Phoenix's Revenge

1.

Phoenix POV

"Mom! It's fine! I'll do it!" I yell.

They tried everything to get me out of this marriage. My parents I mean. They did the best they could in the environment we're in.

My mom even offered to contractually marry his father, but just for show.

My dad did NOT like that idea.

"Listen, you guys can't protect me forever."

I know my words sting. I was 13 when I was kidnapped by the Italians. A show of power. It completely devastated my parents and my dad still apologizes for it.

Truth is, when you're in this life, shit happens. What am I going to do, cry about it?

Actually, you still do sometimes.

I literally don't even remember asking you.

"I don't like this, Phoenix." My dad says.

He has his stern voice on. The one that most people back down to. Except me. And mom.

"Dad, I love you. But I'm doing this. It protects the family."

My mom and dad look at each other.

"She's your kid." My mom shrugs with a smirk on her face. My dad rolls his eyes.

"Okay. It's settled. I'll be in the movie room!" I chirp.

I'm 23. They're so over protecting still. It's unnecessary. My dad had me training since I was basically in diapers. I know work for the family.

An assassin.

Yup. I'm pretty badass.

I'm Phoenix if that wasn't clear. Cannons my dad and Maddox is my mom.

They're great parents. They tried not to bring me up in this lifestyle, but it was pretty apparent there was no way around it. They both work a lot, so I'm alone most of the time.

I hated being alone when I was young, but now I don't mind it as much.

I plop myself down on the couch in the theatre and think.

I put on a brave face, but the truth is that I'm terrified of Nikolai. He's ruthless and unforgiving. I grew up with stories of his father, and now I hear stories of him. His complete lack of care for human life; Including his own.

I'm marrying him.

It will probably be one of those contractual marriages. Hopefully.

My thoughts are interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Kiddo?"

"Uncle Calen!"

I jump up and run to him. He's been gone in Russia arranging their flights here and such for weeks.

He picks me up and squeezes me tight. He's basically my only friend.

How sad.

"I got you something."

He pulls out 3 sleek, black throwing knives. Snakes are intricately engraved into the black metal. They're beautiful.

"Thank you!" I exclaim, pecking him on the cheek.

I took to throwing knives after my kidnapping.

Guns are too easy a way to die.

I take one in my hand. I grip it and pull my arm back. I throw it at the wall. It connects and sticks to the wall.

"Nikolai has another thing coming." Calen smirks.

Damn right he does.

...

I walk through the door, bloody and exhausted. Dad sent me and some men to raid a nearby Italian warehouse. We're still trying to find out who runs the damn organization. It was unsuccessful. And bloody. Some asshole swiped me with a knife and left my leg bleeding.

Dad will need to stitch that up.

I limp up to the office.

"Dad! Some fuckface cut me! Don't worry, he's dead now but damn-"

I stop talking when I enter the room.

A massive figure leans back against one of the chairs. Tattoos line both of his arms and crawl their way up his neck. His black hair is effortlessly messy.

He's hot.

Not now.

He turns towards me. The signature Petrov mismatched eyes stare back into my grey ones. One grey and one dark brown. Almost black. It's mesmerizing and intriguing to look at.

"You're staring." His voice booms. It's impossibly deep and dark, sending chills running down my spine.

Bitch, snap out of it. He's just a man.

Right.

"My bad, I was just trying to figure out which fucking eye to look at."

Amusement crosses his face.

He sounds familiar.

"Phoenix, this is Nikolai." My dad interrupts.

I cross the room, grab the first aid tools, and take a seat next to Nikolai. His eyes stay trained on me.

I carefully cut the pant leg away and begin closing the wound.

They discuss the agreement and I listen.

The two organizations will cease all conflict. We will then be one organization sharing resources. It's necessary to combat the Italians.

"The wedding needs to be soon." My dad says, pain flashes across his face.

"We will discuss that now. Give us the room?" Nikolai half asks half demands. My dad glances to me. I nod. I'm armed and have no sense of self preservation. I'll be fine.

Dad exits.

We sit in silence for a minute as he wanders around the room. He speaks up.

"Men have died for speaking to me like that." He hums.

I put my supplies down and stand. I force myself to cross the room without limping. I reach him and stand on my toes to reach his ear.

"Take your best shot, baby."

I pull back and his eyes bore into mine. He reaches out and grabs my jaw, forcing my eyes up to his.

"You're cute. But not that cute. I'm not the man you say things like that to." His tone is dangerous. He squeezes my jaw hard before letting go.

I'm intrigued.

He turns to walk away and I do something incredibly reckless. I take one of my new throwing knives and send it flying. It grazes so close to his ear that it bleeds a little. It lands in the wall straight ahead.

"Don't touch me again, or next time that won't miss."

I grab the knife out of the wall and stalk out of the room.

Nikolai POV

Hot.