God Of Crimson : A Mafia Deal Sealed in Sin

The Unraveling Tension

Nikolai Russo
Nikolai watched Nikita storm out of the gym, the sound of the door slamming behind her echoing in the silence. His chest tightened as he let out a low, frustrated breath. She had fire, and every time he pushed her, she pushed back harder.

Damn, he liked it.

He wasn't used to women like her—ones who didn't care about his power, who didn't fold under his gaze or melt at his touch. Nikita Volkov wasn't some fragile thing waiting to be rescued. She was a storm, wild and untamed, and part of him craved the chaos she brought into his life.

She'd said he couldn't win. But that wasn't the point. He wasn't trying to win her like some trophy. He wanted her to surrender, not out of weakness, but because she wanted to.

And that would take time.

A knock on his office door pulled him from his thoughts. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Come in."

His second-in-command, Leo, entered, his expression serious. "We've got movement on the American front. They want a meeting. Tonight."

Nikolai's jaw clenched. The Americans had been pressing harder lately, pushing for control in his territory. They were getting bolder, and that meant things were about to get messy.

"Set it up," Nikolai said, grabbing his phone and scanning the messages. "I want all our men ready. No mistakes."

Leo nodded, his tone grave. "Understood. But there's one more thing. There's been chatter... about your engagement."

Nikolai's eyes flicked up to Leo's. "What kind of chatter?"

Leo shifted uncomfortably. "Some of the families think you're distracted. That this marriage with Nikita is... a weakness."

A slow smirk spread across Nikolai's face. "They think I'm distracted?"

Leo cleared his throat. "Yes. They're saying you're too wrapped up in the Volkovs to see what's happening right under your nose."

Nikolai's eyes darkened, and he stood, pacing to the window. He could feel the rage bubbling beneath the surface, but he forced himself to remain calm.

"They underestimate me," he said quietly, his voice cold and lethal. "That's their mistake."

Leo nodded but didn't speak. He knew better than to interrupt when Nikolai was like this.

Nikolai turned from the window, his mind made up. "I'll handle the Americans tonight. And as for anyone who thinks I'm distracted? They'll soon learn what happens when they cross me."

Leo gave a curt nod before leaving the room, and Nikolai returned to his desk, his thoughts once again drifting to Nikita. She wasn't a distraction. She was fuel for the fire that was already burning within him.

Nikita Volkov
Nikita had barely made it to her room before the adrenaline from her encounter with Nikolai started to wear off. She collapsed on her bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to calm her racing heart.

He was infuriating.

The way he looked at her, like she was some puzzle he was determined to solve. Like he thought he could get under her skin and break her down. She had to admit, though, part of her was intrigued. There was something about him—something dark and dangerous that made her pulse race in ways it shouldn't.

She shook her head, sitting up abruptly. No. She wasn't going to let him get to her like this. She was better than that. Stronger.

A knock on her door made her jump. She stood, opening it to find her mother standing there, her face as unreadable as ever.