Captivated by the deadly mafia boss

Nicole

It’s been two days since Jakub locked me away in his apartment for my safety. He finally relented to letting me go out when his sister called to invite me on a shopping trip with their sister-in-law. And then it wasn’t so much an invitation as Jakub telling me I needed to get out of the apartment and quit burying myself in work.

No matter the grand opening of the restaurant and cigar room is in one week and there are a few hundred last-minute details to take care of. He wants me to march down Michigan Avenue like a pampered little princess with his black Amex. But I’m so starved for the outside, I agreed.

“Sorry about the babysitter,” I say to Lena as we climb out of the SUV Jakub sent to pick me up after collecting Lena and Kasia.

Lena links her arm through mine. “If it wasn’t Jakub’s guys it would have been Micah’s or Dominik’s.”

“She’s right.” Kasia steps ahead of us and enters the ground floor of Macy’s.

I still remember when it used to be Marshall Field’s. I was a little girl back then and my parents would bring me to Chicago for Christmas. We’d see the Marshall Field’s Christmas window decorations depicting a story using the display windows on Michigan Avenue and have lunch beneath the gigantic Christmas tree inside the store.

“Face it, our husbands are overprotective possessive men.” Lena lets out a mock sigh. “It’s a burden.”

I laugh. “You don’t sound that put off by it.”

Kasia leads us to the escalators and the two men tasked with babysitting us for the afternoon follow behind.

“She’s not. Micah would give her anything she wanted so long as she flashes a smile while asking.”

“I don’t ask him for things. I can take care of myself,” Lena protests, letting go of my arm and leaning against the rail of the escalator.

“I didn’t mean you were spoiled.” Kasia puts a gentle hand on Lena’s arm. “I just meant he’s overprotective but he’s not a jerk, doesn’t keep you from doing what you want.”

Lena nods and her eyes soften. “He does spoil me, but not in a bad way.”

Kasia laughs. “That’s his job. Dominik is the same way.”

Lena’s face screws up with repulsion. “Eww, I don’t want to know what my brother does for you.”

Watching them is like watching old friends, sisters really. And they should be. Maybe not by blood, but they are close.

“Jakub will let up soon.” Lena turns her attention to me as we step off the escalator and head to the women’s department. Lena’s in the market for a dress for a wedding on Micah’s side of the family. Apparently, her husband had ordered a dressmaker to meet with her at the house, but Lena insisted she was going shopping like a normal person.

“I know,” I say, moving through the department, glancing at all the dresses. There aren’t racks like at the department stores I’m used to. While there are a few display racks, there are only a few dresses on each of them. She’ll have to have a shopper get the dress from the back if she wants to try anything on.

“Once the addition opens up, I’m sure he’ll relax.” Lena stops in front of a manikin wearing a shimmering silver dress. Strapless and the neckline runs deep-like down to the belly button deep.

“Micah will kill you.” Kasia comes to stand beside Lena.

“Micah will love it,” Lena beams.

“There’s no way he’s letting you wear that around his family,” Kasia argues.

“Who said it’s for the wedding,” Lena argues back with a grin. She reminds me of Jakub with her playfulness. I know they were close growing up, but I wonder if he knows how much of him rubbed off on her.

Kasia laughs. “Good point.”

“I’m going to get a room set aside.” Lena leaves us to find a saleswoman to help get her settled.

“I know it’s hard at first.” Kasia turns to me, compassion filling her eyes. “Being married to Jakub, it’s not like a normal marriage, right?”

Is anything about Jakub normal?

“I guess not.”

“He’s overbearing, bossy, and possessive?” Kasia’s lips twitch at the edges.

“That sums it up pretty well, yeah.” But he’s more, he’s also attentive and caring. He doesn’t push too hard, but lets me open up to him without harsh demands.

“Once the issue with the Kaczmareks is settled, it will calm down.”

“You know about that?”

Kasia nods. “I’m probably not supposed to, but Dominik doesn’t always remember to leave the room when he’s talking business.” She smiles. “He trusts me.”

“Okay, the room’s set. Let’s see what else there is.” Lena’s back and pointing at another dress I’m certain Micah won’t like her to wear in public.

“How is the opening coming?” Kasia asks as we follow Lena to a new cluster of dresses.

“Good. I think we’ll be all set. I’ve gotten a few critics and independent bloggers to attend, so I think that will help get the word out.”

“Jakub is really talented with the clubs. Dominik doesn’t have to worry about them at all with Jakub dealing with it.”

“I guess they all have their own talents,” I say. Jakub doesn’t deal with the family business in the same capacity as Dominik, and even though he says nothing outright, I think it pisses him off.

“I’m adding this one. I’ll be back.” Lena grabs another dress and disappears into the changing rooms.

“I know your parents have passed away, but do you have other family? Cousins? Aunts, uncles?” Kasia asks.

“No, not that I know of. Mom and Dad were all each other had. You come from a large family? Outside of Dominik?”

“Yeah, sort of. My father kept me secluded mostly, but I had cousins here for a while. They’ve left now, back to Poland or to New York.”

“After you married Dominik?” I ask. I know bits and pieces of their history.

“Mostly.” Kasia stretches her neck and waves in the air. Lena’s back out of the dressing room, stomping to us with a deep frown on her lips.

“What’s wrong?” I ask when she reaches us.

“None of them fit,” she complains, grabbing her purse from Kasia who’d been holding it for her.

“Did you ask for a different size?” Kasia asks.

“No.” Lena shakes her head, slinging her purse over her shoulder. “I do not need a new size. I need to shop somewhere the dresses are true to size.” And with that, she stomps off toward the escalators.

I exchange a confused look with Kasia before following her to the stairs.

“Uh.” I notice the sign on the next level. “Do you think we can look here?”

“Here?” Lena looks to the floor.

“Yeah. Jakub’s apartment is a little…”

“Man-cave-ish?” Lena fills in for me.

I laugh. “Yeah. A little. I thought, maybe I’d pick up some things for the bathroom. Just a little. Not too much.”

Kasia touches my forearm. “It’s not Jakub’s apartment anymore, Nicole. It’s yours too.”Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

“I know.” I shrug. It’s not supposed to be mine. This entire situation was supposed to be temporary. Jakub’s declaration really shouldn’t change anything. But seeing these women, these sisters, it’s making the future not seem so foggy.

Besides. A new bathmat doesn’t change anything.

“Okay. Let’s get shopping.” Lena leans to the side to speak to our bodyguards standing a few feet behind us. “Hope you guys are ready to carry some bags.” She wiggles her fingers at them, then grabs hold of my arm, dragging me toward the towels.

A bathmat, I remind myself. Maybe some towels.

Nothing too permanent.