"Done, Boss."

Andrei's baritone voice pulls me out of the document that I'm reading. My right index and thumb rubs the skin on my forehead as I look up at him.

The ice in my cognac crackles as it dissolves.

"And the girl?"

"She's in the basement waiting for orders."

"Good. You can leave." I dismiss him and continue reading the document in my hands. Seconds pass and I can still sense his presence. A tired sigh leaves my lips and I close the document.

Leaning back in my chair, I eye him with scrutiny. "Speak Andrei." I'm so fucking tired but my eyes and body have refused to rest.

"Does she know about the mine?"He asks. His dark brown eyes bore into mine with seriousness. My eyebrows furrow in reaction to his question.

With my elbows on the armrest of the chair, I incline my fingers together before my eyes and watch from above them.

" No."

"Why?"

"You think Ian is going to stop after two tries. What do you think she'll do when she finds out that her father has a mine out there?"

"She'll go in search of it." He answers in an obvious manner.

"I can't have her doing that, not when Ian is still busy playing tricks and besides," I pause for an effect. The ice in my cognac crackles again. A smile creeps up my face. "She's not Mrs Dimitri yet."

"Will you tell her about Ian?"

"Don't think it's necessary."

"Bu—"

"If he continues to pose a threat, I will have to put him out for good. She does not have to get involved."

"Yes Boss."

Andrei leaves my office and I pull myself up from the chair. The ice crackles again and this time I pick up my half glass of cognac as I turn to face the night street of Moscow from my balcony. Pocketing my right hand in the wool pocket of my sweatpants, I take a small sip of my cognac. Savoring the spice and fruity mints of it as it slips down my throat.

Ian is playing with fire and he knows but what he does not know is that this fire will not only burn him. It will skin him alive. He's the real son of Russian's Ex Don, Cassio and even if he was not worthy enough to rule the Russian mafia, he is the only son of Cassio and his death will cause an uproar. I can't have that. Moscow can't be bloody when I plan to bring life into it. Lives…. I don't plan on having just one child.

I just can't kill him and I certainly won't allow him to keep messing with me. I need to set him back for good but it has to be without bloodshed or loss of lives and that is what is making this a bit slow.

Smiling to myself, I down the rest of my cognac in a go and crunch on ice cubes in it like its candy. The wedding needs to take place soon, sooner than she will expect. That way, all other things come in motion.

All things.

My fingers grip hard on the empty glass in my hand. Despite the fruity taste of my cognac, her flavor still lingers in my mouth and at the recollection of our little play, her smell tingles the little hairs in my nostrils and they flare.

Placing the empty cup back on my table, I step out of my study. Don't know why or when but I now find myself in Davinia's room which by the way is empty. I smirk. Can't say I'm surprised.

A sense of pride grows in me as I open the door that leads to the library. Already lit and bright, my feet pad down the steps after my eyes take sight of her form laying on the white chaise lounge on the porch that faces the garden behind the glass doors.

I had this built during the days I spent here after the birthday party. It was formerly a garden. Katarina loves flowers and plants but Davinia doesn't seem like a flower girl. I already knew that from the very moment we met when she was eight .

She would yap non stop about her dream library and how it has to look like something from a fairytale. I don't think her father was listening when he had the library built in his home. I've been there alright, where her horny teenage crush thought he could get a taste of what is mine. The library looks formal and nothing like the one she yearned for.

My eyebrows can't help but pull to a quizzical frown at the sight before me. To think elegant Miss Davinia Luchesse can be found in such a state.

She's sprawled on the lounge like a deadbeat hamster with the book resting on her chest. Her mouth is slightly parted with her fiery unruly hair staining the white of the lounge. Something about this sight stirs something in me. It immediately leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

I slightly hit her right leg dangling from the armrest of the lounge with mine. She stirs, the satin night robe slips from her shoulder. I hit again, harder this time. She groans, her eyes blink slowly and lazily.

Cute.

I bend and pick the book off her chest. Not bothering to check what the title is, I place it on the short stool beside the lounge.

Unconsciously, I find myself watching her face. No matter how hard she tries to hide it beneath her expressionless mask lies a doll-like innocent face. She snorts, I scoff.

Her eyes immediately fly open. Not sure if it is by the sound I made or… It doesn't matter.

"I told you not to get lost in it." For some reason, I whisper the words to her. Her nose scrunches in a weird manner.

"I tried." She grumbles before slipping back into blissfulness.

It's useless. I crouch and carry her in my arms. She burrows into my body like a rabbit, her right hand fists my top and I still. Seconds later, I move.

Returning to her room, I refuse to take a look at her face as I mumble the words; "We'll talk about your punishment later in the morning."