Serafin
Kings of Krakow Book 1
Deja Voss
Copyright © 2021 by Deja Voss
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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Contents
Foreword
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
28. COMING THIS APRIL
Foreword
19 Authors - 19 crime syndicates - 19 countries
Check out all the Social Rejects Syndicate World Books here!
1
Serafin:
Krakow: Poland, 2002
I shake off my sore knuckles and shove my fist in the pocket of my leather jacket as I close the door to the apartment. I whistle to myself, brimming with pride and satisfaction, taking the steps two by two.
Mia Dolata is going to go to Studniowka with me, and she has no reason to tell me no.
She was too proud to let me buy her an evening gown, so I did what any normal man would do in my position. I made sure her boss at the bakery gave her a raise. And the weekend off. Paid in full. It took a little bit of charm and a little bit of muscle, but I loosened my grip on his throat as he called her and told her the great news.
Maybe I’m not such a great guy, but for Mia, I turn into a pile of warm mush. I’ve held her hand through cheesy romantic movies, taken her ice skating, and rescued so many kittens that I have to take three different kinds of allergy medications just to get through the day. I’d rescue a hundred more if it kept her interested in me.
My family says it’s just hormones, that I’ll grow out of this soon and meet a woman of my own stature, someone who comes from a family with the kind of wealth and power that the Kings of Krakow have. Those painted up prostitutes don’t have as much class in their whole body as Mia does in her little finger. It’s not hormonal. It’s the solid truth.
The night air is cool, and spring seems to be taking it’s happy time getting here this year. I think about walking into prom with Mia on my arm wearing a tasteful blue evening gown, covered all the way down to her ankles except for that little circle in between her shoulder blades, and instantly I’m warm.
I could get my dick wet any day of the week with anyone I pleased, but nothing makes me harder than the thought of that little circle of freckles on her back. The way her hair always smells like a fresh baked Christmas cake no matter what season. The way she gets so excited about the littlest fucking things, the stupidest fucking things that no other girls my age appreciate, like snowflakes in my eyelashes or a cloud that looks like the face of Jesus.
Every day of Mia’s sad existence is a fucking celebration, and I want to be a part of it.
The girl is so dirt poor she can’t even afford to pay attention, but she does. She notices. Everything.
Her face lights up from the window as I walk down the alleyway behind the bakery. She’s got a dusting of flour across her forehead. She waves her arms and smiles, and the back door swings open.
“Misiu,” I say, my little mouse, my pet name for her. I kiss her hand and her smile grows wider. I love the way she smiles so big, her lips disappear and all you can see are teeth. “You’re glowing.”
She shivers and pulls her ragged cardigan tight around her body. “I have some amazing news.”
I rub my hands up and down her arms, trying to warm her. “Are you finally going to be my girlfriend?”
She blushes and bats her eyelashes. I would marry this girl tomorrow if she just said the word. I don’t give a fuck if we are not even out of school yet. When you know, you know.
“Mr. Zielinski gave me a very generous raise!” she says.
“Is that so?” I ask.
“Yes! It’s enough that I’ll be able to help my father build that wheelchair ramp for mama. Just in time for spring. Oh, she’s going to be so excited.”
My teeth clench. I have enough money in my wallet right now I could buy her family’s whole house if I wanted to. Why did she have to born into a family where her father couldn’t even support them? It makes me so angry. She deserves so much more.
And yet she won’t take it.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
“Nothing,” I say, tapping a cigarette out of my pack and lighting it up. I suck down a couple puffs, blowing the clouds of smoke over her shoulder. “That’s your money, Mia. You work hard for it. You should be able to do whatever you want with it.”
“And what would I want to do with it other than help my family?” She puts her hands on her hips and cocks her head to the side like she’s trying to figure out some intricate puzzle.
“Your family does nothing but take from you Mia. They don’t help you. They don’t support you.”
“They are all that I have in this world. They are a part of me, Serafin. Would you let your own mother suffer alone inside in pain all day?”
My mother has never suffered a day in her life, aside maybe giving birth to me, which is why she never had any other kids. She knew my father was a smart hardworking man and she let him handle things, as she should. As Mia could with me. She’s just too fucking stubborn to admit it.
“You’re going to Studniowka with me,” I say,
