Seductive Salvation (Book One of The Mafia Heiress Series)

Chapter Thirteen

Valeria

Things had been distant between Sergei and I. I still didn't understand why he was being so cold to me after everything we'd been through. I tried talking to him but he practically ignored me; not even Amarissa knew what was going on with him. I kept to myself, mostly staying in my room and reading. Ivan was still here and it bothered me a lot. He was getting ready to leave on some vacation and was planning on taking me which Sergei didn't protest. I was that poor heartbroken girl from all of those crappy romance movies where everyone knew it wouldn't work out. A knock on the door rang through my silent room.

"Valeria, have you finished packing?" I rolled my eyes as Ivan spoke. "We don't have time for you to be a child, my dear. I have a schedule to keep and we have to leave for the airport in two hours."

"I'm not going with you." I stood up and folded my arms across my chest in protest.

"Valeria, don't make this more difficult. I really don't want to mess up your pretty little face right before vacation." He smiled at me with that disgusting smile that made my skin crawl.

"If you touch me, you will seriously regret it!" I glared at him as he just kept smiling, walking closer to me.

"Valeria, please be a good girl and pack. I'm not even going to be with you the entire trip. It's more for your benefit than mine." 

"Why do I have to leave at all? I don't want to leave." I tried to plead with him even though I knew it wouldn't work.

"Sergei said to take you away because he didn't you want here anymore...." I felt my heart twinge from the pain of hearing his words. "Oh, you poor girl. You thought he would always want you? You thought he was going to be your happy ending?" Ivan stroked my cheek softly and then pushed me onto the bed. "Did you really think he would want an Italian whore?" He smacked me across the face harder than he ever had before. I felt my lip open and blood roll down my chin. I screamed out in pain and Ivan laughed. The door swung open and Sergei walked in, a worried look plastered on his face. 

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Ivan?" Sergei looked me over a couple of times as he pushed Ivan into the wall, slamming his head hard. "I didn't tell you that you could hurt her. That wasn't in my instructions. Hurt her again and I'll have someone else take care of the problem." All of the sudden I was a problem? "Get her on the damn plane and get the fuck out of my country." Sergei looked at me angrily and with such hatred in his eyes. My eyes filled with tears as the man I had fallen in love with walked out of my room, slamming the door behind him.

"Finish packing and let's get the fuck out of here." Ivan walked into my closet and grabbed the rest of my clothes, putting them into the empty suitcases. "I'm sorry that I hurt you. Sometimes you just make me so angry. If I hadn't been so cross with you maybe our relationship would have worked out better."

"Ivan, we didn't have a relationship. I was your play toy so please don't try and change the facts. You got what you wanted from me regardless of if I was willing or not." Why did he all of the sudden feel so guilty about what he did to me? "Why do you care now anyways?" I asked him as I zipped up the last suitcase.

"It doesn't matter." He pulled the suitcases off the bed and rolled them towards the door. "We need to get on the plane and leave. Grab whatever else you need and meet me at the car." He opened the door and headed downstairs. I walked into the bathroom and packed the makeup that Sergei had gotten me, the jewelry he had given me, and the picture we had taken cuddled up in his bed while making silly faces. I felt the tears fall down my cheeks silently as I held the picture to my heart. I grabbed a pen from my desk and wrote on the back of it.

Sergei-

I'm sorry for whatever I did that is causing you to send me away. I wanted to tell you in person but you've been avoiding me. I love you and I forgive you for breaking my heart. 

Love always,

Valeria

I grabbed my bag and purse, looked around the room one more time, and forever walked out of the room that had given me so many memories in the short time I was here, both the good and the bad. I quietly closed the door behind and walked down the stairs to meet Ivan. Amarissa was at the bottom waiting for me. I gave her a hug and handed her the picture, "please give this to him. Tell him that I forgive him." I wiped away the few tears that I had left.

"He loves you, Valeria. This isn't something that he wanted to do. His hand was forced and he had no choice."

"He always has a choice as long he reigns. He made his choice. I forgive him for making the choice that was clearly best for all of you and his people." I walked away from her and saw his figure walk out of his office. I glanced back at him for only a moment and our eyes met. I knew he would see the pain that filled mine. His were blank and empty. Men always get what they want and toss the poor woman who fell for them aside. It's written in history constantly. You would think I would have learned by now. I turned away from the man I loved and walked out of his life forever. 

As the car door closed, I heard yelling and shattering glass. I watched out of the car window as we left the only place I had truly ever felt at home.