to us alive, and it is with much passion and thought that I wish to ask you a very important question.

  I would like to ask for your hand in marriage. If you accept, you will receive the ring in the photo I have provided inside of this envelope and come to live with me at my compound in Germany. It is a beautiful place that I believe both you and your daughter will love. I hope one day you could learn to love me as well.

  Sincerely,

  Phillipe Sala.

  Just as the letter said, there was a photo of a ring, a quite expensive one, inside the envelope. I felt my jaw drop to the floor. Phillipe was the current reigning head of the Sala clan in Germany. He was a little over a decade older than me and known for his diplomacy as well as his red hair. I had heard about him many times from my family, though as he said, I had never met him. So, why in the world was he proposing to me?

  Still dealing with the shock, I passed the letter on to Ion, watching as he read it. I was certain he would be furious, but he had very little reaction.

  “I guess I should have warned you,” Ion said, placing the letter back down on the bar. “When I went to that meeting with the heads of the clans, they expressed that they feel my engagement to you should be voided. Your parents, namely your father, are dead, and so the contract is invalid. They think they all have the right to attempt to marry you and take the position as king of the mob for themselves.”

  I shook my head, unsure what to think of it. There were two sides to this. It could be a chance for me to finally have some kind of freedom of choice and to ensure the Vasile name was upheld. On the other hand, I knew that for the most part, it would be more greedy men going for a power grab. The olde
r then man was, the more likely that was all it would be. And then my life wouldn’t be much better than with Jonas, and I would let my father down. Ion had been chosen for a reason, but I didn’t want there to be an uproar because I was not even willing to consider one of these men. After all, I still didn’t know Ion.

  “I think this is the first time I have seen you speechless,” Ion teased, making me scowl at him. He always had something smart-assy to say. It was one of the first things I had learned about Ion besides his cocky dominance.

  “Well, I honestly don’t know what to do or say. I can’t let the clans get even more chaotic because I won’t even consider this. I’m not ready to just accept some proposal from a man I don’t know, but I should do something. What do you think?” I asked, knowing I would probably regret it.

  Ion cracked up, laughing loudly. “Are you seriously asking for my opinion. You haven’t listened to a damn word I have said since I rescued you. I would love for you to do as I say, but I don’t see it happening any time soon,” he teased, making me cross my arms over my chest in annoyance. I wasn’t beyond slapping him, but I knew that I wouldn’t as soon as I saw Bianca come skipping into the room. There wasn’t going to be any violence in front of her anymore, not even harmless stuff.

  “Look, go ahead and go out with some of them. That is fine. Keep the peace. You will not choose any of them over me, I can guarantee it.” Ion was being a cocky ass, and I was ready to call a clan leader up for a date immediately just to piss him off.

  “If you need me, I will be in your office, setting up dates,” I said in a huff, leaving the room dramatically. The truth was, I kind of regretted agreeing to do it as I began going through the files on the clan leaders. Many of them were older men who I would want nothing to do with romantically. The younger ones I knew little about since I had been in isolation since the age of 16, and I had never paid too much attention since I was supposed to be with Ion. But I had to try. So, I decided to go with one of the youngest, the head of the clan in the northwest United Sates; Jan Constantin. From what I can remember, Jan had an older sister, she was almost two decades older than him, and she was killed when I was a child. The power of Clan Constantin would’ve been transferred over to her husband, but she did not have one, so at the young age of thirteen Jan held all of the power in Clan Constantin.

  I picked up the phone and dialed nervously, not sure how to approach this. I was surprised when Jan himself answered the phone rather than some servant or one of his clan members. “Jan Constantin,” he said. I could hear a bit of cockiness in his voice just as he spoke his name. It wasn’t like Ion, though. It was cheesy, like the kind you got from a high school football player. Then again, he was only a few years older than Ion.

  “This is Mariana Vasile,” I said.

  “Mariana? Wow, it is great to hear from you. I had hoped we would see you at the last meeting, but Ion let us know you were still in recovery from being shot. I am so sorry for what has happened to you. How can I help you today?” he asked, sounding more like a car salesman than the head of a mob clan. But somehow, it made me smile. He was laid back. He seemed normal.

  “I know that the clans have been questioning if Ion should still be engaged to me or if that is invalid since my parents are gone. I wanted to let you know that I have decided to consider dating some of the other clan leaders and then make an appropriate decision,” I said, trying to be diplomatic about it all.

  “So, basically, you are asking me on a date?” he asked, making me crack up. I just couldn’t avoid the reaction anymore. He was a character.

  “Yes, I guess I am,” I confessed, skipping the pretense.

  “I wholeheartedly accept Mariana Vasile. I will fly out to New York in a few days,” he said before hanging up. I shook my head, unsure of what this would mean for me. I never had any inclination to date or do any of the normal things young women did. That was stripped from me, even more, when my innocence was stolen by Jonas. But now it was like getting a second chance, and even if Ion won in the end, at least I would feel like I had a say. I would feel like some part of this was my decision, not a decision that was made for me.

  Coming off the high of the conversation with Jan, I thought to the letter I had received and knew that Phillipe also deserved to hear from me. He had sounded so courteous and kind in the letter, and I wanted to know if that was real or not. So, I picked up the phone once again, dialing out of the country. This time, I had to go through more than one secretary to reach Phillipe himself, but the mention of my name certainly got him on the line quick.

  “Mariana, it is such a pleasure to hear from you,” he said in his thick accent. It went right along with what I had read in the letter. I could hear him reading it in my head. “Have you received my letter?” he asked kindly, wanting an answer.

  “I did, and I thank you for it. I wanted to let you know that while I am not immediately accepting your proposal, I am taking into consideration the possibility of choosing another clan leader as my husband. I want to make sure whoever takes over is strong and right for my daughter and I, especially after what I have been through.” I said, hoping he wouldn’t be offended. He was obviously a powerful man, and I wasn’t looking to offend him.

  “I can fully respect that Miss Vasile. I am so glad that you have thought to contact me and let me know what is on your mind. I would be happy to take you out on some wonderful dates. I have a private jet and can easily get to you or bring you to me. When would you like to see me?” I was caught off guard by the question. I didn’t expect to be given so much control by these men.

  “As soon as you can get here.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Mariana

  Things had been tense since I had asked two of the other clan members out on dates. As Jan walked me to the door, I was curious as to what would be waiting for me when I got inside. Ion had been kind enough to watch Bianca while I was on the date, but I also thought there was a ploy there. He was trying to make himself look good.

  Jan stood over me, his muscular arm practically trapping me below it against the door. I knew this was the last time I was going to see this guy in any romantic way. He was too much of a meat head, but at least the date had been amusing. I also wasn’t about to let on to Ion that the date had failed. He wasn’t winning that easily. I just couldn’t stand the idea of giving in when he was so damn cocky.

  Jan was leaning in as if he might kiss me. I wondered if I should let it happen. I didn’t get the chance to decide as the door flew open, making me fall backwards. I had to be caught and put upright again by Ion, who I shot an annoyed glance at. He had to have been watching us through the peep hole. It was a little childish in my opinion.

  “Thank you for bringing her home, Jan,” Ion said, trying to dismiss him quickly. I shook my head at Ion, and it made a smirk broaden across Jan’s face.

  “No problem, Ion. I suppose I will will see the both of you soon,” Jan said, reaching out his hand to shake Ion’s. Ion did shake his hand, but I could tell the grip was a bit much by the way Jan’s face screwed up into a scowl. Finally, Ion slammed the door on him.

  “You will not be seeing either of us soon,” Ion stated with confidence. I wanted so badly to refute him and make him angry, but he could probably tell Jan and I did not hit it off. I tried to go for silence, staring at Ion in some strange competition. He wasn’t buying it. “Don’t even try to tell me you have anything going with that man if you can call him that.”

  I sighed and rolled my eyes at Ion. “Fine, but you will see Phillipe again. He is going to take me on a second date in a few days,” I bragged, trying to hit him where it hurt. A second date was probably a big deal to Ion. It meant there was something there. I had been surprised by it, but the way Phillipe was so polite and attentive, and the way he wined and dined me, was incredibly charming. He was a hard man to resist, regardless of his age. And he wasn’t so bad looking. He just didn’t have the hint of darkness Ion did. He didn’t make me feel pressured at all, an
d for someone who had been through what I had, it meant a lot.

  “We will see about that,” Ion told me as if it were some kind of threat. I was ready to change the subject.

  “How is Bianca?” I asked, anxious to know how they got along.

  “Bianca is fine. She is upstairs, getting dressed for bed. She had dinner already, and we had a good time. Though, she missed you.” Any other time I would have melted at that statement, but I knew coming for Ion it was a complete manipulation.

  “Thank you,” I said, trying to avoid eye contact or any more conversation. I could feel myself being sucked in little by little, and I hated it. I headed to Bianca’s room to check in on her, but I could feel his eyes on me the whole time, watching the movement of my body.

  “I expect you in our bedroom when you’re done attending to Puff,” Ion said, I turned back to him, staring right into his dark eyes. He hadn’t made me share the bed with him since I came here, though I should have expected it sooner or later.

  “I’m sorry, what?” I said, trying to see if he would say the same thing or give up on the matter.

  “I told you, draga, you will be in our bed tonight.” I took one last glance at him and went into Bianca’s room, tending to her. She had requested two stories before she started to doze off and I happily complied. Her favorites have become the princess stories, where the knights in shining armor come to save their beloved. In a twisted way, maybe Ion is my knight. There’s one thing I know for sure, and that is that fairytales aren’t real.

  I walked back into the bedroom – my bedroom, which I suppose was now our bedroom. “She asked for two stories, or three?” Ion asked me; I glanced over at him, he was taking off his dress shirt. I couldn’t help but stare at him, the way his glorious body was exposed.

  “Two,” I told him, going to my drawers and grabbing a pajama set. I didn’t bother going out of the room to change out of my date attire. Ion had already seen my scars; I had nothing to hide from him. I slid my dress off until it pooled at my feet, slid on my silk shorts and pulled on a matching purple silk camisole. “Do you really think that the other clan heads are going to be happy to know that I’m sharing a bed with you when I’m dating some of them?” I asked, a tad annoyed at his sudden need to be sharing a bed with me.