Sofia.Letting out a sigh of relief after I hung up on Nial, I recollected my composure and that I had company taking a swift glance at Ivana not wanting to make the situation bizarre.Than it was already."Soo-" I stretched the word not finding anything to spike up a conversation with her."What's your favorite rapper?"I mentally backhanded myself in the face at the ridiculous question.But seeing the look on my face, Ivana laughed heartily, her smooth laugh practically dissipating my nervous and timid self and giving me space to make up for my idiotic icebreakers. Gosh, I needed socializing classes. If they were a thing."I honestly don't have one, it's hard to pick," she rolled her eyes playfully, "Ahat's yours?" She answered with a soft giggle, her accent still prominent."J.cole," I replied curtly."Cool. So, who are you to my cousins?" She inquired curiously after a few minutes of awkward silence.Shit."I-uh-I'm their-" my stuttering was being cut off when Anastasia walked int
Sofia.That rough yet soft touch of fingers tracing my face so lightly made me jolt awake, my eyes opened in alarm but we're still filled with drowsiness to meet Nikolai's soft eyes.A small frown etched on his handsome face."It's okay, baby. It's just me," he soothed reaching his hand to stroke my cheek. Hazel eyes twinkling with concern.I stepped away from his touch.His frown deepened, lips pulled out in a small pout.Damnit, why was I feeling bad for concerning him now?Sofia stop feeling sympathetic to people that hurt you--"Love, did you have a nightmare, again?" He inquired hesitantly.I shook my head, my eyes wide knowing that he might have caught on to something the last time."Then what is it?" You and your brothers and my fucked up life."Where are the others?" I noticed the other two's absence, dismissing his question with a yawn.He smiled, "Nadei is working and Nial is working out."And my dumb-hoe of a pussy started tingling at the image of a shirtless, sweaty Nial
Nikolai.Lifting her shirt for me to peel it off from her effortlessly enticing form. Sofia blushed trying to insulate herself from my hungry gaze. I merely bestowed her with a warning glance and like a good girl she dropped her hands looking everywhere but me.Fuck, if she only saw herself the way I did.So damn beautiful. So sweet and fucking precious.I sighed meaning every goddamn word that left me, "You're enthralling," my lips found hers in a sweet kiss loving how she reciprocated the action."And so fucking perfect, sweetheart," I pecked her forehead rendering her to flush even redder and I chuckled expressing the joy bubbling within me at the melodious giggle.I caressed her smooth cute stomach reveling in the feel of her soft skin. The urge to ask her about them, the small scars littering her skin was heart wrenching as they tainted her beautiful pale skin. Yet she was the most beautiful woman I laid my eyes upon and always be.Tearing my eyes and averting my vicious thoughts
Author's POV.Nadei, finally,got his load of work done and decided to find his little girl. He searched everywhere he thought he might find her until he figured out that Nik might have taken her to their library being the only place he hadn't checked.And knowing how much of a nerd his brother was despite his inability to focus while reading as his hyperactivity got the best of him every time. And he knew how much he loved the place with its calm atmosphere and its peacefulness..Reaching his destination, Nadei stood leaning against the railing of the stairs and getting greeted by the grinning face of his younger brother with their little girl tucked into Nikolai's hulking frame in a small blanket, her head peeking out shyly but drowsily at him."Hello, brother," Nikolai greeted with a cheerful tone pulling Sofia to him and Nadei scanned the sight of the disheveled state she was in with her clothes on the floor making him smirk, lust prospering in his green orbs."You have been busy a
Sofia.After we got into their bedroom.We found Nial in slick black trousers, a black button-up adorning his form as he scrolled through his phone sitting on the edge of the bed, his eyes drifted to his brother's then to mine.He smiled wildly, them got up and gathered me in his arms lifting me off the ground as I squeaked. I felt myself tense for a second but accepted the show of affection, however didn't reciprocate it.Nadei got into the closet closing the door behind him and Nikolai threw me a wink, my eyes accidentally wandered off to the wet spot on his upper thigh making me blush.Oh, no.And Nial noticed and smirked at his brother. His brown orbs fleeted to mine swiftly. "What have you two been up to?" He teased pulling a gurgled embarrassed sound out of me.His raven wet locks tickled my face."I missed you," he whispered kissing from my nape to my ear and I resisted the urge to admit that I sorta-kinda-maybe-a smidgen bit missed him too.I shook my head and gave him a small
Sofia.After a few boring minutes of me playing with the guys' hands. I pulled out the phone from my pocket checking if I had received anything from Carter just to find an empty inbox. With disappointment clouding my head, I try to cheer myself up by doing one of my favorite things.My giddiness was evident as I decided to start a new book on Kindle thanking the gods that I had downloaded it to be offline. My eagerness getting the best of me."Love?"And my fun was instantly, ruined."Yeah," I answered not turning towards Nikolai."We've arrived," he chuckled at the way I whipped my head so fast towards his opened side of the door Speedy Gonzales would've been proud. I hurriedly got out of the car, excited but jittery.Nikolai smoothly placed his hand on the small of my back guiding us as the other two stoically marched ahead. The huge fancy double doors of the restaurant bring pulled open by the doorman and the luxurious building itself buzzed with energy from the inside out.Opening
Author's POV.The trio's happiness couldn't be measured.The absolute love and adoration that they felt for their little angel were ineffable and absolutely consuming. Their hearts leaped in their chests filling them with comfort and warmth at the way Sofia had been interacting with them. The way she affected them with the slightest touch, the way she made them hang on to her like air.She was an enchantress without even trying.She brought peace upon the dark, broken sherds of ice surrounding their hearts melting them into a puddle of still water and yet, she didn't know how much effect she had on them.They gave her the space that she needed. Not wanting to crowd her and seeking her to come to them even so they were giving her whatever she desired without expecting anything in return besides her love and acceptance.The trio felt the need to be wanted and needed by her and they have been making progress in doing so.They hoped it'd be like that, forever.Just them and her happily i
Sofia.Did I just get my first drink ever?Yes, yes, I just did and it was awesome.Who the hell was I kidding?It was weird, to say the least as the unfamiliar and dry beverage slid down my throat to fully feel my taste buds twist and turn at the taste with a soft wince on my face.I took another sip wanting to get used to its taste and numb down the slight burn it made my tongue feel but it was slightly better than before.I heard three hearty deep chuckles making my eyes snap to the trio that was watching me with utmost attention like a Martian alien on one of those stupidly Hollywood cliches and I blushed."Your first time huh?" Nikolai mused and I mumbled a 'yes' with another soft sip.After enjoying the comfortable silence for a few minutes sipping our wine, our eyes fell on the beautiful starry view, the waiter from before coming back with our dishes and we dove right in. My stomach grumbled at the delicious-looking lasagna.And I started eating as the trio peeked at each other
Sofia.The world blurred around me.The sound of my own breath—ragged, sharp—was the only thing keeping me tethered to reality as I clutched Lorelai in my arms.Aurelio is waking up.Vale’s words echoed in my skull, but my body had already moved before my mind could process them. I was rushing to get to the door.The air rushed past me as I made it to the front door, barefoot, heart hammering, pulse wild. Luca grabbed my arm before I could get into the car, his grip strong but careful. “Sofia, relax—”“I need to see him,” I snapped, shaking him off.“We’re coming with you,” Nikolai said from behind me.There was no room for argument. I didn’t care about security, the logistics, the doctors, or the tests.I just needed to see my brother._At the hospital.The room smelled sterile. Like antiseptic, bleach, and something too clean to be comforting. It made my senses twitch at the overly powerful smell.I stood in the doorway, my pulse thundering in my ears, my hands clenched into fists
Sofia.Mornings in our house were never quiet.And I wouldn’t have it any other way.The kitchen smelled like warm syrup, cinnamon, and something unmistakably homey. Sunlight streamed through the windows, golden and soft, casting a warm glow over the absolute war zone unfolding in front of me.Jade stood on his stool, spatula in hand, looking every bit like a tiny war general as he surveyed the griddle. “Mama, this is serious. We need maximum efficiency if we’re gonna get pancakes and whipped cream before Alexei does.”Gosh, he sounded like Schmidt from New Girl when he said that, I cackled internally. Alexei, sitting on the counter beside Arsen, scoffed. “You act like I can’t hear you.”Jade ignored him. Instead, he turned to Lorelai, who was standing beside me, her tiny hands clutching a measuring cup filled with flour."Lory, you’re on mixing duty."Lorelai nodded solemnly. “Mix.”Jade nodded back like this was a military operation. “Good. Uncle Renzo’s in charge of toppings.”Ren
Sofia.The jet ride home was quiet.Not peaceful.Just quiet.Nikolai sat beside me, his fingers curled around my thigh, warm and grounding. Nadei and Nial sat across from us, their gazes locked onto me in that quiet way they always did when they thought I was about to break.But I wasn’t breaking.I was exhausted.I leaned back against the leather seat, exhaling through my nose, my body thrumming with tension. The blood was gone from my skin, wiped clean before I ever stepped foot on the jet, but I still felt it.In my bones.Under my nails.Seeping into my fucking soul.I closed my eyes.For the first time in weeks, the war was over. Momentarily.But I didn’t know how to stop fighting.-We stepped inside, the weight of everything hit me. Not just the blood. Not just the ghosts but the home of it all. The scent of vanilla and citrus from the candles I always burned. The warmth of the dimmed hallway lights. The faintest sound of Jade’s giggles coming from the kids’ wing.I exhaled sh
Sofia.The world didn’t stop after a war.I learned that a long time ago.You spill blood, you carve your revenge into the bones of your enemies, you rip apart the men who dared to harm what was yours—and then? Then, the world moves on.Seemed easy enough, right? Well, it fucking wasn't.The city still breathed. People still laughed, drank, fucked. Unaware that, just hours ago, I had rewritten the rules of their underworld. That we have changed something that a lot have tried to but couldn't.Mikhailov was dead.Vaschenko was dead.Petrov was dead.Their corpses were nothing more than stains on the concrete, their names nothing more than whispered cautionary tales for the next generation of ambitious fools who thought they could touch an Alexeyev and walk away.And yet…The ache in my chest remained because Aurelio was still lying in that hospital bed.Still pale. Still silent.Still gone in all the ways that mattered.I exhaled slowly, gripping the edge of the sink, staring at my re
Sofia.There was no calm before the storm.No quiet anticipation.No room for hesitation.By the time we left Petrov’s lifeless body cooling in a puddle of his own blood, the only thing left was the pulse of war thudding through my veins.One more.Vladimir Mikhailov.I could already see his name carved into his gravestone, already hear his screams before we sent him to rot in the ground.The ride back to the safehouse was silent, thick with something heavy, something sharp. Luca drove again, his grip tight on the wheel, knuckles white. Nadei sat beside him, eyes fixed on the road ahead, his body coiled in quiet tension.Renzo was wiping his blade clean, slow and methodical, like he was already picturing the next throat he’d slit.Nikolai sat beside me, his arm slung lazily over my shoulder, his fingers trailing idly along my collarbone—a contrast to the bloodlust still simmering in his gaze.We weren’t done.Not yet.Mikhailov was the last one left.And when I found him, I wouldn’t j
Sofia.Vengeance had a taste.It was bitter, metallic, laced with the promise of death.I could feel it on my tongue as I sat in the back of the car, staring out at the city bleeding light into the darkness. Neon signs flickered against the glass, a kaleidoscope of color that felt too bright, too alive for what we had just done. I could still feel Vaschenko’s blood drying on my skin. Still feel the weight of the gun in my hand, the kick of the recoil, the way his body had spasmed before he stilled.Dead.And yet, it wasn’t enough.Because Aurelio was still in that hospital bed.Still fighting for his life.Still teetering on the edge of existence, caught between this world and whatever lay beyond.And as long as my brother lay there, trapped in that purgatory, the men responsible didn’t deserve to fucking breathe.I inhaled slowly, pressing my fingertips to my temples, grounding myself in the dull ache. I could feel the weight of their gazes on me—Nikolai’s steady, Luca’s knowing, Nad
Sofia.Vengeance had a taste.It was bitter, metallic, laced with the promise of death.I could feel it on my tongue as I stood in the safehouse’s war room, staring down at the map of the city, my fingers trailing over the names we had carved into our list.Petrov. Mikhailov. Vaschenko.Their days were numbered.And tonight?Tonight, the countdown began.Luca was the first to break the silence. "We start with Vaschenko," he muttered, tapping the red mark on the map where the bastard’s operations were stationed. "He’s the easiest to take out first. He thinks he’s untouchable in that casino of his, but we’ve already got men inside.""He’s a coward," Nikolai added, his voice sharp. "He runs his mouth, but he won’t fight. He hides behind security, behind money. He won’t see it coming."Good.I wanted him to be afraid.I wanted him to choke on it.Valentino leaned against the table, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "We make an example out of him."A slow, dark smile curled at my li
Sofia.The scent of death still clung to my skin.Even after we had left the warehouse, after we had burned the bodies, after I had washed my hands clean of the blood—I still felt it.Felt it under my nails.Felt it in my fucking bones.I sat in the back of the car, the engine humming beneath me, the city lights flickering past in a blur of gold and white. My reflection stared back at me in the window, eyes dark, empty.I barely recognized myself."Petrov. Mikhailov. Vaschenko."The names echoed in my head like a death sentence.They had tried to kill Aurelio.They had wanted me alive. They were unrelenting. The first attack. Sokolov. Their army. Every thing they have done led us to this moment. I curled my fingers into a fist, nails biting into my palm.No one moved in the car.Luca sat beside me, his jaw clenched so tightly I could hear his teeth grinding. Nadei was on my other side, his knuckles still bruised, still stained with a red that no amount of scrubbing would erase.Nik
Sofia.The night air was cold. Not the kind of cold that bit at your skin. Not the kind that sent shivers racing down your spine. This was something else.Something hollow.The kind of cold that crept into your bones, settled in your veins, and wrapped around your heart like an iron vice. I sat in the back of the car, staring out at the city lights blurring past, but I didn’t see them.All I could see was Aurelio.Pale. Motionless. His body hooked up to machines, his chest barely rising and falling.The last time I had seen him, really seen him, he had been full of life. Full of energy. Full of that fire that burned inside all of us.Now?Now, he was trapped between life and death, teetering on the edge.And I hadn’t been there.I had been tangled up in Arsen. Lost in him. Lost in us. Letting myself forget, even if just for a moment, that the world outside still existed.And while I had been pretending—My brother had been bleeding out.A sharp, stinging pain shot through my palm.I lo