MasukNikolai'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
Aiden’s POV“Who am I?” I scoffed. “I should be asking you that. Who the hell are you and why do you have a key to Nikolai’s place?”She blinked, clearly caught off guard. Her striking green eyes flicked over me again — taking in Nikolai’s oversized black button-down, my messy bed-hair, and my bare legs. Something like realization crossed her face.“I’m Ashley,” she said. “I’ve known Nikolai since we were kids. I just came to bring him breakfast. He forgets to eat when he’s stressed.”“You just… let yourself in? And why do you call him Niko?”Before she could answer, heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs.Nikolai appeared at the top, wearing only low gray sweatpants, his hair still tousled from sleep. The second he saw us standing there, his entire expression darkened.“Ashley,” he growled, his voice low as he came down the stairs two at a time. “What the fuck are you doing here?”She turned toward him with a small sigh, holding up the paper bag like it explained everything. “I brou
Nikolai’s POVThe city lights shone across the ceiling of the bedroom, but my eyes were fixed on the man in my arms.Aiden was sprawled half on top of me, his head tucked under my chin and a leg thrown over my leg. His skin was still warm and slightly damp from sweat. Every breath he took brushed across my collarbone.Our hearts were beating in perfect sync.After four years of loneliness, this felt like a dream.I tightened my arm around his waist, pulling him impossibly closer. My other hand traced lazy circles along the smooth line of his spine. Aiden shifted, nuzzling deeper into my chest with a soft, contented hum.“You’re smiling,” he murmured, his voice sleepy.“Am I?” I pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “I didn’t notice.”“You are. I can feel it.”I chuckled quietly, the sound rumbling through both of us. “Guilty. I’m so happy, malysh. I’m happier than I’ve been in four years.”He tilted his head up just enough to look at me. Those warm brown eyes were soft. “Me too,” he
TWO DAYS LATER...Nikolai's POVThe iron door groaned as I pushed it open, the sound echoing in the quiet room.A single bare bulb casted a dull light across the cell bars.My father sat hunched on the filthy concrete slab that passed for a bed with his knees drawn up, his back against the wall.Hi
Aiden’s POVMom wiped her hands on a dishtowel and turned to Nikolai with that warm, approving smile she'd been flashing all night. "Nikolai, honey, that was wonderful. You have to come back soon. You're so polite! Where did my son meet someone like you?"I felt my cheeks heat up, but Nikolai just
Nikolai's POV I grab the bottle of water Viktor hands me, twisting the cap off in one quick motion and chugging half of it down like it's the only thing keeping me from losing my shit. The cool liquid hits my parched throat, and I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, letting out a frustrated s
Aiden's POV I stand outside Nikolai's penthouse door like an idiot, my arms crossed tight over my chest. It hasn't even been a month since I left but it feels like I've been gone for a really long time. And now I'm back.I close my eyes and sigh, wondering how Lily convinced me to come. [She'd







