The mafia king's surrogate

Prologue

Ares,

We all sat around the meeting table beside my private office. The surrounding men kept stealing glances, but I kept silent.

I might have an idea about what they want, but I want them to speak up first.

We had been beating around the bushes for five months now. They must be at the end of their limits for sure.

"This is unacceptable. You are supposedly the head of this family. You carry the bloodline even though it is tainted but still, you must do your duty."

My uncle Aetos said in an explosive, disgusted voice. And I raised a brow at him.

The man's face was neutral, but what he said seemed like an insult, not advice.

But this anger was new to me. I used to think that he is the sound of reason in this family.

"That is why I have come prepared. I have someone suitable for him. The girl was raised to obey his commands and do whatever he wants from her. Her family is rich too and they have connections. This will add to his position and power."

My other uncle Cenon said, and I frowned my brows in confusion. He already brought someone, too!

Hmm, this must be serious. Cenon serves only himself. That girl must be an alley to my dear uncle.

I rubbed my temples in annoyance. The whole family was gathered today to discuss my celibacy situation.

They kept saying that I'm old as if forty is my last chance to be a father or something. I'm not a woman, for god's sake.

Cole sauntered to where we were sitting and leaned against the wall. A dirty smile graced his face.

"If you don't want to do it, I will gladly carry on and provide the elders with what they want."

I sneered silently as I watched them nod in approval, as if what he just said made perfect sense.

My younger brother had always wanted this position, and it is in his favor that I don't have an heir.

He will take the throne after me, but he had always hated me, the bastard son, for taking what he thought rightfully his.

"Enough, Cole. Ares is the eldest son, and your father chose him to be his successor. There is no need for this shit now."

My uncle, who was saying that my blood is tainted, chastised my younger brother. Interesting.

And I couldn't help the loud chuckle that escaped me. They have lost their minds, all of them, it seems.

"This isn't a laughing matter, Ares. This family is your responsibility and you need to work on that. If you have any problems, tell us now so we can work on it."

Cenon said in a clipped tone while looking at my crotch. He was implying that I'm not a man or my thing wasn't working.

Actually, I shouldn't blame them. I have never brought a woman here or taken a girlfriend.

That thought was bound to be brought up in this lovely meeting.

"It is ok if he is gay, Cenon. He can have a surrogate or something and have a boyfriend at the same time. Our problem here is the heir, nothing else."

My sleazy uncle stood with a big shit-eating grin on his face and opened the door.

A young woman walked inside with her eyes cast down and headed toward me.

Then, to my surprise, she kneeled in front of me and began to open the zipper of my jeans.

I looked at the men who were watching the scene closely as she got hold of my flaccid cock and began to tug on it softly.

She looked up at my face and I couldn't deny that she was gorgeous.

Her face is white and smooth, her eyes are so blue that you would mistake them for clear sky and her hair was naturally blonde.

She opened her lightly painted lips and kissed the head of my cock. And I almost flinched.

Not because I was sensitive, or that I was enjoying this, no I was disgusted by her touch and the warmth of her hands.

When her hands touched my bare skin I felt as if thousand ants are crawling under it. I almost threw up.

She hollowed her mouth, and in one move swallowed it. The warmth of her mouth engulfed me, but that didn't even make my cock twitch.

I gritted my teeth and held her hair in my right hand, then I pulled her away from my body. I felt as if the room walls are closing on me and the air was thin. I gritted my teeth to hide all that weakness.

"What the fuck do you think you are doing? Get the hell out of here."

The woman licked her lips and wiped the drool that was wetting her chin.

Even though I didn't feel anything, my cock wasn't small, even while flaccid and dead like that.

I tucked my member away and stood up, then I walked to the door. The room was dead silent as they watched me.

"I will ignore the shit that went here today, but if it happened again, I promise you all my answer to this nonsense will be huge."

I closed the door behind me and went to my room on the second floor.

I took off my clothes and threw myself under the shower. I need to clean myself. It felt dirty, and I was losing my mind.

I sighed as the cold water cascaded down my feverish body. This felt good and soothing.

After washing every inch of my body, I looked down at my cock. It was the only part of my body that looked unblemished.

I held it in my hand, then I tugged it twice, and it began to grow slowly. In seconds, it was up and angry red.

I looked away, repulsed by what I was doing.

They don't know what they are talking about. I don't have a problem with my friend down there.

I have a problem with the person who will touch my body and demand to see me naked like that.

I sighed as I wiped off the fog and moisture off the mirror and looked at my face, then chest.

No one would want to be with a man that looks like me. I'm a damaged good. I look like a monster.

But I need to do something about this issue and do it now. The elders won't be silent forever, and my brother can use this to his advantage.

I need to get myself a woman or else I will lose everything in a blink of an eye. Even though those memories won't let me feel the love or warmth of a woman's body.

It is impossible for me to have those feeling with another, to be loved, happy and addicted to her touch, even if she was the most gorgeous woman on earth. My heart is dead.

Ares,

"You have nothing of worth that would be a suitable substitute for the money you owe me, William. I have given you plenty of time and, so far, nothing. I don't like being lied to and you, of all people, know that."

The man who was shaking now and looking around him fell to the ground. His eyes were big and frightened.

But I don't fucking care. I have been patient with him and this was his third and last date to get me my money.

I was lenient with him because he is my lawyer, after all. But I guess it is a human nature thing.

You give them a minute, and they ask for hours. It is all Giorgos's fault. He was the one who insisted that I would lend him some money.

Even though, he knew about his gambling situation. He was a permanent visitor to one of my casinos.

"Please, sir. I can repay you but not with money. I'm ready to do anything, just ask me. I swear I will do it. I can kill anyone you want. I... I can sell you the virginity of my daughter. You can have her, and she is still a virgin. You can check it yourself."

I stood and lit a cigarette, disgusted by what this man was saying. He would steep so low as selling his daughter off.

The girl did nothing wrong except have that piece of shit as her father. I should just kill him and be done with it. Fuck the money.

"You think that our boss would accept that dirty offer of yours, William?"

Giorgos said after kicking the man at his side. He fell and began to whimper pathetically.

I could see his fucking snot from here and I was on the other side of the warehouse, smoking. As I said, pathetic.

"It is just temporary. I swear. He can have her as long as he wants and I will get him the money. It isn't a bad deal, right?"

The man said as he crawled toward me and his red eyes looked up at me hopefully. My second frowned and cocked his brow in question.

This offer has its merits, actually. I have a need for a woman, but not because I wanted to use her body for my twisted desires.

The older members of the family have been nagging me to get an heir or else they might name my brother Cole the crown prince.

But I would take my own life before letting that fucker have the kingdom that I had built from ashes, after the death of my father.

He left this family crumbling, and I had to work my ass off to salvage it.

I was the one who brought back that phoenix to live, not fucking Cole.

But the old fuckers demand that I have an heir soon. They think being forty is very old and I don't have much to live.

"I will accept your offer, William, and take that daughter of yours. You have one year to get me those three million or else, I will kill you after her and everyone in your pathetic family. I will come to your house next morning to get my future wife."

The man looked at me with surprised eyes. He thought that I would make his daughter a mistress or my personal whore.

But I can't let my son be called a bastard like me. He will be a legit heir this time. I won't repeat my father's mistakes. Never.

My men untied William, and he ran to me and crouched as if he was going to lick my riding boots.

I pushed him away, disgusted by his actions, and he stood up with a big smile on his face. He thought he was off the hook already.

"Yes sir. I will go back home now and tell her the good news. You will find her ready and waiting for your arrival."

I signaled Giorgos, and he pulled my future father in law away from me.

I threw my cigarette on the floor and stomped it while thinking about this sudden decision.

I guess this would be the best solution for both of my problems. I would get an heir and my money at the same time, then after this year, I will set her free.

I just want her for the kid, and that is all. She will live like a queen for a year and I will even give her some money. She can see her son whenever she wants to.

"Ares, are you sure about this? It was so sudden of you and I'm seriously confused right now. I know you are in a pickle because of what the elders demanded. But this is as if you have chosen a random woman from the street."

I tightened my leather gloves around my hands as I listened to my second. He has a point, but I'm not that worried about the girl.

Because if there was a problem, it would be her father. Not the other way around. I don't trust that man who would sell his own flesh and blood.

"I already know everything about my bride to be. He will give me the youngest, the plain one Demi, not the other girl. What was her name? Ella, I think. Anyway, she is the beautiful one. And I have heard that he has plans for her. I know what I was agreeing to Gio. Trust me. Besides, what wrong would happen? She is a mean to an end, and that is all."

He gave me a skeptical look before nodding. I knew that he wasn't convinced, but later he will get my point.

I'm not a man who likes to be touched. Intimacy is a foreign concept to me.

I haven't touched a woman during my forty years and I won't start now.

This was my biggest secret that no one ever knew, except for Gio. We went through a lot so I can trust him.

But if anyone else in the family knew about this, they would demand that I step aside and let my brother continue the family line.

I already have my enemies due to my sensitive situation. And my father had sacrificed his life for me to be in this position now. I can't ruin this.

That kid I'm planning to have would be through IVF. That way, both sides would be happy.

I'm sure that this virgin of William won't like a stranger to be intimate with her.

"Just prepare everything and let them know back in the house. I want everything to be ready for tomorrow and tell them there is no need for their opinions. This is my final decision, and they must follow my commands."

Gio sighed, but he nodded his head and left to do what I have asked for. I went out and stood beside my black Harley.

I put on my helmet and started my bike. The engine's loud rumble was like music to my ears.

I loved to hear it in the nights after a long day.

The rumbling noise soothed my mind and made me relieve some of the day's stress.

I rode my bike, tearing through the streets of Manhattan, enjoying how the cold air calmed my nerves and took away my mind off of family and work.

I was supposed to visit my casinos tomorrow, but I guess I have to postpone it after that sudden marriage is over.

I will go through with it. Let's see how those fuckers in the family would object to me not having an heir yet.

Demi,

I wrapped the beautiful flower bouquet in red velvet and a shimmery piece of white satin.

The man had asked me to do that specifically because his girlfriend likes these two as a fashion designer.

He had told me that he was about to pop up the question and he was hoping that she would say yes to him.

I watched him as he kept checking his cell phone. I think he was waiting for a message from her or something.

I chuckled when his phone rang and the man technically jumped two feet up. It looked hilarious.

I have never thought that awkward men still exist. I thought now there was no romance.

They wanted quick and easy relationships with no type of commitment.

But who am I to tell? I'm twenty five next June and I was still single.

I have never got a boyfriend, and it wasn't because I was ugly or something. It was because I was a little bit shy and timid.

Yeah, Ella had told me that I will stay forever alone and virgin. And seriously, I don't see the harm in that.

I mean, so far, I like my life and there is no need for complications. Relationships are hard to handle.

Of this, I was sure because I have seen my parents before my mom had passed away.

I think it has something to do with me. Because my sister told me that before me they were so happy together.

Sometimes I feel that my father is bad to me intentionally. He treats me like I'm the daughter of his enemy, not his flesh and blood.

God, I would never forget that day when my mom's lawyer gave us a visit after her funeral.

We all were surprised that she had a private lawyer and a will, to begin with.

And we were all surprised when I found out that she had left everything for me.

She didn't give my father or my older sister anything. And now I have over two million in my bank account.

But I didn't use anything so far though and I think I would never do.

I have thought of splitting everything with my sister but refrained.

Sure, mom had her own reasons for leaving all that she had for me, so I just gave all her jewelry to Ella.

Honestly, she didn't care much about that thing. The one who was furious was dad.

He demanded that I give him some of mom's money, claiming that it was from his hard work and she owned nothing.

But I know that he was lying. Mom is from a well-known family. She was the only daughter of the owner of a big traveling agency.

And after my grandparents passed away, she sold everything and kept the money in the bank.

She had told me everything about it and still, my father claimed that it was all a lie.

I feel bad for hogging everything to myself, but again, this was my mom's decision, not mine.

"Are you done, miss? I'm in a little bit of a hurry."

I almost yelped when the man talked to me impatiently. I had been lost in thought as I was working and forgot all about him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, sir. But here is your bouquet, it is done."

The man snatched the flowers from between of my hands and went to the cashier to pay for them.

"You have been daydreaming again, haven't you?"

I felt my cheeks heat, and I looked away in embarrassment.

This wasn't the first time something like that had happened.

And Henry had caught me in the act a few times, too. But at least I always did the job and I have never slacked.

"I'm sorry Henry. I have been occupied recently."

I said sheepishly. It wasn't a lie, though. Recently dad has been acting strange, and he was always edgy and panicky.

He was looking around him whenever he went out and would stay in his room for hours, ignoring his law firm.

"It is ok we are done, anyway. Clean everything up as I do some paperwork and order the new flowers for tomorrow."

He said with a warm smile and I nodded my head, then began cleaning the counter and putting the tools I used away.

By nine pm, I was out watching people as they walked by. I breathed the cold air and sighed.

Tonight was a perfect night for a walk. The flower shop wasn't that far away from our house and the streets here were safe.

I put my backpack on my right shoulder and opened my music playlist, and chose a song before starting my walk.

It took me half an hour and almost my entire playlist for me to reach our house.

I walked straight to the kitchen because I felt hungry and thirsty after this long walk. But I stopped by the door when I saw my father.

He was sitting on a stool, looking disheveled, and his face was bruised and beaten up.

His suit from this morning looked as if a dog has been chowing on it then spat it out.

When he saw me standing, he scowled at me, then looked me up and down as if he was assessing me.

I fidgeted a little but didn't move or get out. I was very confused but weirded out by his actions.

"Come and sit Demi, we need to talk."

He said angrily, and I walked to the opposite side of the kitchen table and sat.

I put my bag and phone on the table and folded my hands in my lap. Dad's eyes didn't leave me as I did all of that.

"I will go straight to the point. I owe someone a big sum of money, and business isn't doing well recently."

He said with narrowed eyes. I frowned at his words and quickly decided that I will give him some money to help him get by, but not a big amount he needs to fix his own mess.

"So in order not to get anyone hurt, we came to an understanding."

He pressed his lips tightly together, and I looked at his hesitant features.

This doesn't look good. What would that man get if not his money?

There was nothing else except him taking part in the firm.

"Oh, c'mon dad, stop it. Spit it out already. There is no need to sugarcoat it for her. She would find out eventually."

Ella said as she strutted inside the kitchen and opened a fresh bottle of water for herself.

She leaned against one of the countertops and today she wore another new pajama if that thing would be called one.

I swallowed deeply, trying to wet my cottony mouth. Suddenly I felt cornered, like a prey, and I don't know why.

"What do you mean by that? What is it, dad?"

My father glared at my sister and she just shrugged and bit into an apple. I kept looking between the two of them for a while.

Then Ella sighed and sat next to me and patted my shoulder compassionately.

It was fake, nevertheless, this was the first time she did something like that and treated me like a sister.

"What my father was hesitant to say was that you would be married off to an ugly old man because he can't give him any money. So by tomorrow, you will leave here to live with him."

My breath hitched and my heart began to beat loudly because of what my sister said so nonchalantly.

"What?"

I whispered faintly and my father stood up and began to pace the kitchen with his hands at his back.

Even though I was confused and scared, I noticed the way he dragged his left leg as he moved.

"You must understand that I had no other choice. He wanted his money and then someone made that proposition."

I pulled my hair in agitation and felt my eyes sting from the tears that were building there.

"But why me? Ella is way prettier than me. I'm just plain Demi."

My sister fluffed her hair after my comment and nodded her head as if saying that I'm right.

"It must be you. He had asked for you by name. I had offered Ella, but he refused."

He said and gave me his back. He was lying; I was sure. He thought that I won't be able to tell, but I was sure that he was lying.

So the truth was that my father had thrown me to the wolves and chose to save his precious older daughter.

Was that his payback for not getting any money from mom and me refusing to give him some?

"I can help you, dad. I would give you some money and we can figure the rest out."

I told him hopefully, and he turned around to glare at me. I flinched a little at his venomous look.

"It has been done and there is no turning back. Be ready tomorrow morning. He will be here to get you."

With that said, he let me there standing confused and scared. What should I do?

"Oh, I'm sorry D, I wish I could do anything to help you, but I can't. At least that old man has lots of money and you will live well."

Bella gave me a quick but not-needed hug and left me alone in the kitchen.

"I have been sold out."

I whispered to no one in disbelieve as I fell silently on the stool.