After I had another shot of cocktail, Russo broke away from the conversation he was having with his friends and made his way towards me. The party was fun, and it was beginning to take on the feel that I like for a good time. He had to step away from me for a little while in order to discuss business with a few other individuals, and as soon as he was out of earshot, I made my way over to where the alcoholic beverages were being sold. I didn't drink much outside before tonight, but now that I have, there's a sense of liberation all around me, and I adore it. "There is no way you can drink again." He didn't lie about me not being able to drink anymore, but if there was anything he was lying about, it was that I could scarcely stand. Butterfly, you can barely stand anymore," he groaned, and I could tell he was smirking as he spoke those words. He didn't lie about me not being able to drink anymore, but if there was anything he was lying about, it was that I could barely stand. I drew
It was my first birthday since I had left home, and I couldn't help but feel a bit lonely. Nobody here knew it was my birthday nor do they even know the real me. If I was at work, back at home. Madea and Christy would have probably put together a silly party for me. As the day dawned, I knew that there would be no family to sing to me, no friends to throw a surprise party, and certainly no lover to bring me breakfast in bed. Mike stopped the breakfast in bed charade almost three years ago, now that I think of it. The signs were presenting themselves early, but I was just the one that chose to ignore it fully. I was still stuck in the delusion of us, I should have known. This was a different world, a world I had chosen, but it sometimes felt so far away from the life I had once known. This world was starting out fast to become the one that’s for me, with each passing day I find the line between good and bad getting blurry for me. I find myself leaning toward the crime world. The da
"My father was a monster," he said, his voice low and filled with bitterness. "He made our lives a living hell. We were just kids, and he treated us like garbage."I could tell the anger behind those words; he sounded like a man who had a lot to say, and I was grateful he trusted me enough to tell me this part of his. Russo had always been an enigma I wanted to solve, one that I wanted to turn into reality without fear."For every time he got back from meetings and everything, we lived in fear. My mother, my brothers, and I included Nobody was free of his clutches. My father was a principled man, one who had witnessed the Cold War as a Soviet Union soldier and he had lots to pass down; love wasn't one of them. My brothers and I had to find our own paths. We had to craft our own emotions. My father rarely showed emotion. The only emotion he showed was anger, and he did that without fear. An angry father meant that we would be whipped till we bled."Russo went on to tell me about his ol
For me, going shopping has always been an excellent method to keep a low profile, and today was no exception. I needed a reason to go back into the FBI office, which was a location that I had once considered to be my home. As I navigated my way through those well-known passageways, I couldn't help but experience a range of feelings. I detested the way it felt right now, and I loathed myself even more.In the first place, this was way too dangerous; if Russo was watching me, this would be a terrible way to give myself away, but checking in at this point would have been way too late. I needed to reassure my superiors and let them know that I was working, so I communicated this to them. I had been pretending to be someone else for a number of months, and I was still not in the thick of things. I have to confess that I have been doing an outstanding job, even if it has been at the sacrifice of my personal feelings.As I make my way through the deserted laundry, I go back to the days when
As I was getting dressed for the fundraiser, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in my chest. The black dress I had chosen for the evening was sleek and sexy, hugging my curves in all the right places. I paired it with a pair of stilettos that made my legs look endless.Russo was sitting on the bed, watching me intently as I applied the finishing touches to my makeup. He leaned back, looking at his watch with a mock sigh. "We're going to be late, Alissa," he teased.I turned to him with a playful smile, not bothered by the time. "Oh, come on, Russo," I said, walking over to him. "Fashionably late is the way to go, right?"He chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement. "You always have an answer for everything, don't you?"I leaned in closer, my lips almost brushing against his ear. "Well, it's not just any event. It's a fundraiser," I whispered, my voice taking on a sultry tone. "We need to make an entrance, don't we?"Russo's breath caught, and he cleared his throat, try
The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, gently coaxing me awake. I blinked a few times, adjusting to the new day, and then noticed the enticing aroma wafting through the room. My senses quickly came to life, and I realized that breakfast in bed awaited me.Russo stood by the bedside, holding a tray laden with delectable treats. He wore a playful grin on his face as he presented the meal. "Good morning, my beautiful Alissa," he greeted me, his eyes filled with a hint of mischief.I sat up, a mixture of surprise and curiosity coursing through me. "Breakfast in bed? What's the occasion?" I asked, my voice laced with curiosity.Russo placed the tray in front of me. "No special occasion," he replied with a wink. "I just wanted to spoil you a little."A wave of warmth washed over me, and I couldn't help but smile at his sweet gesture. "Well, you've certainly succeeded," I said, running a finger along the edge of the tray.As I started to indulge in the delicious breakfast he'd
The room was thick with tension as Leanna, with a determined glint in her eyes, insisted on waiting for Russo. Her demeanor was unsettling, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something dangerous was about to unfold. Clutching a gun tightly in her hands, she motioned for me to sit quietly."Why are you doing this?" I finally mustered the courage to ask. "What do you want?"Leanna smirked, a twisted satisfaction dancing in her eyes. "Oh, sweet Alissa, you've always been oblivious to the bigger picture. Sit tight, and maybe you'll understand."Confused and desperate to comprehend the unfolding scenario, I scanned the room for any signs of an escape. How had Leanna even made it past the main gates? Where was the security?Before I could voice these questions, the door burst open, and Russo rushed inside. Relief washed over me at the sight of him, but that relief was short-lived. Leanna, with an air of authority, ordered him to sit. Russo complied, an unusual compliance that hinted at a
It seemed in my thoughts as though there was a party going on that I wasn't invited to attend. There is no one here to address my queries, and I have some. As I took a few steps back, I noticed that I was once again in my room. The throbbing headache I've had all day is the only thing that brings yesterday back to mind.There are many more inquiries that I have for Russo, but I seriously doubt that he will be willing to answer them right now. The man despises it when questions are directed against him, but yesterday my life was in imminent danger, and I was beginning to see more sides of him than I was previously aware existed.When I turned around, I felt a hand on my waist, and I don't need a fortune teller to tell me that it's Russo's. I carefully removed his hands from around my waist, and then I attempted to fall back asleep in case he woke up or something else happened; but, I was unable to fall asleep at all. My dry throat was making matters worse, and the only time I felt bett