Page 53 of Debt to the Mafia King

“Why wouldn’t I? And it’s just a family thing. My father holds a Christmas party every year. It’s just family and the closest of our acquaintances. They would think it’s strange if I turned up without my new bride.”

A line appeared between her eyebrows. “Are you asking me for real, or is this you telling me I’m coming with you?”

I stared at her coldly.

Shaking her head, she pursed her lips. “Ok, Viktor. What’s the dress code? I’ll try and find something suitable.”

I slid my lips over hers because watching her mouth move was getting harder and harder to ignore.

“There’s a dress already upstairs. Everything you will need is up there waiting for you.” Reaching down, I cupped her ass and squeezed. “How long will you need to get ready?”

The more she melted against me, the more I started to think that ditching the party and staying home was a good idea. It had been too long since I had laid her down.

“An hour, maybe.”

We couldn’t stay home. My father would be expecting us, and he had yet to sign over the legit businesses into my name. Tonight, he would see Leah looking beautiful on my arm, and he would do it.

“Then go,” I slapped her ass playfully. “And if you take longer than an hour, then I will come up there and personally make sure you have to start again.”

My eyes held a promise, and she sighed.

For a second, it looked like she was going to kiss me, and then at the last minute, she scuttled away. I heard her feet running up the stairs and then a loud, excited squeal of pure delight.

Pushing out of the kitchen, I smiled. She had found the dress.

“This is,” Leah’s hand clutched at my arm. “A small family gathering?”

Reaching up, I patted her hand, and her fingers flexed into my suit sleeve. Turning to her, I found her looking everywhere with wide eyes.

The twinkling Christmas lights made her eyes sparkle, and the deep, green dress glitter. When I had first seen that dress, I had known it would suit her, but nothing could have prepared me for how dazzling she looked in it, especially under the warm lights.

“For us, it’s pretty intimate.”

“Is everyone here a gangster?” she asked in a hushed voice.

Laughing, I shook my head, tilting her face up, and I grinned down at her. “I don’t know what you think I do, Leah, but everyone here is a businessman. Is that understood?”

Her eyes widened for a second before she nodded. “Understood.”

“Good girl, now let’s go and find my father.” Even the thought of that was enough to dampen the good feeling I had, but it had to be done. If I ignored the old man, he would take it as a personal slight.

“Are you ready?”

She nodded, and I led her forward. Like the Red Sea, the crowd parted. People didn’t even try to be discreet. They simply stared. And then the whispers started. They tore apart her dress, her hair, her everything, but it wasn’t because they found her lacking.

Leah was the most beautiful woman in this room, by far. No, it was because she was the one who had snagged me. They were trying to figure out how she had gotten me to marry her when so many of them had failed.

“Father.” Stopping dead in front of the old man’s wheelchair, I heard Leah’s startled breath.

I probably should have told her about him.

“I’d like to present you with my wife, Leah.” Next to me, Leah did a weird sort of curtsy, like she was greeting royalty. I couldn’t help it. I smiled. She was too adorable.

“Leah,” a hand was thrust out, and she glanced at me for permission before taking it.

“It’s a pleasureto meet you.”

Tightening his grip on her, he yanked her downward. Pressing his lips to her cheek. “Boris. You must call me Boris dear daughter.”