Claimed By My Mafia Stepdad

PUBLIC PROPERTY

I felt like a prize on display.

I stood in front of the mirror in a deep red gown that clung to every curve. Viktor's choice. Expensive. Revealing. I barely recognized myself.

"I can't do this," I said, voice tight. "Not after everything."

Viktor stepped behind me. His hands settled on my hips, possessive. "You can and you will. Tonight the world sees you belong to me."

"I feel like a doll," I whispered. "Your doll."

His silver eyes met mine in the reflection. "Better my doll than their target. Smile tonight, princess. Or they'll eat you alive."

The gala was a glittering nightmare. Crystal chandeliers. Mafia families in designer clothes. Every smile hid knives.

Viktor kept his hand on my lower back as we entered. Heads turned. Whispers followed.

"Look at Kane parading the Frost girl," someone murmured.

My stomach twisted. I lifted my chin anyway.

Sofia appeared within minutes. Blood red lips curved into a vicious smile. "Well isn't this cute. Viktor finally brought his charity project out to play."

"Don't," I warned quietly.

Sofia laughed. "Everyone knows you're just his new toy. Fresh p***y to replace the last one."

The words hit like acid. My face burned.

A man nearby reached out and squeezed my ass without shame. "Nice dress, sweetheart. Kane sharing yet?"

I jerked away. Viktor's grip tightened on my waist.

"Touch her again and lose the hand," he said coldly.

But Sofia wasn't done. She stepped closer, eyes gleaming with hate. "Stay in your place, little charity whore."

Her hand cracked across my face.

The slap echoed. Heads turned. A few people chuckled.

I tasted blood again. Tears stung my eyes but I refused to cry. Rage boiled under my skin.

"Why do you hate me so much?" I asked, voice shaking with anger.

Sofia leaned in. "Because he looks at you like he never looked at me. And it makes me sick."

Viktor pulled me against his chest. "Enough, Sofia. Walk away."

The music swelled. Viktor didn't give me time to recover. He led me onto the dance floor, spinning me into his arms.

Everyone watched.

His body pressed close. Too close. One hand gripped my waist while the other held my hand tight.

"You're shaking," he murmured against my ear.

"They all think I'm your w***e," I whispered back, voice cracking.

"You belong to me. Every inch of you." His breath was hot on my neck. "And I don't give a f**k what they think."

My body betrayed me. Heat pooled low despite the humiliation. His possessiveness felt dangerous. Addictive.

His hand slid lower, gripping my hip. "Feel that? This is mine. They can look. They can whisper. But they can't have you."

I shivered. "This is wrong. You're supposed to be my guardian."

"I'm a lot of things." His lips brushed my ear. "Right now I'm the man who wants to bend you over the nearest table and remind you who you answer to."

My breath hitched. Desire mixed with shame in a dizzying rush.

A rival don approached as the song ended. "Kane. Nice to see you marking your territory so publicly."

Viktor smiled. It didn't reach his eyes. "Careful, Rossi. Jealousy doesn't suit you."

The man laughed and walked away. But the message was clear. I was property now. Viktor's forbidden obsession.

Later, Viktor pulled me into a private side room. The door clicked shut. The noise of the gala faded.

I spun on him. "How could you make me go through that?"

"You needed to be seen," he said calmly. "Protected in public."

"Protected?" My voice rose. "I got slapped again. Groped. Humiliated. And you just stood there half the time!"

He stepped closer. "I wanted to kill every single one of them. But that's not how this world works."

I shoved at his chest. "I found the folder, Viktor. I know what you did."

Silence stretched between them.

His expression darkened. "You shouldn't have looked."

"But I did." Tears finally fell. "You killed my parents. Or ordered it. And now you're touching me like this? Kissing me? f*****g me?"

Viktor grabbed my wrists. Not hard enough to hurt, but firm. "Dig any deeper and the beast inside me will come out to play."

I stared up at him. Heart pounding. Body still humming from the dance floor. "What are you?"

He leaned down until our foreheads touched. His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.

"The man who will burn the world down before he lets anyone take you from him. Even you."

I should have been terrified.

Instead, the dark thrill only grew stronger.