Pulling up to the casino entrance, I lifted the door before the valet could get to me. I was ready with my purse and I shoved the keys in his hands. He stepped aside as I walked around the car. Looking up, I could see the multiple cameras facing the entrance. I guessed I would be able to get maybe seven steps into the main lobby before the manager got in my way.
The doors slid open and I strode into the main area. Wizard had texted me as I pulled up at that Lev was currently at the poker tables, completely drunk, as he threw money away like there was an infinite amount of it.
They were behind as I made it fifteen steps before I caught the manager rushing over to me with two associates and one security officer. He was rubbing his hands together as he got to me, stopping my side.
“Miss…Miss Bernardi…we didn’t realize you would be gracing us with your presence.”
“No. That would defeat the purpose of me being here, now wo
We hit the morning rush hour traffic in the city as six rolled around. I’d had to take the crazy route through since, as I predicted, they were waiting for us to enter the city. Lev had fallen asleep and hadn’t wokened up since about two in the morning. I was exhausted but the tail into the city shot some adrenaline through me.Now though, as I drove the empty space between the city and the mansion, I was staring to crash. I’d changed back into my normal clothes after the first fuel up so that helped make me feel a little better. However, it also dropped me out of fight or flight mode.“Lev. Lev, wake up. We are almost back.”I hit him across the chest and he snorted before he jumped up in the seat. He hit the ceiling of the Ferrari and I laughed shaking my head. Rubbing his head, I wrinkled my nose.“You really need a shower.”“Yeah, well, you decided to pick me up like that.”Sighing, I
The explosion threw me back, my head hitting the pavement but I scrambled to roll over and stand. Not caring anymore if the assholes in the trucks saw me, I raced over to the burning car. Flames were shooting up into the air and the heat alone started to burn my clothes. Aleksei was so close though and I wasn’t about to lose him.I was hesitating though. I hated that I was. The fire burned and the smell of smoke overpowered everything. My fear flaring to life. Being anywhere near a fire, being trapped in a fire, that was my ultimate fear. My burn on my shoulder itching. Screaming in frustration, I pulled out the gun from behind my back. Flicking off the safety, I put the barrel in forearm. Pulling the trigger, a shot ran out and I screamed against the pain.It woke me up. Suddenly, it was all I could feel. Throwing the gun, I raced forward into the flames. The door was already open and I felt my skin start to char. Reaching down, I saw Aleksei’s body laying
I stood, staring off into the distance. My vision had already blurred as I couldn’t bring myself to be present. The whole bratva had come out to Aleksei’s funeral. My breaking point had been Lec’s soft sobs from where he stood a few soldiers down from where I was standing. Keenan was next to me but he was on duty. Despite that, he had tears streaming down his face as well. Marek and the others were a few rows ahead, closest family up at the front.Aleksei didn’t have anyone left. His parents already passed and even his sister passed at a young age. They were burying him next to his sister, apparently at his request. Tears slipped out but I didn’t bother dashing them away. I wanted to turn around and leave. I didn’t belong here. I felt like I was a fraud in the middle of his true family.My hesitation had cost him his life. I shouldn’t have stopped. I should have been faster. I should have been stronger. I could have. I could ha
We were sitting on the couch together in the quiet of the penthouse. I had one of the Russian books in my lap with my legs over Marek’s lap. His hand rested on my ankle and the other held up one of the books I recently finished. I was surprised when he picked up the young adult fantasy book but considering he flipped to somewhere close to the middle, he’d been reading it without me knowing. Considering it was a pretty fluffy story, it was hard to keep from smirking when I looked up at him.Once we got further into the city, we dumped the car and walked a few blocks to Aleksei’s favorite pizza place. He frequented it so often that his order became a menu item named after him. We order one of those, the owner giving us a knowing look. On top of that, we ordered a normal pizza in case neither of us could stomach more than a piece.Taking them home, the remnants of our late lunch was littering the coffee table. Marek had also broken out the alcohol and I was nursing some of the drink that
My hand slowly rose to my cheeks, feeling the flush that I knew was absolutely there. My chest rose and fell, hearing my own breath because there wasn’t a single sound from downstairs. It was completely quiet.Stepping away from the door, I collapsed into the giant chair that was in the corner of the room. Pulling my legs up, I buried my head in between them. Shouting picked up again, mostly in Russian, and it actually seemed like Juri jumped in as well. I wasn’t listening anymore. I didn’t want to listen anymore.We had been tiptoeing around those words. I could see it though. In the way he looked at me. In the way he touched me. In the way he spoke to me. I knew it, but at the same time, I was scared. I’d managed to go through most of my life without attachments. Attachments were a weakness to be exploited. My father proved that point over and over as he used people to control others. I never wanted someone that kind of control over me again.And yet…Marek was everything, my everythi
“What happened with Vor and your sister?”We woke up in the morning and decided today we weren’t going to do anything important. I had made some breakfast sandwiches that we ate on the patio outside. Marek was shirtless and wearing sweats, whereas I had some shorts and one of his shirts on, making the shorts disappear under them. After breakfast, we went back inside and lounged on the couch.I’d decided to pull out my sketchbook while he had his tablet in laptop mode. He said it was more busy-work than anything pressing. I ended up sketching him a few times as he worked. This latest one I decided to add creatures to him. A little dragon looking over his shoulder at the screen, a little fluffy flying sheep in his lap between the keyboard and him, and a few floating soot monsters above him. I was deciding what to put hanging off his tablet screen when I finally broke our silence.“That they needed to leave if they were going to disrespect me.”My eyes widened. “You didn’t tell that Juri,
“What is this about, Juri?” Marek’s voice was deep as he spoke before I had a chance to.I wondered if my identity was outed as Kharon. It wasn’t necessarily something I knew I could keep hidden but Marek had wanted to help keep it under wraps. Not to mention that Marek knew and if Juri found out that Marek had been withholding that information, then there would be hell to pay. For someone to tell Juri though, it would have had to come from my father’s side, which you wouldn’t really call that an allegation.Now, suddenly, I didn’t think it was that at all. An allegation was something without proof. My father could easily provide proof. No, this had to be something else. Racking my brain, I tried to think of something that I did in the past that would be bad. Sadly, there was a lot that came up and I pursed my lips together. It would be stupid to say something and it not be that. I would just be getting myself in more trouble.
Juri leaned back, his eyes on me before sweeping over everyone else in the room. “I understand what this may look like…”“May?”“Rosaria, don’t interrupt me.”The tears were back but this was more frustration than anything. Stepping back, I leaned over and grabbed the gun that Marek had stuck behind his back. Everyone at the table sat up, eyes wide as I held it in my hands. Bronya looked downright petrified. Marek didn’t move and didn’t even try to take the gun back.“I’m not some spy. I’m not some printsessa who doesn’t know how things are done.” I slammed the gun down onto the table. “I escaped my father. I didn’t ask for this fucking family to save me. I asked for them to kill me.” Sliding it down to the table, Juri reached out and stopped it before it fell off. “So kill me. If you think I killed Aleksei, then kill me. Be
*** Five Years Later *** I rubbed my shoulders before lifting my glasses up and rubbing my eyes. There was a knock on the door and Ria pushed the door open with her back. She was holding a tray and stepped into my office. Setting it down on the edge, she put her hand on her hip. “You didn’t break for lunch. Again.” “I know. I’m sorry. Your brother sent a few more things for me to look at and I got engrossed in it.” Shaking her head, I reached out for her and pulled her into my lap. “How did the appointment go?” “Fine.” My eyebrow rose. “Just fine?” “Well, we figured out the issue. If that’s what you want to know.” “And?” I looked at her over my glasses. Ria had been struggling with her equilibrium lately. It started with when she was carrying something heavy, usually Alek. He was somehow in the ninety-nine percentile for his height but fairly middle of the road for his weight. Still, he would jump at Ria like he was two instead of five. Then, it started to get bad e
We pulled up to the airport in record time. Keenan dodged more than one cop and ran every red light on the way. Throwing open the doors, Lec and I made sure to do a quick sweep before letting Keenan and Ria out just in case he needed to take off with her.“Well, well. It took you long enough.”Lorenzo rolled up on us, smiling as he leaned forward in his wheelchair. There was a guy next to him and he stepped forward, grabbing our luggage as we took it out. Reaching in, I helped Ria step out of the car. She smiled and hugged Lorenzo, kissing him on the cheek.“I’m surprised you agreed. Having to leave all your women behind.” Ria chuckled but it sounded far more malicious than happy.“Yeah, yeah. I had to sell Terrance too. But I plan on getting one just like her. Terrance 2.0 wherever we end up.”I shook my head. “We are supposed to not stand out, Lorenzo.”“See here, cognato, I’m doing this out of the goodness of my heart. For my little sister.”Lorenzo handed me a folder and I opened
The speed limit wasn’t even a suggestion at this point. We didn’t have time to wait. I’d managed to get First Class tickets out of the country that would be just under the three hours but we needed to leave as soon as we could. Pulling up to the penthouse, I double parked next to the elevators. Ria was already unbuckling but she’d been quiet the entire ride from the house.Getting out, I slammed the car door shut. I’d speak to her when we got onto the plane. When I felt like we were safer than walking into a building filled with my brother’s men. Stepping into the elevator, I pulled Ria to me. Holding onto her tightly, I tightened my hand on the gun I’d grabbed from the glove box.The elevator dinged and I raised the gun, only to see Keenan in regular clothes. His eyes widened and he put his hands up immediately. I took a breath and nodded to him, dropping the gun.“Keenan? What…?”Keenan flashed Ria a smile. “I’m coming with you.”Ria looked from him to me. “But…you have family…and…”
Juri threw his head back and laughed. “You can’t leave the bratva. This is your family, Marek.”“I can. The contract we signed when you became head of the bratva allows for me to request leave once in my lifetime.”Ria looked at me, shaking her head. “Marek, it’s…it’s okay. You don’t…”I smiled down at her and brushed her cheek. “The both of us have done our time, zhena. I’ve been thinking, what it would be like for us to live normally. The two of us, raising a family, without the darkness looming over us.”“Request denied. Now, moving on.” Juri waved his hand but Kaz caught his wrist.“That’s now it works, Vor.”Juri yanked his hand out of Kaz’s grip. “Why the hell not? I’m Vor. I decide who comes and who goes. Who can leave and who can’t.”“Right. But there are consequences to saying no when one of us asks. Marek’s contract being the severest one of all of us.”Kam nodded from her lean against the bookshelf. “Da knew that if Marek was forced to leave, forced to invoke the contract,
I stared at the papers in my hand. Ria, somehow, had finagled an early release from the hospital. With the condition that she would come by every week to make sure she was healing properly. Now though, we were facing the black SUV that would take us to my brother. Her hand slipped into mine and she squeezed it. Really, it should have been her that was afraid. Instead, I was the one hesitating.Kam came up behind us. “Come on. I have to go too.”I helped Ria into the back seat with Kam before I walked around and got in the front with Wren. He was one of Juri’s men who did a lot of his driving. Keenan had been the only one to come to the hospital. Lec or Boris hadn’t shown up, which disappointed me a bit. Still, their oath was to the bratva, not to me directly.The ride was quiet and I kept glancing back at Ria. Her elbow was on the windowsill and her chin resting in her hand, looking at the city. I never really thought I would get here. Where I would put someone above the bratva, above
*** Marek’s POV ***I ran my hands through Ria’s hair. She was sleeping soundly next to me in my hospital bed. Kam had warned her multiple times that she was not to walk anywhere. Ria still snuck into my room after the night shift and crawled into bed with me. I’d never kick her out though. I don’t know why they didn’t just put us in the same room.In the past, I never really worried about things. If something bad happened, I just fixed it. End of story. The lack of light in Ria’s eyes made me add her emotional wellbeing, not just physical, to the list. She was still trying to force herself to not feel. Part of it I knew was because she was waiting to hear what Juri had to say. I wish I could tell her she didn’t need to go that far but I knew better. Even I didn’t know what was going happen next.The door opened and I heard an exaggerated groan. “YA klyanus'. Yesli ona budet prodolzhat' v tom zhe dukhe, ona naneset nepopravimyy vred svoim nogam.” [I swear. If she continues like this,
Three of us stepped over the debris of the hole we made of the entrance. After a quick debate, Lorenzo told us he could cover himself and not to worry about him. He deployed the drone he had left and it was hovering above us. Keenan and I were leading while Marek was just behind us.A few shots came from the second floor and I adjusted, looking up and taking quick shots as I moved. If anything, I knew this place like the back of my hand. I knew every squeaky board. Every blind corner, every room and every loud hinge. It was easy to know where the guys were coming from but there were only a few.“They are holed up in the study. Only a few guards left. Most are injured or confused. They aren’t organized and aren’t poised to attack.”I motioned for the guys to follow me as I raced up the stairs. Turning to the left, I walked down the open walkway before I turned down the very last hallway. At the end of this hallway was my father’s study. It was where he brought men after they had done b
I unbuckled the seatbelt and stood up, looking out the windshield. Sure enough, Lorenzo had pulled up against a brick wall that was part of the closest neighbors boundary. Tapping him on the shoulder, I walked to the back between Keenan and Marek. With a flick of a button, the top of the van started to retract back. I pulled down the metal ladder and climbed up.I had a perfect view of the guards house and the gate . My lips pursed and I stepped back down a couple stairs.“This will be fine. Their numbers went up though.”“Cause he’s back.” Lorenzo pulled out a laptop from the door and opened in. “Yeah, it’s nearly empty inside the house.”I nodded and looked over the top of the van again. “Confirmed location?”“In the study. Ferrari is also in there.”Smirking, I shrugged. “Two for one I guess.”“You need to ensure that he doesn’t run.” Marek added and I looked down at him.Frowning, I dropped down and took hold of the bulletproof vest he was putting on. I shook my head.“You’re not
I couldn’t tell if he was angry or if he was just pouting. Either way, Marek refused to look at me the rest of the drive. He did end up falling asleep and I worried we would need to drop him off with Kamilia but he waved us off when I told him the plan. We were quiet as we drove through the city and back up the way to the hell I literally had just escaped.It sent of jolt of nerves through me but I knew if there was a time to do it, now would be that time. Enzo was gone, we confirmed that. With Juri blowing up locations and knocking in doors, the security wasn’t what it normally was. If we waited even a day, Enzo could regroup and come back to bolster Father’s forces. That and with Marek in hand, Juri would probably stop his assault. He wouldn’t have the excuse of trying to find Marek anymore.“Set up where you can be covered and I can see the entrance from the top of the van.”“I know!” Lorenzo snapped at me.“If you don’t want to do this…” I turned my head to him. “It’s okay.”He gr