Page 7 of Darkest Game (The Dark Mafia #3)

Chapter Four

Liam

T he sight of Irina naked does something to me. The most obvious is that her body makes me hard. It’s petite but strong, like she has a lot of underlining muscle within her.

But her body does something else to me. It makes me realize that I can’t let Jack take her on our wedding night. If I’m going to be forced to marry her, then she’s going to be mine and mine only. I want to be the only one to touch her body.

Because seeing a flash of it naked is making me want Irina right in this moment. She gazes at me with her wide, innocent eyes, hidden behind the shower curtain. It only makes me want to grab her and lay her on the floor and have my way with her.

I’ve seen plenty of beautiful women who my body has gone crazy for.

But my mind never cared. With Irina, my mind is a combination of mixed thoughts.

The urge to protect her is there, which is strange, but the feeling of hatred for what she represents is also still there.

She’s the daughter of Lev Petrov, one of the Russians who made Cillian’s life hell before he died.

I can’t stand the Russians and yet, now I’m going to have to marry one.

I desire Irina and I hate her and I want to fuck her and I want to protect her.

She gasps after I tell her that I might as well see what I’m getting in a wife. “That’s crude,” she says. “I’m naked. Forced to be here. This isn’t all right. Why do you look so angry with me? What have I done?”

Her question is so sad that it makes another flash of guilt hit me. “It’s not you I’m angry with. Now get dressed and I’ll bring you back to the kennels.”

I wait for her outside the hallway and when she comes out in the tiny crop top and short-shorts left behind by one of the women who frequent this place, I almost lose my mind and take her right now and here. Her body is sin. It’s taut and tiny and I want to run my mouth all along her skin.

She will be my wife, I guess. I can take her then. If she lets me that is.

“I don’t like these clothes,” she says, wrapping her arms around her bare torso.

“They’re just for now. After we’re married, I’ll buy you some more.”

“And when will that be? Us married?”

“I suspect Jack wants it to happen fast but I don’t have an exact date for you. Now come on.”

When we come back into the living room, the other men there all whistle at the sight of Irina. It only makes her blush harder.

Jack leans forward on the couch, eyeing her over with hunger that makes me want to punch him. He didn’t even want Irina to be taken in the first place and now he’s the one who gets to have her first? I clench my hands into fists to keep myself from doing something that’s going to get me killed.

“I can’t wait to have you,” Jack says to her.

Irina backs away and bumps into me. I steady her. Jack’s eyes flick to my hands on her arms and I let her go.

The two of us head back to the kennels.

“I don’t want Jack to have me,” she whispers.

I open the kennel door. “I’m not sure you have a choice.”

“How can you be ok with this? How can you not care? If we’re going to be married…”

I grab her face to force her to look at me. “You need to know something about me, Irina. I am not a good man. I don’t do things for others. Only for myself. We’re both being forced into this so we might as well get used to it.”

A flash of anger crosses her eyes as she rips her chin away from me. “You’re not the one at risk of getting raped.” It’s the loudest I’ve ever heard her.

“True. I’ll give you that. You have it worse than me. But stop trying to get in my head. Jack is my boss. If he wants you, he’ll get you and I can’t stop him. Now have a good night. Sleep tight.” I nudge her back into the kennel and she only glares at me as I lock her inside.

When I go back inside the house, Jack tells me I have an errand to run in the morning. “You’re going to buy the girl a wedding dress. She needs to look presentable on the day. And I want to send a picture of her in the dress to Mikhail and Nico just to fuck with them.”

“I know nothing of wedding dresses. I don’t know what she’ll look good in.”

Jack narrows his eyes and approaches me. The room goes quiet. The other men know not to piss him off. Why couldn’t I get that memo? “It doesn’t matter what she looks good in. All that matters is that she’s in a wedding dress. Can you do that?”

“Yes.”

He raises an eyebrow, waiting for more. Fuck him.

“Yes, sir,” I grumble.

“Good. Now get to it. I want this wedding to happen the day after tomorrow. That will give me enough time to book a venue. I want everyone to see this wedding happen. To see Irina Petrov become one of the Irish. To see her become mine.”

To become mine , I want to correct him, but I keep my lips clamped shut.

With Jack, I have to be smart about this. My best bet is to just not care about Irina. If I don’t care, then I won’t care when Jack takes her on our wedding night.

Or I can kill him.

But that’s just a thought I let linger in my mind for only a few seconds before I push it away.

Buying a wedding dress is fucking hard. I know next to shit about dresses and what looks good on a woman. Despite what Jack said, I do want Irina to look good in the dress. I’m not even sure why. I just do.

“How can I help you?” a sales woman asks. Sarah, her name tag reads.

“I’m looking to buy a wedding dress. For my fiancée.”

“Ok. And where is she?”

“She’s not here. It’s a… surprise.”

“Most women like to surprise the groom with their wedding dresses. Not the other way around.”

I shrug. “We’re unconventional.”

“Ok then.” Sarah isn’t going to make me feel bad for my request. A sale is a sale. “What does she look like?”

“Pretty.”

“No. I meant her body type.”

“Oh.” I scratch the back of my neck. This is all so fucking stupid. Hate Jack even more for making me do this. “She’s petite. Slim. On the shorter side. Don’t know her exact height though.”

“All right then. We can make the most out of it.”

Sarah is kind enough to show me a large selection of dresses that would look good on a woman of Irina’s body type. I eventually settle on a dress that is supposed to hug the body with off shoulder straps. I can see Irina in it.

I bring it back to the house but on my way up the driveway, I’m stopped by a woman. She’s middle aged, probably in her fifties, with dark brown hair and stern eyes.

“Are you lost?” I ask her.

“I’m Jack’s wife. I’m Elaine.”

Shit. I knew Jack was married but to see his wife is another thing all together.

Her eyes flick down to the wedding dress in my arms. “I heard you were getting married. To some harlot Russian.”

“She’s Russian but not a harlot. She’s a virgin.”

“Of course she is,” she mutters. “All mafia girls are expected to wait for their wedding nights. So, you’re the one marrying the girl. Jack can’t stop talking about it.”

“I am.” I don’t mention the fact that Jack wants to fuck Irina on our wedding night. Elaine may or may not know and I don’t want to risk her wrath if I’m the one who tells her.

“I want to meet the girl.”

I hesitate. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. Does your husband know you’re here?”

“I was just inside with him, so yes,” she says flatly. “And I want to meet the girl that my husband cannot seem to stop talking about.”

“Right this way then.” I lead Elaine to the kennels where Irina is curled into a ball. Her skimpy clothes leave nothing to the imagination. She sits up when she sees us approach.

“You say she’s a virgin?” Elaine asks in a critical tone.

“She had to borrow those clothes. Sean peed on her last night.”

“Oh.” For some reason, that answer makes her pinch her lips together even harder. “Stand up, girl. Let me see you. If you’re going to be married to one of our men here, then you’re going to be one of us and I want to make sure you make us Irish women proud.”

Slowly, Irina stands up, shaking I notice. But why am I noticing these little things about her? I don’t care one bit about Irina… at least, I shouldn’t.

“I’m Russian,” she says. “I’ll never be Irish.”

Elaine scoffs. “You’ve got that right. So Liam here tells me you’re a virgin. Is that true or are you lying?”

“I’m not lying.” Irina’s soft voice works in her favor. “I was raised sheltered by my father. And… I’ve been a prisoner of my uncle these past two years.”

“I don’t care. But I can tell you’re not lying. You are a virgin. I know men in our world clamor to be with women like you.”

Irina only stares back and I don’t blame her. What else is there to say?

“Do you not know who I am?” Elaine demands.

“No. I’m sorry.”

“You’re polite at least.” Elaine makes herself stand up taller. “I’m Jack’s wife. Jack Finnigan.”

Irina’s eyes widen. “Can you help me get out of here?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because… because Jack wants to claim me on my wedding night.”

Shit, shit, shit.

“Irina,” I snap, which only makes her eyes widen more.

Elaine glares at Irina. “What did you just say? My husband is loyal to me. Is she lying, Liam? Trying to get inside my head? Tell me the truth.”

“Do I have to?” I ask. When she gives me a flat look, I know there’s no point in lying. “She’s telling the truth. Jack wants to take her on our wedding night. Be the first to have her. I’m sorry, Elaine.”

“No. No, no, no.” She runs towards the house in her heels, only wobbling once.

“Did I do something wrong?” Irina asks me.

“What were you hoping to get out of telling her that? Hoping she would let you go?”

“Well… yes. I wouldn’t want my husband taking another woman.” She ducks her chin. “Though I know you’re going to still see other women after we’re married.” Her voice is so dejected. Fuck. There’s that flash of guilt again.

“I told you how it’s going to be. No one is coming to save you, Irina. This should be proof.” I hold up the wedding dress for her to see more clearly.

“What is that?” she whispers.

“It’s yours. To wear tomorrow.”

“We’re getting married tomorrow?”