'Lada'

The sound of simultaneous knocking woke me up.

I groaned as I sleepily opened my eyes that were still adjusting from a blurry state.

"Wait!" I shouted, grumpily as I was getting up from my sleeping position. I frowned when I realized that it wasn't my room so I tried to recall the events last night. Since I don't sleep this messily, I looked around and found 'Bella' already on the floor, in a peaceful state.

However she's at this state, I couldn't believe that at her age, she still sleeps like a child. With her blanket and pillows messily scattered around her, and her ever alluring lips that's partly open, cute was the best word to describe her.

I stood up completely from her bed and about to open the door when I heard her speak. I glanced at her to see if she's already awake but no, she's not.

She continued to speak using a language different from her normal speeches.

"Net, brat! Pozhaluysta, pozvol' mne uyti." (No, brother! Please, let me leave.) those are what came from her unconsciously. Russian words. She's Russian. It's not new for me to know what language she was speaking since I know how to speak multiple languages.

Now that I knew she's a Russian, I set up a plan to make her confess her own identity.

I went to open the door and saw Sebastian who was about to knock again.

"Shhhh!" I hushed and entirely left the room. I closed the door behind me and faced Sebastian who stepped aside. "She's Russian." I said, promptly.

Sunk in confusion, he frowned and asked, "Who?". I gestured my head towards the room and said, "'Bella'. " his eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "Veramente?" (really?) he asked unbelievably. I nodded, "Si." (yes)

"Let's talk about this inside the 'round'." I said, referring to the gathering room.

I called Marcus while we walked down the stairs. "Amico mio, we need you now at the 'round'." I didn't want to wait for him to answer so I immediately ended the call.

When we entered the room, I was taken aback when I saw Marcus, already sitting on his seat. "That's fast." suspiciously, I muttered.

He snorted and said, "I was about to tell you that I'm already here, waiting for you for almost an hour now." he averted his gaze to Sebastian and continued, "It seems that Seb forgot to tell you." he pronounced the last two words with his teeth, gritting. I know that he's not angry because it's not his way of showing his anger. When he is angry, he's taking a weed,but Seb does not know that.

"Shit!" Sebastian imprecated in low voice.

I glanced at Sebastian and remembered that he was about to say something when I got out from the girl's room but I announced my news first.

"Well then, let's just forget the sudden amnesia and talk about what to." I teased, looking between Seb and Marcus.

Seb and I went to our designated seats where mine is at the central part and behind it is a large white board fixed on the wall with a 40-inch flat screen above it.

Sebastian's and Marcus' seats are always beside me, here and wherever I go; with Marcus on my right and Seb to my left.

"Why were you waiting for me?" I started, asking the two. Marcus cleared his throat before saying, "We gathered information and it seems that the Russians are in Milan."

I only nodded and seemed unfazed. "Is this being confirmed?" I simply asked.

"Yes, boss. We've received the intelligence from our connections yesterday and have confirmed the information just this early morning, but something was uncertain. They said that the Russians remained passive." Sebastian answered.

I frowned curiously. If they are here to outnumber us, why do they remain inactive.

"I think they were planning for something bigger." Marcus suddenly uttered. That probably is right.

"Tell our connections in Milan to continue gathering information. That's all we can do for now."

"Why don't we just go there and dispatch them while they're still inactive." Marcus suggested. It's actually a good plan but on the other hand a risky one and I can't risk my men without knowing the enemies whereabouts.

"We can't." I said and with that, we continued vacillating on what plan is better.

Sebastian, who I guess was already being irked at the situation before him, suddenly chided in the middle of the commotion before saying, "Boss, don't you have news to tell too?"

With that, I suddenly realized that it was useless to argue with Marcus since he'll always defend whatever opinion he has then told instantly the news.

Since Sebastian already knew, it was Marcus's time to be shocked. "Man! Isn't she from New Jersey?" confused, his brows knitted.

"She lied." I confirmed.

"Boss, She's Russian. Isn't she a spy?" Sebastian guessed and Marcus nodded in agreement.

"That's why I need you to look for information about her but first, I still need to make her confess her identity."

"Do you need our help?" they both asked in unison.

"I can take care of it."

When the conversation ended, we made our way out the 'round' and got on each designated works.

I entered 'Bella's room and saw her tacking the bed. I pointed the unloaded gun to her when she finally faced me. Of course she doesn't know it wasn't loaded.

"Tell me. Are you a spy?!" I shouted and she wiggled her head, continously while saying, "No—no, I'm not. Please, d-don't kill me!"

"Who are you, then?"

She kneeled and begged. "I'm... I'm Lada. Lada Sokolov. I—" she stopped and gulped while she wiped her tears. "I ran away from my f-family because...because my brother was forcing me to marry a man I don't even know." she explained and with that, I smiled and left the room.