•Nikolai•

╌═❁═╌

"Niko, Elijah Bolton was murdered. His entire family’s been wiped out," Scott reported over the phone.

I leaned back in my chair, sighing in annoyance. "All of them?"

"Yes, boss. Except for Leopold, the butler. He’s missing—no sign of him."

"Find him," I snapped, slipping into my suit jacket.

"On it, Niko. But you might want to get down here; there's a situation—"

I cut him off, "I’ll handle it. I’ve got other things to do."

I ended the call and strolled to the dining room. Bolton’s corpse could wait. I took my seat, picked up the newspaper, and sipped my coffee in silence, more interested in my own routine than staring at Bolton's dead face.

"Don Niko," a maid spoke up.

"What is it?" I asked, not looking up from my newspaper.

"My daughter graduated at the top of her class," she said with a smile. "She wanted to thank you for paying for her education."

Georgia had been working for me for ten years. Her daughter was smart; I’d done what was expected for anyone in my employ.

"She’s a bright kid. Is she planning on college?"

"Yes."

"Have her talk to Scott. He’ll sort it out."

"Thank you, Don Niko."

I finished my breakfast in silence, then got up as Scott’s call came through again. I sighed, buttoning my suit jacket. I had to deal with the mess at the Bolton mansion.

Elijah Bolton was my father's best friend, he was one of my Caporegime, my father considered him a brother. In our world, when you consider someone a brother it means you will give your life for him.

After my father retired, Elijah voluntarily drifted away from our family. I have been made aware that he had planned to leave the underworld and move to another country. A twisted smile made its way to my lips, I think his plans for a fresh start were flushed down the drain.

My cousin Marco flicked his cigarette on the ground as he saw me and opened the car door. I settled in the back and asked him to drive to the Bolton's mansion.

When we got there, the mansion was crawling with my men, I stepped out of the car and saw the bodies of the household help piled over one another. My men pulled out another body from the mansion and threw it over the pile.

Scott approached me. "Niko, I think you need to see something."

"What is it?"

He gestured for me to follow him inside. I followed him into the front door of Bolton's mansion, the giant wooden door was shattered and broken. Chunks of vases and furniture were scattered all over the place. The place looked like the aftermath of a warzone

Scott gestured toward the two bodies sprawled on the floor. The strange part was the girl sitting beside them, her back turned, her clothes drenched in blood and tattered.

"She’s been here for hours, just staring at the bodies," Scott said, his frustration clear. "No fucking idea who she is."

"One of the maids?" I asked.

"Doesn't seem like it. She was holding Elijah’s body and wouldn’t let anyone near them. They must be connected somehow."

I frowned. "Elijah didn’t have a child, as far as I know."

"That’s right. He lived here with his wife and Leo."

I nodded. "Any updates on Leopold?"

"Still nothing. Our guys are still searching." He paused, then asked, "What do you want to do about the girl?"

"Have Alessandro find out who she is."

"Already did. He’ll call back as soon as he has something."

I scowled. "Hasn’t she noticed everyone around her?"

"Bianca tried to talk to her, but she’s completely unresponsive. Looks like she’s in shock."

Scott’s phone buzzed, and Alessandro’s name flashed on the screen. After a brief call, Scott’s expression turned puzzled. I raised an eyebrow.

"Alessandro said there’s no public record of Elijah Bolton having a child. However, eighteen years ago, his wife was admitted to our hospital in labor, and the baby boy died during birth."

"So the child died, I know that. Then who the hell is that?" I demanded, pointing to the girl, her back still turned.

"That’s the million-dollar question."

"Get Bianca back here and have her try again. I need to know who she is."

Scott did as he was told. I watched as Bianca approached the girl, she placed a hand over her shoulder and the girl stiffened. She talked to her for some time before she got up and gave her head a small shake.

"Niko, I tried. She isn't saying anything---"

Bianca's words got cut off as an ear-piercing shriek rang throughout the room. My attention shifted back toward the girl. One of my men was trying to pick up Elijah's body but she threw herself over it, screaming like a fucking banshee.

"Dad, no! Please, no!"

Dad? So, she was Bolton's child.

One of them held her back as the two men dragged Elijah's body out of the house. She fought relentlessly, and my men let her go to pick up Elijah's wife, Mary's dead body. She tried to pull Mary's body from his grasp but her feeble attempts were nothing compared to his strength.

They dragged their dead bodies out of the house, and that's when she turned. Her face and clothes were covered in blood, tears streamed down her face as she followed the men holding her parent's dead bodies.

She tripped on her feet and then got up again. As she was about to run past me, I grabbed her arm stopping her. She didn't look at me at first as she attempted to break free. She kept looking at the men dragging the bodies away from her.

Suddenly, she just gave up and her body went limp. She broke down, crying like a child. She finally looked up at me, her eyes shining with tears.

"What is your name?" I asked her.

She frowned at me, her lips parted before her head hung low and she started to uncontrollably sob again.

"I asked you a question!" I snapped and she cowered away from me, trying to pull herself out of my grip.

My grip on her arm tightened. "I don't like to repeat myself! What is your name?"

"Ev--- ev---" she couldn't even form words in this miserable state.

"Niko, maybe, we should let her calm down first..." Bianca suggested.

"W-who a-are y-you?" she asked through her sobs.

"I'm a friend of your father's," I said, so she would fucking talk to me. I could care less about Elijah fucking Bolton.

"Someone killed my dad... they killed him... my mom and dad" her shoulders shook with the force of her sobs.

Scott placed a hand on my shoulder and my attention shifted toward him. "Boss, there was a drug bust. Police knew someone tipped them off"

A boiling fury swelled inside of me. "Motherfucker!"

I turned to Bianca and pushed the girl in her direction. "Take her home, clean her up, calm her the fuck down, and tell me who the fuck she is!" I ordered as the girl looked between me and Bianca with wide eyes.

I strode out of Elijah's mansion and got into my car. Scott followed closely behind.

"Niko, with the recent attacks on our men and now the drug bust, I think it's all connected to him."

"Let's pay our friend Mateo a visit" I gritted through my teeth.

We got to our warehouse, right in the middle of nowhere. I was flanked by Alessandro and Scott. Four more of my men trailed behind me as we approached Mateo's cell.

Mateo is the underboss of Ignacio Reyes. We have been at a war with Ignacio since he butchered my men in cold blood and breached my territory. I don't forgive the blood of my men that easily. I will not fucking rest till I have killed every single man of Reyes's family.

Ignacio has been going crazy over the disappearance of Mateo, he had an idea that I had him but didn't have the balls to challenge me to my face, I really want him too, so, I can shoot his fucking head off. Now sabotaging my shipments and trying to piss me off discreetly was his coward's way of attacking me. Such a fucking pussy.

Our footsteps echoed off the walls of the warehouse. I stopped outside Mateo's cell as Alessandro opened the door. The room was lit by a single light bulb and under it, Mateo was tied up to a chair, swollen and pissed off.

I put my hand in my pockets as I stood tall before him.

Mateo laughed and spat at my feet. It didn't reach me, but he tried. "Any special reason for this wonderful visit, Nikolai? I'm guessing your shipment of drugs didn't make it, did it?" he grinned.

I placed my palms over the table before him. "How do you know about that?"

He laughed, he fucking laughed at me. "We are way ahead of you, Nikolai. We know your every move."

"You really like to laugh, don't you, Mateo?"

"Not really but laughing at you" he took a deep breath in, relishing the moment of his insignificant win. "It's something else, isn't it?"

"Alessandro?"

"Yes, boss?"

"Help Mateo improve his laugh."

Alessandro opened up his toolbox and took out a metal mouth gag and pliers. Panic flashed through Mateo's eyes, his lips pressed into a thin line as he tried to close his mouth as hard as he could.

A brutal punch connected with his jaw, and his mouth opened with a grunt. Alessandro shoved the mouth gag into his mouth as Scott helped him with it. Alessandro went straight for his front tooth. With his strength, he had no problem pulling his front tooth out, a high-pitched scream rang out through his cell. Saliva mixed with his blood trailed down his chin. Without giving him a chance to gather himself, Alessandro went for the second tooth and pulled it out. Mateo made an animalistic wail. I raised a hand and Alessandro stopped immediately. He took off the mouth gag and stepped aside as Mateo cried like a little bitch.

"Now, are you ready to talk?" I asked

"Go fuck yourself, Nikolai! You'll never get anything out of me!" he shouted.

"Well, I gave you a chance."

I glanced at Alessandro and he knew what to do next. I stepped out of Mateo's cell and strolled down the dark hallway of the warehouse I could hear Mateo's scream resonating throughout it.

Alessandro had the most creative ways to torture information out of people. Now or later, I know Mateo will talk.

I got to my mansion and took off my suit jacket, I threw it over the couch and unbuttoned my cuffs before folding them up.

Bianca entered the living room and walked over to me. "Niko, the girl..."

I leaned back on the couch putting my feet over the coffee table. "What about her?"

"She keeps on crying. The maid took her to take a bath---"

Fucking, shit, I forgot about the girl. "Where is she?"

Bianca reluctantly pointed towards the guestroom. I made my way to it and opened the door only to find it empty. I heard the water running in the bathroom and walked to it. I stood outside the bathroom, leaning against the doorframe.

She was sitting in the bathtub. Her knees to her chest, her brown long hair draped over her back. She was still crying her eyes out as maids poured water over her head, washing away the blood from her face.

She wasn't saying anything, she wasn't stopping the maids from showering her. I silently watched as her olive skin glistened with water, her whimpers and the running water were the only two sounds that resonated in the bathroom.

"Her name is Evangeline," Bianca voiced from behind me. "Evangeline Bolton... she is eighteen years old and Elijah Bolton's only daughter. At least that what's she told me"

"She talked to you?"

"Yes, but she is scared shitless, and I believe she is telling the truth"

"Bolton had a daughter, and he kept her a secret? How the fuck did he pulled that off for eighteen years?"

Bianca lifted a shoulder. "Bolton really loved her. She wouldn't be crying like this if he had abused her or anything. Maybe, he wanted to keep her safe from our world"

"Hm..."

It would make sense. Bolton hiding away his daughter so men like us won't find her.

"What are you going to do with her?" Bianca asked.

I haven't decided what I'm going to do with her just yet. I don't normally have to deal with a girl like this and I'm not even sure why I brought her to my house.

"I haven't decided yet."

Bianca nodded. "I can take her to my place if that helps. You don’t have to deal with her—"

I cut her off with a sharp shake of my head. "No. She stays here until I figure out what to do with her."

Bianca’s shoulders tensed, but she nodded. "Understood, Niko."

"Good. You can go now. I’ll contact you if she needs anything."

Bianca nodded and left afterward. I stood there and watched her, the maids put shampoo in her hair, and she let them. After they were done, the maids asked her to step out of the bathtub. Slowly and cautiously she tried to stand up.

I heaved a sigh and turned to go to my study. I wasn't a fucking pervert, I wasn't going to stand there and watch her dressing up, I left her room and let her do her thing.

Right now, I fucking had more important things to do.

•Evangeline•

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I don't know where I was. I don't know any of these people. I have been sitting in this room alone in the corner after the maids bathed me, they tried to get me to eat something but I couldn't. All I could think about was my parent's dead bodies, their dead eyes staring at me emotionlessly. Bile rose to my throat; I wanted to throw up; food was the least of my concerns right now.

All day long a lot of questions have been running through my mind. I needed answers, I needed someone to talk to. I needed to see my parents again. They deserve a funeral and proper burial and a final goodbye that I never got a chance to say.

There were a lot of people in this house, mostly, servants. They couldn't have the answers to my questions. I needed to talk to the woman who brought me here, what was her name? Bianca? That's what she told me.

I needed to know who they were. What do they want from me? Why am I here? What happened to my parents? Who killed them? What will happen to me? What are they going to do to me?

An unexpected wail bubbled up from my chest as I thought about my parents again. We had so many plans... I sobbed even more as I realized that we will never get the chance to be a normal family.

I miss them...

I miss them so much...

A knock on my bedroom door startled me, I wiped my tears away immediately and croaked out a rough come in. The same maid re-entered my room with a tray full of food. Her face contorted with pity as she approached me.

"I'm not hungry..." I whispered

I pulled my knees to my chest and dropped my head over them. I didn't feel like doing anything, a certain weight had settled on my chest. I felt like I was drowning.

"You need to eat."

I shook my head. "I can't... I just can't... I told you I'm not hungry."

Another knock startled us, I looked towards the door, and the same woman who had brought me here entered. I don't know why, but after seeing her, relief washed over me.

"Hey..." she smiled at me.

"Hi..." I answered

She nodded at the maid and the maid nodded back at her before she walked out of the bedroom. She approached me and settled down beside me.

"Eat," she said gently.

I looked between her and the tray full of food. I shook my head, telling her that I couldn't.

She sighed, her voice soft. "Why, Evangeline?"

I swallowed hard. "Who are you?"

"I’m Bianca, like I said. We’re here to help you. We won’t hurt you. But you need to eat, or Boss won’t be happy."

My stomach churned as I recalled the imposing, tattooed man. "Boss?"

"Yes, Nikolai Costello. This is his place. He wants to see you in his study after you’ve eaten."

I chewed on the inside of my cheek, trying to hold back tears. "I don’t want to eat..."

She gently placed her hand on my knee. "Why not?"

My lower lip trembled, and my voice cracked. "I miss my parents..."

"Evangeline..." she sighed. "Your parents are gone, they are never coming back. Now you need to pull on your big girl panties and try to learn how to live without them" she picked up a bowl of soup from the tray and offered it to me. "Eat..."

"I have never had a meal without my parents... We always used to eat together..."

"I'll eat with you, will that make you feel better?"

I nodded and reluctantly took the bowl of soup from her hand, she sat there and shared a meal with me. After we were done, she stood up and offered me her hand.

"Come on, you need to go see Nikolai."

"Nikolai?"

"Yeah, come on."

I placed my hand in hers and stood up. I smoothed my dress and my hair and rubbed my eyes to get rid of the tears. She strolled out of the bedroom and I followed her silently. We stopped outside a large wooden door and Bianca turned to me.

"He's inside, keep your eyes on the ground and honestly answer any question he asks, alright?"

I nodded. "Okay..."

My legs trembled and my breathing got shallow. I don't know why I was so scared, no one here has hurt me. They all have been nice to me and whoever Nikolai was, I hope he was as nice as Bianca.

She gestured for me to go on inside. I looked at her alarmed. "You are not coming with me?"

She shook her head. "No, now go on," she pushed me towards the large wooden door.

With trembling hand, I turned the doorknob and the door opened. I held my breath as I walked in. I know Bianca told me to keep my gaze on the ground but curiosity got the best of me as I looked up at him. Fortunately, his back was facing me, I immediately dropped my gaze back to my toes.

I stood rooted next to the closed door, I could hear him pouring a drink. I suddenly felt incredibly vulnerable, and so alone. My father's words rang in my mind on a loop.

The world is a dangerous place for someone as innocent as you, Evangeline.

A strange fear crept over me, maybe it was because of what my parents had told me all my life. What if all these people are nice and I'm making a big deal out of nothing? But the fear overpowered every other emotion and goosebumps crept over my back. I thought that if I moved, he would eat me alive.

The atmosphere of the room didn't really help my situation either. The thick curtains were drawn, and the room was dimly lit.

I made the mistake of looking at him one more time and my breath hitched as my eyes met his. For some reason, I couldn't take my eyes off him.

He was leaning against his desk, facing me, a drink in his hand. He emptied the glass tumbler in a single go without taking his eyes off me. His eyes raked up and down all over me like he was studying me like I was not human but an odd creature that had caught his attention.

He placed the glass back on his desk and put his hands in his pockets, he was still leaning over his desk, his long legs stretched.

His dark black hair was tousled, he was wearing an all-black outfit. A black dress shirt, a black vest, black slacks, and a black suit jacket. His first few buttons were unbuttoned and I got a glimpse of the black ink that was also covering the back of his hands. I could imagine tattoos covering his entire body.

He stood straight, and instinctively I took a step back. I suddenly noticed how tall he was that if I stepped closer to him I'd only reach his chest.

"Are you just going to stand there?" he said.

My insides twisted with terror, leaving me frozen in place.

"Come closer," he ordered, his voice sharp, as if he enjoyed watching me squirm.

I remembered that Bianca told me to listen to his every order and answer his every question honestly. I braced myself and walked to him, halting when I was only two steps away from him.

He breathed out softly, appraising me up and down once again. "What is your name?"

"Evangeline Bolton" I answered

"And Elijah and Mary were your...?"

I swallowed. "My parents..."

"How old are you?"

"I turned eighteen last month."

Answer every single question honestly, Evangeline.

"Hm..." a deep masculine hum that was enough to scare me even more if that was possible. "I have known Elijah Bolton since I was born... he never mentioned you. I have been to his house a few times and I never saw you there before..."

My mouth dropped open, my heartbeat got erratic; I breathed in to calm my nerves.

How do I tell someone that I have spent my entire life locked up in a bedroom and I was only allowed to go outside of my bedroom when it was time for me to eat?

He took a step toward me and that made me step back instinctively. I looked at him through my lashes and saw his face. His expressions were hard to read but he looked almost amused, and I think I saw a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips.

With his hands in his pockets, he walked around me in circles. His even strides reminded me of something, he looked like an animal, I have read about it and seen it on TV. He was stalking around me the way tigers do before they pounce on their prey and then devour them alive.

I swallowed as I felt like defenseless prey.

"Are you lying to me, Evangeline?" he asked, still moving around me.

I shook my head immediately. "No, no, I'm not"

He chuckled, the sound of his laugh made my skin crawl with fear. "I think you are... Elijah Bolton did not have a child. I don't like liars, Evangeline. Do you know what I do with liars?" he asked

I shook my head. "No..." my voice barely above a whisper.

He stopped behind me, I could feel the heat of his body creeping onto my back. "I punish them... very badly" he whispered in my ear from behind and my whole body visibly trembled.

My insides twisted with anxiety and fear, my eyes burned with tears, I kept them in but I could no longer control my hands; they were shaking in an odd trembling rhythm.

All I could hear were my dad's words — The world is a dangerous place and you are easy prey, Evangeline. You are innocent and naive and you lack physical strength. This world will chew you alive.

He was right.

Dad was right.

The tears I have been holding in slid down my cheeks. "I'm his daughter, I swear. He... he didn't let me leave my room. I have spent my whole life there, I was homeschooled, and the only time I was allowed outside of my bedroom was when we ate together breakfast, lunch, and dinner." I sniffled. "Only three times a day, I promise," I said in a single breath and hastily wiped my tears. "I'm not lying to you, I swear"

"Why?" his warm breath fanned the nape of my neck.

I sniffled. "He said the world out there was dangerous for me..." I wiped my eyes multiple times.

"Dangerous for you?"

I nodded. "He worked at a bank and he had a lot of enemies because of it"

"He worked at a bank?" He repeated my words but with a hint of sarcasm and amusement.

I sniffled quietly, tears threatening to spill from my eyes again. "Yes, my dad worked at a bank, that is what he told me, I swear!"

He finally stepped away from me and I released the breath I was holding in. He walked around me to get to his desk and settled in his chair. I looked at him through my blurry tear-filled vision. His elbow rested over the armrest as he traced his long finger over his lips. He kept staring at me like he was amazed or intrigued or disgusted, I really don't know.

"So, you have never been out of your house?" He asked

I shook my head gently. "No..."

His expressions were dark and mocking like he didn't believe me at all. "Your father worked at a bank and you have spent your whole life locked up in a room? Doesn't it sound a little ridiculous to you, Evangeline?"

I cried harder than before, streams of tears flowed faster than my heartbeat. "Why don't you believe me? I'm telling the truth... What would I get out of lying to you?"

"Do you know who I am?" his voice was gravelly low and dangerous.

I sniffled and shook my head. "No, I don't! The only people I ever knew were my parents... I don't want to know you," I whispered the last part.

He opened up a box and pulled out a cigar, the same cigar my dad used to smoke. I know it, I have seen him smoke it many times. He lit it up and blew out a thick puff of smoke. He looked at me for a few more seconds and then sighed.

"Go back to your room, Evangeline" he ordered, his tone authoritative.

I swallowed and turned to leave but stopped and looked back at him. "What are you going to do to me?" I asked the most important question that had been gnawing at the back of my mind.

His lips lifted from one side into a wicked smirk, his eyes were almost pitch black. "First, I'm going to find out if you're telling the truth or not then we'll talk about what I am going to do to you, you little liar"

I immediately walked out of his study. I shouldn't be afraid, I told him the truth. I hope he finds that out soon, so, he can apologize for not believing me.

•Nikolai•

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"I don't know anything about the shooting, Don Niko," she was on the verge of crying.

May Summers, the only maid that was luckily left alive. She had taken two days' leave when Elijah Bolton's entire family was murdered. She was the only one who could tell me if that girl was telling the truth or not. She could be an imposter for all I know, I couldn't just take her word for it.

The story she made up was complete utter bullshit. What the fuck does Ignacio Reyes take me for? A fucking fool?

He really thought that he'd dangle a sweet piece of ass in front of me and it would throw me off my game? I'm not that weak when it comes to women.

The way she just stood there, practically trembling as if I might pounce on her at any moment. Her eyes, so wide and drenched in fake innocence, flinched every time I moved closer. And her body—fucking ridiculous. It was almost laughable how out of place her flawless curves seemed against the backdrop of her terror. I barely gave a damn about her beauty; what mattered was who she was and what she wanted.

But the more I looked at her, the more I wondered if this whole act was just that—an act.

I shifted my focus back to the maid, who was trembling like a leaf in a storm.

Reclining in my seat, I spoke with a hint of frustration. "I didn’t call you here to shake in fear. Tell me, did Bolton have a daughter stashed away somewhere?"

The maid went white as a sheet. "Yes, he did."

A frown creased my face. "How the hell did this stay hidden?"

Her gaze dropped to the floor. "I wasn’t allowed to speak to her, Don Niko. She was kept locked away, and while I saw her occasionally, I never had any direct contact."

"So, Elijah Bolton managed to keep a daughter hidden for eighteen fucking years, and no one knew about it?"

It was a fucking hard pill to swallow.

"Don Niko, most of his servants have been loyal to him for years and none of us thought that him having a daughter was important enough to tell you. We thought you knew..."

She then went on to tell me everything she has heard or knew about Evangeline Bolton.

In the world that I grew up in, there weren't many things that surprised me but somehow this did.

All this time, I have been thinking about her being a pawn that Ignacio had sent my way but she was telling the fucking truth. Every word she had said was true.

We dug up Elijah Bolton's security camera footage, there was only one in the house, it was set in his living room. After going through hours of footage, my men only found Evangeline appear in it three times a day, just like she had said—breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I shut the laptop's screen and rolled my neck to loosen the kink. I lit up a cigar and lodged it in my mouth.

Bianca entered my office, it had been three days since Evangeline Bolton has been staying in my house. I hadn't seen her after the first day in my office. I thought that all her crying and pleading was fucking fake but now that I know the truth, it amused me.

That girl was as untouched as she claimed to be, and it irked me how her supposed innocence had become such a focal point for me. The fact that no other man had touched her before didn't particularly thrill me; it just seemed like another complication in a situation that was already getting out of hand.

Now that I thought about how she acted that day when she saw me made sense. Her body was tensed when she stood before me like all this was new to her.

It was mildly satisfying to see her comply with my orders without question but it did make me wonder about her level of obedience in other situations.

“What do you want me to do with her?” she asked.

She understood perfectly why I’d summoned her—she’d been watching Evangeline for the past three days, trying to extract information.

“You can leave now,” I said tersely.

Evangeline wasn’t a threat or an informant. There was no need for anyone to keep tabs on her anymore. I still hadn’t decided what to do with her. She could stay in the house as long as she wanted. She had no one left—her parents were dead, and she likely had no other known relatives.

“Niko, I’m convinced Evangeline is telling the truth. She’s not a mole. She doesn’t even know what Cosa Nostra is.”

“I know. That’s why you can head home now. I’ll let you know if she needs anything.”

She nodded. “Understood.”

“Oh, and Bianca—let Evangeline know she’s free to do as she pleases in the house. No need for anyone’s permission.”

“Got it. She’s starting to relax a bit. She’s genuinely curious about everything here. It’s actually quite entertaining to watch.”

My phone buzzed with my father’s name on the screen. I stood up and adjusted my suit jacket.

Giving Bianca one last nod, I left my office to get to my father's house. I was meeting Paul Russell and Grace today for the marriage of convenience. The only reason I was ready to get married to that whore was power. Paul Russell had no heirs, everything he had belonged to his daughter. So, marrying Grace will not only make me more powerful but it will also give me more territory to rule over. Her uncle was the chief of staff of the United States and we needed him for the clearance of our arms and drug deliveries.

I arrived at my father's mansion, the men bowed their heads with respect. I walked straight to my father's study where I knew Paul and Grace were waiting for us.

Scott, my underboss, stepped out of my father's study.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What are you doing here?"

His face contorted with annoyance. "Your father put me in charge of your father-in-law's and future wife's security."

I let out a dry breath as something unwanted coursed through my veins. I was fucking hating the idea of marriage.

Scott gave me a shit-eating grin. "How's that pretty little Bolton girl?"

"She's staying at my place," I replied curtly.

Most of my men have seen her by now. Scott has seen her multiple times lurking out in the gardens. She is a weird fucking girl, she was fucking enjoying her freedom for the first time and she was making the most out of it.

It’s inevitable she would draw attention. She has an annoyingly attractive face and a body that’s hard to ignore. Bianca has dressed her in these little dresses that barely reach her knees. Over the past few days, I’ve seen more men ogling her than actually working, including Scott. It’s infuriating how much she was disrupting everything.

"What are you gonna do with her?"

Why the hell was everyone so interested in what I planned to do with her?

"I haven't figured it out yet," I replied curtly.

"I could take good care of her for you, boss," Scott said, his suggestive grin making his intentions clear. "Bolton knew what he was doing when he locked her up."

Irritation surged through me. It bothered me how having her in my house made me feel a strange sense of ownership. It's only been three damn days, and I already started thinking of her as my property, and that realization annoyed me even more.

From behind the door, I could hear my father's muffled laughter. I placed a hand on Scott's shoulder. "Don't even think about it."

Without hearing what he had to say, I pushed open my father's study door and stepped inside. Paul Russell along with his daughter Grace stood up.

"There's my boy!"

I shook hands with Paul and settle opposite the father-daughter duo. My eyes met with Grace's familiar green ones, she smiled at me. She was an attractive woman but whenever she opened her mouth it made me want to shoot her fucking brains out. The thing about her that annoyed me the most was her habit of sleeping around. I was a fucking mob boss, the most feared man in New York City, and I had to marry a girl that had probably slept with few of my men just because of my father's word.

Father and Paul started to discuss the plans for the future and how this union will affect the relationship between our families.

Marrying Grace Russell was a smart move for our business, so, I had to fucking swallow this pill. I don't have to have a relationship with Grace. She will be my wife in the title and she will bear my children. I don't have to play fucking house with her.

Father seemed too pleased with his plans and that is when I decided to speak up. "I have one condition"

Paul raised an eyebrow. "A condition?" he looked between Pops and me.

My father cleared his throat. "What condition, Nikolai? You know everything is---"

"We will get married after a year"

"A year?" Paul repeated.

"Why?" Father asked, turning to me.

"I need some time. Grace and I will get engaged, but we will get married after a year. If you don't agree with this then I will---"

Grace fucking Russell cut me off. If she is going to be my wife, she better learns some fucking respect. "Nikolai is right, I need some time as well. I'll graduate from university in six months, so, I don't mind if we wait."

I turned to her as she beamed up at me. "Don't ever fucking cut me off again when I'm talking," I turned to Paul. "Teach your daughter what it's like to marry into La Famiglia" before my father or Paul could add anything, I stood up. "Now that it's done, I have to be somewhere"

I walked straight out of the office and strode to my mama's room. I opened the door and saw her lying on the bed with an oxygen mask over her mouth. A certain uneasiness settled in my chest, it always happened whenever I visited her. She was unconscious, her meds made her pass out like this. I bent over and kissed her forehead.

"You're going to be alright..." I whispered against her forehead.

Staring at her for a few more minutes, I stepped out of her bedroom only to see Grace.

"Grace?"

"Niko," she smiled and held my hand.

She pulled me into one of the guestrooms and locked the door. I know why she had brought me here. She faced me and slid the straps of her tight dress off her shoulders. She reached behind her, unzipping her dress making it fall to the ground and pool around her feet.

"I wanted to do this the moment you walked through that door," she said to me with a sweet smile.

"Grace, I'm not here for this."

"You don't have to do anything, let me do all the work" she kneeled before me and unbuckled my belt, she zipped my pants down and stroked my shaft from over my boxers.

I gathered her hair in a makeshift ponytail and tugged her head back. I liked to be the one in control of everything, whether it was my business or my bedroom.

I wonder what that little angel Evangeline is like in bed. Her submission the other day had me spellbound. She is a meek little thing, the things I could do to that sweet, virgin body—Fuck!

I looked down into Grace's eager eyes. She swiped her tongue across her lower lips while stroking my hardened dick.

"I don't have much time, Grace"

She knew what I meant, it was all she needed as she eagerly removed my dick from my boxers and put it in her mouth. I forced my dick deep into her mouth before pulling it back out and then back into her throat again. I roughly fucked her face, and she was enjoying it like a good little slut.

I closed my eyes and threw my head back as I thrust into her mouth. I wonder what Evangeline's little warm mouth would feel like, her plump lips wrapped around my cock as she sucked me off.

Fuck!

I looked back down at Grace, her eyes had watered and drool was dripping down her chin. Her mascara was running down her cheeks.

I need to stop thinking about that little distraction in my house.

With a few more strokes, I came deep down her throat.

I pulled my dick out of her mouth and tugged myself back into my pants. Grace wiped her chin and sucked her fingers clean while eyeing me seductively. She grinned up at me, still kneeling before me.

I raised an eyebrow. "What are you so happy about?"

"We are going to get married, I still can't believe it" she heaved a sigh dreamily. "I'm the one who won Nikolai Costello in the end."

"We still have a year..." I reminded her as I fixed myself.

"I know... it will pass by quickly..."

I pulled out my cell phone and saw a string of calls and messages from Scott. Furrowing my eyebrows, I called him back as I stepped out of the room.

"The fucking FBI raided our Vegas nightclub," Scott's voice came through, tense and urgent. "They knew, Niko, they knew about the drugs. Someone tipped them off. It's Mount Vernon all over again."