"Don Moretta," Diablo greets him. "Why am I here?" "We both know why you are in my dungeon; let's not play games. You won't fare well, my dear friend."Diablo swallows loudly, a sign of guilt and trepidation rolling through him."Then ask me the question you need answers to... but don't be surprised if you have to drag them out of me. I'm not loyal to you, Moretta. My leader is Rossi.""Yes, well, there's always opportunities to change sides—isn't there? So tell me, what is your boss up to?""Probably eating dinner, dependant on time, of course," he answers."Don't be smart. Didn't your training teach you anything? Your life depends on my mood, and that's directly affected by your willingness to talk. Or would you prefer to die tonight?""Honestly, if you were going to kill me. That would have happened by now. This tells me I'm more important to keep alive because of the information I could give you. So let's play this game together. You sweeten my betrayal, and I'll give you what yo
EmmaThe minutes dragged by as I bid farewell to Niko after our check-in at the hotel. I chose to stay back in the room while Niko ventured out for the evening, his mysterious errand pulling him away.In hindsight, I regret acquiescing to his request without questioning him. If the situation was truly as precarious as he made it out to be, shouldn't he have also considered the potential risks, given that his own face was just as recognisable as mine?Nevertheless, I seized the opportunity to indulge in some much-needed self-care, making use of the provided toiletries to luxuriate in a long bath, wash my hair, and relish a few uninterrupted moments of solitude.I've come to miss the tranquillity that comes with being alone. It allows me to gather my thoughts and gain insight into recent events and my present circumstances. Living with Luca is bustling and hectic, but perhaps I've grown accustomed to being a lone wolf and need time to readjust to being part of a team again.The warm wat
NikoThree Hours Earlier I haven't been to Germany for a good minute—Luca's overactive imagination, of all things turning sour when business deals are concerned, always at play.You see, Auschwitz became our dealer in arms and a few particular orders of women not seven or eight months ago.In the run-up to his takeover, Luca had wanted to ensure he had his very own business deals to weasel out the likes of Emma's father and a few other named Don's.Luca is different; he has always been, and Emma has always been his weakness. I think that's why his father chose to send her away. It was the right choice, perhaps augmented in the wrong manner, but the endgame was for Luca to take his role as underdog seriously. Dimitri and Lucia only decided to have Luca, and though that usually isn't a problem in itself, Luca would say otherwise.He never wanted this life or what was promised to him from the moment of his conception. The mafia way of life has never appealed to him. I say that because
LucaMy father has me work alongside one of his men to dig a hole for this cretin to be buried within. I'm not too happy with the manual labour, but he told me that deciding to take the life means I have to be prepared to bury it also.So I do as he asked, working in silence as I fill myself with hatred for this task I do not wish to be taking part in. Consequences are something I despise, especially his. Anyway, did he indeed mean his pardon for this man?Surely, he couldn't have honestly meant his pardon, not when faced with a man who was supporting another to go against him.Is my father wilting in his old age, or did I, in fact, act out impulsively? Perhaps I did, but then again, someone needs to fucking send a message to Rossi, and it didn't seem as if my father was going to be that person tonight. That's why I killed him, because who better than to kill than his number two?After all, he took Emma away on the single worst day he could, considering she should have vouched herse
I think that's why I march away, heading down the hall and the stairs and out to my car to deposit the bloody finger in a ziplock bag that I just so happen to store in my glove box for moments like these.I ensured to take the one finger with a tattoo on it. It's unmistakably owned by the very person I just buried, and the message I want to get across will certainly be delivered. It is a valid message to put him in his place, which is very much below Emma and me. If Emma weren't in his grips at this very moment, I would take no time to send it tonight, perhaps even hand-deliver it to ensure he knows I claimed his second-in-command's life. But I must ensure she's home safe and sound before I make that imperative move.Staring up at my parents' house, I make a firm decision to assert my independence and ensure that my choices are my own, not my father's. Walking back inside, I enter the front door confidently, fully aware that my mother will be waiting for me. As expected, she stands
Emma I wake in a foul mood; I think because Niko dressed after his shower and then took his pew on the small chair at the desk for the rest of the night. It seems he was just as exasperated. He constantly looked back at me, appraising me before sighing as if he wished he weren't here with me. So I fell asleep, chastising my choice all night, but now that I'm here, I might as well follow through with my instructions. I rise late into the morning, having pretended I was asleep for hours. I don't move an inch, and I most definitely don't roll over to face Niko. And I knew he was awake; after all, he'd been on the phone non-stop all morning. I suppose one might think it's not polite to listen to another's phone calls, but it seems that for most of the morning, he's been talking away to Luca and Mass at home. I only know that because someone asked about me, and he gave a detailed list of everything I've done up until then, so it would only be Luca showing such a need to know my move
My target, Auschwitz, will apparently mingle just before four p.m. He's a man of broad knowledge and is a significant investor in this dinner night for a charitable event for the local hospice. How can a man so dedicated to philanthropy work with someone like my father? The worlds he has his feet in are a far cry from one another. "This monkey suit is not even fitted," Niko moans for the hundredth time about the ill-fitted suit that my father had dropped off this morning. "Did you pack your own? You can change it if you want to..." "You know I didn't, Queen. Jesus, is you man here yet?" He asks, looking around the room as if looking for someone in particular. "I haven't seen him, but then again, we haven't moved from this bar." "I have instructions to keep you safe, Queen, but mingling isn't a safe operation." I frown, isn't it safe? "Oh, he's here," I note as Niko's eyes glaze over for the third time. "Where?" He whispers as he leans in, his hand brushing my lower back wh
LucaI'm livid, so beyond upset that my life has all but halted as I stare down at the photos sent to me from Team B, which is in charge of Emma's care in Germany. Niko, my most trusted confident and number one, not to mention my protector, has his hands all over my wife as he has her caged against a bar.Several people are looking on, caught incidentally by whoever took these photos, exasperating my heartache that Emma has been seen in public with Niko in this manner.Did he not get the message that night I beat Aldo to a bloody mess? Did he not hear the underlying warning I issued to every man on my compound once four of our men lay dead at our feet?I've waited for them to arrive home for an age. Word has it they landed not long ago, and we all know how short of a drive it is from the airstrip to my compound.My veins are laced with the whisky I've consumed in the last few hours. Betrayal is plaguing my every thought, especially where Emma is concerned, considering the lengths I
Continued:My entrance is dramatic, and I twist my ankle. Barely containing the yelp of pain as hands steady me. "Careful," Niko warns as his hands grab my shoulders. Righting me, he strokes my cheek and kisses my forehead. Then he leaves me, moving for Alexandra, who is sitting on one of the kitchen stalls in the middle of the kitchen. I watch Niko closely tie her to the stall, ensuring her hands and legs are immobile.I'm itching to turn every light off and cut out all light for anyone searching for something to guide their way here, to me.The seconds tick by until he's finished, and I slap every light switch to swamp us in darkness when he begins to stand."Bee?" He questions me as the house falls into darkness. The silence around us stretches out only as far as Alexandra's laugh allows. She knows, god, she knows that they're coming. "Isaw lightout at sea," I whisper to Niko. "She's guiding them here. I'm sure of it!" I tell him desperately, knowing he probably won't believe m
BiancaThings are escalating so quickly, and I'm at a complete loss for words. I don't know what to do with the information safely stowed away in my bra. It is burning my skin. It's begging me to reveal it, knowing deep down that we need to acknowledge the fact that a Densel was seemingly working against one of their own with the likes of another man's wife, who just so happens to be one of the top three rulers of our kind.I'm sure Niko could make more heads over the tail of it himself, but I don't want to give away the game for Alexandra only to win with the upper hand. Because she knows, she knows what Benji was doing there, and she might be the fucking key for the downfall headed our way. Now, whether Benji is the one she is hinting at or if she is hinting at Mitchel is above me right now.Anxiety rolls through me, and a sixth sense begs me to accept the truth. They were working together, but for what and why? And more importantly, who?So, I defer. I accused her of cheating des
Continued: Sighing and gritting my teeth in annoyance, I begin to unbutton my shirt in a hurry. Shifting it off my shoulders, I hold it out to Alexandra with a stern look of annoyance, willing her to take it without saying thank you. Sven chuckles from the back of the boat. He's far enough away that his chuckle comes at me quietly, but I hear it anyway as I make eye contact with him. He never did appreciate having morals. "Thank you," Alexandra eagerly takes my shirt, wrapping it around herself, proving she was trying her damned hardest to conceal the fact she was indeed very cold. I train my gaze away from her lack of attire, aware that my staring might well upset Bianca, and I far from want to create that distance between us. Not after we've come so far in our relationship. "I think you need to start talking, Alexandra," I finally demand with a low undertone, my voice as menacing as I can make it. I want to instil as much fear as I can to successfully seek the answers I need. Bu
Niko The short ride to the private dock is tense and, quite frankly, unnerving as I try to remain stoic and quiet after saving Alexandra and nearly losing Bianca in the process. I want to ask Bianca exactly what happened and how she came to be in that room alone with no one holding her there as I thought I'd find, but I cannot fathom asking these questions in the earshot of Sven, and perhaps even Alexandra. I need to judge whether the pair of them are safe, and I definitely need to gauge whether Alexandra is a threat. How did she know that Bianca would be in that room, and would she tell me if she had planned to abduct her alongside the Densels? I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but the Densel dabble in illegal requirements of girls, even by the mafia's sordid morals and not one family knows the coordinates of any one of their bases. Most girls, if not all, disappear without a trace after they are handed over to the Densels. It's quite literally as if they vanish into thin air
Continued:"Stop calling me Bambi.""Don't you like to be reminded of who you belong under, Bee?" "Benji, I—."Surprisingly, he pushes past me, heading for the opened suitcase on the bed. He shoves a few loose articles inside, then walks off to bathroom returning with a wash bag that goes in too.I blink, like a retard. What in the hell?"Don't play games with me, Bambi. Sit down," he scowls at his hands, speaking in the same tone as before. And yet his whole demeanour changes. He drops the knife on the bed, disregarding it as if it hurt him to hold it up to me.I frown at the door I'm still stood before and I talk in a genuinely frightened and confused voice."Okay, okay. Where do you want me?" I ask."There," he point to the desk."I'll sit," I tell him, moving with my hand before me to show I'm playing his game. Even if it seems demented at this point. I walk to the desk, and I see a notepad and pen supplied by the hotel. Taking the pen I write down on the notepad.What the fuck i
BiancaNiko executed his plan very promptly leading me and grabbing the girl as we compiled out of the small door that led us back here in the first place. But things don't continue as expectedly when I start to veer off from Niko with the encouragement of a hand that surely isn't his."Let go of me," I hiss in pain as I'm dragged by the wrist through the crowd of people. The hand holding my wrist is cold, and unlike Niko's warm and inviting touch, I recoil very quickly from the individual leading me away. I try to turn away using my weight as a tool to pivot in the direction I want to head in, my aim is to head back to the group of people that are now lingering outside the door. Back to Niko, back to safety but my feet lose purchase on the floor, my body being lifted quite easily as if I weighed nothing.The strong smell of aftershave fills my nostrils, a stark reminder of him, of Don Densel."Let me go! Let go of me," I begin to shout.Pushing away from the body I find myself crus
Continued: Fuck, I knew bringing her here would mean trouble. No girl enters the den if not to be sold. "Stop," I hiss at Alexandra's struggles as I circle in a hurry. The weight of her stare has me wilting, yet I cannot concentrate on protecting her as I should. I should be hurrying her out of the hotel, getting her into the getaway car. Yet I'm failing my job because of Bianca's whereabouts. "Niko?" Alexandra's voice shows her confusion as she looks up from where my hand is crushing her wrist to my face. I allow myself one moment to look her in the eye, and then I continue to look around the dispersing people for Bianca but not before I see her shoulders square up rather than drop in relief. "Yes, it's me. Please stop trying to get away from me. I've lost Bianca," I worry aloud. "She's over there with Mr Densel," she points out. I halt, turning the way she looks as I see the tail end of Densel leading Bianca through a door at the back of the restaurant's main room, much as I l
NikoI barely had enough time to glance at Alexandra's way, let alone devise a plan with Bianca to lure her away from that table and to safety. I took too long entertaining Bianca and failing to ignore the men's stares when, in fact, I should have been devising a quick escape plan as per my brief.I start thinking of big distractions. Having something like a fire creates chaos seems the best bet. We could grab her as everyone rushes to safety, but the Densels obviously do not want to play around.This Passover seems to be happening far quicker than many before it, and Alexandra is in serious danger of being lost to the Densels.No one has a clue about their bases or where they take their girls, but they live off the grid somewhere protective, and no soul has breathed a word of their whereabouts in years. I've lost a fair few girls, and none have ever shown up afterwards so I fear that's the reasoning for the lack of information. And unfortunately each girl is a life etched into my bra
Continued: Again, I feel the weight of each gaze around the room. Are they seriously waiting for me to eat so they can perve on me some more? I push aside my discomfort and begin to eat. My mind replays our conversation, and I get the intense feeling of needing to push Niko on the subject of his private work. What's their deal, anyway? "There she is," I note, seeing one of Ivarni's sons holding onto a girl's bicep. She looks far from in perfect condition. Despite ample make-up, there's a noticeable darkened mark around her lip as evidence she's been maltreated unacceptably. Her blonde hair screams fake, especially against her tanned skin, and she looks highly dishevelled. Niko tips his beer up, and now I see why he ordered a drink with such a big glass. His movements are half hidden by the fact that he's drinking, but of course, he looks back their way as I try to place the girl's face. Her name is in the back of my mind, yet I struggle to recall it or who she is. But I recognise