A love like ours ✔️

♚6.Bullets are flying

Rafael

I sip my drink and watch her intently. She's laughing at something the Russian said. My grip on the glass thightens to the point of almost breaking it. I've come here tonight to talk to Sokolov, but now that would be impossible without srangling him.

I need her. She's as precious to me as my next breath. I always knew it. I tried to push the knowledge away since we've parted our ways. But seeing her tonight... I can't do that anymore.

"A little bird told me she's getting married." Dante says cassually, as if he didn't just drop a bomb on my head.

I choke on my whiskey. "She's fucking gonna do what!? With whom?" I'm beyond angry. She's gonna marry anyone but me over my dead body. "Is it that Russian bastard?" I ask while coughing.

"I don't know, the media is speculating on the interview she gave today. She confirmed an engagement, though his identity is unknown. They say it's Apolo Rokoti, since they're often seen together and accompanying one another to social events," jealousy ignites as he pauses "Luckily for you, I've anticipated your reaction and I put my men on it."

"And?" I nudge him inpatiently, ready to murder the greek.

"And the info she offered to the press is false. While she is gonna get married, she's yet to get engaged."

"Who? Fucking tell me already, brother! My patience is at its end."

"It's not like you had lots of it anyways". I shoot him a hard glare. "Fine. As you know she's taking over the Morreli Mafia in two months-"

"How is this relevant for the subject!?"

He lets out an exasperated sigh "Just pay attention. As I said, when she turns 25 she's gonna become the Donna. But she needs strong allies to keep the seat since she's a woman. While we both know what a fierce warrior and brilliant leader she is, this is the mafia world. Rumor has it Tanakas is on her side, so are Volkov and Rokoti. But the best and most secure alliance she can get is the one bound in blood".

"A blood contract marriage?"

"Yes. So yesterday, Ray has let the crime world know she's looking for a husband of her choosing. You've not recieved the news for obvious reasons." She's not interested to bind her life to mine, how could she be? "There are many suitors who look to get her as a wife. What's there not to like? She's powerful, gorgeous and comes with the Morelli throne in the package?"

His words make me think about it. Honed since birth to be a lethal weapon, then after her mother's death the perfect heir, Ray is the queen on the chess board. She knows it. And all these suitors of hers knows it too. They've heard of her achievements and all their gory details of her ruthless vicious ways. They rival mine. If most of the women in the mafia world are trying to stay away from the blood and violence, she thrives on it, craves it.

How could I've been so blind to what lurks in her before? I've thought I'd taint her, I'd drown her light, but she's like a twilight. The last rays of sun mixed with the enticing power of the darkness, lulling you to watch her mesmerising colors, to get lost into her.

I know that with her at my side, ruling together, our mafias merged, we'd be a force to be reckoned with. She'd always seen the faults in my strategies, and the same goes for me when it comes to hers. Yes, Ray is the perfect mafia queen. But that's not the reason I want her. It only comes as a bonus. She'll be mine again, this time forever. I'll be damned if I let another man steal her from me.

I'm suddenly pulled from my own thoughts by a gun shot. My attention flies to Ray, as I know she doesn't have a gun to protect herself. While she's fast and skilled in hand to hand combat, that cannot beat a bullet. My heart thrums erratically.