Chapter 1

IRENA POV

ONE YEAR LATER

"No! No, let go of me!" I yelled while I was being dragged to my future husband.

It has been a year since my husband Viktor passed on. The night after I poisoned him I faked my grief over Viktor, to show that I way mourning and was shocked by his sudden heart attack. No one suspected a thing which was good because if my uncles found out that I killed my husband I was certainly going to pay the price of my sins which was death.

I threw a whole tantrum as the guard carried me downstairs and into one of my uncles' studies. I hissed when they threw me onto the wooden floor. My body ached due to the impact of the ground.

The guard shut the door and locked it after. I force myself to sit up, groaning as my rib cage aches each time I take a breath.

I was trapped again. No way out.

History is going to repeat itself the minute I meet my new husband.

For the past three mont,hs I've been at my happiest even though I was living with my uncles and had to do house chores. I was free to do whatever I wanted without being yelled at or being used as a punching bag.

My head shot up when the door opened two men wearing full black walked in.

"Let's go." The man with brown eyes said. I shook my head and pulled my legs closer to my chest.

I am not going anywhere. I will not allow them to take me.

The two men looked at each before they approached me. I shuffled myself away from them but they quickly grabbed me by the leg.

"Leave me alone!" I yelled, grabbing onto the leg of the desk so that they couldn't take me.

The man with blue eyes gripped both my hands, twisting my arm and I hissed in pain letting go of the table leg.

The brown eye man forced both my legs together and the blue eye man forced both my arms together. They picked me up and I struggled in their grip.

"LET ME GO!" I cried out in anger as they walked out of the room and straight down the hall to one of my uncle's studies.

I hated being touched by people, men in particular. No matter who it was, whether we are close or not. I did not like being touched. These issues started during my marriage with my previous husband but now that he's gone he's left me with scars, trauma and more unspeakable things I had to deal with alone.

"No, let go of me!" I yelled, my body jerking back and forth struggling in their hands.

One of the men kicked the door open and tossed me on the floor, my body once again aching from the hard impact.

I quickly scattered to my feet and rushed to the door but was stopped by an intimidating voice.

"Enough with this nonsense Irena!"

I lowered my head, staring down at my bare feet.

I know I ruined my makeup due to my salty tears pouring out my eyes and my ironed dark hair is now tangled, covering half my face.

I was dressed in a long-sleeved black stand collar dress that hugged my curves and reached just above my knees. I was wearing black heels but they got lost somewhere around the house due to me struggling and fighting the man that forcefully carried me around the house.

My chest was heaving up and down as I tried to catch my breath. I slowly lifted my head and turned to meet my uncle's cold gaze burning into my skin.

Uncle Greg stared at me with his dark brown eyes, his brown hair slicked back and salt and pepper beard neatly groomed on his face. His skin was cream with the sun burn patches and scars. His navy-blue suit hugged his body perfectly as he stood up straight, holding his head up high, knowing that he is the intimidating one in this room out of all of us.

Uncle Anatol gawked at me, a thick Cuban cigar resting between his index-finger and middle-finger. Anatol was the youngest out of all my uncles, his 33, with blue eyes, dark blonde hair and has no facial hair. He's wearing a black suit instead.

Greg approached me with threatening steps. "You little brat." he spat, slapping me across the face and my head jerked sideways. "You're soon to be husband is across the hallway and you are out here being in your bitchy moods. I bet he heard your screams, do you know the embarrassment you are showcasing for this family and our name?" he seethed. I glared at him, my nostrils flaring. "If your stupid guards haven't touched me I wouldn't be making a scene!" I snapped. He opened his mouth to talk but we all turned our head to the door as my other uncle Ian walked in with a man shadowing his steps, but his dangerous aura caught my attention.

Greg's attention shifted from me to the men that walked in. He tightly grabbed my arm, my stomach twisting in disgust from the skin on skin. I tried to yank out of his grip but shot me a death glare before turning back at the man.

My head hung low as I hid my face. I'm feeling uncomfortable and battled the urge to recoil.

"Saint." Greg babbled, tugging my arm harshly to the men. My gaze still focused on my bare feet.

"Greg." A bloodcurdling voice says.

I slowly lift my gaze and the first thing that catches my eye is a cold stare.

I am looking upon coldness, where there is no trace of emotion all I see is deadness. His eyes are the hues of every tree in the forest with rings of green threads circling his iris. He carried an imperious nose well and his angular cheekbones carved down towards a flinty jaw, sandpaper stubble rested on his face. His inky hair groomed so carefully it has a rippling quality, a sign of his strict health.

I saw magic in his eyes, dark, dangerous, dirty magic.

He casts me a veiled glance, raking my body with his eyes. I try to pry free from Greg's grip but he only tightens it which makes me wince in pain.

"Why does she look like she's been picked up off the streets?" Saint inquires turning his gaze to Greg.

Greg's mouth sets in a hard line, staring up at Saint.

"Apologies Saint. We've had a rough morning with Miss Nowak. She hasn't been cooperating, apparently it's that time for her." he mutters the last part.

My brows knitted in confusion.

Liar.

A muscle in Saint's jaw twitched as he glared at Greg whose face was glistened in beads of sweat.

"Your apology means nothing to me Greg. You said with confidence that she will be on her best behavior and presentable. Now I am here standing in front of a woman who looked like she just lost a catfight and from what I am seeing Greg. She is far from looking presentable." Saint remarked, taking a threatening step closer to Uncle Greg who stiffened besides me. "Please tell me. Is this your way of embarrassing me? Disrespecting me." he questions. Greg shakes his head, letting out a nervous chuckle.

My eyes dart back and forth between my uncle and Saint.

Uncle Greg is afraid of Saint.

Just thinking about it intrigues me. I have never seen my uncles afraid of anything. I've grown to know them to be heartless and cold but fearful? Did not think that even ran in their veins.

"No, no—"

"Why are you touching her like that?" he questions, his thick brows pulled together. Greg glances at his hand wrapped around my arm. He met my gaze and immediately let go. I quickly step away from the men and rub the aching pain on my arm which will probably be bruised later.

I felt dirty. I wanted to vomit.

I did not like being touched and Greg violated me by touching me however he pleases not just only him but his men too. They had zero respect over me which is why I act the way I act.

Saint glared at uncle Greg, fire burning in his eyes. "Answer my question." he snapped while keeping his tone calm and collected. "She was being a brat before you came in Saint. I had to put her in her place." Uncle Greg explains.

All eyes were on me as I stood there with my arms warped around my body. Protecting myself from the men in the room. I felt so unsafe. Uncomfortable. These men are known for cruelty and power.

Women do not belong in these types of businesses but somehow manage to be dragged into their unsafe dirty lifestyle. Like myself.

I was not born into the mafia but it was in my blood so there was no way of me escaping.

My mother came from a poor family back in her home country Brazil. She had three brothers and one younger sister. She was the third born of the family. Her eldest brother Pedro came up with an idea on how my mother could make money for the family.

He suggested she take night shifts at nightclubs, working as a bartender. It paid a decent amount so my mother took the idea and started working at nightclubs. The payment was decent and the workplace sort of safe although there were a lot of criminals and pedophiles lurking in the bar but that didn't stop her. She worked at the bar at eighteen and managed to learn and understand the concepts of her environment. For the past three years of working at the bar everything was going well until she met my father.

Jan Nowak.

My mother Renata caught Jan's eye.

Jan charmed my Renata and swooped her off her feet. They were deeply in love and mothers family approved of him because he had money and is foreign.

They thought if Jan proposed to my mother they would all move to my dad's country and start a new life in Poland, what they didn't know is that Jan was more than just a businessman on vacation.

He was part of the Polish-American crime organization groups.

Two years in Brazil they both decided to take the next step since they have fallen deeply in love, eventually during their 3rd year as a couple Jan impregnated Renata with me which caused issues because my mom did not know what she was getting into.

When I was born, they left Brazil to move back to Poland.

After three years my mom found out what my father really is and tried to escape but that only got her killed.

When I was four years old dad passed away from alcohol poisoning which made me an orphan but then dad's brothers took custody over me and I've been living with them ever since.

My childhood was not a normal childhood.

Sometimes I just wish something would turn out different.

"Like I said, she did not want to cooperate Saint." Greg proclaims.

Saint approaches me with intimidating steps and I take a few steps back.

I did not want to be near him or anyone else in this room. I have already been violated enough.

Saint freezes in his tracks when he notices that I backed away. "You've been giving your uncles some trouble." he states with his low voice a light French accent lingering in his tone.

I stared up at him without saying a single word.

He has no idea what these men have put me through out my whole life. He has no right to question my behavior. husband or not I will always fight for what's right for me.

"Mind telling me why?" he inquires softly.

I continue to remain silent.

His jaw tightened as his expression hardened.

"I'm talking to you Irena." Saint seethed, annoyance trickling in his hoarse tone.

The sheepish feeling crawled under my skin. My heart thumping vigorously against my chest like thunder striking the land with all its force. My pulse ached with intensity. My inner thoughts praying to be sucked into the ground and never rise from my slumber.

It is pure torture standing in front of my husband to be with dozens of eyes gawking at me.

If I don't say anything I'll probably regret it later but if I open my mouth to talk I know I'll regret it now. So both decisions will lead to consequences.

It's probably for the best for me to remain silent. My uncles aren't as ruthless as Saint. I would rather face their wrath than Saint's.

Saint turns his gaze to my uncles. "Does this girl even speak?" he questioned, annoyances dancing in his tone.

I lowered my eyes, staring down at my white painted toes.

I hear a low chuckle from one of my uncles. "She does, she's a feisty one I guess you know how to maintain her Saint." My uncle Ian teased.

Uncle Ian has never been that harsh towards me then Greg and Anatol have. He normally minds his own business. As long as I don't interfere with anything that involves him. I'll be on his good side.

Saint turned back to me. I felt his stares even though I didn't dare to look at him.

A part of me wanted to crawl into a ball and cry myself to sleep. While the other part of me wanted to challenge him.

To show him that I'm more than just a girl with a feisty personality trait.

"Look at me." Saint demands, his low voice leaving trails of goosebumps on my skin.

I slowly lift my gaze and once again meet those intimidating eyes. He stared down at me like a lion lurking his prey in the wild. Ready to attack.

"Leave." Saint orders his eyes still fixed on me.

My heart pounds against my chest, threatening to explode any moment. For the first time. I did not want my uncles to leave me alone with this man.

I don't trust them. I don't trust anyone but they are the only people stopping him from doing anything to me that I do not like. Still it is pathetic of me to think they will protect me from Saint. All these years they haven't protected me from Vicktor.

They claimed that I wanted attention brat filled with lies even though I had evidence of Vicktor hurting me in disgusting ways.

My heart pounds against my chest, threatening to explode any moment. For the first time. I did not want my uncles to leave me alone with this man.

I don't trust them. I don't trust anyone but they are the only people stopping him from doing anything to me that I do not like. Still it is pathetic of me to think they will protect me from Saint. All these years they haven't protected me from Vicktor.

They claimed that I wanted attention brat filled with lies even though I had evidence of Vicktor hurting me in disgusting ways.

"Saint we can't leave you alone with the-"

"Get out." Saint growled, warning threatening in his tone.

Everyone in the room existed, shutting the door, leaving me alone with Saint. Before I could process what happened next, Saint snatched me by the neck, pulling me closer towards him. I was so close to the point where I could feel his minty breath fanning my face.

Saint's gaze darkened, he slightly tilted his head to the side as she observed me. Closely.

My skin crawled with disgust by the mere thought of someone touching me. I fought back the urge to throw up.

Saint noticed my sudden change of mood. His brows furrowed.

"Haven't your uncles taught you that it's rude to ignore a person who speaks to you." Saint states, his tone calm as the night rivers which scared me.

I stared at him, not being able to find my voice. His grip around my neck tightened which made it difficult for me to breathe. His touch turned my stomach and not in a good way. "Answer me." he trails slowly while crushing my neck, taking away my ability to breathe.

I stared at him, not being able to find my voice. His grip around my neck tightened which made it difficult for me to breathe. His touch turned my stomach and not in a good way. "Answer me." he trails slowly while crushing my neck, taking away my ability to breathe.

My heart was in my throat, tears welled up in my eyes. My hands find their way on Saint's face as I try to push him away from me which only makes his grip around my neck tighten. The more he adds pressure the more I'm slowly pulled away from my conscious state. My vision starts to be hazy and my ability to breathe gets difficult with each second that passes.

I gasped, as my lungs were screaming for oxygen.

He is too strong for me. I can't use my strength against him. It's basically a fight between a lamb and a lion but that did not stop me from fighting. I do the first thing that comes to mind.

My nails dig into his flesh, scratching him across the face. Saint's grip around my neck loosened and I immediately pulled back. Saint hissed as he covered his right eyes with.

He glared at me, flames of anger shot through him.

I coughed aggressively as my lungs cherished each breath I took. I warped my hands around my neck, rubbing it to ease the pain.

Saint's jaw clenched as he removed his hand, my eyes widened in shock when I noticed the blood oozing down his face. The cut I gave him started from his left eye and stretched until his cheek.

It will definitely leave a mark. I thought to myself.

Saint reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a handkerchief. He wiped away the blood from his face and hands as his eyes remained on me.

I expected Saint to lash out on me. Hit me. Kill me.

But what I did not expect was for him to look at me like I'm a full course meal. A lion stalking his next prey which sent unwanted shivers down my spine.

Without knowing, my eyes trail down his body avoiding his gaze until they come to a sudden stop.

They went wide in shock.

Saint's erection.

His bulge pressing against his pants, begging to be free put me into pure shock. I immediately looked up, heat rushing to my face.

I was frozen in shock and disgust.

Saint tucked the handkerchief back into his pocket before he made his way to the door. He shot me one quick glance before exiting the room without saying another word.