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Chapter 5 - Sophia
My feet ache and all I want is to get into a hot bath loaded with honey and lemon-scented bubble bath. The promise of relaxation is enough to have me walking faster down the sidewalk, eager to sink beneath the bubbles and shut my eyes for a few minutes.
As much as I love nursing school, it’s hard. I spend most of the day on my feet and preparing myself for an endless amount of heartache. Today’s lab was hard. There was a simulation of death that I knew I wouldn’t be able to get out of my mind.
It’s going to be another night filled with nightmares.
At least those nightmares will be different from the ones I’ve been having for the last few days. Every time I close my eyes, my dreams are filled with Ivan dragging his knife across my throat and leaving me in a crumpled heap on the cold marble floor.
Although there are a few dreams between those where he has me bent over the bar, the straps on my dress snap. In those dreams, he pushes my dress up, all the fabric pooling around my waist while he plunges his thick cock into me from behind.
I need to get myself together and stop thinking about him in that way. He’s a killer, he hurt my sister. He’s going to kill me for trying to poison him if he ever sees me again.
I take a deep breath and glance at my surroundings. Most of the buildings in this part of town are nice. Dad paid for me to live a good life in a nice apartment. I doubt that he is trying tomake up for his absence in my childhood. It’s much more likely that he is trying to control me.
One day, I won’t be under his thumb anymore. Once I’m done with school and making my own money, I can distance myself more.
The second Lily turns eighteen, I’m taking her away and making sure that we’re both done with the mafia life.
As I turn the corner into the parking lot for my apartment building, my father’s car greets me. The sleek black luxury sedan is parked in one of the visitor’s spots.
My heart races as I take a deep breath and head inside the building. Dad doesn’t visit me unless he wants something.
When I enter the apartment a few minutes later, I see Dad sitting on my emerald suede couch. He leans back into the cream-throw pillows, staring out the sliding glass door at the balcony.
He’s not here to talk about Lily.
The thought fills me with disgust, but I know it’s true. If he wanted to show some concern, it would be the first time in his life.
Just once, I would like to have a father who gave a shit about his family.
I kick off my shoes and hang my keys on the hook by the door. As I drop my backpack onto the console table inside the entryway, Dad stands up and turns to look at me. His hands clasped together behind his back, his signature stance for listing out demands.
“Sophia, you’re late. Your last class ended an hour ago.” His tone is stern as he paces toward me. “I’ve been waiting for you. Do I pay for your car for nothing?”
I sigh and walk into the kitchen, grabbing one of the glasses in the cupboard. “I wanted to walk today, Dad. It was a nice day. Of course, I appreciate the car you pay for, but I needed a little bit of fresh air.”
He gives a sharp nod, the answer good enough for now. “You are part of this family, Sophia. Being part of this family means that certain expectations go along with that.”
I don’t like where this is going. As I wait for him to continue, knowing that there is more to this story, I fill the glass with cold water. My hand trembles as I raise the glass and take a sip.
If he’s going to lecture me about my duty to the family, then something big is about to happen. I haven’t heard this speech since the last time he needed something from me.
“With those expectations will come the realization that you owe this family for how we have taken care of you over the years. You need to know that what I ask of you, is not so much of an ask as it is a requirement.”
A lump rises in my throat. I regretted walking into the apartment when I realized he was there. I should have turned the other way and went back to school.
“Ivan Orlov would like to help my business. However, he is a smart man and as you should know, there is no gain in this world without giving something first.”
Run away now, before he tells you what he wants. Pack your bags and move to a country where he will never find you again.
If he starts working with the Bratva, then I’m as good as dead. He surely knows who I am by now. It’s the only reason I can see why he would reach out to my father and want to work with him.
I’m going to die.
“You’re going to marry Ivan.”
Blood freezes in my veins as the rest of the world comes to a screeching halt. There is no way this is happening. It can’t be. This is all a horrible dream and, in the morning, I’m going to wake up.
