#45 (-1-)

BOOK-2 (Can be read as a stand-alone.)

MEDDIE’S POV

2 Years Later

Tonight, Nikolai is hosting the annual mafia party, where all of the mob bosses from around the world gather in one room, and discuss alliances and other bullshit.

The same party that two years ago changed my life for the worst.

Now, two years later I will be attending this gathering for the second time, as Nikolai’s soldier.

I stand one-step behind Nikolai and his flavor of the week, as they make their appearance in front of the ‘guests’.

My eyes observe all around the room, locating all the exit points, where the rivals are standing, where all the other guard are stationed. I have been trained to do only one thing for the past two years, and that is keeping this bastard’s life protected. I am not allowed to fail. And if he dies on my watch, I’ll become a traitor to the Russian mafia.

Aloe, his twin sister, comes to stand on his other side. Seeing this, his sex doll of the week scrunches her face.

‘Lol! She thinks she means something to him! Bitch, you are about to die after the party. And if you annoy him any further, then maybe in the next five minutes.’

‘Shut up! Your unnecessary commentary is inessential.’

I hear the click of fingers, my attention snapped to Nikolai. I go towards him, my head down, mouth shut.

“You know what to do.” He whispers to me. I nod my head once, and start going towards one of the many pillars in the room. I am to remain unseen and unheard, until and unless Nikolai’s rivals try to threaten him. At that moment, I am allowed to kill anyone without any repercussions. But if that’s not the case, and I’m seen by one of the guests, then I can say goodbye to peace.

For the past two years, I have been hidden from the world, just being trained day and night to become his soldier.

I continue surveying the room for any threats, when my eyes land on people I used to know a couple of years ago.

Damiano enters the room, Vincenzo’s sister, Arianna, on his arm, Fia and Leo behind them, along with Vincenzo, Niccolo, Sergio, and Dante.

“Ya nadeyus’, chto u vas ne vozniknet nikakikh idey posle ikh prosmotra.” Vlad comes behind me. (I hope you are not getting any ideas after seeing them.)

“Otvali!” I hiss. (Fuck off!)

“Okh! Ty segodnya osobenno veselaya, dorogaya.” He teases. (Ooh! You are particularly fiesty tonight, sweetheart.)

“Tvoy chlen seychas rabotayet? Tebe nuzhno, chtoby ya potseloval yego luchsche dlya tebya?” I retort back. (Is your dick working now? Do you need me to kiss it better for you?)

“Ty ranish’ menya, devochka.” He smiles, gently patting the back of my head. (You wound me, little girl.)

I snicker a little, my eyes going up to meet his for the first time since he started conversing with me. Moving my eyes away, I keep going on with my task, meeting eyes with Nikolai this time. My eyes stop crinkling from the smile, my mouth goes back to the perfected straight line, my posture automatically stiffens up.

Vlad notices the change in my demeanour, “Ya ostavlyu tebya v pokoye, malen’kaya devochka.” I nod slightly as his response. (I will leave you be, little girl.)

Although, Vlad teases me to no end, he has become a comrade to me in the past couple of years. He is the only one who was willing to teach me everything, so that I will not be beaten constantly. He became my mentor, my comrade.

‘Bitch, look to your left, can’t you feel the burn in the side of your head? Where the fuck is your focus tonight?’

‘Bitch what?’

I look to the left, and curse myself for becoming distracted. Looking right at me, are Damiano’s furious eyes. SHIT! I try to leave from there. I need to remain hidden.

Still looking at an enraged Damiano, I forget to pay attention to the front, bumping into a waiter which causes a string of crashes to echo around the whole venue. I curse under my breath. Now everyone’s attention is on the waiter and me.

I hesitantly look around, fear flashing in my heart when my eyes land on the raging Nikolai. He fast walks towards me, backhanding me the instant I’m within his reach. I stagger back but keep my mouth shut, talking will only bring me more pain.

Nikolai clicks his finger in my face, which is a signal for me to follow him, which I do so, keeping my eyes down and trying to keep my breathing under control.

The monster enters the kitchen, “Ostavlyat’.” He orders, and the room is empty in under thirty seconds. (Leave.)

“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk, Meddie. When will you learn not to disappoint me?” My mouth remains shut still. “The only thing you seem to have learnt is how to keep your head down and mouth shut.” He pauses for a few seconds, “clothes off, face to the wall.”

I hesitate for a second, “do not make me do it myself, moya malen’kaya shlyukha!” And that is enough for me to start stripping down to my bra, going towards the wall, bracing my hands on it because what he will do next will definitely hurt like a bitch. (My little whore.)

“Good girl, now how many do you think will be appropriate?” He questions me.

“Any number that master sees fit.” My mouth responds naturally.

“Good girl.” I hear the dreaded sound of his belt being removed from the loops on his pants, “twenty should suffice, yes?”

“Yes master.”

Without a second’s delay, he begins slashing my still healing back with more wounds. My body has gone through so many tortures and in so many ways, that I have now stopped counting.

During these punishments, I was yet again not allowed to gasp, let alone scream or cry out of pain. As soon as one sound slipped past my lips, the punishment was doubled, and it went on until I either learnt to stop the sounds or passed out.

There was no mercy for me.

So, I learned to take the pain silently.

The last strike leaves me buckling down to the floor, the last strike is always the worst. It’s like he has some secret reserve of strength for this purpose, and on the last strike from his belt, he releases it, always testing me. It’s as if he wants me to make a sound, giving him a reason to double the punishment.

“Come out in five minutes.” He says while patting my hair.

“Yes master.” I try to keep my tone as stable as possible, a silent tear leaking from my eye.

“You are so obedient nowadays, you make me want to spoil you, moya malen’kaya shlyukha.” This was meant to be a compliment, I reckon. (My little whore.)

But him wanting to spoil me, means he will let me sleep in his bedroom on the floor, like a dog, so that I am within his reach whenever he wants to have sex with me.

Before leaving me alone he commands me once more, “stay behind me for the remainder of the evening. You have already exposed yourself.”

“Yes master.” What is he thinking now? Why would he want me to be behind him for the remaining party?

Getting dressed, I leave the kitchen. I will have to find Vlad after the party is over so that he can sneak some medicine for my poor back.

Closing my eyes, I search for my composure to return for a few more hours.

I walk into the party hall, my eyes in search of the monster. I find him standing with his side piece and his sister surrounded by his under bosses, talking intensely about something.

During the last two years, he had me train day and night but he never let me get involved in his business. So, although I know faces, I don’t know any facts.

His business and his personal life are two things he has kept hidden not only from me but even his under bosses, who don’t know anything more or less than what they are supposed to know.

I silently stand, listening in on their bullshit talks. Even if I know something, it’s too cryptic to decode, and I cannot bring myself to care about it enough to unscramble it.

In my own world of thoughts, I don’t realise that the audience in front of Nikolai has changed. From insignificant associates to his archnemesis.