Sweet Cruelty: A Dark Mafia Romance

by Zoe Blake

  More important, it was a cozy domestic scene I had no business wanting.

  Men like me didn’t get happy endings.

  We didn’t get the sweet heroine in the end.

  I stared at the cold fireplace as I raised my glass and drank till it was empty.

  Vaska held up a bottle of Moskovskaya Vodka. “I brought reinforcements.”

  I swung out my arm, holding the glass for him to fill it. Once he did I drank deeply, wanting the burn of the alcohol to burn away her memory and knowing that would be impossible.

  Emma would haunt me till the day I died.

  “Now I know you are in terrible shape if you’re drinking my cheap vodka with no complaint,” quipped Vaska as he poured himself a glass. After taking a sip, he twirled the glass in his hand and looked at me. “Have you talked to her?”

  “No.”

  “Do you plan to?”

  “No.”

  “Don’t you think you’re being a little hard on yourself?”

  I rubbed my jaw. “I nearly got her killed, Vaska. I’ll never forget the look of terror on her face. I did that to her. I brought fear and darkness into her world. I stained her with my violence.”

  “Does she feel that way?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I was a selfish bastard for starting a relationship with her. The right thing to do was end it.”

  Vaska nodded. “You’re probably right.”

  “Damn straight I’m right,” I growled as I took another gulp and then snatched the bottle from his hand to pour myself more.

  “She deserves better than you.”

  “She does.”

  Vaska sighed as he leaned further back into the chair. “I have to admit you’re a better man than I, Dimitri Antonovich. I don’t think I could stand the thought of the woman I loved kissing another man.”

  My eyes narrowed as I swung my head to look at him.

  Vaska continued, “Or worse, spreading her legs and…”

  That was as far as he got.

  Flying out of my seat, I grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him bodily out of the chair. Pivoting, I slammed him against the nearest bookshelf. “Shut the fuck up or friendship or not, I’ll fucking kill you.”

  “You gave her up. Threw her away. You no longer have a say in who she dates… or fucks.”

  “Over my dead body does another man touch what’s mine,” I ground out as I released his shirt and pushed away from him to pace across the room.

  Vaska smoothed down his shirt. “You can’t have it both ways, my friend. She is either yours… or someone else’s.”

  “Goddamn it,” I shouted as I swiped at the contents of my desk, sending the laptop and files crashing to the floor. “What the fuck do you want me to do? I’m trying to save her from me… from the choices I made. If she stays with me, who knows what kind of danger I might put her in.”

  Vaska shrugged. “Life has risks. Either of you could get hit by a car tomorrow. At least with her by your side, you both will be happy and you can protect her… from your choices and life in general. How are you protecting her now?”

  I stared straight ahead at the rows of books on a nearby shelf as his words penetrated my dark mood.

  My gilded, leather-bound copy of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina jumped out at me.

  I didn’t even hear Vaska leave as I reached for the book.

  Flipping through the pages, I found the passage I was looking for. My fingertip ran over the print.

  There can be no peace for us, only misery, and the greatest happiness.

  Vaska was right. I wasn’t protecting her by staying away. No one would ever care for her like I did. She was mine and always would be. Moving forward, I would take every precaution to make sure nothing like what had happened in Morocco ever happened again.

  Fuck, I needed to see her… to hold her… now… this very minute.

  It was like I hadn’t taken a deep breath since leaving her side.

  I needed her sweetness like I needed air.

  Grabbing my car keys, I stormed out of the room into the entry hall and reached for the doorknob.

  It was time I brought моя крошка home where she belonged.

  Chapter 30

  In his presence I thoroughly lived. - Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

  Emma

  He’ll probably say no.

  Maybe he’ll get angry and refuse to see me.

  Oh, hell, what if he starts to yell?

  What am I going to do if he won’t listen?

  I hadn’t even considered him turning me away!

  Biting my lip, I once more went over my plan.

  The moment he opened the door I would give him my rehearsed speech about how I loved him for him and how I didn’t care about the rest. I had seen him at his best and his worst, and I was in for all of it. I had seen the ugly side of his business and it was nothing compared to how beautiful and exciting he had made my life and how happy he made me. That no matter how he may think of himself, he was the hero of my story; a consummate gentleman and sexy pirate Viking all rolled into one, and I loved him.

  I straightened my bangs and licked my lips. I gave my short plaid skirt a quick tug and then bent over to pull on one of the knee socks as I glanced up and down the residential street to make sure no one was watching me.

  I was more than a little self-conscious.

  I had gone to a sex shop and bought a naughty schoolgirl outfit. It was part of my plan to seduce Dimitri into giving us a second chance and a cheeky homage to how we’d first met.

  It had a scandalously short black and red plaid skirt with a partially see-through button-up shirt and white knee socks. I wore it with my own pair of platform Mary Janes. Giving my pigtails a quick tug to tighten them, I reached for the brass knocker clutched in the lion’s mouth.

  Before I could knock, the door swung open with such force, a blast of air ruffled my bangs.

  Dimitri stood there. He hadn’t shaved in a week. He was wearing a pair of jeans and just a simple white t-shirt. He looked disheveled and tired and handsome as hell.

  God, I had missed him.

  Raw desire tightened his features as his heated gaze swept over me.

  Swallowing, I blurted out, “You once asked if I thought of you as a mistake. The answer is no. You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me. I don’t think our relationship was a mistake. I think the night I showed up on your doorstep was fate. I love you, Dimitri.”

  He pulled me over the threshold and against his chest.

  “You’re right, there is no mistake, моя крошка. You’re mine now and always.”

  The heavy black door swung shut, cutting us off from everything and everyone.

  I was alone with my sexy Russian beast.

  Epilogue

  Reader, I married him. - Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

  Emma

  It was dark and stuffy inside the closet where I was hiding.

  The crack of splintering wood broke the silence, then a loud crash.

  “Where is she?”

  A shiver coursed up my spine as I pressed a fist to my lips.

  Dimitri had arrived.

  Through the closed door, I could hear the sounds of a struggle, then another awful bang.

  I covered my mouth to keep from crying out.

  Mary yelled back, “You can’t have her!”

  Pressing my ear to the wood door, the sound of shattering glass obscured what the shouting voices said next.

  There was the scrape of furniture across the floor then another terrible crash.

  “Tell me where she is now!” roared Dimitri.

  I jumped a foot as there was another terrific crash that sounded like a door being kicked in.

  “Not until you pay! Hand over the ransom,” challenged Vaska, Dimitri’s oldest friend.

  Straining to hear, I could only make out several grunts and the sound of a scuffle.

  “There’s your payment. Now where’s my bride?”

&
nbsp; Deafening silence.

  A moment later, the closet door swung open.

  My eyes adjusted as I gazed at his towering form standing there on the threshold.

  Dimitri held out his hand and pulled me from the darkness into the light.

  He looked so devilishly handsome in his tailored tuxedo.

  He lifted me into his arms and carried me out of my bedroom, my champagne-organza wedding dress train trailing behind us.

  “Are you ready to become Mrs. Emma Katherine Kosgova, моя крошка?”

  It had been a Herculean task convincing Dimitri to wait till after I had graduated from my Master’s program to get married, but now the day was finally here.

  First he had to rescue me from my kidnappers by getting past obstacles thrown in his path and paying a ransom.

  A fun Russian wedding tradition.

  As we crossed into the living room, I gasped at the destruction on display. The sofa was turned on its side, the apartment door was hanging by only a hinge, and there was shattered glass all over the floor.

  These Russians really took their traditions seriously.

  In the middle of the chaos stood Mary and Vaska, both beaming with pride. Mary held a bottle of cheap tequila while Vaska held an equally cheap bottle of vodka.

  My bridal ransom.

  My eyebrows rose. “Is that all I’m worth? Two cheap bottles of liquor?” I teased.

  Vaska stepped forward. “Actually, just one bottle of cheap tequila, I brought my own.”

  “I refuse to buy that swill,” said Dimitri with a sardonic twist to his lips.

  “A toast to the bride and groom before we head to the church,” called out Mary as she held up four shot glasses.

  Dimitri put me down while Vaska turned a table back onto its legs. Mary placed the four shot glasses in the center and filled two with tequila. Vaska filled the other two with vodka.

  Mary and I reached for the tequila.

  Dimitri and Vaska reached for the vodka.

  Vaska held up his shot. “За жениха и невесту! To the bride and groom!”

  “To the bride and groom!” repeated Mary.

  We all drank.

  “Gor’ko! Gor’ko! Gor’ko!” chanted Vaska and Mary together.

  Mary really was embracing the Russian wedding traditions along with me. They were both chanting bitter. Tradition held a kiss from the bride and groom would sweeten their drinks.

  Dimitri pulled me into his arms for a passionate kiss.

  “Я тебя люблю, моя крошка.”

  “Ya tozhje tebya lyublyu,” I answered.

  Telling him I loved him too, in my imperfect Russian.

  It was okay; I had a lifetime to learn.

  Curious to know how Dimitri proposed to Emma?

  Click here.

  About Zoe Blake

  USA TODAY Bestselling Author in Dark Romance

  Who delights in writing dark romance books filled with overly possessive billionaires, taboo scenes, and unexpected twists. She usually spends her ill-gotten gains on martinis, travel and red lipstick. Since she can barely boil water, she’s lucky enough to be married to a sexy Chef.

  Check out Zoe’s website here!

  Join Zoe’s Facebook Reader Group.

  Join her newsletter for free dark romance books and release updates.

  WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT DIMITRI AND EMMA?

  Join other readers in Zoe’s Spoiler Room to see photos, locations, fashions, and Russian traditions.

  Also by Zoe Blake

  Dark Obsession Series

  Free to Read in Kindle Unlimited

  Ward, Book One

  It should have been a fairytale…

  A billionaire duke sweeps a poor American actress off her feet to a romantic, isolated English estate.

  A grand love affair… except this wasn’t love.

  It was obsession.

  He had it all planned from the beginning, before I even knew he existed. He chose me.

  I’m his unwilling captive, forced to play his sadistic game.

  He is playing with my mind as well as my body.

  Trying to convince me it is 1895, and I’m his obedient ward, subject to his rules and discipline.

  Everywhere I look it is the Victorian era.

  He says that my memories of a modern life are delusions that need to be driven from my mind through punishment.

  If I don’t submit, he will send me back to the asylum.

  I know it’s not true… any of it… at least I think it’s not.

  The lines between reality and this nightmare are starting to blur.

  If I don’t escape now, I will be lost in his world forever.

  It should have been a fairytale…

  One Click Ward here!

  Gilded Cage, Book Two

  He’s controlling, manipulative, dangerous… and I’m in love with him.

  Rich and powerful, Richard is used to getting whatever he wants… and he wants me.

  This isn’t a romance. It’s a dark and twisted obsession.

  A game of ever-increasingly depraved acts.

  Every time I fight it, he just pulls me deeper into his deception.

  The slightest disobedience to his rules brings swift punishment.

  My life as I knew it is gone. He now controls everything.

  I’m caught in his web; the harder I struggle, the more entangled I become.

  I no longer know my own mind.

  He owns my body, making me crave his painful touch.

  But the worst deception of all? He’s made me love him.

  If I don’t break free soon, there will be no escape for me.

  One Click Gilded Cage here!

  Toxic, Book Three

  In every story there is a hero and a villain… I’m both.

  I will corrupt her beautiful innocence till her soul is as dark and twisted as my own.

  With every caress, every taboo touch, I will captivate and ensnare her.

  She’s mine and no one is going to take her from me.

  No matter how many times my little bird tries to escape, I will always give chase and bring her back to where she belongs, in my arms.

  Each time she defies me, the consequences become more deadly.

  I may not be the hero she wanted, but I’m the man she needs.

  One Click Toxic here!

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