LOGINNIKOLAI The screeching sound of metal getting dragged against the ground forces me to pull my eyes open.I swing my head to the side and groan as a splitting thud fills my head.“You are awake.”My eyes dim and a fresh wave of rage floods my body when I recognize the voice.Flashes of what happened before I fell unconscious flood my mind, and a chuckle leaves my lips.I turn my head in his direction, glaring hard at his back.My hands and feet are tied to a chair that was gotten from the inner room of the hall, and right in front of me is the altar.I am seated right at the spot where my mother kneels in prayer.“You had to use one of your cunning ways to get me, didn't you?” I chuckle.Marco's shoulders slump, and he turns around to face me, a large smile on his face.He trudges forward and leans on the podium stand, a rosary in his hand.“You remember how you used to run around this place?” He laughs, and my chest tightens even more.“I still remember how I would give you a lollipo
KAITLYN I gasp loudly, my eyes widening with shock.I don't want to believe that she has always been against us all this while.“Diana?” I gasp out, my eyes wide like saucers.“Señora,” she whispers, and the blade drops from her hand and falls into the pool.She begins to walk towards me, and my heart begins to race.“Don't come close to me!” I yell out, the pain and fear evident in my voice.She freezes in her steps, and her eyes dim in pain.“Señora, I'm not going to hurt you!” She screams out in confusion.I shake my head in disbelief and shift back.“You just killed someone,” I whisper.She looks down at her hands covered in blood and then at me. Her lips twitch up in a bitter smirk, and she chuckles.“Unlike you, I have to fight my way to survive,” she mutters.Silence falls between us, and guilt fights its way through me.How can I forget that I have no right to judge her when my father did worse than she has ever done?Besides, I've lived like a rich brat all my life without a
KAITLYN As I run out of the garden, I crane my neck back and see the grave look on Jesse's face.He is still kneeling with the box stretched out and his jaw dropped while people swoop around him, taking pictures.My chest tightens in pain, but I swallow it down and turn my head.I won't repeat the same mistake again. Not anymore.“Please, get out of the way!” I cry out as I push past the guests and crash several times into the bartenders.Wine spills on my dress, turning the golden lace into a shade of red.I run down to the garage while Ana’s screams trail behind me.“Kaitlyn! Kaitlyn, wait!” Ana grabs my hand before I can reach the car.“What's wrong?” She asks, panting heavily.I tap my foot impatiently, gasping for air.“Nikolai is in trouble. I need to find him,” I whisper in a quivering voice.“What?” She gasps, her jaw dropping.“How is that possible? The plans he made with my father seemed perfect—"I grab her arm with wide eyes, and she stiffens.“Your father knows about thi
KAITLYN “Congratulations!” We clink our glasses, and I gulp down the champagne in my glass.“I'm so happy for you, Kait,” one of my college friends mutters as she squeezes my arm.I flash a smile, chuckling.“Thank you. I appreciate your presence here,” I say, clasping my hands as I appreciate everyone who has gathered in my house to celebrate me.They all chorus a response, cackling in happiness.I grin, my heart tightening in pain and happiness at the same time.The door pulls open, and my eyes dart quickly towards it, my heart racing.The smile on my face drops and the anxiety that is slowly welling up in me dies when I see Lorain appear at the door.“Hello, everyone,” she mutters calmly as she stands at the door, a purse clutched in her hand and a guilty smile over her face.The room suddenly loses its happiness when everyone realizes that my mood has changed.I stare at Lorain, my belly churning in rage and disdain.I can't even find the right words to describe my feelings as I
NIKOLAI The moment the car jerks to a stop, everyone rushes out, holding guns and running towards the building.Tom leads them while I trail after them with a gun clutched in my hand.Everyone around the devil's pavilion runs off at the sight of the guns, and soon the only ones left to live are the ones inside the building.“Break the door!” I order when I notice that the door has been locked from inside.Tom takes a gun and releases two bullets into the door's latch.As the door falls open, we begin to fire at anyone in sight.Screams break out in the dark corridor, feet hit the floor with force, bodies drop, blood splashes into the air, and the sound of bullets flying fills the air.I walk ahead, stepping on the bodies as I head into the main hall of the building.“Don't kill many people when we get in,” I turn and instruct Tom.“Yes, boss!” He nods and rushes over to the other men.He instructs in low tunes before they jerk forward into the hall.Rounds of bullets hit the air, and
NIKOLAI “Miss Peterson has signed the divorce papers, boss!” Tom says.“Hmm,” I hum in response and continue walking.My fist tightens beside me as I walk deeper into the dark hallway, narrowing my eyes at the bodyguards standing close to the wall.“Don Pedro has cleared the scouts of Don Marco positioned at three of our bases. Don Giovanni's clan has also pledged allegiance to you. The secret letter will arrive soon at their clan,” Tom continues.“Make sure no one else knows about this,” I mutter.“Yes, boss,” he bows.The news about Kaitlyn’s position as the CEO of her father's company has spread. Every tabloid is talking about it, and just like I instructed, the news of our divorce hasn't been made public already.I forced every media outlet to never cover things related to our marriage or question it.That will protect her peace at least and keep her in a positive light.“Don,” a bodyguard steps out and pulls the door open.I pause for a moment and adjust the gun strapped to my b
KAITLYN “Hey, Kaitlyn, wake up," I hear a voice whisper into my ear as I lie still and almost dead.Why did the voice sound so familiar? Why does it remind me of him?"Kaitlyn?” My eyes slowly open, not because I am strong enough but because I want to be sure it is who I think it is.And just lik
KAITLYNSilence reigns in the car as Philippe drives through the busy road.I glance at him for the sixth time, expecting him to speak and save me from tension, but he doesn't.Instead, he keeps his eyes on the road and grips the wheels tighter like it will break if he dare lets go.I can't take th
KAITLYNI stare at the tea the woman has made, my fist clenching. I haven't touched it since she dropped it and walked away. The only thing on my mind is Philippe's last words, and what gets me so worked up over it is the urgency in his tone.I sigh loudly and run my hand through my hair, then get
KAITLYN "What do you want me to do? Do you want me to kill the bastard?" She asks and I twitch my lips, narrowing my eyes in amusement. "Call Jesse and tell him to meet up at our favorite spot," I mutter and she huffs. "Is that what you want? You can call him up and meet him, besides—""Ana, jus







