Chapter 1 The Truth

Selena's POV

My heart thumps rapidly in my chest when I find out a shocking truth. My boyfriend is a criminal and so is his entire family.

Moments ago

"I want you to meet my family,Selena. I want to make you my woman and you must know every part of me before we do this, I do not want to hide things from you at all. Do you remember what I said the first time you tried to get close to me, Selena." I swallow nervously.

"Yes. You said bright girls like me don't deserve a tiny chance at your dark world."

"Now, I want your brightness to light up my world and expel the darkness in me." The calmness in his eyes did nothing to ease the anxiousness that was threatening to devour me any moment from now.

"Just to be clear Selena, it is still a contract marriage. I'm only doing this because my parents are extremely sensitive. We cannot afford to mess anything up, not now." His eyes search mine for an answer and I do not bother hiding my feelings.

"Is it a must that I attend this?"

"We will eventually see our families sooner or later and as much as I hate to admit it, you will later come in contact with my family. You might as well just agree to meet them now."

"I will pick you up by five in the evening. There'll be red carpet and I want you to make me a grand entry. I want them to know that you're mine and mine alone." He trails his finger down my back and I have to snap my mouth shut to keep myself from moaning.

"Red carpet? Nikolai,what exactly are you up to?" My heart starts hammering in my chest again. Every fibre in my body is fighting hard against this decision. A part of me is so reluctant to go see his family.

"You will know me better by tonight, Sel." He chuckles and lets go of me.

"No matter what happens tonight, remember, I love you, see you tonight." I walk faster home, my mind racing constantly on the thought of the ball. I have nothing appropriate to wear, I live a simple life and and my luxury has never included a ball. I get home and my mind somehow manages to isolate the dress to the event.

"Ding." I nearly throw my phone to the floor when I realize it's a message from Nikolai.

"The things I ordered for you for the ball are outside." I furrow my eyebrows still lost to the thought of all of this. I walk down with my legs slightly trembling as I open the door.

A red box is seated neatly on the floor of my doorstep. I pick up the box and I lock my door.

It feels heavy and I open it immediately destroying the box in the process, white earrings that shine bright with a dazzling necklace and a white gown.

My mouth hangs open as I unwrap the dress. A knock on the door startles me and I forced to leave the dress.

"Hello?" A tall lady stands at the front of my door with a box. Everything about her screams class.

"Miss Selena, Mr Nikolai sent me to you to prepare you for the ball." Slowly, I drift away from the door, wide enough for her to pass.

"I almost did not believe the young master when he asked me to come dress a lady. I was expecting to see a man, everyone thinks he is gay! I can see why now,you'll do." She stares at me with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Sit." She presses me to the chair with my shoulders. I bite down on my lower lip to stop myself from saying anything I'm not supposed to. We do not say a word to each other until she's done!

"Young Master Nikolai would be more than excited!" She claps her hands in air delighted at her masterpiece.

I stare at the mirror in front of me and I am unable to recognize myself. I pay with my fingers as the time draws near.

"He's here. Right on time as expected of him." I square my shoulders and I brace myself for the worst; my mind stays fix on scenerio of a prison break. I struggle to balance myself in the heels, I get better with each step. I pause in my tracks when I see him.

He's wearing a black button up and black slacks. The clothes hug him in the right places and he opens the button at the neck, wide enough for anyone to see his dragon tattoo.

"Mi amor." My mouth breaks into a smile with his greeting.

"You look stunning much more than I expected." My mind screams danger, my soul wants to leave my body and my body wants to be with him.

"Here." He opens the seat and I get in the back.

"Remember Sel, no matter what happens tonight, you remain mine." He interlaces his fingers with mine. The ride is quiet fast or maybe it's because I'm dreading this ball or whatever it is with everything in me.

"Welcome home young master." I am dragged back to reality when I see the huge castle and the amount of humans bowing down to him.

"This.. Is this? Your home?" My breath fastens and its not what I can control.

"No. We'll get there." I place my hands on my chest unable to stop my racing heart.

"Welcome to my World, Mi Sel." The gates in front of us roll open by theirselves.

"Welcome Young Master." A man old enough to birth the both of us bows down to him.

"Young Master Nikolai? I don't understand what's happening." I stare around in a daze. Then it hits me, the dragon tattoo on his neck, they all have it. Some on their wrist, some on their waist but open for everyone to see it.

"Nikolai?" My throat runs dry. The last time I saw a group of people with the same tattoo was when mother and father were brutally murdered right in front of my eyes.

"Sel?" I jolt and my hands tightly grip my dress.

"You're a ma-" The rest of the word hangs in my throat.

"I'm a mafia boss Selina."