𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐞 || A Mafia Love Story

xiii

The road leading to Mr. Clark's farm was long and winding, taking them through lush pastures where the cows peacefully grazed. Marlee's face lit up with excitement as she spotted the cows in the distance, her gaze trailed to the goat pen closer to the house. The sun cast a warm glow over the picturesque setting, adding to the rustic charm of the place.

Viktor couldn't help but cast a quick glance in her direction, noticing with satisfaction how her teary eyes had now disappeared, replaced by a bright glow of happiness. As they crested the hill and reached the top, Mr. Clark's house came into view. Marlee quickly sprang out of the car, her enthusiasm palpable. Her sudden and hasty exit prompted a grumbled murmur from a somewhat disgruntled Viktor. He had intended to open the car door for her.

As the small girl sprinted around the corner, Viktor felt a pang of concern, his instinct telling him to call her back. But his calls went unheeded, and she continued her quick escape. With a sense of urgency, he walked towards where she had disappeared, his strides slightly hastened. Despite knowing that she was likely safe in this familiar place, he couldn't help but scan the surroundings, searching for any sign of her.

Finally, he rounded the corner, and there she was, eagerly knocking on Mr. Clarke's door. She was rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet, her impatience radiating off her small figure.

The sight of an elderly gentleman opening the door and pulling Marlee into a tight embrace caused Viktor to tense up, his jealousy rearing its ugly head. "Marlee, my girl!" the man exclaimed warmly. "It's been ages since I saw you! Are you here for me or the goats?" he jested playfully.

Marlee let out a light-hearted giggle at the elderly man's playful banter, her tone feigning indignation as she replied, "I'm here for both, Mr. Clark!"

Mr. Clarke's gaze shifted to the tall, brooding figure standing behind Marlee. He looked Viktor up and down with a sly grin, not missing a beat in his friendly banter. "And who is this grumpy gentleman?" he jested, his eyebrows dancing suggestively as he glanced back at Marlee. "A boyfriend, perchance?"

Marlee's reaction didn't go unnoticed by either Mr. Clarke nor Viktor. The elderly man chuckled softly, sensing her embarrassment, while Viktor couldn't help but feel a pang of pride at the sight of the rosy blush that spread across her cheeks.

"No?" Mr. Clarke teasingly retorted, his eyes dancing with amusement. "That blush on your face tells a different story, little one."

Marlee quickly shook her head, desperately trying to quell her flustered embarrassment, her cheeks still tinged with rosy warmth. "I'm saying hi to the goats!" she exclaimed before swiftly darting away towards the goat enclosure.

As she walked, she muttered quietly to herself, her frustration evident in her voice. "Who does Mr. Clark think he is, saying something like that? I'm here to see the goats, not to discuss boyfriends!"

Marlee's flustered state had not gone unnoticed by Viktor, who couldn't help but let out a low chuckle at the sight of her flushed cheeks. Caught up in his amusement, he momentarily forgot that Mr. Clark was still standing there.

Mr. Clark, being an old-fashioned man, sent a harsh glare towards Viktor, his kind smile vanishing as he scrutinized the young man. "What are your intentions with that girl, young man?!" he asked, his tone sharp and filled with protectiveness.

Viktor was taken aback by Mr. Clark's abrupt question, his thoughts momentarily flickering to darker impulses.  An impulsive thought of violence flared within him, a natural response to such opposition. However, he quickly tamped down on those darker instincts, reminding himself of Marlee's feelings for this man, knowing that harming him would cause her pain.

Viktor's face remained stoic, his expression completely unresponsive to Mr. Clark's question. Instead, he simply turned away and walked towards the goat enclosure where Marlee was, leaving the man stunned in his wake.

Once he found her, she was already crouched down inside the pen, her face glowing with a radiant smile as she gently rubbed the belly of one of the goats. The sunlight cast a golden glow over her hair, making her appear almost like a vision from a dream.

As Viktor looked down at her, he found himself utterly captivated by her beauty and glowing features.

Mr. Clark softly made his way to the pen, silently observing their interaction from the sidelines. As he watched, Viktor entered the goat pen while Marlee called out to him with excitement, urging him to pet her beloved goat named "Timmy." Despite her tug on his hand, Viktor stood frozen in place, his gaze fixated on her.

Mr. Clark stood nearby, a wry smile tugging at his lips as he witnessed Marlee's grumbling as she pulled on Viktor's hand, persistently trying to coax him into petting the animal.

As Mr. Clark stood to the side watching the interaction, he couldn't help but chuckle softly at the sight of the towering figure of Viktor, gently petting the little goat that Marlee was holding. Mr. Clark was aware that with his imposing size and strength, Viktor would have easily been able to resist Marlee's tugging and pull away. However, he found that the young man didn't even try to resist, he simply allowed her to guide his hand.

As Mr. Clark observed the situation unfolding before him, he couldn't help but notice the subtle changes in Viktor's demeanor whenever he looked at Marlee. The usually stoic and intimidating man softened his gaze, and his eyes seemed to always linger on her.

Mr. Clark chuckled softly to himself, amused by the unexpected tenderness he saw in the cold-hearted man. With a soft shake of his head, he decided to give them some privacy and quietly retreated, leaving them alone in the goat pen.