Chapter 2 You Live in My Thoughts, Ivonne.

Three years later.

I would be turning twenty-one soon, and I could finally leave this place. I eagerly anticipated that day – to escape from here, take my friend with me, and find happiness. I looked forward to reclaiming what my father left behind and putting my aunt in her place, even if it was just once in my life.

In fact, it was less than a week away. My friend was just as excited as I was. How could we not be? As I left, she would leave with me, no matter what it took. There was a letter to the man who is my boyfriend. Throughout all this time, I haven't received any responses from him. But perhaps now, as I prepare to leave this confinement, I'll have a chance to be with him again. I only hope he's still waiting for me.

Narrates Nikolay Petrov

I was expelled from Russia. Those damn sewer rats managed to do it. But they don't know who the hell they're messing with. Whoever crosses me pays not only in life but also in death. I'll come back with much more strength and power than before, and they'll see what I'm capable of. With my name and my family, no one plays or mocks. I'm sure their heads will end up hanging from a bridge in Russia, and I'll personally take care of that.

I couldn't help but think about those vermin who stayed behind, using everything that belongs to me – cars, money, jewelry, trade routes, and more. I would definitely let them dare to live with my possessions, let them grow complacent, let them think I had died, or worse, that I had fallen into the hands of my country's police and been locked up in the worst prison imaginable. And then, I will finish them off.

"Sir," my trusted man interrupted my thoughts. He's the only one I have left, as the others saw this ship sinking and decided to leave. They will also fall, because when you're dealing with a Petrov, there are a few key points that need to be crystal clear.

No one dares to challenge us. No one stands in my way. And the most important of all, no one, absolutely no one, gets a second chance to betray us.

"What the hell do you want?" I asked in agitation. Yes, most of the time, I had to endure my bad temper, not to say always, but the situation warranted it. My entire family had to flee our homeland. I trusted someone and they stabbed me in the back. I think they need to experience this so they don't fall for anyone's game again.

"The woman who writes every month," he said, and I quickly stood up from my chair. Ever since I moved to this old house, a letter arrives from her every month without fail. She's hoping someone will come to rescue her, that someone named Julian will appear. But I believe that Julian wants nothing to do with her. "A new letter has arrived," he added.

"Give it to me," I responded authoritatively. Antoine took it out of his pocket, and I snatched it from him. "Thanks," I added, waiting for him to leave. I remember the day he came in through the front door, and all those letters were scattered on the floor – twelve, to be exact. Twelve letters, one for each month. That woman has been locked up for over a year.

"At your service, sir," he responded. He left the room, and I returned to my seat. It's been about a year since these letters started arriving at this address. I suppose the sender has no idea that the man she writes to with such longing and affection no longer lives here.

"Julián, I know these have been difficult years, but I'm finally reaching the age necessary to escape the confinement my aunt put me in. I'll claim what legally belongs to me and leave that house that was once my home.

I hope this news brings you joy too. I'll try to make up for all the lost time, if you allow me, of course.

Sincerely, Ivonne Wilson"

It was always like this, short letters, but each one was special. I wondered if this woman had done something wrong to deserve her situation. I also wondered who this Julián she mentioned was. In fact, the letters, ever since I found them, have all been addressed here. So there was a possibility that she got the address wrong, or perhaps that man wanted nothing to do with her.

I left the room to find Antoine and get the latest news from Russia. I didn't want to send him directly there. I'm sure my enemies are waiting for us to set foot in Russia again. They believe they have the power to do whatever they please now that I'm not there to give orders. But that would change soon. For now, we must rely on our informants.

On the other hand, I kept that letter with the others. In my dark days, as I liked to call them, I would read them. For a few minutes, I would force myself to believe that I was that Julián. Somehow, this woman made me see that her life was equally unfortunate as mine, in one way or another. Although, they would likely stop coming soon, based on what this last one said.

"What do you know about the rest of my family?" I asked authoritatively, my tone neutral. I knew they were probably in hiding. I couldn't believe we were like sewer rats right now, running to save ourselves. I was worried about them because despite our reputation as ruthless, psychopathic killers, my enemies might have captured them and be using them to get to me. They could be torturing them, though I hoped it wasn't the case. While my father wasn't my favorite person for turning me into what I am now, he was still family, and I wouldn't allow anyone to harm mine. Even if I pretended not to care at all, I needed to know how each of them was doing.

"Some are hiding in the south of Russia. Their parents managed to leave the country, but the police are looking for all of them. Sir, we should deal with all the problems we have as soon as possible," Antoine replied. He knew exactly what he meant, but now more than ever, he emphasized acting cautiously and based on strategies.

"I can't comprehend why you didn't leave when you had the chance," I responded to his comment, being more honest than anything. "Of course, I need to put an end to this issue. For now, I need to find a way to conceal the large sums of money I manage in various banks, but I can't think of anything at the moment," I mentioned again.

"You know very well that I was loyal to your father. He was the only person who took me in when no one else gave me a second glance. Now, I'll be loyal to you until the day I die," Antoine appeared, his gaze lost out the window. Even though he was practically family, he still saw me as a master. Antoine was like a father to me, even though I didn't show it.

"Loyalty in times of war is appreciated, but it can also be your downfall. And I remember you have a family to take care of," I replied. I know how this business works. It never ends well for the weak, and even if they pretended not to be, eliminating someone's family is one of the vulnerabilities that can be exploited. That's why I keep myself as far away from sentimentality as possible. "I'll think of something. Don't worry. Now go to your family," I responded again. My head of security's wife and children were the only ones who accompanied us.

"Alright, sir. I'm leaving," Antoine said and then left the room. I think what I had said hit him hard, but I was only speaking the truth.

I read each of the letters that woman had sent. Yes, it had become a habit, and I'm not one to develop habits. Ivonne. Who could this woman be? But I couldn't ignore the fact that just by reading what she had written, I could tell she had suffered quite a bit. Also, the man to whom the letter was addressed seemed like a complete idiot for allowing what happened, though I'm not one to pass judgment on that matter.

I'm not the kind of man who chases after a damsel in distress. No, that's not me at all. I'm the man who has killed others just for the pleasure of seeing the light leave their eyes. I've watched women cry for their lives without lifting a finger to save them, and I've seen children suffer because of their parents' deaths.

I had no opinion about the way that man had manipulated the girl's attention. After all, everyone does with their life what they see fit. On the other hand, sometimes I found myself dreaming about that woman. I imagined her as so different from other women, but I couldn't guarantee it. Perhaps she was a criminal like me; after all, she was locked up. But undoubtedly, that woman perplexed me.

I left the house. I needed to get some weapons. They were probably trying to pinpoint my location, and they wouldn't hesitate to end me if given the opportunity. Those rats won't catch me off guard. And if I die, it will be on my own terms.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I appeared to be a businessman, and no one, absolutely no one, would doubt my credibility. I just hoped the Galician police wouldn't suspect anything.

Only one thing was on my mind at the moment – Ivonne. I couldn't believe how deeply she had infiltrated my system, to the point where I couldn't even believe any of this.