The Hermit (Mafia Empire Book 1)

Dressed in leggings and a sports bra, I head down to the gym.

When I walk inside, Dominik is busy pushing weights, the sight hot as hell.

While I wait for him to finish with the set, I get on the treadmill and start to jog so I can warm up my muscles.

I hear the clank of the weights, then Dominik says, “Today, we’re working on your agility.”

“Okay.” I continue to jog for fifteen minutes before climbing off.

Dominik has been training me for two weeks.

Every single day.

When we first started, I thought I would die because my husband is a drill sergeant when it comes to training.

I get why, though. The sooner I can fight, the sooner he doesn’t have to worry about my safety during trips.

I’ve also been learning sign language so I can communicate better with Evinka, but that’s taking a bit longer than the training.

I walk to the other side of the room, where he’s set up a small obstacle course, and take up position at the starting point.

“Remember to use the momentum you gain toward the end,” he mutters while getting the stopwatch ready. “Time to beat today is one minute and sixteen seconds. I want it well under sixty seconds.”

“Yes, sir,” I say, even saluting him.

“Ready?” he asks. When I nod, he shouts, “Go!”

I dart away from the starting point, and taking hold of the crate, I throw my leg up and climb on top of it. I keep going, launching my body into the air, and grabbing a ring, I swing forward before I drop and army crawl underneath a net.

Coming out from beneath it, I shoot to my feet and run zig-zag through the containers we use to ferment our vegetables.

“One minute and seven seconds,” Dominik mutters. “Again.”

I walk to the starting point while sucking in deep breaths of air.

Taking up my position, I picture Dominik standing at the end with a gun to his head.

“Go!”

I surge forward, and keeping the image of Dominik in my mind, I push myself harder than I ever have. My body moves instinctively, jumping, ducking, crawling, and weaving until I fly over the finish line.

Gasping for air, I drop to the floor.

“Why didn’t you move like that the first time?” Dominik asks as he walks toward me.

I hold up a hand so he’ll wait while I catch my breath.

He crouches beside me with a grin on his face. “Forty-eight seconds.”

“I pictured a gun to your head,” I say between breaths. “Worked like a bomb.”

He lets out a burst of laughter, then grabbing hold of my hand, he pulls me up as he rises to his full height.

“As a reward, I’ll let you practice your chokehold on me.”

“Oooh.” I don’t give him any warning and jump onto his back, wrapping my arm tightly around his neck.

When he grabs hold of my arms, I quickly lock my legs around his waist so he can’t throw me off.

“Fucking spider monkey,” he mumbles before he drops to the floor, slamming us both down on a mat.

I don’t let go, and when he cheats and tickles my feet, I sink my teeth into the side of his neck.

A tap against my calf tells me he gives up. I let go and roll away from him. I climb to my feet, and just as I throw my arms in the air to do my victory dance, his shoulder slams into my stomach, and I’m hauled into the air.

“Cheating!” I shout.

He slaps my ass as he carries me out of the gym. “No, just payback for biting me.”

Dominik plants my butt on the kitchen table, and when he leans in to kiss me, I see the bitemark I left on his skin.

“Oh my God! I’m so sorry. I actually left a mark.”

“Really?” When he walks out of the kitchen, I jump off the table and run after him.

He heads into the guest restroom, and when he looks in the mirror and sees my teeth marks, he grins. “I’m getting this tattooed on my neck.”

“What?” I blink at him, wondering why he isn’t angry with me. “You’re not upset?”

His eyes flick to my face. “Why would I be upset?”

“I bit you.”

“We were sparring, and I want you to use every weapon you have in your defense,” he says.

Talking about tattoos…

“Why do you have ‘manifest’ tattooed on your cheekbone? Why not mayhem or something more badass?”

He shrugs. “I got it when I was eighteen. That boy had big dreams and believed if you manifest something, you’ll get it.”

“I like that.”

He steps closer to me and grips hold of my hips. “It’s a turn-on when you mark me. It shows I belong to you, so feel free to do it anytime.”

My eyebrow lifts. “Well, okay then. I’ll keep that in mind.”

He yanks me against his body while his features tense with desire, and I feel how hard he is.

“I was so fucking turned on the first time you bit me, and I couldn’t do much about it.” He leans down, and his teeth tug at my bottom lip. “But now I can.”

I lower my lashes seductively. “What are you going to do about it?”

For the second time, he lifts me into the air, and I find myself hanging over his shoulder as he stalks out of the bathroom and up the stairs.

I’m carried into the shower, and the second my feet touch the tiles, I quickly take off my clothes.

Dominik turns on the faucets, and while he strips out of his cargo pants and shirt, I check when it’s warm enough to step under.

I’m shoved beneath the cold spray and let out a shriek, but then my back hits the wall, and my man’s mouth takes mine in a wild kiss.

While I wait for the chicken to turn nice and brown, I open my chat with Ciara.

Grace: How are you?

I set the device down and glance at the oven while the delicious aroma of our dinner fills the air.

My phone beeps, and I quickly pick it up again.

Ciara: I’m okay. How are you?

Grace: Very happy. I’m busy making dinner. Roast chicken with the cauliflower and cheese sauce you love so much. It made me think of you.

Ciara: I’m jealous.

Grace: Why don’t you come to visit? I can ask Dominik. Or maybe I can meet you somewhere. It’s been months since we’ve seen each other. I miss you.

I watch as she reads the message, and this time, it takes longer than usual before she replies.

Ciara: I’m busy right now. Maybe in a month or two?

I stare at the messages, and I don’t like how short her messages are.

Grace: Is everything okay?

Ciara: Yes!!! Totally. I’m just getting ready to go out and have friends waiting. I’ll talk to you later.

Grace: I love you. Please consider visiting. I would love to see you.

My last message goes unread, and my heart breaks a little.

“What’s wrong?” Dominik growls, making my head snap up.

I let out a sigh and set my phone down. “I just chatted with Ciara.”

“And?” he asks as he moves closer, his eyes searching my face.

“It just feels like we’re drifting apart.” I shake my head. “I’m always the one who has to reach out to her.”

He takes hold of my arm and pulls me into a hug. Pressing a kiss to my hair, he says, “It happens, moja láska. People get busy with their own lives, and when you look again, months or years have passed.”

I’m probably overreacting. Ciara’s a big girl. She deserves to have her own life filled with happiness.

“You’re right,” I mutter, then I glance up at Dominik. “Hold me tighter. I need love.”

His body folds around mine, and he presses a couple of kisses to my hair. “I love you. You’re the most important person to me.”

A smile tugs at my mouth. “And?”

“If I lost you, I’d probably become a serial killer.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re already one,” I chuckle. “You’ve definitely killed more than two people.”

“That was before you came along. I haven’t taken any assassination jobs since we got married.”

“That’s right.” I tilt my head backward to look up at him. “I’m a good influence on you.”

“You are,” he murmurs before giving me a kiss on the mouth. “Something smells good.”

“Dinner.” I pull away from him, and walking to the oven, I pull it open and quickly peek inside.

“Next time wait for the steam to leave the oven before moving so close. I don’t want you to burn yourself,” he says in a tone that makes it sound like an order.

“Okay.”

When I reach for the oven mitts, he swipes them off the counter and says, “I’ll take it out. You get our plates ready and grab water for us.”

“My protective hermit,” I chuckle.

While Dominik cuts the chicken, I carry our utensils and water out to the veranda and set it on the table.

When I head back inside, Dominik calls out, “Do you want both wings, Grace?”

I walk into the kitchen and scowl at him. “Why are you calling me Grace?”

He gives a confused look. “That’s your name.”

“No. You call me all kinds of sweet things in Slovak. I’m only Grace when I’m in trouble.”

He lets out a burst of laughter, shaking his head at me. “Would you like both wings, moja láska?”

“Yes, please.”

“Never thought I’d get chastised for using your name,” he mumbles under his breath.

I raise my eyebrow at him. “What’s that?”

“Nothing. Just saying the chicken looks good.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” I walk closer and smack his ass playfully. “Thank you for dishing up for us.”

He leans down a little. “Pay the fee.”

I press a kiss to his cheek, then grab my plate of food and leave the kitchen.

“We need to head out for supplies soon,” Dominik mentions as we take our seats at the table. “With winter around the corner, we need to prepare.”

“Just say when, and I’ll be ready,” I reply before popping a bite of cauliflower into my mouth.