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
Welcome, I just needed to clarify a few things before you start reading to avoid any discomfort or disturbing content.This book will contain the following topics. Beware and skip any part that you don't feel comfortable reading. I don't like leaving warnings in the start of every chapter I write because it ruins all the fun in knowing what you'll read, so, just make sure to skip whatever you don't feel comfortable reading.[HIGHLY DESCRIPTIVE MATURE SEXUAL CONTENT: DEGRADATION/PRAISING/CHOKING AND VARIOUS KINKS][STRONG USE OF MATURE LANGUAGE/ SWEARING][MENTION OF ASSAULT/ABUSE/RAPE][MENTION OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE][GORY SCENERY]And please, for the billionth time, know that this is my first book ever and that English is not my first language, so, if you find grammatical mistakes please point them out and try to be kind about it. I'm not a professional writer but I'm really trying to be better._Sofia.12:00 PM"Love you!"I closed the door behind me, feverently waving at Carter with
Sofia.After, I had successfully brought him in as in dragged the stranger to my home and put him on the fairly small couch that can barely contain his bulking and muscly frame. I ran to my bathroom to retrieve the first aid kit to see to his wounds. My hands shook as the familiar scent of the crimson liquid tainted and stuck to my hands and clothes from having too much contact with the injured male.The feel of blood on my hands was triggering but I needed to help the green eyed spicemen heal in any way that I could.Slowly taking his tattered, dirty, bloody suit jacket off and his no longer white shirt, I began attending to the small cuts on his abdomen, chest, and arms and stitching up the deep gash on his torso. It bled so much and it freaked me out but I somehow managed to disinfect and stitch it up to have it finally warped in a thick layer of gauze.I worked in silence and tried to shut down my racing mind as it started to conjure dangerous thoughts and doubts considering the s
Sofia."Angel," he rasped out making my eyes widen, reaching behind me to grab the glass of water from the tray.I took my hand off of his warm cheek and heard him growl lowly.The sudden action made me almost throw the glass of water at him, but luckily he grabbed it and gulped it down. Impressed with his quick reflexes, my brain stuttered. Did he just....actually growl?"Want more w-water?" I asked him softly taking the glass from his hand and helping him into a sitting position, hoping that it was more comfortable.He looked over at me for a few seconds with unknown emotions swirling in his eyes then replied with a husky 'yes' and I obliged getting him more water to gulf down."Y-you need to have some food, you must be h-hungry and if you don't like what I had made, then, I'll make you something else-" he quickly interrupted my awkward word vomit, saying that he'd have whatever I made him, which made me blush again.I averted my eyes away from his beautiful jade ones that shone with
Author's POV.They hated the way this had to be done but reluctantly decided to take Sofia with them. Nikolai and Nial had arrived at her cabin an hour ago, finding Nadei in a dazed state as he gazed down at her.Their eyes widening, mouths gaping like fish out of the water, hearts almost jumping out of their chests. The two brothers inspected the small girl noticing everything and nothing about her.She was...perfect. They couldn't get over her beauty and kindness as Nadei was more than happy to tell them about how sweet she was while helping him. And they noted the change in his face as he talked about her like he had known her for years, the life in his eyes had finally returned and she was the cause of it.The pretty little angel was the reason why their older brother was smiling and they wanted that too.However, the hopefullness was overshadowed by the huge amount of guilt gnawing at their hearts. The only thing on their mind was how Sofia was going react at their selfish act of
Sofia."Language, little girl!" Was the first thing that came out of Nadei's mouth when he regained his cool to what I had said.I flinched seeing his seething form approaching my slightly trembling body on the bed to grip my hand in a powerful hold, discarding how I struggled to not break into hysterical tears.The other two stood winced at the aghast look on my paling face.Pulling me from the headboard that I was backed against to stand in front of their towering frames that seemed, even more intimidating at this closeness.I shook my head at Nadei's unwavering grip and slowly pulled my wrist away. I couldn't help but want to hope for the ground to open up and swallow me whole. So, I only lowered my eyes to the ground and attempted to avoid looking at him- them.I never liked having eye contact with others because it made me feel awkward and shy. And this was even worse. So much worse."Look at me," the still unknown man with the pretty brown eyes, softly, stated. "Look at me, Darli
Sofia.I had been roaming in literal circles for the past thirty minutes to get them to lose my trace and confuse them into buying me some time to figure out whatever the hell I was going with this.I walked for a few minutes before stopping in my tracks when I heard distant yelling and shouting. Damnit, they were closer than I thought, the three idiots caught up to me.Curse you short legs!My feet padded across the damp dirt as I tried to get my running pace back on track to warm up my shivering body and avoid stepping on any more rocks and twigs.I started to feel the blood oozing out of the small cuts on my feet from running barefoot in the middle of a forest and to be honest it wasn't the worst of all this so far, till now.I always hated running, even in PE classes at school it was my least favourite thing to do, to put it fairly but yet it seems as if it was the only thing that I had been doing my entire life.The irony.I halted mid step when I heeded the loud and fast footstep
Sofia.Nadei kissed the spot behind my ear, my moan was muffled by Nial's lips. He pushed his tongue in tasting every single spot in my mouth tangling our tongues together his caressing mine hungrily.No. Why the hell wasn't I stopping this?Feeling myself getting lost in the feel of Nial's soft, addictive and devourable full lips and Nadei's small sucking and kissing on my nape. I didn't fail to notice another pair of lips moving my shirt to the side to get attached to my jaw and collarbone kissing, licking and sucking my supple skin.My knees buckled ever so lightly from the amount of pleasure I was feeling and Nikolai's arms gripping my waist brought me back to earth. What the fuck?I finally gathered what's left of common sense in me and quickly pulled away from Nial to push away myself out of their possessive grip. I glared at them before directly meeting their eyes just to be startled by the lovey-dovey awe-struck look on their stupidly gorgeous faces.Making me even more confuse
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.”
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