Afon

by Esther E. Schmidt

  The door is closed again as I hear footsteps fade. Fury boils inside me. These apes think they can rule my life? I don’t want to face my brother, not the way I’m feeling and with what I’ve been through. For that I’m thankful Afon didn’t let him in the room but that doesn’t make my anger fade from either one.

  Ricca for his betrayal, pawning me off like that. Afon for accepting and not even knowing what damaged sack of bones and meat he’s saddled himself up with. I want to scream, throw things, run, anything...and yet I don’t have the strength or even a grip on myself to do so.

  A sob rips from me as tears start to fall. The sweet dog whines and snuggles close to me in an effort to comfort me, and strangely...that’s exactly what I need right now. I bury my face in his thick fur and let the tears flow. Yet they fade soon, anger taking their place. I dry my cheeks and glance down at my shaking hands.

  I have so many emotions running through me at this point in time I have no clue how to even deal with myself, let alone deal with the vengeance I seek. Surely, I can’t jump out of bed and track down Marco again. The last time cost me weeks. Before that I needed to let my shoulder heal. I was so close, I still can’t believe I let him slip through my fingers.

  Then Afon shows up, okay…probably a good thing because I have no clue what might have happened if he didn’t, but still…dammit. I need to regroup, find a way to get a hold of myself, yet all I want to do is stay in this bed and hug the dog that is giving me the comfort I need.

  The bedroom door opens and Afon steps inside. My heart starts to pound in my ears. I should have locked the damn door when I had the chance. I don’t want him to see me like this; it’s bad enough he’s seen me at my worst where I crashed into darkness in his arms as a weak and lesser person.

  “Get out,” I snarl.

  Shit. It’s his house, his bedroom, his bed. “Never mind, stay for all I care. I’m leaving.” Anger laces my every word.

  The dog next to me sits up as if he’s on my side. I let my hand slide through his fur and lean on his strength in this moment. I don’t care if it’s Afon’s dog. I never had a dog. Until now, because I’m taking this one with me.

  Chapter 03

  No blood on the sheets.

  ***Afon***

  “You’re not going anywhere.” I try to keep my voice even.

  Yet inside I’m boiling with fury. Just one look and I can tell she’s been crying. She might think she’s wiped her eyes dry, but I see her. Having Andy in my bed for the last twenty-four hours and sitting by her hospital bed months ago when she was hurt, showed me lots of her little tells.

  Not to mention I have my boss, Tarzan, to thank for the knowledge of how to recognize a woman that’s been hurt through and through. And yet back then, between Tarzan and me, it was a friendship connection right next to her being my boss. But those experiences are a solid foundation for me to be there for Andy, because I can tell by the fury that’s shooting out of her eyes I’m going to need every goddamned thing I have in me to claim her heart.

  I never was a sappy one but shit, with her I want all of it. Not just her companionship or the fact she’s already tied to me every way possible, no. I watched Tarzan fall for the man who affected her past to a point where no one thought they’d ever end up together. Yet they have a bond that’s unbreakable. The same goes for Yegor and his woman, Ruby. When you see a good thing in this fucked up world you grab that shit and tie it to you. And that right there is exactly what I’m doing. Correction, what I’ve done by signing the contract.

  “What? No snarky reply?” The corner of my mouth twitches. “Ah, we’ve landed into the stage of the silent treatment, huh? Good. That will speed things up.”

  From all the years experiencing Tarzan’s moods I’ve got a lot of them filed in my head. Mainly the things I need to guide a woman through it and get her back on her feet. Andy is still glaring at me when I let my gaze travel to my dog. Who has claimed my fucking spot in the bed; next to my woman. She’s stroking him like he’s been her dog ever since he was a pup.

  Great. I’m jealous of my own goddamned dog. “Dozor. Get off the damn bed.”

  I know, it’s not a direct order. The dog was fully trained as a guard dog when I bought him straight from the breeder about a year ago. He should be a trained guard dog, right? Fuck no. As soon as his furry ass hit my couch he hasn’t so much as lifted his head, regardless of whomever the fuck walks into the house. I should have contacted the breeder and traded his hairy ass, so I could get one who does know how to guard a damn house…but yeah, I couldn’t. Let’s leave it to ‘he looked nice on my couch’ before I turn into a pussy and say I didn’t have the heart to trade the fucker.

  “Stay, Dozor,” Andy counters as she keeps petting him.

  Fucking hell, he drops down and now even the dog is glaring at me. I rub a hand over my face. It’s been a long-ass day without sleep. Then Ricca showed up here and now this.

  “Should have fucking known. Damn dog,” I mutter.

  Andy is covering Dozor’s ears while she narrows her eyes.

  I raise my hand to make my point. “It’s a dog! Why the hell would you cover his ears? It’s not the first fucking time he’s heard me curse.”

  Still. Glaring. The both of them.

  Anger surges through me, making the asshole inside me rearing its ugly head. “You’ve got three weeks. That’s all you’ll get.”

  She turns as white as Dozor’s fur. She’s not fucking glaring anymore, now is she?

  “Seven days you get to recharge, the other two weeks are meant for training, get some meat on your bones to get your strength back. Then you’re going to slide into a dress. We’re going to get married on Sunday, a traditional Italian one, three weeks from now.” Spinning on my heels, I make my way to the door.

  I was going for an easy exit to grab some things but the fury in her voice stops me dead in my tracks. “I’m not a damn cow to be sold off for compensation. Fuck your traditional Italian wedding. There won’t be any blood on the sheets unless I slice off your dick.”

  “No blood on the sheets,” I tell her with my back still facing her. “Gotcha,” I add and leave the room as she’s filling it up with vile curses that are freely flowing out of her mouth.

  I don’t need this discussion with her yet. I’m very much aware she considers herself broken and unfit to be a wife, to any man for that matter. But she’s wrong there. She’s perfect, and I intend to show her exactly that.

  What happened in the past might have shaped her into the woman she is today, but it doesn’t define her. I reckon we need to have a little heart to heart very soon, but not today. Like I told her, seven days. One damn week I get to spoil her and make sure she rests and gets the food her mind and body needs. Then we’ll take two weeks to slowly get her back into a workout routine. Blow off steam and stretch her muscles.

  Like I said… I intend to show her exactly how perfect she is because I don’t see her the way she looks at herself. I don’t see the horrible things she endured. All I see is the woman I want as my wife. My equal I intend to spend the rest of my life with.

  Reaching the kitchen, I make fast work to slice up the cheesy garlic bread I made and grab the other things I need. When I had Andy safe in my bed, I made a call to my boss. Tarzan was here within the hour and brought me the rest of the stuff. Tarzan has been Andy’s friend for a while now and knows what kind of comfort food is her favorite. With my arms full, I make my way up the stairs and step inside the bedroom.

  Her eyes go wide for a moment before they narrow. Yeah, I wasn’t expecting her to be any less angry. There are a lot of things going on inside her head and I just added something big to her pile of shit but I’m not sorry at all about making her my wife.

  “Make room,” I grumble.

  And it’s not directed at Andy, it’s for that damn dog of mine who never listens anyway. Like now…he’s just sitting up eyeing the food as if I’ve brought it all for him.

  “Come on, Dozor,” Andy
quips, patting the bed on the other side of her.

  Dozor doesn’t think twice and jumps over her legs to snuggle down against her right at the very spot she told him to fucking sit. Andy gives me a shit-eating grin as if to say ‘he knows who’s boss’.

  Ignoring the statement they both are trying to make, I throw the things on the bed and grab the remote, handing it to Andy. “Find a movie you like. We’ve got a few hours to kill before you need to sleep some more.”

  “I can’t have sex. Not ever. I can’t stand the touch of a man, any man. In any way for that matter. I’m asexual. So, don’t even think of stepping into this bed.” There’s something vulnerable about her voice that’s tugging my heart.

  “You’re not asexual,” I mutter, mainly to myself because that’s a fucking topic that we’re not discussing right now. I’ve felt her breath hitch at my touch, her eyes dilated the first time she stood in front of me. She’s far from asexual.

  “There’s enough room for the both of us,” I simply say.

  “No, there’s not. There’s room for me, the dog, and the goodies you brought me. Go to your own room.”

  “Go to my own fucking room?” What the hell? “This is my damn room. Now pick a movie for Christ’s sake.” I reach for my belt and my slacks hit the floor when I add, “End of discussion.”

  She’s frozen in bed but there’s nothing I can do about it. I damn well hope she defrosts at some point because I’m not leaving my own bed.

  “Relax, anima mia.” I add the little Italian endearment to comfort her before I slide underneath the covers and place my back against the cushion that’s leaning on the headboard. “It’s just a movie with some food. Oh, and can you make Dozor sit on his couch so he doesn’t drool all over the bed?”

  Her head snaps toward Dozor. Yeah, that fucker is eyeing the cheesy garlic bread and already imagining the taste of it by the looks of the drool that’s sliding out of his mouth.

  “Dozor, go,” Andy snaps and the dog jumps over the bed onto the couch that’s placed against it.

  “Glad someone in this house finally has a grip on that sucker,” I mutter and grab a piece of the bread, enjoying the fact that I’m sitting in my own damn bed without the dog for once.

  “What?” she asks confused.

  I point the piece of bread in Dozor’s direction. “He never listens to me and I bought him as a trained guard dog for fuck’s sake.”

  Now she fucking smiles at me. “He listens perfectly. We just don’t like you.”

  “I don’t care,” I shoot back. “Because I kept him and I’m keeping you too.” Hell yeah, I’m fucking smiling back at her stunned face.

  Chapter 04

  Your right hand will be the third party in this marriage.

  ***Andy***

  “I hate you.” Those three words slide right out there.

  Not in hate, nor in defeat. It’s just a fact that’s stated. It’s like I can’t win. I failed with getting revenge, let Marco slip right through my fingers. I failed myself in not taking care of my body. My brother, who’s sold me off to this guy right here…well, not really sold me off. More like threw me at him to smooth over connections and get me off his hands.

  And then this guy. Who I don’t even know. Not personally anyway. I’ve gathered every single piece of information I could get my hands on after I met him. Only because he was the first guy who made something stir inside me. After everything that happened to me I thought I was asexual. Yet he made me feel something…as if you check and see if a battery is fully charged or dead as a doornail. I came out surprised as hell that there was even a spark inside me.

  Now I’m supposed to be his wife? Well, he sure lucked out with me because sex is never going to happen. Spark or no spark, I simply can’t. Or he’d have to tie me down, but even then…no one can take pleasure from this body. It’s not made that way. I’ve been told so. Many times when I was assaulted. They didn’t even touch me with their hands, too disgusted so they wore gloves to handle a knife. Hell, they used a large wooden dildo to take my virginity before they shoved a message inside. See? My pussy is nothing more than a mailbox. That’s what I have down there, something less functional.

  “I know, Andy. I know. But love and hate walk hand in hand with a fine line in between. Might not expect it…but I intend to erase that line. You’ll see.” The man just picks up another piece of that cheesy garlic bread that smells so damn delicious.

  “No, you’ll see. And then you won’t be able to un-see,” I mutter, grabbing myself a piece of the bread.

  Not that I ever intend to get naked with this man. The man that’s in bed next to me with his bare chest and only wearing tight black boxers I might add. He just narrows his eyes and takes me in without saying anything.

  Dozor whines and draws my attention. Drool is dripping down and now I’m glad he’s got his own couch at the end of the bed so he’s not drooling on the bed. God, this cheesy garlic bread is amazing.

  Eyeing the pieces, I need to make sure there’s more before I give Dozor a piece. “Who made this?”

  “I did. I can make some more if you devour this one,” Afon tells me and grabs a bag from underneath the pile of goodies he brought.

  Surprise hits me both from the fact that he made the bread and because he’s holding nougat candy with almonds. Damn. I haven’t had that in years. Before he can even open the bag, I snatch it from his fingers. Throwing the rest of the bread toward Dozar, who catches and devours it with ease, I make fast work to get a piece of nougat into my mouth.

  I close my eyes and moan, “Sooooo freaking good.”

  “Dammit. The one damn piece of candy that wasn’t on the list Tarzan got me…my fucking candy I bought for myself, and you steal that one.” Afon, curses some more.

  I can’t help but giggle. Blame it on the sugar rush, I don’t care. “You’re not getting it back and I’m not sharing.”

  I give him a bright smile and grab the remote, flipping through the options we have on the TV. I settle with an action series I already watched a year ago. Good time as any to watch it again. Knowing how good it is, I can let my mind drift and hopefully fall asleep later on.

  I feel the bed shift and watch how Afon arranges the sheets around his waist. Shit. Wearing nothing but his boxers. Abs sculptured to perfection complimenting his hard upper body. Inked upper body. Everywhere and all over.

  Then I see it, gasp, and grab his right hand that’s covered with new ink. A skull with a flower next to it, one petal falling down. “When did you get this?”

  A proud smile spreads on his face. “Yesterday. Right after I had you safe and sound in my bed.”

  “But that’s not possible.” My fingers hover over his skin, where I feel the heat of his new ink.

  The tattoo on his hand is only given to a few who are loyal, and well respected. It’s the visual proof that you belong to the inner circle of ‘Buca Di Volpe’.

  The dots connect in my head. “Oh, God. I’m out. You took me in by signing the contract.” I swallow back the lump that’s closing up my throat. “I’m promised to you so Ricca is now the head of Buca Di Volpe. I’m out…I’m. You…you’re?”

  My breath. I can’t breathe. My fingers wrap around my throat, panic fills my veins.

  “Andy. Goddammit. Breathe. Hey,” Afon snaps as he’s got both hands cupping my face. Black spots swamp my vision, closing in until there’s nothing.

  Something is licking my face and stroking my leg. I jolt up and glance right into Dozor’s face. He jumps up and throws his front paws smack into the middle of the bed, making all the food bounce on the bed. His playful move makes me somewhat at ease, until I feel something touch my leg again.

  Swinging my head to the left, horror strikes me. Afon is touching my bare thigh. My scarred thigh. The blanket is thrown back so the whole thing is visible. I push him back and slam the blanket back over.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I seethe.

  The man only gives me a smug s
mile. “Nothing there I haven’t seen, anima mia. You had a panic attack and blacked out. I wanted to check your wound to make sure you weren’t bleeding. I took advantage of you passed out because I knew you wouldn’t let me if you were awake.”

  A panic attack? I had a panic attack? “I never have panic attacks,” I growl. “And what do you mean ‘nothing there I haven’t seen’?” My breathing picks up. Did he see? All of me?

  “Oh, fucking no, you don’t. Get your damn breathing under control, goddammit. Snap the fuck out of it,” Afon growls as he wraps his fingers around my throat. There’s a glimpse of fury in his eyes as he leans right in my face. “I’ve seen you. Now what are you gonna do about it, baby? Got any anger in that weak body of yours?” A chuckle slips over his lips, making fury spike my veins, driving back the darkness as I regain control over my breathing.

  With two hands I push hard against his chest, knocking him on his ass. I lunge forward and straddle his waist, wrapping my fingers around his throat. I hear a low growl right next to me and see Dozor flanking my left.

  “There she is,” Afon croaks due to my tight grip. “Now call him off.”

  Triumph courses through me. I have full control. I felt myself tumbling into an abyss a moment ago and yet now, I’m on the top of a mountain. And even though the guy I’m holding in place got me out of it, I don’t even think of giving him credit.

  “Make me,” I snicker, knowing I can put on a good fight even more when I’ve got Dozor on my side.

  His hands slowly slide up my bare thighs, making me aware I’m sitting right on top of his dick with nothing but our underwear on. Luckily, I’m also wearing a tank top. Reaching back, I wrap my hand around his forearm and squeeze. Afon releases a hiss of pain. Glancing down, I see there’s a large cut with lots of stitches. An image flashes before my eyes making me aware I’m the one who did that to him.

  “Shit. I’m sorry. Dozor, get on your couch. Go,” I snap and stand up, holding my hand out to Afon as a peace offering to help him to his feet.