•Evangeline•

╌─═❁═─╌

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•

╌═❁═╌

"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."

•Evangeline•

╌─═❁═─╌

"You are free to do whatever you want," Bianca told me.

My mouth fell open and I was out of words. I didn't know how to react. No one had ever said those words to me. Hearing her words, I brightened up a little despite still mourning my parents' death.

I was free to do whatever I wanted...

I wanted...

When I was locked up in my room I used to think about all the things I'd do when I'd get out of there. Now that I had the chance, I had no idea what I wanted to do first. I looked around, taking it all in.

I have been living here at my dad's friend's house for four days now and everything has been so surreal. I have never lived this life before, there is a single lock on the door that is for me not for anyone to lock me inside.

I don't really have anything to do, I roam the gardens in the morning just like I always wanted to, it was nice to feel the sunlight on my skin. There is a huge library in the house, it has so many kinds of books, the kind of books I have never seen before or read about.

But I still didn't want to stay here, I wanted to go back to my home. I wanted to live my life independently now, maybe go to college and get a job or something.

Suddenly it felt like I had so much to do in so little time!

I jumped up in Bianca's arms. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!"

She laughed and hugged me back. "You should thank Nikolai"

I pulled back, my stomach sank just as his name slipped from Bianca's mouth. For some reason, he intimidates me... he intimidates me a lot. Maybe, he just had the kind of personality that scares people. He is dark and brooding and his eyes are murderous. His eyes scare me the most.

"I will when I'll see him..." I replied, fumbling with my fingers.

"Now, I need to go back to my place, my boyfriend is going crazy without me" she laughed. "You sure you will be fine, kid?"

I nodded eagerly. "Mhmm..."

The last thing I needed was more supervision.

Giving me one last short hug, she walked out of the room. My stomach grumbled, and I realized I hadn't had lunch today. I descended the stairs and went to the kitchen.

I hadn't seen many kitchens in my life before but I know this kitchen is something out of the ordinary. It was huge and all day long, the kitchen staff was available if a person needed anything. Even if I asked for the weirdest meal on the earth, they would somehow make it for me but I wasn't going to ask for it. Right now I just needed a snack.

"What would you like, ma'am?" the elderly woman asked.

"Um, do you have a bag of potato chips?"

The entire kitchen staff looked at me as if I have grown two heads. Suddenly, they all dispersed and started to rummage through the cabinets, they all seemed alarmed.

"It's okay if you don't... I'll have a sandwich instead"

They let out a breath of relief and whipped up a sandwich for me in under ten minutes.

"I'm so sorry for the chips, ma'am. We'll have them in the kitchen by tomorrow"

I smiled. "It's fine..."

With my sandwich in one hand and a drink in the other, I went straight to the library. I pushed open the door and set my sandwich and the drink on a table, the table was perfectly set by a very comfortable armchair.

I started searching for the perfect book to pass my time. I needed another activity, tonight when I'll go to Nikolai to thank him. I'll ask him if I can go back to my house, so, I could finally start my life.

I finally found a good book and went to settle on the armchair. I started reading as I ate my sandwich.

I was almost ten pages into my book when the library's door kicked open. My attention shifted toward the door as two men entered. They were talking among themselves, they hadn't noticed me yet. My gaze followed them as they walked further in.

Then I noticed that one of those men was Nikolai, he was the one who was walking ahead while the other one followed. They disappeared from my sight and went to the back. Although the nosy part of me wanted to go see what they were doing; the cautious side of me stopped me from doing so.

Shaking my head, I shifted my attention back to my book but my focus has been lost now. I was more concerned with the presence in the library than my book. A few seconds later, I heard the footsteps coming back from wherever they went.

I moved around in my seat as nervousness crept up, what if he saw me here and got mad at me?

When they appeared in my eye shot again only then did they notice me. Nikolai halted and then a frown appeared on his forehead.

Uh oh! He's mad, isn't he? I think he is.

He looked at me the same way as before like I was an odd creature out of this world and he was appalled by my presence.

A whistle came from behind him and my gaze went to the man in the back. He seemed to be in his early twenties with dark black hair, green eyes, and a slight smirk on his face.

The man behind Nikolai appraised me up and down and then his eyes settled on my bare legs, where they lingered. Uncomfortable under the scrutiny of their gaze, I shifted in my seat. I tugged my dress down to hide my legs. The dress was short, almost every single dress Bianca has bought for me was quite short. They all ended over my mid-thigh, leaving most of my legs bare.

Nikolai put his hands in his pockets and strolled toward me. He stopped when he was at the foot of the couch. I slightly pulled my legs more into myself, so they won't touch him.

Both of his big, inked hands landed on the armrests on either side of me. I clutched my book a little more tightly and held my breath, slightly startled.

He was so close that his smell lingered in my nose, he smelled like heady, expensive cologne, it was so clean and masculine. I just couldn't describe his smell in any other way.

"Look at me," he said in his authoritative tone.

I'm pretty sure that any person will do whatever he wants them to do whenever he uses such a tone. Unable to not listen to him, I looked up.

His jet black hair mopped over his forehead contrasting beautifully with the bluest eyes I have ever seen. It was the first time I was looking at him from this close, I took in every single feature of his. He had a really sharp bone structure, the dark stubble only added to his good looks.

I may not have seen many people in my life before but I know Nikolai was one very good-looking man.

"How long have you been here?" he asked, his voice deep, so gravelly low, and rough.

An unwanted jolt traveled to my stomach, was it fear?

"Did you follow us?" he asked

I frowned at that and immediately shook my head. "No, I didn't... I was reading my book. Bianca said I could."

"Hm..." A low masculine hum.

His eyes then traveled down my body while mine stayed on his face. His eyes dropped to my chest, and then toward the book resting on my lap before they settled back on my face.

He leaned in and tilted his head to the side. I felt my heartbeat in my throat. Is it even possible to feel your heartbeat in your throat? He leaned in until his mouth was by my ear and his stubble pricked into my cheek. Involuntarily my eyes closed and I breathed in his amazing smell.

"You are sitting in my chair" he whispered, his warm breath fanning my ear and the side of my face.

Blood rushed to my cheeks, nose, and ears with embarrassment. I should have asked for permission. I shouldn't have barged in here like I owned the place.

I opened my mouth to say something but words had abandoned me. How can this happen to a girl whose whole life has been spent reading books? How can words betray me like this?

He chuckled, like very deeply and darkly. The sound of his chuckle traveled between my legs. How can one feel someone's laugh in their stomach? I gasped as I felt a throbbing down there... between my legs.

How the hell?

The feeling was so foreign and odd and it nearly took my breath away. Nikolai finally moved a little back and faced me, looking me in the eyes while his nose was almost touching mine.

"I..." I swallowed to help with my parched throat. "I'm sorry, I didn't know..."

With his thumb and his forefinger, he gripped my chin. "Do you know what happens to girls who find themselves alone in a room with a man like me?"

My breathing seized, and my eyes went wide, my lips parted ever so slightly. My skin burned from where his fingers were touching me, I have never felt this way before. It felt good but not good, I just couldn't understand it. A tantalizing bolt traveled between my legs and I tightly closed my thighs together. My throat dried up, I chewed on my bottom lip to come up with an answer

And then my eyes fell on the man leaning against the bookshelf behind him. He had crossed his arm over his chest and had a full-blown smirk on his lips as he watched us.

I mustered up some courage and breathed out. "But we are not alone..."

Nikolai raised an eyebrow like he was not expecting me to answer him. His eyes lit up with dark amusement as if he found my answer extremely funny or stupid, I wouldn't know. His grip on my chin tightened, and he tugged my face closer to his. My skin burned underneath his touch, I could feel the heat emitting from my ears, and every single part of my body.

"Do you want to find out? I could send him out..." he asked, amusement lingering in his eyes.

Find out? Find out what? The way he said it, scared me to death. No, I don't want to find out what he does with girls when he is alone with them. It sounds terrifying and my knees were getting weak with each passing second.

With the little courage I had left, I shook my head. "No..."

He laughed and his hand left my chin. He stood back to his full height, giving me one last glance. He stepped back and turned to leave. The guy standing behind him winked at me, giving me a full-blown smile.

Uneasiness seeped into me as Nikolai walked towards the door. I needed to talk to him. I wanted to thank him for everything and also I wanted to ask if I can go to college or back to my home.

Not knowing what to do, I blurted out his name. "Nikolai!"

It was the first time, I had said his name out loud.

He halted immediately, his shoulders squared. I don't know why but saying his name like that felt wrong, very wrong. He turned to face me, all the amusement disappeared, and his facial expression turned dark and menacing.

"I... Um... I need to talk to you..." I said, playing with the book in my hand.

He stilled for a second and kept watching me like a hawk. "Tonight... my office..."

I nodded and looked down at my lap, waiting for him to leave.

The guy who was with him laughed. "Goodbye, Evangeline"

He knew my name, I didn't know his name. I finally looked at him and gave him a little smile back. "Bye..."

Nikolai gave his head a gentle shake before they both turned and left the library. I finally let go of the breath I was holding in. There was just something about Nikolai that scared me to death but he also didn't seem that bad. I don't understand him but then again I don't understand most of the things around here.

Gosh! I'm such a freak! Why couldn't I be normal and not embarrassed and not half-die when someone talked to me?!