SPEED DATING WITH A MAFIA KING

14. A PROMISE OF FOREVER

There was no way of getting past that loud, blurring noise which seemed to want to rip my sanity away.

My hand fumbled over and over until I gripped the phone, swiping my finger on the screen before I could even see who the caller was.

“ Hello.” I groaned out, feeling as if someone was hammering my head from within, just killing me with the head ache.

My eyes peeled open with them closing just as fast as the light assaulted them.

“ Hi. I thought about what you said and I agree.”

My gut got hit so hard I thought I was dead.

Hearing his voice like a bullet to my heart.

Yet, hearing how fine he was when I was barely even alive was the worst part of it all.

I could not even understand what he was saying.

“ There is a mafia event happening tonight built for that very purpose, but I need you to come with me if you don’t mind.” He said, suddenly so chatty, just killing me even more because I had to pretend as if I was fine. I wiped my eyes, turning in bed to stare at the ceiling with my mind playing with the words he had just spat out.

“ Sorry, I am not getting what you are talking about.” I stated, my voice a bit shaky.

“ You said I should see other people and I agree. There is an event tonight where women in the industry and men come in search of partners. I think it’s a great place to meet the woman who can be my wife.”

I lay there too hurt to even say anything back. The tears filled my eyes, falling on the sides and I held back with everything I had to not sniffle.

“ Can you accompany me, my best chances of me getting anywhere are with your help through the night.” He added, my hand just over my mouth, holding it in.

I nod my head, wanting him to just cut the call. I swallowed.

“ Yeah,” I replied back, biting my arm after.

“ Thank you. Samuel will bring you over.” He said, the call cut after.

I held it in, staring and not believing what had just happened.

It had not even been twenty four hours and he was happy to move on as if I had meant nothing to him. I probably didn’t. I had just been another thing in his life he could use and when it did not work out, he moved onto the next.

My hand came to my chest, rubbing it over and over again, trying to sooth away the pain but it never left.

A part of me screamed that if I had accepted the proposal, I would not be dealing with this, but what could it have led to? The man did not care at all. How could I give a man my all, build a home with him and have children when he did not even have an ounce of love, of empathy for me? If he did, he would not have called to tell me such things.

I felt so betrayed, so hurt and used. My arms wrapped around my body, burying myself in the bed with my mind running a million miles, deciphering his words, deciphering his behaviour all along and a part of me had thought he did love me.

Nothing could have prepared me for this.

I felt as if I was losing my mind and I had no one to talk to, not even sure I wanted to. I just hugged myself until sleep claimed me again.

By the time I woke up again I was just dying with a head ache. My body slipped from the bed, going to pee and brush my teeth. I came back and made the bed, pulling my phone and seeing that it was past twelve.

I went down stairs, making food. I wondered where Samuel and the driver were. I walked out but could not see them anywhere until I saw a small cottage house a bit further from the back of the main house. It made me feel better, having thought they had slept in the car.

My body slumped over the couch, the television running but I was in my head, in my emotions, sniffling now and again. I knew my eyes told the story and I did not want to go with Azrail, yet I had no other option at that point.

I pushed off the couch at five, not sure what I had done all day long.

I took a shower, brushed my teeth then walked out to the closet where I oiled my skin, and sat to do my make up.

Make up took an hour and a half on its own because I did not want to. I did not feel like it, I just did not want to see him. I did not want to see him for the rest of my life. He truly broke me. He could take the trophy, it was well deserved.

So many times I had battered myself. So many times I had tried understanding, and lowered my values. I felt so pathetic, trying so hard and he had probably been laughing his ass off at my whorish ways.

My hand shook, messing up my make up so many times yet I finished at some point. It wasn’t my best but it wasn’t bad.

I stood, pulling on the first dress I just saw that fitted the occasion. I was sure all the ladies would be on their best, the claws out.

I wore a long black velvet dress. It was long sleeved, neckline hiding the arch of the neck with my back bare.

There was beauty to being modest but in a sexy way. The dress hugged my body like a glove and had just one slit on my right leg up to the hip.

I elevated it with an overly expensive emerald diamond bracelet that just captured ones’ attention along with matching earrings. I put on some perfume before sliding on six inch black heel sandals with straps.

My hair was pinned up, the dress not needing any destruction. My hair was so pulled it gave me a face lift. I looked over myself and I liked what I saw. I felt so much better. Women were right, looking good did make a person feel better. I put my phone in my tiny clutch which was the size of the phone itself.

I walked out and down, it dark outside. The car was already running, me closing the house door to turn, the car door being opened by Samuel for me.

“ Thank you.” I said, giving him a smile.

I felt so elegant, so rich and posh.

The door was closed, me getting comfortable in my seat.

Any hurtful thoughts were left in the house, just drifting away and thinking of a beautiful mountain I had visited in my vacation. It had been so breath taking and so peaceful there, it was as if I was back there.

It kept me cool through the ride, kept me from panicking and crying again. We slid in the city in two hours, driving past for another hour until we came to a secluded tall building in the middle of nowhere but that night, it was all so perfect. Cars were everywhere with guards, all scary, escorting so many people. You just got the vibe immediately. I watched as the door of the car before us opened with an old man hopping out. He held his hand, a girl wearing a princess white dress stepping out after him. She seemed nervous. Another hopped off after her, daddy’s girls.

They argued for a bit, fighting over something until the dad jumped in and broke them apart. Four guards were around them and soon they were walking up the steps. Their car moved on with mine next in line.

The valet if I might say, opened my door with me taking a deep breath.

I slid through the seat, a fake smile gracing my face to meet his. He held his hand and I took it, stepping out of the car to turn my head with my body freezing.

Why did the heavens hate me so much?

I blinked, all the pain coming back. I swallowed everything away. I would not give him another show.

My body turned, Azrail having gotten off the car behind mine. He turned, walking towards me, his face blank. My eyes stared at his face, not wanting to wonder anywhere else because he looked amazing as always and even that hurt.

“ Shall we?”

No hi, no hey.

“ Okay.” I said back, glad my voice came out firm. My head was tipped up, moving and rejected his held out hand.

The breeze cooled me down, telling myself that it was a few more hours then I would never see him again. I would walk away and this time, make sure it was for good.

Which country would it be? I was not sure, but I knew I could not stay.

The cars drove away, the next in line stopping.

My body swayed, each step having me feel as if I could do this

.

I did not need him.

I did not need love.

He could take my heart and burn it, I did not need it. I was strong, I was fierce. Why should I run? I was not going anywhere. I was going to work my ass off in my family company and take it even higher. I was going to be happy with my family and treasure them.

The doors were opened wide, the chatter just filling my ears with the soft music drowned out.

There were so many people, all spread in the ballroom so large and decorated as if the lord would make an appearance.

The women were dressed as if the clothes they wore would get them through the holy gates of heaven. I was not one to judge though since I made an effort myself.

My eyes took all of them as if I owned them, the confidence in me to get me killed. It wasn’t just a room, it was a room filled with the world’s most deadliest people ever. I should have been scared but I could care less.

The room fell silent, my eyes running to the bar where I was heading.

“ We should separate, seeing their eyes, it won’t be that difficult getting attention on yourself.” I said to Azrail, my feet moving faster, my stride wider as I walked ahead of him, going straight for the bar. I needed a drink.

I did not even turn to see what was happening behind me.

The room slowly picked up, hearing the excitement and the buzz. The biggest fish in the room had arrived. Three countries, three large cartels. Their dream had come true with his arrival.

My body moved until I was before the bar.

“ Give me something strong please.” I did not actually know the names of the alcohol besides ‘s*x on the beach’ yet I felt too embarrassed to say that name.

A glass of some transparent drink was placed before me, an olive inside, skewed in a toothpick.

“ Thank you.” I said, my body turning as I held the drink in hand.

My eyes ran through the room, trying to see where Azrail was, but how could you miss him.

There were so many people around him.

Men with their daughters, sisters or just female relatives stood before Azrail. Each took the chance to introduce the female they were with. I frowned, what sick twisted thing was this? I guess bachelor for the mafia. That would be interesting. I pushed the glass up, taking a drink only to stop half way. Damn, it had a kick to it.

I lowered my hand, my face morphing to all kinds of shapes until the bitter taste eased away a little to a bearable tone.

The girls were all so pretty, some old, some young but most were my age or older. Two even seemed so confident and not a ‘kiss ass’ kind of woman. It had me jealous a little because I could see him with them. They were not scared, talking to him about whatever as the other girls stood wide eyed as if to faint.

The rest of the drink was drowned down fast, not even feeling the burn.

My heart was being shredded apart, thinking I would kill someone.

“ Another,” I said out without even turning. I turned when I heard the glass being placed down.

I should probably stop looking, stare at something else.

My head turned, seeing some couples dance, most just introducing each other.

Everyone was just arriving, they wanted to snatch the big guys as fast as they could.

Most of the men were losing to Azrail, yet, some women I guess thought they had no chance or were playing hard to get, stayed away and approached other men in the room.

The room was filled with gorgeous men. They might have even been naked to me and I would not have noticed, my eyes training back to Azrail no matter how much I tried to look away.

He was fully speaking to the two girls at that point, them deep in a conversation. What were they talking about? Did he find common interests with one? Did he fell compelled by one’s beauty or both? They were drop dead gorgeous, well dressed too. They were surely wearing more than five hundred thousand on each, so they were rich. Long legs and it seemed smart brains too.

I shook my head, probably looking like a bitter witch where I stood.

My glass was tipped up only to lower it again because I did not want to be drunk in the mist of these people.

Who knew what Azrail would do when he found his match, surely just forget and leave me.

Did his dead heart stir as he talked to them? Did he see himself loving them at some point?

Why doesn’t he just shoot me in the heart and be done with it? I thought.

I could not be the girl that gets drunk by the bar. I turned, moving about. I had no direction in mind. I took slow steps, my eyes on all the different people or trying to because my eyes kept heading to one man only.

A part of me wanted me to march there and ring my arm around his, never budging, but I had embarrassed myself enough.

What would I say to my parents when I came back home? They probably were planning a ‘congratulations on your engagement’ party. Running away to Peru never seeming so appealing as then.

“ What are you thinking about?” A voice came, thick British accent that would have melted a twenty year old me to a puddle.

“ Running off to Peru.” I shot back, not even staring at him as I continued walking. I was so done with men.

“ Or you could come to England.” He said back with me chuckling.

“ No, too serious, I need an island where no one would find me.” I said back with the man chuckling.

“ I have a jet and an island.” The man shoots back with me frowning and turning to stare at him.

Was it that easy to get a man here?

He was tall, his silver gray hair really getting some brownie points for him and those blue electric eyes. His ‘stay away’ look just had you wet immediately and the tattoo running up his neck made him even hotter, like the blazing sun. His body was as if welded by the most gracious God.

My body turned back ahead.

“ I am not drunk yet, try again later.” I said with him chuckling.

“ I don’t think you are getting drunk tonight. I saw your face morph into some scary zombie shapes.” He said out with me chuckling.

“ Stalker much.” I said back.

“ Not in a long time, but for you, I just might.” He answered and it registered in my head that the man was probably some gang banger or something, he was not joking yet I am not phased at all.

“ How come I see no girls hanging around you, far down the importance list?” I asked, not sure where my balls were coming from.

My eyes turned to Azrail again, him still on it.

“ I think you are scaring them away, that awful scowl you are wearing has them thinking twice.” He said with my head picking up to him. I narrowed my eyes at him before looking away.

Did I look that bad?

“ Want a drink?” I asked, already handing it to him, it did not even smell good.

“ I should not be taking unknown drinks from unknown girls.” He answered with me chuckling. I brought the glass to my mouth, taking a sip then held it out to him. He took it, his dark eyes still on me, placing his lips where mine were. He tipped the glass a little and gulped down the drink. He licked his lips after with me staring with raised eyebrows.

A man suddenly appeared out of no where, taking the glass away from Mr. English Sexy Accent.

I narrow my eyes, he wasn’t just no one, he was someone.

“ One might say we just shared a kiss.” He said with me chuckling again.

“ You wish.” I shot back, it his turn to raise his eyebrow.

“ Are you always this witty?” He asked with me shaking my head.

“ No, I am just raw and drunk on feelings.” I said out.

“ You can just go to him.” He mentions, his head turning to Azrail, my eyes running there too, him talking with another man at that point, so chatty tonight.

My head shook, turning away.

“ Wound you fancy a dance?” Mr English asked, me smiling at his nickname.

My eyes fell on his hand only to swallow.

It don’t know why but it felt so wrong.

He took a step closer.

“ Name it and it is yours. I can take you away from here.” He said with me chuckling, just like that, wow.

Lord, dad should have brought me here, I would be married now. I internally laughed at myself, joking.

My mouth opened and closed. How do you even answer to that?

The man’s head suddenly tipped up, staring behind me.

My body turned with my heart just dropping to the deepest part of my stomach. I probably should have taken the man’s offer and ran out with him. He probably would have killed me and left me in a ditch somewhere, but it was better than such treachery.

“ Mr Duran.” The man greeted, me just wishing I could disappear from there. What was it? Was he tired of having all the attention? Did he need help discussing points on who he found more appealing to him? Who he would have cute babies with?

The man’s voice had changed, the tone so serious and scary.

“ Mr Garrick.” Azrail greeted back, them shaking hands and I was left the ant standing between them. I wished I had not given away my drink, surely a great time to drown it.

But it was also a good time to walk away to the bar, leave the two men taking notes on the women they had met during the night.

I was so bitter, wasn’t I?

“ I will just…” My voice trailed away, already pointing to the bar, about to turn and leave.

“ I don’t think requesting drinks you won’t drink is actually a thing.” Mr Garrick said with me thinking over his words, and he was right.

“ I was getting one for you, you need to loosen up a bit, don’t you think?” I said back, eyes on him, even smiling.

Take that you psychopath b*tch. I just hoped Mr Garrick was high up in the mafia chain so Azrail would bleed with jealousy but even if he wasn’t, the man was way fine, so good looking. I doubted Azrail could ever be jealous though, he did not seem like the kind and as I stared at him, his face was blank.

“ A woman after my heart and diamond ring.” Mr Garrick answered as I chuckled only to stop with Azrail’s eyes dead on me.

His face might have been blank, but I knew a warning when I saw one.

“ Masha, care for a dance?” Azrail asked, his hand out for me.

I stared at it, analyzing it as if I would finally have the ability to read palms.

My head tipped up, staring at him and fvck it. I found myself placing my hand on his. I was not happy about it too, his hand closing around mine as I stared down at our hands.

A breath was sucked in, him holding firmly before smiling at Mr English-Hot-Guy.

My face bleed, recalling he had asked me for a dance not long ago. I gave him a sorry smile, walking away with Azrail to the dance floor.

One last dance with him, one last time to hold him in my arms as if he was mine. One last time to say goodbye. I could not stay through his courting game. I was leaving as soon as we stopped dancing. I was going home, this not my world anymore.

He turned as we reached the center of the floor. His arm ran around my waist. My body went crazy, my heart drumming so hard.

His arms pulled me so close yet I fitted so well to him. My hand fell on his side with the other on his shoulder only to run higher until it was on his neck, then his nape, running to his hair and back down.

My face tipped up, his eyes staring down at me with mine locking with his. The world all around disappeared, just him before me. I felt the world crumble yet I stayed strong.

I thought we had something.

How could he stare at me like that, as if I was his world then just walk away?

His foot moved and mine fell in sync. I did not even hear the music, just following him until my feet held his beat, moving as one. My body so perfect for him to hold, moving in his arms with such ease and it was as if he knew every curve of it. He moved me with such grace as he twirled me around, coming back to him. It was a slow waltz, nothing fancy, but it felt as if I was dreaming, as if I was flying. My heart had long forgotten what happened or what would happen when the dance stopped, happy to be in Azrail’s arms.

My right hand moved on his body, my other hand, brushing on his nape, letting go to do a turn with his arms pulling me back. I stared at his eyes before my back bent backwards, his arms holding me in place. He pulled me up, us moving like magic.

I lost myself in his arms, seeing something shine in them that I knew I was imagining.

His hand ran up my leg with the slit opening. He gripped my thigh, pulling the leg up with it resting on his hip, bending backwards to pull back as he got closer and closer. His touch sent sparks through my body from where he held me.

My heart could be heard by the whole room I was sure, it just hammering in my chest as if to rip apart. My breath was lost, short harsh breaths let out with his eyes holding mine in arrest as his face got near. My hand ran into his hair with my eyes closing as his lips brushed against mine with him soon taking mine in. The kiss was slow and gently yet so amazing. His lips pulled away, his hand slowly falling away from my thigh with my leg moving back down.

I held onto him, my head pulling back a little, eyes still closed.

“ I love you Masha Vasiliev, but I won’t tell you every day, probably wont say it in months but that doesn’t mean you don’t mean everything to me.” He whispered, my eyes still closed, my face leaning on his as a shudder ran down my body.

“ I probably will never watch a movie with you, but I can do dates, walks and roses.” He continued as my body ran so hot, holding on tighter because I might just faint.

“ I don’t know how to say the things I feel and I plead for your help because I don’t want to lose you just as I have all these couple of times. I don’t want another woman because I can’t stand people touching me except you. I can’t stand any other person besides you. I can’t even stand the thought of being with another besides you. Yes, I see myself happily spending the rest of my life with you. Yes, I think about you every passing hour and yes, everything feels right when I am with you.” He finished with me fighting the tears. His hands let go of me and I wanted to grab them because I though I would fall.

He slipped his hand in to his jacket, pulling out the velvet box.

“ I can’t kneel before these men, I would never hear the end of it. But Masha, please, be my wife, be my love and be my rock. You have been all these things and I want them back and more. I want you back, I want you in my arms for the rest of my life. I promise to give you the world, just say yes.” He said, the box between us, him snapping it open with the rock staring back at me, even seeming bigger. The ring band had probably thousands of tiny clear diamonds all over.

My tears fell with me smiling so hard, a laugh escaping as I nod my head. I could not speak, my mouth opening and closing as I sniffled.

“ Yes, Azrail, I will marry you.” I said out, him smiling. He pulled out the ring from the box, the box dropped just like that. I brought my shaking hand forward, him slipping the ring on. It fit for perfectly, looking so good.

I stared at it, not believing.

“ I love you too so much.” I said out, my arms moving around his shoulders, hugging him as his arms came around my waist.

The room erupted into an echo of claps and cheers, having me dig my head into his neck, giggling from the thought of how everyone had seen us.

I was suddenly so shy, pulling back again with Azrail kissing me with a promise of forever.