The Hermit (Mafia Empire Book 1)

Dressed in capris and a corset-style top, I slip on a pair of ballet flats.

I’ve already braided my hair and put on makeup, and looking at the door, I know I need to leave so Dominik can get ready.

Everything feels different, and all because of a dream.

He’s your husband. Like he said, as long as he’s the man in my dreams, there’s nothing wrong with it.

So lift your head high and stop hiding.

Sucking in a deep breath, I walk to the door and let myself out of the room.

When I climb the stairs to the deck, I hear someone say, “We’ll have to use the speedboat to get to the shore.”

“That’s fine,” Dominik mutters, his tone sounding so annoyed it’s downright murderous.

I pause mid-step, wondering if he’s upset because of what happened.

As I’m glancing up, he steps into my line of sight and signs something to Evinka, who I can’t see from where I’m standing.

His features are set in harsh lines, and seeing his brutal side has fear ghosting through me. The past few days I’ve forgotten about this side of him.

He turns his head, and the moment he lays eyes on me, the ruthless expression vanishes and a gentleness softens his eyes.

“You look beautiful, moja žena,” he murmurs in an almost loving tone as he holds out his hand to me.

Taking the last few steps, I lay my palm in his and let him pull me closer. He presses a kiss to my forehead, then says, “I love the perfume you use. It’s refreshing and makes me think of our home.”

Our home.

I stare into Dominik’s eyes, trying to gather the courage to tell him I think I’m ready, when one of the guards says, “Should we offload the jet skis and ride ahead, boss?”

Just as my gaze snaps toward the guard, Evinka slaps the man upside the head, giving him a glare.

“Interrupt me again when I’m talking to my wife, and I’ll fucking kill you,” Dominik growls angrily before heading down the stairs.

Not sure what I should do now, I stand frozen to the spot until Evinka comes to take my hand. She leads me around the side and to the front of the yacht, where there’s place to sit.

She gestures at a comfortable seat, and I quickly sit down. Then she snaps her fingers, and a server appears with a cart, the kind you see in a hotel.

When the server positions the cart in front of me and takes the silver lid off the plate, I give her a grateful smile.

Once she’s gone, I look at the delicious meal and say, “Thank you, Evinka.”

She signs something, and I ask, “Does that mean ‘you’re welcome’ in sign language?”

When she nods, I ask, “Can you do it slower.”

She shows me what to do, and when I get it right, a wide grin spreads over her face before she points to the plate of food.

Picking up the utensils, I cut a piece off the salmon and pop it into my mouth while glancing over the choppy blue water all around us.

Evinka takes a seat and stares into the distance, and I feel comfortable having her near me while I eat.

I’ve just taken my last bite when I see Dominik walking toward us. He’s dressed in a light blue suit, and loving the color on him, I stare for a moment too long.

He catches me red-handed, but this time, I don’t tear my eyes away from him and say, “You look handsome.”

“I was going for dangerous, but handsome works,” he jokes as he comes to sit beside me.

The server appears again and removes the cart as quickly as possible, and when I glance up at Dominik’s face, he looks ruthless and irritated.

Realizing just how much people bother him, I place my hand on his and give him a comforting squeeze.

Before I can pull back, his hand flips over, and he links his fingers tightly with mine. Bringing his other hand to the side of my head, he nudges me to lean against his shoulder.

“We still have thirty minutes,” he murmurs. “Relax a little.”

I kick off my shoes and pull my legs up beneath me, and when he lifts his arm around me, I snuggle into his side.

Unable to suppress it, I let out a contented sigh as I shut my eyes, just enjoying the smell of salt in the gentle breeze.

Dominik’s fingers begin to brush up and down my arm, and it’s so comforting I drift in and out of sleep.

At some point, I hear him whisper, “They can wait.”

I lift my head, and noticing the yacht isn’t moving anymore, I glance around us and see an island.

“We’re here?”

“Yes, but you were sleeping, and there was no way I was waking you up.”

“Dominik!” I gasp as I look at him. “You’ll be late for your meeting.”

He climbs to his feet and adjusts his jacket while muttering, “Ten minutes in the sun won’t kill them.”

He holds his hand out, and when I take hold of it, he pulls me to my feet.

I quickly shove my feet into my shoes, then follow Dominik to the back where the speed boat is waiting.

“Careful, láska,” he says when he helps me onto the smaller boat.

I give him a questioning look while Evinka boards, and he translates, “Love.”

Two guards join us, and as we take a seat, there’s no ignoring my heart, that’s practically soaring as a happiness I’ve never experienced fills my chest.

I lean a little into Dominik and ask, “What are their names again?”

“Alan and Krystof,” he replies. “They’re Evinka’s guards.

“And the other two?”

“Sef and Martin. They just come along when we travel together,” he explains.

I glance at the yacht. “Where are they now?”

“Already on the island.” Dominik takes hold of my chin and turns my head so I’ll look at him. “Enough about them and attention on me.”

Seeing a possessive look in his eyes has my heart speeding up for the millionth time.

Just as the speedboat begins to slow down and Dominik glances at the island, I whisper, “I think I’m ready.”

His head snaps back to me, his eyes searching mine before the corner of his mouth lifts in a hot-as-hell smirk.

“Trust you to give me such big news right before I have to attend one of the most important meetings of my life.”

I give him a playful, apologetic look while shrugging.

The boat comes to a stop right on the beach and as Dominik climbs to his feet, he mutters, “Just you wait until we’re home.”

He helps me to step onto the beach, and in the distance, I see a marquee and people sitting beneath it.

There’s an attractive man who’s dressed in comfortable white clothes that make it look like he’s on vacation instead of at an important meeting.

To his right sits two other men dressed in suits like Dominik. Then my eyes land on a stunning woman who seems to be around my age. She’s wearing a red goddess dress that has a slit running up to her thigh, and sitting with her legs crossed, it exposes beautifully tanned skin.

“Starting on the left, the old man is Ilias Dimitrou. He’s the head of the Greek mafia and mostly smuggles illegal goods. The woman next to him is Cassia. She’s his oldest daughter and heir. Then there’s Enzo Oliveira, who’s an assassin. He also mass-produces counterfeit goods. Next to him is Leonardo Toscano, the head of the Italian mafia, and last and definitely the most dangerous is Santiago Castro, the only man who’s gone up against the Rojas cartel and lived to tell the story.”

“That’s a lot of information,” I whisper.

“You’ll get the hang of it.”

As we near the group of dangerous people, I realize that Dominik is teaching me about his business, which Dad never did.

It makes me feel like Dominik views me as an equal and not just his wife.

Lifting my chin high, I wipe all expression from my face.

I’m the wife of the biggest arms dealer in the world, and that’s all I want people to see when they look at me.

After Dominik has taken a moment to greet everyone and introduce me, he gestures at a chair and waits for me to sit down before he takes the seat beside mine.

The air is tense, and every cell in my body is on guard.

“I thought we had to bring our own chairs,” Leo mutters.

Santiago lets out a chuckle, looking way too relaxed. “This is more comfortable, is it not?”

“Thank you for the effort,” Dominik says to Santiago.

“So you’re Devlin’s eldest daughter?” Ilias suddenly asks me.

I quickly nod. “Yes.”

“I didn’t like your father one bit,” the man practically spits at me.

I feel Dominik tense beside me, and I quickly place my hand on his right one so he doesn’t reach for his gun and shoot the old bastard.

Directing a glare at Ilias, my tone is ice cold as I say, “I don’t care what you think of my father. I’m Grace Varga, and you’ll treat me with respect, or next time, I won’t stop my husband.”

Ilias’ eyes flick from me to Dominik, and I watch as he reins in whatever he wants to say to me.

“Let the fun and games begin,” Enzo mutters, his eyes sharp as he glances at everyone.

Dominik gives a signal to Evinka, and she begins to hand out tablets to everyone. Even I get one.

When I turn it on, a drawing of an Asian-inspired building shows on the screen.

“Before we look at the plans provided by an architect, let’s talk business,” Dominik tells everyone with a brisk tone. “Are you all prepared to invest a hundred million dollars?”

“What do we get out of it?” Ilias asks with a disgruntled expression on his face that makes him look like the mean bastard he is.

“Shares in the island with around-the-clock access to it. I plan on making this place a fortress where even if we’re attacked, we’ll be safe,” Dominik mutters. “And most importantly, if one of us is under attack the other four will help to eliminate the threat.”

“So next time the bratva attacks me, you’ll drop everything and come help?” Ilias asks Dominik.

“Yes.”

With a smug look on his face, Ilias says, “While the four of us bring manpower, what do you bring?”

Dominik leans a little forward, his features tense with anger. “I bring the fucking weapons. Without it, your army would be pretty useless against the bratva.”

Santiago smirks at Dominik. “If I buy into the alliance, will I continue to get discounts?”

“Don’t push your luck,” Dominik grumbles, his tone laced with an unspoken threat. “The discount was a sign of good faith and a one-time thing.”

Santiago shrugs. “Was worth a try asking.” He lets out a chuckle, then says, “You’re all in Europe, mere hours from each other, while my ass is here in South America. What happens when I’m attacked?”

“The island is right by you,” Dominik mutters. “You’ll just have to hunker down until we get to you.”

“Hmm…lucky me,” Santiago grumbles.

“We can each station men on the island. Will that make you happy?” Enzo asks.

“Much happier,” Santiago replies.

“With that settled, do we all agree to have each other’s backs?” Leonardo asks while typing on his phone.

“Let’s put it to a vote,” Dominik orders. “All in favor of an alliance, raise your hand.”

Leonardo and Santiago are the first to raise their hands, then Enzo and Ilias follow.

Dominik looks at Cassia and mutters, “You’re the heir to the Greek mafia. I’d feel more comfortable if you voted as well.”

She glances at her father, and when he nods, she lifts her arm up.

Evinka raises hers, and only then does Dominik put up his hand.

Being present at the birth of the most powerful alliance on the planet, my heart beats a mile a minute.

“Switch on your tablets, and let’s discuss the plans,” Dominik instructs.

We sit for more than an hour while everyone makes changes, adding their own unique touch to the facility.

Santiago suggests that a clinic be constructed to which everyone agrees.

The meeting pauses when servers bring cold beverages and trays with finger foods.

Dominik leans into me and asks, “How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine. It’s interesting to see it all come together.”

He presses a kiss to my temple, then whispers, “I’m proud of how you handled Ilias. You did very well.”

Receiving praise from him makes warmth burst in my heart and a smile form on my face.