The Hermit (Mafia Empire Book 1)

The ride up the dirt road is nerve-racking, and when the Hummer’s wheels spin over a patch of loose sand, I squeak, my nails digging into the leather seat.

“You don’t like being adventurous, do you?” Dominik asks, his tone amused.

“Definitely not,” I admit, my eyes locked on the road. “When you jumped out of that window with me, I almost peed myself.”

He chuckles, then drives the Hummer around a bend before bringing the vehicle to a stop.

I glance at the trees around us, then mutter, “I don’t see a house.”

“Come. It’s close by,” he replies, shoving the door open and climbing out of the Hummer.

“Come, where?” I whisper as I open the passenger door.

After I get out of the vehicle, I glance around us again, then say, “Your place better not be some tent between the trees.”

Dominik grabs my luggage, leaving a light carry-on for me to bring.

“You don’t like camping?” he asks as he begins to walk.

I grab the smaller bag and set after him, thankful I’m wearing boots and not high heels.

“I hate camping.”

He nods while his longer legs move much faster than mine.

The uphill is killing my thigh muscles, and when I’m a minute away from wheezing from the exercise, we break through a lining of trees, and I gasp.

Holy shit.

I stop walking and stare at the black slated walls of the house that seem to be carved into the mountain.

“This is insane,” I whisper in total awe. Lights go on inside the house, shining warm and inviting through the floor-to-ceiling walls. I can see right into a living room where there are black couches and a coffee table.

“Welcome, Grace,” Dominik says, drawing my attention to him. “I hope you’ll find peace here.”

His unexpected words make tears sting my eyes, but I force them back, refusing to cry in front of him.

As I walk to the front door, I take in the beautiful Zen-inspired garden and a stream that trickles into a small pond where moss has covered black pebbles.

At a loss for words, I step inside Dominik’s house, and my eyes dart around, drinking in the serene décor.

When I see a Buddha statue, I ask, “Are you a Buddhist?”

Dominik shakes his head. “No. I’m agnostic.” He sets my luggage down by the foot of the stairs that are made of light brown wood, then asks, “What religion do you practice?”

“I don’t,” I mutter as I walk toward a large window. “I stopped believing in a higher power a long time ago.”

Nearing the window, trees come into view, and when I see a lake far beneath in a valley, I can only stare at the breathtaking scenery.

I didn’t expect Dominik’s house to be so beautiful. If I were a believer, I’d think I stepped into heaven.

Dominik comes to stand beside me, and it reminds me why I’m really here.

We’re married.

Folding my arms around myself, I move away from him. I can feel his eyes on me as I explore further.

The dining room holds a black table and six chairs. There’s no art on the walls, and each piece of furniture is a statement piece.

The man has good taste.

When I walk into the kitchen, Dominik says, “I’ll leave you to make yourself at home.”

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“To shower and work.” He waves a hand at nothing in general. “Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. I’ll put your luggage in your bedroom, which is on the second floor. The second room on the right.”

I watch as he walks away, feeling like a fly that’s being lured into a spider’s web.

“One hell of a beautiful spider’s web,” I mutter as I walk to the fridge.

I’m surprised to find the fridge stocked with water and various juices. I help myself to a cold bottle of water, and as I take small sips, I peek into a laundry room.

Not a single thing seems to be out of place.

I open a random door and stare at the pantry that’s easily the size of my bedroom back home. The walls are lined with shelves that are stocked with food and other supplies.

Good God, we can probably survive months up here in the mountains before we’d have to venture out.

I remember hearing Dominik is a hermit, and now that I’ve seen his house, it confirms it.

Why did he bring me here? It can’t be just because I don’t annoy him.

There’s no way I’ll believe a man like Dominik doesn’t expect anything from me.

A chill creeps down my spine, and it has me rushing out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

I pass a closed door and head for the second bedroom. When I step inside, my luggage is neatly placed by a closet. There’s a kingsized bed covered with white bedding that has a mountain range printed in black on it.

There’s an empty table and a stool, and another door, which I guess leads to a bathroom.

I shut the bedroom door behind me, and seeing a key, I quickly lock it before walking to the window. Staring at the mesmerizing view, my teeth tug at my bottom lip.

I won’t be able to stay in this room forever, and I’m not stupid to think a locked door will keep Dominik from coming in.

It’s only then I realize Dominik gave me my own room. He’s not insisting that I share a bed with him.

My eyes widen at the thought and hope trickles into my chest.

So far, he’s gone out of his way to set me at ease. The closest we’ve come to being intimate are the two times he kissed me on the forehead.

I glance over my shoulder at the locked door. “Do I dare trust him?”

DOMINIK

After showering and putting on a pair of black cargo pants and a T-shirt, I head to my office.

Knowing Grace is in the house somewhere, the air feels different

I key in the security code that opens the door, and stepping into my office, the lights automatically come on.

It cost me billions to secure this piece of the mountain and to have this state-of-the-art house built. I had to grease quite a few palms to make it all happen, but it was worth it.

I have another house in Bratislava, which I seldom use. It’s just for backup should someone come looking for me on the mountain. Evinka uses it whenever she’s in Slovakia.

The monitors covering the left wall all come on, showing a variety of information and every security camera in and around the house.

I find the kitchen’s feed, and not seeing Grace, I search through the other feeds. Not being able to locate her anywhere, I assume she’s in her bedroom.

I’m not worried because I know Grace isn’t stupid enough to try going down the mountain on foot.

I take a seat at my desk and pull my phone out of my pocket. Noticing messages from Evinka, I open the chat and read them all.

I found an airfield in Puerto Aguirre where we can land. From there, it will take four and a half hours by boat to get to the island. I’ve bought us a yacht.

I’ve arranged for an architect to design a fortress. He said building can start in a month or so if we’re prepared to pay some bribes.

Do you want to wait and see what Ian does, or should I start contacting his buyers?

Deciding to answer via a voice message, I say, “Good work with the airfield and yacht. Pay whoever we have to so work can start on the island. I want the fortress up and running as soon as possible.” I stare at her last question, then reply, “Start contacting Devlin’s buyers. The sooner we cut ties with him, the better.”

At first, I was willing to let him keep fifty percent of his business, but after he slapped Grace, that changed. Now I’m taking everything.

Opening my secured laptop, I check every deal Evinka’s been working on and notice there’s one for an MBRL.

Seeing Santiago Castro is behind the deal, I wonder why he needs a fucking multi-barrel rocket launcher.

Surely the bratva won’t look for shit with Santiago? Then again, South America is a big territory for drugs and smuggling.

I pick up my phone and search through my contact list for Santiago’s number. I press dial and listen as the phone rings a few times before he answers, “It’s been a while, Varga. Are you calling to tell me my order is ready?”

“No, I’m curious about why you need them.”

“The fucking Russians,” he spits out.

“You too,” I murmur. “I didn’t think they’d have the guts to attack you.”

“Not guts,” he mutters. “Stupidity.”

“I’m forming an alliance with Enzo Oliveira, Leo Toscano, and Ilias Dimitrou. Do you want in? It will cost a hundred million dollars.”

“Throw in the shipment for the MBRL, and I’ll consider it.”

I let out a chuckle. “Not happening. I’ve purchased an island where the meetings will take place. Are you in or out?”

“You should give discounts once in a while,” Santiago mutters. “It’s good for business.”

I shake my head. “Yours or mine?”

A burst of laughter comes over the line. “Mine, of course.” I hear him moving, and it takes too long for my liking before he gives me his answer. “Fuck it. I’m in.”

“I’ll send you the coordinates for the island. The meeting is at noon on Tuesday. Bring a chair.”

“A chair?” he asks.

“To sit on. The island is undeveloped.”

“You’re shitting me right?”

I chuckle while ending the call and quickly send Evinka a message.

Dominik: Santiago Castro is joining the alliance. Give him a five percent discount on his current order as a sign that we appreciate his business.

I also forward the coordinates to Santiago before setting down my cell phone.

For a few hours I check the underground chatter that’s buzzing with information regarding the bratva. Not interested in any of it, I shut my laptop and glance at all the security camera feeds.

Seeing Grace frying something in the kitchen, my stomach rumbles, reminding me it’s almost time for dinner.

I get up from the chair and pocket my cell phone before leaving the office.

The house is silent as I walk down the hallway, but when I descend the stairs, I hear something clatter in the kitchen.

The aroma of grilled beef hits me, and the corner of my mouth lifts when Grace comes into view.

She’s taken off her boots and is standing barefoot in front of the stove. The sight makes my chest warm, and I stare at her for a while.

My eyes slowly drift over her blond hair, the curve of her jaw, her slender neck, and the alluring shape of her body.

Jebat, she’s beautiful.

Grace glances in my direction, then sighs, “Oh good. Do you have any vegetables? I wanted to make a stir fry, but right now, you’re just getting noodles and beef strips.”

I move closer to her and steal a strip of beef from the pan.

“Careful, it’s hot,” she chastises me, which makes me smirk.

“Switch off the stove,” I say as I walk toward the back door. “The vegetables are out here.”

It only takes a few seconds before I hear her behind me as I open the door and step out of the house.

I have a vegetable patch that grows everything from corn to tomatoes. It’s one of my hobbies.

“You grow vegetables?” Grace gasps.

“Yes. It’s calming.”

Her eyes dart over the rows, and she crouches to pick some parsley and basil before asking, “What do you do during the winter?”

“I let the herbs dry and preserve some of the vegetables by fermenting them.”

Her head turns in my direction, and she stares at me as if I’ve grown a second head.

“What?” I ask.

“You’re…not what I expected,” she admits.

Even though I know her answer, I ask, “What did you expect?”

“An assassin slash arms dealer who has no regard for life.”

“I told you,” I remind her, “I’m many things.”

“Yeah.” She waves a hand over the garden. “But the last thing I expected was all of this.”

“Either I grow my own food, or I have to go into town more often,” I mutter. “Which is something I avoid at all costs.”

She grabs a couple of tomatoes and a head of cabbage, then glances at me. “Can I ask you a question?”

I nod as I take the vegetables from her so she can get some more.

“Why are you a hermit?”

I follow after her as she continues to walk through the garden. “Because I don’t like people.”

She tilts her head as she picks some peppers. “Why don’t you like people?”

“That’s two questions,” I tease her.

Grace doesn’t smile but instead just stares at me.

“Evinka and I grew up in an orphanage where we had to fight for every basic need. I learned at a young age people will destroy anything in their path to get what they want.” I suck in a deep breath, then admit, “Evinka is the only good person I’ve ever come across, so I decided to distance myself from the world so I don’t go on a killing spree.”

“She can’t be the only good person you know,” Grace murmurs, sadness creeping into her eyes.

“Not anymore,” I reply. With my eyes locked with hers, I admit, “There’s you as well.”