Owning the Mafia Don

Proserpina

I sat down to the simple meal that had been arranged for us. Under the watchful eye of a few of Siek Toth’s gun-toting men, Phillippe and I ate the food.

We were served by an old woman in her traditional dress and I stared at her heavily embroidered blouse and the skirts that swished about her as she moved. In another life, I might have admired the intricate thread work, lovingly crafted. But now, I sat like a zombie, staring at it without it really registering in my mind.

The Kapustnica she had ladled out for us in large bowls was a delicious sauerkraut soup. I remember having read that it is one of the most warming and soothing Slovakian dishes. Although my mind was weary and I was bone-tired after the flight, I came alive to the rich flavours of the soup. It was a hearty mixture of sauerkraut, dried mushrooms, sliced sausage, and onions. Served with a dollop of sour cream, it was a complete meal, hearty and wholesome. Phillippe had more portions than I could count.

One part of my brain was already thinking of how this sumptuous combination of nutmeg, smoked sausage, spices like paprika, garlic, and baked bread which was sure to get the taste buds of my family tingling when I was back home. I promised myself that I would try out the recipe when I was in our mansion, safe and sound, with Lucien beside me.

Phillippe looked up, a satisfied smile on his face. “Good.’ He said and wiped his lips cheerfully.

Despite myself, the corners of my mouth lifted. He looked so happy.

*

But we had the unpleasant business now, of requesting Toth for help. I had caught on to his tacit disapproval when he had come to receive us. But I was desperate. I needed his help and I was prepared to beg for it, if necessary.

There was one very important task to be taken care of before that, though.

I wanted to see my dearest friend, Handsome James, even if it meant that I had to go through the rather unpleasant barrier that Aiyana would surely erect.

I sighed.

First, of course, I wanted to reassure my children that we were well. Smiling softly, I reached for the phone and dialled the number. The excited sound of Ria’s voice came over the line almost before the first ring had been completed.

‘Mumma!’ she cried,’ Mumma!!!’

“Poppet, why are you awake?’ I asked although I knew that the twins were bound to be up and waiting for my call.

It was probably midnight, I thought worriedly.

And hot on the heels of that thought came another: they were not kids in some way, they had become tiny adults.

Piers must have grabbed the phone.

“Mumma, are you alright?’ he asked, anxiously.

I smiled and leaned against the wall, staring out at the winter landscape, and began to relax as I spoke to my oldest children.

*

Lucien.

He stared at the large figure that stepped into the room.

“So you are awake, at last, my husband,” said the woman, for it was a large woman who was approaching him.

She moved forward and the light from the grimy overhead skylight fell upon her face.

Iron grey hair in thin braids, hung on the shoulders, greasy and unkempt. She was older than he had thought, around his age, if not more. And the largeness of her figure was because of the clothes she had draped over her body, layers of them. Her face was weathered and lined and there was a prominent sprinkling of hair on her upper lip.

She seemed to have on several underskirts, all of which had probably been clean a long, long time ago.

Lucien knew that it was called the rubas, he remembered absently, from having been in bed with several local women years ago. At that time, Siek Toth had kept him supplied with an endless stream of women when he stayed here at Slovakia, women he used brutally all night long for his pleasure.

That was a long while ago.

*

Warily, he watched the woman as she came closer.

The embroidered blouse had been white at one time; it had become dirty and brown now. But her apron, scarf, and bodice as well as the mentieka, the fur coat looked even shabbier.

As she came closer, he saw the dull gleam in her eyes, the light of a person who had captured a fascinating object. Her brown, crooked teeth with gaps between them, were revealed when she smiled coyly at him.

“Ah, my husband, you have come back to me.’ She reached out to touch his chest, a look of profound longing on her face and he felt revolted, and yet, a strange sense of pity arose at this pathetic creature.

But when she reached up to caress his face, he struck her hand away.

She flinched and her expression altered. She was transformed in a split second and the change was dramatic and frightening.

All at once, she was like a virago, raging, lashing out, striking him across the face and he fell back onto the bed, physically weakened after his near bout with death.

As he raised his hand to his throbbing cheek, she went on, snarling, a look of vileness on her face

‘Listen to me, Stefan Josef Hummel. You listen carefully.’

She took a threatening step toward him and he felt his nostrils flare. The woman had not washed herself in months. A quick vision of Proserpina, studiously clean, came to his mind.

“if you think you can go back to your sl*t, Brita, you can forget her.’

She moved closer and he stared up into her face, aware that the woman was crazed.

“Listen carefully, Stefan. YOU ARE MINE,’ she hissed.

And she brought her face to his and kissed him on the mouth, wet and grotesque in her desire.

*

Proserpina

I sat across the table from Siek Toth

The man had come when I had pleaded with his guards that I should be allowed to talk to him. It had taken quite an effort. The men guarding us seemed to have no understanding of English.

Finally, Toth appeared, looking irritated.

Now I spoke, choosing my words carefully.

‘I understand how foolish you think I am.’ I said humbly,’ But I KNOW my husband is alive, I can feel it.’

The warlord looked away; exasperation writ large on his face. He met the eyes of the man who had accompanied him, a thick-set man with black hair and small eyes who watched me unblinkingly from behind thick glasses.

‘Please help me.’ I whispered and this time, I did not try to stop the tears from falling.

“Please, if it had been your wife searching for you…’

And then I lowered my head, weeping softly as Phillippe stood, his warm, strong hand on my shoulder.

*

Siek Toth watched the young woman sitting before him. She was not a classic beauty; her mouth was too wide, the lips too plump for his taste.

But he could see what had kept a man like Lucien Delano captivated. That look of innocence and purity, the seductiveness of her body as she moved without doing it consciously. The sway of her large hips, the thrust of her full breasts.

His eyes flickered over her. She had a stunning figure, not a slim, rail-thin one as was the trend, but a fullness about her hips and breasts that could make a man reach out for more…

He shook his head and looked away.

Worse, when she pleaded with those cocoa-coloured brown eyes melting in sorrow, he wanted to do anything in his power for her.

The woman was a temptress, but one who was unaware of the strength of her seductive power.

He shook his head.

He knew the Boss. The man had had a sexual drive that left women gasping at the end of the night. Lucien Delano must be at least two decades older than this young girl, thought Siek Toth curiously, rubbing the tip of his forefinger against his cheek as he mulled over her appeal.

Finally, his voice a rough rasp, he grunted,

‘Ano. Yes. I will help.’

And felt a jolt of desire spear him unexpectedly as she looked up, eyes moist, plump lips trembling.

The woman was dynamite, he thought, feeling himself harden. A Siren from those old times when men were cast under the spell of such women and died for them.

“Thank you…’She whispered in happiness and relief, and he raised his eyes to meet the cold, hard black eyes of the youth standing behind her, his fists clenched.

The young boy had read his expression clearly, and Toth felt his face flush guiltily.

*

Siek Toth had wondered why Delano’s wife had brought the boy along. Now he understood.

The youth was dangerous.

He already had the makings of an assassin.

A born killer of the future.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

But it was evident that he was devoted to the woman who sat beside him, crying softly.

And he would lay down his life to protect the lovely woman sitting before him.