Owned by the Russian Mafia Boss: A Mob Romance (3 page)

Natalia also had no intentions of taking part in his hospitality. She closed the door to the suite and opened the curtain to look outside. Down below, she could see more guards patrolling around a sparkling pool. To the right was a beautiful garden still bursting with colors even in the late spring. Her lips parted in surprise. The grounds were beautiful. Of course they were. Alek probably had millions. He’d want to show that money off for prestige and class.

Sneering, she shut the blinds and sat on the floor. She would enjoy nothing in this home. Grabbing her journal, she jotted down what little information she’d gathered this morning. Lots of weapons. Strict policies. Nothing illegal yet, but she had no doubt she’d stumble across something soon enough.

Soon there was a guard throwing open her door. “Mr. Evanoff requests your presence in the dining room.”

Natalia jumped and stared. “Can you knock?” she hissed. Would there be no privacy while she here?

The guard merely stepped aside and waited. Natalia rolled her eyes and followed him out the room. Alek was seated at the expansive dining room table with several dishes in front of him. He didn’t smile when he saw her, but his eyes did fall to the Band-Aid on her finger. She sat as far away from him as possible at the table and glared at him.

“How was your morning?” he asked softly as he reached for one of the plates.

“Unimpressive,” she answered coolly. “How was your morning? Break anyone’s arms today?”

He chuckled softly. “Eat. I will not have you starving yourself while you’re here.”

Surprisingly, her stomach did rumble. She uncovered the plate in front of her and stared at the meal. It was enough food for two. With a sigh, she grabbed one of the sandwiches and nibbled on it.

“My guards told me that you tried to smuggle some clothing items in here. You were under strict orders not to bring any clothes with you. Consider this a warning. If you try to breach your contract again, I will take my unhappiness out on your father.”

“I wasn’t aware that panties and bras were considered clothing,” she said as she tried to hide the fear from her voice. “Perhaps you should have been more specific.”

Alek waved his hand. “You knew exactly what I meant. You will wear only what I want you to wear, and that includes your lingerie.” A slow smile crossed his face. “Perhaps instead of taking my anger out on your father, I’ll simply take it out on you. Cross me again, and you will be wearing only lingerie around here.”

She blanched and tried to gain control of the situation before he had any more brilliant ideas. “Did your guards also inform you that they broke something that was valuable to me?”

“We will replace it,” Alek said in an unconcerned voice.

“It had sentimental value,” she snapped.

He paused and stared at her. “The frame or the picture in the frame?”

So he did know. She tried to keep the emotion out of her face. She would not discuss Niko with him. “I don’t believe that’s any of your business.”

For a moment, she thought he would argue with her, but he simply shrugged. “Very well. Have you had a tour of my home?”

“I don’t want a tour of your home,” she said coldly. “I intend to spend as little time as possible outside my suite.”

“You mean outside my bedroom?” he asked in a seductive voice.

Natalia immediately reddened. “That is not what I meant,” she said in a small voice, but she couldn’t look up to meet his eyes. Instead, she reached for her sandwich to take another bite.

Alek chuckled softly. “While I intend for you to spend as much time as possible in my bedroom, you will be required to entertain me elsewhere. I have an active social life, and you will be on my arm at all times. Should I wish you to join me for a dip in the pool, you will swim with me. And when I need some work done, you will spend time in my office. There are no restricted areas in my mansion, but should I catch you in the bed of another man, there will be dire consequences with no warning. Is that understood?”

“Fine,” she muttered. She didn’t have any desire to sleep with any of his guards anyway.

“That goes for whoever’s picture you’re hiding from me,” he said softly. She felt her heart clench, but she looked him steadily in the eye.

“I heard you the first time.” Her tone was even, and she forced herself to hold his gaze. She would not back down from him.

“Good.” He pushed his empty plate away and rolled his shoulders. “I’m afraid I will be gone most of the afternoon as well, but I’ll be back this evening. We will dine privately in my room. For dinner, I will send a girl up to dress you. She’ll be instructed to store what you’re wearing. You’ll have it returned to you at the end of the contract.”

God. She didn’t even want to think about tonight. As his eyes lingered on her, she felt herself warm. If he had any idea how much he affected her body, he’d make things miserable for her. She had to get control of herself.

Thankfully, he left the table without another word and without touching her. She breathed a small sigh of relief and devoured the rest of the sandwich. When she reached to clear the plates, a small staff appeared and immediately pushed her out of the way. Feeling useless, she thanked them and trudged back up the stairs to hide in her room. At least she had a few more hours of alone time before she had all her dignity stripped from her.

***

A few hours later, Natalia had just gotten Bones out from under the bed to gaze out the window when there was a small knock on the door. Startled, Natalia opened it just a crack. A petite and pretty blonde stood on the other side. “I’m sorry to bother you, miss, I’m here to help you get ready for your dinner tonight.”

The woman looked Natalia directly in the eye. If she knew that Natalia was a prisoner here, she didn’t show it. Perhaps she didn’t care. Natalia had a feeling that all of Alek’s staff were cold and unfeeling. Opening the door all the way, Natalia swept her arm in a mocking gesture for the woman to come in. The woman’s eyes widened in surprise, but she came in. “Would you like me to draw you a bath?” she asked nonplussed.

“No.” A sudden through struck her. “In fact, I might not bathe the whole time that I’m here. I wonder what your boss would think of that.”

To her surprise, the woman burst into laughter. She immediately clamped her mouth shut. “I’m so sorry,” she said with wide eyes. “I just don’t think Alek would like that much at all.”

“So you can speak candidly,” Natalia said with a small smile. “What’s your name?”

“Anastasia. You can call me Ana. I’m usually part of the catering staff, but Alek thought most of his house staff was too timid for you,” the woman said with a wink.

“He has timid house staff?” Natalia said dryly. “Most of them are carrying guns.”

Ana put the clothes bag on the bed and shrugged. “The guards and the staff are two different caliber of people. Alek was honest about what you’re doing here. I have to say that it’s a bit unusual for him to do this. Kidnapping women isn’t usually part of his payment plans.”

Natalia snorted. “And yet you don’t seem surprised.”

Ana shrugged. “Most of Alek’s women would stoop to murder if it meant getting an extra night with him. Spending a year under his roof shouldn’t be a hardship.”

“Are you kidding?” Natalia demanded. “I watched him almost kill my father. Spending a second under his roof is horrendous, let alone a year.”

The other woman shrugged. “You’re probably right, but you agreed to this, so you might as well suck it up. We’ll skip the bath today, but if I have to manhandle you into the shower tomorrow, I will.”

“Please. I could take you,” Natalia snorted.

Suddenly, before she could react, Ana flipped her over her shoulder and slammed her on the floor. The impact knocked the breath out of Natalia’s lungs, and she wheezed as she put her hands up to catch her breath. “I stand corrected,” she said when she could finally speak again.

“All of the staff members go through basic combat and self-defense courses. We’re trained by his guards to protect ourselves in case any of Alek’s guests get too handsy.”

Well that was…nice of Alek. Natalia pulled herself off the floor and shook her head. “Well, let’s see what I’m supposed to wear tonight.” She unzipped the garment bag and stared at the sheer black negligee. Swallowed hard, she spun around to Ana with panic in her eyes. “Please tell me there’s more.”

“There’s more,” Ana said with a smile. She crossed the room and opened the closet. After disappearing inside for a few minutes, she came out with a white cocktail dress.

Curious, Natalia peered inside the closet. “Someone has been busy,” she muttered as she stared inside the closet. It was filled with women’s clothes, and it was easily four times the size of her own.

“I did most of the shopping myself, so you better tell me that you love everything,” Ana warned her with a cocky smile. She joined her in the wardrobe and pulled out a pair of heels. Opening one of the drawers, Ana pulled out a pair of sheer hose.

“This is it. Thigh highs, the negligee, the dress, and the shoes. He’d like you to keep you hair down and your makeup natural. No perfume. Oh!” Her eyes lit up. “I almost forgot. One string of pearls,” she said as she opened another drawer.

Natalia gasped at the jewelry inside the drawer. It looked like a cool million dollars’ worth of gems and precious metals.

“Based on your circumstances, I wouldn’t exactly call you a lucky lady, but he’s going out his way to make it worth your while,” Ana said as she shut the door. “All right. I’m to check on your in half an hour and make sure that you’re dressed. Let me know if you need anything else.” There was a streak of black as Bones raced from one room of the suite to another. “What the hell was that?” Ana barked.

“That’s Bones, my cat. He’s a good cat. Hardly meows, and he’s never underfoot. Much.”

Ana stared at her. “He let you bring a cat? That’s weird.” With a shrug, the woman slipped out, and Natalia slowly started taking off her jeans and T-shirt. She looked at them almost mournfully. She wouldn’t see them again for another year. It wasn’t that she was particularly fond of the outfit she had on, but they were more her than the white dress waiting for her on the bed.

With a sigh, she pulled off her underwear and threw those in a pile. Uncomfortable at being stark naked in the room, she roughly pulled up the thigh-highs and slipped on the black negligee. Really? Black lingerie under a white dress? Was that some turn on of his? It was completely sheer with the exception of dense lace embroidered around the bra cups. Attached to the hanger was a matching black lace thong. She pulled them up under the negligee and glanced in the mirror.

God. She didn’t think she’d ever worn anything so sexy in her entire life. Feeling almost ashamed, she took off the negligee, grabbed the white dress and pulled it over her head. It zipped up the side, and fit snugly. Stopping at mid-thigh it showed enough of her leg to be sexy but not so much that she looked like a harlot. It had a halter top that plunged low enough for a hint of cleavage but not low enough to be embarrassing.

After she slipped on the shoes, she looked at herself again in the mirror. She looked like she was made of money, and for the first time in her life she actually felt pretty. She ran her hands along the sides of the dress and turned. The fabric clung to her hips and ass.

There was another knock on the door. “Natalia? Are you ready?”

Had a half an hour already passed? “Yes,” she muttered. Ana stuck her head in the door and nodded. “Damn girl. You look good. Don’t forget the necklace.” She stepped in and shook her head. “Also, I’m going to have to check to make sure you’re wearing the right stuff underneath. Lift the dress.”

Natalia’s eyes widened and her cheeks burned. “Relax,” Ana said with a smile. “It’s just a quick check.”

With a deep breath, Natalia lifted her dress enough for Ana to see the lingerie. Ana whistled. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but you look hot. Here, let me help you with the necklace. The staff is waiting downstairs to set up.”

Natalia’s fingers were already trembling, so she let the woman drape the necklace over her. Ana worked with quick precision, and the pearls felt cool against Natalia’s skin. “Do you think I’m insane for doing this?” she asked quickly. “If you were in my place, what would you have chosen?”

“I wouldn’t ever be in your position because I don’t have family. But I made a choice when I came to work for Alek, and I made that choice knowing full well what kind of man he was. I can only imagine what I would do for someone that I loved. I would never judge you for this choice.”

“I’m doing the right thing,” Natalia said with a nod of her head. “About tonight. You mentioned several women who have shared his bed. Do any of them run out screaming?”

Ana smirked. “Screaming? Yes. Running out? Never.” She leaned down and brushed a finger up Natalia’s neck. “I’d warm you up if it wasn’t strictly against the rules.”

Natalia shivered and stared at the woman. “For everyone or just you?”

“Everyone. And specifically me.” Ana sighed and stepped back. “I can already tell that you don’t bat for my team, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to try to persuade you.”

Natalia couldn’t help but laugh. “No. You’re definitely not timid. Thank you for helping me feel less anxious.”

“Eh.” Ana shrugged. “Enjoy it while it lasts. Alek has a way of making everything tense. Okay. I’ll get the rest of the staff to set up and let him know you’re ready. Just relax and try to have fun.”

“Right. Have fun dining with my captor,” Natalia muttered.

Ana shook her head. “That’s the spirit.” With a sigh, she left Natalia alone. Soon, several women were in the room setting up a cloth covered table, several candles, and two covered dishes. It actually looked…romantic.

Under the bed, Bones let out a small meow. She knelt down and reached under to give the poor cat a few scratches behind the ear. “It’s going to be okay. I’m going to be okay.”

Soon, the staff left, and there was a soft knock on the door. Alek entered wearing a button-down white, crisp shirt and a pair of dark pants. His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck and his sleeves were rolled up to show off several tattoos wrapped around his arms. As she gazed at him, she couldn’t help but feel her pulse jump. He looked good enough to eat.