•Nikolai•╌═❁═╌I watched as her eyes rolled back in her head and she completely lost consciousness. "No! Evangeline, wake up, it's gonna be alright, fucking stay with me!" Her body went limp as I covered her, and put my weight on my elbow, I didn't want to crush her underneath my weight. I held on to the bullet wound on her forearm. She was losing a lot of blood. Fuck, she already looked so fucking pale. "It's clear, Don Niko, the shooter is down" one of my soldiers informed me. A muscle in my jaw twitched. "Dead?" "Wounded, I know you would want to keep him" he informed. I got off Evangeline and scooped her body in my arms. "Take him to the warehouse, I need to take my wife to the hospital" "Yes, Don Niko" While the shooter was moved to the warehouse, I took Evangeline to the nearest hospital. The hospital was in little Italy half of the doctors there were on my payroll. It meant fewer meaningless questions and more work. It meant no fucking police investigation as well. I pl

•Evangeline•╌─═❁═─╌I have been awake for the past hour, Bianca was here with me, scolding me, telling me that this was the reason she was against the idea of me and Nikolai. I asked her multiple times if she knew who shot me but she evaded the topic like a plague. "I had them call Niko, he will be here soon" "Thank you, I really need to see him. He is not hurt, is he? The last thing I remember is blood. There was just so much of it, I didn't even know who it belonged to me or Nikolai." Bianca shook her head. "Niko is fine" Just as the words left Bianca's mouth, Nikolai entered the bleak hospital room and I breathed out in relief as I saw him. "You're here..." I whispered. Nikolai glanced at Bianca and she awkwardly got up. "I'll leave you guys alone" The second Bianca stepped out of the door, Nikolai came and sat beside the bed on the chair. He held my hand as his thumb stroked the back of my hand gently. "How are you feeling?" "Good..." I smiled at him He leaned over and p

•Evangeline•╌─═❁═─╌We have been staying at Nikolai's Villa in Sicily for almost ten days now. He had barely been home. I spent most of my time by myself or with his relatives. I met with some of the Costellos, the ones that lived in Italy anyway. They were lovely until they started speaking in Italian, considering I didn't understand a single word. I always think that they are bitching about me. Everyone here knew about our disaster of a marriage. Some of the older women even said I must have seduced my way into his bed and committed fornication; that's why he married me. When I told him that we hadn't consummated our marriage yet, and I had not seduced my way into his bed, they called me out on that too. They said I was an evil woman to keep my husband from bedding me. They said I'd go to hell with my long list of sins. It was all so weird. I wouldn't say I liked it at all. This morning, the doctor finally opened the stitches, as my wound had healed quite spectacularly. I could

•Evangeline•╌─═❁═─╌His lips curved into a devilish smile. "You have no fucking idea that I'm the one who needs you more, angel." He leaned back, his knees resting on either side of my thighs as he looked down at me. With his eyes locked with mine, he slowly unfastened his tie. The action was so simple yet so arousing. His dark gaze burned into my skin as I struggled a little underneath him, "Stay still," he ordered, and I stopped moving immediately. I felt my heart beating in my ears and throat, and my whole body heated up. He pulled off his tie in a swift movement, and from the sound of it, an icy shudder swept through my veins.His cold, acidic expression scared me, but at the same time, I wanted him so damn bad. I couldn't understand how one could feel both of these emotions simultaneously. The next was his belt; I watched his fingers as he slowly unbuckled his belt, his eyes locked on my face. It annoyed me and made me impatient with how much time he was taking. I needed him;

•Nikolai•╌═❁═╌I failed. I fucking failed. There is always a first time for everything; failure has never been a part of my life. I have never uttered the words “I have failed” before today. I'm a fucking perfectionist. I like to plan my life, my day, and my future; she was never supposed to be a part of this—a big fucking part. I was officially fucked. I promised myself. I fucking promised myself that I won't ever make a woman my weakness. I won't follow in my father's footsteps. I won't let anyone control me with a woman. I failed myself. My mind can't form coherent thoughts when she is near me. I think about her first before doing anything. I now have to think long and hard about her before making a decision. Thousands of thoughts ran through my mind—how will this affect her? Will it hurt her? At this point, she can just cut off my dick and wear it around her neck to symbolize how much power she has over me. She has me in a fucking chokehold. Gentle?! Was I fucking gentl