Sofia.The weight of their words still lingered in the air as the car sped down the darkened road, the tension between us thick, charged with an unspoken decision. We all knew what had to be done. Nikolai was the first to break the damning silence, his voice low and resolute. “We need to meet with him.”I snapped my gaze to him. “What?”“You heard me, Malyshka,” he said without looking away from the road. “This isn’t just your problem. It’s all of ours now and we need to handle it as soon as we can.”I frowned, shifting in my seat. “I don’t see how dragging him into this any more than he already is, is going to help.”Nial, sitting beside me, exhaled sharply. “We’re not dragging him into anything. He’s already in it. That café attack wasn’t just a message to you—it was a message to him. His son is a target, too, We aren't about to be caught in the crossfire not knowing whose on our side and who isn't.”A chill ran down my spine. Alexei.He was a fucking kid, he hadn't done a damn thin
Author's POV.The moment Sofia and her husbands left- fuck, he hated that word. Husbands. It left a bitter taste in his mouth, and it wasn't fair to him. He wanted to be the man for her. He desereved that title, but she chose them, not him, he reminded himself - silence settled over the room like a thick fog, suffocating and heavy. Arsen exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face before gripping the edge of the table. The tension in his shoulders had coiled so tight he thought he might snap.He should have expected this. From the second he locked eyes with those five men in the café, he knew this moment would come. The past had never been the kind to stay buried, not for people like them. Not for men who lived in the shadows of power and blood.Sofia was different now. He had seen it in the steel of her gaze, the way she held herself—not just as a mother, not just as the girl he used to know, but as something else entirely. A woman carved by war and loss, by survival. The Bratva’s
Arsen.I had always known my past would come back for me. But I never thought it would come like this—like a blade pressing against my throat, like a storm tearing apart everything in its wake. Like my heart was going to be ripped away from my ribbcage.Sitting in that dimly lit room, my jaw still aching from the blond dickhead's punch, I could feel the weight of my next words before they even left my mouth. I had their attention now. The three men who owned Sofia’s heart. The men who would kill me without hesitation if they thought I was a danger to her.And maybe I was.I exhaled sharply, pushing down the bitterness that always threatened to surface when I thought about what could have been. What should have been. I wasn’t here for that. I was here because I had answers. And they needed them."The people after Sofia? They aren’t just old enemies," I began, my voice even, controlled, despite the storm raging inside me. "They’re the remnants of something much worse. Something that nev
Arsen.The moment of peace I shared with Sofia is quickly shattered. The first explosion rocked the walls, sending a tremor through the floor. The windows rattled violently before one of them burst, spraying shards of glass into the air. In the same breath, the lights flickered and cut out, plunging us into chaos.Fuck! They had where they wanted us. We didn't expect them to strike this fast. And that was our first mistake.“DOWN!” Nikolai roared, tackling Sofia to the ground as a second blast ripped through the room, deafening and blinding. The table flipped, and I hit the ground hard, the taste of dust and gunpowder sharp in my mouth.Gunfire erupted outside, sharp, controlled bursts—whoever was out there wasn’t just trying to scare us. They were here to finish the job.Nadei was the first to move, rolling into cover behind the overturned couch, his gun already in hand. “We’re under attack.”“No shit!” Nial growled, already pulling his own weapon. His face was twisted in fury, but h
Nadei.The world erupted in fire.The blast threw me off my feet, a wall of heat and force slamming into my back as the explosion consumed the alleyway. Debris rained down like fucking bullets, and the scent of burning asphalt filled my lungs. My ears rang, my vision blurred—but I didn’t stop moving. I couldn’t afford to. I. Had.To. Keep. Moving.“SOFIA!”My voice was lost in the chaos, but I caught sight of her through the smoke. My heart squeezed at the sight. Arsen had tackled her to the ground, shielding her with his body as the fire roared behind them. He was bleeding. So was she. But they were alive.Nikolai was on his feet, gun raised, scanning the destruction. Nial had taken cover behind what was left of a dumpster, his face set in a snarl, blood dripping down the side of his head. But the bastard we’d been questioning? Gone.Of course he was.''Fucking hell.'' I spat out a curse, my grip tightening around my gun as I forced my body into motion. We needed to move. Whoever sen
Sofia.I feel someone's intense gaze on me.The night was a cacophony of chaos, but all I could hear was the drum of my own heartbeat, the fire in my lungs as I fought, as I survived. The air was thick with the scent of gasoline, wreckage and blood, the crack of bullets whizzing past my ears a deadly symphony.Nikolai was at my back, covering me with precision, his bullets finding their marks like it was second nature. Nadei was a storm, his movements ruthless, his rage palpable as he carved through our attackers with a kind of brutality that made my chest ache. Nial fought with a quiet efficiency, his blade flashing in the dim light, while Arsen, bleeding and furious, held the line with the stubbornness of a man who refused to fall.And still, they kept coming.More men poured into the alley, their silhouettes dark and faceless, their weapons raised, ready to finish what they started."We need a fucking miracle," Nial panted, reloading with grim determination."We don’t break," I gro
Sofia.The safe house was buried deep in the outskirts of the city, a fortress disguised as a forgotten estate. High walls, reinforced doors, bulletproof windows—it screamed security. Yet, as I stepped inside, the familiar scent of cigars and espresso made it feel almost homey.For a moment, I let myself believe we were safe.Until Luca locked the door behind us, and the tension in the room snapped tight like a wire about to break."We need answers." Lorenzo’s voice was ice, sharp and cutting.Clearing his throat, "Agreed." Nadei said as he leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, his green eyes dark with exhaustion. "We were ambushed, but someone had to tip them off.""Someone on the inside," Nial added, wiping dried blood from his knuckles. "Someone close enough to know our movements."My stomach twisted. He wasn’t wrong. This wasn’t just a random attack. This was precision. A well-planned execution. And yet, we were still standing.Thankfully."Who do you think it was?" I asked,
Sofia.The weight of Nikolai’s words settled in my bones. We move at dawn.No hesitation. No second-guessing. We were past that now.I turned to face him, meeting his unreadable gaze. The soft glow of the garden lights cast long shadows across his face, making the sharp angles even more pronounced. He looked terrefiyingly beautiful. I knew that look—controlled fury barely restrained. This wasn’t just about revenge. It was about sending a message.Someone had the audacity to come after me. After us. And they had failed. But failure meant nothing to men like the one who was after me. It only meant they would try again. Harder. Smarter. With more firepower."We should get some rest," Nikolai said, his voice rough from exhaustion, but firm.I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "And leave the battle planning to you?"A smirk almost ghosted across his lips, but it never fully formed. Instead, he stepped closer, his hand brushing against my wrist in a fleeting touch. "Sofia. I need you to be
Nikolai.The sun was beginning its slow descent, drenching the estate in a thick, golden haze. The gardens looked like they belonged in a painting, every blade of grass and stone path lit up like someone had dipped them in honey.The air had that crisp, early evening bite to it—the kind that hinted at colder nights ahead, the kind that made your breath puff out in little clouds if you waited long enough.It was the kind of quiet that settled not just around you, but inside you.I hadn’t realized how bad I needed that silence until I was drowning in it.Not the fake kind you get in the middle of chaos when your brain just...short-circuits.No, this was real silence.Healing silence.Aurelio sat next to me on the stone steps, hunched forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees. His hand curled loosely around the iron railing beside him, fingertips absently tracing the cold metal. His gaze was fixed out past the gardens, past the trees, locked on some point on the horizon only he could
Nikolai.The sun had just started its lazy climb when I stepped outside, coffee mugs in hand and sleep still clinging to the corners of my mind.The estate grounds were soaked in golden light, the grass jeweled with dew like nature had cried a little last night but decided to make the best of it this morning. A breeze swept through the lemon trees, carrying that light citrusy scent Sofia always said reminded her of summers in Italy. The air felt warm but not heavy, peaceful but not silent—alive in a way that made my ribs loosen.It smelled like hope.And after everything we’d survived—everything we were still clawing our way through—I wasn’t going to waste that. Peace like this was rare in our world. You had to hold it tight, two hands and all heart.Across the lawn, I spotted her first.Sofia sat on a picnic blanket under the olive tree—her olive tree, the one she’d stubbornly refused to let the gardeners trim because “It has character, shut up.” Lorelai was perched between her legs,
Sofia.The house was quiet again. Not the warm hush of family sleep like before—this was different. Tense. Coiled.I closed the door to the master bedroom behind me with shaking fingers. They weren’t here. I’d kissed them all goodnight. Told them I loved them. And then I’d said what none of us had ever dared to say aloud.“I want to be with him tonight too. I want Arsen.”There’d been silence. Tight jaws. Clenched fists. But they’d nodded , nevertheless. Not because they wanted to, but because they respected it. Me. Him.And now I was in the hallway, heart thudding like a warning bell.His door was open.The room was barely lit—moonlight spilling across the bed where he sat, shirtless, head bowed, tattoos twisting over his arms and shoulders like shadows, his scars full on display. He didn’t look up. “Are you going to come in,” he said, voice low, “Or are you just staying and leaving a second after?”My throat tightened. I walked in.He still didn’t move.“I'm sorry I couldn't stay wi
Sofia.The house had settled into sleep. Deep, contented sleep—the kind that comes after too much food, too much laughter, and just enough wine to make your muscles hum. I’d tucked Lorelai in with Aurelio, kissed her goodnight, and left them curled up like something sacred. It made my chest ache in the best way.But now…Now I was tiptoeing back into the room I shared with my husbands.The lights were low, golden and soft like candlelight, spilling across skin and sheets. Nadei was sprawled on the bed like he’d been sculpted there—shirtless, his long legs tangled in the duvet, green eyes glinting as he scrolled through his phone. Nikolai stood at the mirror adjusting his watch strap, because even undressing was apparently a production with him. Nial was at the foot of the bed, all quiet storm in his black tee and sweatpants, sipping his herbal tea from a mug like he wasn’t watching me like prey.My mouth went dry.“Hi,” I said, breath catching a little.Nadei grinned, stretching like
Author’s POV.The house had quieted down into that soft, post-dinner lull—where even the shadows on the walls seemed to breathe slower. Distant murmurs echoed from the living room, where the others were watching some awful old mafia film Luca claimed was “a classic.” Someone was already asleep on the couch. Probably Renzo. He always passed out after too much pasta like some kind of carb-loaded bear who was getting ready to hibrenate.Aurelio wasn’t with them.He was in the hallway upstairs, sitting at the edge of his old bedroom—the one he hadn’t dared sleep in yet. Too many pieces of him still scattered like glass inside it. Too many ghosts watching from the corners.He stared at the room like it might bite him.The bed was made. The same comforter. Same shelves. Someone had even fixed the frame of the photo he’d apparently shattered during one of his more violent post-surgery episodes. A picture of the five of them—Sofia in the middle, arms folded, eyes rolling. Him grinning with an
Author's POV. The dining room buzzed with the strange, delicate noise of almost normal. Silverware clinked. Someone—probably Valentino—had already cracked a joke that made Sofia roll her eyes but smile anyway. The scent of roasted garlic and marinara filled the air like nostalgia on steroids. Aurelio sat at the long table—not at the head, but somewhere in the middle—flanked by people who were supposed to be his family. Despite their warmth, their laughter, the endless attempts to make him feel at home, he still felt like the odd man out. But he noticed things. Like how Nial grumbled at his overcooked chicken while quietly passing napkins like he was trying not to breathe too loud. Arsen sat at the far end, balancing Alexei on his lap, slicing soft bread one-handed while talking to Sofia, who had Jade snuggled against her side. They were so, in their element. In their nature. Then— “Uncle Liooo!” A high-pitched squeal cut through the hum of conversation. A tiny bolt of cur
Aurelio.The toy soldier hadn’t moved.It still sat like a goddamn sentinel on my nightstand. Plastic. Ugly. Important.I don’t know why I hadn’t thrown it out the window.Maybe because it felt like it belonged more than I did.Jade had curled up next to me earlier, warm and trusting like he didn’t know I was broken. And even after he left the room—pulled away by his father—I could still feel the ghost of his tiny arms around my waist. And that? That shook something loose inside me more than any punch ever could.-Later in the day.I was in another room, arms up against Nial as we circled each other. We were sparring. That was their fucked up version of making me remember, it wasn't conventional. Wasn't something in one's right mind would do but I was willing to try as long as it meant they wouldnt look at me in that empathetic way they all did. I was going to try to find me.Whoever that was.“Stop thinking.”Nial’s voice snapped like a whip. Cruel and unforgiving.He was circling
Aurelio.The name was just a sound. Letters. Noise.But the weight behind it? That wasn’t noise.That was pressure. Gravity. Like I’d been dropped into a life that expected me to perform, to remember, to be this person they were mourning like he was already dead.Aurelio Verticolli.Everyone in this room knew who he was.Except me.And the worst part?I felt like I was disappointing them just by existing.Sofia hadn’t let go of my hand. Her grip was gentle, but I could feel the tension in her fingertips—like she was holding onto hope with every fiber of her being, and the second she let go, she’d fall apart.That made my chest ache.Even if I couldn’t remember her.I studied her profile—soft lines drawn tight with exhaustion. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days. Weeks, maybe. Her eyes were red-rimmed but fierce. Protective. She was a fighter. I didn’t need memories to know that.Sofia Verticolli. My sister.“Why are you all still here?” I asked suddenly, voice rough, a little cra
Aurelio.The man on the other side of the glass had a smirk that felt like it belonged to someone I should know. Someone important. Someone close.But I didn’t know him.I didn’t know myself.I clenched my jaw, something burning in my chest—frustration, maybe. Anger. A gnawing sense of wrongness that had been there since I woke up.The name they kept calling me—Aurelio Verticolli—felt like a suit that didn’t fit. Too tight in some places, too loose in others.I should recognize it. I should recognize them.But when I searched my mind, it was just… nothing. blank.Like looking into a fogged-up mirror and knowing there was a reflection behind it, but never being able to see it clearly.The man at the window tilted his head, still watching me like he was waiting for something.“You ready to remember who the fuck you are?”The words scraped against something raw inside me.Was I?I didn’t answer.He smirked again, but there was something sharper behind it. “Don’t worry. We’ll remind you.”