All Chapters of Marked by the Mob: A Russian Mafia Romance: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Alessia rushed back to the bed. "Luca," she said, wiping his hair from his sweaty brow. "How are you feeling now? Are you having any pain?""Alessia, what's going on?" he murmured, his voice weak. "Who are these people? Where am I?"Leaning down, her eyes filled with a mix of love and worry. "You were attacked in the prison yard, Luca. You were badly hurt but you're going to be fine. You're safe now."Luca's expression darkened as he focused over Alessia's shoulder. "Who's this thug?" He tried to sit up, his movements weak and uncoordinated. "Who are you? Where are we?"Alessia pressed a gentle hand to his chest, urging him to lie back down. "Please, Luca, don't try to move. You need to rest. I'll explain everything, but right now, you need to focus on getting better."Luca's eyes narrowed, but he complied, sinking back onto the pillow with a pained sigh. "You better start explaining. I deserve to know what's going on.""I will make us some coffee," Sergei offered, leaving the room fo

The next morning, Alessia woke up to an empty bed, the sun seeping through the curtains casting a warm glow on the cool sheets. Stretching, she glanced at the clock on the bedside table—9:17 am. She must have slept heavily; the exhaustion and emotional turmoil of the past few days had taken their toll.She padded barefoot into the en suite bathroom, the opulent setting still feeling somewhat alien despite her previous night in it with Nicolai. The events played back in her mind as she turned on the shower and adjusted the temperature to her liking. Stepping under the warm cascade, she allowed the water to wash away the remnants of her tumultuous emotions and the residual sweat from her and Nicolai’s lovemaking.After drying off and dressing in fresh clothes, chosen from the wardrobe Nicolai had specially curated for her, she headed to the guest room where Luca was resting. She found Luca awake, sitting up in bed, his expression a mix of anger and confusion. Sergei stood sentinel outsi

Distractedly rubbing his St. Nicolas medal between his finger, Nicolai watched the darkened streets as the SUV rumbled farther into more and more dilapidated of the city. The hidden safehouse where Alessia slept was in a sketchy area by design, but this area was even worse. It reminded him of growing up in the poor areas of Stalingrad. Before his father had found him after his mother had died and he had been thrown into the lavish lifestyle of Bratva bosses and unlimited power, he'd lived in a place eerily similar to his current surroundings. The cracked sidewalks and broken windows he passed reminded him why he had embraced his father's lifestyle despite being surrounded by violence and danger. He, his mother, and his sister were crammed in a one-bedroom flat with no hot water and electricity only occasionally. The clothes, the jewelry, the way people bowed and scrapped to his father all appealed to him. He'd embraced the life.He had no illusions of the kind of man he was or the vi

Nicolai's eyes fluttered open, his vision swimming into focus as he registered the slow, steady beep of machines and the sterile, almost acrid scent of a hospital room. The harsh fluorescent lights overhead buzzed softly, casting the room in a cold, uninviting glow. His body ached, a symphony of pains playing out across his limbs, with the sharpest note being the throbbing reminder of the bullet wound in his shoulder. He could feel the stiff pull of stitches beneath the thick bandages wrapping his shoulder and chest, and every slight movement sent a fresh wave of discomfort coursing through him.He took a moment to absorb his surroundings, his eyes tracing the cracks in the stark white walls and the faded blue curtains drawn around his bed. A small blue box on a stand holding several IVs loomed over him, the clear tubes snaking down to where they were was taped securely to the back of his hand and the back of his forearm. Beside him, a monitor tracked his vital signs, the peaks and va

Alessia nodded, relieved she could finally do something to help. She would think about Nicolai's deception after they found him safe. Two hours later and no progress, the phone rang and Nicolai's gruff voice washed over her. "Alessia, I'm alive."Nicolai's voice echoed in Alessia's ear, the gruff timbre sending a wave of relief crashing over her. "Alessia, I'm alive." Those three words were like a lifeline, pulling her back from the brink of despair. She clutched the phone tighter, her heart pounding in her chest as she listened intently.Meanwhile, back at Community Memorial, Nicolai lay in his hospital bed, the phone still pressed to his ear. He could hear Alessia's soft breaths on the other end, could almost feel her relief palpable through the line. He knew he had to keep the conversation brief, knew that the longer he stayed on the line, the greater the risk of being traced."Alessia, listen carefully," he said, his voice low and urgent. "I'm in Community Memorial. I need you to