SERAFINA The ride back home was filled with a tense silence. I sat beside Adriko as he drove, his hands clenching the steering wheel occasionally. I replayed everything that had happened in the hospital as I stared out the window. Why can't I catch a break? I have never felt so unsafe in my entire life. Yes, I knew how dangerous the Camorra is but I have never had anyone physically attack me before. I bit my lip to stop it from trembling but the effort was futile.A shaky breath escaped me and before I knew it, tears rolled down my cheeks. Adriko noticed, his sharp gaze flicked to me as he swore softly under his breath. “Don’t” he said, his voice low but commanding. “Don't what?” I shot back, wiping my tears with trembling fingers. “Cry? Be scared? What do you want me to do Adriko? Pretend I wasn't almost killed?” His jaw tightened, but instead of answering, he surprised me by placing his hand on my thigh and squeezing softly in a comforting gesture. My heart skipped
SERAFINA Irina appeared in the doorway, her gaze fixed on me, a concerning look in her eyes “Are you okay?” she questioned softly “I heard about what happened in the hospital”. My fingers instinctively went to my neck, tracing the tender marks left behind by the intruder's hands. Irina’s eyes widened, and she gasped as she moved closer to inspect the bruises “Oh my God” she muttered, her voice filled with shock. “That bastard hurt you” Her lips pressed into a tight line, annoyance evident in her face. “Come on”.She said with a sigh, motioning for me to follow her. “Dinner’s ready” I trailed after her into the kitchen, where the table had already been set with plates of steaming pasta. She gestured for me to sit as she settled in across from me. “Nadia made dinner before she left, let’s eat” she said simply as she dug into her food. I picked up my spoon but found myself twirling it aimlessly between my fingers. My mind was still in a fog of emotions. I stole a glance at
BACK IN THE PENTHOUSE ADRIKO The sound of the elevator alerted me to their arrival. I was waiting for them, been waiting for the last twenty minutes. My stance was tense as I shoved my hands in my pockets, every muscle in my body coiled in tension as Serafina and Irina stepped out, laughter lingering between them. Dima and Mikahli followed closely, shopping bags in each hand. They acknowledge me as they hurry down the hallway to drop the bags. Serafina spotted me first, her laughter faded as she slowed her steps. Irina on the other hand, arched a brow, already bracing for a confrontation. The silence lingered, enough for them to feel the weight of my fury. Then finally I spoke… “Enjoyed yourself?” Serafina tensed at my tone but Irina smirked “Oh, we had an amazing time brother. You should see the things we bought” she quipped, a look of mischief in her eyes as she glanced at Serafina. A muscle in my jaw ticked. Serafina shot her a look “Irina…” serafina cau
BELYE NOCHI-2 HOURS LATER The atmosphere in the club was electric as I stepped into the private lounge of my club. The familiar scent of whiskey, drugs, and women greeted me. Sergei was already there, lounging with a drink in hand, the lazy smirk on his face grating on my nerves before he even spoke. “Took your time” he mused as he took a sip from the amber liquid. His sharp gaze on me, taking in my tense stance. “Trouble at home?” I shrugged off my jacket and tossed it onto the booth before sinking into the chair across from him. Reaching for the whiskey bottle, I poured myself a generous amount, watching the liquid catch the low light. “Something like that” I muttered. The confrontation with Serafina plagued me. I had spent the ride here replaying it. The way her breath hitched when I caged her against the wall. The smell of lilies and strawberries had followed me, impossible to shake. The jealousy she tried to bury beneath indifference. She was infuriating. I t
SERAFINA “Good morning” I smile at Nadia and Irina as I sit down at the dining table where Nadia is setting up breakfast. “Good morning dear” Nadia responds with an affectionate smile. Irina barely looked up before smirking “Someone is in an awfully good mood this morning. Any particular reason?” she asks as she reaches for the steaming pot of coffee, pouring it into her mug. I couldn't hide my excitement. It had been weeks since my last performance. I’ve missed being on stage. “I’ve got a rehearsal today for my main performance coming up Saturday.” Irina’s face lit up “Oh really? That's awesome! I glanced towards the hallway “Where’s Adriko?” She shrugged “He said something about the Colombians, so he left quite early.” A part of me felt relieved. If he wasn't here, he couldn't stop me. I tapped my fingers against the table debating whether I should wait. I knew he would expect me to inform him before leaving. After what happened at the hospital, Adriko had m
ADRIKO Nothing could have prepared me for the sights and sounds that welcomed me the moment I stepped into the theater. I knew Serafina was a performer. I’d heard the gossip and glimpsed occasional videos of her when my men ran a background check before the wedding. But i never paid much attention nor did i care until now. I stayed in the shadows, hands shoved deep in my pants as i leaned against the doorframe, watching her sing. The lights in the theater were dimmed with the only source of light coming from the stage so i knew she hadn't noticed my entrance. She stood at the center of the stage, the overhead lights casting a warm glow on her skin, her Auburn mane cascading down her back as it flashed hints of gold. She was stunning. When her voice caught on a note, i felt my chest tighten with an unfamiliar feeling. I told myself that i only came here to make sure that she had arrived safely. But i knew that was not true. Even after Sergei had texted me that she had,
ADRIKO I watched her as she looked away from me, her hands gripping the plate she had just pulled from the microwave. “Why are you asking me that?” she finally responded. I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the countertop and pinning her with a stare. “Answer the question.” She exhaled sharply, moving forward to place my food in front of me. “Six years ago, I got in an accident with my mum.” She shut her eyes tightly as she continued “I survived. She didn't.” her voice broke on a choked sob. Her eyes fluttered open and my gut twisted the moment i caught the look in her eyes. Unshed tears swam in the gray depths. “Things became strained between Papa and Lorenzo after that. Lorenzo blamed him for her death.” she continued. “He disappeared a couple of months after.No one knows what happened to him.” I tilted my head, watching the vulnerable look on her face. I wanted to believe her, but trust was something i didn't give easily. “I’m sorry about your mother Serafin
SERAFINA I sighed exasperated as Adriko shut down yet another dress with a clipped ‘No.’ Seriously? I glared at the screen, resisting the urge to throw my phone at the nearest wall. Why did he even insist on approving my dress if he was going to reject every single one? It wasn't like I was showing up in rags. But no, the Almighty Pakhan had to have a say in everything. Staring at the message thread, my fingers hovered over the keyboard. A part of me wanted to send him something atrocious. Maybe a neon pink dress with feathers, just to ruffle his controlling feathers. Actually… That's not a bad idea I thought as a smirk pulled at the corner of my mouth. ”So, how are you enjoying married life?” Diana asked, pulling me from my thoughts. I had texted her last night to accompany me Shopping. Luckily for me, she didn't have a shift today. Dima and Mikhali trailed a few paces behind us as we moved around the aisle. I groaned dramatically “Oh, it's magical” I deadpanned
SERAFINA He slid his hands out of my panties and gripped my thighs, spreading me open but paused for a heartbeat—just long enough for our eyes to lock. The hunger in his gaze as he got on his knees before me made my stomach clench. “I just want to bury my head between these lush thighs and worship you with my tongue…” he murmured as he peeled off my panties. He didn’t give me a chance to speak before he pulled me to the edge of the table and closed his mouth over my swollen clit. My breath hitched and I lost the ability to speak. His tongue wreaked havoc as he licked and sucked. Teasing me to the point of a release. “Yes, that's it, baby. Let go,” he murmured. I orgasmed on his tongue, shuddering violently as my pussy clenched around his fingers. He kept on licking me, working me through the aftershocks till the tremors subsided. When I was finally calm enough, I opened my eyes to find him watching me with an intense stormy gaze. “I love watching you cum Zolotse,” he
ADRIK I glanced up from the file Mikhali had sent, slightly irritated by the soft buzz of my phone which faded when I saw Yuri’s name across the screen. I had instructed him not to call except it was urgent. “Speak,” I commanded. “We have a situation Pakhan.” I shot up abruptly. “Serafina?” “She’s safe.” he paused briefly “Someone planted a note in her bag. A threat. We are on our way back to the penthouse.” My blood turned cold as rage spread through me. “What did it say?” Yuri hesitated which wasn't a wise move on his part. “Yuri” I growled, my patience running thin. “You're not safe, he can't protect you.” My silence was ominous as I stared at the skyline outside my office window,the glass towers glittered as they were bathed in sunlight. But I felt none of the warmth, only the cold certainty that someone had breached a line and dared to touch what was mine. “I want the entire cafe locked down,” I said. “Surveillance retrieved. I want facial recog
SERAFINA “Morning bro— oh oops, sorry.” Irina’s voice rang out as she stepped into the gym, smirking widely. Adrik sighed heavily, stepping in front of me and adjusting my shirt so that it covered my thighs properly. “Irina…” he gritted out, not even looking at her. “What do you want?” Over his shoulder, I caught her smirk deepening, mischief dancing in her eyes. “I noticed the door was slightly open and decided to stop for a chat,” she said sweetly, clearly enjoying herself. “I had no intention of interrupting your uhh….little session.” Her gaze flicked to me full of teasing. “And besides,” she added. “I have a date with your wife and Diana today.” “This isn't over Malyshka,” Adrik whispered into my ear as he bit my earlobe. I slid off the machine awkwardly, tugging the hem of my shirt down even as my cheeks burned. Adrik muttered something under his breath, grabbing a towel to wipe the sweat from his chest as he shot his sister a murderous look whi
SERAFINA My eyes fluttered open to the empty space beside me, the sheets still warm from the heat of Adrik’s body. He hadn't been gone long. I glanced at the clock: 6:10am Where could he be? I shuffled out of bed and went into the bathroom, doing my business quickly before stepping into the hallway. A strange quietness pressed in as I padded down the corridor, peeking into each room along the way. When I reached the gym, I noticed the door was slightly ajar. Curiosity got the better of me and I nudged it open— And froze. Adrik was inside, shirtless, wearing gym shorts, gloves, and workout shoes. My breath caught. He was on the abs machine, his side turned towards me, muscles flexing with every slow rep. Sweat clung to his skin in glistening trails, highlighting every carved line of his body and the beautifully detailed tattoos that ran down his arms and the expanse of his chest. I wonder what the inscriptions and symbols meant. His jaw was tight, his express
ADRIK There are a lot of principles I live by and one of them is to never hit/touch a woman. But as I stared at Zlata who was tied up to a chair in the club’s basement, I found myself dangerously close to crossing that line. “I called Dr Lebedev.” I said keeping my voice even “We’re going to be running a pregnancy and DNA test to confirm your claim.” Her eyes widened slightly. She wasn't expecting this. “If it turns out that you're lying.” I pause for a second to let the weight of the words sink in. “Well Let’s just hope you're not.” She squirmed in her seat. “You didn't have to tie me up like some criminal. This is humiliating.” “You came to my house.To make some bold accusations In front of my wife.” I reminded her coldly. “You humiliated yourself the moment you did that. Now we play by my rules.” She scoffed. “Is that what she is now? Your wife? Don't tell me you're actually catching feelings Adrik.” I didn't reply. My silence was enough answer. She lea
ZLATA’S POV My hands trembled with barely concealed rage as I fished my phone out of my clutch and placed a call through. “I’m coming over.” I spat.without waiting for a response, I hung up.“Take me to his apartment,” I instruct the driver as he sped downtown. That bitch. I thought to myself as I replayed Serafina’s words to me. She doesn't know him the way I do. She hadn't watched him lose it when the memories/nightmares hit. She hadn't comforted him when he spiraled after his mum's death. She hadn't waited in silence for years, letting him go and come as he pleased because deep down I thought he would choose me. I believed I was the only one who could handle all of him—his rage, his cruelty, and his rare softness. Adrik and I go way farther than New York. We had grown up together in Russia, our families closely knit, our father’s business partners. I had been hopelessly in love with him for years holding out hope that he would ask me to be his wife. But the only thing he had e
ADRIKO ☦︎ One week after the explosion☦︎ The days that followed were a blur. With one day fading listlessly into the next. Gio was gone—declared dead on arrival. Serafina hadn't spoken much since, not beyond whispered thanks or soft refusals. Gio’s death had triggered a raging type of anger within me, knowing that Sera was the initial target had made me more paranoid. I’d been burying my rage beneath the weight of security briefings, investigations, and logistics. It was a gray morning. Ironically it was the type that whispered of rain and also smelt like grief. The cemetery was quiet, except for the wind, blowing through the branches overhead. I stood beside Serafina, her hand clutched tightly in mine, though she hadn't said a word since we stepped out of the car. She wore black, as did everyone here.Her eyes…which were red rimmed and far away, never left the casket. Next to her stood her best friend Diana and Irina as well. Giovanni Morelli. Her manager and frie
ADRIKOThe opera was packed full. I hated crowds, the reason why I usually stayed away from most events. I sat in the private box with Irina to my right.she had been chatting my head off from the moment i got here. My hands drummed lightly against the armrest. I have to admit, I was a little bit anxious to watch her perform. The memory of her flushed skin as I fastened the necklace around her neck hadn't left my head.A hush falls over the crowd as an announcement comes from the PA system. A welcome to the audience and a reminder to silence all devices. The curtains rose. And there she stood centerstage, the gold lights bathing her skin. She glowed in the champagne silk dress, my gift sparkling at her throat but it wasn't the diamonds that stole my breath away. It was her. She commanded the stage and owned it. Every emotion in her grey eyes said i belong here, this is my turf but i could tell she was nervous from the tightness of her shoulders. Her lips parted and the first note
SERAFINA ★2:45PM- Less than two hours to the show★ By the time we wrapped up the final run-through, my body ached and my throat was a bit raw. Thank God for my lozenges. Applause bounced off the empty theater from a few staff and stagehands but all I could think of was getting home in time to change and clear my head before the final call. Yuri opened the car door the moment I stepped out of the building. “Home?” he asked. I nodded, tugging my coat tighter. “Yes.” And step on it please..” The ride back home was quick and uneventful. I leaned my head on the window as I watched the city blur past as i mentally ran through every note of my aria.Occasionally my thoughts would drift to Adrik and how he had said my name this morning. By the time we pulled up to the penthouse, it was nearing 3:20pm. I had roughly an hour to transform myself from a tired woman to a soprano who would command the stage. Nadia met me at the door, hovering like a mother hen. “Hot tea is in yo