The Hermit (Mafia Empire Book 1)

I watch Grace until she disappears from my sight before I bother to shake hands with Ian.

My eyes flick to the priest, and I mutter, “You can leave.”

The man scurries away, and when he’s out of hearing distance, I tell Ian, “I expect my payment on the last day of every month. If you’re late, you’re dead.”

Offended by my words, his face reddens, but wisely, he doesn’t say anything and just nods.

Done talking to Ian, I walk into the house and cross the foyer before stopping by the front door. I gesture at the luggage while glancing at Martin, one of my guards. “Load the bags and get ready to leave.”

“Yes, sir,” he replies, quickly getting to work.

The other three guards hang back, making sure not to hover around me.

Feeling irritated as fuck because my social battery ran out days ago, I stare at the landing on the second floor, impatiently waiting for Grace and Evinka.

“Wouldn’t it be better to leave Grace with me?” Ian asks, his tone filled with caution.

My eyes flick to the man who’s lucky to be alive. “No.”

He hesitates, and I feel the tension coming off him in waves before he dares to say, “I thought you didn’t want a wife hanging around you twenty-four-seven.”

I silence Ian with a murderous glare and don’t bother replying to him.

Finally, the women appear, and I let out a sigh. Grace is dressed in black jeans and a T-shirt, looking like she’s going to a funeral instead of starting her life with me.

I forcefully soften my features so I don’t terrify her even more and manage a smile when she glances at me.

“Ready?” I ask.

“Never,” she mutters as she walks right by me.

Without saying goodbye to Ian, Grace walks to the SUV where Martin is waiting for us and climbs into the backseat.

Here we go.

I unbutton my jacket as I walk out of the mansion with Evinka and the other guards right behind me.

Shrugging the jacket off, I toss it into the open trunk before I climb into the SUV, taking my seat beside Grace.

While the trunk is shut and Evinka gets into the front passenger seat, I roll up the sleeves of my dress shirt.

Martin shuts the trunk before joining two of the guards in the other SUV while Alan slides behind the steering wheel.

Alan was the first guard I employed, and over the past fourteen years he’s been with us, I’ve lost count of how many times he’s saved Evinka’s life.

Evinka signals with a wave of her hand to get going, and it has Alan starting the engine and driving toward the gates.

Grace doesn’t spare the mansion a look, and as I stare at her, a phone beeps from her bag.

She digs the device out, and I don’t bother looking away, shamelessly reading the message she received.

Ciara: I’m still okay. How are things at home?

For the longest moment Grace just looks at the message before she types a reply.

Grace: I have everything under control. You can come home.

Ciara: I’m not ready to come home.

Grace: Just be careful and look after yourself. Let me know if you need anything.

Ciara: I will. Did you get in trouble because I left?

Grace: No. I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.

“You’re not going to tell her we just got married?” I ask.

Grace’s eyes snap to my face. “No. It will upset Ciara.”

I shake my head. “You care too much about how she feels.”

She makes a disgruntled sound as she puts the cell phone in her bag, then proceeds to stare out of the window.

While Alan drives us toward the airfield where the private jet is waiting, I keep glancing at Grace, noticing how tightly her hands are clasped together on her lap.

Tension pours off her in waves, and every now and then, she swallows hard.

Wanting to set her at ease, I say, “I live in the Tetra Mountains, which are part of the Carpathian chain between Slovakia and Poland. My house is secluded, so we won’t be bothered by other people.”

“Great,” she mutters. “No one to hear me scream.”

Jebat. Not the reaction I was looking for.

After a moment of tense silence, I ask, “Do you have everything you need? Once we’re in the mountains, we won’t leave until Tuesday.”

Not answering my question, Grace asks, “Will Evinka stay with us?”

“No. She seldom comes to my place.”

I notice Grace’s hands gripping each other tighter until her knuckles turn white.

Thinking she needs to hear it, I say, “You’ll be safe with me.”

“So you keep telling me,” Grace whispers, her voice hoarse.

When we reach the airfield and Alan parks the SUV near the private jet, I’m on guard as I climb out.

With my hand resting on the hilt of my gun, I wait for Grace to get out of the SUV, then nod toward the aircraft. “Move.”

“Yes, sir,” she mutters under her breath.

Evinka silently laughs while signing, “She’s not happy with you at all.”

We all board the plane, and I’m surprised when Grace takes the seat beside me. I would’ve thought she’d try to sit on the opposite side of the cabin.

Not sparing me a glance, she asks, “How long is the flight?”

“Two and a half hours.” I suck in a deep breath, then add, “It’s another hour car drive from the airfield to my house.”

Grace only nods, her eyes trained on her lap.

I miss arguing with her.

“I’m surprised the ceremony proceeded without me having to threaten you,” I mention, trying to bate her.

I’d much rather have her rant and rave at me than remain silent.

“Would it have helped if I had put up a fight?” she asks, her voice emotionless.

“No,” I mutter.

I stare at her, and only when the private jet starts to taxi down the runway does she turn her head and look at me.

“What do you want, Dominik?”

“You’re wound tight, and I don’t like it one bit that you’re suppressing your emotions. Stop holding back and let me have it.”

Her eyes narrow on my face as she asks, “You want me to fight with you?”

Yes, please.

I shrug. “If it will make you feel better.”

She lets out a heavy sigh and shakes her head. “The only two things that will make me feel better are to be reunited with Ciara and for the wedding to have never happened.” She turns her face away from me. “But I can’t have those things, so what’s the use of fighting?”

“Do you want me to track down Ciara?” I ask. “I’ll drag her ass to you in a heartbeat. Just say the word.”

Grace shakes her head again. “Ciara made it clear she wanted to be on her own when she left without telling me.”

“And it hurt you,” I state the obvious.

Grace closes her eyes. “I’m not having this conversation with you.”

“You should try to get some sleep during the flight,” I mention.

“Uh-huh,” she mutters.

When the flight attendant comes into the cabin, I ask, “Do you want something to drink, Grace?”

“No, but silence would be appreciated,” she grumbles.

That I can do.

I sign to Evinka to intercept the flight attendant so she won’t bother us, then relax in my seat and stare at my wife.

Jebat. I’m married.

Grace is my wife, and oddly, the thought fills me with intense satisfaction.

The fire in her eyes will return once she realizes I won’t hurt her.

The corner of my mouth lifts, knowing her fiery temper now belongs to me.

GRACE

The private jet lands at what seems to be an abandoned airfield, and besides a black Hummer, there’s nothing else around for miles.

Great. I’m really going to be alone in the middle of nowhere with Dominik.

The guards carry my luggage to the vehicle while Dominik and Evinka communicate in sign language.

When he walks toward me, Evinka gives me a wave before heading back to the private jet.

“Come,” Dominik orders as he stalks past me.

Letting out a hopeless sigh, I follow after him.

When he opens the passenger door, I reluctantly climb into the cab.

I watch my husband walk around the front, and my heartbeat begins to speed up when I remember the night he rescued me from the Russians.

Over the past few days that I’ve gotten to know him a little, he’s only become more daunting. I know, from first-hand experience, what he’s capable of.

When he restrained me in my bedroom, there was nothing I could do to stop him. I was lucky when I woke up in bed with the covers over me and not stripped naked, beaten, and raped.

But my luck has run out.

As Dominik climbs behind the steering wheel, I take in his handsome face and the ink on his skin.

For a split second, I try to picture myself being intimate with him, but it backfires badly on me.

My heart sets off at a wild pace, and breaths burst over my lips.

Dominik starts the engine, then glances at me.

“Jebat,” he snaps and the next moment, his palms frame my cheeks, and his face is mere inches from mine.

“You’re safe, Grace,” he says in a calm tone. I can feel his breath on my lips. “I swear to all that’s holy I’ll never hit you or force you to be intimate with me.”

Stuck in a panic attack, his words register somewhere in my mind, and I begin to calm down. When the haze of panic lifts, I notice my breathing is in sync with Dominik’s.

He tilts his head, his expression actually gentle. “Better?”

It’s only then I realize it’s the second time he’s noticed when I’m having a panic attack. Not even Ciara was aware of them because they’re always silent.

Not pulling away from him, I ask, “How did you know?”

“Someone close to me used to have silent panic attacks.”

His thumb brushes over my cheekbone, and before I can stop him, he presses a kiss to my forehead.

He pulls back and locks eyes with me. “The first person I killed was a rapist. It’s a trigger for me as well, so if you believe only one thing, let it be that I’ll never do that to you.”

I keep staring at Dominik, not sure whether I can believe what he’s telling me. “So you’re really fine with a sexless marriage?” When he nods, I shake my head. “I find that hard to believe.”

He focuses on steering the Hummer away from the airfield, then says, “I’ve never been in a romantic relationship with a woman.”

My eyes widen. “There’s no way on God’s green earth you’re a virgin.”

Laughter bursts from him, the sound deep and warm.

“Of course not.” He glances in my direction before paying attention to the quiet road. “But I’ve been celibate for over ten years.”

My jaw goes slack, and then a thought crosses my mind that has my body chilling. “Were you…” I can’t bring myself to finish the sentence.

Dominik’s eyebrows draw together, and it takes a moment before he realizes what I’m trying to ask. “No, I wasn’t. I’m celibate because people annoy the fuck out of me, and in order to have sex, I have to let someone into my personal space.”

“You’re letting me into your personal space,” I mutter.

He lets out a sigh before replying, “Because you don’t annoy me.”

“That doesn’t put me at ease at all. I’d much rather annoy you.”

Seriously, who marries someone because of a crappy reason like that?

Dominik chuckles as he steers the Hummer onto a dirt road that quickly becomes steep.

Grabbing hold of the sides of my seat, my eyes dart around, and I watch as the trees grow thicker and thicker as we head up the mountain.