Chapter 2 2.

"You will attend the annual Mafia Gala", Dimitri explains. "Viola you must still remain with your identity, it isn't time to reveal yourself just yet, so that means you must remain calm and collected"

I roll my eyes, "When am I not calm and collected?".

Dimitri gives me an 'I'm not taking your shit right now look' and I just laugh to myself.

"I want you both to find out as much information as you can about the French Mafia, there are many rumours arising that they are planning something big, and it is possible that the Spanish are in on it as well", Dimitri continues.

"When do we leave?", Nikolai asks.

"Tomorrow", Dimitri replies.

"How long will we be gone for?", I ask

"You will be gone for about 2 weeks", Dimitri says to me. "Now go pack, you have an early flight in the morning".

Nikolai and I nod. We both exit the room together walking to our rooms. I smile to myself knowing that my father has no idea what is coming for him. I reach my door and say goodbye to Nikolai. I walk to my closet and quickly pack my bags. Once done I enter my bathroom and turn the shower on. I strip out of my clothes and look down to see my scars. I shut down any bad memories about to resurface and jump into the shower feeling the hot water relax my body. I just stand there for a while taking comfort in the water. I finish up in the shower and get ready for bed. I feel the darkness take over my body and I once again become a victim to it.

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I look out the small window seeing the world look smaller than what it is. Each person is not even visible and have become like ants. I sink back further into my seat and put my drink to my lips. The liquid burns my throat as it travels down, but I don't care, I find comfort in pain. I feel the plane start to lower and I brace myself slightly for the landing. I feel a thump as we reach the ground and everything suddenly becomes larger. The plane comes to a halt and I get up from my seat and head for the door, the flight attendant bidding me goodbye as I pass her.

"Hey Vi, wait up for me!", I hear a voice call out to me.

I put my sunglasses over my eyes and the door is then opened for me. I walk down the stairs and step onto the runway where I am greeted by a black car and a man in a black suit.

"Hello Miss Hart and Mr Volkov, I am here to take you to your hotel", the man says, "Your bags are being put into the car now".

I walk over to the vehicle and he opens the door for me and I step in. I pull my phone out and text Dimitri that we have landed not even realising that it is probably early morning back in Russia. Nikolai joins me in the car and starts to text away on his phone. The man sits in the drivers seat and begins to take us to our hotel. I look out the window taking in the new surroundings. I have undecided feelings on America, there are some places that I absolutely adore and then others I don't. Luckily we are in New York City, one of my favourites.

The car stops and the man looks back at us. "I hope that you have a lovely stay Miss Hart and Mr Volkov". We nod and exit the car grabbing our belongings. We check into the hotel and grab our keys to our rooms.

"So Viola are you ready?", Nikolai asks as we get in the elevator.

I scoff. "Nik I was born ready for this, no need to worry about me", I say.

He laughs, but it soon changes to a look of concern. "Are you going to be okay seeing him again?", he asks again.

"Of course I will be", I reply with a fake smile, "As long everything goes to plan and he is dead at the end of this".

The elevator doors open and I'm grateful as I can get away from Nikolai's interrogation. I open the door to my hotel room and I collapse on the couch. I reach for the remote and turn a random channel on. I feel my phone vibrate and I pull it out from my pants.

It was from Nikolai, want to get dinner at like 9?

I text back, yeah okay you can pick.

My phone dings again and I look at it, aren't I lucky!

I laugh knowing he is being sarcastic and I put my phone down putting my attention back on the show. Time flies by and it is now 8:30. I get up from the couch and grab a short black dress from my bags. I attach 3 daggers to my right thigh and my gun on my left. I adjust the dress so my weapons aren't showing and walk to the bathroom. I quickly brush my hair and retouch my make up. I slip on a pair of black heels and grab my phone. I walk out the door, Nikolai is just outside his own door and we head towards the elevator.

"So where are we going?", I ask looking into his hazel eyes.

"I was thinking Italian", he replies.

I nod and we walk to the restaurant. As soon as we enter the building there are eyes on us. I can tell that some of the people know who we are. I roll my eyes at their actions. We are greeted by a waiter and he takes us to a table. We order our drinks and food soon after. I can feel a pair of eyes on me and I make sure to not let my guard down. Our food arrives and Nikolai and I begin to eat our meals.

"I'm going to the bathroom", I tell Nikolai and he nods.

I walk to the bathroom and I have a feeling that I'm being followed. Once down the hallway I reach down and grab a dagger from the strap on my thigh. I keep it low as I continue to walk. I then feel a presence behind me and I turn around slamming it into the wall putting the dagger to the throat. I hear a deep chuckle and look up to be met with a pair of all too familiar blue eyes. A pair of blue eyes that I will always recognise, but the man behind them is completely different from the boy I once knew. A pair of blue eyes from my childhood. A pair of blue eyes that my past self had given her heart to.

"Well aren't you just wonderful?", his husky voice says.

I push into his neck further drawing a little blood, slowly it travels down from his skin down onto his white shirt. "What do you want asshole?", I ask.

"È sempre un piacere parlare con Viola, tutti affari no gioco" (Always a delight to talk to Viola, all business no play), he says, his thick accent coming through. He looks my up and down, bottom lip going into between his lips. "Un peccato anche, mi piacerebbe giocare con te" (A shame too, I would love to play with you).

"Smettila di cazzeggiare e rispondi alla mia domanda" (Stop fucking around and answer my question), I say to him raising my voice a little and putting more pressure to his throat.

"Clearly not in the mood to play", he chuckles.

"No shit Sherlock", I scoff and roll my eyes.

In one quick movement he pins me against the wall and holds me by my throat. I smile slightly and he rolls his eyes, muttering something that I can't hear.

"You know you really should be more aware of your surroundings", he finally answers, "Would be a shame if someone were to sneak up on you"

I put my hand on his wrist and pull his hold on me off. If he is shocked that I was able to do so, he doesn't show it whatsoever. I roll my eyes and put my dagger away. I push past him back in the direction of the main room of the restaurant. I don't make it far before I am pressed up against the wall again, the coldness of his gun running up my leg.

"чего ты хочешь, мудак?"(what do you want asshole), I spit back at him.

He clicks his tongue. "I thought we discussed already amore. I don't speak Russian and I would much rather when you discuss your undeniable attraction to me in a language I understand"

I roll my eyes, "Are you just going to keep wasting my time or what?", I snap back.

"I want to make it clear that you and your Russian friend back there that there will be no trouble at the Gala tomorrow", he says in a demanding tone, "You wouldn't want to be the first to break the no fighting rule".

I rip my wrist away from his grasp and scoff, "I wasn't the one to pull out my gun and start shooting last time was I now".

His hand reaches up and twirls a piece of my hair around his finger, "Mmmm, you may be right. But let it not be mistaken, you seemed quite happy to oblige in returning the favour by throwing your dagger at me straight after".

I play into antics, tilting my head upwards to meet his towering gaze, I bite my lip, trailing my finger down his chest, "And you just so happened to shoot the man I was speaking with after he leaned in to whisper in my ear".

His hand moves from my hair towards my throat, cupping it and applying a pressure that makes me want to roll my eyes back into my head, "It just so happens to seem like that doesn't it, Amore mio".

It was then I brought his face towards my own, our lips only a breath away from each other, instead of moving closer, I brought my knee and nailed him right where I know it would hurt the most. His grip on my body immediately releases and he cups himself, groaning in pain, "Cagna", I hear him mutter. (Bitch)

I laugh as I walk away, "Meglio la prossima volta, perdente!". (Better luck next time loser)