Victor
The drive to the Marinos' manor made my head hurt. My mind raced with all the ways I could paint the walls of their home red, make their blood curdling screams echo throughout the dark forest. The thought alone fed the beast inside.
"I can feel your rage from here, Victor." Stephano said as he continued on his phone. "You can't act against your father's wishes."
"I am his only child. If I am to kill the entire pathetic family, I would probably only get a slap on the wrist."
"Or a bullet wound. You know how he gets." He glanced up from his phone, searching for a reaction. Sadly for him, he wouldn't get one. My hatred outweighed any rule placed to protect them.
"Fine. They will live today. But I will let them know that if they value their lives, they will never call me again." I hated to admit that Stephano had a point. With everything going on with the Petrovs, I can't risk making my father mad.
As the house came into view, the fire in me grew hotter. The thought of looking him in face only brought back memories better left buried. The car came to a stop in front of the house and we exited the car.
"Remember. Best behavior." Stephano said as he rung the doorbell.
"Consider me behav-", my sentence was cut short by the front door opening. Where I expected to find the treacherous man, I was met by a small woman. Too young to be Enzo's wife, maybe just a servant.
Her eyes reflected the moonlight like light on a steel blade. Her lips, as plump as a rose, looked inviting. Her hair framed her face, falling gracefully down her back. Her black dress hugged every curve of her body, stopping mid-thigh. My gaze lingered there longer than I wanted to admit. They filled the dress as if they strained the fabric. My mind couldn't help imagine what it would be like to spread them apart and taste her. The thought alone made my cock want to break free.
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Stephano clearing his throat. As my eyes returned up, I was met by her own. By the slight tint in her cheeks, she knew exactly where my eyes were.
"Oh um… Mr. Valentino. Please come in." My name felt like silk against her lips. I wanted to hear it again. "If you could please follow me to the dining hall." As she turned, I continued my examination. Her figure was delicate, but I couldn't shake the feeling it hid some strength.
"She seems fit. Maybe she's the one Enzo has trained", Stephano whispered. I kept my gaze ahead, not wanting to take my eyes off her.
"She'd probably be better. Being here is wasting time. Better to be in and out." I muttered as we came to a stop at a set of double doors. She opened them, revealing a large dining hall with a long wooden table and fireplace.
Enzo stoop from his seat to greet me though I didn't pay much attention to him. I watched as she pulled out my seat, taking in every movement her body made. Even after, I watched her do the same for Stephano. Stephano, in return, gave her an appreciative smile.
Don't look at her like that. I will rip your eyes out.
Even I was shocked by my own thoughts. I don't know what it was that made me want to have her all to myself. I needed to make this quick.
"Look, Enzo. I didn't come here for fucking dinner with you and your wife. Show me this pathetic 'recruit' so I can deny him and go on about my goddamn day." I spoke harshly, hoping to induce the fear needed to get my point across. My patience was running thin, not just for him, but for myself.
"I beg your pardon. I personally trained-" I scuffed at the comment, cutting him off.
"We all know anyone trained by Enzo Marino could be nothing but a failure." Saying his name alone felt like acid. The more I looked at his face, the more I wanted to rip it off. Enzo opened his mouth to speak but was cut short.
A flash of silver, straight across the table. I would have thought I imagined it if the evidence of it's existence wasn't wedged in the deer's head. From it's trajectory, there was only one person that could have thrown it. Her.
Her form was perfect. More impressively, she had never looked at her target. She knew her surroundings, where she stood, where her target was. Who was she? I looked at Enzo, and as if the look on his face wasn't enough, he answered my question
His recruit. His daughter. Iris Marino.
She stood by her father and it all became so clear. She may have gotten her looks from her mother but her eyes were her father's. Still, I couldn't keep my eyes off her. I wanted her more than ever now. She felt forbidden, and I fiend for her. I needed to know more.
Before long, we were in their library. I walked around her, wanting to take in every aspect of her I could. I asked questions, she answered them.
Obedient.
"Tattoos?" I asked, hoping she would give me one flaw to walk away and never see her again.
"None… yet." She answered, looking right at me. I resisted the urge to take her lips right then, bruising them from my roughness.
I walked over to Stephano and turned us so we were angled away. With her skills, she could probably read lips.
"Female, trained, speaks Russian and unmarked by the family sigil. She might be the one."
"Are you sure? She may be useful elsewhere." Stephano said before looking over his shoulder at her. It took everything in me not to break his neck.
"I'm sure. We'll get everyone else's opinion on it as well. If she is as good as she seems, they won't bat an eye at me choosing her." I turned to her before continuing. "Be ready in the morning. My men will be by to pick you up."
"So I'm in?" The failed attempt to hide the excitement in her voice almost made me consider Stephano's idea.
"Hell no. Not until you pass my test. New standards I've placed just for you. Feel special." I left the library with Stephano following.
Making our way out to the car, Staphano spoke. "I hope you know what you're doing."
Oh, I knew and I looked forward to seeing how the little cacciatrice will handle herself tomorrow. Only time will tell.