I wake up in a big, unfamiliar bed. My face is wet and clammy and a big drool stain covers the pillow. I groan, stretching.
Arsen’s gone.
His side of the bed’s still warm though. I roll over there and breathe in his smell. It’s earthy and spicy. I shouldn’t like it, but I do.
I shouldn’t like any of this, but god, that was a really good night’s sleep.
None of this feels right. I barely got a glimpse at this house when Arsen marched me through last night, but now I’m supposed to live here. I don’t have any of my things, none of my clothes or my toiletries, and I have no idea when any of that will show up.
But all of that’s just a minor problem compared to what I need to do right now.
I use the bathroom, splash water in my face, and gather my courage. I can scale walls into the backyards of broken-down manufacturing plants. I can squeeze through drainage pipes and crawl on my belly in mud.
I can handle calling my mother.
“Did you come home last night?” she asks, sounding worried.
“I slept out.” I glance at the clock. It’s a little past nine in the morning, which means she’s probably been fretting for hours. “I’m sorry, I should’ve left a note. It was a last-minute thing.”
“Are you alright?”
“I’m totally fine.”
I open my mouth to spill it, but she speaks first.
“It’s good, you’re going out. Honestly, Lena, I know it hasn’t been easy on you, with staying home to take care of me and working all the time. I keep thinking you’re young and you should be living while you can. It won’t last forever.”
“Mama, I don’t mind, you know that.”
“I know, sweetheart, but I’m just saying, you don’t need to worry about me. I want you to be young, okay? Make bad decisions. Well, not too bad.”
Shit. I squeeze my eyes closed. How am I supposed to tell her now? “Actually, speaking of decisions.” I clear my throat. God, this is such a mess. I can’t bring myself to tell her, but I can’t keep it a secret. “Something happened. I mean, something came up, and there are going to be… changes.”
“Changes?”
“To our lives. I mean, to your life too. It’s good, actually.”
“Lena, are you sure you aren’t in trouble?”
Not even a little bit.
“I know this is going to sound crazy, but I got married last night. His name is Arsen, and he’s going to help take care of us. This is a good thing, Mama, I promise. Dad won’t have to work anymore and he’ll take care of your bills. You can get the in-home help you really need. You can focus on getting well.” I’m rambling a little bit and I know it, but she hasn’t said anything and it’s freaking me out. “Are you still there?”
“I’m here. It just sounded like you said… you got married.” She laughs lightly. “But this is a prank, right?”
“No, it’s not a prank. His name is Arsen—”
“You married someone last night? In the middle of the night without telling anyone?”
“Yes, but—”
“And now you’re telling me that he’s going to take care of us financially? Lena, you have to know how that sounds.”
I stare up at the ceiling then down at the beautiful and expensive rug. It sounds exactly how it is.
“I’m safe. I promise. And you’re going to be safe too. It’s just… I’m not coming home.”
“What are you saying?”
“I moved in with him. It’s this place out in Roland Park—”
“That’s on the other side of the moon! Are you insane?”
“It’s just on the edge of the city, Mama, not that far away at all. Fifteen-minute drive at most.”
“Twenty in traffic. I’m calling the police.”
“Mama!”
“No, I’m calling. You’ve been kidnapped. Is he listening right now? Hey, bastard, you will not traffic my daughter, do you hear me?!”
I grimace and start pacing. “I’m not being trafficked. Seriously, I’m okay.”
“I’m going to hunt you down, you asshole—”
“Mama, stop it! You’re sick!”
“I’m going to cut out your fucking tongue and feed you your own severed prick!”
“Mama!” She goes on like that for a little while longer until I convince her that I’m alone, nobody is forcing me, and this was my choice. I can tell she’s extremely confused and unhappy, but at least she agrees not to call the cops until we’ve had a chance to sit down and talk.
I just hope that’s going to be soon.
I’m exhausted and drained when I finally work up the nerve to shuffle out of the bedroom. Hunger and the smell of coffee calls to me like a siren’s song. The house isn’t so creepy during the day at least. It’s old and creaky, but there’s a lot of charm. Original details like wood paneling and hand-carved banisters on the stairs make it obvious this place was well-loved. I survey the nearby rooms, unable to help my curiosity, but they’re nothing special. Two guest rooms, a laundry room, and an office that looks like it’s never used.
“There you are, my dear. I was starting to wonder when you’d get out of bed.”
I yelp as I step back into the hall. I feel like I was just caught breaking and entering, but this is supposed to be my own house. “Sorry. I’m sorry. The doors weren’t locked—”
The older woman smiles at me. She’s standing at the top of the staircase with poofy, dyed red hair and a casual outfit of slacks and a navy button-down. “Feel free to look around. It’s your house, after all.”
“Aren’t there renovations? Arsen said something about off-limits areas?”
She waves that off and beckons for me to follow. “Don’t kick down any locked doors and you’ll be fine. Are you hungry, dear? We haven’t had a woman in the house in quite some time.”
That grabs my curiosity. I want to keep exploring, but I don’t know anything about this place or about Arsen himself, and I realize this woman might be able to tell me a thing or two. “How long have you, uh, lived here?”
“Worked here,” she corrects. “I’m Maud, head of house services. You’ll meet the rest of the staff over the next few days, I’m sure.” She leads me into a spacious and recently redone kitchen. I don’t know why I found the place so creepy last night. Right now, it’s downright inviting. A big fireplace crackles, and antique tiles outline the gorgeous original mantel.
Maud sits me down and serves me breakfast. It’s way too much. Strawberry pancakes, French toast, cereal, toast, bacon, and a corn muffin. Plus rich, dark coffee, which is really my focus.
“You said there haven’t been women here in a while?”
“Arsen’s a very private man. If he has girlfriends, we don’t know about them.” Maud lingers for a moment, smiling down at me. “Everything’s okay?”
“Everything’s great. Thank you so much?”
“My pleasure, dear. It’s the job. If you need anything at all, come find me. Don’t be shy about it.” Then she walks off and leaves me alone in the kitchen as I try to dig into the literal feast she put in front of me.
I don’t manage to eat even half of what she made, but everything’s incredible, especially the French toast. I slurp coffee and lean back in a padded breakfast nook overlooking a backyard practically bursting with flowers. Sunlight slants beautifully through old, thick glass, and I feel like a different person.
I’m at peace. Or at least my head’s quiet for once. Normally, I’d be cleaning up from breakfast and doing laundry or washing dishes or whatever needed to be done back home right about now while also getting myself mentally prepared for another long night shift at the club. Except now I don’t work there, and apparently, I have staff to do all my other chores. Which leaves me with no responsibilities for the first time… ever, probably.
I keep trying to make sense of everything as I sneak away from the kitchen and start wandering the house. A few hours slip past in a blur. I’m in my element, exploring the place like it’s a deep, dark jungle. Room after room passes and I poke my head into them all. A parlor, a gaming room, another kitchen. Sitting rooms, a living room, even a full movie theater. There are strange little hallways with empty rooms, and odd little staircases that lead to attic storage spaces. The whole building is like a maze littered with odd turns and corners.
It’s like heaven for a person like me. I’m lost instantly, and I love it.
Somehow, this is supposed to be my house. I’m Arsen’s wife and the mother of his child. Only problem is, I don’t know him at all. When I asked what he does for a living, he said something about computer chips.
But that’s clearly bullshit.
He kills people. I watched it happen. Except there’s no way he’s just some common hitman. That probably earns decent money, but not this kind of wealth.
Not secluded mansion kind of money.
So it’s something else then. I have ideas and guesses. Organized crime, obviously, but how deep? And how far up the chain of command?
My head’s buzzing with possibilities when I walk down a narrow hallway. It ends with a heavy door, and for the first time since coming here, I can’t get through.
“Locked?” I say to myself, trying the handle again. I lean my shoulder into it, but it doesn’t budge. I listen for anything on the other side and there’s only silence. I smell something earthy and oddly organic, but I can’t figure out what it is. I kneel down and stare at the gap between the bottom and the floor, and there are only shadows on the other side.
“Lose something?”
I slam my head on the door and groan. “Shit,” I say, rolling onto my butt.
Arsen’s standing at the other end of the hall. He’s got a strange, intense look on his face. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You can’t sneak up on me like that.” I rub my forehead and push myself to my feet.
“I didn’t realize you were going to start licking the floor.”
“I wasn’t licking anything.”
“What were you doing down there then?”
“I was—” I realize how bad this looks and cross my arms over my chest. “Licking the floor. I love the taste of old wood.”
“You love the taste of my wood.” He smirks at me. “That door’s locked for a reason. Everything past there is stripped down. Rusty nails, loose boards, all that good stuff. Old house and whatever.”
I decide to ignore the crass dad joke. “I guess this is the off-limits part?”
“You really are a curious girl, aren’t you?”
He has no freaking clue.
“I met your housekeeper. She was nice.”
“Good. I pay her enough to make sure she’s extremely kind.”
“When do I get a full tour?” I gesture at the door behind me.
“Never. Forget about that part of the house.” He comes toward me. I catch a whiff of something smoky wafting off him. “I know that locked door is going to drive you insane, but forget it exists.”
“That’s going to be hard.” I step closer to him and sniff a few times. “Why do you smell like a bonfire?”
“Work.”
“Lots of burning rubble in the computer chip business?”
“Yes. And no.” He puts one hand on my hip and the other snakes up my back. I let out a surprised whimper when he grips my hair. “Are you going to make my life difficult, little thief?”
“I’m not a thief. And probably.”
“You ask too many questions.”
“And you act too stupidly mysterious. How’s a computer chip guy afford a house like this?”
He’s smirking as he dips down and brushes his lips against my neck. I groan and try to push him away, but that’s like trying to move a mountain.
“You’re too clever.”
“And you’re way too shady. Remember when I saw you murder a guy?”
“I assumed we wouldn’t talk about that again.”
“Arsen. Who did I marry?”
He lets out a low grumble in the back of his throat. “I’ll tell you, but you have to give me something in return.”
“That’s not really the basis for a reasonable relationship.”
“We don’t have one of those.”
“Fine. What do you want?”
“I brought some of your clothes over. I want to watch you get changed.”
I laugh stupidly before realizing he’s not kidding. “That’s flattering and also a total red flag. I don’t want to exchange sexual favors for basic information about my husband.”
“And yet here we are.”
“You just want to watch?”
“That’s all. I just want to watch.”
“Weird. But no touching. Deal?”
“Deal.” He grips my hair tighter. “I like your nose ring.”
“Thanks?”
Then he lets me go. I slip past him and he lightly pats my ass. I try to swat him back, but he’s already grinning and following me back to his bedroom.
True to his word, the weirdo sits in a big leather chair in the corner of the room and crosses one leg. My old gym bag is sitting on the bed stuffed with a lot of my things. “How’d you get this anyway?”
“Your mother sent it over. She’s a nice woman.”
My eyes go wide. “You talked to her?”
“Briefly. She made me swear I’m not pimping you out. Her words.”
I groan and cover my face. “She thinks I’m getting trafficked.”
“If only.”
“Don’t be a creep.”
He shrugs and gestures at me. “I’m waiting.”
“God, this is weird.” I pick out underwear, a sports bra, my favorite baggy long-sleeve shirt, and leggings. “You’ve seen me naked. I don’t know why I’m nervous.”
“Because you know I’m studying you.”
“Please don’t use that word again. I’m not your research subject.”
“But you are. I have to learn everything about my new wife. Take off your clothes, Lena.”
Well, fucking shit. For whatever reason, I’m extremely turned on, which makes it easy at least. I tear off the big t-shirt I’m wearing and when I turn my back on him, he scolds me and makes me turn back around.
“Slower,” he commands.
“Don’t be so bossy. This is how I get dressed.”
“Not when I’m around. Slower, Lena, and let me see your body.”
Fuuuuck.
My nipples are rock hard. My cheeks turn bright pink. Arsen’s looking at me like he can’t see anything else. That man is a freaking golden god and looks like a marble statue covered in ink and scars, and somehow, I’m the one getting all the attention. I should be down on my knees worshipping him. Or at least licking his very thick, very wonderful cock.
Instead, all he wants is to watch me take off my clothes.
I do as instructed. Because damn, the attention feels good. I get fully naked and wish I had time to shave myself a little this morning. I never go full bald, but a casual little shape-up would be nice. He licks his lips at the sight of my reddish pubes and maybe he doesn’t mind a wild lady. Good to know.
“I’m a little cold,” I admit, trembling with excitement. I want him to come over here and grab my hair again. I want him to kiss me hard enough to make my lips bleed. I am definitely a fucked-up freak.
“Go ahead.”
I put on my panties first. I let him look at my ass when I pull them up. He seems to like that. I put on the leggings next, then start on the sports bra.
“I love your fucking tits,” he whispers. “Your pink nipples. Your perfect handfuls.”
I cup myself, frowning. “I always thought they were kind of small.”
“They suit your body perfectly.”
“Good to know.” I feel flushed and happy as I get the bra on.
Once I’m fully clothed, I sit on the edge of the bed. My heart’s going wild and I’m afraid I might pass out.
He bites his lower lip.
God, he’s so fucking hot.
“Show’s over,” I tell him. “Now it’s your turn.”
“I am the patron of the Armenian Brotherhood.”
I stare at him. He stares right back. When it’s clear he isn’t going to elaborate, I break the silence. “Only some of those words mean anything to me.”
“What part don’t you get?”
“Well, what’s a patron and what’s the Armenian Brotherhood?”
“We are the largest Armenian organized crime organization in America. My family has been in control of Baltimore and the outlying suburbs for three generations now. This mansion is the heart of our power.”
“So you’re like… criminal royalty?” My heart’s racing into my throat. I feel lightheaded and dizzy. This can’t be real. It really can’t be happening.
“That’s right, baby,” he says, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees. He’s a vision of power. His broad shoulders strain his suit jacket and his dark hair’s pushed back in waves. “I’m the fucking king of this city, and you’re my new queen.”
