His Mafia Prince
Chapter 40: Just The Mark, Right?

Chapter 40: Just The Mark, Right?

(SASHA)

"Tyler," I intend to blackmail him with more threats but end up doing the opposite. "I...I’m sorry." I say hoarsely. I’m as shocked as Tyler is the minute those words leave my mouth. They sound foreign to me too. I can’t remember the last time I apologized to anyone.

We gaze at each other for a beat as the apology hangs in the air.

He blinks at me disbelievably.

"I’m sorry, but I have to protect my mother and my brother." I grit my teeth. "Angelo is coming after me. He doesn’t care that exposing you to the other syndicates could get my family killed. All he wants is to take over."

"How are you any different, Sasha? Don’t you want that too?"

"It’s my birthright." I snarl. "I’ve trained for this my whole life. I can’t stand here idly and watch Angelo take what rightfully belongs to me."

His face softens and his anger seems to subside. "We just have to be firm and keep our stories straight." He implores. "That way Angelo can’t prove our marriage isn’t real, no? It’s his word against ours."

"Just like I told you earlier, we can’t prove our marriage is legitimate if you don’t have my mark. Think of what will happen if the men learn that I lied to them."

His gaze narrows and he looks confused. "You told me your parents’ marriage was arranged. It is a common practice among the mafia families to strengthen alliances and they tend to do it all the time. Why is our case different? Why does anyone have to be enraged by our arranged marriage?"

"That’s because much as the arranged marriages happen, alphas have to claim their omegas. The marriage has to be real. My parents’ marriage was indeed a business deal but that didn’t make my father to not claim my mother. That’s how it works. The bond is the only way to assure the men of the union."

"Are you sure Angelo will insist on seeing my mark?"

"Trust me, he will. My sources are never wrong, Tyler. Think about this." I sigh. "What would be a legitimate reason for not giving my omega my mark? I would have already claimed you. The night we married was the night I was supposed to claim you."

"You know our arrangement is short-lived, Sasha." He exhales loudly. "Your mark will fuck up my future."

I sigh. "I know Tyler, but do you want my family dead? Would you rather die?"

He seems to be more confused by the information I’m giving him. He quirks a brow and then asks me. "How are you and your family getting killed okay? Forgive me if I find that hard to believe. I thought The Adonis name was legendary. Respected."

"You’re not wrong. What I don’t want is for Angelo to prove that I am weak enough to not claim my omega. If he does that, I’m done for. The rushed marriage is not even the least of my worries. What worries me is the perceived weakness. That’s the part that gets me killed."

"You aren’t weak."

"I know." I scowl. "But how will I prove that if you agreed to marry me but refuse to have my mark? That’s how the men lose the respect they have for me. You might not know this, but respect is what keeps men alive in our world. Even if they spared my family from death, we’d be exiled. If I don’t have the menus’ protection, I expose my entire family. I know for a fact that my father made many enemies over the years. They’d all be too happy to take their revenge if I don’t have my men’s backup."

"You’re all sick."

I sigh. "Maybe we are. What I know is Angelo won’t hesitate to bring me down the first chance he gets. He will demand to see the mark. That’s the only card he has, really. All he has to do is to humiliate me in front of the other syndicates to take the leadership role."

"How is this fair now, Sasha? All your family problems somehow turn into my problems."

"We are one now. That’s why." I grimace. "Whatever affects me affects you. We could work this out if you just stopped fighting me and listened for a change. Just listen to me, Tyler. I’ll give you whatever you want."

He shoots me a piercing stare. "What I want is for you to stop asking me to accept your mark."

I shake my head. "That’s out of the options."

"Let’s say for instance," he bites his jaw. "I...I let you mark me. It... it will be fresh. They will notice the mark, right?"

"Alphas often bite their omegas during sex. It’s not uncommon." I swallow thickly. "It turns both of them on."

"My God..." he rubs his neck. "This... this is―" he looks conflicted and scared.

"I’m sorry Tyler. I should have read the signs. I should have seen this coming." I wince. "It hadn’t occurred to me that Angelo would demand to see the mark. I forgot how cunning he can be."

My apology seems to soften him. He gazes at me as his face shifts into a range of emotions. His shoulders slump and he finally says, "If I agree to this madness, where are we going to do it?"

I heave a big sigh of relief. I’m glad he finally came to his senses. I would have forced him if I had to, and that wouldn’t have been fair to us both. I don’t want to hurt him and torment myself in the process. I clear my throat. "Here," I point to the bed. "It would be best if you lie down. You’ll probably pass out."

"Shit." He mumbles, raking his hand through his hair. A flush of pink works up on his cheeks. "Just the bite, right?"

"Right. Just the bite."

Heat rushes to my cock at the idea of more. But I know better than to not show it. In fact, I shake my head to dispel the thoughts because I know for a fact that if they linger too long, he might notice and get spooked. It was already hard enough to convince him. My salacious thoughts won’t be helpful now. I also know that once I sink my teeth into his flesh and taste my blood, it will be very hard for me to control myself. I will try though.

I’ll only take what he wants me to take.

"This is insane, Sasha."

"It’s a necessary evil," I smirk.

His tiny hands rake through his hair frustratedly. "I can’t believe I’m letting you do this."

"You’re ready, Tyler? I’ll make it worth your while. I’ll pay you any amount of money for this sacrifice."

"What good will money have if I have to spend the rest of my life single?"

The pain in his voice makes me wince. I almost feel sorry for him but I don’t let myself harbor those kinds of emotions now. "I’m on the wall Tyler."

He walks over to the bed silently. He climbs the bed and I can’t help noticing that his movements are stiff. He looks mortified. He lies and then rolls onto his side. He brings his legs to his chest and curls into a ball. I feel something knot in my stomach as I watch him. Oddly enough, I feel the need to comfort him.

"Do it. Get it over and done with."

My legs feel stuck. "This is for the best, remember."

He is silent.

I stare silently, giving him a few minutes to relax. "I’ll join you now, okay?"

"Okay."

My movements are careful as I get on the bed. I lie on my side facing him. We stare into each other’s eyes intensely. His breaths are quick and shallow. He is terrified like a prey whose predator is advancing on.

"It will hurt." I say softly."

"I know." He inhales deeply.

I swallow thickly. "Come closer, Tyler."