Chapter 1

Book 3: The Mafia Saved Me

“It’s ok, moya lyubov. It’s just a dream,” Anatoli said.

It had been two years since Kyle saved Violet, and she had been accepted into the Volkov family.

It had been two years, and the nightmares still hadn’t stopped.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“There is nothing to apologize for. I just wish I knew how to help you.”

Violet didn’t want to admit this to Anatoli, but she was ashamed. She felt weak for having these nightmares. She didn’t want him to pity her or to look at her differently.

She also hated to admit that her family caused her nightmares.

“Do you need me to get you anything?”

“Can you just hold me?”

Anatoli pulled Violet to him and held her tightly in his arms as they lay on the bed. Her hair was damp from sweat, and her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest.

“If you told someone, maybe they would stop,” he suggested.

“I doubt it,” she whispered.

Violet knew she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep, but she enjoyed being held by Anatoli. He made her feel safe.

She lay there, drawing circles on his chest with her finger as she thought about the first time she had met him. She hadn’t paid attention to him until they were back at the Volkov home.

She had been afraid of him at first, but she had quickly realized he wasn’t someone to fear…at least someone ~she~ didn’t need to fear.

She hadn’t been looking for a relationship; she’d wanted to stay away from men. But she was drawn to Anatoli and had agreed to spend time with him, and then to move in with him.

She didn’t regret it. He took care of her, and she had fallen for him.

But she couldn’t let go of her past. She couldn’t leave behind the memories that haunted her dreams, because they could become real again.

“Anatoli?” she whispered as she moved her hand down his torso and under the waistband of his boxers. “I need you.”

She wanted to feel something other than fear. She needed to find a way to distract her mind, and sex always provided the perfect outlet for her.

Anatoli rolled over while guiding Violet to her back. His body provided the comforting weight she was craving.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his face to her and kissed him.

His hand slid under her thin shirt, cupping one of her breasts. When he took the nipple between his fingers and pulled, she moaned into his mouth.

He broke the kiss to take Violet’s shirt and panties off before removing his boxers. He kissed her thighs, then kissed his way to her pelvic area.

“I need you to fuck me, Anatoli.”

He moved his body up hers until they were aligned, and he thrust into her hard and fast.

This was routine for them. Anatoli knew that when she had her nightmares, she would ask him to take her. And he agreed because it was the only thing he could do for her.

Every thrust was harder than the one before. He grabbed the headboard with one hand while the other supported his weight as he added more force to his thrusts.

The bed hit the wall with every movement.

Anatoli wasn’t holding anything back. He was claiming Violet, laying claim to her body as she moaned beneath him.

It only took a few more thrusts for him to release deep inside her, and his body tensed as his orgasm consumed him.

His body slowly relaxed as Violet removed her nails from his back. She closed her eyes to take a minute to compose herself. She felt guilty, like she had used Anatoli.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Anatoli kissed her lips before rolling off her.

“Don’t apologize. I want to help any way I can.”

She always felt guilty when it came to Anatoli. He always took care of her and made her his priority.

“Are you hungry?” Anatoli asked as he got dressed.

“I am.”

“Take your time getting up. Breakfast will be waiting for you downstairs.”

“Let me do the cooking. It’s been a while since you let me cook.”

“All right. Let me know when it’s done. I’ll be in the office talking to Max and Dimitri.”

They lived on the same property as Max, Dimitri, and Kyle; the guest house in the back was convenient for their work.

Since Anatoli was going to be in the main house, Violet decided she would make breakfast for everyone and walked through the backyard to the main kitchen.

It would keep her busy, and seeing Kyle’s children always made her happy.

“You’re over early,” Kyle stated as she took Anton from their arms.

“Couldn’t sleep, and Anatoli had to get up for work.”

“I hate how early they start their day. They have people who can run the organization for them.”

“They prefer to be a part of it. At least Anatoli does. I think it’s a control issue.”

Violet moved around the kitchen, gathering the items she needed to make breakfast. She was having trouble looking at Kyle, because she didn’t want her to know something was wrong.

“Is he still having stomach issues?” Violet asked, looking at Anton.

“Not since I’ve stopped eating dairy. He has a dairy sensitivity and if I wanted to continue to breastfeed, I had to stop consuming it.”

“I didn’t realize you weren’t eating dairy. I’ll make your eggs without the cheese.”

“Is everything all right, Violet?”

“Everything is fine,” Violet answered.

“Are you sure? You seem distracted,” Kyle pressed.

“I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Did you have another nightmare?” Kyle asked.

Violet let out a sigh, hating that Kyle knew she had issues. Anatoli probably told Max and Dimitri, who would have told Kyle.

“There isn’t anything to be ashamed of. After everything that happened with Cannin, I had nightmares for a while, especially when I thought the baby I was carrying was his.

“I wasn’t sure if I could keep the baby if it ended up being his,” Kyle continued.

“It’s not the same,” Violet said.

“I don’t know what happened to you or why you’re still bothered. I’m just saying it’s normal. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Violet cooked in silence, not responding to Kyle. She was Violet’s best friend, and she felt bad for not confiding in her.

But she didn’t want her to know about her past and how horrible her family was.

Being put up for auction was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to her family.

Once she got done cooking breakfast, she walked up to the Volkov office to let them know breakfast was done. Before she knocked, she caught a part of a conversation that made her pause.

“She had another nightmare, and she still refuses to talk about it. All I get are the random things she says while sleeping,” Anatoli said.

“I know it’s her father and the way he treated her, but I don’t have any other information.”

“Did she ask you to have sex again?” Max asked.

“Yes, and I love being with her, but the only time she initiates it is when she needs to be distracted. I’ll keep giving her what she wants, but part of me feels used,” Anatoli answered.

“Maybe you need to sit down and tell her how this has affected you. She may open up after she realizes that you’re not immune to this,” Dimitri suggested.

“I’m working on something that I’m hoping will help me understand,” Anatoli said.

“Does it have to do with what you asked us about?”

“Yes. I’m hoping it will help me find a way of helping her for good, so she can forget about her past and move on.”

Violet took a deep breath and smiled as she knocked on the door. “Breakfast is ready. Kyle and the kids are already in the kitchen.”

Anatoli walked over to Violet and kissed her before thanking her and grabbing her hand.

But instead of enjoying his touch, all she could only think about was what Anatoli was planning, and whether it was going to force her to face her past when all she wanted to do was forget about it.