The book name was changed to Till Death Do Us part, it is still the same story, I just wanted a title more fitting!

N I K O L A I

Moscow, Russia

Keira had managed to give my men the slip for the last two days, and her abilities at hiding were not sitting well with me. I was hoping I wouldn't have to pay her another visit so soon, but it seemed like she needed to know it was my game, and the only way she survived was playing by my rules.

Sighing I leaned back in my chair, the food in front of me untouched as Vlado sat opposite from me, Alexei and Ivan on my sides. Alexei was biting into his steak leisurely, appearing at ease, but I knew his other hand, the one under his table was wound around his revolver. He liked playing these games, Russian roulette just happened to be his favorite. Ivan sat straight, his eyes dancing from Vlado, his men, and our surroundings. My pistol, however, stayed on the golden tablecloth as an inevitable promise of violence and mayhem. I wasn't touching it, and I didn't have to, Vlado knew he so much as breathed wrong, and my hands would be wrapped around his throat, sucking the air out of him.

Contrary to what most people assumed, I didn't like killing with my gun, I'd take a knife of my fists any day. There's something more personal about having your hands around the fucker you kill, it was a thrill that no drug could ever compare to.

"I want a bigger cut. I know you've been making more than what you initially estimated for me, and as you are the only one I sell my product to, I need more." And there it was, fear had coerced him into dealing with me in the first place, now greed had him coming for more, but alas greed was a curse, and this time a condemned man would be casting it, after all, once the clock struck midnight, everyone was back to what they were, except in this case, it was a monster.

Alexei swallowed, and dropped his eating utensils, eyeing Vlado, "The terms of our agreement were very generous, and you signed it with your blood." Vlado straightened, his eyes on me as he completely disregarded Alexei. Big mistake on his part, being ignored wasn't something Alexei liked, and I was going to enjoy him tear Vlado.

"You want my product, you give me what I want, or I start selling to other people, and once they find out you're my client, I'll be big in the market." He had that right, but he was also forgetting, the king's horses were killed to dethrone the inglorious empire, and he was all but a little horse, I needed to finish the race and win this twisted game of debauchery.

"You could." I said, leaning forward, curling my finger around the trigger of the black metallic gun shining against the gold, "And you'll be a feast for my enemies. I pull my protection, Vlado, and you end up dead. Now you decide what do you value more money?" I took out a few dollar bills and threw them on his face, "Or your life," Alexei was up before and threw his knife down between Vlado's fingers as he flinched.

"I will not let you intimidate me into giving up my rightful share," He stood up from his chair, his fists on the table as he tried to tower over me. It didn't take a minute as a bullet sliced clean through his skull, and he fell, his head on the table, eyes wide, inexpressive.

Chaos erupted around me as I pushed the table up, and took cover. It didn't a genius to know it was a sniper.

"We need to get out of here," Ivan breathed, his shoulder touching mine as Alexei's face kissed the ground.

"A warning would have been nice before you shoved me down fucker," Alexei mumbled, glaring at Ivan as he turned over, laying on his back.

"I didn't have the time for your theatrics." Ivan looked around as the glass windows of the restaurant were covered with metal blinds. "Also we need to have a chat with Sebastian, he was supposed to have bullet-proof glasses in every building we owned." Alexei nodded, finally sitting up as darkness surrounded us.

"I will have a word with him, but first, call Adrian, and tell him to get me the fucker who took this shot. I want him alive." I finished, and got up, running my hands in my hair as I buttoned up my jacket. Alexei immediately got busy on his phone, and I rounded up the place to find blood pooling around Vlado's body, his men standing around him with their heads hung low. "Who's his heir?"

A man with brown hair and dark eyes looked up, "Jett is," I arched my brow, and he continued, "Jett Vlado, his younger brother."

"Tell him I want to meet him to discuss new terms," I ordered, and they looked amongst themselves.

"He's preoccupied right now."

"Then un-occupy him, he contacts me in a week or I remove my protection and let the wolves eat you alive." I finished warning when Alexei came back, an amused look on his face.

"Fucking hell," He mumbled, his eyes still trained on the phone, a grin playing on his face.

"Spit it out,"

"Keira Knight took the sniper, I still don't know if she hired him, but I've sent Adrian after them." My blood froze, this wasn't supposed to happen, Keira wasn't supposed to fuck up my plans, she was supposed to be a fucking pawn. I collected myself and faced him.

"Call him off, I'll deal with her myself, and no one touches her." Ivan eyed me with suspicion as Alexei scowled, disapproval clear on his face.

"I don't care that you're fucking her, fuck, but you're acting like a fool."

I ran my hands through my hair, not wanting to tell him how I was so sure she wasn't the one who hired this motherfucker. I couldn't, not without telling him everything, and that wasn't an option. "I know what I'm doing. I'll deal with her, call Adrian off."

He shook his head, and typed on his phone, "No pussy is that good, Nikolai, open your fucking eyes."

I ignored him, and turned to walk out because if I'd stayed, I would've fought him, just so the sound of his punches could distract me from the destruction that was heading my way. I slammed the car's door shut, and pressed the ignition, shifting the gear, I pulled it out of the space I'd parked, and made my way towards her penthouse. Fucking Keira, she just had to meddle with things that weren't her concern, why couldn't she just let me be high on my fucking misery and play by the rules I'd made for her.

*

The elevator doors opened, and Keira stepped out, her eyes widened when she saw me, but then she schooled her features and made her way towards me as I stepped out of the elevator, and the doors closed behind me. When she stood barely inches away from me, I held her wrist, spinning her around until I held her back against the wall. "Where is he?"

"What are you talking about?" She had the audacity to pretend she didn't know what I was talking about.

"Do not try to play me, little wolf, where's the sniper?" I asked again, already tittering at the edge of my patience.

I knew what she was going to do before she moved her neck, I turned my face, and her lips landed on my jaw as she gripped my jacket in her hands, trying to tug me closer as she trailed her tongue over my neck. Tired of her attempts at seduction, I curled my hand around her throat, and pushed her away from me, holding her against the wall as I glared at her, our lips inches apart, but not touching. "Are you that eager to get rid of me, little wolf?" I growled and watched as her eyes narrowed, and those green eyes that I used to love came alive with fury, a serpent hissing in all its glory.

"If I wanted to kill you, Nico, I would've done it myself." Her fingers traced my gun tucked safely in my waistband through the fabric of my shirt, I knew she was making a point, yet I couldn't help myself and placed my hand on the inside of her thigh, pushing her dress up with my fingers. Her grip around the gun tightened, but she didn't pull it out, she just held it as I trailed my hand up her thigh, towards her inviting cunt. Her breath hitched as she wrapped her other hand around my neck.

Her touch was treacherous, it was a fall down a deadly slope. It fucking burned where her fingers touched me, and it was darker than the burn of lust, it hurt deep inside my chest as the memories of all the times I was sitting alone, choking on my grief hit me, and I removed my hand from her inner thigh, and removed her hands from me, and held both of her hands above her. And then I did it again. I fucking did something I vowed I wouldn't do again.

I fucking slammed my lips against hers, pouring all of my aggression into that single kiss. All the desperation I'd been feeling over the years, the fucking temptation, I gave it my all. All of my darkness, the darkness that was there because of her. I bit down on her lower lip and entered my tongue inside her mouth when she gasped. This kiss was every bit of the fury that resided inside us, all the mayhem we'd grown so used to hiding. I tasted metal, and I didn't know which one of us was bleeding but fuck if it wasn't addicting.

I pulled away, breathing heavily, and leaned down to kiss her neck, "Tell me where are you hiding him?"

"Stop trying me, it is none of your business," Keira hissed and managed to free one of her hands from my grasp, using it to hold my hair as she brought my mouth back on hers, trying to fight me with her tongue.

If threats wouldn't work with her, then perhaps I'd use something different, I was in it too deep anyway, and I needed my answers. I didn't come this far to be played by the woman who chose duty over me all those years ago.

"We are going to play a game, little wolf." I pulled away and pushed her back towards the wall when she reached for me again, confusion in her eyes. I walked towards the couch in her living room, and sat down, watching her as she watched me. "Lie on my lap, little wolf, face down," I ordered as she arched her brow, standing on her spot in front of me stubbornly, but I didn't miss how she ran her tongue over her now swollen lips.

"No." She tilted her head, her eyes narrowed, "I am not playing any games with you,"

"Oh, but you are, little wolf," I leaned back, waiting for her to do as I asked, "I don't have all day, so either you agree to play by my rules or I'll find other ways to get you to submit. It ends up going my way either way so I'll tell you to choose your battles wisely." I finished, grinning, knowing I had her where I wanted her.

Her desire for me would be her undoing, and perhaps it'd be my reckoning just the same for I couldn't ruin her without breaking myself in the process. Keira bit her lip, but complied, lying on my lap, her tits flushed against my thigh, and immediately I felt my pants tightening, the effect this woman still had on me was astonishing. Her ass was in the air for my taking, and the sight pleased me more than I liked to admit.

Sliding her dress up, I exposed her to me, suppressing a groan when she moaned against my thigh as I brought down her panties down her waist. I traced my fingertips almost reverently over her skin, a perfect contrast to all the things I had in mind about her. "So tell me, Keira, did you put out a hit on me?"

"No!" She gasped just as I squeezed her ass cheeks in my palm. "I would never—" I knew she wouldn't. There wasn't even in a doubt in my mind about this, I didn't trust her, not even close, but it was like a part of me I long thought dead awakened at the thought, reprimanding me for taking my hate too far.

"Why did you take the sniper before I could get him?" She knew I knew just as I knew it was her doing, all I needed from her were the why's. She'd always left me in the dark, and I wondered how long she would continue to do despite knowing that I was the dark. It made me just as it'd killed me once.

"It's none of your business." She whispered, turning her head to meet my gaze, and I brought my hand against her naked flesh. The slap echoing in the silence around us as she gasped, her eyes widening.

"Wrong answer, little wolf," I stroked, hoping to ease the sting away because, with her stubborn streak, there'd be a lot more than one, "You forget I own you, and it would do you well if you obey me." I paused, tracing my fingertips up her spine as goose-bumps erupted on her skin, "That means answering me when I ask a question."

"You will not own me, Chernov," She taunted, and I smirked. She only called me that to spite me, and now that she did, I'd already seen her hand, and now she'd lose. I brought my hand down again, "Nico," And there it was again, I ignored it, and chose to focus on her heavy breathing, and the way she tightly held onto my thigh.

I knew she was close to surrendering, but I also knew, she was seeing something she wasn't supposed to hear. I was no longer that man, I was just a manipulator.

"Where is he, little wolf, I reckon I at least have a right to dish out my revenge." I finished, feeling my own breathing quicken as the blood rushed towards my dick. Her effect on me was terrifying, but what scared me the most was that it was still the same. The awareness, the desperation to just have her in my arms. It never went away. It was still there like a person standing behind me to act on my depraved needs, push her because I knew her guilt and love wouldn't let her refuse me. I could play her like a puppet and she'd let me. I could break her. Knowing that didn't satisfy me like I'd hoped it would. It started another fire inside me, and once again I found myself adrift in the blue ocean with no purpose except following the North star—which for me was Keira.

When she stayed silent, I traced her ass cheek with my hand warningly, reaching out to twist her blonde locks around my hands. "Answer. Me." I ordered, gritting my teeth, all of my resentment crashing with me in full force like angry waves lapping at the cliff, wanting to break it. "If I tell you, you let me question him with you. Either we do this together, Nico, or you can sit here all day, and I will not accommodate you."

She raised a fair bargain, I knew she would, "You won't?" I asked, softening my voice to a whisper as I traced her slit, grinning when her wetness coated me, "Your inviting cunt says otherwise." I pinched her clit lightly as she moaned, the sound was fucking music to my ears after so long of going without it.

I knew why people relapsed, the temptation was hard to ignore, and the taste of poison so damn addicting. Perhaps it was the thrill of laughing in death's face that I kept coming back for another hit, she wasn't good for me, but I was a sinner, and goodness was way above me anyway.

"Perhaps I can say the same," She moved her hand from my thigh, cupping my dick through my pants, making her statement as I groaned, "I'm not the only one burning am I, Nico?" She grinned, knowing she had me, and I didn't want to take this little triumph from her.

I truly did forget that violent delights have violent ends.

I shouldn't have, but in her presence nothing seemed to matter.

"Fucking fine," I brought my hand against her ass one last time, loving the sounds she'd made, and pulled her up on my lap, bringing my lips down on hers punishingly, she was my nightmare, a siren who was luring me to my death like she hadn't killed me once before. Standing on the edge of a cliff, I didn't know if I should jump in, with her lips on mine, the decision seemed so natural, but I knew I wouldn't survive a second time, so I turned away. Not this time.

Growling, I tore myself away from her, closing my eyes to avoid looking at her before I got my resolve together. I took a deep breath just as I felt her fingers tracing my jaw, and her lips on my neck, I'd almost given in again, just to get a taste of the poison she'd conjured, but I caught myself.

"Nico," She moaned against my skin, and I snapped my eyes open, tightening my grip on her hair, contemplating if I should stop it.

Tugging at her hair, I pushed her off me, "I believe the game is over, little wolf," I grinned at the hurt in her face, loving the way it burned deep inside my chest. Her pain was mine too, and as I hurt her over and over again, I hurt myself too; perhaps I'd break us both and let the mayhem inside me win. "Now where is the sniper?"

She shook her head, sighing, and faced me again, her face a perfect mask of serenity, but one look inside her eyes, and I knew, she wasn't calm. My rejection tore at her, and for now, that was enough. Getting off my lap, Keira straightened, hooked her fingers in her panties, and brought them down her legs, smirking at me. Fucking hell. I wouldn't let her turn the tables around. I couldn't.

"He's here, but I talk, and you don't ask questions," She turned her head, "You get your revenge, and you leave."

I stood up, not bothering to cover my hard-on, and encircled her jaw with my finger, tilting her neck to meet my eyes, "I own you, little wolf, these power-plays only work when the other person isn't so deep under your skin that they've actually felt your scars,"

That shut her up, and she turned away, beckoning me to follow her as we made our way up the stairs.

I loathed how she left me, I loathed the darkest melody she'd made out of me, and for that, I'd ruin her. I just had to remind myself enough so I didn't lose myself inside her all over again.

♤ ♡ ◇ ♧

I haven't had the time to edit this chapter, so I'm sorry for all the typos you might've seen! But what do you think about Nikolai and Keira? 

Thank you so much for reading, please vote and comment.