- 7 1 -

- H E A T H E R - E L I A S -

"I don't know why I always fall for the wrong ones." I sighed heavily, resting my cheeks on my knees as I hugged them closer to my chest and stared at the ground.

"Am I truly cursed? Why can't I love anyone without any problems?" I whispered, my eyes glossing over as I sniffled.

"I miss you, and I wish you were here to help me through this. You would have told me what to do. Probably by dancing." I chuckled at myself and wiped my stray tears away, putting my feet back on the ground.

"Daddy misses you too. So does Ant and Alex. We all do, momma." I muttered, softly running my hand over the grave of my mother.

"I'm leaving Russia again. And I don't know if I'll be back, ever. I promised you to end each and every person who did this to us. Who broke our family apart. I'm keeping my promise."

"I fell in love with the wrong man again. Except, he was never the wrong man. He was probably the best I've ever known and yet... fate had to tear us apart." I murmured.

"You always had a thing for the wrong guys." Someone spoke from behind me and I froze, my breath hitching as I stayed rooted in my place.

"Unfortunately." I agreed as the person came to sit next to me on the wooden bench, looking into the distance.

"But none of them ever lied about being in love with you." He said looking at me and this time, I let my eyes wander to his familiar brown ones slowly.

"They weren't exactly honest either." I replied as he pursed his lips.

"I had my reasons."

"Like world domination?" I asked with an annoyed face when he sighed.

"Nyet. Like more power." (No) He said when I scoffed.

"Are you here to take me away?" I asked looking back at him, my eyes scanning his features, his dark, black hair, cold brown eyes, lean yet muscular figure and full, pink lips, donned in a tan suit and white dress shirt.

"Nyet, Heather." (No) He replied leaning back into the seat.

"Why are you here?" I asked slowly, my voice a quiet murmur when he gave me a small yet soft smile.

"I can't see the girl I love?" He asked raising a brow as I turned my face away from him.

"You don't love me. You never did." I spoke strained, my voice full of emotions as I shut my eyes tightly to get rid of the memories I made with this man.

Forget, please just forget.

"I did love you. And you loved me. I still love you. You were the only thing that kept me sane. That keeps me sane" He said, his voice low and yet so cold, like it always was.

I can't believe I feel for this man.

"Don't, Igor. Don't start. I did love you. But where did that get me? Two years thinking I was the reason my brother died? Or maybe there were faults in me that I couldn't get you to love me like I did you." I said exasperated when he shook his head.

"That's not true. I may have lied about a lot of things, but never about loving you. I meant it when I told you that you were the only one for me. You still are." He said, his hands framing my face when I frowned.

"You don't mean that. You never did." I whispered as he touched his forehead with mine, closing his eyes briefly.

"I did mean it. I love you." He said as I shook my head again and again.

"But I don't, not anymore." I pulled away a bit and saw his slight frown.

"You still care for me, do you not? You still have me in your heart, don't you? I was your first everything. You can't just forget me." He whispered when I shrugged, looking away from him.

"I haven't forgotten you Igor, I can't. But Roman-..." I cut myself off and closed my eyes, my head falling back.

"He consumes me, like nothing else. And he loves me, so much." I opened my eyes and looked into his brown ones again.

"Our love could never last." I told him and stood up, him following suit.

"Are you going to kill me now?" I asked, tilting my head to a side when he shook his head, kicking a small pebble with his feet as he inched closer to me.

"I can't kill the person I love."

"But you can kill the person I love, can't you?" I asked with a raised brow when he pursed his lips.

"We'll be seeing each other again." He said as I looked at my mother's grave once again and sighed.

"I have no doubt about it." I whispered as his hands framed my face and he pressed his lips to my forehead, lingering a few moments before pulling away and wiped my tears with his thumb.

"I never liked seeing you cry. I still don't. Don't forget about me." He whispered, pecking my cheek before leaving, his men trailing behind him whom I just noticed, by the way.

"See what I mean mom? I have a weird and confusing life." I sighed in frustration before picking up my things and placing the single red rose on her grave after kissing it softly.

"I love you, mom." I said with a soft smile as I looked at the place one last time before leaving.

The Italian it is.

* * *

"I'll miss you too Ivan." I mumbled into Ivan's chest as he kissed the top of my head.

"I won't." He mumbled when I chuckled, playfully slapping his chest.

"Asshole." I muttered.

"Idiot." He rolled his eyes as I grinned at him before pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek.

"Love you." I whispered when he smiled, genuinely, patting the heads of my dogs.

"Love you too, kotenok." He muttered as I climbed the steps of the plane, waving goodbye once more before going in.

Settling on my seat, I looked out the window and buckled my seat belt as the plane took off not even moments later as I leaned back against the seat, falling into a dreamless slumber.

* * *

"Joseph." I whispered, narrowing my eyes at the picture of the man with black hair and silver streaks before looking at his file as I munched on the cookie in my other hand just as my phone started ringing.

"Ant, hey." I said muffled, quickly swallowing the cookie and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

"Darling, how are you settling in?" He asked when I hummed, looking around the modern apartment and grinned.

"Loving the VIP treatment brother, thank you." I said gratefully and heard his deep chuckle.

"No problem darling. What's on the agenda for today?" He asked as I turned the pages of the file.

"Joseph something is today's guy. And if I'm lucky, his buddy Leo will be there as well." I said, squinting my eyes at Leo's picture and cringed when I saw all the tattoos on him.

"Looks like a baddie, sounds like a golden retriever kinda guy." I cocked my head to a side when he hummed when Baden growled.

"I know you don't like golden retrievers bud." I said when he woofed before settling back on his mat.

"Uh huh. Ana says hi." He said when I beamed.

"Tell her I say hi too. How is she?" I asked when he paused a moment, asking Ana how she was.

"She's good, according to her, although a bit moody today." He said and I could imagine his frown.

"Oh? What'd you do now?" I asked when he grunted.

"I have no fucking clue." He sighed heavily when I giggled.

"And how's Katy?" I asked with a sly grin when Anton released a breathy chuckle.

"Keeping Alex on his toes." He replied when I laughed. Katherine was Alex's new P.A, and boy did she keep him on a tight leash.

And Alex secretly liked her, not that he'd admit it, but we know him better than himself.

"Has he asked her out yet?"

"Hasn't got the balls to do so." He said amused when my own smile grew.

"That's unfortunate. And how's dad?" I asked with a sad smile when he sighed.

"He's doing well, considering everything. He misses you though." He said when I hummed.

"I miss him too. I uh-... I visited mom's grave yesterday." I bit my lip to stop it from trembling when there was silence on his end.

"I heard. Ivan told me." He replied as I fell back on the bed.

"Igor came there too." I said softly.

"Heather." Anton's warning voice was clear as day as I sucked in a sharp breath.

"He didn't hurt me or do anything of the sort if that's what's worrying you. We... talked?" I frowned, confused.

"What do you mean, talked?"

"He said some things. Told me he lied about a lot of stuff but never about loving me." I sighed and laid onto my side, watching the view from the window.

"And?"

"Nothing important, really. Just that he still loved me and that I was the only thing that kept him sane." I whispered.

"We all know he was never sane, darling." Anton said and I hummed in agreement.

"I always fall for the bad guys." I say softly, playing with the edge of the bed sheet when he chuckled softly.

"The bad guys got more charm, am I wrong, Ana?" He asked and I chuckled, sniffling lightly.

"A man with charm is a very dangerous thing." I voiced and heard his breathy chuckle.

"Isn't that right. Don't worry darling, I know everything will find a way to work out in the end. It always does." He reassured me when I smiled.

"Thanks, Ant. I love you." I said.

"I love you too, take care." He said and I hummed, hanging up after a few seconds.

"Now to get over with this shit." I sighed heavily, closing the files and then my eyes as I let sleep take over me after travelling so much.

* * *

"Be good, boys." I said sternly as both dogs woofed, earning a pat and a scratch from me.

I shut the door and locked it, pushing my curled hair behind my ear before going down the apartment complex and getting in my car, drove off towards my destination.

"What the actual heck?" I muttered, looking at the limited parking space outside the club as a frown settled on my space.

This is going to be long.

Sighing, I searched for a good spot and parked, which took me a good fifteen minutes before getting out and fixing my dress.

Looking in the selfie camera of my phone, I fixed my red lipstick before strutting towards the club entrance as heads turned to stare.

Ignoring everyone, I walked straight to the front while the bouncer eyed me up and down.

"Elias." I said and he immediately opened the door, the sound of music blasting inside flowing out as I walked in and once again, all eyes were on me.

"Let's get this over with." I looked at the two photos on my phone once again before heading directly for the VIP section and settling in front of the bar as I scanned my choices.

"Scotch, neat." I told the bartender who nodded and got to work immediately, putting my drink in front of me.

Taking a small sip, I hummed at the familiar bitter taste as the drink flowed down my throat and was strong enough to make me feel more confident.

"This is for you." The bartender came towards me and put a martini in front of me when I raised a brow in question.

"That man there sent it." He jutted his chin to a side and I followed his direction and grinned.

"Thank you." I told the bartender who nodded before leaving while I smirked internally.

This is too easy.

Looking down into the drink the man got me, I noticed the slight powdery film on the top and sighed heavily.

He just had to drug me.

Raising the glass to my lips, I pretended to take a sip from it before pouring it into another glass while no one was looking so it seemed like I had drunk it.

Not even a few minutes later the man sat right beside me, the smell of his cheap cologne wafting over to me and making me gag internally.

Disgusting.

"Hey there darling." He spoke in a thick Italian accent and I cringed internally, but faced him anyway with a small forced smile.

"Hey there yourself." I said seductively, rolling one of my curls between my fingers as his eyes scanned me up and down.

"You here alone?" He asked taking a sip of his drink when I nodded, faking a sad expression.

"I am. My boyfriend cheated on me with my best friend. I just want to forget him." I pouted when he hummed and leaned towards me.

"Maybe I can be of help?" He whispered as I held my breath and shrugged.

"Depends on what your idea of help is." I said shrugging when he smirked.

"I have a friend who'd like you. You in for a wild night?" He asked as a small smirk slowly graced my lips.

"I'd love to join!" I said faking happiness when he chuckled darkly and led me to a more secluded part of the club and into a small room.

I scrunched my face up in disgust as soon as we entered the room which was filled with smoke from cigarettes and the smell of alcohol.

A man sat smoking on a leather couch wearing a black suit, his hair back and small streaks of silver in them.

"Look what I found, Joseph." The man who led me in exclaimed and Joseph looked up from his phone, his eyes judging me and mentally undressing me as his lips curled into a wicked smirk.

"Is she your new toy for tonight?" He asked lazily as the other guy grinned and looked at me.

"She's our toy for tonight, her boyfriend cheated on her today and she needs help forgetting him." He said when I nodded and Joseph huffed a breath of smoke before puffing out his cigarette.

"Bring her in." He said and I sat down on the couch next to him, between both men, feeling very uncomfortable.

"What's your name darling?" Joseph asked when I grinned, leaning towards him so that more of my chest was exposed and as expected, his eyes flitted downwards as he licked his lips hungrily.

Pervert.

"Lily." I said softly and he nodded, twirling a strand of my hair between his fingers.

"Lily." He repeated, looking deep into my eyes and I found myself gulping.

This man might be hard to break.

"Have we met before?" He asked narrowing his eyes at me when I shrugged.

"I don't know if you have because I've seen you for the first time." I replied nonchalantly and saw his small nod as the other guy, whose name was Leo put his hand on my bare thigh.

"You look somewhat familiar. What's your last name?" He asked cautiously.

"Stone. Lily Stone." I repeated as he thought for a few moments as I remembered his face clearly from all those years ago.

He stood right behind Ferruccio Angelo and handed him the gun to kill my mother. He was his second in command at that time.

"Pretty name for a pretty girl. Sembra una bella scopata, no?" (She looks like a good fuck, no?) Leo asked in Italian when Joseph smirked.

"Che lo fa." (That she does) He replied lowly and fingered the knot in front of my dress as both men inched closer to me when I sighed heavily.

"I think I remember now." I said slowly as they both pulled away at the same time.

"Remember what darling?" Leo asked when I shrugged, standing up from the couch and tapping my chin thoughtfully.

"Aha!" I snapped my fingers and smiled evilly.

"You, handed Ferrucio Angelo the gun to kill my mother and you, were eyeing her like a piece of meat." I said triumphantly when both their eyes widened.

"What?" Leo asked confused when I giggled.

"Hello Joseph, Leo. Remember me? Little Heather Elias?" I asked with a small smirk as their faces paled while I chuckled lowly.

"It's good to see you two after so long. Now, about that wild night." I said thoughtfully and fished out my dagger from my dress and smirked.

"Who wants to go first?" I asked as both of them whipped out their guns at my face and I sighed heavily.

"What is with you men and guns?" I asked exasperated before kicking the gun out of Leo's hand and grabbing his head, hitting it into Joseph's as his gun dropped to the ground.

"Fucking bitch." Joseph growled and tried to grab me but I slipped away from him and hit my heel in his crotch, wincing when he howled in pain.

"Oof, that's gonna hurt." I scrunched my face up before grabbing the gun and hitting the back of it on Leo's head before shooting his leg as he screamed.

"Now, I'm going to be quick, so smile, please." I said and whipped out my camera, smiling as I took a selfie with both men screaming in agony in the background before shooting Joseph's stomach and then Leo's other leg as well.

Poor Leo.

"Anton sends his best, darlings." I smiled maliciously, pressing a chaste kiss to their white collars before slitting their throats with my dagger.

"Joseph, we have a slight prob-" A man suddenly entered the room but stopped short when he saw the scene in front of him as both our eyes widened.

Shit.

He quickly made a run for it and I cursed under my breath, grabbing my dagger and gun before running after him, I shot his leg as he fell to the floor with a thud.

Thankfully, we were in an empty hallway as I neared him but he suddenly swung his leg and tripped me, making me fall to the ground on my knees as I winced.

Ouch.

He grabbed my hair, pulling my head back as I grunted while he wrapped his arm around my neck and tried to strangle me.

I tried to pry his arm away as my breathing became more and more difficult and black dots started to form in my vision just when their was a loud crash, like the sound of something breaking.

The man's arms loosened from around my neck and he fell limp to the ground as I quickly moved away from him and shot him twice in the chest, watching blood pool out.

Sighing in relief, I slumped onto the ground as I tried to catch my breath as a pair of light brown pumps stopped right in front of me.

Frowning, I lifted my gaze to thank my savior who helped me up from the ground with a concerned look.

"Are you okay sweetheart?" She asked concerned, her emerald green eyes looking into mine that widened by a fraction while I looked over her features.

She looked to be in her early forties, dark brown hair tied into a ponytail, dressed in a beige dress as her warm features looked over me.

And even in my state, I could clearly see how beautiful she was when I nodded absent minded as she helped me to another room and made me sit on a seat and gave me a glass of water to drink from.

"Are you feeling better now?" She asked worried when I cleared my throat.

"Yes, much better, thank you." I said gratefully when she smiled, my heart dropping to my stomach as two dimples appeared on her cheeks.

"I'm Heather." I said slowly when she smiled knowingly.

"I know, I've been expecting you." She said when my frown deepened.

"Y-You have? Who are you?" I asked, although the answer was swimming in the back of my mind but I was too shocked to admit it when she smiled warmly at me.

"Lilac."