The Hermit (Mafia Empire Book 1)

When I walk into Ciara’s bedroom, it’s to find her pacing up and down, looking terrified.

I stalk over to her and wrap her in a tight hug. “You won’t marry that man. I promise.”

She nods while clinging to me, then she admits, “I’m shocked that Dad would even think about it.”

Letting out a disgruntled huff, I tell her about the information I just learned. “I’m told the marriage will only be in name. Dominik even mentioned something about artificial insemination.”

Ciara pulls back, her eyes filling with a sad look I don’t like one bit as she asks, “Why does it sound like you’re beginning to agree that I should marry Dominik?”

I quickly shake my head while taking both her hands in mine. “Never.” Letting go of her right hand, I brush ginger strands away from her face. “One day, when you marry, it will be because you love the man. Okay?”

She nods before closing the distance between us again, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug.

My ribs are tender as hell, but I don’t mention it as I give my sister the comfort she needs.

While we hold each other, my thoughts return to what happened in the living room.

I hate that I just had a panic attack in front of Dominik.

When I came out of it and found him cupping my cheek, I was shocked out of my mind.

There’s a weird push and pull between us I’ve never felt before, but I refuse to pay it any attention.

As long as he plans to marry Ciara, he’s my enemy.

Ciara pulls back again, then says, “You should get some rest.”

“I’m fine,” I lie.

She shakes her head firmly, and taking my hand, she tugs me out of her bedroom and walks down the hallway to mine.

When she shuts the door behind us, she says, “Lie down for a little while. I’ll sit in the armchair.”

Knowing my body needs the rest, especially if there’s more fighting to come, I crawl onto my bed and get as comfortable as possible.

Ciara sits down by the window, and when she glances outside, her eyebrows pop up. “Shit. It looks like Dad’s taking Dominik to the cottage. Is the man staying?”

“What?” I get off the bed, and joining Ciara by the window, I look out over the backyard.

Seeing Dad give the keys to the cottage to Dominik, my lips part.

That’s not good at all.

“What are we going to do?” Ciara asks.

“I’ll talk to Dad again,” I reply, my eyes locked on our father’s business associate as he steps into the cottage before shutting the door behind him.

“I’m not marrying him,” Ciara whispers, her tone filling with fear. “I won’t survive.”

I know.

I place my hand on her shoulder and give her a comforting squeeze. “You won’t marry him. I’ll make sure of it.”

Her eyes lift to my face from where she’s still sitting on the armchair, and they’re filled with worry. “There’s only so much you can do.”

I stare at her for a moment before I crouch beside her. Placing my hand on her knee, my words are filled with promise as I say, “I’ll kill Dominik if I have to.”

“Grace,” she gasps, instantly starting to shake her head. “No. Don’t even try. I can’t lose you.” She leans forward, her tone tense with urgency. “I can run away. I’ll find somewhere safe to hide.”

My head snaps back, not liking the idea of my sister being on her own. There are too many dangers in the world.

“Don’t you dare do that,” I mutter, my voice a little too harsh. “If it comes to that, we’ll leave together. Where you go, I go.”

She nods, a glimmer of relief shining in her clear blue eyes.

When I rise to my full height, she wraps her arms around my hips and rests her cheek against my stomach.

As I brush my hand over her hair, my eyes follow the path to the cottage.

When our mother passed away, Ciara was only fifteen. I took over the role as her mother, and not once have I regretted it.

She might not be the strongest person on this planet, but she’s kind-hearted, caring, and sweet.

She’s a much better person than me, and I’ll fight my ass off to keep her from being destroyed the way I was.

My bedroom door slams open, and when Dad stalks toward us, it has me pulling away from Ciara and taking a protective stance in front of her.

Rage tightens his features as his eyes lock on me, and when he’s in reaching distance of me, his arm swings back.

It all happens in a split second, but instead of cowering, I lift my chin, looking him dead in his eyes.

His arm freezes, and a moment later, he drops it to his side.

The corners of my lips turn down with overwhelming disappointment in Dad.

Before Mom died, Dad used to be loving and attentive. When we were young, he read us bedtime stories and gave us piggyback rides. When we were teens, he spoiled us rotten with the prettiest clothes and gifts.

But then Mom died, and Dad grew cold.

Up until the moment he gave me to Braden Mallon so he could secure the African market, I had the utmost respect for my father.

I loved our father as much as I loved Ciara. But then he traded me and left me for two years to be raped and beaten.

Even if he had Braden killed, it doesn’t change anything. Dad left me for two years, and nothing has been the same since.

We’ve never spoken about any of it, but as I stand before him, I can’t keep the words from spilling over my lips.

“You destroyed one daughter already. I won’t let Ciara suffer the same fate as me.”

Dad’s eyes narrow even more, his lips setting in a grim line. “Ciara is my daughter, and I will do as I see fit.”

“Daddy,” Ciara whispers pleadingly from behind me. “Please don’t make me marry that man.”

“Hush, Ciara,” Dad snaps angrily, which has my temper exploding.

Taking a threatening step closer to him, I shout, “Don’t talk to her like that! I’ve had enough of this madness. I will never let Ciara marry Dominik or any other man you bring to this house.” My tone drops dangerously low, and all common sense abandons me as I hiss, “She will not be raped and beaten for years on end just so that you can grow your business.” I tilt my head as I lean forward, our eyes blazing into each other. “Mom would be so disappointed in the monster you’ve become.”

This time, when Dad’s arm flies up, he doesn’t pause, and his palm connects with my bruised cheek. My head whips to the side, and the coppery taste of blood fills my mouth.

“Dad!” Ciara shrieks as she flies to her feet.

When she tries to move between us, I push her back, saying, “I’ve got this.”

My eyes flick to my father’s face, and seeing the shocked expression in his eyes doesn’t do anything to ease my temper.

I lift my chin again, and with a deceptively soft tone, I say, “That’s the first and last time you’ll raise your hand to me. I swear I’ll take Ciara, and you’ll never see us again.”

Dad takes a step back while deep lines form on his forehead as regret creeps into his eyes.

“Let’s calm down and talk about the matter in a civilized manner,” he says, his tone sounding exhausted.

I force myself to calm down and nod. “Okay. Let’s talk.”

His eyes flick to the mark he must’ve left on my cheek, joining the other bruises, and the regret deepens in his eyes. “I’m sorry I hit you, Grace.”

I just stare at him because there’s no way I’m saying it’s okay.

He lets out a heavy sigh and glances at Ciara before explaining, “The marriage will mostly be in name, love. You’ll still stay here with Grace and me. Dominik is a very private person and isn’t interested in having a wife.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I ask, “What do you get out of this arrangement?”

Dad sighs again before his eyes come back to my face. “Dominik wants fifty percent of my business for saving you. The only way I can keep the business in the family is by arranging a marriage between Ciara and him.”

What the hell?

A frown quickly forms on my forehead. “Why give in to his demand? There has to be another way you can repay him for helping out.”

Dad turns away from me and begins to stalk up and down as he says, “Dominik made it clear that he wants fifty percent of the business. He won’t settle for anything less.”

“Tell him no,” I mutter.

Dad lets out a bark of laughter before saying, “Dominik Varga isn’t the kind of man you say no to.”

I suck in a tired breath before exhaling slowly. “Then kill him.”

Dad stops dead in his tracks, and when he looks at me, I see fear in his eyes.

“Many have tried and failed. Why do you think the bratva attacked me by taking you? They don’t stand a chance against Varga, and I was the easier target.” He shakes his head, his tone dead serious. “Varga is fucking powerful, Grace, and if by some miracle you manage to wound him, you’ll be marked for life. His second-in-charge will hunt you to the ends of the earth. Evinka Fico is just as dangerous as Varga. She’s killed more men than I care to remember.” He shakes his head again. “In short, there’s no going against Dominik. What he wants, he gets. I’m fucking lucky he agreed to marry Ciara.”

As Dad’s words sink in, apprehension tightens my muscles, and fear slithers around my heart, gripping it like a tight fist.

I can see how scared Dad is, and remembering how easily Dominik saved me from a situation that was entirely out of my control, tells me the man is highly trained.

I’ll never stand a chance against him.

My head whips to the side, and my eyes lock on Ciara’s terrified ones.

She begins to shake her head, and her voice is tense with horror as she sobs, “Please, don’t make me marry him. He sounds horrible.”

Jesus, what am I going to do?

I quickly close the distance between us and wrap my arm around Ciara’s shoulders. Even though I’ll be damning myself, I say, “I’ll marry Dominik.”

“No, Grace!” Ciara exclaims, her eyes wide on me. “I won’t let you do that.”

Dad’s eyebrows draw together, and then I see the overwhelming guilt of what he forced me to undergo during my first marriage in his blue eyes.

His voice is hoarse as he says, “No. Ciara will be fine. Dominik made it clear he’s not interested in her.”

“What if he changes his mind?” I ask. “Braden wasn’t interested in me either. Then we said our vows, and I became his property to do with as he pleased. I won’t take that chance with Ciara.”

“Is there no other way, Daddy?” Ciara asks. “Can’t you just give him the fifty percent?”

“We’re talking millions of Euros, Ciara. It’s not an option.”

She steps back as if Dad struck her, and my heart breaks when I see disappointment creep into her gaze.

“So you’d rather sacrifice me than part with the money?” she asks, her tone filled with unbelief.

He quickly shakes his head and hurries closer to us. Taking Ciara’s hand in his, he gives her an urgent look. “The wedding will mostly be in name, love. You won’t have to live with him.”

Her eyes begin to shine, and when a tear rolls down her cheek, I tighten my arm around her shoulders.

“I can’t believe you’re willing to do this to me for money,” she whispers before a sob escapes her. “How can you do this to me after we saw what Braden did to Grace?”

“Varga is nothing like Mallon!” Dad snaps before sucking in a deep breath to calm down again. “Look, Dominik will be our guest for a week or so. Just get to know the man, and then we’ll talk again.”

Right. And before we know it, Ciara’s forced to walk down the aisle.

I shake my head, and I let out a huff.

Dad lifts his hands in a gesture meant to pacify us. “It’s been a hell of a day. Take some time to process everything.” His eyes flick to my face. “You need to recover from the ordeal last night.” Stepping closer, he places his hands on each of our shoulders. “Just spend some time with Dominik, and we’ll talk again. Okay?”

Ciara and I just stare at our father as he gives us a weak smile before leaving my bedroom.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Ciara mutters.

I pull her into a hug, and while I rub my hand up and down her back, I say, “Just leave it to me. I’ll take care of everything.”