Sven:

Two Weeks Later:

“This is really what you want?” Boss cocks an eyebrow. “You manage to get on my good side. You get one wish and this is what you want. Tell me why.”

I smirk. I’ve already been made caporegime. I was nothing but a soldier when I started. I am happy enough with that promotion. I can’t take the fun out of everything, now can I?

“Let’s just say I have unfinished business there.”

Boss smirk matches mine. Despite planning to destroy him, I actually like the guy. I wouldn’t end him if it wasn’t the only way to become the boss. To prove I'm worthy of being boss. We think alike. We are two of a kind.

“Do tell. I like to play too.”

Oh, I know boss. This is why I’ll be underboss soon.

“There’s a girl…”

“Must be some girl to want to buy out the whole fucking center.”

I smile. “Oh, she is.”

My cock swells just thinking about her. Her lips on mine. The silkiness of her skin. Her strong will despite her fragility. Then her insulting me. Rage slowly seeps in.

“She has a lesson to learn. One I don’t plan on teaching the easy way.”

“Will I get to meet this girl?” He lights a cigarette and brings it to his lips.

“Oh. You will be seeing a whole lot of her.”

“Consider it done. Oh and Xander…”

“Yes Boss.”

His eyes narrow. “Consider the path you’re on. Positions change.”

An evil understanding crosses between us. Bye Marcelo. “Will do boss.”

“Have fun. I will contact you if I need you.”

“Waiting for your call, as always.”

Then I leave. I can hardly wait. Boss is a man of his word. A man of action. It’s how he becomes the boss of the five families. He doesn’t hesitate. There is no wasted time. I can hardly sleep that night. Knowing. Just knowing. I can’t wait to see her face when she finds out…

I own her.

She lives for work, and I'm gonna take it from her.

Gotta find a new thing to live for little Rose. I won’t tolerate her starvation or lack of a personal life. I'm gonna shake up her whole existence. Then do the unthinkable. I can hardly fucking wait.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

I practically leap out of bed, grabbing my phone on the way up.

It’s done.

Hell fucking yes.

I throw on my best suit, gold chain and gold rings that I always wear. I'm a business owner now. Gotta dress to fucking impress. I drive the God awful long drive to eastern Illinois. Somehow I’ve factored this all into my plan. Made this worth it. After all, I couldn’t justify all this for one girl, but I wanted her. And I do get what I want. So I factored her in.

Finally, seven fucking hours later I pull in. There’s still shit to do. I mean it’s purchased, but you don’t just purchase a business and hand it over. There’s stuff to do on the back end, but all that aside it’s time to announce the good news. Kristy, Owen, Mark and Sandra know. After all… they approved it. Boss said Kristy was the hardest sell, but everyone can be bought for a price. Even Kristy. Well, pay her co-workers enough so she’s outnumbered. There’s always a fucking way.

I walk in, adjust my suit and smile at the Latin woman in front of me.

“Hello, is Mark here?”

“Um, Sven? Mark never comes here,” she looks me up and down, clearly liking what she sees, before shaking her head. “He runs this place. More than the others.”

“Oh, I know.”

“It’s okay Maria. I am here.”

Her eyes widen in surprise before she greets him as he steps in behind her. She starts hurriedly cleaning off the desk.

“Hello Sven.”

“Hello Mark.”

“Follow me.”

He leads me through the all too familiar doors, except I'm no patient and no one controls me. We walk down endless halls, probably towards his back office, when I see her. She’s crouched in front of Sam who’s having a full breakdown over God only knows what. Her eyes are so soft, so hurt, for him. Makes no fucking sense.

“Rose!” Mark says, stopping to greet her. Perfect.

“Mark,” she jumps up, after gently encouraging Sam into the main area. “What a surpri…”

Then her eyes find mine and go impossibly wide.

“Sven?”

Her voice starts to shake. A smirk spreads across my lips. I have exactly my desired effect on her.

“Oh Rose, you remember Sven?”

She nods, swallows and tries not to look like she’s ready to shit her pants. She grabs the sides of her scrubs and scrunches them in her hand.

“Let’s wait to share the news,” I say, interrupting him with a grin. I place my hand on his back. “Later Rose.”

We talk for an hour. Explaining shit. Roles. How this place works. All of it.

“Anyone I should keep an eye out for?”

“Yes. You just met her. Rose.”

I fucking knew he’d say that. Perfect lead in.

“Really?” I cock an eyebrow and pretend to be surprised. “Why?”

“She’s got more passion for this than anyone I’ve ever met, but she would work herself to an early grave if we let her. That girl, I swear, is the kindest, hard working woman you’ll meet but… she’s like the baby of this place. We all protect her.”

“Why?”

“Not my place.”

“Makes sense.”

“Well, thank you for your time.” I stand and extend my hand. He takes it. I keep a tight grip and flip our hands so mines on top. Power. “I'm gonna go introduce myself. Share the good news with a few people.”

“Go for it.”

Well. One person.

I stalk down the halls until I find her. She’s with the guys, laughing, talking. Making the guys feel normal. When their fucking pussies. Like she usually does during this time of day.

“Rose, can I speak to you for a moment?”

All eyes turn to face me before they widen in surprise. Kev sees me and narrows his eyes.

What could he possibly do? She pushes herself up and stands, on shaking limbs.

“Why?”

“Want me to say it in front of everyone?” I say, knowing she’s gonna think this is about the kiss.

“No!” She quickly shuffles over to me. I lead her into an empty group room and lock the door behind us. She immediately stares at the door, willing it to open. Terrified. I'm not sure I aimed to scare her this much. It’s a little… unnerving one might say. It’s not like I'm gonna murder her in the middle of a fucking treatment center full of people. Jesus.

“What do you want Sven?”

I lean against the wall and cross my arms over my chest. “Why are you so fucking scared?”

“I’m… not.”

“Rose.” I narrow my gaze.

“You’re… big.”

I try to surprise my smirk and the many dirty jokes running through my head. I have to get to the heart of the issue here. “And…”

“And… uh, you… kissed me.”

“Being kissed scares you?”

“You’re in the mafia!” she blurts out, then covers her mouth and steps back with wide eyes. Like I'm gonna shoot her for stating a fact.

“Yeah.”

“Uh, well, yeah,” she scoffs. Her fear dissolves and for some odd reason that relieves me. Interesting.

I step up close to her, forcing her to practically run backward before she slams into the wall. I cage her in with my arms, feeling her heart slam into her chest like it’s my own. I feed off it.

“I wanted to tell you something.”

“Please don’t kiss me.”

Her eyes water as she pleads with me. I run my finger along her full lower lip. “Don’t worry Piccola Rosa, you won’t get so lucky this time.”

All the emotions run through her eyes. I love that about her. The open book she is. How she wears all her vulnerabilities on her sleeve.

“No. I wanted to tell you something else,” I run my hand along her collarbone. Owning her with just my touch. I lean into her ear and whisper…

“I bought this place. I own it. It’s mine.”

She shoots back. I stick my hand behind her before she slams it against the wall. Her feet beg to back away but she can’t.

“No way! Kristy would never let you. Mark,” then she remembers seeing me with him and her eyes go wide with horror. She knows I'm not lying. “No.”

Her body goes limp. “Don’t do this to me. Please. Sven don’t do this to me. Why? You… you hate this stuff. No.”

It’s like I tore her whole life away, her whole reason for existing. She’s breaking before me.

“I'm not shutting it down Rose.”

I back away from her. Her brokenness is replaced with hate. If only she knew the full extent of my plans.

“I’ll quit! I’d never work for you! Even here.”

Rage swells within me and I storm over to her, pinning her with my stare. I don’t need to touch her for her to freeze. “No you won’t.”

She’s smart enough to go deadly still. “Why?”

“Because little Rose, you quit and I’ll fire everyone you care about. You tell anyone about this part of the conversation and I’ll shut this place down and watch it burn down in flames. It’s a good location for ‘healing’. Is it not?”

“No.” Her face falls into her hands, and she shakes her head back and forth. Sobs wrack her body. She whispers something. I can’t really hear, but it sounds a lot like “I’ll never escape”.

No Rose. You won’t.