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Chapter 63 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ I tried to mentally distract myself as the conversation resumed. "Yeah," Oren breathed, "Too many things are not adding up here." Vincenzo looked up from his plate suddenly, with a thoughtful pause. "Did you say Giancarlo?" he asked, glancing at Kegan. "Yeah," Kegan nodded. "Romano Giancarlo." Vincenzo clicked his tongue and let out a low whistle. "Haven't heard that name in a minute." "You know him?" Luigi asked, curious now. Vincenzo gave a slow nod. "Not directly at first. Was introduced through someone—fuck if I remember who. But yeah, I know him." Nikolai tilted his head and watched Vincenzo with mild suspicion. "How'd that happen?" Vincenzo shook his head like the memory annoyed him. "There was this one time, a few years back, I had a stash so big it could've turned to dust in my hands. Whole fucking shipment. Meth, grade-A cuts. We're talking about something that could've fed a city or burned a hole through my pocket if it went bad." "Meth
Chapter 64 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ Inside the room, I tried to distract myself with a book, but the more I tried, the more the words blurred on the page. Eventually, I gave up and decided to take a shower, hoping the hot water might actually help me relax. I turned the water as hot as I could stand it and stepped inside, letting it wash over me. I closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind, but the whole conversation at the table just seemed to be on replay in my mind. First it was powers, then birthmarks. Did they think I was some psychic? The very idea was absurd. I was no saint, no prophet. I was just... me. Whoever that was. I don't know how long I stood there, lost in thought, before I heard the bathroom door open. I froze, my hand automatically reaching for the towel hanging just outside the shower. "It's just me," Nikolai's voice came through the steam. "Don't stop on my account." I pulled the towel around me anyway, turning off the water and stepping out of the shower. Niko
Chapter 65 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ Nikolai's hand moved to the nape of my neck, his fingers tangling in my damp hair. "That's why you wanted to take your vows so badly, isn't it? To make the mask permanent." His insight caught me off guard. No one had ever understood that part of me before. "Yes," I admitted softly. "If I belonged to God, to the Church, then it wouldn't matter who I was before. I could just be Sister Sylvia for the rest of my life." "And now?" he asked, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Do you still want that?" I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of his hand on my neck, the gentleness of his touch that belied the dangerous man I knew him to be. "I don't know anymore. Everything is different now." "Because of what's happening with the convent?" "Because of you," I corrected, opening my eyes to meet his gaze. "You make me want things I shouldn't. You make me question everything I thought I knew." He leaned closer, his breath warm against my lips. "Is that a
Chapter 66 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ I must have fallen asleep eventually, because I woke to sunlight streaming through the windows and the sound of activity in the house below. I sat up, disoriented for a moment before the events of the night before came rushing back. Nikolai. The interrupted 'therapy'. The conversation we had. The figure I thought I'd seen in the trees. The conversation at dinner. A knock at the door made me jump. "Miss Sylvia?" a woman's voice called. "Mr. Gianni asked me to bring you breakfast and some fresh clothes." I wrapped myself in the robe I was still wearing from last night and opened the door to find one of the household staff with a tray of food and a garment bag draped over her arm. "Thank you," I said, stepping aside to let her in. "Is Nikolai—Mr. Gianni—around?" "He had to step out early this morning," she explained, setting the tray on a small table by the window. "He asked me to tell you he'll be back by noon and that you're to stay in the
Chapter 67 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ "Yes, a complete makeover. Mr. Gianni's instructions." The woman entered, wheeling in a trolley loaded with beauty supplies. "I'm Marcella, by the way. I handle styling for all of Mr. Gianni's special guests." I eyed the intimidating array of products and tools. "I've never had a makeover before." Marcella's eyes lit up. "Never? Then this will be extra special." She gestured to the bathroom. "Let's start with your hair, shall we?" I followed her reluctantly. At the convent, beauty routines were simple affairs; minimal soap, cold water, and Sister Margaret’s occasional trims. In the spacious bathroom, Marcella directed me to sit on a cushioned chair she'd positioned by the sink. "Lean back, let me wash your hair properly." As she worked the shampoo into my scalp with practiced fingers, I closed my eyes, surprised by how soothing it felt. The warm water and gentle massage were nothing like Sister Margaret’s efficient ministrations. "Your hai
Chapter 68 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ "What are you thinking about?" Nikolai asked, noticing my distant gaze as we drove through the country side. "St. Catherine's," I admitted. "You miss it?" "Parts of it," I said honestly. His expression turned serious. "I suspected.” “It’s just funny how everything’s suddenly changed.” “I don’t feel guilty and I want you to never feel bad.” He said. “The sisters at St. Catherine's were given specific instructions about your care. I've been trying to figure out why." "Do you think it has something to do with who I might be?" Nikolai considered his words carefully. "I think it's connected, yes. But I don't want to burden you with theories today. Today is about..." he paused, searching for the right words. "Normal life?" I suggested with a small smile. "As normal as possible," he agreed. "Speaking of which, if you want to talk to Maeve, I can arrange it." My heart leapt. "Really? You would do that?" "Of course. She's been worried about you. I spok
Chapter 69 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ Without a word, he took my hand and pulled me to my feet, his grip firm but not painful. "Fix your dress," he ordered quietly. I did as he commanded, sliding the zipper back up just enough to keep the fabric in place, though it remained looser than before. The warmth of his hand radiated through the small of my back as he guided me away from the main dance floor. We moved past the VIP section, deeper into the club through a corridor I hadn't noticed before. Two of his security men fell in behind us, maintaining a respectful distance. Nikolai nodded to a bouncer stationed before an unmarked black door, who immediately stepped aside. "Are you feeling tipsy?" Nikolai asked, his voice was etched with concern. I turned to look at him, holding his gaze. "I'm not high, I’m horny." Something dangerous flickered in his eyes. "God damn it, Sylvia. You’ve really fallen from grace.” Nikolai nodded once to his security team, probably telling them to
Chapter 70 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ Nikolai's arm was a steady presence around my waist as he guarded me outside the club. The stars above seemed to swim in my vision, not from intoxication but from the lingering high of what I'd just experienced. Behind us, Manuel and another of Nikolai’s men followed at a respectful distance. I couldn't meet their eyes. Did they know where we'd been? What we'd done? Of course they did. The thought sent a rush of embarrassment through me. "Are you alright?" Nikolai enquired. I nodded, then reconsidered. "I don't know." He studied my face, concern etching lines around his eyes. "Regrets?" "No," I answered quickly, surprising myself with my conviction. "Not regrets. Just...thinking." Our ride waited at the curb, Nikolai went round to open the door for me. As we slid into the back seat, the privacy partition was already raised—a small mercy I was grateful for. Once the door closed, sealing us into our private cocoon, I felt the first tremors begin in m
Trigger Warning⚠️ Chapter 78⟿❂⟾Nikolai⟿❂⟾Inside the building was a ghost town of half-demolished office spaces. Exposed wiring hung from the ceiling like dead vines. The floor was littered with construction debris, and plastic sheeting waved gently in the air from the building's struggling ventilation system.I moved silently up the stairs, with the tactical gear Russel provided making me practically invisible. The signal jammer was active in my pocket, blocking any remote detonations within range. My earpiece remained silent. I'd instructed Oren and his team to maintain radio silence unless absolutely necessary.According to thermal imaging, there should have been twelve bodies on this floor. So far, I'd counted none.Of course, I wasn’t expecting them to be completely stupid and let everything go according to my plan, so I knew something was off. The silence was too complete, the emptiness too perfect.I rounded a corner into what had once been a conference room and froze.A
Chapter 77⟿❂⟾Nikolai⟿❂⟾The kid looked up, and her eyes widened at the sight of me. There was surprise there, certainly, but not the relief I would expect from a child who had called me in terror just hours before."Mr. Gianni?" she said, her voice small but steady.I studied her carefully. No visible signs of distress or injury. Her hair was neatly braided, her clothes clean. She looked exactly like a child who had been sitting quietly, reading."Hello, Maeve," I said gently. "How are you?"She glanced at Mother Beatrice, then back to me. "I'm fine. Just doing my readings.""She has quite a bit of scripture to review," Mother Beatrice interjected. "Part of her penance."I crouched down to Maeve's eye level. "I got a call from you this morning. You sounded frightened."The girl's brow furrowed in what appeared to be genuine confusion. "I didn't call you, Mr. Gianni.""You can talk to me, Kid. Alright?"She shook her head. "We're not allowed phones here."I reached into my pocket a
Chapter 76⟿❂⟾Nikolai⟿❂⟾"Too late. Your dog is as demanding as you are.” Sylvia's text lit up my phone as I boarded the private jet.I stared at the message for a moment, fingers hovering over the keyboard. Every instinct told me to call her, to hear her voice. But if I did, she would hear something in mine—the fury, and I couldn't risk that. "She knows quality when she sees it." I typed back, keeping it brief and playful. “Like her master."She must have slept off after that. As the jet prepared for takeoff, I leaned my head back against the leather seat and closed my eyes. I replayed the last call with my latest enemy in my mind. His stupid cruel voice and the sound of Maeve in the background. The small, frightened whimper that told me she was alive. How the fuck could anyone be so cruel as to scare a kid that like that?I could have gone straight to Manhattan. That was what they expected. Me rushing blindly toward the coordinates they would inevitably send, walking right into
Chapter 75⟿❂⟾Sylvia⟿❂⟾Mrs. Alvarez turned out to be a godsend. By early afternoon, we'd ordered enough essentials to get me through a week—simple tops, two pairs of jeans, underwear, toiletries, and a pair of comfortable shoes. She didn't even blink when I gave her Nikolai's credit card information that I'd memorized from watching him use it."Mr. Gianni would have my head if I let his guest go without necessities," she said matter-of-factly when I expressed concern about the cost.We spent the day cooking, with Mrs. Alvarez sharing stories about her family—three grown children and five grandchildren—while carefully avoiding any mention of Nikolai beyond basic household preferences. Professional discretion, I realized. She knew her boundaries.As evening approached, she packaged half the lasagna in containers for the freezer."Luigi prefers protein shakes and grilled chicken," she explained. "But you should have proper food. Just heat this at 350 for twenty minutes when you're h
Chapter 74 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ I woke to sunlight and emptiness. For a moment, disorientation gripped me as I blinked at unfamiliar surroundings. This was certainly not the same room I slept in yesterday or the night before, and it sure as hell was nothing close to my room at the convent. Then memories of the night before and my life for the last three months rushed back: I left the convent, what we did at the club, the car, Nikolai... Heat flooded my cheeks as I remembered the way I'd behaved, the wanton abandon with which I'd given myself to him. The risks we'd taken. My hand drifted unconsciously to my stomach, though I knew it was too soon for any physical manifestation of our recklessness. The bed beside me was empty, the sheets cool to the touch. How long had I been alone? I pushed myself up against the headboard, wincing at the soreness between my thighs. That was a very pleasant reminder of our sins. A glass of water sat on the nightstand, alongside two small pills and a h
Chapter 73 ⟿❂⟾ Nikolai ⟿❂⟾ I woke before dawn, as I always did. Years of discipline had trained my body to need only five hours of sleep, and even with Sylvia warm against me, that hadn't changed. What had changed was my reluctance to leave the bed. She was curled against me like a cat, one hand splayed across my chest, her breathing deep and even. My t-shirt had ridden up during the night, exposing the curve of her hip and the length of her legs. In sleep, her face held none of the guarded wariness that sometimes crept into her expression when she thought I wasn't looking. My fingers caressed her back until they reached her neck, where the mark there burned against her skin like a brand. A crescent moon. The only thing I was very sure of right now after filtering the whole jargon of religious bullshit Luigi gathered was the fact that it was certainly not a birthmark, but a scar—deliberately placed. I allowed myself five more minutes of this strange peace before careful
Chapter 72 ⟿❂⟾ Nikolai ⟿❂⟾ There was something surreal about watching her sleep against my shoulder. After the raw, primal sex in the back of my car, the way she'd given herself to me completely, without reservation, she now looked impossibly innocent again. Her face relaxed in slumber, she could have been a painting of a sleeping angel, if not for the purple marks blooming on her throat and the disheveled state of her hair. The contradiction she embodied continued to fascinate me. Virgin and temptress. Innocent and wanton. Sacred and profane. I'd had countless women over the years, but none had captivated me the way she did, none had made me break my own rules. Like tonight, with the condom. I ran a hand over my face, suppressing a groan. What the hell had I been thinking? I prided myself on control, on discipline, on never taking unnecessary risks. Yet one pleading look from those doe eyes, and I'd thrown caution to the wind. She stirred against me, mumbling something inco
Chapter 71 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ His hands slid up my thighs, pushing my dress higher until it bunched around my waist. His fingers traced the edges of my panties—new ones he'd insisted I put on before leaving the club. He’d produced them from his jacket pocket and stuffed the one I had before in there, almost like he'd planned for everything. "Here?" he asked, though I could tell from the roughness in his voice that he was already convinced. "Here," I confirmed, reaching between us to fumble with his buttons. "Right now." He reached into his pocket and frowned when he came up empty. "I don't have another condom." I continued working on his buttons, undeterred. "We don't need one." His hands caught mine, stilling them. "Yes, we do." "But you promised," I reminded him. "After our first time, you said we won’t need a condom the next time." "Someday," he emphasized. "Not tonight, not in the back of a car." I pouted, knowing it was childish but unable to help myself. "Why not? I'm not
Chapter 70 ⟿❂⟾ Sylvia ⟿❂⟾ Nikolai's arm was a steady presence around my waist as he guarded me outside the club. The stars above seemed to swim in my vision, not from intoxication but from the lingering high of what I'd just experienced. Behind us, Manuel and another of Nikolai’s men followed at a respectful distance. I couldn't meet their eyes. Did they know where we'd been? What we'd done? Of course they did. The thought sent a rush of embarrassment through me. "Are you alright?" Nikolai enquired. I nodded, then reconsidered. "I don't know." He studied my face, concern etching lines around his eyes. "Regrets?" "No," I answered quickly, surprising myself with my conviction. "Not regrets. Just...thinking." Our ride waited at the curb, Nikolai went round to open the door for me. As we slid into the back seat, the privacy partition was already raised—a small mercy I was grateful for. Once the door closed, sealing us into our private cocoon, I felt the first tremors begin in m