Chapter 8

• Xander’s POV
• When I woke up the next day, I went downstairs and found Rick sitting in the lounge room.
• “Tell all the men to gather in the dining hall!.” I instructed him. I went to the kitchen and made my coffee before I headed to the dining hall. I found all the men sitting and waiting for me.
• “Greetings to all of you!.”
• “Greetings Don.’” All the men echoed.
• “I have two pieces of news to share with all of you today. The first one is that we have finally found the mole that sold information about our shipment to the klan's Mafia!.” I said and looked at their faces. I am good at studying people so I wanted to be sure that Yaks was working alone. None of them looked scared or guilty so we are good to go for now.
• “It’s Yaks!.” I said and I saw the look of shock on their faces. I am very sure they didn’t expect him to do something like that. I didn’t expect him to. Yaks was born into the mafia just like Rick and I and so he was supposed to understand that the mafia don’t tolerate betrayal.
• “Where is he Don so that we can send him to hell!.” Nico one of the men furiously said with his hand balled into a fist. Trust Nico to always be ready to die for the mafia.
• “Don’t worry he is already in hell!.” I said and the faces of the men held satisfaction.
• “He should serve as a lesson to all of you. I don’t tolerate betrayal. You all took an oath before you joined this organization and made sure you kept to it. And now that he is gone, Douglas, you are taking him position as the assistant head of shipment understood?”. I declared. The men clapped for Douglas and the ones close to him sake him.
• “Thank you boss! I promise not to disappoint you!.” Douglas vowed.
• “I am counting on your words. Make sure you keep them!” Douglas nod his head at me and touch the tattoo on his shoulder. The tattoo which is the drawing of an axe with a small handle and letters XXX written under it is a sign that represents our Mafia organization. Every member and worker of our Mafia has the tattoo on either their right hand arm or the back of their neck or on the upper part of their back for those that don’t want the tattoo to be seen.
• By touching the tattoo, Douglas pledges his loyalty to the organization.
• “As for the second news, I want to inform all of you that I am married!.” I drop the bomb and took a sip of my coffee. The whole room became silent. Their jaws were dropped to the ground out of shock except Rick, Jo and Nick.
• “I am sorry boss but it’s as if you just said you are married?”. Diego got the courage to ask.
• “I wasn’t talking with spit in my mouth was I?. I glared at Diego who swallowed hard.
• “Wow, congratulations boss! When are we going to meet our queen?.” One of the men asked and the other agreed with him.
• “I could introduce you to her now but she is still asleep maybe another time! Do any of you have anything to say?.” I asked. Nick looked as if he wanted to talk so gave him a go ahead.
• “Em.. boss, sorry I just wanted to remind you of the organization’s tradition!.” Nick said.
• “Which of the traditions are you referring to?.” I asked him. The mafia has many traditions which we follow so I wonder which among them he is referring to too.
• “We usually have a dinner party for the new couple among us!.” O that tradition. Whenever any of the men finally settle down, we organize a party and introduce the spouse to the whole organization. Although I am not interested, I can't say now because that will be breaking a tradition that has existed before I was born.
• “Okay when do you want to hold the party?” I ask.
• “This weekend. That is if it’s okay with you boss!” Nick said.
• “Okay weekend it is then! I will inform my wife about it. You are all dismissed!.” And with that, I stood up and left the dining hall. It seems very strange for me to say this to my wife. I can’t believe I was single just a day before yesterday and now I am a married man. I laugh at the thought of it.
• I made my way upstairs to Ashley’s room. I tried to open the door but it’s locked. Very good, at least she is conscious of her security. I knock on the door and wait for her to open it.
• ****
• Ashley’s POV
• A knock on the door woke me up. I grumbled as I rolled over the bed. I had one of the best sleep in my entire life . The peck of sleeping on a soft bed. Looking around the room, I remember everything that happened in the last twenty four hours. First my parents sold and then I auditioned and now I am married to a dangerous stranger. All this is enough to break me down but I am stronger than this.
• “I am coming!”. I yelled when the knock on the door persisted. I got up from the bed and went and opened the door without checking who it was. Because I am sure that it has to be my so-called husband.
• “Wow if this is the view I will see every morning, then I am so glad I got married!.” My so-called husband whistled when I opened the door for him.
• I looked at him as if he was crazy and then I remembered that I had no clothes on!
• “Ahhh!.” I shouted and closed the door on his face.
• “You are so stupid Ashely! So so stupid!”. I scold myself and I rumble my head. How can I have forgotten that I had no clothes except for lacy black pants.
• “I am coming in!.” I heard the voice on the other side of the door. I quickly ran into the bathroom. I heard the door open.
• “You can come out! No need to be shy, after all I am your husband!.” I heard him say that but I didn’t give him any reply.
• “Ashely if you did not come out in the next five seconds I will enter and meet you there!.” He warned. Something told me that he is not joking and so I put the bath rope and went out of the bathroom and found him sitting on my bed.
• “I am actually disappointed!.” He said as his eyes rank my whole body. I rolled my eyes at him.
• “Suit yourself l!.” I murmured.
• “What did you say?.” He asked
• “I don’t have any clothes to wear!.” I stated
• “I figured that out. I will give my card to one of my men and he will take you out shopping , that is if you didn’t promise to run away!.” He said and I looked at him. He is nicer than I expected.
• “I can’t run even if I want to. I don’t have anywhere to go!.” I said.
• “Better be that way or you won’t like the consequences! I will send the maid to bring you an outfit to wear for now! Make sure you get ready in two hours time!. See you later Mia cara!.” He blew me a kiss before he left.
• A few minutes later, a maid brought me a gown to wear. The gown looks new and so I don’t have to feel irritated about wearing a piece of cloth that has probably been worn by his sluts.
• I headed downstairs for an extra two hours and saw a name standing at the end of the stairs. I cleared my throat and he turned to look at me. I recognized him yesterday. He is one of the men together with my so-called husband.