Chapter One

Alice's POV

I twirled the knife in my hand and kept thinking about what father just told me. I turned in my chair as I tried to think of what to do about the situation on the ground.

He wanted me to get married to the American Mafia Don. As much as I would love to throw a fit with my father, I know better not to. There is little I can do, even as the Don of the Russian Mafia. My father is a psychopath and I don't want to cross him.

I wish my mother was here, maybe things would have been better. Father has never wasted any opportunity to remind me of how I killed my mother.

He hated the fact that she died because of me. My mother died immediately after giving birth to me and my father wished I was the one who died instead of her. 

In anger, I threw my knife at the painting hanging on the wall opposite me. I can't remember how many paintings Silver has changed ever since she became my guard.

I told her to stop buying the paintings but she still buys them, not that I care. I took out my wallet, opened it, and stared at the picture of my mom. Even though I never got to meet her, everyone has said kind things about her. 

Father has always seen me as a disappointment but since I am his only heir, he had no choice but to pass the title of the Don to me.

Over the years, I have trained. I've tried everything to make him proud of me but he's never acknowledged me. He only loves to order me around and see me suffer.

Even though he has slept with almost every woman in town, he still wasn't able to get anyone pregnant. 

I chuckle as I remember the anger on his face as he watched me take over his mafia. I am respected by my men because I earned it.

I fought for this position and I am proud of myself. Even though I didn't ask for this life, I have learned to make the best of what I have. 

The maids took care of me and I started training at a very young age. The men in the mafia would challenge me to fight and even though I wasn't really experienced, I always fought till I passed out.

I learned from the fight and got better with time. Romano was one of my father's loyal men and he trained me when I was in my teenage years. 

He always pushed me past my limit. He spoke with my father about my potential and I think it's one of the reasons why father gave me a chance. Sadly, Romano passed away last year from cancer. 

Sometimes I wished I was the one who died instead of mum. She was set free from father's chains and so was Romano. But here I am, thinking about how to be set free from my present dilemma.

I can't run away because I have a mafia to run and I can't kill my father because that would be a war on me. I guess I'm out of options. I have no choice but to marry a stranger. 

I am getting married to Liam Salvador, the American Mafia's Don. I've only seen him once. The American Mafia is one of the top Mafia in the world and so also is the Russian Mafia.

This will be a long ride. I have no idea how Liam sees women but I will not hesitate to put him in place if he does anything stupid.

Even though this marriage will help both mafias, I will never give up my Mafia, marriage or not. I don't know what game father is playing but for now, I'll listen to what he says. The knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts. "Come in." 

A maid made her way in bowing her head in respect. "Don, your father said I should pack everything you'll need for tomorrow's trip. I'd love to know what you'd want me to pack." She asked.

"Maria, stop bowing your head. Just pack a few clothes and matching shoes. Do your thing, I trust you." I told her.

"Ok, Don." And with that, she left to start packing. 

Not too long after, Silver came in. "Hey boss, how are you doing?" 

"I would have been fine except that I have been thinking about this fucking marriage." I sighed.

"I know, I'm so sorry. Let's just kill your father." She whispered like it was the easiest thing to do.

"You know we can't do that." 

"I know, but we can try." She said, giving me a devilish smirk. I shook my head and decided to focus on the files on my table. Since I'd be leaving tomorrow, it would be better to just finish some of my work.

"WHAT THE FUCK?" Silver screamed.

"What is it?" I asked nonchalantly, obviously knowing why she was screaming.

"Why do you keep destroying these beautiful paintings? Do you know what I go through to get them for you?" She asked.

"My apologies."

"Seriously? Do you know you could just go to the gym and punch some bags or even punch one of your security guards? Not these beautiful paintings."

"Now, won't that be a wicked thing to do? Punch one of my guards?" I asked.

"I don't care, stop destroying these beautiful paintings." 

"Ok," I said, continuing with my work.

I continued working and Silver made herself comfortable on the couch, scrolling through her phone. Not too long after she received a call.

"Yes, Nikolai…. He doesn't want to confess?..... HOW MANY TIMES WILL I HAVE TO TEACH YOU?...... JUST SHUT UP… I'll be there soon." And with that, she cut the call. She immediately explained what was going on. 

Apparently there was a raid on one of our shipments and a man was caught. He's Italian and doesn't want to snitch on his gang.

So he wasn't conversing in English, and Nikolai is mad that he only speaks Italian but he also suspects that the man was pretending. 

"Let's go sort this out," I told Silver.

So we left my office. As I walked through the lobby, my men bowed their heads in respect.

I walked to the weapon room and picked up some grenades. Silver looked at me trying to figure out why I picked a grenade but I just shrugged and walked out of the room. We both walked out of the building and walked to my car.

The Bugatti Chiron sat pretty in the park. I opened the door and entered the car. Turning on the ignition of the car, the engine purred to life. Silver entered and strapped herself in. 

I pulled out of the car park and revved the car towards the destination I was heading to. The windows were down, and I enjoyed the drive as the wind blew.

The sun was about to set and I didn't have much time to waste. Even though there was no need for me to go to this location because Silver could handle it, I still wanted to release some of my anger.

Upon getting to the warehouse, I got out of the car and put my hood over my head. I walked into the building and observed what was going on.

Nikolai was already beating the Italian guy to a pulp, releasing his anger on him. I stayed in the shadow and signaled Silver to go first. 

"Now, Nikolai, is that a good way to treat our friend?" Silver asked. She was mad that Nikolai allowed his emotions to get in the way because the man was beginning to lose consciousness.

I watched how she skillfully spoke to the man in Italian, triggering him when she talked about his secret wife and son he thought no one knew about. 

I observed the man and noticed a small tattoo on one of his fingers. Connecting the dot, I immediately knew the gang he was from. The raven gang.

They operate in small groups and I remember how I pissed their leader some months earlier. Without wanting to waste any more time, I walked toward the man and dropped a grenade on his lap. Since he was sitting, that will make the work easier. 

His eyes almost bulged out of their socket. I just smirked at him and waved. Removing the pin on top of the grenade, I walked out and so did everyone in the warehouse.

I chuckled as I saw everyone almost trip over the air trying to escape. Not long after we were all out, everywhere was on fire. 

"That was mad," Silver said smiling. I wish I could give the man a slow and painful death but time wasn't on my side. I have to leave Russia tonight with my father.

I gave my men the name of the gang and instructed them to wipe them out before I came back from America. 

Rushing home to get ready, I drove at a high speed that even Silver held onto the door handle tightly. If there was anything I didn't want this time, it would be pissing my father off.

The old man is a very cunning person and lord knows what he would do if I don't get to the airport on time. I looked at my watch and saw that I had an hour left to get ready and get to the airport.

Not long after, I got home. I ran up the stairs and went to my room. Taking a show and dressing up, I checked everything to make sure that Maria the maid took everything.

And of course, there were no signs that she forgot anything. I made a mental note to increase her salary when I get back.

Leaving the house, I entered the car that was already waiting for me. Silver was already seated in the passenger seat. I gave a nod as the signal to move and the ride began.

I got on my laptop and continued with some work. It's one of the things I do when I feel overwhelmed. I was so engrossed in what I was doing that Silver had to tap. 

"We are here." She informed me.

"Do you think father is here already?" I asked, dreading the answer. 

"I don't think so. His car is not here yet." Silver said, looking around.

I got down from the car and made my way toward my private plane. Entering the plane, I made my way to the last seat at the end and made myself comfortable.

I signaled to the waitress and ordered a glass of bourbon. I'll need to brace myself for this journey. Father will most definitely do everything to get under my skin. My whiskey came and I took a sip. 

We have twenty minutes before the plane takes off. Yet, my father isn't here. I smile because I know I won't hesitate to tell the pilot to take off without my father.

I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't know when he came in. His shoe was the first thing I saw and I almost hissed. Fucking bastard, did he really have to come?

"I see you came early." He said taking a seat in front of me. Now you listen to me, once we get to America, I'll take you to meet your husband and you will do whatever he says. If he says he wants to have his way with you, you let him. Did you hear me?" He yelled. 

I gave him a nod just to get rid of him. "And why are you dressed like this?" He asked, looking at me in disgust. I looked down at my clothes, I was wearing a jogger and a shirt. "Am I supposed to dress up to travel?" I asked him in anger.

"You are supposed to always look good, bitch. Not like a homeless piece of shit!" He grunted.

I willed myself to not say anything. Not today Satan. After a long agonizing flight, we got to America. I wasted no time getting off the plane.

I got into the car that had been prepared for me. We got to the hotel and I collapsed on the bed, sleeping almost immediately. At least I'll enjoy a little peace before the chaos ahead.