Vincenzo Dante Volkov: I didn’t bother turning my phone back on. The notifications had already spoken for themselves. Whoever was behind this knew exactly where to strike, and they’d done it with precision.Victoria returned to the room, her expression unreadable. She handed me a tablet, the article pulled up on the screen again.“This isn’t just about you,” she said, sitting beside me. “They’ve dragged your family into it too.”I skimmed through the text, my jaw tightening. Names, dates, transactions—none of it should’ve been accessible. Yet there it was, laid bare for the world to see.“What’s the plan?” Victoria asked. Her tone was calm, but I could tell she was calculating just as much as I was.“For now, nothing,” I said. “The more I move, the more attention I draw.”Victoria didn’t argue. Instead, she leaned back, staring at the ceiling as though piecing together her own strategy.My phone buzzed again, despite being on silent. A new message popped up on the locked screen: “Thi
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:By noon, the calls had reached a boiling point. My father’s voice boomed through the landline, demanding answers I didn’t have.“What the hell is going on, Vincenzo? Do you know how bad this looks?”“I’m handling it,” I said curtly, pacing the length of the suite. “Pa, can you stop panicking?”“Panicking?!” He let out a bitter laugh. “This isn’t just about you anymore. This is about the Volkov name.”I hung up without another word. My father’s lectures had always been his way of reminding me that I was the black sheep of the family, or throwing in how my twin brother, Ivan, was exactly what they had wanted.Victoria sat on the balcony, scrolling through her phone. She didn’t look up when I joined her. “They’re not going to let this go, you know,” she said, her voice quiet but firm.“I know,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck.I sat beside her, not knowing what to say. The weight of the situation was settling in, creeping up on me like a storm on the horizo
Victoria Bella Volkov:I was speaking to someone—a contact of mine. The only thing I wanted was to stop the storm that had erupted around us.While Vincenzo was busy shutting out his family, I had reached out to a few people of my own. The article was too polished, too targeted, to be random. Whoever leaked this information knew exactly how to cut him where it hurt.By evening, I had a name—or at least part of one. A former associate of his had been spotted meeting with a journalist weeks ago. It was thin, but it was enough to keep digging.When I returned to the suite, Vincenzo was on the phone, his voice tense and low. He ended the call abruptly as I walked in.“Anything new?” he asked, his gaze sharp.“Nothing yet,” I lied, avoiding his eyes.He groaned and leaned against the counter. “I asked my brother for help. He’s sending his jet over since the airline is still stalling.”“Good. Getting home is the first step. But…” I hesitated. “What do you think about Christopher?”His jaw t
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:“Babe, did you see my tie?” I asked, scanning the suite. Victoria didn’t even glance up, her focus glued to her laptop.“Are you even listening?” I sighed, exasperated.She looked up, shutting her laptop. “Luciano Brown is the boy you used to bully,” she said, her voice calm, but her words sharp enough to knock the wind out of me.“Luciano Brown!?” My brows shot up.“Yes. And Olivia? She wasn’t some doctor in Canada or wherever you thought she was. She’s his girlfriend. The one he abuses and sent to your house as his little spy,” she added, tapping a pen against her cheek like she was casually dissecting my life.“Okay…go on.”“Do you want to know the most interesting part?”“No,” I muttered, already feeling the migraine coming on.“Good. Now accept that I’m fit to be a Donna.” She smirked, clearly enjoying herself.“Jesus Christ! Cut the crap, Little Mouse. Just tell me!”“Oh, Russian Mafia kingpins and their short tempers,” she teased, then leaned forward. “Ch
Victoria Bella Volkov:“Are you sure about this?” I asked Juliet as we stepped out of the car.She nodded confidently. “This is the best idea. Trust me. Now, come on.”Juliet grabbed my arm and dragged me into the Clubhouse. The pounding music hit us like a wave, and the air was thick with smoke and cheap perfume.We had done our research. Olivia wasn’t just being abused—she was being forced to work here as a stripper. That alone fueled my anger.The crowd was wild, and it was hard to see through the flashing lights. I turned to Juliet. “Let’s split up. One of us has to find her.”“Good idea. You take the left.”I maneuvered through the sweaty bodies, trying to stay focused. A drunk guy stumbled in front of me, slurring, “Hey, pretty…you look gorgeous. Wanna dance?”“Ew, no.” I pushed past him, his drunken laugh echoing behind me.Then I saw her. Olivia. She was wearing a revealing red dress, her face painted with heavy makeup. She looked completely different, but I knew it was her.I
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:"Christopher, I never thought you would do this to me… How could you? Hm?" I asked, slapping his face.He dropped to his knees, his hands resting on the ground."I’ll ask, and you’ll answer. What were you trying to do? I didn’t hurt you, did I? How long have you known him?""Since we were kids. He was like a brother to me. He’d come home hurt, bleeding, and…""And? Was it that bad?" I asked, leaning closer."Yes, it was. He ran away from home at least four times… because of you." He said it slowly, looking at me like I was a monster."That doesn’t excuse what you did. You broke my trust. I should kill you, but—""Please, Boss… Please—""You’ve destroyed everything, Christopher. Everything we’ve built. And now you expect me to keep you around?" I took a step closer, making sure he saw the finality in my eyes."Boss, please… I’m sorry. I never meant for any of this—"I raised a hand, silencing him. "I don’t need your apologies. I need loyalty. And you’ve shown non
Victoria Bella Volkov:"Can I trust you?" Olivia asked, her voice trembling.I nodded, taking her hands in mine."Luciano is trafficking underage girls," she said, her voice filled with disgust. "But that’s not all—he’s doing even worse things to them. Here’s the video footage." She handed me a file folder. "And this," she added, placing something in my hand."This has everything you need," she whispered before I pulled her into a hug."Thank you, Olivia. I’ve already spoken with Vincenzo. Everything is arranged for your departure. You just need to leave tomorrow evening before anything happens to you. Alright?""What about the kids?" she snapped, her eyes brimming with desperation. "I’m not leaving them. No way! I’m not leaving them with that monster!""I understand," I said softly. "I wouldn’t leave them behind either."She exhaled shakily and nodded. "Alright. Just…promise me you’ll figure this out.""I will," I assured her as she stepped out of the car. I rolled up the windows and
Victoria Bella Volkov:The press conference had passed, and today we were on the streets of Russia, helping the poor and homeless.This was part of our social punishment and our efforts to make amends. Vincenzo, however, wouldn’t let me do any manual work. My role was to speak to the elderly, even though some cursed me and spat at me. I didn’t let it bother me.The media stood by, watching and broadcasting live. Some accused us of trying to bribe the community through charity.The senators and the new Russian head of state had acted on what Vincenzo said a few days ago, supplying us with food, diapers, clothes, water, and even money. It wasn’t surprising—Vincenzo had played a significant role in their election.“We don’t want your food!” The younger and middle-aged protesters yelled, condemning us.I was getting stressed and exhausted, but I reminded myself this would soon end. Deep down, I knew they were just disappointed in Vincenzo.Despite being in the mafia, Vincenzo has always b
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:“Alright… You can do it!” This was me encouraging my wife in the hospital bed.In the blink of an eye, a few months had already passed, and we were doing really great—absolutely great.Victoria was in the labor room, and although I wasn't the doctor helping her give birth, I was still there. I wasn’t going to leave her.“Push!!”“Ahhh!!”It was a long night. Victoria had been in labor for hours, and I could see the exhaustion on her face. Sweat slicked her forehead, and her grip on my hand tightened with each contraction."Easy... easy..." I whispered, trying to keep her calm, but she wasn’t hearing it. She was too focused on the pain."Push!" the nurse said, her voice sharp and clear. Victoria squeezed her eyes shut, letting out a loud cry of frustration."Push! You’ve got this, Victoria," I said, doing my best to be encouraging. She glared at me between breaths."Yeah, right. You’re the one who put me in this position!" she shot back, her voice strained. I kne
Victoria Bella Volkov:A family celebration was happening today. I was in my room, feeling nauseous.My baby was five months along now, and this had to be the best experience of my life. Having a doctor for a husband was a unique kind of blessing. Vincenzo handled my check-ups, prescribed medications, made sure I had a good day, and constantly reminded me to eat fruits, especially those rich in vitamin C.Juliet and Christopher had come over for the family celebration.What was the celebration about again? Oh, right. It was for Vincenzo—him officially reuniting with the family.Don Nikolai was returning today too, and the house was bustling. Everyone seemed busy with something. I stayed in the room with Juliet.“So... we went for a scan, and guess what? We’re having twins!” she announced, her eyes sparkling.“Oh my God, Juliet! Twins? That’s beautiful! I can’t believe it! I envy you so much!” I pulled her into a warm hug.“I’m going to miss you, Juliet. I can’t believe you and Christo
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:“Mum, I want everyone to stay put. I’ve spoken with Victoria, and it seems like something is wrong.”“I found out where she is. She’s in a deserted warehouse, not too far from here—probably about a 40-minute drive.”“Yeah, that’s the same place you mentioned. I feel like she’s being held captive, and I’d bet 100 bucks it’s that stupid Luciano.”“All right, Dante. Be careful, okay…” my mother said, pulling me into a hug.“I’m going with you,” Cassandra said, but I shook my head.“No, I need to go alone.”“No, I’m not allowing that,” she said firmly. “I’m saying this as the Don’s wife. Let’s go!”The drive to this place was nerve-wracking. My guns were ready. Cassandra didn’t like the idea of going alone, so she insisted on coming with me.The plan was simple: she’d stay inside. If anything went wrong, she was to come out.As soon as I arrived, the darkness and silence of the place hit me. I knew my wife wouldn't willingly stay here. Hell, even if she weren’t my
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:"Alright… to the left!" I instructed the construction team.The new project was underway—a major road for a remote village. We were so far from the city, and the heat was unbearable. Even the AC in the car couldn't cool me down."At this point, I want a sign that says 'Slow Down,'" I added, knowing the road would lead to a dusty area. Accidents were common here, so a warning was necessary."Boss, you should take a break and have lunch. It's past time, and we're almost done for the day," Evelyn suggested. I nodded, checking my wristwatch.It had been a while, and Little Mouse still hadn’t answered her phone. I dialed again, but the call wouldn’t go through. I figured it was a network issue and decided not to try again."Instant noodles?" I raised an eyebrow as Evelyn placed them on the table."Finding real food here is impossible, boss. I don’t know why we’re even here. You should have let the Construction Manager handle this. It's so hot... there isn’t a single
Victoria Bella Volkov:“Tiger, are you going to drive me to the supermarket?” I asked, trying to hide the disappointment in my voice as I noticed the tension in his expression.He shook his head. “No, I'm already running late. Why don’t you go with one of the guards, hmm? Just... don’t leave without security.”I pouted a little but nodded. “Fine. Can’t believe you're not taking me. But I’ll manage. I’ll leave now...”“I’m sorry, babe. I really wish I could, but this meeting... I’m already ten minutes behind. Please, just be careful,” he said, kissing my forehead before I turned to go.I stepped outside, the air crisp as I headed to the supermarket. It wasn’t far from the estate, just a quick errand for some fruit. It wasn’t like we didn’t have fruit at home, but I craved something different.As I walked through the aisles, my phone buzzed in my pocket. A text from Vincenzo.I love you, baby...I smiled, my heart warming, but the calm was short-lived.A sound. A shift in the air, like
Victoria Bella Volkov:I was in the same room with Cassandra, and she was helping me with a soft back massage.“You do this so well…”“Yeah… Nikolai taught me.”“You know, I…” I said, sitting up. “I saw a lot of headlines about you. The D’Angelo daughter.” I said, and she looked at Sharon, requesting she leave the room.“Hmm. I'm sorry I had to ask her to leave. This is a sensitive topic for me. As you know, I was abused by people I thought were family. I lost my first baby…” Tears started to well up in her eyes.“I didn’t even know I was pregnant. It’s crazy because it was my adopted brother’s child, and he…”“Hey, I’m sorry I brought that up,” I said, gently. “Me too. I was abused. My adopted sister, Marianne, stole the trash of a boyfriend, and you know…”“Yeah… Vincenzo told us what happened. I’m sorry… it happened to you!” She said, going to wash her hands.“It’s okay… It’s not your fault. I’m healing.”“And I’m healed,” she added, and we both laughed at that.My phone buzzed, an
Victoria Bella Volkov:“Why would you say that?” I asked, chasing after Vincenzo to the bathroom.“Honey…I can't, okay…”“Please… Please, for me…” I pouted my lips, and he groaned in annoyance.“Little Mouse, I'm doing this for love. Come on… How on earth do you expect me to wear a donkey cosplay?” He pointed at the package I had ordered from Amazon.“Oh yeah… You won’t do it for your pregnant wife!?” I looked away, and he pulled me into a hug.“You seem to forget that if I could get the world for you, I would. I’ll wear it, okay?” He kissed my forehead, and I blushed.Quickly, I left the bathroom and put on my own cosplay.I was cosplaying Beetlejuice. I did a quick makeup job, and when I was done, he was also out of the bathroom.The way he looked at me, I was sure he was tired of me.“Twin… Where have you been??” I bit my lip, crawling toward him slowly.“What in the world of cosplay is this?” He asked as I reached for his towel.“You don’t think I’m pretty?”“You’re pretty… Yeah…
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:Nothing on this planet could have prepared me for the changes in my wife's behavior or her frequent eating habits. Our beautiful journey together has been nothing short of amazing.My mother does everything she can to ensure my wife is well, and with Cassandra's help, we’ve been making slow but steady progress.At the moment, I was in my office, having resumed work today. The place had been quiet, and everything seemed to be running smoothly.“Boss,” Evelyn knocked on the door before stepping inside. “She's here. Should I send her in?”“Yes, definitely,” I replied, and she nodded before leaving.A few minutes later, a middle-aged woman in red walked in. She had a familiar face—I recognized her, though I doubted if she recognized me.“Mr. Vincenzo, how nice to meet you,” she said, taking a seat across from me.“The pleasure is all mine. So, you requested to see me?”“Yes, erm... I sent you a proposal, but I didn’t receive a response. Was it because it wasn’t sati
Victoria Bella VolkovThe past two weeks had been a whirlwind of activity. Vincenzo and I worked tirelessly to ensure the children found better homes. Some were taken in by foster families, while others were reunited with their biological parents. A few had no place to go, but we made sure they were safe.Luciano, however, was still missing. He had vanished without a trace. Vincenzo had gone after him, but it turned out to be a trap, leaving us no closer to finding him.For now, though, people seemed pleased with our efforts. The children’s welfare was a small victory in a sea of chaos. Christopher, on the other hand, hadn’t returned to work yet. His betrayal still lingered like a shadow between us.Once trust is broken, it’s never the same again. Still, Christopher remained close to Vincenzo. Perhaps loyalty, even fractured, is hard to sever entirely.Abigail, Grace, and the other girls were taken to a secure location. Many of them were fortunate to reunite with their families, and w