Alicia’s POV:I was shivering still minutes later after Mikael left.How had I forgotten how scary he was? He was much taller than I was and unlike Acker, he never failed to make me appear smaller than him. I thought of the difference between Mikael’s and Acker. Apart from their clear physical differences, all my memories of Acker was of how safe be made me feel. Mikael… he was more terrifying to me and k thought he would end up hurting me one way or another.Even when he was being nice, i mused to myself as I finally approached the breakfast table, I always felt like he was more of a predator, and I could clearly believe he was a dangerous man.Acker never showed himself like that to me. I didn’t know whether that was a good thing or not but…I realized what I was thinking about - comparing the two men?! Weren’t they BOTH just bad people? - and stopped myself entirely, facepalming.Alicia, you’ve gone off the deep end.Don’t forget yourself. You can afford to fall for their tricks ag
Alicia’s POV My heart was pounding as the chaos began to unfold in the casino. All eyes were on us and suddenly the flashing lights and all the glitz and glamour of the casino shattered to reveal my anxiousness. The dream was gone.“What the hell are you doing?” The man that had been by my side at the table stumbled to his feet and was promptly forced to a kneeling position by Mikael’s men. “Who the fuck are you?”“I should be the one to ask you that, minga.”My back felt the reverberation of Mikael’s chest, and I cringed inwardly. This was my fault, i just knew it.“Mikael-“ i tried to speak but all thoughts of that ended when I felt a sharp pinch at my waist. He was angry, and he wasn’t afraid to show it.“Look, I don’t know who you are but you are way outta line!” The man’s voice increased and it was hoarse as he glared in my - and Mikael’s- direction. “I’m a paying customer! Ask around, you bastard!”Mikael laughed, loudly. His chuckles were dark and i barely restrained a shiver
Acker’s POV:She wasn’t supposed to be home so quickly.I expected that; Javier had reliably informed me she would be at the casino tonight. I had hoped the blonde mafia don would entertain her well enough. I didn’t care as long as she was safe.Therefore I took the opportunity, wanting to reacquaint myself with the apartment.I stood at the entrance of the apartment, the door barely making a sound as I entered. Despite it being equipped with the state of the art security cameras and alarm system, I wasn’t Acker Madden for nothing. I knew how to bypass it well, learned long ago during my mercenary days.What I did not expect was to find her entering the apartment only moments after, and I watched her posture carefully when she shut the door loudly. She wasn’t happy.She jumped when she heard me shift in me feet and was about to scream when I spoke, “Don’t.”I reached for the light switch and turned it on, enveloping the living room with white light. Her eyes widened and I saw surprise
Alicia’s POV:“Goddamn it,” I cursed loudly, not caring whomever would hear me. I already knew no one would - it was way too early for anyone sane to be up. The black exercise set that I was wearing was already soaked with sweat as I panted, feeling stitches in my sides.I was damn unfit.I made a mental note to do more about improving my exercise routine. I never had the time for these sorts of things when I was working but now… i had all the time I wanted and nothing to do with it.The thought of college entered my mind again and I sighed in frustration. It wasn’t the first time that going back to school entered my mind. Back then, when k had just left the orphanage, I was only able to take a couple of classes at a community college and earn myself a diploma. But now…The idea of asking Acker and Mikael for permission to go to school wasn’t what I wanted. They likely wouldn’t care and I didn’t want to force their hands.I leaned against the tree I had jogged all the way from my apar
Alicia’s POV: Finally, I thought with a relieved sigh, breakfast was done. I nodded in thanks as Farrah cleared the dishes away from the table, and the two men stood at the same time. I watched them, my hackles risen, as they both gave me glances that made me self conscious. “What?” I asked them both. What were they up to? It was quite suspicious. With the way both of them looked I would have thought they were about to abduct me a second time. “We have something for you,” Acker took the lead, speaking first. “More like a gift,” Mikael continued. “And an apology, of sorts.“ I met Mikael’s eyes and saw no hints of lies in them. It was… surprising. I looked away thoughtfully. He was… apologizing? No, I corrected myself, glancing at Acker briefly. They BOTH were. My heart twinged. Could I accept more gifts tying me to them? Remembering Magda’s words, I stopped myself from saying any words of refusal. Perhaps I could wait and see what it was first before coming to a conclusion.
Alicia’s POV “Ugh,” I groaned as I closed the book I had been reading for the second time.I had been trying to not give into the abject boredom that I felt but it was becoming harder and harder to do so.“Come on, what else can I do?” I wondered aloud, staring at the closing as I laid on the couch in the living room.Was this how life would become now?Because I had no work to revolve my life around, the days slowed into a dismal crawl.Maybe I could get my job back?Or actually entertain the idea of asking Acker and Mikael to go to college? They would support me right? They were not good men but… they couldn’t be that terrible.I felt I was beginning to lose it.Blinking slowly at the ceiling I decided I needed a change of environment.Sharply i got up and stretched my hands above my head with a wince. I should REALLY become more fit. Magda had commented once on how unfit I was but now I could feel it. Just a couple days of jogging and my body already ached fully from the workout.
Mikael’s POV THREE HOURS AGO “Where are they?” I all but growled Magda who bowed to me and directed me to down the hallway. Acker stood beside me as we walked, the sounds of pained grunts filling the air, as well as the distinct sound of fist hitting flesh.The sound reminded me that I hadn't yet gotten my workout in. Perhaps I'd do so with this subordinate of Castro's. I didn’t speak as I barged into the room. Nor did Acker, because the two of us were furious. Castro’s men had attacked us, in broad daylight. It was obvious whose side he was on, and who had sent him: Cross Serpenti.My bastard half-brother once more. Even now he was more trouble than he was worth. “Sir,” the men that were busy brutalizing the last member of the Castro’s that had attacked. He was the only one left alive after my men were done with them, and Acker had volunteered to come with me. After all, he had agreed to the deal, to combine our forces into dealing with Castro and my half-brother. “Leave him
Mikael’s POV:I huffed, raising my hand to cup my chin while still staring at the Madden Don.“What kind of a question is that, Madden?” I asked him. “Do you not trust my judgement?”His hands were clasped together and he gazed at me in silence before I sighed heavily and I crossed my legs, standing to walk towards the bar. Now that Castro had gone, I felt more relaxed, which meant a little drink.“Castro used to be one of my father’s most important men,” I began to explain, pouring some bourbon into the crystal cup I had picked out. “He handled more than anyone knew. Though he didn’t have many men to begin with in his faction, he was one of the few who knew my father closely. And that…”“That is what you’re afraid of,” Acker’s words reminded me of the memories of the last. Castro had firmly been against my father pushing Cross away, just like I had been at one point. I used to care for my half-brother as if we had no reason to compete. We were the same age, and even though my father