Captivated by the deadly mafia boss

Nicole

It’s my wedding day.

Not that I ever really pictured my wedding day; a girl like me doesn’t dream about those sorts of things. We think more along the lines of where our next apartment will be. Will our dad come home from his business meeting with cuts and bruises, or worse, will he not come home at all? But on the occasions I did dare to think about my future, I didn’t exactly think I’d be standing in the office of Joseph Staszek’s house with a judge peering down at me and my fiance.

Marrying anyone with real power never entered my mind. I figured I’d get my degree, get some job in a cubicle, and try to stay under the radar. I think it scared my father how much I wanted to get away from the way he lived. Outside in the world where he couldn’t protect me, it scared him. Which is probably why he had the misguided thinking of setting me up with Henry.

And just as I thought I was getting away from underbosses and captains and enforcers, I find myself standing beside the second son of a powerful Chicago crime family.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

I suppose my father would be happy. Jakub will be able to protect me, like he always wanted for me. His family name will keep me safe, and I doubt I’ll be heating up ramen for my dinner anytime soon.

“Nicole, do you take Jakub to be your lawful wedded husband? To have and to hold in sickness and in health from this day forward?” The judge intrudes into my thoughts.

I look from him to Jakub. Dressed in a black tailored suit, his hair neatly brushed back and styled and his clean-shaven face, he looks so professional. So pure.

But the tenderness between my legs reminds me he is anything but.

“I do,” I say before too much time passes.

The judge continues with vows and another monologue about the strength of marriage before he gets to the part that makes my mouth dry.

Obey.

When I glance at Jakub his serious expression cracks at the edges; the man is fighting back an arrogant grin. He put that vow in there on purpose. Obey hasn’t been put in modern vows in years. Jakub had to have added it in on his own.

Joseph clears his throat from where he sits a few feet from us. Beside him are the rest of the Staszek family. Dominik and his wife, who I only met a few minutes before the ceremony. And on his other side sits Lena and her husband-who I have not met at all.

I’m getting married in front of a bunch of strangers and now he wants to humiliate me with this vow.

Just as I’m going to argue, Jakub inclines his head and gives the tiniest of shakes. His family might not have seen it, but I have, and I know exactly what it means.

Argue with him now and I’ll find myself bent over another piece of furniture getting my ass tanned.

Reminding myself this entire situation is only temporary, and I can tear off his ear once we’re alone, I go forward with repeating the vows. He doesn’t fight his smile anymore, letting it blossom across his face and brightening up the room.

Within a matter of minutes, the entire thing is over. I have a heavy ring on my finger, and my name is being changed right before my eyes. Another signature, and it’s all complete.

“Of course, you’re invited to stay for dinner.” Joseph passes by me and Jakub and offers his hand to the judge.

Jakub brushes a lone strand of hair from my face and tucks it behind my ear. Jakub had Nora take me to Macy’s, along with a very obvious bodyguard, to find something suitable to wear tonight. Luckily, I found a white slip-on dress and a pair of strappy sandals that worked fine. She also stayed with me the rest of the afternoon, helping to curl and pin up my hair with beaded pins.

All in all, I cleaned up pretty well. It’s a shame Nora wasn’t able to come tonight. At least I’d have a friendly face at the dinner table.

“You all right?” Jakub asks, running the back of his hand along my jaw.

I take in a deep breath. “Of course.” I glance over at his sister who seems ready to jump out of her skin if her husband doesn’t let her get closer to us. “I don’t know anyone here.”

He nods. “It will be fine. We won’t stay too long,” he promises and links his hand through mine and leans into my ear. “Besides, I have plans for my bride when we get home.”

The heat of his breath dancing over my exposed ear sends a shiver down my body, but his words sets my insides on fire.

“Nicole.” Lena lunges for me as soon as I step away from the judge who is still giving his excuses to Joseph of why he can’t stay. “Hi.”

“Lena.” Jakub says her name sharply, but she easily waves him off.

“I’m Lena, of course,” she says and offers her hand. “I wish I’d been told all of this was going on.” She pauses to give Jakub a glare. “I would have been able to meet you before now. I could have helped you.”

“Helped me?” I ask, unsure of what she means.

She leans in with an angelic smile. “I could have helped you escape this crazy man.”

I can’t help but laugh at the suggestion. Escape Jakub? I think I’d have an easier time getting out of Alcatraz.

“If that’s what you wanted,” she adds when Jakub inserts his nosey face between ours.

“You couldn’t have helped her any more than I was able to help you, little sister.” He taps her nose with his forefinger. “Now, get back to your husband before his teeth break with all that clenching he’s doing.”

Lena glances over her shoulder at the broad-shouldered Russian standing behind her. His features instantly soften when her smile hits his gaze.

“He’s just hungry,” she teases and turns to him, flattening her hand on his chest. “Let’s get to the dining room so we can get a good seat.”

“What good seat, it’s just us,” her husband says, though he follows her.

“The seat near the basket of bread. I’m hungry, too.”

“That’s Micah Ivanov?” I ask, still watching the two disappear from the room.