The Crippled Mafia King’S Forced Bride EP 5

Natalia POV's

Half an hour later, I’m sitting in a recliner occupying the corner of the office and staring at my father, open-mouthed.

Natalia Grey/FL

Is this a joke?

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

It's not a joke

He slumps his shoulders and passes a hand through his greying hair.

Natalia Grey/FL

Okay, let me get this straight. You stole money from the Russians and lost it, so now you’re asking me to marry a Russian mob boss.

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

I didn’t steal anything, Natalia

He throws his arms in the air, stands up, and starts pacing behind his desk

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

I just borrowed it for a few days because I needed the funds for this deal. I never thought the guy was a fraud or that he’d take the money and vanish

Natalia Grey/FL

You took the money, and you can’t pay them back. How the fu¢k did you get involved with Russian mafia? What the hell were you thinking, Dad?

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

Don’t talk to me like that!

He points an accusatory finger at me.

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

I'm your father

Natalia Grey/FL

You are asking me to marry a criminal to save your butt, for God’s sake. I think I can talk to you any way I want, all things considered

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

Natalia...

Natalia Grey/FL

They expect me to marry their boss? Like, for real?

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

It’s just temporarily.

He waves his hand in the air like it’s not a big deal.

Natalia Grey/FL

But, why? Isn’t there a line of mafia daughters somewhere wanting to marry the guy?

Natalia Grey/FL

It would be a dream come true for any of them, right? Why me?

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

They didn’t say. These people don’t explain themselves. They tell you what to do, and if you don’t do it, you’re dead

Natalia Grey/FL

You really think they’ll kill you?

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

Yes. I’m surprised they haven’t already

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

If you don’t do what they ask, I’m dead

I take a deep breath and bury my hands in my hair, squeezing my head like it’s going to help find a solution to this fuckup. Because I am not marrying anyone, fake marriage or not.

Natalia Grey/FL

Okay, let’s think. There must be some way to correct this. I have some savings, maybe fifty grand. I have my next exhibition in a month, and I should be able to get another twenty if I can manage to finish all fifteen pieces and they all sell. How much money can you get for the house?

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

Maybe eighty grand. Or ninety, if we sell the furniture as well. I can get ten more for the car

Natalia Grey/FL

Good. That places us at somewhere around one hundred and seventy thousand. Will that be enough? How much do you owe them?

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

Three million

I must have had a minor stroke because there is no way he said the words I just heard him say.

Natalia Grey/FL

Can you please repeat that?

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

I owe them three million dollars

I stare at him with my mouth wide open

Natalia Grey/FL

Dear,God.. Dad

I bend down and place my forehead on my knees, trying to control my breathing. I’m not marriage material, no one in their right mind would offer three million dollars in exchange for six months of marriage. There must be a catch

Natalia Grey/FL

He’s ninety, isn’t he?*mumbles*

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

I don’t know how old their pakhan is, but I don’t think he’s ninety

Natalia Grey/FL

Eighty then. I’m so relieved

I’m going to be sick

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

They said it’ll be a marriage in name only. You won’t have to . . . you know

Natalia Grey/FL

Sleep with him?

Natalia Grey/FL

Well, if he’s eighty, then he probably can’t have se×. That’s good. Eighty is good

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

Natalia, I-I am so sorry. If you don’t want to go through with this, that’s okay. I’ll figure something out

I straighten up and look at my father who is now sitting slumped in his chair, his hair in disarray and his eyes bloodshot. He looks so old and frail all of a sudden.

Natalia Grey/FL

Unless you plan to go to the police, there is nothing else to be done, is there?

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

You know I can’t go tattle on the Russian mafia to the police. They would kill us all.

Of course they would kill us. I close my eyes and sigh.

Natalia Grey/FL

Okay. I’ll do it

My father watches me for a few seconds, then places his hands over his face and starts crying. I want to cry as well, but there is no point.

Natalia Grey/FL

I suppose they will set up a meeting, or something, where we’ll discuss the details

Samuel Grey/FL Dad

They already did. We are meeting the Pakhan in an hour.

I look at my father and bury my hands in my hair

Natalia Grey/FL

Perfect. I’m just going to the bathroom to puke up my lunch, and I’ll meet you at the front door in five

To be continued