Alina sat at the small table in the kitchen alone. Two plates filled with food sat there along with two glasses of water. She played with the wedding ring on her left finger. The food was cold by now. It had been over an hour that Mal said he would be home. There tiny apartment was not far from the police station where she worked. Worry had filled her while she had waited. What if something had happened to her husband? Mal was rarely this late coming home. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath. She was tired from working all day and then coming home to cook. Mal didn't like that she worked but they needed the money. So she worked as a teacher at the local elementary school. She worked with the art classes and often came home with hands covered in paint. She loved making the kids happy though. She had wanted a baby when they first got married, but Mal wanted to wait. Spend time together, but that never happened now that they were married. Alina gave up on waiting and began to pick up. She ate a little of hers before putting the rest with his and placing it in the ice box. She quickly washed herself and got in bed with a good book. She began to read as she waited for her husband to get home. It was a few hours later that he came home.
Mal was a handsome young man that always seemed to make her heart flutter. They had grown up together in an orphanage before they had married and were childhood friends. She had always loved him. It was hard to find someone else when he was the only one around. She has said yes when he asked her to marry at the age of seventeen. He had joined the police force and she went into the education system. She did not make a lot but every little thing helped.
Alina smiled at her husband in relief when he walked into the bedroom. He put his hat down to reveal his brown hair. His blue eyes were sparkling when they looked at her. However. He didn't smile. He rarely smiled at her now a days. She quickly got out of bed and followed him into the kitchen. He was pulling his dinner from the ice box. She quickly made him a glass of water. She placed it in front of him. She took his uniform jacket and got a whiff of a floral perfume. However, she decided to ignore it and began to wash it. She was quiet as she washed, afraid to set him off. She hung it up and picked up the plate and glass Mal had left on the table after eating. She went into the bedroom where he was washing.
"How was your day?" She asked.
"It was busy." He was short with her. It was clear from his tone that he was finished with the conversation. Alina shut her eyes so she wouldn't cry. She could feel their relationship falling apart. She climbed into bed and felt tears fall.
"Alina. Don't cry." Mal climbed into bed next to her. He had a weakness for her tears. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so short with you. I had a long day." He pulled her against him and buried his face in her neck as guilt filled him. He knew he shouldn't be doing what he was doing. Alina didn't deserve what he did after work but he couldn't help it. It was his release. He turned Alina towards him and kissed her forehead. "I love you."
Alina buried her face against his chest. She always forgave him no matter how much he hurt her. She wondered when it would finally be enough. Alina knew the attention her husband received from the opposite sex. The constant parade of women flirting had made her hate herself more.
"Mal." She said softly. "When can we have a baby?"
"Soon." He said. "We can't afford one now. I promise you a baby soon."
She looked up at him. "I want to give you a family."
Mal felt more guilt eat at him. "I know." He stroked her back gently. "Get some rest Alina. Tomorrow is another day….I will be home late tomorrow. I will probably get in after you fall asleep."
"Must you?" She asked. "I was hoping we could spend time together tomorrow. Can you meet for lunch?"
"I can't. I am on a huge case right now." He let her go and laid on his back with his eyes shut. Alina laid her head on his spread out arm. She closed her eyes and fell fast asleep. Mal stayed awake though. The memory of his romp with Zoya fresh in his mind. He never thought he would be one of those men that would commit adultery. However, he had been in her apartment this evening while his wife sat at home waiting on him. Mal turned to Alina and watched her quietly. She was so lovely but would be beautiful if she filled out more. He knew he was to blame. She has always given him her portion of food. Even now he could tell she sacrificed to make him happy. However, he was too selfish to sacrifice for her.
Alina was up before Mal to make breakfast for him and sandwiches for the day. She was setting his plate on the table when he walked in. She smiled and kissed him softly. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?" She was surprised when Mal brought her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he pressed against her. She whimpered as he deepened the kiss. Mal dominated her mouth as he pressed her against the wall. He pinned her there as he ravaged her mouth. He finally pulled away when he had enough if her.
Alina smiled at him happily. She hadn't been kissed like that in a while. She made herself a small breakfast and ate with him. She couldn't keep the smile off her face as Mal actually ate with her. She felt so happy at that moment. It was almost like they were happy again except Mal was not interested in her. They talked about his case and nothing more.
Mal was on the trail of a bootlegger called the Darkling. There was not a lot known except he was the leader to a Russian mob. For months they had been after the guy but had never been able to catch him. Now they had a lead. Mal was hoping to catch the man and receive a pay raise after. Then they could discuss having a baby.
The thought of finally getting a child made Alina excited. Maybe a baby could fix Mal's unhappiness. Maybe he would finally be happy being with her. Alina wanted to have the family she never received when she was in the orphanage. She wanted to have that future with her husband.
The man stared at the picture of the woman on his desk. She was a pretty little thing, not exceptionally beautiful. "This is the cop's wife."
The man looked back down. "I'll handle this one Ivan. Continue to infiltrate the police station. I want to make sure the Police Chief keeps his side of the deal."
Alina was putting on her coat to leave. She had food packed in a small bag for Mal to enjoy. His favorite food was in the bag. Alina was quick in leaving the apartment. New York City was starting to get cold. She hoped Mal remember his coat. The temperature had dropped drastically in the past week. Alina liked the cold. It was a nice change from the stifling heat that seemed to fill the city in the summer and fall.
It wasn't a long walk when she finally arrived at the police station. She walked in and walked out only a few moments. She quickly walked the opposite direction of home. She gave the food away as she walked. Alina found herself fighting back the tears. She had ignored the signs for months now. It took seeing Mal kissing the Chief's secretary to see what was in front of her. The beautiful Zoya Nazalensky was perfect for Mal. She fit his image perfectly while sickly looking Alina did not.
It didn't take long for her to find herself in Central Park. It was colder than it was before and she was beginning to shiver. She sat on a bench and stared up at the sky. She felt so naïve and stupid, her heart shattering into a million pieces by the boy she thought would love her forever.
"It's too beautiful of a night to be looking like that." A deep baritone voice suddenly spoke next to her.
Alina glances over to find a man in all black sitting next to her. The fear must have shown on her face since he gave her a charming smile. "Forgive my manners. That was awfully rude of me. Let me introduce myself." He stood up and moved in front of her. "My name is Aleksander Morozova," He took her hand and kissed the back one. A blush filled her face. "Alina. My name is Alina.
"Alina." He purred as a strange glitter entered his face. He back to his seat. "Do you want to tell me what is wrong? Perhaps you would feel better. I do hate to see someone so pretty look so sad."
Alina was surprised. No one had ever asked her what was wrong. She had always been expected to be grateful and happy. Even with Mal. Tears filled her eyes once more at the pain she felt. She was quiet for a few moments. "It's my husband." Her voice cracked with emotion. "He has a lover." Tears fell. "I was so stupid. I didn't see the signs in front of me." She felt Aleksander stroke her hair before bringing her to his chest. "There, there." He stroked her hair like a little pet as she cried. The touch was gentle but possessive.
Aleksander had never meet a woman like this. One so innocent and pure. It made him want to corrupt it as he held the woman close against him. His dark heart seemed to warm a little at the feel of her against him. Her small body was frail and malnourished. Dark anger filled him. He had seen photos of the rat she was married to. He looked well fed and healthy unlike his wife that was currently in his arms. "A man like that doesn't deserve you, Alina."
She looked up at him, her brown eyes sparkled from the water in them. The looked so lovely and filled with innocent trust to a man she just met. He was right in his previous opinion. The cop had left his own wife emotional dependent. With the man's recent betrayal it would be easy to take her from him. Alina was the key to destroying the cop. The answer to his boredom. He continued to hold the young woman as she took comfort in his embrace. "Tell me what it is you truly want, Alina."
She hesitated when he asked the question. Unsure to tell him.
"Jewels? Money? Riches?" He listed what other women had ever told him.
"A baby." She answered truthfully. "I want to carry and give birth to a baby."
The darkling hid his surprise at the answer. Never had a woman wanted such a pure desire. His interest in the woman grew. "A baby?'
"Yes. A baby." She giggled at the shock on the man's face. "Is it so hard to believe?"
"No Little Sun. It isn't." He could see the desire in her eyes. A deep longing filled him. He wanted to keep her. Deep inside he wanted to keep this little sun to himself.
"Little Sun?" Alina was confused at the name. "Why are you calling me that?"
"Because it is what you, a little sun." My Little Sun. He was growing to like the blush that filled her cheeks.