Sinful desires

A deal with the devil

Dylan

“You really think she is going to sign it? She just tore the contract into shreds,” Simon said, and rubbed his temples.

I smirked.

“I'll make her sign it even if she doesn't want to,”

Simon sighed.

“I don't understand why you're so sure she is the only one who can pull this whole facade off, we're talking about the whole New York Cosa Nostra,” he said.

I looked up from the papers I was going through. My eyes darkened.

“Since when did you start questioning my decisions, Simon?”

Simon shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He looked down, unable to meet my gaze. I would have ripped his head off a long time ago if not for the fact that he was my best friend before I took over the mafia from my father. I made him my right-hand man afterward.

“I'm sorry, Ace,” he said, but I didn't break my gaze on him. The knock on the door, however, forced me to break it,

“Come in,” I was already irritated by whoever was on the other side of the door.

The door opened and two of my men dragged Iris inside. She was still trying to wiggle out of their grip. That is the main reason I ordered two men to get her, not one.

I signaled to the men. They bowed and left. Simon also took the opportunity to bolt out.

I stood up from the desk and walked to the couch in the middle of the room with a glass of wine in hand. I'd barely sat down before she started ranting,

“What is it you want from me?” She fired.

“I told you, I want you to sign the papers,” I shrugged.

“And if I don't?” She retorted.

“You'll remain here until you do,” I stated simply.

She scoffed.

“What kind of man keeps a girl, in a bathrobe, locked up for two days?”

“The kind of man that wants you to sign some papers,” I shrugged.

She scoffed and walked towards me. She sat on the couch opposite me.

“I didn't say you could sit,” I said, raising an eyebrow in irritation. This girl has got some nerves.

She ignored my statement and started talking,

“Why do you want to marry me so badly? I stole from you. Do you plan on torturing me to death after we get married?”

I smirked. I inched closer to her.

“Believe me, I don't have to marry you before I can torture you. I know several ways of torturing people. I could cut your fingers one by one and watch you scream in pain, I could plug your eyes out of the sockets, or set you ablaze and gladly watch as the fire consumes you…” I paused, I watched as her body tensed up and smirked.

“But I won't do any of that,” I leaned back and took a sip from the glass of wine on the table.

She cleared her throat.

“That still doesn't answer my question. Why do you want to marry me?” She asked.

“I'm in need of a partner to present a perfect appearance. That's all you need to know. The terms and payments were listed in the contract,” I said.

She stared at me with a confused expression.

“Payments?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Oh my bad, sorry,” I stood up and walked to the desk. I picked up a stack of papers and handed it to her.

“You can go through it and let's discuss the terms here, and don't even think of tearing this one too or I'll rip you apart. And believe me, I don't bluff,” I warned.

She glared at me before flipping the papers.

“No physical contact except when necessary. I don't quite understand that,” she said.

“It means when we're in the public eye, like at events, or in front of my family, everyone needs to believe you are my wife,” I explained.

She nodded and continued reading.

“So this is supposed to go on for six months and I get $50,000 every month, I get to go shopping and also go on trips, all I have to do is just be your wife and look pretty? Wow,” she threw her head back, her mouth wide open.

“No feelings attached, we go our separate ways after six months, and you don't tell a soul about these arrangements, or I'll hunt you down and kill you,” I added.

She didn't say anything, she kept her gaze fixated on the ceiling, her mouth slightly opened.

“Do you agree with that?” I asked, my patience thinning out.

“Shh, I'm thinking,” she hushed.

My mouth widened in surprise. The only person that hushed me like that was my mother. No one has ever dared since she passed away. She just talked to me like a little child. My jaws tightened.

“Well, think fast, we don't have all day,” I said, irritated. I gulped down the wine and poured myself another glass.

She sighed.

“Okay fine, not like you were going to let me go anyway,” she rolled her eyes.

“Good girl,” I smirked.

I handed her a pen and she signed the papers.

“Now can I please get a change of clothes? I stink, and some real food please? I'm starving,” she whined.

“You'll get everything you want now that you've agreed to cooperate with me,” I picked up my phone to call Simon when she interrupted again.

“And I need to go to my house to pick up a few necessities. Can you arrange that?” She asked.

My jaws tightened. I inhaled sharply in an attempt to calm myself. I can't afford to have a dead bride before the wedding.

“As I said, you will get everything you need, now if you'll excuse me, I need to make a phone call,” I said, not hiding the irritation in my voice.

I called Simon, and he came in shortly after with two men.

“They'll take you to your room,” I said to Iris.

She stood up and walked out with them.

“I can see she is starting to cooperate,” he said.

“She was going to, eventually,” I smirked. “What is it you said you have for me?”

Simon was hesitant at first.

“Kira’s hideout got invaded, the ruling family knows she works for us,”

I rubbed my temples gently.

“But she was able to escape, she is in hiding now,” he added.

“Tell me more about it,” I said with piqued interest.

Kira is the other person, aside from Simon and my dad, that I'm close to. She was sent to Italy to retrieve a contraband stolen from us.

The Italians have been at loggerheads with us for years now, ever since the war that killed my mother over 20 years ago.

“The contraband was stolen by a gang in Italy, it wasn't the ruling family Kira confirmed already. But the ruling family found out about Kira. It's only a matter of time before they fish her out, and now she works for us. That could hurt the deal with the Cosa Nostra,” he explained.

“How fast can you get her out of the place?”

“We are already making arrangements for a fake passport for her. She should be out in less than 48 hours,” he replied.

I nodded. Simon has always been precise with his arrangements. He is not the type to take chances.

“Okay then, do what you have to do, but make sure Kira gets here unharmed,” I warned.

“I'll make sure of that,” he said. He turned to leave but stopped midway, “I think your brother is having you followed, he probably wants to confirm whether you have a girlfriend or not. He must have heard the rumor.”

“I'll take care of him,” I said. He nodded and left.

I leaned back on the couch and sighed.