The air tonight is thick with fear. I just watched my wife-to-be put men old enough to be their fathers in a time-out. I can't help but feel a surge of pride as I see the devilish smirk on her face, even when she's hurting inside. Davinia is not just a woman; she's a queen, and I respect that.Her capos won't be causing her any issues for a while now, and judging by the look on her uncle's face, he has no clue how or when she did it. Tiana also appears confused and shocked, while everyone else seems like they've encountered death itself."You have to rest, uncle," Tiana urges her uncle to leave the room and retire for the night. She stands up from her seat to escort him out, but Maxwell is still reeling from the shock."Your sister—" he begins."Had to do what she had to do," Tiana politely cuts him off with a tired sigh. Our eyes briefly lock before she looks away. Something tells me she knows about Davinia's lab mates. These girls are not to be messed with. Maxwell does not seem to
My head hurts. I hold my hand to it as I sit up on my bed. My bed? I remember falling asleep on Butcher's thighs when his soothing storytelling voices hit the right spot to make me seek the comfort of sleep. So how did I end up in my own bed? I'm certain Timothy isn't in any position to lift me and put me to bed."This should help with headaches."My eyes snap up to see Rolan walking into my room with the confidence of a king, holding a glass of water in his right hand and a pill in his left. His handsome face remains blank and expressionless, but his eyes are not as icy as when we first met."Helen was about to bring it in, so I took it from her because I also wanted to see you," he says as he places the water and pill in my hands."Oh," is all I manage to say. I clear my throat before tossing the aspirin into my mouth and washing it down with water. I take another sip of water and then place the cup on the desk next to my bed.The bed sinks as he sits on it, his right leg folded in
"These are the designs we picked. Your approval is needed before we go ahead with it,"My secretary, Louisa, explains to me as we walk side by side, the sound of our heels clicking and clacking across the walls.I take a look at the designs for the mall we're launching in Moscow. Everything looks too modern and intimidating to me."I don't like any of these. What I want is a building that looks modern but welcoming. I want people to walk into the mall without feeling oppressed. Yes, our products are low priced, but they're not so high that the average person would be too scared to afford them. Review more options and let me see them before the day ends.""Yes, ma'am," she replies, taking the papers from me and heading in a different direction as I turn to walk into my office. But I stop dead in my tracks when I spot a man dressed in a black coat and hat sitting on the sofa in my office.I immediately pull out my gun. "Who the fuck are you?" I sneer. My feet do not move from their posit
My mind is clouded with thoughts as I drive. Why did that man come to my office? He knows we've been searching for him. He came all the way to my office to tell me not to trust anyone? Who exactly is he? Most importantly, is he a friend or a foe or a clue to help solve my father's case? He did mention being friends with my father, but I don't remember seeing him in any of Dad's pictures.Dad never mentioned any ex-soldier, nor did Uncle. If he is a friend, why is he just making an appearance now? What is his mission? I hate not knowing. It makes me want to itch. This is not the mood I want to have when I meet Mother. I try to think of things that should put me in a better mood. Roland's veiny arms come to mind, the way they flex when he's handling me. His eyes, I can stare at them forever, especially when they burn with heat for me. Yeah, I love that. His suppressed moans and groans… A horn pulls me back to reality, and I realize that I'm not moving at a green light.As I enter the co
"First the 'shadow,' now the Grandmaster, eh?" Christian blows a thick puff of nicotine into the atmosphere while Nicolai and I stand behind him as he faces the glass door to the balcony of his office."That's what he calls himself now. Rumors say no one has seen his face. Apparently, he goes about with a mask," Nicolai reports, reading from the tab in his hand. Christian scoffs, but it sounds more like a short cough."I wonder why. Of course, no one would want to stare at a disfigured face. I'm starting to feel regret for not letting you kill him." He turns and meets my cold eyes. "So, what's the plan?""He needs to be put down. He is causing problems for the Italians, and he is doing that to ruin the joining of our families. He causes problems and frames the Russian soldiers for it. I won't sit back and watch any longer. It's good that he is under the guise of Grandmaster. We will kill him under the pretense that he wants to ruin our mafia and gain full control."Christian's eyes na
I'm coming from the airport with Rolan's mother in the passenger seat. Roland was kind enough to let me know of his mother's illness. She was involved in a major accident years before Rolan and Nikolai came into their lives, and it hindered her eyesight. Medications and surgeries have been able to help her see thus far, but not for long. Her sight is getting blurry, and she can't see a thing without her glasses now. He also made sure to inform me not to treat her like a sick patient. He said she hates it and it spoils her mood. He also listed certain foods and snacks she will want to eat but is not allowed to eat. I've been repeating the names of those foods and snacks in my mind so I won't forget. These days my mind is like a browser with lots of tabs open and a series of downloads. I'm trying my best to keep up with my memory. "Are you always this quiet, or am I the cause of this awkwardness?" I turn to meet her squinted eyes and her smiling lips, completely at a loss for what to s
We step inside together, but I immediately excuse myself when my phone starts to ring, fortunately for me. "I will try my best to join you for dinner. Please feel at home. Martha here is available for all you need help with; I will be in my study." With that, I bow to her. When I raise my head, she's looking at me with the same intent gaze that Rolan often directs at me. Like she's studying me, with the intention of knowing everything about me and acing every test and exam about me. Just like Rolan’s stares, hers also make me uncomfortable and nervous. I don't let her study me for long as I nod at Martha and take quick steps to the elevator.“Why is my heart beating this way?” I mutter under my breath as I rub my chest where my heart lies with a little force.“You should see a doctor. He would know the answer to that,” comes a snarky response from behind me, right before I open the door to my room. My eyes widen, and my legs move before I think. The disturbance in my chest is replace
"She likes gardening. She also likes to read but had to put a stop to that when it began to strain her eyes. She loves animals and will definitely love to hear how you've been managing the ranch after your father passed. Mother is not as energetic as she should be. She won't take up most of your time; she only wants to bond with someone who's about to be a member of her family, no need to be nervous. As long as you don't treat her like a patient… you both are good to go."I'm tongue-tied and unprepared. I totally wasn't expecting him to try and help me out. If all he said is true, then having a conversation won't be so bad. I did tell him my problem, and just like he promised, he helped find a solution for me. Maybe this marriage thing is going to work. I find myself smiling like a fool; my face brightens up, and I immediately return to reality."If you say so, I would have no problem speaking to her then. Thanks for telling me what she likes.""And you don't necessarily have to talk
"I went into the kitchen and made one of my favorite tea recipes, Creamy vanilla flavored peach ice tea. Taught your chef something new today, he should pay me." Mrs. Dimitri makes me smile again when I see her holding two plastic cups with dome lids filled with a foamy peak creamy orange-colored iced tea."I knew it would make you smile." She hands me a cup, and I take it, uttering a small thank you. The cold drink somehow makes me feel better about the drive. Costa, our driver, leads us to the Lexus where we take our seats at the back and settle.She watches me with eager eyes as I place the straw between my lips and take a long sip of my drink. My eyes close involuntarily; the heavenly taste commands them to do so. The sweet peach flavor bursts on my tongue, mixed with the vanilla ... I can't help but hum in approval at the taste.I pull the straw away. "It is divine." I moan before slipping the straw back in and enjoying the rest of it."I'm glad you love it. There is more where i
"Tutto avrà senso nel tempo. Farò ancora le mie solite visite, anche se i primi mesi dopo il matrimonio saranno difficili, ma ce la faremo. Sono il momento principale, incontro mia suocera, la signora Dimitri." ("It will all make sense in time. I will still make my usual visits, although the first few months after the wedding will be hard, but we'll get through it. In the meantime, meet my mother-in-law, Mrs. Dimitri.")I go to hug his right hand tightly so he can get the hint, and he does. His eyes widen in surprise, then in panic. He laughs nervously as he stretches out his hand for a shake."I'm Charles, nice to meet you." I sigh. At least his English is getting better."You do a good job here. I've never been to a winery before; it looks great." Mrs. Dimitri praises him while shaking his outstretched hand.A small blush takes over Charles' face as he thinks of what to say back to her in English. I immediately turn him away. "Please forgive him; he's flustered, and his English stil
I start the engine and drive outside of the garage, down the lane to the ranch. The sun shines on the smooth green pastures where the cows are out and scattered, chewing on the grasses without a care in the world, surrounded by white wooden gates of medium height. A worker is right at the left corner of the field; he spots me and waves with his hat. I do the same as I drive by.“This looks beautiful. I must say I'm surprised,” Mrs. Dimitri looks amazed by the view in front of her. “You manage the whole ranch?”“I have help. It's not easy running the mafia and a ranch,” I say as I take a turn to the right, heading up the hill toward the stables. It's beginning to get hot, and I hope it won't be a problem for Mrs. Dimitri.“No, it's not, but you're doing a good job, dearie,” she cooes. I feel her gaze on me, but I don't divert my eyes away from the road. “Will you be able to leave this behind?” Another feeling of déjà vu washes through me again. My lips tug upwards; she notices. “Did I
“So it's okay when you're grumpy and wicked at any time of the day, but when I do it, it's wrong?” Her eyebrows and nose scrunch. She looks offended.I run my hands through my messy hair and scoot back on my bed till my back touches the headboard. “First of all, I didn't say it was wrong. I said it was too early, and of course, the same does not apply to me because I'm the boss.” My arms fold underneath my bosom, and I shrug with a smug look on my face. For some reason, getting on Tiana’s nerves makes me feel good this morning.She raises her fist as if to punch me, but I immediately raise my hands high in surrender. “Just joking. What has your knickers in a twist?”She huffs again. I eye her outfit. Did she sleep in her suit, or did she dress up before coming to my room? But it's very early, and her clothes look ruffled. It's either she slept in it or she didn't sleep at all. Poor thing.“Your board members are so slow!”“Too much caffeine does that to one. And I've been overworking
"She likes gardening. She also likes to read but had to put a stop to that when it began to strain her eyes. She loves animals and will definitely love to hear how you've been managing the ranch after your father passed. Mother is not as energetic as she should be. She won't take up most of your time; she only wants to bond with someone who's about to be a member of her family, no need to be nervous. As long as you don't treat her like a patient… you both are good to go."I'm tongue-tied and unprepared. I totally wasn't expecting him to try and help me out. If all he said is true, then having a conversation won't be so bad. I did tell him my problem, and just like he promised, he helped find a solution for me. Maybe this marriage thing is going to work. I find myself smiling like a fool; my face brightens up, and I immediately return to reality."If you say so, I would have no problem speaking to her then. Thanks for telling me what she likes.""And you don't necessarily have to talk
We step inside together, but I immediately excuse myself when my phone starts to ring, fortunately for me. "I will try my best to join you for dinner. Please feel at home. Martha here is available for all you need help with; I will be in my study." With that, I bow to her. When I raise my head, she's looking at me with the same intent gaze that Rolan often directs at me. Like she's studying me, with the intention of knowing everything about me and acing every test and exam about me. Just like Rolan’s stares, hers also make me uncomfortable and nervous. I don't let her study me for long as I nod at Martha and take quick steps to the elevator.“Why is my heart beating this way?” I mutter under my breath as I rub my chest where my heart lies with a little force.“You should see a doctor. He would know the answer to that,” comes a snarky response from behind me, right before I open the door to my room. My eyes widen, and my legs move before I think. The disturbance in my chest is replace
I'm coming from the airport with Rolan's mother in the passenger seat. Roland was kind enough to let me know of his mother's illness. She was involved in a major accident years before Rolan and Nikolai came into their lives, and it hindered her eyesight. Medications and surgeries have been able to help her see thus far, but not for long. Her sight is getting blurry, and she can't see a thing without her glasses now. He also made sure to inform me not to treat her like a sick patient. He said she hates it and it spoils her mood. He also listed certain foods and snacks she will want to eat but is not allowed to eat. I've been repeating the names of those foods and snacks in my mind so I won't forget. These days my mind is like a browser with lots of tabs open and a series of downloads. I'm trying my best to keep up with my memory. "Are you always this quiet, or am I the cause of this awkwardness?" I turn to meet her squinted eyes and her smiling lips, completely at a loss for what to s
"First the 'shadow,' now the Grandmaster, eh?" Christian blows a thick puff of nicotine into the atmosphere while Nicolai and I stand behind him as he faces the glass door to the balcony of his office."That's what he calls himself now. Rumors say no one has seen his face. Apparently, he goes about with a mask," Nicolai reports, reading from the tab in his hand. Christian scoffs, but it sounds more like a short cough."I wonder why. Of course, no one would want to stare at a disfigured face. I'm starting to feel regret for not letting you kill him." He turns and meets my cold eyes. "So, what's the plan?""He needs to be put down. He is causing problems for the Italians, and he is doing that to ruin the joining of our families. He causes problems and frames the Russian soldiers for it. I won't sit back and watch any longer. It's good that he is under the guise of Grandmaster. We will kill him under the pretense that he wants to ruin our mafia and gain full control."Christian's eyes na
My mind is clouded with thoughts as I drive. Why did that man come to my office? He knows we've been searching for him. He came all the way to my office to tell me not to trust anyone? Who exactly is he? Most importantly, is he a friend or a foe or a clue to help solve my father's case? He did mention being friends with my father, but I don't remember seeing him in any of Dad's pictures.Dad never mentioned any ex-soldier, nor did Uncle. If he is a friend, why is he just making an appearance now? What is his mission? I hate not knowing. It makes me want to itch. This is not the mood I want to have when I meet Mother. I try to think of things that should put me in a better mood. Roland's veiny arms come to mind, the way they flex when he's handling me. His eyes, I can stare at them forever, especially when they burn with heat for me. Yeah, I love that. His suppressed moans and groans… A horn pulls me back to reality, and I realize that I'm not moving at a green light.As I enter the co