Page 8 of Darkest Game (The Dark Mafia #3)

“That’s what Jack wants. And I don’t think anyone is coming to save you by then. So we will be married. Making an enemy out of Jack’s wife was stupid.”

“But she should be angry with her husband, not me. I’m a prisoner.” Irina sounds so confused that it makes me realize she was truly telling the truth about how sheltered she’s been. She has no idea how this world works.

And it’s up to me to teach her. Fuck.

“I wish I had a better answer for you,” I say. “But I don’t. We’re getting married tomorrow. Might as well get used to it.”

Though, I’m not sure if my words are meant for her… or for me.

Irina

No one comes to bother me in the night. The downfall to that is I desperately need a blanket.

Yes, it’s summertime and warmer at night but there’s still a chill in the air as the night goes on and the only thing I’m wearing is a crop top and short-shorts.

I would even ask for my urine stained dress back if it meant keeping me warm.

I eye the dogs in the kennel next to me. They eye me right back. There’s no chance they would keep me warm even if we were in the same kennel. They don’t seem well taken care of, so I doubt they’re used to a human touch.

With nothing else to do, I stick my hand between the bars of each kennel and wait. The pit bull moves towards me first and it takes everything inside of me not to flinch. But instead of biting my hand off, it only sniffs my fingers. And then licks them. I hold still, letting the dog get used to me.

A quick glance below tells me the dog is a boy.

“You’re more sweet than you appear, you know that?” I whisper to it. The dog nuzzles my hand so I pet his head and he sinks into my touch even more. The rottweiler comes over next, curious about what’s happening and begins to wag its tail.

It’s a girl upon closer inspection.

“You can get love too, you know,” I tell her. She nudges my hand so I begin to pet her too but the pit bull gets jealous. He nudges my hand back.

“Ok, ok,” I tell them, sticking both of my hands through the bars and petting them at the same time. “You’re so needy. And I love it. Do you get love like this?”

They both seem eager for pettings. It breaks my heart thinking that they’re kept outside in this kennel all day and all night without barely any love. Prisoners themselves. I know exactly what that feels like.

I continue petting them as the sun rises.

Sleep is practically impossible in a place like this anyway.

I’m still holding out hope that Mikhail and Nico will find me in time before I’m married to Liam but if they don’t, then I hope Liam lets me sleep in a normal bed after this.

I’ll try to escape from him if I can. I failed with Denis but now that I’ve been reunited with my sisters, hope has been reignited within me. I’m not ready to give up just yet.

“What are you doing?” Liam asks, startling me.

I stop petting the dogs and stand up. His eyes flick down to my exposed stomach and I cross my arms over my body. “I was petting them.”

“But why?”

“Because dogs need love. They’re kept out here all day and night.”

“The guys let them out here and there for food. But usually they’re left alone. They’re animals. Who cares about them?”

“Do you actually think like that? These innocent animals are nothing to you?”

“They’re Jack’s dogs,” he says with a shrug. “I’m not going to tell him what he can do with them. I doubt he’ll appreciate that.”

“You seem all right with Jack abusing innocent creatures.”

He steps closer to the kennel. Closer to me. “Are you one of these innocent creatures?”

“You’re really going to let Jack have me on our wedding night?

” I’m still pressing this. I can tell Liam isn’t fully ok with the idea and I need to find some way to save myself.

I don’t trust Liam but so far, he hasn’t hurt me the way Sean did or the way Jack plans on doing.

Liam said he wouldn’t rape me and I have to take his word for it because I have nothing else to hold on to.

His hands clench into fists at his sides. “Stop asking me that. Jack wants this marriage to happen. You’re not truly mine. He wanted you captured, so I took you.”

“I thought he wanted my sisters.”

Liam gives me a sly look. “You’re feisty this morning. What happened?”

“I’m growing desperate,” I admit. “I’m running out of time. It’s making me not as shy. I’ve already lost everything. How much more can I lose?”

“Your virginity.”

“To Jack.”

His eyes narrow. “Yes, to Jack.”

“And you’re ok with that?”

“Of course I’m not fucking ok with it,” he growls, slamming his fist against the kennel. I flinch. The dogs let out low growls. Liam looks between the dogs and me and chuckles. “I see you have them on your side now.”

“They don’t deserve to be treated like this.” I pause. “And neither do I.”

“This is happening, Irina. The wedding is today. I came to get you so you can get dressed in the gown I chose and we’ll head to the venue.”

“Why not get married here?”

“Jack wants to make a show out of it. Rub it in Mikhail and Nico’s faces.” He unlocks the kennel and grabs my arm before I can run.

“I’ll accept my fate,” I say. “If you do something for me.”

“And what’s that?”

“Let the dogs go. Just open the kennel and let them run away.”

“So they can be strays? They’ll be killed.”

“Or someone will find them and they’ll be given to owners who will treat them right. But either way, it’s a better option than being stuck in a cage all day.”

“Why do you care?”

“Because I have empathy,” I say it like its obvious and it is obvious to me. I guess to Liam it isn’t.

He looks between me and the dogs and sighs. “If I let them go, you won’t fight this? You won’t try to run or scream or cause a problem?”

“I promise.”

“You’d really not fight just to save the lives of two dogs?”

“Why do you sound so surprised?”

“Because no one in my life would ever do that. Not Jack. Not any of the men I work with. Not myself,” he adds in a quieter tone.

“I was raised to care about others.”

“That will make you a good mother.” His eyes widen slightly and he lets my arm go. “I don’t know why I said that.”

“If we’re to be married today, then we’ll probably have children down the road. It was always expected of me.”

“You’d let yourself be raped to have children?”

“No,” I admit. “But you told me you wouldn’t rape me.” I take in his strong arms beneath his t-shirt. The tattoos on them make his arm muscles stand out even more. He’s a very attractive man, I can say to myself. There could be worse men I could be married to.

“But you don’t like me and I don’t like you. So I don’t see how we’ll ever have children.”

“Then let me go now, Liam. Let me go with the dogs. Just say I overpowered you and ran if Jack asks.”

He scoffs. “Jack isn’t going to believe you overpowered me. He’ll kill me if I let you go. He wants someone else for my job and is pissed that I have it. He’ll use an excuse to get rid of me. You may be selfless but I’m not. And I’m not letting the dogs go. Jack would have my head.”

“You’re a coward,” I say simply. There’s no venom in my voice. It’s just what he is.

His eyes tighten as he re-takes my arm and guides me to the house. Once inside, I see Jack and Elaine talking in the living room.

“I will not let you fuck another woman tonight,” Elaine hisses.

“I can do whatever the fuck I want, woman. I will make that girl one of us. Part of this mob. As the boss, it is my duty. My right.”

“You’re right is to me!” she screams. “Do not touch her.”

“Or what?” He towers over her. “What will you do to me?”

Elaine doesn’t have an answer for him. That’s when she notices me in the doorway. “You. You little tramp. You will not fuck my husband.” She storms over to me but Liam steps in front of me.

“This isn’t Irina’s fault,” Liam says. “She’s a prisoner here. Being forced into this. Be angry with your husband.”

Elaine glares at him. “I can’t get through to my husband.

” She points at me over Liam’s shoulder.

“If my husband fucks you tonight, I will make you pay.” She leaves the house with an anguished scream.

Even though she frightens me, I can’t blame her for her anger.

A husband should be loyal to his wife. Mikhail and Nico are both loyal to my sisters, from what I could tell.

I’m still not comfortable with the idea of Liam being with other women once we’re married but I don’t really have a choice in the matter.

Jack’s eyes light up when he looks at me. “You are getting married today. I can’t wait to see you in your dress. And I can’t wait to take it off you tonight.”

I shiver. There’s a darkness to Jack’s tone that frightens me. He’s going to hurt me tonight. There’s no doubt about it.

“Come on,” Liam mutters, guiding me to one of the bedrooms. My dress is hanging on the back of the door. “You can change in here.”

“Liam,” I say before he can shut the door behind him. “I know you don’t like me. I know you have no reason to care for me. But I would be forever grateful to you if you saved me from being raped tonight.”

His eyes soften for just a moment. But it’s only a moment. Without a word, he closes the door, giving me privacy to change.

The dress is beautiful, I’ll give Liam that. It fits perfectly on my body. Hugging my slight curves. I didn’t even know I had any but this dress makes them come out. The off shoulder sleeves hang around my upper arms, showing off my clavicle and small cleavage. I look like a fairy in this dress.

In another world, I’m a princess who will be saved by her prince charming just in time before the big bad dragon burns me alive.

But in this world, I’m going to be married to an Irish mobster who’s no prince charming. He won’t save me from the dragon.

He might even be the dragon himself.

Once I’m dressed, I knock on the door and Liam opens it. He’s changed into a simple suit with a button down. No tie. I guess a tie is too fancy for a man like him.

His eyes rake me over and I can’t deny, it makes me lightheaded. “You look…”

“Yes?” I grip the door tightly, searching for something to steady myself with.

“Good enough to eat,” Jack says, cutting in as he approaches.

When his eyes rake over me, I want to vomit.

“I can’t wait to have you tonight, little girl.

” He claps Liam on the back. “You’re one lucky man, Liam, getting to look at a woman like this for the rest of your life.

I just might have to have her more than just tonight.

You’re fine with sharing, I’m sure. I’ve heard rumors that you don’t care if other men fuck the women you’re seeing.

So you won’t mind if I have Irina every so often, yes? ”

Liam’s smile is tense. “I don’t mind at all, Jack.”

That clinches it. Liam is no prince charming. And I’m going to burn tonight in the jaws of the dragon.