LOGIN“You both look…well rested.” Jacob, Elian's grandfather, said finally after eating in silence for the past ten minutes.
Jacob, Derek, Dex and Elian sat at the table for brunch. Surprisingly, the both of them had come down at the same time for their late breakfast when it was announced that Elian's grandfather and Dex's Father, Derek had come to see them. And they didn't seem to have any heated thing going on. Elian gave a wide smile that he usually gave whenever he was planning something mischievous in that crazy mind of his and said in a sweet voice. “Our night went well Grandpa, want to hear the details?” Jacob made a brief eye contact with Derek and looked back at his grandson. “I'm sure we don't need to hear all of that.” He said calmly and Elian just shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He said and continued with his meal, picking at a piece of a rare steak. Beside him, Dex said nothing and just continued to eat. Elian implied they were fine, but the way Dex sat rigidly with his back straight, wearing a suit like always, though he didn't bother to hide the bruise blooming along his jawline, and the black turtle neck Elian was wearing beneath his leather blazer was enough to tell them everything they wanted to know. Silence fell again, and Derek took the chance to ask what he's been dying to ever since he saw them that morning. “So…” he started, eyes flickering back and forth between the both of them. “I assume that whatever disagreement rumored by the staff that you had last night is now resolved?” Elian have hummed and tilted his head to the side as if he was actually considering the question. Jacob knew he wasn't, he's probably just thinking of something totally unhinged to say, his grandson was mischievous like that. Elian wasn't surprised that his grandfather knew about what happened between him and Dex last night, the man has eyes and ears everywhere. Slowly, Elian turned to look at Dex for the first time since they sat down. Dex turned to look at him and their eyes met sharply for a second. “Not quite. We-” He said briefly. “We're working on it.” Dex immediately intervened, shooting a sideways glare at Elian who just chuckled and continued with his meal. Jacob lips twitched, though Derek didn't know if it was amusement or something else entirely. “Good,” he murmured. “I would hate for this union to crumble so soon after it’s been sealed.” Elian couldn't help the roll of his eyes. “Confident, aren’t you?” he murmured, not looking at his grandfather. Before any other person could speak the doors opened and a woman walked in. It was Dex's PA and lead enforcer, she was stunning in every way possible. Bold lipstick, sharp features, stunning figure and cold eyes that has definitely witnessed more than guns and knives in the Mafia world. “Boss.” She called, ignoring everyone else as she went straight to Dex's side. She leaned down, her hair brushing against his shoulder as she whispered something in his ear. Her hand lingered at the back of his chair, dangerously close to his neck. The sight woke something strange in Elian. It was anger, high boiling anger, and the way she looked at him like she'd known him for eternity. Dex nooded at whatever the fuck she just said to him, not seeming to mind the way she just practically hogged him. “You're late Elena.” Damian acknowledged. “I was cleaning up a mess at the docks.” She said as she straightened up and gave Jacob and Derek a slight nod of acknowledgment, then her eyes swept over Elian with a blatant unimpressed disdain. The room went quiet and Jacob and Derek exchanged amused glances, they wanted to see this. While Elena resumed briefing Dex, Elian dropped his fork and slowly stood up, he walked around the table with a slow swaying steps and stopped inches away from her. Elena noticed almost immediately and stood to look at him. The aura of pure unhinged demeanor coming off him made her hand move instinctively toward the holster at her hip. A maniac grin spread across his face as he noticed what she just did. Good. Be scared of me you little bitch. He reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her hair, his fingers slowly trailed back to her throat, lingering there for a second. “Dex, your pet is poorly trained. Does she not realize she's looking at the man who shares your bed now?” He asked as he maintained eye contact with her. Then he leaned in and whispered. “In case you don't know, now you do. If you ever look at me like that again, I will personally gauge your eyes out and feed them to my tiger pet.” He sneered in her face. Before Elena could react, Elian moved and suddenly, he was holding his steak knife at the corner of her painted mouth. Dex stood up immediately he saw the knife. “Elian-” “I know you've fucked.” Elian cut him off, looking back and forth between the both of them. “I'm not stupid. But he's married to me now, so don't ever act like a bitch in heat around him in my presence again.” He seethed, pressing the knife harder against her skin. “Back off Elian.” Dex snapped. But Elian didn't. “I don't like sharing Dex.” He said calmly, eyes never leaving Elena's. Not my toys and certainly not my husband. Tell her to leave before I give her a permanent smile.” He said and lowered his hand, taking a step back. Dex watched the scene with a glowing heat in his eyes. “She heard you.” He said in amusement and looked at Elena. “Right Elena?” He asked and her face went pale. She realized a little too late, that Dex wasn't going to protect her from this devil he had as a husband. Then, as if he wasn't the one speaking like the devil just now. A sweet smile overrode his expression and he looked at her lovingly. “Good, now that everything is settled. Get the fuck out.” Elena didn't need to be told twice.10 Years Later(After Nora's Kindergarten graduation) Nora is now 15 Dylan is 10 It was that time of the year again, when the city softened under lights, when cold air carried the smell of pine and sugar. Inside the house, the season had already claimed every corner. Gold ribbon, warm lamps, a tree bright enough to make the windows glow against the evening. They were preparing for a tradition that had held steady for twelve years now, ever since they all came together one in a while, they decided to make it a routine. Three years after Nora came into their lives, the gatherings had begun only a few times. And what started as cautious dinners slowly became a ritual. Dex, Elian, Nora, then Mark and James, later Dylan, and eventually the newest member of the family, Jayden. “When are they getting here?” Nora asked, hovering near the front table in fuzzy socks, already dressed for the evening gathering. Dex glanced up from adjusting a stack of plates. “Soon.” As if the universe ha
5 years later- Nora's Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony“Don’t you think we might be doing too much?” Dex muttered as the car rolled to a stop outside the school gates. Beyond the entrance, pastel balloons drifted against the celebration hall’s glass front, and clusters of parents moved in their own private separations, full of pride and camera flashes.Dex sat still for a second longer, eyes scanning the building like it was a venue that might grow teeth.“We look like we came to buy the school, not attend a graduation.” he lamented. Elian unbuckled his seatbelt with unbothered elegance. “Everything is fine. I’m sure half these kids have parents as rich as we are. It doesn’t look like a big deal here.” He glanced sideways, mouth curving. “It’s our daughter’s graduation. Stop looking so damn constipated and wary of every little thing. You know Nora is going to notice if you walk in like you’re expecting an ambush.”Dex sighed, rubbing a hand over his face, and deliberately softened
Elian’s fingers tightened on the page. “Fuck.” He lowered the letter and looked properly at the child. She was tiny, around six months, barely able to sit up on her own. The loose clothing on her body was faded and thin from too much washing, clearly one of the few things she owned. Her face was blotchy from crying, lashes wet, breath hitching in small broken waves. Underfed. Alive in the middle of a room that nowhere promised her a future. Elian looked at her, and he felt something unexpected spark in his chest. A strange, sharp longing he had no idea what it could be. He didn't even know when he began reaching out, slowly. And to his surprise, the baby reached back, small arms stretching toward him with absolute trust she had no reason to give. Elian lifted her into his arms and stood. She barely weighed anything. The lightness of her was unsettling. His eyes flicked to the malnourished body on the floor, and any question about whether the child had been properly fed answer
Several months had passed since the start of the Russo-Virelli Era, and the near-fracture of everything Elian and Dex had forced into existence. In that time, the impossible had become routine. The Russo side and the Virelli side learned how to occupy the same structure without constantly reaching for each other’s throats. It did not happen easily of course. Old loyalties died hard, men who had grown up hating the opposite name had to take orders under a joint rule, share routes, split revenue, and answer to two dons who refused to rank one bloodline above the other. Then there were meetings that nearly turned into brawls, sector captains who tested the new chain of command and learned, publicly, what the cost of nostalgia was. There were nights of cold cooperation that slowly hardened into something more stable than either side expected. Not everyone adapted of course. That was impossible. Some went rogue, and while some some just turned the other side, some tried to carve pri
Mark stood outside James’s door longer than he meant to, shifting from one foot to the other. The hallway was quiet, too quiet for how hard his pulse was working. After pondering all night. He now had a plan to get his boyfriend to forgive him. He had done this kind of thing before. All he had to do was just show up, look sincere, give him the best puppy eyes, and most times it worked. Though tonight he was not so sure. James had walked away from him twice already, something that had never happened before. Finally, after summing up all his courage in one breath, he knocked. A few seconds later the door opened, revealing the face of his boyfriend that he'd missed so damn much. James took one look at him and rolled his eyes. The reaction hurt much more than Mark expected. He bit his lip to cover it, but the truth felt ugly in his heart. James had never looked unhappy to see him before. At least not like this. If his boyfriend was regarding him with this much irritation, then he
Dex stepped out of the elevator and checked both directions before starting down the hallway, phone pressed to his ear. “What room number was it again?” Mark’s voice came through, low and careful. “107.” “Noted.” he replied and hung up. He kept walking until reached the room with the brass numbers on the door matching the exact number he had in mind. He stopped in front of room 107, stared at it for half a second, took a deep sigh, realizing how stupid this was, how stupid he was. He stood there for several more seconds then pressed the doorbell and waited. A few seconds passed, then Elian’s voice came from the other side, “Who is it?” Dex cleared his throat and tried to make his voice sound like it wasn't him. “Room service.” There was silence at first. Then the lock turned. The door opened to Elian in a bathrobe, hair still wet from the shower, eyes carrying zero surprise and even less welcome. The look he gave Dex was dry enough to make Dex realize that Elian knew it was h
Dex slammed Elian against the glass wall of the bathroom, getting out a low groan from him. In a swift move, he turned on the shower and the water came down on them like a storm. The water was a deafening roar against the glass wall that did nothing to cool the fever burning between them. Elian’
“I expected you to be occupied with each other.” Jacob said coldly, looking at their disheveled state. “But I did not expect you to be so occupied that you would allow three million dollars worth of high grade weaponry to be stolen at the warehouse, by a street gang.”Elian's breath hitched as he r
Elian breathed hard, his senses going haywire as he jumped Dex and they both went down hard. Dex fell to the floor first and then Elian, right on top of him. Elian wrapped around Dex's neck and he squeezed with a sickening glint in his eyes. He wanted to see as life left his eyes, he wanted to be
Elian's fingers drummed on the table repeatedly as Marie, his personal assistant, ran through the details of the ongoing shipment of weapons which seemed to be at stake at the moment. But Elian didn't hear anything Marie was saying, all her words were flying over his head as he kept staring at the







