Indebted to the Mafia King

*Tatiana*

Angelo and I ended up in bed after our talk on the porch. Not because we reached an understanding we didn't. We're still standing on opposite sides of a line neither of us is willing to cross. But I knew pushing him harder would only cause more damage.

So, I hold my tongue.

For now, keeping the peace meant swallowing my pride, locking my thoughts away, and playing the role of someone willing to wait.

It's after midnight. Rain pounds against the windows like a warning fierce, unrelenting. Angelo lies asleep beside me, peaceful, unaware of the storm brewing right here in this bed.

I watch him for a long moment, memorizing the shape of him, the warmth of him, just in case this is the last time.

Sleep won't come, so I reach for the tablet on my nightstand. I browse for a while- news, maps, dead ends. Then, on impulse, I check my old email. I haven't opened it since I left Russia. I expect spam, junk, maybe nothing at all.

What I don't expect is a message from Lev.

Dated the night we left.

My stomach drops. I cover my mouth to keep the sharp inhale from waking Angelo. Everything about it screams "trap" at first glance. But I open it anyway.

And I break.

Dear Tatiana,

I hope I'm with you when you read this. If not... it means Oleg found out what we did- that we hid you from him all these years.

I never once regretted it, not for a second. You were the best thing that ever happened to Ilya and me.

I'm sorry we kept you hidden. I'm sorry you had to live like that. I only pray we gave you a small chance at happiness.

We're catching a flight soon. But if something happens... I've rented an apartment in New York City (the address is at the bottom). Some our things are there. You'll know what to look for.

If you're reading this alone, then you're in this fight without us now. Be smart. Oleg is dangerous. He'll stop at nothing to get what he wants.

I know your heart. I know what you're thinking. But please, if you can let it go. Live. Find peace. Don't chase vengeance. It doesn't suit someone with a heart like yours.

I love you. Always.

Lev

I read it twice. Then a third time. Tears stream down my face before I even notice. I slip out of bed, careful not to disturb Angelo, and lock myself in the bathroom. The moment I turn on the shower to drown the sound, I fall apart.

The grief I've buried for weeks rips its way to the surface-the loss., the helplessness, the rage.

It takes time to steady my breathing, but when I finally lift my head and look in the mirror, I don't recognize the woman staring back.

Eyes bloodshot. Face streaked. But it's not the pain that stuns me it's the fury. Burning. Alive.

Lev said I wasn't made for revenge, as did Angelo. But they're wrong. That version of me-the soft, sheltered girl-is gone. Oleg saw to that. So did Yakov.

I can't live in limbo, waiting for someone else to save me. I'm already slipping away from the one person who might love me, and I can't let this rot inside me any longer.

I have to end it.

Not for closure. Not for peace.

For justice.

If I can get close to Oleg or Yakov-if I can convince them I was dragged from that wedding against my will-I'll find my way back inside their walls. And then I'll kill them.

My hands.

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No Saints. No Angelo.

Just me.

I walk back into the bedroom and glance at Angelo. He's turned away, his breathing deep and steady. I linger for a moment. A part of me wants to curl beside him, take one last night of comfort.

But I can't.

This ends now.

I grab the coat from the wardrobe and slip it on. My eyes fall on the nightstand. Keys. Wallet. Gun.

My heart pounds as I approach. One wrong move and he'll wake, and it'll be over.

I move slowly, fingers closing around the smart key first, then the wallet. The gun is heavier than I expected, and colder too.

I take one last look at him.

If I fail, I probably won't survive it. And if I succeed... Angelo will never look at me the same way again.

But I still walk out.

The hallway is dark and quiet. I don't know where the guards are, and I'm not going to wait around to find out. I move silently, hugging the walls. No shadows. No movement.

I make it to the first floor without incident.

I can't use the front door. I already know the guards stationed outside would stop me. Instead, I slip through the back door into the garage.

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The door creaks. I freeze, holding my breath. No footsteps. No voices. I'm still good.

The cold hits me hard when I step out, but I keep going. My coat flaps in the wind, and

I press the key, scanning for the car.

A black vehicle beeps to the right. Too loud.

I dart toward it, nerves on fire, adrenaline crashing through me. My hands tremble as I

get in. For a second, I can't remember how to breathe.

"Fuck," I whisper, trying to start the engine. "Come on, come on-"

The car roars to life.

I'm shaking.

This is it.noveldrama

I drive slowly toward the gate, the tinted windows hiding me. The guard looks at the

car, then nods and hits the button.

The gates open.

I keep driving. I don't look back.

Because if I do, I might turn around.

And I can't afford to stop.

Not now.