Faithful

Chapter Two

I woke up with my head on Viktor's chest all squished up to him on my single bed. Last night was hilarious, the bed creaked every time we made love and we made love like 4 times... "Good morning," he sighed happily. I giggled when I saw the clock, "more like good afternoon!" It was 1pm! I got out of bed and put on my satin dressing gown to cover my very naked body before I headed downstairs. "I have no food!" I laughed when I opened my fridge, so I gave up and made us both a coffee.

"I'll go shopping in a bit," I sighed passing the still naked Viktor his coffee, "put some clothes on will you." He gave me a quick kiss before saying, "why... I want to make love to you again!" I rolled my eyes and grabbed his ass... he's really got a good ass! "Since when have you been grabbing my ass?" He chuckled. "Since I haven't had sex in three months," I teased. "God I've missed you!" He groaned, picking me up and taking me back upstairs. About another hour of bliss had passed before he said, "I have to go... they'll be wondering where I am." I kissed him before saying, "tell them all I say hi and that It won't be too much longer until we can all go home... I just want a few dates with you since we're in PARIS for god sake!"

He kissed me passionately before leaving but not before handing me a huge wad of cash. "Go treat yourself!" He whispered and left me to my little house. I got dressed and locked up, ready to do my weekly shop with my little wicker basket. I went round through the small neighbourhood to the boulangerie (my local bakers... it's way cooler calling it the French way), then to the butchers, the greengrocer and finally the little corner shop to buy milk and bits and bobs.

I quickly went back to my house and put everything away and wondered what to buy with the cash he gave me. I put a black dress on and then my Louboutin's, put the cash in my bag, caught a taxi and went shopping! I loved it, I managed to go shopping for some clothes but had to find a normal shop rather than something really expensive. After a long trip and many coffees I'd finally decided on a short white dress with three quarter length sleeves and a white straw floppy hat. I got changed into them and placed my dress in my bag, caught the taxi home and went to see Josie to show off my new dress.

I knocked on her door, knowing she may take a while I turned around to look at the beautiful blue sky. I heard a gasp when the door opened but not Josie... it was a man's voice. Then I heard Jodie's gasp. I turned around to see her. "Annabelle, you look beautiful!" She exclaimed giving me a big hug, "but you shouldn't have spent the money!" I laughed. "I needed cheering up anyway and it was so lovely I couldn't have left it in the shop!" I explained. The man stood behind her was young probably around my age.

"Ah forgive my rudeness," she laughed, "Pierre this is Annabelle my lovely tenant, Annabelle this is Pierre my grandson... he's the same age as you you know." Uh oh... I can see where she was trying to get at. "It's lovely to meet you Pierre," I greeted holding out my hand to shake his. Josie had by now dragged me inside for a cup of tea. "The pleasure is all mine mademoiselle," he said softly, "my grandmother never told me her new tenant was a beautiful young lady." I ignored his apparent flirting and stuck my eyes to my tea. "Annabelle why have you spent money on a pair of Louboutin's?"

I laughed. "I haven't Josie," I explained, "they're the remnants of another life." She said ohhh and got comfortable on her favourite chair. "Another life?" Pierre chuckled, "what kind of other life allows a girl to have a very expensive pair of shoes?" I sighed and looked away. "You're safe here Annabelle, Pierre won't say a word about you're whereabouts to anyone so you can tell him," she whispered. I looked at her and smiled.

"It doesn't matter Josie... I've made up my mind and I'll be going back to him soon," I apologised, "I'm sorry." She nearly dropped her tea. "You cannot... he's a very bad man and you know he's dangerous!" She insisted. I shook my head. "Even so I love him and I'm going to marry him," I continued, "he visited me last night... he'd been watching me since I ran away, he knew everything and I was glad." I put my tea down and got up and hugged her. "I am positively fine," I smiled, "I belong to him and he wants to take care of me, for the rest of my life."

I got up and was about to leave the door when Josie told Pierre to stop me. "Annabelle," Josie said as I turned round to look at her after Pierre blocked the door, "I would like it if you became apart of our family." What? "What do you mean Josie?" I asked, confused by it all. "I have twelve very handsome grandsons including Pierre and I think you'd make a lovely wife for one of them my dear," she sang. I nearly chocked. "Josie I'm engaged... to the head of the Bratva... do you know what he would do to you, your family and myself if I turned around and said 'sorry Viktor but I've had a better offer'!" I argued.

"And that is why he is no match for you," she debated, "he will hurt you." I shook my head. "He hasn't hurt me yet," I debated. She got up from her chair and came towards me, taking my hands and giving me her sweet smile that she does when she knows I'm lying about something. "Annabelle there's a reason myself and the police actually believed you were running away from an abusive marriage," she explained, "and that was the detailed description of you being raped and hit by him."

"The rape was once and only once... he never did it since," I cried. "Annabelle you know as well as I do that's because you consented every time after because you couldn't bare the pain of that again," she sighed. Was she right? It sounded right. I can't quite put my finger on it but I want to believe every word she says but at the same time... someone is screaming in the back of my head. Shouting don't fall for it! Just what is Josie trying to do?

Realisation hits me like a brick wall. "You're trying to change my train of thoughts," I uttered, "to use them to your advantage, aren't you?" She let go of my hands. "AREN'T YOU?" I shouted. She gave a smile I hadn't seen on her face before... a sly smirk. "Wh... who are you? What do you want from me?" I bombarded her with the questions. She slowly sat me back down on the chair I was sat on not long ago and put my undrank tea back into my hands. She sighed and encouraged me to drink, I gave in and took a large sip of the tea.

I sat in silence, not looking up at her and just drinking my tea. "Could I please go back to my house..." I spoke calmly, "I don't feel that we'll all of a sudden." She gave a light chuckle. "That's the sedative my dear," she confessed. "What?" I cried, standing up to try and escape but dizziness over came me. A pair of large hands grabbed me and put my back on the chair, carefully holding me up so I don't fall down.

"My grandsons are all good and handsome men, they would all make fine husbands and you a lovely wife... just go to sleep and relax," she whispered. "But... who... who are you," I stuttered, oblivion taking over. "My husband was the head of the Corsican Mafia... now my eldest son is in charge, I've been looking for a girl suitable for my lovely grandsons and so far you are the only one I have found my dear," she explained though the words were quickly becoming fuzzy and slurred in my mind.

"Josie... listen.... your... your grandsons don't want me," I pleaded, "please... I'm a monster... and if they are anything like you, they deserve much better than me." My eyes were beginning to close but I could tell she was smiling. "Annabelle... your kind heart and modesty is what makes you perfect for them," she muttered although I was sure it was my hearing that was being the issue. "Josie, believe me.... given the opportunity you'll see the creature I became in his clutches..." I said, finally giving into the tiredness surrounding me. I slipped into the darkness and prayed for him to find me and take me home... before I find myself with twelve men and a woman who wants one of them to marry one...