Chapter 29ALLESIAThe tension in the room was palpable as Nikolai wouldn't take his eyes off me and Renzo wouldn't stop raising inquisitive brows at me. I waited for any of them to say something, but there was no luck there so I finally cleared my throat and stepped out of the counter. “Hey…” I greeted Nikolai nervously. He stepped closer and pressed a light peck on my cheek while his hand went around my waist and I shuddered at the contact. When he felt me tense up, Nikolai offered a calming smile and stepped away. “I didn't know that you guys knew Russel Mancini.”“Oh no we don't,” it was Renzo who answered, “Not on a personal level. He merely stops by here to drink his favorite scotch sometimes.”Nikolai nodded, “Sounds like something he would do.” Then he stepped even closer to me, “But you must avoid him, Les,” he admonished, “I'm sure you already know that he is in the mafia. He's the vicious Capo of Cosa Monsoni and the don of Region Mafia Men.”I let out a nervous chuckle,
Chapter 30RUSSEL“Nikolai was there.” I informed Kegan as he drove towards our next target, a hotel. “Nikolai? Which of them?” I scoffed and nearly kicked him in the balls, but he was driving so I had to just shake my head and answer again, “How many Nikolai do you know? Nikolai fucking Gianni of course!” A gasp left Kegan’s mouth, “Was where? In your dreams? I thought you stopped having those stupid dreams long ago.” I turned to look at him with a dark scowl, “Dreams, really? I'm telling you the man was at the bar where Allesia works!”This time, his eyes rounded in their sockets and I scoffed, “The bar?” And then his brows wrinkled as if he just discovered something he shouldn't have, “You went to the bar where Allesia works? Wait, she's still working there?” This time I had to really curse underneath my breath, “Why do you have to be so dramatic and foolish at the same time? You are supposed to be a made man, dude, act like it!” Kegan suddenly stirred the car into an abrupt h
Chapter 31RUSSELAs I strode out of the hotel room, the tension of the encounter with Diaz still crackling in the air behind me, I felt the familiar weight of power settle on my shoulders. I was Russel, a fucking psycho mafia don, and I had no qualms about punching a bullet hole in a man's heart provided he posed as a threat. I made my way through the hotel, my footsteps echoing in the empty corridors. I had left the door open for the girls to scurry out and I knew what Kegan meant when he said the hotel would be on lockdown in the next thirty minutes. The girls would run out screaming what they had just witnessed, and in no time, dumb cops would line the alley trying to determine who the masked killer was. But no one would talk, not even the girls because I had made sure of it before leaving them alive.Outside, the city bustled with life, but all that was about to be shattered by the news of the murder of Diaz Gonzalez, the Columbian socialite who had paid Italy a friendly visit.
Chapter 32 ALLESIA“Your brother says you are engaged,” Elletra was saying. My eyes shot up from the book I was holding, “Engaged?” “To that rich guy. Apparently, he is head over heels for you,” Elletra completed. I dropped the book and folded my arms on my leg dramatically, “Is that so?” “Come on,” she snorted, “You are not going to give me the juicy details, are you? I was away for three weeks and you didn't even think to call me. And now I had to find out from your brother that you'll be getting married soon!” “Getting married!” I gasped, glancing around as I put my hands over her mouth, “That's a whole lot of bullshit! You know I would never dream of keeping such a thing as my engagement from you!”“Come on, don't be like that. It's not like I'm angry or anything. I mean, if anything, I'm glad that one of us is getting laid.” A small gasp escaped my lips, “None of us is getting laid! Look, whatever Renzo told you, it's all lies. He's just making up stories because he wants m
Chapter 33ALLESIA7:40 PMAs I stood before the mirror, adjusting the delicate lace of my dress, my mind swirled with conflicting emotions. Tonight, I'm supposed to meet Nikolai, the man who has shown me nothing but kindness and affection. Yet, lurking in the depths of my consciousness was the looming shadow of Russel's offer—six million dollars in exchange for my peace.Russel, the enigmatic figure who operated in the shadows of the underworld, doesn't play by the rules of morality or ethics. His wealth is built on a foundation of bloodshed and illicit activities. But despite the allure of financial security that his proposition promises, the mere thought of being entangled with him sent shivers down my spine.On the other hand, there was Nikolai—a beacon of light in my tumultuous world. He treats me with the utmost respect and tenderness, showering me with affection that transcends material wealth. With him, I feel safe, cherished, and valued as a woman deserving of love, not just a
Chapter 34 RUSSEL “...Dylan has sent a picture of the gold before it even got into Italy,” Kegan was saying, he pushed his laptop in front of me to show me the image but I wasn't even looking, “According to your word, this might mean we will have to forfeit the gold.” “You and Dylan have a show off?” Melissa directed the question at me. We were sitting in my study after a hectic day and yet I couldn't get them both out of my hair, “Just him trying to get a part of Russel's conquest from last night,” Kegan supplied. That was when he noticed I was not paying attention, “Hey,” he called, tapping me, “Are you even listening?” I tore my eyes from the clock, which seemed to be mocking me right now because as the minutes dragged by, I was left with the gnawing reminder that I was about to be rejected by a twenty two year old girl. My jaws clenched instinctively as I glared at Kegan, “If Dylan wants the fucking gold, let him keep it. He already accepted that the Silicone Cave is lost,
Chapter 35ALLESIAI stood there, staring into the ice cold eyes of the devil while he just looked me up from head to toe like I had suddenly grown horns. While his face did not betray any emotions, his eyes seemed to be sizing me and I could feel the intensity of his gaze right in my guts.Why the fuck did I come back here?“Hey…” I greeted awkwardly, since he didn't offer any words. He wouldn't talk and he wasn't leaving the doorway for me to come in. So there I stood, with my hand still hanging in the air and my lips parted slightly. I couldn't ignore the gun he was holding and my mind puzzled over the fact that he might just shoot me there, but when he glanced at my face again, I saw him tuck the gun safely behind his back and I released a breath. “I wasn't expecting you.” He said icily. “Oh?” I felt so stupid and embarrassed then, standing there in the middle of the night only to be told off like that. Russsl just stood for the next five seconds, watching me like a hawk. Feeli
Chapter 36ALLESIA“Turn around,” Russel commanded in a gruff voice. I obeyed without question.He grabbed me by the waist and shoved me against himself forcefully, my breath hitched as my body pressed against him, fitting perfectly. I felt him bury his nose in my hair and he stayed like that for a second before pressing a quick kiss to the side of my face.The next thing I felt was his finger trailing down my jawline, and then he paused and opened a drawer, when he closed it, I could feel a small fabric trailing the delicate lines of my face. Then slowly, Russel stepped away from me, I tried to turn and look at him but just as I made to look, my eyes were covered with a red blindfold, leaving me in total darkness. Is he going to punish me now?My heart was racing in my chest as anticipation washed over me, I could feel a weird sensation in the pit of my stomach, almost like excitement and I couldn't even tell why. “Come,” Russel said again. This time he took my hand and led me a