The Captive Series (14 page)

Nikolai tossed the file onto the coffee table and poured himself a glass of vodka before taking a seat. After a deep breath and a swig, he opened the file. According to the top document, there was a deal struck for information on Nikolai in exchange for immunity in a 2012 murder of a drug dealer.

Hell, these fucks traded on me for a case. Were they fucking stupid? he thought.

As he read the report and court documents, something to him didn’t seem right. There weren’t any sworn statements in the file, and there were two different signatures for the same judge. Nikolai put the rumors and supposed legal papers to the side to examine his targets.

Each family member had their own personal report with their picture paper-clipped to it. Nikolai glanced through the individual reports without focusing. His anger was still too high to even register the information. He flipped from one to the next, thinking about who his first target would be. He’d grown accustomed to taking lives. At first, it shook him to the core, but it was something that had to be done or he would’ve been the one in the pine box. After the first few times, it’d become second nature to him. He never killed anyone before who didn’t deserve it, but the two years locked away did something to him.

He pulled the next file from the pile and stopped dead in his tracks. He became so focused on the picture in front of him that he forgot what he’d been thinking a moment before. His mind shifted from murder to something else in a heartbeat. His dick, which seemed to not take notice of any female lately, had sprung into full fuck mode. There were other photos in the file, but this one just stood out. It was a picture of Bianca Rossi, Luciano’s little sister.

She was smiling sweetly as she held Luciano’s son. Her silky black hair lay resting over her bare shoulder as she gazed at the camera. Her complexion was so fair, pale, and perfect. It was a complete contrast to his own. Her eyes were almost as light as his, but instead of hatred radiating from them, all he saw was love and joy. The smile on her face drove his heart wild, bouncing like a kid on sweets in his chest. A crazy, cloudy thought infiltrated Nikolai’s mind.   

He threw his head back on the sofa and stared up at the ceiling, completely lost in thought. He tried to forget her for a moment and get back to his whole purpose—revenge. Collecting himself, he looked back down at the picture before him, but he still had the same reaction.

He’d left his last mistress behind. Katia had been good for a while but wanted more than he would ever give her. He wasn’t looking for a forever; there was no room for that shit in his life. She only lasted two months with him because he couldn’t tolerate a whiny broad. Now it was time for a new one. Although, he wasn’t sure that it wasn’t more than that with Bianca. Just her photo had done something to him and his cock.
She
might be the game changer.

Since he’d gone to America three years ago, he’d been without pussy. Not that it wasn’t thrown at him at every turn, but he’d been so focused on making things work for him and his organization that he put himself on a self-imposed abstinence. It wasn’t meant to last, but then he’d been arrested. Once he got out, he refused to deal with bitches at all. Between his scar and his distrust of people, women were off the table—until now. Bianca Rossi just became his spoils of war.

†††

Six weeks later Nikolai had gotten the news he’d been waiting for, and about time too. He’d been ready to fly back five weeks and six days ago. Bianca Rossi hadn’t left his thoughts. Nikolai had been a mess. All his time was spent locked away trying to figure out his next move where Bianca was concerned. Like a certain ring, her photo became his precious. Looking at it, which he did all day and night, was intoxicating to him. His revenge was overshadowed by his hunger for her.

“Nikolai, the visa went through,” Sergei said cheerfully with the documents in his hands.

“Good. Have my bags packed immediately. Everything else is in order,” he commanded. His heart nearly jumped out of his chest with anticipation.
I’ll see her soon, and she’ll be mine
, he thought.

“Nikolai, I’ve been your friend for twenty years. Do you think it’s wise to off an entire crime family just for revenge?” Sergei asked.

“My friend, I’ve had a change of heart, so to speak. I’m not going to off any of them yet, but instead I’ll be acquiring one of them.”

“Acquiring?” Sergei asked, a bit confused, thinking he couldn’t mean what he thought he meant.

“Yes, little Bianca Rossi will become mine,” he said with a sneering smile.

“Isn’t that a little counterproductive...considering you’re planning to off her family?”

“Since when did you learn a big word?” Nikolai said in jest with a smile. Sergei was floored by the sudden change in his friend and boss. Since he’d gotten the news of the betrayal, Nikolai had been different.

“I know what it means. Do you?”

“Yes. It means fucking a baby into a broad on the kitchen counter.”

Sergei had to process Nikolai’s joke, but when it registered, he asked, “Wait. Is that your plan for her?”

Nikolai looked around to make sure they were out of listening range. “Yes. I don’t know yet how I’m handling the family, but I know one damn thing’s for certain. I want her ass.”

“So fuck her stupid and toss her. Their family is just as fucked in the head as us. What makes you think they’re going to let you knock her up and move into the family?”

“Sergei, you worry too much. They aren’t going to have a say. I’m taking her, and even if I let them live, I might not let her ever see them again.”

“I think you need to go find some bitch to fuck. You’re thinking with your dick and not the fucking brain you were given. This is a deadly game you want to start.”

“I didn’t start this shit—they did. They made the first strike, but they didn’t understand who they were dealing with or the treasure they had in their possession. Now they’ll know,” Nikolai smiled scarily. His scar added to the menacing expression.

“The thing is…” Sergei paused and looked around before pulling Nikolai further aside. “I don’t think it was them.”

“Truly?”

“Yes. Something seems off about the situation. I wanted to look into it, but I didn’t know who to trust.”

“I’ve got the same feeling. Any theories?”

“Yeah. I was thinking it’s someone in the States that’s got it out for both us and them. They see you got released and made it look like the Rossi family were the rats.”

“It still doesn’t change my mind. I want her. I’m still moving forward with it. Instead of offing them, I’ll give the Rossis a change to prove their innocence, but when it comes to her, my mind is made up.”

“When do you plan for us to leave?”

“Tomorrow morning, and we strike two days from now.”

“Wait. That’s the same day you were arrested.”

“Yes. It’s perfect. Don’t you think?” Nikolai said with a wicked grin.

“Sounds good to me.”

They arrived in America the day before the planned raid and capture. All but a few of the men came with Nikolai. He needed everything to run smoothly at his hideaway in the south of France. He wanted it perfect for her. Looking at her file and her interests, he acquired all of the things he thought she would like.

Everything was going as planned until Nikolai found out something that could get a lot of fucks murdered.

“She’s engaged?” he said, enraged, before he punched a hole in the hotel room wall.

“He’s dead. I want him dead. She gave my pussy to him. I want him gone and done with.”

Sergei looked at Nikolai like he was fucking insane. Nikolai fucked women who were professionals in the sack.

“Don’t look at me like I’m crazy. This fuck took what was mine.”

“Who knows if she was a virgin before this guy? We don’t.”

“I do. They protected her until she met this fucking mid-level thug. She’s finally an adult, and they let her get pulled into this crook’s grasp.” Nikolai paced the whole hotel room. He needed to go for a walk. His blood was boiling and his heart was cracking almost as fast as it was racing.

“I’m going out, and no one is going to come with. I need to think, understood?”

The guards wanted to oppose, but telling Nikolai what to do was out of the fucking question, unless they had a death wish.

It was almost the end of summer and the chill had kicked in, so he took his trench coat with him and set out for a brisk walk in the park. The moment he stepped out into the fresh air he felt the chill, but instead of lifting his collar, he let the air hit him. He needed the cold to soothe the burning rage.

The bustling city looked lovely this time of year, but he didn’t notice anything. His thoughts had been his main focus. His Bianca was about to marry another man. Jealousy was an understated emotion at that moment. Virile, violent, possessive hate clouded his brain. He’d been so consumed, he hadn’t even noticed where he was walking until he collided with none other than the woman on his mind.

†††

“Oh my goodness, Bianca. You look amazing. Claudio is going to lose his mind and heart when he sees you in this dress,” Amber said as she looked at her sister-in-law trying on one of her wedding gown choices.

Bianca didn’t smile back at Amber. More and more, she was feeling this wedding was a huge mistake. Claudio Santini may have claimed to care for her, and even if he did, she didn’t care for him. They only started dating about six months ago. She knew that Claudio’s main reason to rush the wedding was because he wanted unification between the two families especially because the Rossi family was most powerful family in the area.

“What’s wrong, Bianca? You don’t seem happy about this,” Amber asked over the partition as she tried on her bridesmaid dress and Bianca changed back into her clothes.

“I don’t think I’m ready to do this,” Bianca said as she ran out of the dress shop. She rushed out of the store to get some air. Bianca wasn’t paying any attention to where she was going until she ran into a wall of man.

Bianca stared up at the man who’d accidentally knocked her to the ground. He was huge and unbelievably handsome, even as she gazed at him under the shade of a tree. Never had she’d seen a man that had attracted her so much. Well, there was a man once, but this wasn’t him, although the resemblance was there in the shadow. Last she heard, he had been sent to prison in Russia. She had fallen in love with just his photo and had kept it in her belongings since then, fantasizing about a future that was impossible. And because of that, she was marrying a man she didn’t love.

The stranger bent down and stuck out his hand to her. The moment their hands touched, they both felt the electricity. He lifted her onto her feet, and she stepped back in fear of what hit her hard—pure attraction and realization. It was him—Nikolai Rykov. The man she still hadn’t forgotten. It couldn’t be. It was her silly imagination playing tricks on her. She stared at him, and even with the scar on his face, she knew it was him. She felt it.

He noticed her scared look and said, “Forgive me. I understand the scar is not appealing. I wish I’d met you before I got this.”

“It’s not the scar,” she said as she walked toward him and reached out her hand and then gently touched his face. The feeling was just like when she touched his hand—scary. He gripped her hand that caressed his face and held it to him, absorbing her touch.

Uncomfortable with the insane feelings coursing through her, she tried to end their meeting. “Thank you for helping me up. I’ve to go.”

“Tell me why you look at me as if you’re afraid,” he asked suspiciously.

“I can’t,” she said when she turned around.

“Don’t. Walk with me.” He reached for her arm and pulled Bianca along, making her shiver.

“Aren’t you chilled? Where is your coat?” Bianca didn’t want to tell him that she just ran away from a dress fitting. He wouldn’t understand, and it was very embarrassing. She was infatuated with him, but marrying someone else.

“It wasn’t cool when I left,” she lied. He took off his coat for her and placed it around her shoulders. It didn’t escape his notice that she discreetly sniffed his coat and smiled. Nikolai’s heart jumped at her hidden gesture. He realized that her hesitance wasn’t based on fear, but rather desire.

“My name is Nikolai. Will you tell me yours, my lovely princess?” Nikolai’s deep voice only made her blush as he tried to charm her.

“Bianca,” she said, blushing deeper.

“Beautiful Bianca, where were you coming from right now?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You can tell me anything.”

“I’d rather not.”

“It’s clear you’re not from here. What brings you to America?”

“Several things, but only one is of the most importance. Something I’d rather not discuss.”

“Are you married?”

“No.”

“By the looks of that ring, I would say that you are or will soon be,” Nikolai said in an almost feral, angry tone.

Before she could react to his anger, up walked Amber, clearly out of breath from trying to catch up to Bianca. “Bianca, why did you run off?” she said before she noticed Nikolai.

“Oh my God! Nikolai!” she shouted before giving him a big hug.

“Mrs. Rossi,” Nikolai said as he pulled her away from him.

“Bianca, this is Nikolai Rykov. Your brother and I owe him everything.” She turned back to Nikolai. “I’m so sorry about what happened to you. It was truly terrible.” Amber touched the scar on his face in sincerity, annoying Bianca and embarrassing Nikolai.

“Thanks for your concern. Excuse me, ladies.” Bianca took off his coat and handed it to him. He took his time taking it from her, sliding his hand against hers. Nikolai walked away but took the long way back to his hotel, while the ladies walked back to the dress boutique.

†††

Nikolai walked to the hotel in a state of confusion. A thousand things were going through his head. He’d finally seen her, and she was more beautiful that he had imagined. What perplexed him, though, was why Amber was so nice to him when she should’ve scurried away as fast as she could? Luciano had given up the mob life for a quiet life with his wife according to the files, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t alerted to Nikolai’s release. Luciano would’ve made his guards well aware of his release and the danger Nikolai presented.

Nikolai turned to look back at the ladies and saw them entering a bridal boutique. The same feeling he’d had since he learned of the engagement struck him hard—pure, unmitigated jealousy.

Oh, yes. Tomorrow was still going to happen.

He tried not to get angry again since he had an important meeting to deal with the person getting him full access to the Rossi home.

Once back at the hotel, the greedy fuck was waiting for him. He got the meeting under way with the informant.

“So I want full access to the house tomorrow. Is that going to be a problem?”

“No. None at all. There will be only two guards at Luc’s place. His wife doesn’t like them all around.”

“Perfect. This is the first part of the installment,” Nikolai said as he handed him the phone with the bank information showing the wire transfer. “Once I’m safely out, my men will send the rest. Are we good?”

“We’re great,” the informant said with a creepy grin.

What the informant didn’t know was that Nikolai hated snakes. It didn’t matter whose organization he belonged to, you were still untrustworthy. If you were dirty to your own, you were dirty to all. That was something that he couldn’t tolerate. What made it worse was that he was willing to let him into the house to execute the whole family, including his Bianca. He was glad it was him he was selling out the family to because if it was someone else, there would be no survivors.

The bastard knew what Rykov and his team were going to do once they got in, and he still helped them for money. To top it off, it wasn’t even a lot of money—only two hundred grand. It was clear to him that the guy had a dope problem. He needed to follow through with the initial invasion, or someone may get suspicious.

Sergei walked the fool out of the hotel room before Nikolai killed the pussy. The moment Nikolai got the shady fuck out of his sight, he went to his room and took a long nap. Now that he was so close, he could breathe again. Sleep came to him easily as he dreamed of her.

It was a big day tomorrow, and he planned to keep Bianca up all night. Seeing her today had done something to him. It made what he had been feeling a reality. In person, she was more perfect that any photo could show. Her eyes shined brightly, and her pale face was pinked from the cool breeze. He could tell she was attracted to him, but she had someone else. Something he didn’t foresee as a big problem.

He couldn’t wait to see her again. Although, the next time she saw him, she may not like him very much. There was nothing he could do about it.