SONIA (Book two of the Mafia romance)

Red blinds my eyes punching relentlessly to the face of the server boy who wheezes under my chokehold. Blood splutters out of his lips hanging slumped in my firm grip taking the blows after blows to the point of passing out. Fellow workers knelt on the floor with my men aiming their guns at each and everyone of them looking scared and fidgeting. All my mind replays is her eyes fluttering close, watching her die, the boat exploding, debris falling, me screaming her name getting no answer.

The blast had me battered and bruised but not disoriented; I forgo the cuts and slashes even the bullet hole leaking blood profusely. Everything, the pains became numb watching debris fall around me and no sign of her. I wanted to do something special for once in my life and instead I lost my guard fucking everything up eventually ruining my life in the process. I ran to the edge of the dock diving into the water, I swim searching for anything, just a glimpse. Nothing.

My whole world crumbles around me, my heart thumps loud in my chest but I kept on looking diving further into the water and screaming her name. Silence. It was all silent. For the first time, I cried and screamed like a madman punching the water and kicking aiming my frustration and anger at it.

I fucked up. I killed her. I killed my baby.

Guilt ate me up from the inside as my mind repeatedly say those words to me. All I want is to see her face again, watch her beautiful smile whenever I make her happy which was rare to none but she stayed, she endured and what did she get from it. Her death and that of our baby. I cried so hard, something I never did when Ma and Pa were killed. I cried for my pride, my arrogance, my unborn child, my Princess. I cried floating on top of the water screaming and searching for her.

"Vlad! Vlad!" Alexei voice calls rushing towards me with our men behind him. I just want to delve deeper, sinking it as I drink in large sums of water till my lungs can take no more and then let go so I can be with her again. "Get him out of there, now!" He commands. The numbness so pure despair took over my soul feeling my men pull me out of the water.

"Brat. Posmotri na menya. Chto sluchilosʹ? Gde net?" (Brother. Look at me. What happened? Where is Nia?) He held my face in his hands forcing me to look into his eyes which held worry and confusion.

Looking at the water and the debris all around us I choked tears streaming down my face. It was suppose to be perfect for her, everything I did it was all for her. I wanted to make it right but I didn't get the chance to do so.

"On zastrelil yeye Alexei. L·endro ubil Niyu, moy rebenok." (He shot her Alexei. Leandro killed Nia, my baby.)

The memory brought a darkness in me as I kept punching at the server's face growling and grunting in anger.

"We couldn't find anything boss." My head snaps to one of my men in anger finally letting go of the young server boy who falls to the floor unconscious. His colleagues scurries to help him nursing him back to health. I couldn't care less when the mother of my unborn baby just got blown up in front of my eyes.

"Search everywhere! No one gets out of here alive. No one!" I growl swiping things off the counter and pantry. Shrieks of terror echoes in the kitchen from the workers. No one gets out of here alive if I don't find that fucker. I was too busy fighting her with the excuse of protection when it has been planned from the onset when the attack will take place. They knew our every move, we got trailed. Fuck! Anya came to Italy for a reason. It couldn't be a coincidence. Alexei was right, I should have killed her when I got the chance and now regret seeps into my heart slowly.

My heart is gone, I felt nothing. It got ripped from me, taken without a second thought. My eyes scans the kitchen and a few dead bodies lying amiss as a result of my anger. When in fact they were sent to spy on Nia and I.

Choking, he spits blood. "Sir, I don't know anything." He coughs more blood taking my gaze to him. "I was only told to give you the note by a passerby at the dock before we left." In anger I snatch him by the collar causing the females in the room to scream in fright. He moans in pains. "Please don't kill me." Wheezing, I squeeze tight to his neck wanting to break it. To watch the life slip out of him like it did to my Princess.

"Vladimir! Vladimir! What are you doing? You are killing him." Alexei cautions.

"She is gone. He killed her!" A sinister look came across my face loving the way his face pales as the seconds tick.

"Vladimir you are not acting rational. Let him go." Stepping further to the scene. The hostages looks at me in fear.

"Alexei, She was pregnant. They killed her. The killed my woman and my baby." Firing a random shot in anger, cries and screams echoed igniting the fire of hate in me.

"Leandro did. Let him go Vlad." When he says that it was Nia's face which replays in my head whenever she chastises me. This is not what she would accept. Slowly I let him go staggering to rest on the island letting out a painful groan. I may be breathing but I knew I died with that boat. The pains inexplicable.

"We need to clean you up. You can't go walking on the streets like this." No response from me.

"We have to leave Vlad. It's not safe for you anymore."

"I'm not going anywhere without killing that bastard who took Nia away from me."

"And you have my full support but first we have to leave here."

I sat in the black escalade missing her warmth besides me. Her facial expressions when we get into a heated argument or her smug grins when she outsmarts me. Her unique scent. So distinctive I always know when she is close by. I memorized it all to the back of my head, she thought I never took notice but I did. I was just too stubborn, just like her to let her win most times. Now, I will do anything to have her get the last laugh.

"Boss. There's someone here requesting to see you." Stepping down the car, the driver says just as he opens my door. I look disheveled but who cares when the only one that does is gone. Taken from me.

"Fuck off." I hear Alexei let out an exhausting sigh.

"Send him in." He says walking behind me into the foyer of the hotel.

"And who the fuck are you?" I question looking at a familiar face glaring hard at me.

"I am Lucien Vatore and I'm here for my sister." And there I realized it couldn't get any worse

The overly similar looking sibling who could be passed as her twin due to the resemblance watches me in disdain. I couldn't give a fuck even if I wanted to after the pains I feel over the death of my beloved but for the sake of her I would take caution just as much as I can tolerate.

He steps closer. "I don't know what you did to her or why she is with you but I'm here to end that madness. She is not picking my calls and if she thinks I didn't take notice of how she evades questions thrown about her location or how I found out she is pregnant. And by who? A Russian. Not under my watch." I didn't care this is my dead girlfriends brother; it irks me to hear him say such about her most especially me.

"Don't you dare talk about her like that?" I grit out venomously.

Snatching Alexei's gun from his grip pointing at Lucien whose reflex was also quick enough to focus his gun at me. The lobby room became in shambles as the few persons present shrieks in terror crouching low or ducking for cover against stray bullets which will be as a result of the blood bathe about to begin.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Everyone calm down." Alexei dives in for the save standing between the both of us. He looks at me shaking his head. "Vlad, dostanʹ svoye derʹmo. My na publike na trakh radi." (Vlad, get your shit together. We are in public for fuck sake.)Glaring at the man in tailored suit, slowly I lowered the gun tucking it back in my pocket.

"We have a situation with Nia." He faces the brother watching as his face morphs into a frown.

"Her name is fucking Sonia." Alexei didn't bother about it, simply moving on by fishing his tablet out of his jacket showing him a CCTV video of just a few hours back. Watching the video, hearing her voice created a scowl on my face. In anger, I left the scene so as not to murder someone.

"Vlad? Vladimir! Kuda vy sobirayetesʹ?" (Vlad? Vladimir! Where are you going to?)

I didn't want to turn back to see the look on their faces most of all I didn't want to go back to our suite where it held memories that will surely break me down. I'm trying my very best to stay sane but each second here will do me no good. I need a breather. I need her.

"What have you done?" I halt in my steps turning to face Lucien. His eyes glisten in unshed anger blazing with fire which didn't spill. I could see the anger, the hate, and the hurt. It all reads in his eyes reflecting mine. Suddenly he points his gun to me; not flinching, my eyes darts between the gun in his hand and him.

"If you are going to shoot me, have at it but I am going out there to find the fucker who killed my woman and my baby." He blinks once, twice, mouth falls slightly open gobsmacked.

"Baby? She was truly pregnant." I nod solemnly dejection washing over my soul. So empty I fear I will never recover from it until I find Leandro, skin him alive and make him watch as I burn his skin.

"I will help avenge my sister but the minute all this is over, I will kill you Vladimir." For the first time I grin because we are both on the same page.

"Fine by me." He follows me into the black Range Rover, our faces held determined looks. Signaling to Alexei who was about joining us to stop. I need to do this alone if I'm to save myself from the death of another. Leandro best be ready because if he thinks I will go down without a fight, he best be prepared because I am the war.

***

"And what is the meaning of this?" Sitting on a round table, location secluded by Lucien. In our midst is the man I hate and will still hate who sent dynamites with his eyes. I guess Nia told him one or two about me, hoping it more of concerns how good I fuck her and not even him will ever match in comparison. Glaring back at him but with a smug grin on my face, a glare so deathly it could take out large expanse of a country. Sizing the tan looking tousled hair brown eyed male, I chuckle on the inside. So this is the boy after my girl? I thought internally. Both of us in a standoff glare.

"We are here to talk." Lucien sat back analysing the both of us. Instead I smirk watching him watch me, me on the other hand ready to pounce on a scapegoat to vent my anger on. Santiago.

"You couldn't do that without the Russians." He spoke in Italian and I knew he is referring to me just by the way he said it spitefully. Lucien kept his cool while the limp dick motherfucker's voice raises spitting fire at me causing the grin on my face to grow bigger. Fed up with his shenanigans, I growl banging the table which echoes in the room.

"English please and yes we need to talk." It got quiet with him glaring harder at me. Good.

"Sonia is dead." He stood up abruptly pointing his gun at me. A heated argument came up between both Italians while I sat watching the scene unfold. My patience thinning as the seconds passes. Someone is asking for a death wish.

"Fucker." He cocks his gun ready to fire.

Slowly, calmly and eerily monotone while sipping my bourbon, I muse."I don't take it well with persons who points their guns at me." Looking him dead in the eye."So I suggest you drop that gun or I won't hesitate to pull the trigger." Fishing my own gun out of my trench coat I fired a warning shot. Lucien's lips twitch in amusement still in his relaxed stance but I am far from amusement, quite enough fed up with entertaining his ruckus. He struggles with himself debating if to challenge me or not finally ending up retreating taking his seat at the table.

Moving on with the issue at hand, I slap a file on the table catching their eyes and attention to the blue file. "We all sitting here have a common purpose. Sonia, my girlfriend and the mother to my unborn child." I say to spite Santiago fucking ass hoping he challenges me so I could end his pathetic life. Instead he growls, a scowl sitting on his face. "Here is the necessary information linked to her death, her contract I rejected and the major lead Leandro. Find out everything and report back as soon as possible." I sit up about taking my leave only to pause hearing Santiago.

"And who do you think you are issuing such orders?"

"The one who is going to find the fuckers that killed my baby and her mother and also the fucker who will fuck you up if you dare challenge me again." With that I take my leave not once turning back.

If he wants to know who is the boss, he best believe I will fuck him up without a second thought.

"Boss."

Kirill's head turns back facing me which takes my eyes to the windshield watching the target walk into his car. "Let's go."

Ivan gears the car out of the driveway on my command. Discreetly we follow behind the car ahead of us which stops at a bar, I watch as a younger looking male enters the car; soon after he comes out with a brown envelope in hand. The mystery man opens his jacket placing the envelope in it observing the street before venturing back into the bar as the car continues on with its journey.

"His name is Hernandez. The CCTV scan proves him as the one who gave the note to the bus boy." Sliding his tablet for me to take a look at his screen. I zoom in on the face displayed on the screen, true it is him in the red Chevy.

"Follow him." Passing his tablet back to him taking my eyes out the window watching as the streets blurs during the drive. Closing my eyes for a second, her face flashes snapping my eyes open. Even in my thoughts her face haunts me. Will I ever get over the fact she is dead or will she keep haunting my daily thoughts? Since her death I can't seem to get enough sleep because whenever my eyes closes I either battle with her face; when she moans my name, her smiles, her anger, when she begs to fuck her harder and if not that it is her teary eyes that begs me in fear before she got shot.

I notice the vehicle came to a halt few cars away from the red Chevy. "Alexei..." He pauses facing me. "Don't kill him." Grinning sinisterly he smirks getting out of the car. I just need to get a hold of my emotions not wanting two insane Russians to mess everything up. Fishing my phone out of my pocket, I dial Lucien.

"Yes. I will meet you in an hours time." Pausing. "Good." I hang up getting down from the car, Ivan and Kirill behind me.

Hearing gagging noise and muffled choke sounds had me feeling Alexei is at his peak. I only hope he didn't weaken him enough to answer my questions. Walking into the den of the empty home, my eyes scans room seeing empty beer bottles and takeouts before it lands on the bloodied man chained up to the ceiling. Why am I not surprised?

"Do you know who I am?" His face raise up looking at me taking a spit at me in disgust.

"Fuck you." He says. Alexei in his element slash his wound deeper causing a loud scream emanating from the man.

"I ask. Do you know who I am?" Alexei tightens his grip on the chain causing Hernandez to choke for air.

"No. Please. No."

Snapping my fingers at Ivan, he walk to Hernandez showing him an image of Sonia. "Do you know who this is?" His eyes dilates in fear flitting between the picture and I.

"I bet you do. Now who do you work for?"

"Vaffanculo." (Fuck you.) Smiling I went closer to let him see the fire blazing in my eyes. A fire burning so harsh that it will consume everything coming across its way.

"I take zero tolerance to fellows like you so I will ask again, Who do you work for?" This time I wouldn't let him stress me out so I settled with firing a shot at his leg. He wheezes almost losing a footing to fall off the stool that kept him from hanging to his death.

"The boss."

"And who is the boss?" Alexei questions.

"I don't know. I swear I don't know." He cries.

"You remember this." Taking the note out of my pocket. The note he sent to give me. The note that killed my woman. The note which will be his end.

"Please. Fuck please." He screams seeing Alexei with kitchen knives of different sizes grinning like a mad man.

"Talk."

"Yes. Yes. I was only told to give you this."

"Name."

"No. Please no. His name is Dominique." Operating his tablet he taps rapidly in concentration before a smile crept on his face.

"Got it Vlad."

"Kill him." I walk out of the building to the car awaiting their return upon hearing Hernandez screams fill the house.

"No! No! No!"

I relaxed at the back of the car. The doors pulls open as my men and brother enters driving out and into the crowded streets, then something caught my eyes in the crowd. It can't be. "Stop the car!" I shout causing them to look at me sceptically.

"What is it Vlad?" My eyes already scanning the area where I saw the face, the mass of persons on the street made it impossible to confirm my sight. I had to sit up frantically looking through the windows of the car for the familiar face.

"Nia. I see her." Hurrying to open he stops me looking at me like I have finally lost it but I haven't. I know what I just saw and it is my woman. My suppose dead woman.

"Vladimir." He calls wearily.

"Stop the fucking car!" Kirill stops abruptly watching as I jump down from the car rushing to the scene I last saw her.

"Fuck. Go after him before he gets himself killed." I overheard Alexei's voice say in exasperation. He can call me a shrink after now but I know what I saw. That hair, the face even from the side and that scowl which sits permanently on her face when she is about to explode. On getting there, the face and the body is nowhere to be found, nothing. It made it seem like Alexei is right, I am seeing things and will possibly need a shrink. I stood confused and hurt in front of the crowd looking like mad man who ran a thousand miles in search of a ghost, my heart thumping at a fast pace.

I know it is her. I can't be daydreaming that shit out. It was her, I know it. My Sonia.