BETHRODED TO THE MAFIA LORD

Something felt off before Lena even reached the door. There were too many cars, not just any kind of cars, the black ones that are long and shiny, the kind that didn’t belong to the quiet street. The engine might have been silent, but their presence was definitely loud. The men stood beside them in dark suits, still like statues,not talking, not moving, just quietly watching everything. Her steps slowed down without her meaning to she thought to herself “ visitors, maybe” but not normal visitors. The grocery bag in her hand became heavier as she pushed the gate open. The gate creaked softly but too loud for how quiet the environment was . There was no music from the house, no clatter from the kitchen, no familiar sounds. Just low voices heard through the open front door. The voices were definitely malle voices, firm and careful.she was nervous a little, because she felt something was happening. Lena stepped in regardless. The sitting room came into view immediately. Her father was there. Sitting up, tense in a way she had never seen before. Opposite him sat men she did not know, five of them in black suits. Hard eyes. The air felt heavy, like the room had no space left for breath. Then, her eyes caught him. Standing near the far side, taller than the others, still in a way that drew attention without trying. Black hair, sharp face, grey eyes that looked cold, unreadable, like nothing surprised him anymore. The men around him were clearly guards. But he… he was different. He had this quiet power that felt like he was the center of the room. Walking into the room, Lena lowered her gaze instinctively.“Good evening,” she said softly. Her voice sounded small in the heavy air. Her father barely looked at her. “Go to your room” he said. Too fast. Too dismissive. That was when something inside her shifted. Lena turned and walked away… but stopped just beyond the hallway corner, out of sight. The voices continued .She knew she should not listen. But she did regardless. “…the agreement was clear,” one of the men said. Her father spoke next in a tight and controlled voice. “I know the agreement.” Silence followed. Thick and Pressing. He spoke afterwards, his voice, Low. Calm. Almost indifferent. “The age requirement has been met.” Lena froze. She asked herself “age requirement? Her fingers tightened slightly around the grocery bag. Her father exhaled slowly. “Yes.” The Paper moved. Pen clicked. “This concludes the transaction.” Transaction? The word did not feel real at first. It floated in the air, heavy and strange. Then slowly… it sank. She found it difficult to catch her breath. Transaction? Her? Her mind moved fast now, even though her body stayed still. This was not new. This deal… had existed before today. Today was only the end of it. Her knees weakened, but she did not move, did not cry, did not speak, she only listened. A chair moved softly. Footsteps. The Nikolai spoke, “The girl.” Her heart dropped. “She will come with me today.” No argument from her father. No resistance. Nothing. “Let me speak to her mother first,” her father said quietly. That was when Lena finally moved. Slow and Controlled. Like her world had not just cracked open. She walked to her room and stopped at the door. Her mother was inside. Packing her things. Clothes folded neatly into a suitcase. Shoes arranged. Jewelry wrapped. Everything placed with quiet care, like she had been preparing for this for a long time. Lena stood there frozen. “Mama…?” Her mother did not answer immediately, she only continued folding. Lena stepped inside slowly. “Why are you packing my things?” Silence. Then softly, “Sometimes… families must make sacrifices for one another.” The words hit real hard, unreal to Lena. Lena swallowed. “What sacrifice?” Her mother turned then, with no tears in her eyes, no panic, no apology, only quiet acceptance. “You are betrothed,” she said. “To the man in the sitting room.” The world stopped for a second. Lena blinked once. Twice. Everywhere was blurry for her. “No.” She said. Her voice was calm, but tight. “No, I can’t, I won’t.” Her mother stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on her arm. “He will treat you well.” “I don’t know him.” “You don’t need to.” Lena shook her head slowly. “I won’t marry him.” But even as she said it, she already knew that there was no choice to make on her end. Her father, their debts, their survival , they were all tied together. Her mother’s voice softened. “This was decided long ago. Today… it is only fulfilled.” “Long ago” The word echoed in her head. Then suddenly, A name surfaced from her mother’s mouth, “Nikolai”. She had heard it before. The stories whispered between her and her friends. Brutal and ruthless . A man who ruled through fear. A man no one dared to cross. Her heart began to race now. Not just panic but fear , real fear. “I don’t want this,” she whispered. Her mother pulled her into a brief but tight embrace. Final. “Be strong.” That was all her mother said. Minutes later, Lena stepped outside with her suitcase. The air felt colder now. The guards took her luggage without speaking. Efficient but emotionless. And there he was, waiting . Nikolai Morozov. Still, Calm and Watching. Their eyes met for a moment. He studied her. The quiet. The control. The fear she hid well. His gaze paused briefly on the faint freckles across her cheeks. He called out to her “Malenkaya”. The word came again in his mind. She stopped a few steps from him. Then he opened the car door for her gently but did not touch her. “Get in,” he said calmly. She did. The door closed softly. But he did not enter the car. He had another meeting to attend to, he turned to his guard. “Take her home. Ensure she is settled properly.” “Yes, Boss.” Lena looked at him through the glass. He was already walking to his other car, she watched him until he got in. Like nothing had changed. Like she was not now part of his life. Like she was just another decision. The car began to move. The gate closed behind them.Then One of the guards in front muttered quietly “we are headed to the mansion” “Lena’s fingers tightened slowly in her dress. She said nothing. But deep inside, Something had already begun.