KIRA’S POV
“You look stunning!” My stylist Emma squealed once I came out of the changing room. She had offered to come to the house for the fitting but I declined because I wanted to leave the house.No, I needed to leave the house!All week Adrian has been on my ass, I was taking shooting lessons and Ralph my new personal trainer was grilling me in the gym. Adrian said and I quote, ‘Weak people are a liability, physical strength is just as important as mental toughness’Whatever that means!Romano was always there, even during my gym sessions. At first, I was uncomfortable, but I had grown used to the gigantic robot man always lurking in the corner.I am almost certain he isn't human.“What do you think,” Emma asked looking up at me.‘What do I think? I think I need to rest, I need to eat. I’m so freaking sore all over!’ I screamed in my head.God, I see what that sounds like.“It’s beautifuADRIAN’S POVI stood by the window of my penthouse, sipping a glass of fine scotch and gazing out at the city's twinkling lights. After leaving Kira at lunch yesterday I had holed myself up in here, the weight of responsibility settling heavy on my shoulders.Tonight, I will officially become the Don.My thoughts drifted to my father, the man who had built our empire on bloodshed and deceit. I spat on his legacy.That monster had sacrificed everything and everyone for power. Including me.I remembered the day I was sentenced to prison, taking the fall for one of his deals gone sour, we had a deal. I would take over once I got out; but after the final hearing, as I was being led away. He looked at me like he would never see me again like I wouldn’t make it out.But I survived.Inside those walls, I had encountered countless attempts in my life. I was convinced my father had sent them, hoping to eliminate the one person wh
KIRA’S POV My breath hitched in my throat as I felt all eyes on me. I could hear the whispers increase as I moved down the stairs. Were they talking about me? I kept my head high, willing to stay strong. This wasn’t the time to be sentimental. I made my way to the stage where Adrian stood, trying hard not to trip in this absurdly expensive dress, and took my place beside him.“Father,” I whispered, slightly bowing to acknowledge Paulo’s presence. My heart thumped wildly as I felt the heavy weight of the necklace pulling me back to reality. My hand instinctively darted up to touch the exquisite jewelry. Thank God I’d found it; otherwise, Adrian’s mother would have probably skinned me alive—assuming she got to me before Adrian did.“Welcome my dear.” He replied, humming with dismissiveness. I guess I was right on time!“You’re late.” Adrian hissed under his breath, his cold eyes boring into my soul. “I had some minor dress issues to attend to, I’m sorry.” I averted my gaze, unwillin
KIRA’S POV“Instead of pointing guns, maybe you should focus on controlling your wife, Azrael,” Fabrizio sneered, his eyes drilling into me. “She was the one throwing herself at me. Knowing you, I’d think you’d warn her about men like me. So, let’s not pretend I’m the one to blame here.”My heart dropped. “No… I didn’t—he’s lying.” I stammered, glancing at Adrian, his expression was frigid and unreadable. My gaze flicked to Paulo, standing nearby, his face barely masking the storm brewing beneath.The man Adrian had called Caruso earlier, spoke up, his voice as icy as the atmosphere around us. “Let Mancini go, and we’ll release your girl. There’s no need to turn your inauguration into a bloodbath.”Adrian released Fabrizio’s collar, sending him stumbling backward. Everyone still had their guns up and that just made the sickening feeling in my stomach grow with each passing second. Almost immediately, Romano pushed from between the crowd, making his way to me, “Did he harm you in any
ADRIAN'S POV“So, what was the plan, Adrian? Murder me and make it look like an accident while you fool around with a… a…” her voice fell as she pointed a finger at Jess–or Jeanie hell if I knew her name. “Whore…” I finished for her, not bothering to hide my amusement as a smirk curled on my lips. She couldn’t even call the woman I was supposedly cheating on her with a whore to her face. Pathetic!This wasn’t cheating. I was as free as a man could be since this marriage is a fucking farce. She wanted Dylan’s dick, and I wanted nothing to do with her. To me, Kira Neel was nothing more than a social experiment that had gone terribly wrong. She wore her emotions on her sleeve, a foolish trait that will eventually get her killed in my world, and no amount of training will change that.For as long as I can remember, I have gone out of my way to avoid people and unnecessary conversations, keeping my thoughts and presence a mystery. If they knew what you were thinking, you couldn't put a b
KIRA’S POVI walked into the house quietly, craving nothing more than a long, cold shower and some sleep. My feet dragged across the cool tiles as I inched toward my bedroom. Once inside, I shut the door lazily and dropped my fanny pack onto the bed before pulling my hair into a bun.“Ugh…” I groaned as I peeled off my sweat-soaked sports bra. The relief of having it off was immediate. I tossed it into the laundry basket before hooking my thumbs into the waistband of my shorts.Before I could pull them down, I heard someone make a tsking sound from the other side of the door. It sounded closer than usual, which was odd, but I turned my head around to look and met a familiar pair of dark brown eyes I knew too well. I didn’t shut the door well!“Ah! What the hell?” I yelped, dragging my duvet from off the bed and using it to cover my chest, before turning back around. “Why did you stop? I was enjoying the little show.” Dylan smir
KIRA’S POVA huge hand was placed over my mouth and nose, and I braced myself to pass out amidst my little struggle to free myself. Whoever this person was had an iron grip because no matter how hard I twisted or kicked, they didn’t release me. “L…Let me go!” I struggled, muffling into the napkin, hoping that the perpetrator would comply.I was pulled deeper into the shadows, and within a few seconds, Adrian stepped out of the room. He was so sweaty that it was visible on the white shirt he wore. The sleeves had been rolled up and his broad muscles flexed subtly underneath the shirt as I watched in shock. Adrian was torturing that man—but why? I knew life in a mafia household, the Vasillios household came with its complications, but I never imagined witnessing a man being branded with a hot iron would be one of them. My father had always kept his work away from the house.“Romano!” He called out, glancing at where we hid in the shadows.
KIRA’S POV“Again,” Romano said, not even sparing me a glance.“What do you mean again? I hit the bullseye.” I retorted, turning around to face him and pointing dramatically at the dartboard. He was seated lazily on a black bean sack chair at the edge of the armory. Sitting up slightly, he waved the stopwatch in his hand. “Two minutes and twenty seconds,” he announced, flatly. “That’s how long it took you to hit the bullseye. In that time, Ma’am, you could have been shot or stabbed multiple times in a knife fight.”I clenched my teeth, swallowing my irritation. I hated when he spoke to me like a clueless toddler and then threw in ma’am at the end, like that somehow softened the insult.“What does throwing darts have to do with a knife fight? And how on earth would I ever get into one anyway,” I shot back, rolling my eyes at him. I threw my hands up in frustration, annoyed by how much he was enjoying my misery.Romano leaned back on his bean sack and focused his attention back on the
KIRA’S POV“I live here,” she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. The girl stared at me from head to toe, her scowl deepening as she took in my appearance. I didn't need a mirror to know what she was thinking. I looked like I’d just crawled out of Hurricane Milton.“What do you mean you live here?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. Was Adrian now giving accommodation to his conquests? The thought made my stomach sink uncomfortably, even though it shouldn’t have. We weren't a real couple, after all, but letting one of his whores shack up here is still disrespectful.Before she could answer, the back door swung open, and Maria entered, carrying a plastic bag overflowing with vegetables.“Hey, Mum!” the girl said, her tone brightening, ignoring my question.Mum? With her back still turned to me, Maria responded in Italian, her voice warm and welcoming and the two launched into a full conversation in Italian, completely ignoring my presence.I blinked rapidly as I stood there feeling com
KIRA’S POVI turned back and noticed that Adrian had now moved to his minibar behind his chair, pouring himself a drink, completely ignoring me. He was so nonchalant, and it unsettled me. I watched him for a moment, unsure of what to say.He turned to face me, raising the glass to his lips. His eyes locked onto mine as he sipped slowly, deliberately.I wanted to get out of the office but his earlier threat of gruesome torture still ran through my head, why was he keeping me here? He moved from the minibar, the glass still in his hand. I opened my mouth to talk, but his next words knocked the words straight out of my mouth. “Get out,” he said, settling back in his seat. I stared at him for a minute, feeling a mixture of shock and confusion.Was he bipolar? Did he have mood swings?Not that it mattered. I didn't want to stay here anyway so I turned to leave."Wait," his voice stoppe
KIRA’s POV.I stood frozen, staring at the knife in front of me, unwilling to turn around and face him.“I’ve never missed my target twice in one day. Trust me, there won’t be a third,” he said, his voice calm but the warning underneath was very evident. I heard the sound of his chair scraping followed by footsteps moving closer to me, and soon I could feel his warm breath on my back.Oh God.He grabbed my arm lightly, turning me to face him, I kept my eyes down, unable to meet his gaze as I turned. His bare torso was on full display, each muscle perfectly defined, but I forced myself to focus on the floor not knowing how to face him. I had been brave enough for one day, but I knew better than to provoke him further.Without releasing my arm or saying a word, he pulled more like dragged me toward the study door. I heard the heavy drag of the wooden door as he closed it. The sound of the lock sliding into place sent a cold shiver down my spine.
KIRA’S POVBang!The sound of a gunshot echoed through the room, and I instinctively closed my eyes. Oh my God, Adrian shot me, he really shot me. My body froze, my mind racing as I braced myself expecting the pain to kick in at any moment.One…Two…Three…Nothing. I didn’t feel anything. Have I actually learned how to redirect pain and this is my body redirecting the pain?No, that's highly unlikely, I am sure I would feel a bullet in my body.Slowly, I cracked one eye open to peek. The room was blurry, so I opened the other, my vision clearing as I looked down at myself. My hands flew to my body, patting frantically, scanning for any sign of a gunshot wound.Nothing.Once I was sure there wasn’t a hole in me, I turned my attention to Adrian. Our eyes met and his lips twitched into a mocking smirk, one eyebrow arched as he stared at me. Using his head, he gestured upward. Following his line of sight, I looked up and spotted a small
KIRA’S POVJena was sprawled on the desk, Adrian deep inside her. Her tiny frame arched under him, her tiny breasts moving upwards as he thrust into her. The desk was a chaotic mess, papers scattered everywhere, yet neither of them seemed to care.They both looked up when I entered, but their movements didn’t stop.Adrian’s eyes locked onto mine, his face twisted with anger, and his usually slicked hair was scattered and disheveled—no doubt from Jena’s hands running her hands through it. “What the hell are you doing here? Get out!” he barked.I froze for a moment, taking in the crazy scene before me. Jena turned to me, her lips curled into a smile that sent a sick wave of déjà vu washing over me. It was the same smug expression Kayla gave me every time she talked about Dylan. That look of triumph, of winning something they had no right to take.I swallowed my emotions, masking my hurt with indifference, and met Adrian’s furious eyes.“No,” I stated, cros
KIRA’S POV“Oh God,” I gasped, covering my mouth with trembling hands.Dead Ted stood a few inches away from the dartboard, a blank expression on his face, with the knife I had just thrown lodged in his chest. A small, dark stain already forming across his shirt, marking the impact.My body stiffened for a few agonizing seconds as I stared at him. “Oh no. Oh God, what have I done?” I whispered, my voice shaky as I took a hesitant step toward him.Ted raised his hand, holding up the pocketknife I’d thrown earlier. “I was just trying to move this out of the way,” he said, his voice disturbingly calm, his expression unreadable. “Got in the way of your aim, I guess.”Oh God.I blinked in total disbelief. “I …I’m so sorry,” I stammered, as I got within arm’s reach of him. My instinct was to touch the knife or try to steady him, but he raised an eyebrow and shifted back, avoiding my hand.Is he alright, doesn't he see the knife in his chest or feel it? His eyes slowly closed, and I felt my
KIRA’S POVI followed him, my mind reeling. Born in prison? Was that even possible? He stopped in his tracks and turned to look at me, his brows furrowed in what seemed like genuine confusion. Seriously? Was he really confused right now?“What do you mean, ‘born in prison’?” I asked in disbelief. Just when I was starting to warm up to him, he casually dropped this bombshell. Did Adrian hire all the inmates he met in jail?“Oh, that,” Ted said with a chuckle as if he’d just mentioned something mundane. “My mother was convicted of arson.”Arson? My jaw almost hit the floor.“Crazy, right?” he continued, completely unbothered by my reaction. “You know, it’s funny—I think you and her share some similarities.”I nearly scoffed but managed to hold it back. I wasn’t about to risk offending him when he was finally being open without me prying. Still, I couldn’t see how I could possibly be similar to an arsonist.“What do you mean?” I asked carefully.He grinn
KIRA’S POV.“You don't know anything about me,” I retorted.Dead Ted looked at me through the rearview mirror, “Indeed, you’re right, I don’t. But fight for yourself? The weak don’t survive in this cold world.”“I want to.” I chuckled wryly, “Do you know what it’s like to feel the urge to drag someone along the tarmac, punch someone in the face, or scream so loud your lungs give out?”“No. I fulfill my urges. You only live once. Why waste it bottling up emotions?”“That was a rhetorical question.”“As long as it answers yours,” he countered, his tone unbothered.“You can say this because you’re brave. You’ve probably spent your whole life training in some mafia facility, so fear doesn’t even register with you. You can do things without caring about consequences, and even if karma catches up, she’s probably too scared to punish you.”“You don’t know anything about me, Dona,” he said, his eyes darkening and I froze.The car lapse
DYLAN’S POVA low groan escaped my lips as I dabbed my swollen chin with a cube of ice. I took a swig of whiskey as I dabbed.Tiny drops of liquid trickled down my arm, but I didn't seem to care, all I wanted was for the excruciating pain to disappear. “You shouldn't have struggled with them, this was all supposed to be a harmless warning, do you know why? Because I still consider you to be my brother, Dylan.” one of Adrian's lap dog voices rang in my ears again. He said that after dumping me at the roadside. I took another swig to drown the pain and memories.Because he still considered me to be his brother? I scoffed.Brothers don't send men after their brothers. It all began after I had gone out to meet with my secret client, on my way. A van pulled up on me, it double-crossed me and gave me no chance of escape. As I calculated my next moves, five hefty men approached me. In situations like that, I'd be a fool not to fight. What if they wanted to kill me, should I have let them
THIRD PERSON'S POVThe door to the dimly lit warehouse opened and Adrian accompanied by Romano and a couple guards walked in. At the edge of the room, a man was tied to a wooden seat, his arms and legs cuffed together, a black sack covering his head.The loud clatter of keys reverberated as they dangled from the doorknob. The tied man's sore body jerked at the sound, his ears straining to follow the movements drawing closer.Adrian walked at a slow pace toward the man tied to the metal chair, the soles of his shoes clunk as they met the metal floor causing an audible echo that reverberated through the corners of the cubicle.The man's head twitched as he heard footsteps getting closer, he let out low grunts that quickly turned into loud, panicked cries, accompanied by the harsh scraping of the chair as he thrashed violently, trying to free himself from his restraints.He struggled and struggled but to no avail, “Who is there?!” "Whoever you are, let me go now! Do you know who I am? M