Don Nikolai

"Are you crazy, Brianna?!"My best friend exclaimed.

She was sitting across from me at a table in the cafè we frequented. I fidgeted with the envelope in my hands, sweat threatening to wet it.

"No, can you blame me? Malcolm has a stable income that can support both of us. He loves me and I love him. What's getting in the way?"I shrugged it off like it was a simple decision, but my heartbeat was fast.

"You have an envelope containing a job offer from the company you've wanted to work for since I can remember. It's in your hands. You want to throw it all away, and for what? A man who isn't serious with you?"

I started burning up with anger. She was my best friend, supporting me was her job, not trying to trample on my happiness.

"How could you say that? We've been together for five years. He's my soulmate, Lily. He's the man I want to get married to."I defended, raising my voice at her.

The topic of Malcolm and my relationship was always a sore subject.

"You've been together for two years. The other three, he was on the other side of the planet, barely answering your calls, forgetting your birthday, and not replying to your letters."Lily said, making me angrier.

Every word she uttered seemed to gnaw at me.

"He answers my calls and he texts me back."

"Barely. We both know this, Brianna. You can't uproot your whole life for someone who doesn't care. You want stability and the familiarity that comes with him. You don't love him and he doesn't love you. You can't uproot your whole life and abandon your dream job to go to Italy for some man who doesn't deserve it."

Lily tried to reach for my hand but I pulled it away and stood up from my seat. I refused to hear her criticize my relationship. I knew it was flawed but we were in different countries.

I wouldn't give up on us. It would get better when we stayed together as we had always planned. I left the coffee shop while clutching the envelope tightly in my hands.

Lily tried to call out for me, but I wouldn't turn. I didn't know why I even confided in her. She always took every opportunity to judge me. Was she even my best friend?

I got in my car and drove to the apartment. I ignored her thousand and one phone calls and texts. She just didn't want me to be happy, and that is what I wanted most of all.

I booked the first flight to Amsterdam and started packing all my essentials. The flight was set for the next day at 7 am. Before then, I had to discard all my belongings.

This is something I had already planned out and I wouldn't let anyone deter me. I had yet to tell Malcolm that I was going to him. It would be a surprise as I already knew his address.

Wasn't serious with me, my ass. He wouldn't have given me his address if he wasn't.

I sat at my desk and typed an email declining the job offer. I had always wanted to be an editor. The biggest publishing company in Seattle had offered me a job, and I was declining it.

I convinced myself that it was all worth it in the end.

The flight to Amsterdam was a long one. I boarded another flight to Sicily, Italy. When I got there, it was late, and I was tired. I didn't have the energy to take a taxi to the other side of the city where Malcolm lived. I checked it at the closest hotel I could find and settled in. After a long shower, I slept. I was so tired and jet-lagged, but I was also excited.

When I woke up the next day, I wasted no time preparing myself and checking out. I recited Malcom's address to the taxi driver. I had to use a language app to be able to know what to say to the driver. I needed to learn Italian quickly if Sicily was going to be my home.

After two hours, I was in front of where Malcolm lived. My skin tingled, and my heart was beating very fast. I couldn't wait to see him in real life.

I pushed the gate open and walked into the compound. I climbed the three steps to the front door and knocked. I waited for the door to open with a wide smile on my face. When I heard footsteps, I fixed my attire and placed my hands on the handle of the suitcase.

The door opened, and Malcolm came into sight. I fought the urge to gasp. I was completely speechless. He was different from when I last saw him on the phone. His short hair was now long, reaching his neck. There was a thick beard on his face, and his dull eyes were now bright and gleaming.

"B-Brianna?"He asked.

The smile he was sporting was replaced with a frown. He looked spooked. It wasn't the look I was waiting for when I went to see him. I expected him to have a wide smile on his face and to lift me off the ground to twirl me. The look he was giving me made me feel like he wanted me to disappear off the face of the earth.

"Hey, Malcolm," I said softly.

"What are you doing here?"

I raised my eyebrow at his question. What did he mean by that? That wasn't what you asked your long-distance girlfriend, whom you hadn't seen in three years. Where was my hug? My kiss? My smile?

"What do you mean? I came all the way from Seattle to see you, and you ask that? Aren't you going to at least invite me in?"

"Brie, a lot has-"

"Malcolm, who is that at the door?"A woman's voice asked from inside.

She came into sight with a toddler in her arms and stared at me in question.

I stepped back like someone had slapped me across the face. That was when I saw it. There was a ring on his left finger. There was also a ring on her left finger. I couldn't stop the tears that were falling down my face and blurring my sight.

"Go back inside, Gianna. I'll handle this."He said to the woman.

She hesitated before going back inside. I knew she would be looking out the window to see what was happening.

"Brianna-"

"No! You don't get to act like a good guy now and let me down easy. You should've told me! I uprooted my life for you, and you had a whole other life here. I declined my dream job for you."

He had a somber look on his face and he didn't have the bravery to even look me in the eye.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen, okay? There is nothing I can do about it now."There was an Italian accent in his voice. He had adjusted to this life that I wasn't even a part of.

"Oh, you mean you didn't mean to hit on her, kiss her, fuck her, ask her to be your wife, and then proceed to marry her? You tripped and there was suddenly a ring on your finger, right? All this happened, and you didn't tell me. You led me on, Malcolm."

At the moment, I didn't care that I was shouting. The neighbors were peeking out of their windows to see what was going on.

"Please, calm down-"

"Calm down? I won't fucking calm down, you cowardly fucker! I hate you! My life is over because of you!"I screamed.

He tried to get closer to me, but I held out my hand to stop him.

"I'm so sorry," he said softly, trying to make me feel guilty for shouting.

"Sorry means nothing. I hope you fall on your fucking face and die! Does your wife know we sexted mere weeks ago? That we had phone sex three days ago? I have been faithful to you, and this is what I get in return?"I asked, not caring that I was dragging his name through the mud.

By the look on his face, I knew the answer.

"Shut the fuck up, Brianna!"He growled at me.

"Go to hell, you pathetic piece of shit! You'd better pray that I don't see your disgusting face again. I will cut off your balls and feed them to the fish."I said and left angrily.

The anger was a mask for my pain. Lily was right. He wasn't serious about me, and he never had been. I shouldn't have uprooted my life for him. Only three blocks away, I broke down and cried.

I carried my suitcase to the beach and sat in the sand while I bawled my eyes out. After deciding I had had enough crying, I left the beach and hailed a taxi. I didn't know where I was going. All I knew was that I had to be as far away from Malcolm as possible.

He took me to a motel. I checked in and ignored the pitiful look the lady at the counter gave me. After putting the luggage in the room, I left the motel and went to the nearest bar. What I needed was alcohol to help me forget.

I ordered a vodka and sat on the barstool while sipping my drink. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I hadn't noticed someone coming and sitting beside me.

"Take it easy, bellissima, "a deep velvety voice drawled out in a thick Italian accent.

"Don't tell me what to do-"I started, but my words were caught in my throat.

The man next to me was a sight for sore eyes. Let's just say that Malcolm had nothing on him.

He was wearing a suit but without a jacket. He had on a waistcoat, and the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to his elbow, showing off his muscular, tattooed arms. He looked like a man who frequented the gym with the way his body looked powerful under that suit.

He had a perfectly sculpted face with a sharp jawline and high cheekbones. There was a 5 O'clock shadow beard covering his face. His gray eyes held nothing but mischief and bad behavior. Not the boyish one, no. He exuded manliness, dominance, and sex appeal.

On top of all that? He had glasses. Did he have an eye problem? I had never thought glasses looked that hot on somebody until him. His black hair fell over his face, and he pushed it back with his tattooed hand that had black rings on some fingers.

I was undeniably attracted to the man.

I tried to defend that it was the alcohol, but I knew it wasn't. There was something dangerous and forbidden about him that pulled me in, daring me to jump into the fire.

I turned to my drink when I realized I had been staring at the stranger for way too long. However, he hadn't noticed because he was busy eyeing me. For some reason, it made me feel sexy.

"You look like you need a friend," he said again, his Italian accent almost making me fawn.

I had a new type, and it was Italian men.

"I'm fine," I replied curtly, not wanting to engage with the man, no matter how tempting it was.

He looked like a man who caught the attention of many women, and I didn't want to set myself up for heartache. The way he was looking at me told me that he was looking for more than friendship.

"A beautiful girl like you shouldn't be crying over a man."

I blushed as he called me beautiful. I knew I was a catch with my big baby blue eyes and waist-long copper brown hair. I also had a slender waist and generous curves. However, I was still stuck on the fact that he knew a man who made me cry. I felt obligated to become defensive.

"A man is not the reason-"

"Don't lie to me, bellissima."He said it in a cool way, but I got the feeling that he wasn't saying it nicely.

Before I knew it, I was spilling all my secrets to a man I didn't even know. He was so attentive and keen in a way that made me feel like I could trust him.

When I was done, I felt stupid because I ignored all the signs that what we had was over.

"I should've guessed. I'm smart. How could I not notice that he only texted me or called when he was horny? I feel like a phone sex attendant minus the pay. Maybe I should do that for a living. I'm broke with no job and no life to go back to."

"He's stupid for not realizing how lucky he is to have a girl like you. He doesn't deserve you."He said while stroking my cheek with the back of his hand.

We changed the subject and the issue of Malcolm was long behind us. At one point in the night, we had pulled our barstools together, and we kept finding reasons to make body contact as we spoke about our lives and joked around.

I couldn't remember the last time a man had made me laugh like that. Even my drink was long forgotten. We only stopped when the bartender told us he was closing and we had to leave.

"When can I see you again?"He asked.

I frowned and looked at him with a sorry look on my face.

"You can't. I have to go back to the U.S. tomorrow and figure my life out. Maybe I can still salvage my job."

He put his hand on top of mine, and my body felt like it was on fire. His big hand engulfed my small one. Shivers ran through my spine at the contact, and I hoped that he didn't notice the effect he had on me.

"Give Sicily a chance. Maybe you'll love it and make it your home. Look, how about you take tomorrow to think things through? I'll pick you up in the morning and show you around. If by the end of the day, you still want to leave, I'll respect that."

"I don't know..."

"Say yes."

We made eye contact for some time before I caved and nodded my head. I needed a break from my life anyway. The man nodded his head and helped me off my stool. We walked out of the club and stood outside. He was towering over me with his height, making me feel small.

"Where is your motel?"He asked.

"Just around the corner," I answered.

"Let me walk you there."

Just as he said that, an Alfa Romeo Stelvio parked next to us, and a man in a suit came out. My hot guy, whose name I had yet to learn, excused himself, and they went further from me and started speaking.

I looked at him as he spoke to the man in hushed tones. It looked like the man in a suit was his driver, with the way he was nodding curtly and listening intensely. I kept staring at his full lips moving, wondering how they would feel on mine.

He turned to look at me and smiled. I looked away and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. He made me giddy and nervous like a high school girl.

After a while, he walked over to me, and the driver got in his car and left.

"Are you ready to go, bellissima?"

I nodded my head, and we started walking on the pavement to my motel.

"What do you do for a living?"I asked to break the ice.

The man was clearly rich. He was wearing Armani from head to toe, and he had an expensive car plus a driver.

"I own many businesses. Usually, I invest in collapsing businesses and bring them to their feet."

I nodded my head in understanding.

"What about you?"

"I'm an editor. I love languages and I thought I'd put my skills to good use."

"I'm sure you'll find another good job."

Before we knew it, we were outside my motel. I turned to face him and wondered what the right thing to say was.

"Is 9 a.m. alright with you?"

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."

"Sleep tight, bellissima."

"I didn't catch your name," I said before he left.

"Nikolai."

I nodded my head and started walking inside. When I looked back, he was still outside waiting for me to enter. I blushed again and looked ahead. Nikolai. That was a name that would make me bend my morals and bring out my inner demon. I just didn't know it yet.

****

I wore baby blue booty shorts, a white tank top, and gladiator sandals because it was hot. Now and then, I zoned out, and his face was all I saw.

I noticed the way he kept a protective arm on the small of my back when we walked on the street. He showed me the basics of learning Italian, so I could communicate better with Italians.

Our tour ended at the beach. We sat in the sand watching the sunset while we each had our thoughts to ourselves.

"So, what do you think of Sicily so far?"He asked.

I sorted out the advantages of this city in my mind. Before I open my mouth, he put two fingers under my chin and kissed me. I froze for a second before my instincts took over and I kissed him back with the same energy.

Our mouths molded together in a fiery kiss that sucked the air right out of my lungs. Desire settled at the pit of my stomach, and electricity shot through my veins.

When his tongue made contact with mine, a sound came from the back of my throat. His hands were all over my body, and liquid heat pooled in my center.

"Is that reason enough for you to stay?"He asked.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear before answering, "It might be. Give me some time."

He walked me back to his car and drove me back to my motel. It was already dark and cold, so he handed me his jumper. It smelled just like him. Addicting and comforting. He walked me to the entrance and pecked my lips.

"I'll see you soon, my bellissima," he said before walking to his car and driving away.

I stood on the pavement smiling at nothing in particular. I touched my lips and blushed even harder. My lips tingled, and I could still feel his lips on mine. I hugged my arms to my body to wrap myself in his scent.

Just as I was turning around to walk inside, I heard sirens. Three cars stopped in front of me, and men in uniform came out.

They pointed guns in my direction and my arms went up in the air. They spoke, but I couldn't figure out what they were saying since I didn't know Italian.

Before I knew it, there were cuffs around my wrists, and I was in the back of the Polizia di Stato's(State Police)car. The worst part was that I didn't even know why.

Fuck.

I sat in the interrogation room with my hands on my head. It was pounding so hard, and I wished it would stop. I didn't know how many hours I had been in there. All I knew was that it was way too long. I still didn't know why I had been arrested on my second day in Sicily.

Suddenly, the door opened and a man stepped in. He looked like he was in his early forties. He had a bushy beard covering his face and empty green eyes. He was tall, but I could tell his height was lower than six feet. He handed me a water bottle, and I took it carefully.

I unsealed it and drank from it, almost downing the whole thing. He chuckled at my behavior, and I gave him a bad look.

"Why am I here? "I asked.

"We are carrying out a murder investigation, and you are on our list of suspects. "He answered and sat in the chair across from me.

I looked at him in disbelief and fought the urge to scoff. Surely that must have been a mistake. I hadn't been in Sicily long enough to know anyone, let alone kill them.

"There must be a mistake-"I started to defend, but he cut me off.

"Do you know this man? "He asked and placed a photo in front of me on the table.

Tears welled up in my eyes when I saw the man he was referring to. Malcolm. My heart was beating at an alarming speed. I mean, I hated the man, but I wasn't heartless enough to want him dead. Who would do such a thing?

"The man is dead? Or the man kill somebody? "I stated, making sure my face revealed nothing.

"Do you recognize this man? "He asked, ignoring my request for a lawyer.

He slid another picture on the table, and this time, it was Nikolai. I couldn't contain the gasp that escaped my lips. What did he have to do with anything?

"You recognize him, don't you? In the eyes of the press, he's a billionaire, but he is also suspected of being a mob boss. You can help us take him down, and I'll make sure all charges against you are cleared. Just tell us where they store the drugs and weaponry. Once we bust him, you're free to go. "

His thick Italian accent disgusted me. It wasn't like Nikolai's, which was pleasant to listen to.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, "I said, looking him in the eye to make sure he got the message that he couldn't intimidate me.

"You were seen cursing and arguing with a man who turned up dead in the night. The next day, you were spotted with a suspected mob boss. I can say it's not looking good for you. If I were you, I would cooperate. "

I stared in shock, my eyes wide. What kind of international joke was this? Was Malcolm dead? Did Italians really enjoy playing pranks on others like this? I couldn't believe anything he said.

In any case, I was really locked up in the police station, and my personal freedom was restricted. The first thing that came to mind is that I have to get myself out. I looked away coldly and said, "I want a lawyer. "

"It's the likes of you who associate with the mafia that rot the society. A rot that must be eliminated. You look like a smart girl. Be smart and cooperate. "

"If I were you, I would get a lawyer. You'd better make sure I don't make it out of here because the hell I will rain on you will be unlike one you've ever seen before. Do you know who my father is? He is Jonathan Lucchese. I'm sure he would love to hear about how the Italian police held me in custody without any evidence. "

I hated throwing daddy's name like some brat, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Lucchese was a known name worldwide. It was no wonder the detective shook with fear at the mention of that name. He must have thought I was just another tourist.

"You're an accessory to murder-"

The door opened before he could finish his statement, and another man walked in. He was in a perfectly fitting suit, and he was carrying a briefcase.

"My client is not obligated to say anything more. "He said while sitting down next to me.

He placed some documents and pictures on the table for the detective to see. From his accent, I knew he was Italian. I saw recognition flash in the detective's eyes. This wasn't their first rodeo.

"As you can see, my client had an alibi for when the victim was murdered. You are free to cross-check everything and see if it's true."

The detective huffed and stomped out. I knew who sent him. I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that Malcolm was dead. Was Nikolai involved? Did he kill him? If so, why? The man had lied to me; he was a legit businessperson when in reality he was a mafia leader.

In one night, he had single-handedly thrust me back into the life I had tried so hard to get away from.

"Are you okay? "The man beside me asked, and I merely nodded my head in answer.

I was angry, hungry, and tired, and I felt dirty. I just wanted to get out of there to let the events of the night sink in. What would happen to Malcolm's wife and child? My head ached just thinking about it.

After almost thirty minutes of waiting in silence, the detective came back into the room and uncuffed my hands. He gave me a dirty look before stepping away from us.

"I'll get you, little girl. You don't know what you've gotten yourself into just by talking to that man. He's evil. I have never seen anyone like him in my whole career. "The detective warned.

"Stop scaring her-"The lawyer started to speak, but I cut him off.

"I'm not a little girl. You'll do well to remember that just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I'm weak. That's why you brought me in here, right? You hoped you could scare me. You'd better prepare a good defense team because I will sue you for this. "I said and walked out.

I hated sexist men, and I knew them when I saw them. As I was leaving, a familiar woman caught my eye. It was Malcolm's wife. She was sitting on a bench with tears in her eyes. Her eyes turned cold when she saw me.

"Tu ciò pagare per che cosa tu ha fatto! Io odio te! Io ucciderò te! "(You must pay for what you've done! I hate you! I'm going to kill you!), )she screamed.

She tried to get to me, but some police officers held her back.

"I didn't kill him! I swear! "I tried to defend, but she was too busy kicking her legs and screaming to hear me.

The lawyer led me away from the scene.

"What did she say? "I asked, wanting to know her words badly.

"She believes you killed her husband, so she said that you'll pay for what you did and that she hates you. "

I pressed my lips into a thin line and looked away. I had lost Malcolm, too, but I couldn't compare myself to her. She had a one-year-old to take care of.

"Who are you? "I crossed my arms across my chest and looked at the man, wanting to know where he had come from. I knew for a fact that the detective had not asked for a lawyer on my behalf. Plus, this one looked expensive because he was wearing expensive clothes.

"Nikolai sent me, "he answered.

"Did he kill Malcolm? "I asked, but I had a feeling I already knew the answer to that question.

"You'll have to ask him yourself."

Before I could answer and say I never wanted to see Nikolai again, a bag was put over my head, and I was grabbed. I tried to kick and twist my body in an attempt to free myself, but the person who was holding me was too strong.

My arms were tied from behind, and I was thrown into the backseat of a car. I felt the car moving. Suddenly, the bag was removed, and I was face-to-face with the bastard who had ruined my life.

"Hello, Brianna, "he greeted with a smile on his face.

That was the first time he had said my name, and even though I wanted to act as if I hated him, I couldn't deny the butterflies that fluttered in my stomach when he said it. For some reason, it felt sensual.

"Hello yourself, you jerk! "I screamed when I remembered how he had made me look like a fool.

"Marry me. "

I laughed at his statement, thinking he was joking until I saw the serious look on his face.

"Are you fucking mental? "

His face was right in front of mine in seconds, and his hand was wrapped around my neck. His grip was tight but not tight enough to cut off my air supply. However, I knew that if he added a little more pressure, he would have me thrashing and begging him to let go.

"I wasn't asking, il mio pupazzo. "