Unedited. (I’ll take my time to do that later) Xoxo. 💋
Chapter 43 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ I should have looked away. The nuns would have expected modesty. Shame. Instead, I watched hungrily as he stripped, revealing himself. He was... proportional. Intimidatingly so. My experience was limited to that night I saw him, barely. This—Nikolai naked and proud and obviously aroused—was something else entirely. It was frightening and hot at the same time. "See something you like?" The arrogance in his tone should have scared me. Instead, it sent another flutter of heat through me. "Yes," I admitted, the single syllable feeling like its own kind of freedom. His smile turned predatory again. "Take those off," he nodded to my panties. And then I realized that everything he’d done to me before now was from sliding my panties to the side. All this time, I thought I was naked. My hands moved to the waistband automatically before hesitation struck. "I haven't... I mean, I'm not..." Understanding dawned in his eyes. "I know." It was
Chapter 43 ⟿❂⟾Sylvia⟿❂⟾I gasped as pleasure built again, impossibly fast. "The children—""Have another hour at least," he finished for me, his mouth moving to my breast. "And this time," he added, teeth grazing my nipple, "I want to see how loud you can really get."True to his word, he worked me into a frenzy with his fingers and mouth, drawing out my pleasure until I was writhing beneath him, dignity forgotten. When I came again, his name tore from my throat in a cry that surely would have been heard three rooms down—if anyone was awake to hear it.As I floated back to awareness, boneless and thoroughly sated, he was watching me with that same intense focus, something like wonder mixed with the hunger in his gaze."Beautiful," he murmured, brushing damp hair from my forehead. "So fucking beautiful when you come apart."I should have blushed. Instead, I found myself smiling lazily up at him, a newfound confidence warming me from within. "Your turn."His eyebrows shot up in surpr
Chapter 45 ⟿❂⟾ Nikolai ⟿❂⟾ I was dying. At least, that's what I felt like as I sat in the hard plastic hospital chair, my head buried in my hands. The words "I'm sorry" had left my mouth so many times in the last hour that they'd lost all meaning. "I'm sorry," I said again, because apparently, I was incapable of stopping. Sylvia rolled her eyes. "If you apologize one more time, I swear I'll—" "I'm sorry," I interrupted, then caught myself and let out a groan. She threw a wadded-up tissue at my head. It missed spectacularly, landing somewhere near my shoe. "You're impossible." I gritted my teeth. “I should have been more careful. I should have—” “Nikolai.” Her fingers curled like she was bored of hearing my school boy tone. “You didn’t force me.” That only made the guilt worse. She was so fucking soft and I had been reckless with her. Fucking dickhead. That’s what I was. But then, I’d never had to use a fucking manual for sex. Sex was sex and usually I just fuck and the g
Chapter 46⟿❂⟾Nikolai⟿❂⟾I stared at the contents of my fridge like I was deciphering ancient hieroglyphics. Opening and closing cabinets, I found precisely jack shit that would help me make soup. What did I even need? Chicken, obviously. Water? Vegetables? Christ.With a muttered curse, I grabbed my phone and did something I never thought I'd do today. I dialed a number.Three rings later, Allesia’s surprised voice came through. "Nikolai!” She shrieked. “Is everything alright?""I need to make chicken soup," I said without preamble.A long pause followed. "I'm sorry, what?""Chicken soup," I repeated, impatience creeping into my tone. "How do I make it?""You... want to cook?" The disbelief in her voice mirrored Sylvia's earlier reaction, which only added to my determination."Yes," I growled. "Is that so fucking hard to believe?""Language, Nikolai,” She chided with a loud laugh. Then she sighed. "For whom?"I hesitated. "A friend. They're sick."Another pause. "Russel is curren
Chapter 47⟿❂⟾Nikolai⟿❂⟾She hesitated for only a second before dipping the spoon in and bringing it to her lips. The moment the warm broth hit her tongue, her eyes widened, and a slow, almost reluctant moan of approval slipped from her.jMy dick jumped in appreciation.“Oh my God.” She took another spoonful, savoring it with a soft hum. “Nikolai, this is incredible.”I smirked, then leaned against the headboard with my own bowl. “Told you.”She shook her head in disbelief, already going for another bite. “I can’t believe it.” I sipped my soup like a man with nothing to hide.If she only knew. Well, she didn’t and I wasn't about to correct her assumption. Let her think I'd made it. I'd paid for the damn thing, after all.She took another spoonful, clearly enjoying every bit of it. “This is unfair,” she muttered. “You already have everything! Money, power, good looks—why the hell do you also get to be a good cook?”I shrugged. “Talent.”She shot me a look. “You don’t seem like the k
PROLOGUENIKOLAI⟿❂⟾New York, 7 Years Ago⟿❂⟾“Kill him.”Matteo fucking Gianni, my father, didn’t believe in wasting words, and I didn’t believe in saying them either. He slid the manila folder across like it held nothing more interesting than the lunch menu at his favorite restaurant. Dino Donatello. Mid-40s. Ran weapons and girls out of Staten Island, made deals with anyone who waved a dollar in his face, and skimmed more than his share off our shipments. He’d successfully worked his way into my father’s bad books, and now he’d have to be burned with those books.It was a simple job. Walk in, handle it, walk out. A routine.“Don’t think,” my father added, not even looking at me as he poured himself a glass of scotch. “Just get it done.”I’d learned not to argue with him by the time I turned 15. At 22, I wasn’t stupid enough to start now. So I nodded, took the file, and headed out without another word.The Donatello house was a two-story dump at the edge of a rundown neighborhood.
NIKOLAI⟿❂⟾Chapter 1⟿❂⟾PRESENT DAY ⟿❂⟾People always say storms cleanse the soul. That’s a lie.Storms drown out screams, wash away blood, and mask the sound of sins being committed. I should know because I’ve used enough of them to my advantage.Tonight was no different.I stepped into the ruined chapel, shaking rain off my coat, and lit a cigarette. The place was a disaster: shattered stained glass, overturned pews, and enough mold on the walls to give a health inspector a heart attack. My money had kept the building standing this long. Now, it barely looked worth saving.“Don’t move!”The tiny voice snapped through the silence like a whip.I froze mid-drag and turned. At first, I thought I was imagining things. Maybe the storm was messing with my head. But no, there she was: a woman in a plain gray dress, clutching a rosary like it was a weapon. Her hair was tied back too tight, her face scrubbed too clean. She had remarkable grey eyes that blazed like she wanted to set me on f
Chapter 2⟿❂⟾SYLVIA⟿❂⟾If sneaking into the shelter without being caught were an Olympic sport, I’d take gold. Well, maybe bronze.Okay, lying is a sin. I’d probably trip over my own feet, crash into a nun, and get excommunicated on the spot.“Just a few more steps,” I whispered to myself, my heart pounding louder than the damn church bells on Sunday morning.My left sock betrayed me by sliding on the smooth floor. “Shit!” I hissed, then clamped a hand over my mouth. A nun isn’t supposed to cuss!I was going to hell. Straight to hell. Not even purgatory was going to bother with me at this rate.I shuffled forward, cringing with every creak and groan the ancient staircase made under my weight. I could already imagine Mother Beatrice’s face if she caught me, that withering glare that could peel paint off walls.Halfway up, the sound of footsteps froze me in place. Oh no. Ohhh no.I turned so slowly I could hear my neck creak. And there she was. Mother Beatrice, in all her holy wrath,
Chapter 47⟿❂⟾Nikolai⟿❂⟾She hesitated for only a second before dipping the spoon in and bringing it to her lips. The moment the warm broth hit her tongue, her eyes widened, and a slow, almost reluctant moan of approval slipped from her.jMy dick jumped in appreciation.“Oh my God.” She took another spoonful, savoring it with a soft hum. “Nikolai, this is incredible.”I smirked, then leaned against the headboard with my own bowl. “Told you.”She shook her head in disbelief, already going for another bite. “I can’t believe it.” I sipped my soup like a man with nothing to hide.If she only knew. Well, she didn’t and I wasn't about to correct her assumption. Let her think I'd made it. I'd paid for the damn thing, after all.She took another spoonful, clearly enjoying every bit of it. “This is unfair,” she muttered. “You already have everything! Money, power, good looks—why the hell do you also get to be a good cook?”I shrugged. “Talent.”She shot me a look. “You don’t seem like the k
Chapter 46⟿❂⟾Nikolai⟿❂⟾I stared at the contents of my fridge like I was deciphering ancient hieroglyphics. Opening and closing cabinets, I found precisely jack shit that would help me make soup. What did I even need? Chicken, obviously. Water? Vegetables? Christ.With a muttered curse, I grabbed my phone and did something I never thought I'd do today. I dialed a number.Three rings later, Allesia’s surprised voice came through. "Nikolai!” She shrieked. “Is everything alright?""I need to make chicken soup," I said without preamble.A long pause followed. "I'm sorry, what?""Chicken soup," I repeated, impatience creeping into my tone. "How do I make it?""You... want to cook?" The disbelief in her voice mirrored Sylvia's earlier reaction, which only added to my determination."Yes," I growled. "Is that so fucking hard to believe?""Language, Nikolai,” She chided with a loud laugh. Then she sighed. "For whom?"I hesitated. "A friend. They're sick."Another pause. "Russel is curren
Chapter 45 ⟿❂⟾ Nikolai ⟿❂⟾ I was dying. At least, that's what I felt like as I sat in the hard plastic hospital chair, my head buried in my hands. The words "I'm sorry" had left my mouth so many times in the last hour that they'd lost all meaning. "I'm sorry," I said again, because apparently, I was incapable of stopping. Sylvia rolled her eyes. "If you apologize one more time, I swear I'll—" "I'm sorry," I interrupted, then caught myself and let out a groan. She threw a wadded-up tissue at my head. It missed spectacularly, landing somewhere near my shoe. "You're impossible." I gritted my teeth. “I should have been more careful. I should have—” “Nikolai.” Her fingers curled like she was bored of hearing my school boy tone. “You didn’t force me.” That only made the guilt worse. She was so fucking soft and I had been reckless with her. Fucking dickhead. That’s what I was. But then, I’d never had to use a fucking manual for sex. Sex was sex and usually I just fuck and the g
Chapter 43 ⟿❂⟾Sylvia⟿❂⟾I gasped as pleasure built again, impossibly fast. "The children—""Have another hour at least," he finished for me, his mouth moving to my breast. "And this time," he added, teeth grazing my nipple, "I want to see how loud you can really get."True to his word, he worked me into a frenzy with his fingers and mouth, drawing out my pleasure until I was writhing beneath him, dignity forgotten. When I came again, his name tore from my throat in a cry that surely would have been heard three rooms down—if anyone was awake to hear it.As I floated back to awareness, boneless and thoroughly sated, he was watching me with that same intense focus, something like wonder mixed with the hunger in his gaze."Beautiful," he murmured, brushing damp hair from my forehead. "So fucking beautiful when you come apart."I should have blushed. Instead, I found myself smiling lazily up at him, a newfound confidence warming me from within. "Your turn."His eyebrows shot up in surpr
Chapter 43 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ I should have looked away. The nuns would have expected modesty. Shame. Instead, I watched hungrily as he stripped, revealing himself. He was... proportional. Intimidatingly so. My experience was limited to that night I saw him, barely. This—Nikolai naked and proud and obviously aroused—was something else entirely. It was frightening and hot at the same time. "See something you like?" The arrogance in his tone should have scared me. Instead, it sent another flutter of heat through me. "Yes," I admitted, the single syllable feeling like its own kind of freedom. His smile turned predatory again. "Take those off," he nodded to my panties. And then I realized that everything he’d done to me before now was from sliding my panties to the side. All this time, I thought I was naked. My hands moved to the waistband automatically before hesitation struck. "I haven't... I mean, I'm not..." Understanding dawned in his eyes. "I know." It was
Chapter 42 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ He lifted me suddenly, hands gripping my ass, and I wrapped my legs around his waist instinctively. My back hit the wall with enough force to rattle the cheap crucifix hanging beside us—the one Mother Beatrice had insisted I keep. The irony wasn't lost on me as Nikolai's mouth descended on my neck, teeth scraping against the sensitive skin. "Wait," I gasped as his hands slid under my shirt. "The children—" "Are sleeping," he murmured against my throat. "Your saints won’t be awake till morning.” "I actually need to talk to you about that—" "We’ll talk later,” His hands found my breasts, thumbs circling my nipples through the thin cotton of my nightie. "We have time." A whimper escaped me as he pinched lightly, sending sparks of pleasure-pain racing through me. "Unless," he pulled back slightly, eyes finding mine, suddenly serious. "Unless you’ve changed your mind." I hadn’t. God help me, I couldn't form the words. Instead, I arched int
Chapter 41 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ Two days had passed. Why hadn't he forgotten? "What?" I stalled, my mind scrambling. "Don't play dumb, Sylvia. It doesn't suit you." His eyes alone were enough to command my full attention. "There's no way I'll forget that when you were cumming around my fingers, you called out another man's name." “Jesus, Nikolai.” I groaned, pressing a hand to my burning face. “I literally just prayed for forgiveness minutes ago.” His eyes remained hard, but his hand came up anyway, fingers trailing along my collarbone, they dipped just beneath the thin neckline of my nightie to trace the curve of my breast. A casual, possessive touch. Like he was making a statement. “Then you better start talking,” he said, voice full of wicked promise. “Or you’ll be offering a different kind of prayer—with your face against that same altar.” He gestured to the crucifix with his head, “I bet he’d love to see just how filthy his holy little lamb is.” My entire body seized up. “Lord
Chapter 40 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ Two days of solitude had given me too much time to reflect my sins. I finished the last prayer bead, pressed my lips against the small silver crucifix as my final words echoed in the stillness of my room. "Thank you Jesus for sins forgiven." I whispered, though I wasn't sure if I was truly seeking absolution anymore. For just a moment, I felt clean. At peace. Safe. Then the floorboard behind me creaked and I realized I wasn’t alone. Slowly, I crossed myself and turned, still on my knees, to face whatever demon had come to swallow me, most likely as punishment for the thoughts in my heart. Then my eyes adjusted to the dim light of my room, and my heart slammed against my ribs. Of course it was him. He stood there like a fallen angel, beautiful and terrible in equal measure. His imposing frame blocked what little moonlight filtered through the window, casting him in silhouette. He was dressed the part of a masked psychopath stalker, down to the hoo
Chapter 39 ⟿❂⟾ Nikolai ⟿❂⟾ “We've got something." I followed Viktor to the makeshift investigation house we had just established at the Lab House. Computer screens lined the wall, surveillance footage playing on some, data scrolling across others. "We found a partial print on the envelope," Viktor explained, gesturing to Luigi who sat hunched over a keyboard. "Not enough for a match in any database, but it's something." "What about the symbol?" I asked, staring at the blown-up image of the serpent wrapped around a dagger. "Nothing concrete yet," Luigi replied without looking up. His fingers continued their relentless dance across the keyboard. "It's not associated with any known group in our records. I'm running it through international databases now. With Liam’s help.” I nodded slowly. "And the security footage?" Viktor released a breath. "That's where it gets interesting. They knew exactly where the cameras were. Moved in blind spots whenever possible." He pulled up the