LOGINNikolai's POV Viktor parked the SUV in the shadows, a few blocks from Ivanov’s private house. The rest of my men were already waiting, hiding in the trees nearby. I stepped out and walked straight to them. Viktor joined me, his face as hard as mine. “Is everyone clear on the plan?” I asked quietly. They all nodded. We all understood what was at stake. Up ahead, Ivanov’s house sat behind high walls and heavy security. It looked impossible to enter, but we had one advantage — surprise. If we moved fast and stayed quiet, we could take them. “Let’s go,” I said. We moved like shadows. When the first guards appeared, my men took them down silently. My heart pounded as we slipped closer. ‘This has to work. I can’t let Roman win.’ I reached the side entrance and gave Viktor a nod. “I’m going down to the basement to find Ashley,” I told him. “You and the others clear the floors.” Viktor looked at me, a brotherly warmth in his eyes. For a second, emotions waged inside us— trus
Aiden's POV I looked over at Luka who was leaning against the wall near the door with his arms crossed, eyes on his phone. He looked calm, but I knew him well enough by now. He was watching everything. I swallowed and tried to sound casual. “Hey, Luka?” He glanced up. “Yeah?” “I’m kinda hungry,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “Could you get me some food? Or… something? My throat also feels really dry.” Luka stared at me for a second. Then he shrugged. “There should be some water in the fridge over there. I'll go see if we have any food. Stay here.” He unlocked the door and stepped out. The second the door clicked shut behind him, I stood up. I had been staring at that vent the whole time he was here. It was high up near the ceiling, but if I could stack something and climb, maybe I could reach it. I looked around fast. There was a small metal chair by the couch and a sturdy-looking side table. I dragged the chair over and put the table on top of it. It wobbled a li
Nikolai's POV Viktor tightly gripped the steering wheel. He was driving way too fast for this rain, but I didn’t tell him to slow down.We were heading to the Prime Minister's office. The chances of him being there were slim, but we didn't have many options. Every second mattered. He took Roman, and for all I know, they could both be plotting how to destroy everything I loved.My phone was pressed to my ear while my mother yelled at me.“I told you! I warned you a thousand times! You should have killed Roman the day you overtook him! You ignored me, and now look what’s happened.”In the background, I could hear Ivan trying to calm her down. “Irina, darling, don’t be so hard on the boy. He’s doing everything he can.”My mother ignored him. “If it were your father, he would not have hesitated to kill—”“Mom,” I cut in. “I don't want to argue with you right now. Stay safe. That’s all I’m asking.”I hung up before she could say anything else. The car was quiet except for the rain hammer
Aiden’s POV I stood by the thick reinforced doors like they might open any second and let him back in. My chest felt tight, and every breath I took hurt. ‘He’s gone.’ Just like that. After four years of waiting, after finally having him back in my arms, in my bed… he was gone again. Out there somewhere, hunting his monster of a father while I sat here like a useless doll. I anxiously paced the room. The room wasn’t small — there was a bed, a small couch, a mini-fridge, even a tiny bathroom — but it was still a cage. A cage I was hiding in like a coward. I wrapped my arms around myself. Comfortingly, my t-shirt had traces of his scent. I buried my nose in the collar and tried to breathe it in. He’ll come back. He promised. But what if he didn’t? What if his father was one step ahead? What if they had more men than Nikolai expected? My mind kept spinning worse and worse scenarios. ‘He could get shot. He could get stabbed. He could walk into a trap and I wouldn’t even kn
Nikolai’s POVThe convoy of black SUVs sped through the streets of Moscow.I sat in the back with Aiden pressed against my side. My arm was locked around his shoulders tightly but he didn’t complain. I couldn’t stop my mind from racing. Every second that passed felt like another knife twisting in my gut.It was my fault that Roman was free. If I'd just killed him, none of this would have happened.When we finally pulled up to the reinforced safehouse — a concrete building that looked like an old warehouse from the outside but was a fortress inside — my men were already waiting.The second I stepped out of the car, every head bowed.“Boss,” they murmured in unison, their voices low and respectful.They barely had my attention. I kept my hand on Aiden's back as I guided him through the heavy steel doors, past the armed guards.“Boss,” one of my lieutenants started as we passed the main operations room where more men were gathered. “We have updates—”“I’ll be right back,” I cut him off
Nikolai’s POV The movie played on the massive screen but my attention remained on the man curled against my side. I'd managed to convince him to skip the seminar orientation he had today so I could spend the day with him. Aiden’s head rested on my chest, his arm draped over my stomach, tracing patterns on my skin through my t-shirt. Every few minutes he’d laugh at something on screen, and the sound made something warm bloom in my chest. Aiden shifted, tilting his head up to look at me. “Don’t you have work to do?” he asked, raising his eyebrows. “You know… being the big bad Don and all?” I tightened my arm around his shoulders and pressed a kiss to his temple. “I do. A lot of it actually.” “Then why are you still here watching terrible action movies with me?” I smiled against his hair. “Because I want to be with you. Work can wait.” Aiden’s cheeks flushed that pretty pink I loved. He hid his face against my chest, mumbling, “You’re romantic when you want to be.” “Only
Nikolai's POVI glance over at Aiden as he laces up his sneakers, his face all scrunched up like he's about to tackle the world's biggest chore. The morning sun's streaming in through the window, turning his hair into this golden mess that I just want to run my fingers through again. I can't beli
Nikolai's POVI pull my fingers out slowly, watching the way Aiden's hole clenches at the loss, like it's already missing me. Fuck, he's so responsive...My cock twitches at the sight, aching to fill him up. I grab the lube from the nightstand—thank God I had the sense to keep it in here—and slic
Aiden's POV I blink awake slowly, the morning light filtering through the half-drawn curtains like a soft haze, casting a warm glow over the room. My body feels heavy and deliciously sore in certain places, reminders of last night that make my cheeks heat up just thinking about it.Nikolai's arm
Nikolai's POV“You love me?” Aiden whispers, his voice cracking, those hazel eyes searching mine in the dim light of the bedroom.His hand are trembling in my grip, but there’s hope cutting through the pain in his eyes.I nod, my forehead still pressed to his, our breaths mingling hot and uneven. “







