Loving A Gangster ~ Seduced By Danger, Bound By Passion

~~~~

"I love you," I whispered, my voice barely audible, as I stared at Alexander Kova. My heart pounded in my chest as his cold eyes locked onto mine.

"What?" Alexander, the Russian drug lord with a thick accent, asked in surprise, his face contorting with anger and malice.

"Oh... Nothing, sir. I was just practicing my lines," I lied, desperately trying to cover up the truth. The look he gave me earlier made it clear he didn't want to hear those words from me, especially since I was nothing more than a child in his eyes. "So, when is Natalia coming down?" I asked, attempting to shift the conversation and alleviate the awkwardness.

Inside, I screamed, "I'm dying here. I need help." I couldn't believe I had fallen in love with my best friend's father. The butterflies in my stomach danced uncontrollably as I continued to gaze at him.

Alexander Kova, a well-known Russian gangster based in Canada, was a mix of Russian and American descent. He was not only my college friend Natalie Kova's father but also a divorced man with two children. And to make matters worse, he despised children like me, not to mention that my family background was one he didn't want to mix with.

Sighing heavily, I thought, "How does an eighteen-year-old college student fall in love with a thirty-seven-year-old father of two, a divorce, and someone who hates brats?"

Little did I know that the biggest obstacle would come as not just a person, but the gangster world that Kova lives in-a dangerous presence that would test the very foundations of our relationship.

If I had foreseen the challenges ahead, perhaps I would have hesitated, second-guessed my feelings, and kept my emotions in check.

But fate, it seemed, had woven a complicated web, pushing us to confront our fears and doubts, ultimately reshaping our lives in unexpected ways.

Our love, might be fragile, but it was resilient, and it stood firm at the heart of it all, urging us to navigate the hurdles and find a way to be together despite the odds.

As I faced the unknown, I clung to the belief that love could conquer even the darkest corners of our existence, willing to fight for our relationship, no matter the challenges that lay ahead.

Even if the danger that lurks at the corner was ME, and that other me with powers unimaginable...

A FEW MONTHS BACK

It all started at school after a boring day spent in detention. I ended up there because I couldn't resist telling a female teacher to stop seducing the male students. In my defense, she came to school wearing a short mini-skirt and barely any top. It was obvious what she wanted.

Unlike my school's lack of attractive teachers, there were many handsome students who seemed more mature than their age. Alone in the room, I muttered, "Today's all messed up."

"And whose fault is that?" a female voice echoed from the other end.

Startled, I jumped up in fear. It was a dark room, and if someone had entered, I would have noticed. "Show yourself," I demanded, but there was no response. "Just so you know... I'm a black belt," I warned, pausing for a moment. Well, it wasn't entirely false. I had learned a thing or two about self-defense.

"No doubt you are," the voice replied, this time from the opposite end of the room. Then, a young girl emerged from the shadowy corner. She had long black hair and eyes that held a world of experiences. If I guessed correctly, she was the same age as me. "Hi," she greeted me with a smile.

I walked over to where she stood. "Back at you," I replied, turning towards the door. "How did you get in here? I didn't see you come in," I complained.

"What, you don't know me?" she asked, sounding offended.

"Hmm, am I supposed to?" I questioned.

"You've got to be kidding me," she said with a slightly annoyed grunt. "We attend class together, and it's my third day at this school," she added.

"Oh... the new girl! I totally forgot," I realized, and then she looked familiar. "Sorry, I thought you were a teacher," I admitted with a smile.

"Right," she sarcastically spat.

"Anyway, sorry about that." I walked closer to her. "We started off on the wrong foot," I said, extending my hand. "My name is Sophie Rust, and I can be a bit of a blockhead sometimes," I introduced myself.

Laughing, she replied, "Yeah, I can see that," and shook my hand. "My name is Natalie Kova. I'm sixteen and apparently perfect."

"Huh... no one is perfect," I blurted out.

"Oh well, too bad for you because I am," she retorted.

"Whatever. Anyway... Kova? Is that your father's name?" I asked in surprise.

"Yes, why?" Natalie responded.

"Oh! Nothing... It's just that the name doesn't sound American, so I was kind of surprised," I explained.

"Yeah, that's because we're not. We're Russians," Natalie said.

"Oh wow, you don't look or sound Russian," I remarked. "Sorry, didn't mean to sound weird," I quickly added.

"It's fine. I get that a lot," Natalie reassured me, taking a seat on a wooden bench. I followed suit. "My father is not purely Russian; he's part American, and my mother was also American. So, although my father looks the Russian part, I don't," she explained.

"Well, that's cool. Even I don't look like my parents, and I'm American," I said, trying to lighten the mood. "People sometimes ask if I'm adopted. Crazy, right?"

"Yeah," Natalie agreed.

"So... instead of Natalie, can I just call you Nat?" I asked.

"Why?" she inquired.

"Huh, because it's easier to pronounce," I replied with a serious expression.

"Hahaha, you're funny," she responded, laughing.

"Thanks. I know we're going to be great friends. I can feel it in my bones," I said confidently.

"Speak for yourself, weirdo," Natalie retorted.

"Ouch, I'm fucking hurt," I replied, and we both burst into laughter.

Just then, the door opened, and we heard a female voice say, "Okay... girls, time to go home. And Miss Kova, your father is here."

"Oh shit. They called my father?" Natalie exclaimed, standing up from the bench. "Can you believe that?" she asked, staring at me.

"Yeah! Welcome to Canada, bitch," I responded, and we both left the room.

"Oh, Dad!" Natalie called out as she rushed out of the door. I turned in the direction she was looking and gasped audibly. She noticed my reaction and asked, worried,

"What?"

"That... that's... your father?" I stammered.

"Yeah, why?" Natalie questioned.

"He's so fucking hot," I blurted out, unable to contain my thoughts. Standing at that distance, he looked like a god who had decided to visit Earth, mesmerizing and untouchable.

~~~~

My reaction to her father left Nat speechless and shocked.

"Sophie. Drooling? Ew, that's so dis-gusting," she said angrily as she walked towards him.

"Yeah! So what? It's my drooling, not yours," I muttered under my breath while watching her converse with her father.

I stood near the entrance of the room, unable to take my eyes off the hand-some man. "Oh, my God! Have you ever seen such a fine specimen?" I questioned myself.

He was tall, an imposing figure that commanded attention with every step. His muscular build hinted at a lifetime of discipline and danger, and his long, golden hair, neatly tucked at the back, shimmered like a lion's mane. His eyes, a striking shade of gold, held a fierce intensity that could pierce through steel. Thin lips curled into a knowing smile, his face was the embodiment of Ares, the god of war.

Even in his tight pants, it was clear he was well-endowed, and the thought of what that might do to me made me gasp. "Seriously, is an eighteen-year-old allowed to think like that?" I muttered, though it wasn't entirely my fault. His presence was irresistible, a dangerous allure that made my heart race and my mind wander into forbidden territory.

As I stood there, battling with my inappropriate thoughts, an annoying voice in-interrupted my reverie. "Oh! You must be the father?" the voice chimed in.

I lifted my head to find Miss Rachael Lawman, the seductive teacher who dressed to make any student swoon. Naturally, with a man like that around, it was no surprise she'd want to seduce him too.

"What a bitch," I thought to myself. To make matters worse, she was blocking my view. Of all the...

"Yes, I am," Nat's father replied to her inquiry. "And you are?" he added.

What a beautiful, manly voice he had. I sighed softly, forgetting my anger for a moment.

"Oh, I'm Rachael Lawman, Natalie's teacher," she responded with a seductive smile.

"Oh, then I'm glad my daughter is in safe hands."

"Oh... of course," she replied, smiling shyly.

"Well, then we'll be on our way."

"Sure... see you on Monday, Natalie," she said with a wave.

"Sure, teacher," Natalie replied, forcing a smile that clearly indicated she didn't like her.

I sighed and walked over to where Miss Lawman was standing, still ogling at Nat's father until he disappeared into the stairway. "What a handsome man!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah... too bad he's married," I blurted out rudely.

"Oh my... don't do that, Sophie! You scared the hell out of me," she said with anger.

"Oh... really? And here I thought you were aware of my presence," I said, moving to stand in front of her. "Don't you think you're giving our school a bad image with your constant seductive attitude? If you're looking for a man, why don't you get married instead of running around pursuing every man in sight?" I snapped. "Mrs. Lara is still going through hell since her husband divorced her because of you," I added, spitting on the ground in disgust. I walked away.

"Hey, you little brat... stop right there!" she called after me. "Or so help me God, you will be suspended for a month."

"Yeah... you do that... and I'm going to tell the whole school how you tried to seduce my father," I raged, as I was continuing to walk away.

"Why, you... how dare..." she said between breaths, and I simply gave her the 'fuck you finger' and hopped onto the bus, leaving her standing at the school gate.

I know, how can someone so young come off as rude? Well, I wasn't always like this. Despite my father being a respected man, I sometimes acted like an untrained gangster, even though I came from a well-trained home.

You see, it was my parents who didn't train me, but it was an uncle from my father's side who took on that role. He was a ranger and a cowboy, always surrounded by many companies, from ex-convicts to troublemakers, drug addicts, wrestlers, and foul-mouthed individuals. Living with such a bunch of misfits, inevitably, I would pick up a thing or two, being the curious type that I am. But I didn't just pick up one thing; I absorbed all of them.

By the age of ten, I was worse than my uncle and his band of mischief-makers. I was an expert in foul language and swindling people. I excelled at gambling and always came out on top. Nobody at my uncle's place could ever defeat me. The only vices I stayed away from were smoking, drinking, and drugs.

By the age of eleven, I became the strongest student in school, feared by both teachers and students alike. I was literally fearless. There was even a time when I single-handedly caught a gang of robbers who were attacking a bank I happened to be in. It made the news.

However, at fourteen, I started living with my biological parents. If someone had told me that strict Daniel and Emily Rust were my parents, I would have argued vehemently.

But it turned out to be true. I guess you could say my uncle was afraid. If I had continued down that path, I would have ended up be-coming just like him, and I believe he didn't want that for me.

Despite all the fights and the crappy lifestyle, I always excelled academical-y. I was the best in my class, even now in college. That's why some of my attitude were overlooked. "It's hard to point fingers at such a clever and brilliant student," the head of the school once said.

Although it took time to adjust to my parents' rules, as their ethics stood against everything I knew as a child, I somehow managed. But as they say, old habits die hard.

Sighing, I realized it was a good thing I had come home on time. Mom and Dad had gone on a trip, and for once, I could just relax." I thought excitedly as I approached the door, ready to unlock it. But before I could turn the knob, it opened on its own. "Huh? That's weird... it should have been locked, right?" I murmured, standing at the entrance. "OMG! I think we were robbed!" I exclaimed.

"There is no such thing," a muscular voice resounded.

I turned towards the direction of the voice and saw my father and mother sitting on the sofa, sipping their coffee. An envelope lay on the table. "Mom! Dad!" I called out, walking over to them. "I thought you guys went on a trip. What happened?" I asked, a little surprised.

"Why don't you tell us?" Mom replied.

"What do you mean?" I asked, pretending innocence, though it was clear.

"You were sent to the detention room today. Care to explain why?"

"What do you mean?.."

"Don't even lie to us, Sophie. We received calls from three of your teachers informing us about the incident," Mom said, her voice rising in anger. "What is going on with you? You're not in grade school anymore. Why are you still getting detention?" she questioned, clearly frustrated.

"Seriously! You're asking me that? Why the hell does a college have a detention room? Isn't that weird?" I inquired.

"Watch your language, young lady," Dad breathed out softly.

"Fine... sorry about that, and sorry that you had to cancel your trip because of me," I apologized.

"Oh, come now, dear," Mother said, at-tempting to calm me down. "You know that's not why we're angry, right?"

I sighed again. "Yes, I know. But what can I do? It's already a part of me."

"Nonsense! Such a personality is not a part of you."

"Yeah, right! After spending half of your life with a bunch of ex-convicts, if you still had your rationality by then, I'd believe you."

"Stop saying 'half of your life,' Sophie, for crying out loud! You're just an eight-teen years old. There's still nineteen, twenty and beyond. You have more life to live. I know you turned out like this partially because of us, but we're here now. I want you to change that mindset of yours and live your life to the fullest without those untrained, uncanny, and bad girl attitudes, okay?"

"Ugh... okay, fine," I said with a forced smile.

"Good, that's my girl," she added, giving me a warm hug.

I turned to my father, who was silently sipping his coffee. "But you guys didn't just come home to lecture me, right?" I blurted out, grabbing a sandwich from my mom.

"What happened?"

"Haha! Aren't you sharp?" Father burst out happily.

"Of course I am," I responded with a smirk. "I'm my father's daughter, after all."

"No doubt about that," Father murmured as he picked up the envelope.

"That's funny. Earlier, you were scolding me about not teaching her proper character, and now that she is sharp... she is your daughter?" Mom, who was busy cooking something for dinner, blurted out in anger.

"Hahaha," Father laughed nervously. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, pretending innocence.

"Of course you don't. When a child is bad, it's the mother's fault, but when the child is good, the father takes all the credit."

"Yeah! What's up with that?" I asked, even though I knew better.

"Hahaha," Father and I burst out laughing at the sudden irritated look on my mother's face. "Okay... So what brought you guys back?" I asked again after regaining my composure.

Something was definitely off.

~~~~

My dad shook his head in disbelief, still chuckling as he turned to me.

"Nothing much, he said with a smirk, "just the gangster family next door." His eyes glinted with a mix of amusement and disdain.

"Bloody hell! I gasped, feeling a rush of fear and excitement.

"Sophie! Language! Mother yelled, her voice sharp."

"Sorry, Mom, I replied, turning back to my father. "You mean to say there's a real gangster, like a mafia, living next door? He's our neighbor?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. I'd only ever seen gangsters on TV, but to have one right next to me... Oh, holy moly.

The idea of living next to someone connected to a dark world full of crimes sent a shiver down my spine. My mind raced with images of clandestine meetings and shadowy figures lurking at night. It was both thrilling and terrifying.

I'd always wanted to meet a real mafia... this might be my luck. Thank God, I was bored to hell. I thought this might spice up my dull life, beaming at Dad.

"Huh?" Father spat, drawing back, blinking from Mom to me.

Ah! Maybe I was too excited; he must have seen the look in my eyes because now he was acting like a robot who didn't know anything. Great one, Sophie! Now they won't want to talk about it. Just freaking great.

Clearing my throat, pretending to be less interested, I asked, "Dad, you were saying?"

But before he could say anything more, Mother sighed irritably. "It's a figure of speech, dear. It's not the actual thing." She gave a humorless laughter. "There is nothing like that in this world." She corrected or tried to, as she stared-no, more like glared-at Father.

Damn! I knew this would happen. It was obvious she didn't want me to know... but I can't really blame her.

Sighing. Ah! Screw it! "Oh..." I turned to Dad with a disappointed look. "Right, like those things are real." I sighed, picking up my bag. "I should head upstairs then," I said, faking a yawn.

"Oh... You must be tired. Go rest up. I'll call you when dinner's ready." She said to me.

"Thanks, Mom." I hugged her and went up to my room. Sighing as I flopped onto my bed, I guess I would have to find out on my own.

***

Emily shot a fiery look at Daniel. "What do you think you're doing, dear? Were you actually going to tell her that?" she demanded, her voice laced with concern. "It's supposed to be a top secret."

Daniel sighed. "Emily, she needs to know to stay safe."

"Safe from what, Dan?" Emily glared at him. "The information from headquarters clearly stated that this was a non-active mafia, not an active one. So why the worry?"

"Seriously, you and I both know that non-active ones can be the most dangerous of all," Daniel replied.

"You might be right, but where have you ever heard of a mafia leader living in a community full of high-level officers and militants?" Emily countered. "Have you considered that they might just want to live in peace or could be running from something? It's not wise to go looking for trouble. And be cautious about who you share that information with. Just as we're trying to find out about them, they'll be doing the same about us." She finished.

"Then what about the child who goes to Sophie's school? What are we going to do about that?"

"Nothing. We do nothing. Being a gangster's child doesn't stop them from going to school, as long as they don't cause any trouble. If you mention this to Sophie, it'll only make her more curious. I shouldn't need to remind you of her fondness for those bastards. I'm already struggling to steer her away from that untrained interest, thanks to your brother. I don't want to add fuel to the fire." She sighed. "Besides, they live like four houses away. I don't think there'll be any issue as long as you don't tell her anything."

"Yeah..." Daniel replied, frowning. "He's not my brother; he's just a relation," he added, irritated.

"Of course, love, if you say so," Emily said, her voice trailing off into silence.

Daniel sighed again, staring at her with a begrudging acceptance. He hated that she was right. As a retired force woman, her skills and knowledge were still formidable.

"Fine... I won't say anything to her," he conceded. He paused, adding, "I'm hungry."

"Ha-ha, of course, you are," Emily said with a smile. "Go freshen up; I'll call you when dinner is ready."

"Oh... sure. Thanks, love." He said, leaning in to kiss her on the lips.

"No problem, dear," she replied with a wide smile, watching him leave.

As soon as Emily heard the door close behind Daniel, signaling his retreat, she quickly wiped the water from her hands and grabbed her phone.

With a few swift motions, she punched in a number. After several rings, a voice crackled through the line.

"Hello!" an old female voice resounded from the other end.

"Hello, Mira! It's me, Wild Cat."

Mira's voice carried a mix of surprise and nostalgia. "Wild Cat? Emily Rust, it's been ages since I've heard that name. How are you, old friend?"

"I'm doing well, Mira. And you?" Emily's voice was steady, though her eyes were sharp and alert.

"Well, I'm okay, just feeling the weight of the years," Mira replied, a touch of weariness in her tone.

"I suppose so," Emily said, pausing for a moment.

"Well, I assume you didn't call just to catch up," Mira's voice shifted to a more serious tone. "What's on your mind?"

"Oh, nothing much," Emily replied casually. "Just some information about the sudden appearance of a Mafia boss in our backyard."

"Oh... you've heard about that too?" Mira's voice hinted a bit of surprise.

"I'd be a fool not to. So, what do you know about it?" Emily pressed, her tone sharp.

"

Not much! I mean, I know exactly what you know," Mira responded, her voice steady but guarded.

"Seriously, there's no way that's true. You were one of the best informants back at the force. Don't play games with me-just fill me in, please."

"And for your information, I still am," Mira replied hastily.

"Great to know, Mira," Emily responded, her voice filled with satisfaction.

Sighing aloud, Mira said, "Fine, Rust, you've convinced me."

"Well, I'm glad," Emily replied, her tone lightening slightly.

"Yeah. Anyway, when I got the alert from headquarters, I got curious and started my investigation. It turns out they left out some crucial details."

"What kind of details?" Emily asked, interested.

"Like his background and all that," Mira explained. "From my research, I found out that he's a crossbreed between Russian and American. His name is Alexander Kova-a rootless Russian mafia Leader or king who seized control of the Russian drug world at a young age. He was married..."

"Was?" Emily interjected.

"Yes. Both of his wives were murdered in cold blood. Officially, he's divorced. It's said that after their deaths, nearly ten mafia organizations were ruthlessly dismantled along with their bosses."

"Well, it's obvious who did it and why," Emily said.

"Yeah, but no one had the guts to speak out," Mira agreed.

Emily sighed heavily. "But that still doesn't explain why he suddenly moved into our community, right?"

"I thought the same," Mira continued, "until I discovered that... the wives who were murdered left something precious for him."

"His children?" Emily asked, her voice softening a bit.

"Yes, Natalie Kova, a sixteen-year-old girl, and Michael Kova, a six-year-old boy," Mira responded.

"Wow... A mafia boss with kids, and such young ones at that," Emily exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, but that's not all. Six months ago, both of them were kidnapped on their way to school. Five of his bodyguards were killed in the process. Fortunately, the authorities discovered the plot in time; otherwise, the children would have been killed. After that, he relocated to Canada."

"Wait! Do you mean he fled? A brutal drug lord like Kova actually fled from his enemies? That's preposterous!" Emily spat out in disbelief.

"You think so?" Mira asked. "But I believe it's the perfect plan. Think about it-his living among high-ranking officials doesn't just protect him and his family but also diverts attention from his activities. And besides, I don't think it's such a bad thing if he fled."

"What do you mean?" Emily inquired, curious.

"You and Daniel were one of the best duo agents the force has ever seen. At the mere mention of your name, criminals would piss their pants off. But for a child, you both abandoned an operation. When I heard about it..." Mira's voice trailed off.

"Yeah... well," Emily interrupted, her voice tinged with regret. "When I got the call that my child was becoming the very thing I was fighting against, I couldn't ignore it. I knew she needed her family, so I just..." She began, then fell silent.

"Yeah, I understand," Mira said, in frustration. "But did you have to quit? I nearly went into a coma from shock when I heard about it."

"Sophie needed a mother, not an agent, and I couldn't be both at the same time. So, one of us needed to stay behind while the other continued... I just decided it should be me. Besides, I help out sometimes. And now that we're planning to have more kids, I need to focus on my rusty sex skills," Emily said with a touch of sarcasm.

"Ha-ha, yes... just like your name," Mira responded with a chuckle. "Anyway, that's all I've found out about the Ma-fia. We're his cover."

"Yes, that makes more sense. We serve as a cover for his activities. While he lives here pretending to be retired, he conducts his dirty work right under our noses."

"Yes," Mira agreed.

"But seriously, are we going to let him do that?" Emily asked, still concerned.

"Well, as long as he doesn't cause any trouble, it should be fine. I don't think I have the strength to go up against a drug lord like that."

"Yes, you're right. Anyway, thank you for the information, Mira. Now I can sleep in peace."

"You're welcome."

"Talk later."

"Yeah, bye." Mira ended the call.

Emily sighed again, her thoughts lingering on the conversation. "Even so, I need to keep a close watch on Sophie," she murmured, turning her attention back to the cooking. "I hope nothing happens."