- 6 9 -

"Again." Xavier's voice echoed in the empty hall as I swung my fist once more, hitting the punching bag, then two more times before landing a kick.

"Again." He repeated and I felt the rage build up inside me as beads of sweat trickled down my face and back.

I grunted, hitting the bag with all my might and kicking it so hard that it fell down onto the ground, the sand spilling out of it and my knuckles bloody and bruised.

I took deep breaths to calm myself down, closing my eyes briefly before opening them as Xavier tossed me my water bottle and I slumped onto the floor, downing it in one go.

"You did well. Better than yesterday. I'd say you're fit and ready enough." He said nodding to himself when I hummed.

This had been my routine every single day for the past month and a half. To get myself back up in shape so I could do what I always wanted since I was seven.

"You okay?" He placed a hand on my shoulder and I wordlessly nodded before getting up from the floor.

"I'm going to shower. I have to go to a party with Ivan. Are you coming as well?" I asked turning to him when he shrugged.

"Nah, I got work. See you later, feather." He smirked and I nodded, gathering my things before going out of our training area and meeting many guards and maids on the way.

Just as I was about to head for the stairs to my room, I heard two loud barks as a small grin took over my face.

I turned around just in time as two large German Shepherds jumped on me, effectively taking me down.

"Baden! Pyro!" Ivan shouted, whistling as both dogs stopped smothering me and sat up straight as Ivan walked in through the front door, holding on to their leashes.

"Did you take them out?" I asked scratching their heads as Ivan nodded.

"You were busy, thought I'd take 'em out. Are you going to get ready now?" He asked looking at his watch when I nodded.

"Good. One more thing." He said and walked over to me, looking at me concerned.

"One of your... men... is going to be there." He said and I froze at his words.

"From the list?"

"Da." (Yes) He replied in a clipped tone when I pursed my lips and gulped, nodding slowly.

"I'll keep that in mind, thanks." I told him softly before turning around.

"Baden, Pyro, come on boys." I whistled for both dogs and they stuck their tongues out, following me up the stairs and all the way to my room where the maids had already prepared a bath for me.

"Your dress is in the closet, ma'am, and the stylist has also arrived." Alina, a maid who had been in the family for quite some time said and I nodded.

"Thank you, Alina. I'll get to it then. I won't be long." I told her as both dogs made themselves comfortable on the plush rug as I walked into the bathroom, slipping out of my sweaty clothes and lowering myself into the warm water.

A sigh escaped my lips at the relaxing feeling which was soon replaced by a stinging on my hands and I glanced at them, frowning when I saw my bruised knuckles before sighing.

"Nothing new." I mumbled to myself before closing my eyes and letting myself enjoy the warmth of the water that soothed my aching muscles for a bit longer before getting out.

Wrapping myself in my bath gown, I walk out and meet the stylist who's setting up her things and when I look at all the hair styling items she has, my lips curl into a small smirk.

"Do you have time for a haircut?" I ask when she looks at me and immediately bows a bit in respect.

"Yes madam, we have time. Anything else?" She asks a bit hesitantly, keeping her eyes lowered to the ground which does not sit well with me as I hum.

"Hair colour. Do you have it? In a lighter colour than mine, perhaps?" I point to my hair and she looks at my hair for a moment before nodding.

"Yes, what would you like?" She asks and I smile, satisfied, which eases her before sitting in front of the vanity and explaining to her what I wanted.

Nearly an hour and a half later, my hair is freshly cut, dyed, and styled and my make up is complete as I get up from the chair and head towards my closet to put on my dress.

The dress is beautiful, although full sleeved but I don't mind because it's freezing outside as I slip on my dress and then my black red bottomed heels to complete the look.

Ivan has good taste.

Opening up my drawers, I put on some diamond earnings and matching necklace before heading out where the stylist gasps as she looks me up and down.

"O bozhe! Vy prekrasno vyglyadite, madam!" (Oh my! You look beautiful, madam!) She says and I smile, satisfied as I look at myself in the full length mirror.

"Thank you, you've done a great job." I say politely and watch her small smile as she begins to pack up her things.

Sighing, I look at myself once again with my freshly cut hair that settled in beautiful blow-dried waves along my back, curtain bangs framing my face and my hair now had light highlights in them which made it stand out more.

The smokey eye make up and red lip gave me a bold look as I put my essentials in a purse before there was a knock on my door.

I yelled a 'come in', and seconds later Ivan entered in all his glory, both dogs immediately trotting up to him as he patted their heads.

He wore a three piece black suit, his black hair combed back and not a strand out of place as his grey eyes scanned me while I spun for him slowly.

"Good?" I asked raising a brow when he smirked, holding his arm out to me.

"I might even say, you look better than me." He said when I gasped dramatically, placing a hand on my heart for effect.

"Oh my, I've just been complimented by the great Russian King himself! Oh wait, the lapdog, actually." I pout at him playfully and his smirk turns to a scowl as he glared at me.

"Idiot." He mumbles.

"Asshole." I mutter but we both smile as I hook my arm through his and we both walk out of the house where our car is waiting for us along with our security detail.

"You ready for tonight?" Ivan asks when the partition has slid up between us and the driver and I nod, taking a deep breath in when he holds something out to me.

I take whatever it is from his closed hand when he drops something cool and metallic onto my palm and I take a close look at it before sighing.

"You still have it?" I ask as I put the ring onto my ring finger of my left hand, raising my hand for a better view as it glimmers in the dark when he hums.

"It was expensive, of course I still have it." He says rolling his eyes when I chuckle and shake my head, leaning further into the seat as my mind races with endless thoughts.

"Ivan?" I ask, looking at the ring thoughtfully when he hums.

"What if... What if we were actually supposed to get married? What would you do then?" I ask slowly, briefly glancing at him as he thinks hard.

"I'd go through with it if it were really necessary." He said shrugging nonchalantly when I nodded slowly, biting my lip.

"You?" He asked turning to me while I twisted the ring around my finger.

"I don't know. I'd go through with it as well, I guess? But I really can't deal with your stubborn ass." I said when he chuckled.

"My stubborn ass? Excuse me, have you met you?" He asked raising a brow at me in question when I chuckled lowly as his hand squeezed mine once.

"You still like me, Malev?" I asked in a flirty tone when he looked back at me with a small smile.

"Nah, I'm over you, Elias." He said and I smiled at the memory from not so long ago.

"Would you have kissed me that night, if it weren't for... you know?" I prodded, digging back into our past when he shrugged.

"You were... off limits. But then Igor snagged you. And I would never dare to hit on my brother's girl. I could never betray someone I-... Someone I loved." He looked at me thoughtfully when I felt my chest constrict at the mere name of his brother.

"So you regret not going through with it?" I whispered as our fingers laced together slowly.

"I did, at one point." He said sighing before looking out the window and shaking his head.

"But I realised later it was wrong so I tried to get over it. And I did. But you're a damn temptress, kotenok. Getting over you is too fucking hard, but I got there." He said with a slight groan when I giggled a bit.

"I feel bad for your man. The Italian don you had wrapped around your finger." He gestured to me when I felt my chest constrict even harder at the Italian.

Even when my heart skipped a beat.

"But just a little. Fucker deserves it." He said chuckling before raising our joined hand to his lips and placing a small kiss there.

"You know I love you, right?" I asked, my voice coming out a little emotional when he gave me a soft smile and nodded, tugging me closer to him.

"Yeah, I do. I love you too." He breathed into my hair as I snuggled closer to him and rest my head on his shoulder.

"If only things were different." He whispered into the quiet atmosphere when I hummed.

"If only things were different." I murmured back, enjoying the rest of the ride in silence.

* * *

"How many men have you kissed up till now?" Ivan downed his drink.

I bit my lip, looking around the crowded yet spacious hall filled with the Russian mafia and people from other mafias as well.

"Three." I replied and saw his brows shoot up so high I thought they'd hit the ceiling.

"Three? You liar." He said when I shrugged.

"I'm not lying. I've only kissed three men until now." I said casually when he nodded, although looking at me sceptically.

I know I might flirt with literally everyone, but I don't go around sleeping or kissing random men just like that.

Even though I dated Jason, it was only a month or two before he came out, and I never let him kiss me nor did he pressure me into doing so because we'd only gone out a few times.

"Alright, name 'em." He said digging his fork into his meal while I played with my own food.

"Um... You know the first." I said and he nodded solemnly.

"The second one was..." I trailed off, remembering my first kiss with him, that night in the club.

"Who?" He urged when I sighed heavily.

"Roman." I mumbled and he nodded slowly.

"The third was you." I added and saw his smirk.

"Really?" He asked and I could hint the smugness in his voice as I pushed at his chest and rolled my eyes.

"Yes, really. Do you want an award now?" I asked sarcastically when he chuckled, shaking his head before leaning back into his seat.

I had only eaten a few more bites when my eyes caught the movement of a familiar man, my movements halting and my breath catching in my throat.

I even felt Ivan tense up in his seat as he squeezed my hand reassuringly while the man with chocolate brown hair and matching eyes talked to a group of people.

"That's him." I whispered and saw Ivan nod from the corner of my eye as all fear from my body disappeared seeing the same man again after twelve years.

And what replaced that fear? Pure rage.

I got up from my seat as elegantly as I could, my movement getting me much attention as Ivan got up with me and took hold of my hand.

I looked at him questioningly but he only shook his head before walking with me towards the man in question.

"Rosario." Ivan said in a cold, unforgiving tone as the man turned towards us, the people he was talking to halting as they looked at us with wide eyes.

"Ivan." Rosario turned towards us, his cold brown eyes gleaming with mischief as he sized up Ivan, who was obviously much better built than him and could take him out in a second.

"You must be one of the Italians attending the party. How are you liking it so far? I assume no one's been hostile to you?" Ivan asked coldly, his hand wrapped around mine which did not miss the Italian's gaze.

"I am, yes. Quite the party you've organised. And no, no hostility as of yet, thank fully." He said, obviously trying to appear confident in front of us but the way his foot tapped against the marble floors said otherwise.

"And you must be the wife, I assume?" The man looked towards me with a menacing smile which took me back to twelve years ago.

I regained composure as soon as I'd lost it before nodding once and smiling tightly.

"Yes, Heather Elias." I replied and I knew both Ivan and I saw his eye widen the briefest before he nodded.

"Although now, Mrs. Malev." Ivan said coldly, kissing my temple and I smiled genuinely, looking up at him as the man looked between us.

"Oh. Congratulations, although I thought I heard you were with... Roman Angelo?" He asked curiously when I gulped.

"Was." Ivan corrected him and he nodded, pursing his lips together.

"Alright then. I better go now, I presume we'll be meeting later?" He asked Ivan who nodded once, a smirk pulling on his lips.

"You will. Don't worry." He said and Rosario nodded before looking at me.

"Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Malev, I hope we meet again in the future." He said.

"Oh, we will." I replied casually, watching his slight frown before he shook his head, bidding his goodbye before leaving us.

"After you, milady." Ivan smirked at me which I mirrored with one of my own as my eyes followed a frantic Rosario's who rushed out of the party.

"Come out after ten." I said, pecking his cheek softly before strutting out, adrenaline coursing through my veins as my fists clenched and unclenched.

As soon as I was out, I breathed in the chilly, Russian air and sighed.

It felt good to be back home.

Looking back front, I saw Rosario calling someone and putting the phone to his ear as he walked towards the gardens and I smiled.

Perfect.

Fixing my dress, I stopped my bodyguards, including Owen, from following me as I refreshed my red lipstick before stepping towards the garden.

"Si, Elias. She's here! But she's married to Ivan Malev. Si, don, I'm sure." I heard Rosario and my heart skipped a beat when he said 'don'.

Was he talking to Roman?

"Yes, I plan to stay and talk to him. Si." He said when I rolled my eyes and stepped up behind him and he stopped when he felt that someone else was there as well.

As soon as his eyes met mine, they widened a bit before he regained composure and smiled forcefully.

"Mrs. Malev, what are you doing here?" He asked as I looked around the garden.

"I needed some fresh air. What are you doing out here? Did you not like the party my husband planned?" I asked feigning innocence when he shook his head, the phone still to his ear.

"No, no, I enjoyed it, I just had to make a call." He replied when I nodded slowly.

"Oh, alright. I assume it's important? I'll get out of your way then." I smiled a bit.

He nodded, his guarded eyes looking at me carefully as I turned around and clenched my fists and eyes shut before releasing a shaky breath.

"But you see, I didn't enjoy it at all." I clicked my tongue and faced the man again who frowned.

"Pardon?" He asked confused as I took out the gleaming dagger from my dress, running it along the length of my neck and then my fingers as I checked it out slowly.

"There is something... or rather, someone, that is bothering me quite a lot. Would you like to know what, or who, it is?" I asked tilting my head to a side when he gulped.

"O-Of course." He stuttered, the phone still to his ear so I assumed who ever was on the other side hadn't hung up and was listening in.

Good.

"You might know me as the underworld seductress." I shrugged nonchalantly when he nodded, his eyes raking my form as he swallowed thickly, his eyes dark.

Pervert.

"But you might also remember me from around... twelve years ago?" I counted on my fingers before humming.

"Yes, twelve years. Now that, is a long time, don't you think. It's nice to see you again, Rosario." I smirked maliciously as he took a step back and whipped out his gun.

"Ah ah ah, I'd put that little toy back in my pants if I were you. You wouldn't want to get... hurt." I said lowly, my eyes gleaming with the urge to kill.

"What do you want?" He spat, his hand visibly shaking and I wondered if I really was that intimidating and scary.

Maybe I was.

Oh well, good for me.

"It's simple, really, what I want." I said, looking around him briefly before grinning evilly.

"Revenge." I said and lunged at him before he could shoot at me, landing a punch to his jaw and heard a satisfying crack as he fell back a few steps.

"You bitch." He growled before lunging at me, his phone long forgotten as he tried to punch me but he was too slow, and too old for me, sadly, since I was looking for a worthy opponent but I guess beggars can't be choosers.

Oh well.

Sighing, I kicked his shin so he fell to the ground when he pointed his gun at me but I took hold of his arm and twisting it the other way just as he pulled the trigger but he missed since I moved his arm the other way.

"Now what did I say. Someone, might get hurt and luckily for me, it's going to be you, bitch." I snarled before kicking him in the balls so that he fell onto his back as I bent over him while he howled in pain.

Pressing a chaste kiss to his pristine white collar so that my lipstick left a mark, I traced the dagger across his jugular vein as I bent towards his ear.

"Anton sends his best." I whispered lowly before slitting his throat, his eyes open as he struggled for a few moments before his body went limp.

Sighing, I got off from him and took out some wet wipes from my purse and cleaned the blood that had splattered on me.

"My first kill." I whispered, looking at the now dead man as bile rose to my throat but I turned my gaze away from the dead body.

I had never killed someone before.

It might seem bizarre and weird considering what I did usually, but I only injured the people enough so they wouldn't escape and left the 'fun part', as my brothers call it, or killing and torturing, to them.

But I had to do it, one way or another. I had to watch every man that took part in taking my mother's life and ruining mine take their last breath as I slowly killed them.

And nothing and no one would stop me.

The grass crunched beneath my heels as I walked over to his phone which was still, surprisingly, on call as I reached down to pick it up, my heart hammering in my chest as I glanced at the caller ID.

Taking a deep breath, I put the phone to my ear and looked up at the starry sky, so beautiful and yet, so lonely.

"Hello, Roman."