Fearless

Chapter Eleven

I found myself wondering around the corridors of the mansion, exploring my new home. I opened a few doors which lead to a sitting room, some kind of storage room and finally a library.  I happily walked in to look at the books... all Russian. Well that's no use! My watch buzzed. 'Come back to the office!' Well great...

I walked back to find most of the men had gone. It was just Viktor, the young man with a rather bloody nose and the elder gentleman. I could help but giggle when I saw the young man.. he looked a state and was probably contemplating how exactly he got beat up by a woman. I walked back to Viktor who seemed quite pleased that I had come back when told to and rewarded me with a kiss. The young man hissed when he saw.

"How can you kiss him if he kidnapped you?" He hissed. I smiled. "Because he gave me two options!" I chuckled, "the easy way... being the do as your told way and I'll be nice or the hard way... being the start causing trouble and you'll get hurt or even a bullet in the head!" He laughed, "so you're scared of getting hurt." I shook my head, finding myself getting angry again. "I was scared of losing my virginity in an extremely painful matter... but because I chose his 'easy way' he took his time and didn't hurt me!" I exploded. I then realised that I just screamed that and covered my hands over my mouth cursing my own hotheadedness!

The elder gentleman clapped his hands. "I really like you, you two make a good match!" He took my hand and kissed it, "here's to another good year!" He shook Viktor's hand and he left, the young gentlemen trudging behind. "That was Antonio... head of one of New York's biggest Mafia and his son Luca.... don't worry about the punch Antonio told me it might teach Luca to keep his mouth shut next time," Viktor laughed, "Come here beautiful!"

He kissed me and then said, "thanks to you we've kept the alliance for another year, it means more work for our ever expanding business." Ivan walked in with a tiny menu. "It can't be lunch time already?" I exclaimed looking at the time...10:30am. "It's snack time, we were so busy enjoying ourselves yesterday that we never got round to the mid morning snack!" He said excitedly. We looked down at the small menu. These guys like to do things in threes! There was a choice of tea cakes like yesterday, a slice of carrot cake or some homemade biscuits. Although all were tempting, the tea cakes from yesterday called to me.

After ordering the tea cakes and explaining in detail about how I like my tea... to the point where I got my laptop and googled H.M. British Tea Colour Chart and showed the picture to him pointing out Peanut Safari (the dark caramel colour) and said that's what my tea should look like! Tea is the only thing I am ever fussy about. Thankfully my tea came back the correct colour and tasting perfect.

"I talked to Antonio about our planned trip to New York... he's very excited, it's been a while since I visited him on his turf and he can't wait for you to meet his wife and niece," Viktor explained drinking yet more coffee and stealing one of my tea cakes. "Speaking about children, my sisters are coming here soon... Emilia I've talked about she's 6 and Sofia she's 13... a fun age indeed," he explained. I laughed taking a bite out of a tea cake.

"You obviously like children but... would you have them in the future?" He questioned. I nodded, blushing that he was thinking that far into the future. "Ive always told myself that I'd want to be married first though..." I said not really thinking. He smiled and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "I can arrange that... I told you yesterday you'd make a good wife," he chuckled. I shook my head. "I am not getting married at the age of 19 thank you very much!" I refused.

He chuckled lightly. There was a knock on the door. Two young girls walked in. The youngest spoke in Russian and ran up to Viktor. The eldest staying near the door. She was wearing a dress but I could tell she hated it. I gave an awkward smile and waved. She walked over. "They speak English although Emilia not that well which you can understand," he said giving the little one a big hug. I sat down at the big table, as did the eldest sister. "I'm Annabelle," I said holding out my hand. She gave me hers to shake, "Sofia," she replied bluntly. "I can tell you're unhappy about the dress..." I laughed. "You think?" She laughed back.

"He's very particular about clothing isn't he... when the maids brought in the clothes yesterday there were no pants or anything, I nearly died when I saw there were no jeans!" I continued. Her eyes lit up when I said the word 'jeans'. "I love my jeans but he never lets me wear them in public... only on days when I've not got lessons or anything which is rare, I usually stick to skirts but when someone new comes he makes me wear these awful dresses!" She complained. I was loving the gossip.

"Dresses can be made to look less poofy princess and more nice with the right accessories, or we could always go shopping... he's taking me to New York if I learn Russian, if you give me your dress sizes I'll sneak you back some less girly girl clothes and stuff!" I said with a cheeky wink. "Really!" She squealed. Seems I made a friend.

Little Emilia came over and said hello in the cutest little accent ever. After that we got some paper and pens and stuff and Sofia and I played with her drawing pictures and eating tea cakes. It was nice. When Viktor said Sofia was at a difficult age I thought she was going to be difficult but I think I hit the nail on the head with the whole she's a tom boy thing. Emilia decided to start teaching me random words in Russian not really telling me what they meant but I didn't really mind and then it came to lunch time.

The girls went off with smiles leaving me and Viktor in the office by ourselves once more. "What was she trying to make me say?" I asked. "I like cats," Viktor replied laughing, "I'm glad they like you, I haven't seen Sofia become friends with someone that quick... what did you say to her?" I got up from the table and walked back over to him. "I noticed she doesn't like wearing dresses," I replied whilst sitting back on his lap. He quietly said ahhh before Ivan rushed in shouting in Russian.

Viktor shot up, taking me along with him running to a heavily guarded large double door in what looked to be the main entrance. Entrance... I looked up to Viktor, I could run but once again even if I did I wouldn't get far. But what scared me the most was the fact that I didn't want to run away. I was quite content to be here in his arms despite everything. He gently put me down before whispering, "can I trust you?" I nodded with a smile and gently kissed him.

The guards opened the doors to reveal men fighting one another... an attack like he said last night, and like I said last night they'd attack during the day. Though it was fierce with gun fire all over the place I could see it was completely one sided. Within a matter of minutes most of the attackers were either dead or lying on the floor with a gun to their heads. Viktor walked from the mansion to the snow surrounding the grounds. A man was brought in front of him held by Markov and had a gun pointed to his head.

They began talking in Russian, Viktor sounded infuriated. They began shouting and shouting, Viktor getting angrier and angrier... Markov gave him to gun that was pointing to the mans head. The shouting continued, I thought Viktor was just holding the gun to look scary however, with a sinister chuckle and a loud BANG... the man was dead. I think I could've got over it but he began continually shooting the mans lifeless body, then moving a long and shooting  every single man captured by his guards. I was frozen to my place, tears beginning to roll down my face because the man I thought only acted tuff because of his job and his family actually killed for sport.

He slowly walked back throwing the gun to the now crimson red snow. My eyes going fuzzy and clouded as I gasped for air until I felt myself hit the ground, leaving my mind in the darkness...