—Tristan— I left the room and walked down the hall to my room. Eleanor was like a puzzle I couldn't solve. I've met more than my share of mafia princesses and they didn't behave anything like her. I thought she would've cowered and submitted to me by now but she hasn't. She's scared I can tell but she's still strong willed and it does something to me that I don't understand. But anyway, no matter how much of a fight she puts up, I'm still going to break her. I got to my room and washed out the blood splatter on my chest, then I put on some joggers and went downstairs to the game room where I was sure my brother's were waiting for me. Ever since Damian married Kate, our days of walking around the house naked were over. I entered the game room and my brothers looked at me like I was a fucking ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment, I just smiled at them and our youngest Adam just shook his head, but he didn't say anything. Adam has never hidden his hate and aversion t
—Tristan— I left the room and went downstairs to the game room, the pizzas had arrived so I grabbed one for Eleanor and went back upstairs to her room. This time when I entered, she was in the bed and he didn't even look up to acknowledge my presence. She had the silver nightgown in her hands and she looked at it like it was a funeral wreath or something like that. “What if I refuse to wear it?” She asked me. “It's completely your choice, I'd never force you. But you could either wear the night gown or be completely naked, I'm good either way, your blood would still look the same to me.” I tell her with a smile on my face. A shiver rippled through her body and she let the gown drop to the floor. I walked closer to her and dropped the pizza box on the nightstand. “Here,I got you a pizza, you need to eat something. You haven't had anything for more than a day.” I tell her and the way she looks at the box, I expect her to throw it away, like my mother did to my father to punis
—Tristan— The look on Damian's face was strained, he wasn't going to do anything to me, I knew that. He was looking at me now and no longer at Eleanor, he took a few deep breaths and closed his eyes and the next time he opened them, his mask slid back in place. “You underestimated her Tristan, you played your game and you lost. You're going to have to stitch her up yourself.” He said to me and then left the room. I turned around and looked at Eleanor, she was trying to stay up on shaky legs, she still had that smell defiant look in her eyes. I was pretty sure she was imagining different ways to kill me in her head, not that she would be able to try any of them. She was bleeding from her lip that she bit down on them to stifle her scream. I told her I would make her scream and she proved me wrong. She didn't even give me one scream. Her dress was stained with the blood coming out of the cut on her hand. Damian was right, I did underestimate her, I thought she would choose pl
—Tristan— After dropping Ellie back in her room and making sure I lock the door because I'm tired of hearing Damian's constant complaints about her bumping into Kate, he treats his wife like she's glass. I get that she's been through a lot but she's stronger than he knows. It's been days since I trained and I was just about to start when Kate stormed into the game room with Damian right behind her trying to stop her but she fought out of his grasp and came straight for me. I knew what was about to happen and I held onto her hands because I knew she was about to slap me and she and I both knew that there was no way I would let that stand. A second later, I felt a steel grip on my shoulder and I turned around and saw Damian. “Let go of her now.” He said, my brother had never talked to me like that before, hell we had never fought before, he was my brother and I would lay down my life for him, we had never had a reason to fight or be at odds but Kate could very well be that reaso
—Ellie— I lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, worrying about my family, especially Mateo. He was so protective of me, what if he did something stupid like attack and get himself killed? I wanted to be saved but if something happened to Sam, I wouldn’t survive. I’d rather suffer pain and endure Tristan’s presence than see my cousin get hurt. A heavy weight settled in my stomach when I remembered the look in his eyes when Tristan had put the knife against my skin. That look had hurt so much more than the shallow cut. But the cut had given me an important piece of information about Tristan. He had a weakness, and it had something to do with those scars and his brothers. Steps sounded in front of my door and someone knocked. I sat up, surprised. Nobody had bothered to knock. The lock sounded and the door swung open as I stood, and a young woman with dark hair and dark eyes, wearing a yellow summer dress, stepped in. She was shorter than
—Ellie— There wasn’t a clock anywhere in the room, but it must have been early afternoon by now. Except for the cold pizza and the tap water, I hadn’t had anything to eat or drink. Maybe this was another part of Tristan’s game. The sound of knocking followed by the lock being turned made me face the door. I winced at the dull pain in my forearm. A teenage boy in fight shorts and a T-shirt stepped into my room. He had slightly longer curly brown hair and was lean but muscled. “Hey,” he said hesitantly, brown eyes kind. “Tristan sent me to get you.” I didn’t move from my spot at the window. “What are you, his servant?” The boy smiled an unguarded, honest smile. A smile few could afford in our circles. “I’m his youngest brother, but that’s as good as the same in Tristan’s eyes.” He opened the door wider and gestured for me to walk through. I wondered what he would do if I refused to follow him. He was taller than me and definit
—Tristan— I headed for the utility cupboard. Savio leaned against the bar, nursing a drink and his bruised ego. “Next time you should pay more attention.” He glared. “I think from the two of us, you have more reason to worry. She’s yours, not mine. Wait till she tries to boil your dick.” “I can control Eleanor. Don’t worry.” I took a mop and a bucket out of the closet before I returned into the kitchen. Eleanor stood at exactly the same spot, frowning down at the floor. I handed her the bucket and the mop, which she both took without protest. She avoided my eyes as she set out to fill the bucket with water and put it down on the ground. It became apparent pretty quickly that she had never wielded a mop in her life. She used too much water, flooding the floor. Leaning against the counter, I watched her in silence. She should have taken a rag, gotten down on her knees, and cleaned the floor properly, but I knew her pride would stop he
—Ellie— The next day, I woke up and took a shower. I didn't have any plastic to wrap around my cut so I just stuck my hand out the shower so it would not get wet. The painkillers that Tristan gave me last night helped, all I felt was a soft pain. But I didn't trust that he did it out of the goodness of his heart, because he doesn't have a heart, he must have an ulterior motive. I heard the sound of the lock and I quickly got out of the shower and dried up, then I put on one of the summer dresses that Kate got for me. I stepped out of the bathroom barefoot, with my hair still damp. Tristan stood with his arms crossed in front of the window, tall and dark and brooding like the love interest in romance movies. He turned and scanned my body. It was unsettling how physical his gaze felt on my skin. “We're going outside for a walk in the garden.” He tells me and I know it's not a request but I'm not just going to make it easy on him and agree. “Why?” I asked him as I folded my
—Kate— Seeing his cousins run around, Alexei at only ten months, has been trying to walk. I was on the sofa in the game room laying down while he was on his play mat. He was currently on his hands and knees with with his little butt in the air, then he looked up at me not sure what time do next, not knowing how to stand straight. “Damian!” I called out, I was a three days past my due date and I couldn't do much of anything except lie down and rest and pray that this little boy is ready to make his debut soon. So I.couldn't carry Alexei, I needed help. Damian ran into the game room, panic and worry written all over his face. “Is it the baby? Is it time? Are you having contractions?” He asked me. “Calm down Damian, it's none of that. Your son is still very comfortable in my womb. But I really hope he comes soon because it's starting to get really uncomfortable.” I tell Damian. He walks over to me and then sees Alexei who is still in his awkward position and
—Damian— Months later, we were all gathered by the pool, Samuel and Isa ran around the garden, but Samuel was faster than his sister but that didn't stop her from doing her best to catch up. Me, Kate and Alexei were in the pool, Alexei was in his shark floaty what his uncle Savio got for him, it was his size but at the same time it looked like it could swallow him whole. “Soon you're going to be able to run around with your cousins.” Kate said to him and he just laughed and smiled at her. I swam and pushed him through the water, Kate was a few days away from her due date and she wasn't able to do much. She just leaned at the edge of the pool and watched everything with a smile on her face. I didn't think it was possible but pregnancy made her even more beautiful. She says she looks and feels like a beached whale so I spend every single free moment of my time in bed reminding her that she's not. Tristan and Ellie were on the lounge chairs as they kept an eye o
—Kate— It's been a week since that horrible day, and today is also a sad day in the house, Adam is leaving to New York today. I completely understand his reasoning behind his decision, but my cousin and Tristan are on the same level, Luca might even be worse, but if Adam survives a year under him, he'll he a better man for it. We were all gathered in the living room, saying goodbye to Adam. “You be good in New York ok.” I tell him and then I hug him, I'm really going to miss him, the house won't be the same without him. Adam nodded his head and then pulled back. “It's ok Katie, there's no need to worry, I'll be good, and I'll come back home for Fabian and Anna's wedding and also when you give birth to your little guy.” He tells me. I raised my eyebrows at him. “Little guy?” I ask him. “Yea, you're going to have a boy, I just know it.” He tells me with a little smile on his face. I just laughed. “Alright, we'll see if you're right when we check. But wil
—Damian— I walked into the game room the next day and all traces of the previous day were all gone. The blood, bullets and glass, they were all cleared and the whole room was back to normal. I looked up and the glass doors that led into the garden were open, Adam sat on the ground, his back to me. I went over to the garden and sat down next to him. I looked at him and he had bags and shadows under his eyes, it was clear he hadn't slept, then I looked at his hands and they were red. “Did you stay awake and clean the game room?” I ask him, because that had to be the only explanation, both Ellie and Kate were asleep and the cleaners had not come in. “Yea, I did, it was the least I could do.” He said but he didn't look at me, he was still staring at the grass. “You didn't need to do that Adam, you should've slept. Yesterday was hard on all of us, plus you're in withdrawal so you're tired that the rest of us.” I tell him, I know he feels guilty but this isn't
—Damian— Adam looked at me hoping that I would be the clear headed one and understand where he's coming from. “It's not forever, just for a year. If I'm under Luca's rule I know that there will be no mercy for me, he'll treat me like one if his soldiers, he won't care that I'm a Russo. Especially if you tell him not to be lenient to me, Luca is as cold and violent as you, he'd relish at the opportunity.” Adam explained. “There is a fragile peace between us Adam and Luca knows that if anything happens to you Tristan will rain hell down on New York to avenge you.” I tell him. “Yes but that's only if he kills me which he won't do. If I make a mistake he'll punish me and get me back in line because I'll be his soldier but here I'll always be your little brother.” Adam said. “If Luca catches you using drugs, he won't just punish you, he'll torture you and this time Ellie won't be there to save you. He'll do whatever he wants to you and you cannot object.” Trist
—Damian— As I walked down the stairs to the basement, I had to admit to myself that I wasn't at my full strength, the blood loss had taken enough from me, but I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. And just because I wasn't at my full strength did not mean that I wouldn't be able to do what needed to be done. I walked into the corridor of the basement and Tristan was standing there. “You're joining me?” He asked me. “Yea I am.” I tell him. He looked at me, scanning my face like he was looking for something but I had no idea what he was looking for. “Fabian has gone to pick up Anna from campus and Saviour can't join us because he has a concussion and needs to lay down. So it's just me and you.” He tells me. “No it's not.” A voice says from behind, both Tristan and I turn around and see Adam coming down the stairs. With everything that happened we haven't even been able to handle his matter, he's the cause of everything, I don't know if I can even fully bla
—Kate— “I don't think so, but it's better to be safe than sorry.” Fabian tells me and I nod my head, he's right. I walked over to where Tristan was and Ellie came around and hugged me. “I'm so happy that you and Alexei are okay.” She tells me and I hug her back. This woman that crashed into our lives has become like a sister to me and she almost lost her husband today because Tristan was ready to lay down his life for me and Alexei and even my unborn child. “What about Samuel and Isabella, are they okay?” I ask her. “Yea they're up in their room playing, I have their monitor here with me. They don't know that anything went wrong, they saw Tristan and thought it was paint on his body.” She tells me. “That's good.” I say then pull back, none of the kids will remember this day, they won't be scarred by it. I turned to Tristan and tears welled up in my eyes, this man that acts so cold, like he doesn't have a heart, but out of all the brothers, I think he
—Kate— Damian let go of my hands and walked towards his brothers, all of them except for Adam, were covered in blood and were still bleeding from their cuts but these stubborn men wouldn't do anything about it until they end their mother. Fabian gets up and walks towards me, he has a cut on his head that's bleeding. “Come on Katie, you and Alexei need to get out of your clothes, take a shower and put on fresh clothes.” He tells me. I nodded my head at him but still I didn't move, my eyes were fixed on the brothers kneeled around their mother, this moment here had been years in the making and I'm just happy that finally they'll be able to put the past behind them. Tristan and Damian both put one hand on the hilt of the knife. They looked to Savio and Adam who nodded their heads, giving their concent and then they changed the angle of the knife and plunged the knife deeper into her stomach. She gasped and then she released a breath and stopped moving, she was dead, final
—Kate— I watched as the man I love and his brothers that I cared about, bleed out to save me and my baby. I looked down as their blood pooled on the floor beneath them and I couldn't breathe. I couldn't let this happen, they couldn't die just like that. Alexei and I needed Damian, Ellie and the twins needed Tristan and Savio, sweet Saviour he hadn't even had the chance to find love or happiness in this life, I couldn't let it end like this. Their mother gestured at one of her men. “You, get me that knife, we don't want them doing anything stupid with it.” She said. “I'm not your dog that you can order around, remember we're just helping you and we've done everything you've asked so give us the rest of our money.” The man told her. The smile on her face got wider, she wasn't phased at all. “I know what I promised you and there's plenty of money in the backseat of the car, it's under the arm rest, now get me that knife.” She ordered them again, I looked at her an