Chapter 34

"How are you, Ranold?" I heard Jane's voice below while buttoning my shirt with trembling fingers.

I couldn't believe we had sex just moments before. I could still feel his hot hands on my body. I could feel my insides twitching, still shivering from what had just happened. I was perplexed, confused, befuddled, and frustrated all at the same time. I wanted to kill him because he had made me moan just a few minutes before. Then he just left me on the bed, shivering and trembling as if nothing had happened.

I dashed downstairs when I heard my mother and sister's voices. I noticed their backs as Ranold led them into the kitchen. I was on the last few steps when my path was blocked by someone's hand.

"Wow..." Jane chuckled as she straightened my unkempt hair. "Oh that Ranold. I'm sure he caught you either after a shower or after a sound sleep. Olivier."

I felt her warm hand on my chest, intuitively grabbing it by the wrist as she looked into my eyes.

"Calm down," she said gradually. "You're about to meet your relatives. Suck it up."

I exhaled slowly after taking several deep breaths. She gave me a slight smile and nod. We entered the kitchen. My mother and sister were already seated at the table with my husband. There were only two open seats close to Ranold. We walked over to the table, and Jane pushed me ahead of him, forcing me to sit next to him.

"While we're all here together, let's pray and thank our Godfather for what we've got on the table," Ranold said, and we joined our hands and bowed our heads in prayer.

I didn't remember much of what he was praying about, such as expressing gratitude for everything, but I did remember what I was praying about. And my prayer concerned Ranold Hamilton. I wished he would leave my life and leave me and my family alone.

The table appeared to be extremely generous. There was a wide variety of food and beverages available. Despite the fact that Jane and Ranold had separated me from my family, I still enjoyed their company. We ate, talked, and drank like any other family. But I knew that as soon as they left, my life would never be the same. The life of Ranold Hamilton, the mafia boss. In fact, I knew very little about him. I was still unable to answer the question of who he was. He didn't appear to have submitted to anyone, but I couldn't be certain.

The evening comes to an end late at night. Jane drove away in her car, and Ranold told me to wait for him at home while he drove my mother and sister home. To be honest, I was concerned that he'd drive them. So, as soon as the door behind my husband closed, I grabbed my phone and entered the chat with my sister, keeping up with what was going on at the moment. When she finally told me they were safe and sound at home, I breathed a sigh of relief and began to clear the table.

I shivered slightly as I washed the dishes when the door lock clicked again. I could not do it because we had a dishwasher, but I needed to do something to keep my hands busy to show my husband that I was extremely busy. I heard his steps in the hallway and knew he was on his way to me. I sighed as I heard his soft footsteps behind me. He hugged me around the waist and caressed my stomach with his hot palms before kissing my shoulder. I shivered slightly, pretending to be preoccupied with the dishes.

"Do not lie, Olivier," he said directly into my ear. "We never finished what we began in the bedroom."

I felt his fingers under my shirt, their pads lightly caressing my bare stomach skin. My body immediately reacted. The same trembling I felt on the bed spread throughout my body, tying it up. I despised being useless near him. I twisted the faucet and turned to face Ranold when he kissed me deeply on the lips. I had no choice but to surrender and accept it. Accept his hot hands, wet kisses, tight hugs, and his determination to possess me. He seated me at the same table where we were all celebrating Thanksgiving.

***

The next morning came far too quickly. I couldn't recall how we ended up in the bedroom. Our sex yesterday was so long and exhausting that I begged for it to end as soon as possible. We did not confine ourselves to the kitchen. We did it in the hallway as well as on the stairs. We were having a long, gentle kissing, hugging, and petting sex all the way to our bedroom. He was teasing me, kissing me in the most sensitive places, fondling and caring for me in every way he could. I despised him. I despised every minute of it. But I was no longer in control of my body. It appeared to be my husband's now because I was moaning so loudly and desperately as if I was completely devoted to him.

I sat up on my elbow, his arm around my waist. I took out my phone and launched Messenger. My mother's message that day completely changed my life completely. She wrote me only eight words, but they changed everything. "Juliette contacted me. Gonna meet in the center." I sat down on the bed and dialed my mother's number, but she didn't answer. I jumped out of bed and dashed downstairs, wearing my clothes as I ran. I remember wearing different trainers that day because I was so anxious. I did not take the bus. I felt like I could run faster on my own. I was running so fast that I was suffering leg pain.

When I arrived in the center, all I saw were people and cars moving back and forth. I came to a halt in the middle of the crowd, looking around for my mother, but there was no one who resembled her. I grabbed my hair, feeling panic rise deep within me. I didn't want to believe the truth. I simply couldn't. I tried calling my mother again, but the familiar dial tone was replaced by "Subscriber outside the access zone..." text. I was filled with dread. I called her several times more, but she didn't answer. I started asking passers-by, showing them her photo, but they just shook their heads and looked at me like I was crazy.

I'm not sure how long I was there looking for my mother, but I didn't stop for even a second. I didn't have a choice. I had to keep going. And I went on, questioning them one by one, looking them in the eyes, trying to find any hint, any clue, any prompt. But all of my attempts were futile. I received nothing. Then I thought about my sister. I dashed home as quickly as I could. I was sprinting there with all my inner strength. I didn't even pause for a second. I didn't want to wait any longer. I just kept running ahead of myself. But I arrived too late.

The house was quiet and empty when I arrived. I dashed into the kitchen, looking around but seeing no one. Then I dashed upstairs. I searched every room, every corner, every closed door, and even the closets, but I couldn't find anything. Anything remotely related to my missing relatives. That was the day I lost the last of my family members. When I realized this, I dropped to my knees, grabbed my shoulders, and screamed loudly and desperately for everyone in the world to hear me. And one man in the entire world did, in fact, hear me very clearly.

***

Somewhere in New Orlean

"Jane," Ranold said as he approached the sports car parked near his house.

"Was that their next move?" She asked, shaking off the cigarette ashes.

"Yes," Ranold said, frowning. "When did you start smoking?"

"Since Anastasia is back in New Orleans," she replied, extinguishing her cigarette and climbing into the car. "What are we going to do next?"

"Inform the men. Tell them everything," Ranold replied, fastening his belt.

"When are you going to tell him everything?" She broke the silence after a few minutes, as they drove through the busy streets of New Orleans.

"And make him despise his family?" Ranold rested his hand on his chin. "No. It is not yet time. He must make his own decision. If we just tell him everything, he might get cold feet and become an easy target for our adversaries."

"Ranold, you placed a lot of faith in him. He's too young, and we're both aware of it," Jane cast a serious look at Ranold as the car came to a halt at the crossroads.

"That's why he's my husband," he said, turning to face her. "I'll teach him everything I know and then leave him to make his own decision."

"As I previously stated, you are strict."

"We don't have a lot of time. Drop me off near the house. I'll meet our group at the front door."

"Suit yourself."

These were Jane's final words to Ranold. The car came to a stop thirty minutes later in a poor neighborhood, leaving the man on the street. Jane didn't say anything, just nodded and walked away. Ranold took the cigarette from his pocket, examined it carefully, and then threw it away, leaving it on the road for good. He took his time. He didn't move too slowly. He was walking like he always did. His mind was racing with thoughts, particularly about one particularly stubborn and specific omega.

There were already two black jeeps when he arrived at the required house. The doors opened and a few men appeared on the street as Ranold Hamilton approached. A desperate scream erupted from the house. Some of the men reached for their guns, but Ranold Hamilton only told them to relax. A familiar voice, heard from the darkness, was striking the deep strings of his soul. He looked up at the house, specifically at the second floor windows. He only frowned slightly before closing his eyes and walking to the house.

He quietly opened the door and motioned for the men to check the first floor. Then he motioned for the others to follow him upstairs with his hand. It was quiet, and no one seemed to be there except for a desperate scream from one of the rooms on the second floor. When it happened again, the men behind Ranold pointed the barrels to the bedroom door.

"Go, check the other rooms," he motioned with his hand, without saying anything.

The men gradually crept deeper into the house. Ranold Hamilton came to a halt in front of the bedroom door.

"Do you think it's his husband?" When they met again in the empty room, one of the men asked.

"I'm sure. He is the only one he has allowed to scream so loudly."

"If he were my husband, I would definitely shoot myself rather than listen to this yelling."

They both laughed as they put their guns down and went downstairs.

"How come he didn't just kill him?"

"It's Ranold Hamilton himself. You never know what his true intentions are. That explains why he is still alive."

These were the final words spoken in the dark house. Ranold Hamilton snatched the door handle and walked into the bedroom. It was a total mess over there. Olivier was sobbing on the floor among the scattered things. When Olivier turned around and began to throw papers and clothes around himself, Ranold came to a halt right behind him. Olivier was so desperate that he missed his husband, who was standing right behind him. Ranold watched the scene intently until Olivier became less active, then simply grabbed his arm, lifting him up and hugging him tightly, pulling him to himself.

"It's me, Olivier," he said sternly.

"N-nooo-ooo!" Olivier yelled at him and punched his husband in the chest.

"It's okay," Ranold said, closing his hand around Olivier's ear and pulling him closer to his chest. "It's me."

"No!" Olivier tried to escape the grip, when he suddenly became weak.

"It's me," Ranold replied quietly, picking up his husband.

"Ran...nold..." Olivier sobbed once more, unable to stand on his legs and choking. "I can't... breathe..."

"It's okay. Just sleep. It's me," he whispered, catching his unconscious husband.

The dark house finally fell silent and filled with the lovely scent of summer grapes and winter spruces.