CHAPTER THREE

THE FIRST MISSION

SOFIA'S POV

“If you don’t get back home before 7pm. I’ll haunt you down and feed whoever I see you with.. to the dogs. Mark my words.” He said with a cold tone and it sent instant chills down my spine.

I couldn’t turn back to face him. The energy between us felt so intense that it made my skin have goosebumps. 

I took two steps forward. “One day dear brother. I’d leave this house and go to place not even the ghosts can find me. Never forget that.” I said sternly while trying not to show how terrified I am.

Put face face head high and walk away from him. 

~ ~ ~ ~

The warehouse on Fifth and Main smelt really funky. I step inside at exactly nine PM and the door closes behind me.

“Oou, spooky.” I said mockingly as I stood in the dim and waited.

I search for the nearest escape in case anything happens. Can’t afford to die in a time like this. 

I noticed the placement of the two guards I clocked outside.

Alessio steps out of the shadows like he was born in them.

“Hello mamacita.” He said with a low calm voice. He's in dark jeans and a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up and he looks different without the suit. 

I found myself drooling to the sight of his abs but i instantly stopped myself. He looked so much less like a Don and more like a typical citizen of the states. 

He looks at me the way he looked at me last night, his eyes made me wet to the point I found my thighs clenching itself for satisfaction while staring deeply into his eyes. 

"You came," he says.

"You threatened my cousin," I respond with my brows so low. "What do you want me to do at the harbor?"

Something shifts in his expression. I guess he expected fear or anger but I gave him neither. 

He moves slowly around me in circles and I let him, turn slightly so he never quite gets behind me.

He noticed. "Luca's moving a weapons shipment through Pier 29 tomorrow night," he says. "He's meeting the buyers personally. I need the buyer's name, the quantity, and whatever security rotation he uses at the pier." He stops in front of me. Close. "Can you do that?"

He reaches into his jacket and holds out something small and black, no bigger than a button. “You’ll need this.” I took it and turned it over with my fingers. “What is it?” I asked.

“Insurance. Plant it somewhere on the shipment…a crate, a pallet, doesn’t matter honestly, as long as it’s close to the buyers when the deal happens.” He suddenly stares deeply into my eyes. 

“Sofia... If Luca finds it on you before you plant it, you tell him nothing and think of a smart way to avoid him. If not, you let him kill you before you give up my name.” He says it so plainly.

"Alright, that wouldn’t be a problem." I said, because I can and because agreeing quickly to this is to my own advantage and can give me my own kind of power. So it gives him nothing to push against. "When I do, Gianna stays safe. That's not negotiable."

"Gianna stays safe as long as you're useful to me. If they’re any slip ups. Not only would she never see the light of the day again but darling..” He pauses as he walks closer to me. Our faces meet each other closely. 

“..your head as well would be gone." He said sternly. My eyes opened widely to the sound of that and instantly I moved one step backwards. 

"Then I'll stay useful." I hold his gaze and don't look away. “Is that everything?"

He looks at me for some seconds before his hand comes up and his thumb traces the bruise on my throat, the one he put there unfortunately, and I freeze from the stroke of his touch and let him do it because I am choosing my battles tonight and this is not one of them.

"You're different than yesterday," he says quietly.

"Yesterday I was scared," I say.

"Okay?? today you’re not?" He furrowed his brows in amusement.

I step back and smooth my jacket and look at him with the same expression I used on Luca this morning, the one that gives nothing away. "Today I'm paying attention," I say. "Same time tomorrow. I'll have what you need."

I walk out before he can answer and I don't look back and I don't let myself feel anything about the way his eyes follow me until I'm through the door, because feeling things about Alessio Volkov is a luxury I cannot afford until I understand exactly how this ends.

~ ~ ~ ~

UNKNOWN POV

“We spotted her, sir. She just left the building.”

“Permission to shoot?”

“No. Keep tracking her movement.”

“Roger that.”