Mafia Bloodlines

Chapter 22

Vladimir's pov

I watched Roman's face, his eyes still haunted by the memories of the attack. I knew that look, that feeling of vulnerability. It was something I wouldn't tolerate, not when it came to my family. I believe that whoever was behind this was after Roman.

"What happened to you, Roman, wasn't just an attack on you. It was an attack on all of us," I said, my voice low and even.

"Your enemies are mine, and I won't leave you out in the cold. We'll hunt them down together, just like we've been doing."

"I appreciate your support, Vladimir." Roman nodded. But then he added, "Felipe is behind this, and he's still alive I have just confirmed it. Your enemies are also mine, brother, so let me handle this."

I smiled, a cold, calculated smile. Roman thought he could handle this on his own, but I knew better.

" I want to deal with Felipe by myself, that dog has had it coming." I tell Roman to assure him that I can handle this  alone. I made a few calls and got the information I needed.

Felipe is stupid, he attacked my family in my territory. I know exactly where he is now because I run this city. I have sent Anastasia to pay  him a little visit and I thought I would come and watch the show. Felipe looked like he had just survived a world war in the frontline.

"I am not one to be messed with. You should have asked around about me before taking my wife and especially before setting foot in my city." I say as I instruct my men to pour the fuel on him.

" Send my regards to the devil." I say before I throw the lighter on the floor and Felipe instantly catches fire. I exit the room with Anastasia. I couldn't help but smile as I heard his screams

Anastasia turned to me, her eyes shining with a mixture of gratitude and admiration. "Thank you for this, Vladimir. I know your first instinct was to hide that Felipe was alive so that you could handle him all by yourself. This is not like you, the Vladimir I knew acted first and thought later."

I raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise on my face. Anastasia knew me too well. But I nodded, acknowledging her words. "True, but I realised that this  is our fight, you and I against the world."

Anastasia's pov

Faina has gotten a lot better in the last few days. I had been coming to the house to see her and Klara's glares did not go unnoticed. Vladimir must be really driving that woman crazy if she hates me so much, she doesn't even know me.

"Mama let's say hypothetically. I was interested in someone, right and I wanted that person to notice me or at least like me, how would I go about it?  Well to be more specific , if his character is sort of like Vladamir's ." Faina asks randomly and unprovoked.

" That is a really odd question. Why would you hypothetically be interested in someone who is a lot like Vladimir?" I ask, arching my eyebrow. Has my little girl fallen in love and I had no clue.

" He is better than Vladimir, well I think but that is besides the point. How did you and Vladimir happen?" Faina asks curiously.

"Vladimir was a friend, one of my closest friends. Vladimir's rugged exterior and formidable reputation as a mafia kingpin had always been a shield, a defense mechanism to protect himself and those he cared about. He was a man who got what he wanted, no matter the cost, and he didn't tolerate disobedience or disloyalty. But for me he had learned to be soft, to show a side of himself that few people had ever seen.  He was someone who would kill for me and destroy anyone who threatened me  he claimed he was already in love with me even before we became friends, so technically he was my stalker for a couple of years before he approached me and I friendzoned him. Not the greatest love story I know." I narrated pieces of my past and who we were before.

"Wait, what? Vladimir was stalking you for years before you became friends?" She  asked, trying to process the information.

"Yes, well, he wasn't exactly stalking me in the classical sense. He just...kept an eye on me, let's say." I said rephrasing her words.

"Vladimir is like that.  He's a complex man, and his ways are...unconventional, to say the least. But once you get to know him, you realize that he's just...intense. Passionate. And when he loves someone, he loves them completely, without reservation."

Faina nodded slowly . "I think I see. So, you're saying that Vladimir's...obsession with you was actually a sign of his devotion?"

"Exactly, Faina. And I have to admit, it was...flattering, in a strange way. To know that someone cared that deeply about me, even if it was in a way that was a little...unhealthy." I say as I couldn't help but smile.

"Well, I guess that's one way to look at it. But I still think it's a little creepy. I always knew that Vladimir is a Psycho"Faina shook her head, laughing.

" Enough about that, tell me more about this man of yours. Is he from your school?" I ask. I have never had Faina talk to me about men or crushes before so this got me really intrigued.

" No he is not from my school and Mama I said hypothetically. There is no man in my life right now. I promise." She says raising her hand as if to take an oath.