CHAPTER-5

"I don't know why I am going through this torture. I hate kids."

Leonus chuckled. "Well! Too bad. you have to produce one or two of them to keep the lineage going," he commented to his sister who was trying to smile for the pictures. One of their counterparts from the business world threw a birthday party for his son. They had to come for the sake of appearance.

They both have set unspoken rules for each other. He will stand behind her in Cosa Nostra while Aria would stand beside him in the business world. And not to mention their mother gets happy when she sees Aria like this. So she attends events like this for her happiness although she doesn't say it.

But today she was regretting it. The place was filled with children and Leonas was telling her that she had to bore children one day.

Aria raised her eyes and glanced at her brother. "We had this talk yesterday. It's your duty to produce children, not mine."

"Capo's child becomes Capo, Aria. You are going to be the Capo, it's your duty to produce a kid of your own," he once again reminded her. "Also, you know my views on marriage too. I don't want to have a wife or child. Too much stress."

This was something she could agree with Leonus. That's the reason she agreed to his suggestion of having a contract marriage.

She would rather spend her time and energy in Cosa Nostra rather than on a spouse. This was the common thing they shared. Not to marry and have children.

She let out a tired breath as the thought took a lot of her energy. "This party is not going to get over anytime soon and I am tired of smiling already. Shall we leave?" She asked Leonus who nodded in agreement.

But when they went to their host to say goodbye, their eyes went to the man standing beside the host.

Aleksandr Fedorov!

“What is He doing here?"Aria asked her brother as she hid her shock, seeing their rival standing with their business partner.

Leonus was equally shocked seeing him. "I don't know. I had no idea they knew each other," he stated, darting his gaze from him to Aria. "But we have to find out." Aria nodded with sharp eyes.

"Thank you for coming, Pakhan," Nikolai greeted his long-time friend Aleksandr Fedorov. "I thought you wouldn't come."

"You are one of those lucky people whom I like. So you thought wrong, Nikolai." Aleksandr commented while shaking hands with him. "I want my son to have your blessings, Pakhan. Please come and let me introduce you to my son." Nikolai said, ending the handshake.

"Excuse me, Mr Korlos?"

Nikolai turned around hearing his name. "Ah, Mr Knight, I hope you are enjoying yourself…"

Leonus' eyes went to Aleksandr for a single moment before he drifted his eyes to Nikolai again. While Aria kept her eyes strictly on Nikolai forcing her features to remain normal but all she wanted to do was demolish the man in front of her.

The havoc made a wild entry in her head again seeing Him. Aleksandr Fedorov. But it was not the place or time to calm that havoc.

Leonus forced a smile to his face and answered his question. "We enjoyed the party. But now we would like to take our leave."

Nikolai smiled politely. "It was nice having you here," he said, accepting their departure request.

"Won't you introduce me to your guests, Nikolai? Especially this Madam, here." Aleksandr who had his void gaze kept on Aria stated but she didn't even glanced his way.

Aria’s finger twitched and Ever so slowly, she shifted her eyes and set them on Aleksandr.

"The Madam, doesn't want to meet everyone on the road. Excuse me." She said giving him a cold look before looking back to his brother and Nikolai. The latter had a shocked expression on his face upon hearing the insult Aria threw at Aleksandr.

"We really enjoyed the party. Thank you for your invitation. You have a beautiful son," Aria said with a fake polite smile before walking out of the place.

"I don't like when people comment about my sister, Mr Korlos," Leonus said to Nikolai in a firm tone. "Your guest needs to understand his boundaries," he warned Aleksandr through Nikolai who paled hearing the threatening words. He opened his mouth to warn him to not speak such big words to Aleksandr. He thought Leonus didn't know how dangerous he was but Aleksandr shook his head lightly stopping him.

Aleksandr raised his brows, hearing the warning in Leonus's words as He watched his retreating figure. He didn't allow Nikolai to speak. He wanted to see if the boy had some balls or not because his sister had plenty of them. The war was certain, Velenoso's daughter invited it upon themselves. Not that it wouldn't have come without her invitation but now it would be far more dangerous and twisted. It would be something grand!

Cosa Nostra wouldn't even understand what hit them and vanished their history from New York. He couldn't wait to see Velnosoo on his knees crying but more than that He wanted to see his daughter on her knees in front of him.

Aria Salvatore Knight on her Knees in front of him to please him. She would be a nice addition to his brothels but before giving her to other people He would use her thoroughly.

Nikolai swallowed and looked at Aleksandr. "What was that?" Nikolai couldn't help but ask. "That's the reason you asked me to have business with Knights. right, Pakhan? You are planning something big for them."

Aleksandr nodded and chuckled lightly. "Yes." He commented with a twisted gleam in his eyes. "I am planning a big War on them!"

Nikolai paled. "A War?"

Aleksandr gave him another nod.

"But he is a businessman."

Aleksandr rested his hand on Nikolai's shoulder. "An old revenge, Nikolai. You don't have to understand it. Your work is to do as you are told. As far as Knights are concerned, It's time to settle some old scores with them. Some skeletons are going to hit them hard," He said, recalling how Velenoso snatched not only his Bratva's territory but his family from him too. It's time he pays for his deeds.

Nikolai sighed in fear. He didn't have anything to say to him. The dark gleam in Pakhan’s eyes was enough for him to see how Aleksandr thirsted for revenge. The atmosphere turned heavy around them and Nikolai was glad when his wife came there with their three years old son. "Can we talk?" Laura asked her husband.

"Did you forget to greet me, Laura or are you purposefully ignoring me?" Aleksandr asked her.

Nikolai's heart stopped for a moment. The calmness from a second ago went in the air and once again fear gripped him. He didn't want to be in Aleksandr's bad books. He knew how dangerous He could be. His anger would not only affect him but his whole family also. Not only in the US but in Russia as well.

He forced a smile to his face. "She looked worried about something, Pakhan. I hope you ignore her mistake," he tried to ease the suddenly tense atmosphere and turned to his wife. "And you can always say anything in front of Pakhan Aleksandr, Laura. He is our family friend and soon to be family."

Laura swallowed the sudden dryness out of fear as she looked at Aleksandr. "I apologise for not greeting you, Pakhan but I was a little tense."

Aleksandr gave her a curt nod. "And why are you tense, Laura?" He asked again.

Once again anxiety took over her. She didn't have the power to answer it to him so she shifted her eyes to her husband. "Your sister is not coming, Nikolai. I called her multiple times but she said she is not feeling well and she couldn't come. She sent some gifts for Rob."

Nikolai stiffened in worry. He could feel Aleksandr's hard gaze in his back. His sister was going to be a Fedorov bride and he knew how obsessively dangerous Aleksandr could become when it comes to his honour and pride. And his sister was the honour of the Fedorov clan.

"I hope she is fine, Laura. The girl will be responsible to bore future Fedorov children. Don't forget your father promised me a healthy bride. A healthy and pure bride, Nikolai."

Nikolai's complexion turned white hearing the implication in Aleksandr's words. "I remember, Pakhan. It must be some kind of bug or normal fever or something. I will go and meet her first thing tomorrow."

Aleksandr gave him a tight smile but his eyes were speaking different languages altogether. "You asked us to not disclose the news of our arrangement to her and we didn't. To show our respect to your father and grandfather's years of loyalty to us but now is the time that your sister knows that she is going to be a Fedorov Bride soon."

Nikolai nodded. "As you say, Pakhan." He agreed like a loyal soldier.

Aleksandr stretched his hand to his councillor. Mikhail gave him the present he bought for Nikolai's son.

"For your son, I hope he has a happy and healthy life," Aleksandr handed him the medium size box before giving him a curt nod and walking out from there.