Chapter 3 – The Game Begins

Mia's POV 

I was still reflecting over how I had watched Kraven from the edge of the bar as he walked the hall with a cold charm.

From the distance I had observed him, he stood a few feet away, his tall, imposing figure cutting through the crowd like a predator. And I was in a deep thought that I got carried away.

“Maybe I like what I see,” I heard a voice just right behind me, loud enough for me to hear over the ambient noise. Beyond a reasonable doubt, I could tell that was Kraven's voice. Just then, he moved right in front and made himself comfortable in the opposite bar seat that faced me. His gaze ran over me, slow and deliberate. 

I didn’t flinch even when the distance between us wasn't up to a stone's throw, as I could smell the faintest hint of leather and tobacco. There was something about him—about this whole situation—that made every cell in my body scream danger.

But I wasn’t backing down.

He gave the sweetest smile with those cute lips I've ever seen and leaned over to steal a kiss.

Just immediately he parted his lips from mine, I could feel that I was already in on a long thing as I felt all the sexual cells in my body asking for more.

Let's say, I enjoyed it too or even more. Who knows!

I know that I wasn’t supposed to be doing this with him, of course I know but I think this was indeed an advantage to me that things were happening so fast.

But then, for this assignment, I can be anything.

Just then, the sound of some haphazard footsteps around interrupted the tension. Kraven’s gaze around 360 degrees in a twinkle of an eye before snapping back to me.

And just immediately, I heard the sound of gunfire echo through the hallway.

“Bang!! Bang!”

“Stay here,” Kraven ordered at the top of his voice before turning sharply and walking toward the entrance close to the bar spot.

The door swung open instead, revealing one of his men, face pale, eyes wide with urgency.

“There’s a problem. We’ve been compromised,” the man said, his voice tight.

Kraven’s expression shifted in an instant—cold, calculating. “What do you mean, compromised?”

“I think the Giovanni men are here, but we will try to get every one of them down.”

The blood drained from my face as the realization hit. Though I haven't really heard of the ‘Giovanni,’ with the look of things, it seems like they're their opponents in the Mafia.

Kraven’s gaze flickered back to me, dark and unreadable. “Get out of here. Now.”

My heart pounded in my chest. I didn’t move. I couldn’t.

“Where do you want me to go now? Can't you see that it's not safe if I leave the premises now?” I pleaded, yet my voice was barely above a whisper.

Kraven’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure you are not a part of this?”

I maintained this straight face like I didn't know what he was referring to, not minding if the game had changed against me or not.

How on earth would he even conceive such a thing in his mind? What on earth can I get involved with the dirty games of a Mafia, of all things to do in this life?

I swallowed hard but didn’t let him see the way my heartbeat sped up at his words. I was a professional. I had a job to do.

And yet, every second I spent near him made that job feel harder.

“I just asked you a question; why are you all playing dumb?” 

He asked again, this time in a higher-pitched tone than the former.

And before I could respond, the sound of gunfire echoed through the hallway all over again.

“Ratatatatata.”

This time the sound was quite different and more like an automated fire, and I guess it came from Kraven's men, as the sound of the other was quite different.

Of course, I use arms if need be during operations, and so I can comfortably tell the difference.

*******

“If you are willing to work for me, then I must access you to be sure you are not sent from Giovanni,” he continued, The weight of his words hung in the air like a warning. “You stick around, get close to me, and we’ll see how deep you’re willing to go. But remember this—everything in this world has a price.” He added, still maintaining the thick voice.

‘Could he be that possessive?’

I straightened, and this time I was ready to step away. “I don’t buy into your world, Astor,” I said, though the words felt like they were coming from someone else. Because, where could that morale from me be coming from?

He chuckled, the sound dark and teasing. “Not yet, you don’t have a choice here.”

His fingers brushed mine briefly—just a touch, but enough to send a shiver through me.

I didn’t know how much more I could take. I couldn’t let him know what was really going on. I couldn’t let him see how much he rattled me.

I needed to stay focused.

Kraven took a step back, his eyes still burning with curiosity, though there was something more in them now. It was as if I’d sparked something in him he hadn’t expected.

“Follow me,” he said, with a commanding voice. “I need to show you something.”

My mind raced with possibilities as I hesitated for a split second before I nodded, letting him lead me through the back door of the club.

We got to a room that seemed more like an office. The moment we stepped into the office, the door clicked shut behind us. A massive desk sat at the center of the room, papers scattered across it, and the walls were lined with bookshelves full of legal files, old family portraits, and what looked like ledgers of a very different nature.

Kraven gestured to the leather chair across from him. “Sit.”

I ignored the chair and leaned against the desk instead, crossing my arms. “What’s this about?”

“What do you want from me, Aria?” He nabbed with a fake smile that didn’t reach his eyes instead of answering my question.

“What exactly do you think? It seems like you find it so difficult to believe me.”

I understand how ‘trust’ is such a big deal in the Mafia world, but I never knew it was this bad.

“Let me know everything, starting with the truth. Besides, how would I believe a total stranger?” He took an unusual glance at me and continued regardless, “But then, if you insist you know nothing about what I am talking about, then it’s fine. But one thing I will assure you is that if I smell anything fishy with you, I won't spare your life for anything in this world. Ask around; I am Lord Kraven for a reason, and I earned that.”

Something about the way Kraven said the last statement made my pulse race, but I still maintained my ground of acting dumb, like I have no clue what he is saying.

The silence was thick, the weight of his words pressing down on me. I should’ve left right then and there, but something kept me rooted to the spot because I thought that could worsen the situation.

“Bang!!! Bang!! Bang!”

The gunfire came up again just when I thought we were done with that phase.

With the look on Kraven's face, I could tell without a doubt that we weren't safe here anymore.

“Let's leave here at once.”

He said and dragged my wrist out of the office.