Don Nikolai

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. "