Chapter 8

RUSSIA

  A knock was heard on the door.

"Come in" was the hoarse reply from the Don of the Russian Mafia.
The young man entered inside the poorly lit study room and was greeted by the smoke from a cigar that puffed out of the lungs of the Don.

  His eyes narrowed to the five bulky men that stood taunt and still, not daring to face the Don or complain about the foggy cigar smoke. Their frigid eyes rested on the violet rug placed on the ground.
Perspiration covered their foreheads and the young man easily deciphered the Don must have barked and tonguelashed at them.

  Ivan Fedorov, was as dangerous
and cold as he was twenty five years ago when he had to take the seat following the passing of his father in the hands of Armani Constanzo.
  His glare and the rough edge of his voice were capable of making men tremble in horror.

"Will you just stand there son?"He growled at his son, Maxim.
Maxim walked towards his father, drawing out a seat and sitting down.
  He had taken his father's features; tall with frosty green eyes, dirty blonde hair, pointed cheekbones and crimson red lips.

"I've got news"he simply stated.
Ivan's callous eyes shone wickedly, his ears twitching to hear the news.

"He is back"Maxim said with a sly grin.
Ivan roared in laughter, hitting his fists repeatedly on the wooden table.

"The son of a bitch is back. When did you get the news?"Ivan inquired.

"Yesterday night. He came back with a woman. He was spotted in the airport with her"Maxim said as he dropped the envelop he was holding on his father's desk.

  Ivan greedily opened it, bringing out the snapshots, eyes scanning the pictures that were taken of Raphael and Nicole in the airport.
"Her face is covered. The bastard covered her face"He gritted.

"It is not a problem boss. We know he is now in Italy"

Ivan sighed with a satisfied smile and flopped his head on his chair, his hands interlocking together.
"The fire has been left unattended for way too long. Now we will ignite it and watch it burn Raphael down"

"And as for you five"He authoritatively stated to the five men who stood as still as statues.

"If the arabs don't want to bargain with us, kidnap their families and threaten them. Slaughter a scapegoat and make sure those goods must pass through the boarders!"Ivan yelled and the men nodded before dashing out of the room.

"Imbeciles"He scowled before putting back his cigarette in between his lips.

He turned to face his son, his cold lips breaking to a smile.
  "I'm so eager for my bullets to kiss his body"

  A rapid knock on the door caught their attention and interrupted their conversation.
A beautiful girl pushed open the door and happily walked over to the Don and Maxim.

  "Father"She exclaimed as she hugged him by the neck, planting  multiple kisses on his specks of grey hair.
"Child what are you doing here?"Ivan asked, his tone soft towards his daughter, Alina.
  She was his weakness. She took so much of her mother, his late wife's features; her dishevelled and packed coffee brown hair, hazel eyes and peach lips.

"I just arrived from the airport dear father. My internship program is complete so I came back as soon as possible"Alina happily replied.

She went over to her elder brother, Maxim and nudged him on his shoulder. "What did you bring back for me sis?"he asked.

"I should be asking you. I deserve a party and a welcome gift. By the way what are you two discussing?"Alina asked before loosing her hair and letting it fall.

"The Italians"was her brother evasive reply.
Her face wore a frown and she exhaled, she knew what he meant.
"Again with that?  Dad what is your deal with these people. I mean Raphael wasn't even the one that hurt us. His grandfather was the one so why are you planning on destroying him"

"Enough Alina"Her father barked which got her startled.

"Armani and his lineage will pay for what they did to us. Child I lost your mother because of him. Not only your mother, your grandfather and your uncle. Three good lives were lost all because of those good for nothing Italians. Your grandfather just wanted peace. He wanted to strike a marriage alliance with Armani. But what did Armani do? He stabbed him in the back. Both literally and figuratively! He killed my father and my only brother. Your mother got into premature labour as a result of the news and died. Then the useless cunt got his daughter married off to a foreigner. Do I have to remind you of this story every single time!?"He yelled, his veins throbbing.

  Tears pooled in Alina's eyes and she shook her head, her mouth slightly ajar as his bloodshot eyes scared the wits out of her.

"Exactly my child. Be like your brother. Old scores need to be settled. I swore on their graves that I would avenge their death and I would"Ivan grimaced, his eyes flashing with anger and resentment.

"You know what to do son"Ivan gritted his teeth.
Maxim nodded and stood up, heading outside the room. He sauntered towards his men who were waiting on his orders.

Ivan let out a breathy laughter before his face was masked by a cold  glare.

"The game has begun Armani. Raphael the flame has been sparked. Come out of your hiding place and play. The hyenas would love to feed on your flesh"

* * * * * * * * *

  Leila roughly pushed open the door to Thomas' office to his surprise, distracting him from his work.
His brows wrinkled at the lady standing in front of him, eyes dancing in fury.

  "What do you want Leila?"He cooly asked.
"How could Raphael do that to me? How could he go get another woman from God knows where and bring her as his wife!?"Leila yelled, a blaze of wrath burning furiously in her.

Thomas chuckled and leaned back in his seat.
He opened a drawer in the desk in front of him and brought out a gun, dropping it on the table.

"Then take"he jutted with his chin towards the gun.
"Take and go shoot Nicole"he added.

Leila glared at him, her furrowed eye brows hinting anger raging within her.

"Are you mocking me?"

"No I am giving you the solution to your problem. If you have the guts go touch her"Thomas taunted.

Leila chest heaved with anger, her fist clenching.
"Leila don't be a fool. You lived in a fools paradise with your castle on air plans. Did you actually think by giving Raphael your body, he would accept you as his? Leila, Raphael loves Nicole. The sooner you under stand that the better"

"Oh shut the fuck up! I gave him everything. Every inch of me. I sacrificed myself and put my life on the line countless times for him. Only for him to come back with a total foreigner! How could he!"Leila scoffed as she felt the air in the room becoming tight for her.

Thomas reached for the glass of liquor on his table and sculled it down.
"He never loved you. You should have known what you were getting yourself into when you began sleeping with him. He only loves Nicole. Don't do anything that you would regret Leila. You are an assassin, don't fall into your own trap"Thomas advised.

  Leila gave him one last frosty glare before exiting out.
"You are mine Raphael. I can't let you go so easily not after everything I did for you. You belong to me. And as for your new wife, I'll make sure she leaves your life for good"