Chapter 4
Aurelia
Hank’s nails click against marble before I even open my eyes. A wet nose nudges at my arm, then my ribs, then finally the side of my face until I groan and push him off.
“Christ, Hank, it’s too early.”
He huffs like I’ve insulted him, then leaps onto the bed anyway, all ninety pounds of muscle settling across my legs. His warm weight pins me down, and for a second, I let him.
Four years ago, Enzo brought him home without asking. Said every prisoner needs a guard dog. The irony wasn’t lost on me, but I fell in love anyway. He’s my baby, my shadow. And even though he’s technically trained to kill on command, he still curls into me when I let him sleep in my bed.
I scratch behind his ear until his tail thumps against the sheets. Then I roll out from under him, bare feet brushing cold stone, and shuffle toward the vanity where a steaming cup of coffee already waits.
Someone always makes it. Strong, bitter, a little too hot. A silent reminder that I’m cared for, in the same way a prized horse is cared for.
By the time I pull on black running shorts and lace up my shoes, Hank is already waiting by the door, tail wagging, tongue lolling.
But it’s not Hank I run with every Sunday morning.
It’s Elijah.
He’s waiting in the courtyard, black joggers, black hoodie, expression blank as stone. He doesn’t look at me when I step out. Doesn’t speak. Just starts running, and I fall into stride beside him.
We don’t talk anymore on these runs. Once, there was a time when our mornings were filled with jokes, stories, and even silence that wasn’t heavy.
But whatever that was—whatever thread tied us together—it snapped, probably around the time he caught me losing my virginity in the pool and then killed the guy while we were literally in the act.
It was quite a memorable first time, not long after my beautiful, magical first kiss.
He had no right to be mad. Elijah fucks whoever he wants, and I was mad at him, so I was proving a point.
I guess that’s why we run like this, two strangers tethered by an invisible chain.
About an hour into our run, keeping a steady pace, I hit Elijah’s arm with the back of my hand, hinting that I need to stop for a walking break. I mean, I’m all for boosting my endurance, but I’m tired today.
He slows his pace and pauses the music on his phone, which is strapped to his other arm. I return the motion by taking out one of my earbuds.
“We should talk about your schedule now that I am in charge of you.”
I let out a puff of air and a forced laugh. “Oh, you mean now that you are following me around like a puppy?” I nod with a big smile plastered on my face. “Does it help your ego to say that makes you in charge?”
Elijah’s a dick.
I know right now, at this very moment, I’m being the dick, but that’s the only way I know how to talk to him anymore.
He doesn’t care about me, so I tend not to get a reaction regardless of what I say.
“Just have your schedule written and don’t break it, do you understand?” he says, as cold as usual.
I don’t reply, mostly because what he’s saying sucks and just makes me feel more a prisoner in my own home.
It really is pathetic, and I think Elijah knows it.
A Mafia princess, locked in her tower. Sometimes, I think they’re trying to recreate a tragic movie.
Oh my god… I’m Rapunzel.
I wipe the sweat from my eyes as I continue my self-pity. At least Rapunzel was meant to be alive. I wish I could say the same.
Elijah’s harsh tone breaks the silence. “I’ll take that as a yes. And if you could stop fucking your way to information, that would be great. I’m getting tired of killing people for you.”
“Aw, sorry about that,” I reply sarcastically, because that’s completely absurd. Elijah doesn’t kill for me; he just does what he’s told.
He rolls his eyes, clearly tired of even having to speak to me for a minute.
Seventy-eight years ago, the Bratva didn’t just bring four hundred million dollars to the table—they brought silence. A blood contract. In exchange for half this island, they promised protection not from rival syndicates, but from something worse to men like Dante.
Law enforcement.
They made our world invisible.
And for that, we gave them territory. Space. And something far more valuable than either.
Leverage.
Traditions came next. Brutal, twisted ceremonies dressed up as diplomacy. Women weren’t raised. They weren’t heirs. They were currency. Breeders for the next generation of kings. And when they’d served their purpose, they were discarded scraps.
Or worse—sacrificed. Gifted to the Bratva in ceremonial exchange to keep the peace.
I don’t know exactly what happened to them before they were offered. But I can guess. The Orlovs aren’t known for mercy.
I wouldn’t have gotten any of this information if I hadn’t worked for it the way I did.
Did I disappoint Elijah and Enzo? Yes.
Did I cost men their lives? Yes.
Was it worth it? Yes.
I didn’t have many options after that night, so Elijah can slut-shame me all he wants. I don’t have any regrets.
“Are you ready?” Elijah asks after a whole three minutes of rest.
“Sure,” I reply, shoving my earbuds back in, cranking House of Balloons on my borrowed iPod loud enough that my skull vibrates.
We pick up the pace again, but as the bass hits and gravel crunches underfoot, I’m suddenly running like I’m in a music video instead of a hostage situation. Score one for morale.
Elijah falls into stride beside me, expression blank.
Of course.
My mind flashes back to the laughter, insults, dumb jokes about my butt bouncing in black leggings. Now? Nada. My personal tormentor doubles as a silent mood killer.
Music pounds in my ears. The bass rattles my chest. I push harder. Faster. Elijah’s shadow anchored beside me.
* * *
“It’s only eight. I’m not going to bed.” I stand outside my door as Elijah tries to force me inside.
“Look, I have shit to do with Enzo. Go to bed so I can put Leo at your door.”
“No.”
“No?”
“Yeah, no. You’re supposed to be protecting me, not bossing me around.”
We hold each other’s gaze for way too long, and I almost grab a ruler to measure whose dick is bigger.
“I’m. Not. Going. To. Bed.” I restate it in case he thinks staring me down is helping assert some dominance here.
He doesn’t reply, so I keep going, fueling his frustration. “You know, I think I’ll go for a walk instead.”
He clenches his jaw, and his hand tightens around my arm as I try to walk past him. “Fine. You can come with me, just don’t do anything stupid.”
A proper smile forms on my face for the first time in a while around him.
He’s gorgeous, and yes, there was a time when I wanted to run off into the sunset with him, but now I’d just love to see him break for me and fuck me until I can no longer walk.
But no.
Mr. Rule Follower has never been able to give me anything.
He takes me through the central portion of the manor, keeping me close as we reach the west wing of the estate. Most of the business is done here.
“Wait here.” Elijah grabs hold of my shoulders and walks me against the wall.
I look around, seeing nothing but dark green walls and shadows under doors. “You want me to wait,” I circle my finger around for dramatic effect. “In this creepy little hallway, all by myself?”
“It’s not creepy, it’s your house, Ace.”
“Right.” I nod slowly, pretending I agree with that statement.
“Call out if you need me,” he says, disappearing from my front and leaving me alone.
I’m not scared of much, but I don’t enjoy the dark.
That feeling changes when I start hearing men argue behind the door.
I can recognize my brother’s voice. “How the fuck does that make sense. We are supposed to meet with at least one of the Orlovs once a month. Then they wake up one morning and say, ‘Never mind, no more alliance?!’”
Then one I don’t recognize. “With all due respect, wasn’t it expected that Viktor and Dante would eventually turn on each other after what happened with her?”
I hear a punch and feet stumbling.
“If it had anything to do with her, it would have ended long before today. It’s fucking Nikolai.”
Then Elijah: “I told you we should’ve killed him like we planned.”
“Yeah, and you know why we didn’t.” I lean closer to the door, trying not to make a sound.
“She would have forgiven you, I thin—”
A muffled scream escapes my throat as a hand is placed over mine. And Leo turns me to face him, smirking. “You’re eavesdropping.”
“Why would Nikolai want to end a perfectly good alliance, and what’s the deal with Viktor?” I spit out quickly.
“Ace, come on, you know I can’t talk to you about any of that stuff.”
I know he can’t, but ever since Leo got switched to the night shift on my door, I could tell he has a little thing for me. So I keep pushing.
“Come on, I’ve figured out the basics over the years, but I’m still missing stuff.
” I start listing things on my fingers. “The Orlovs are supposed to be in an alliance with us, but since Viktor is the Russian equivalent of Dante, they haven’t liked working together as much as others have,” I pause, looking at him with a knowing tilt.
“Now I know it obviously has something to do with a girl.”
He looks down and nods.
“Okay, good,” I say, continuing on my middle finger now.
“Nikolai is the heir, equivalent to Enzo.” I move to my ring finger.
“They have a super sexist, no-women-allowed setup, which is why I’m not supposed to exist and all that.
” On my pinky: “Nikolai is clearly stepping into control and hence, he wants to break our alliance for some unknown reason. And apparently, someone else is the reason for his survival.” I look up for the first time since counting on finger two, but Leo is looking a little more stunned than I suspected.
“I think you’re really special, Ace. You’re smarter than people realize.”
I take a deep breath, trying to feel anything for the man in front of me.
I lean in and kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Leo. But I’m just not interested in you that way.”
He nods, and I feel like I just kicked a puppy.
I reach for his hand, trying to soothe his discomfort, but just as my fingers touch his, Elijah opens the door, his chest pressed against my back, looming over my head, locking eyes with Leo. “Fuck off.”
Leo turns and disappears down the hallway.
“You’re an ass.”
It comes out as annoyed as I feel.
“What else is new. How much did you hear?” He’s strict with his tone, but his fingers tapping his leg at his side tell me he’s not as confident as he wants me to think.
I turn so I can face him. “Nothing.”
“Did you tell Leo what you heard? That’s above his rank.”
“If I did, would you kill him like you killed Gen.”
He looks away, annoyed at my mentioning of her name.
“Exactly.” I can’t give my ‘protectors’ any justification for killing. I made that mistake once. And the only girlfriend I had paid for that.