A

ere in

ilyev's

eps quickened, and my high heels clicking the pavement in the alley echoed so loudly. The

the air. The city was supposed to be safe, even the nightclub I worked for the last t

old, like a knife against my skin. Despite wearing a

e until something shifted in the air,

moved faster of their own accord. I knew I was right to be par

alize was the black SUV idling at the curb. The windows we

. I froze in my place. My hands shook. My breathing halted.

breath as the familiar

ce came out sh

nd grey eyes. Ilya Vasilyev was a ruthless Russian Mafia Don who just

ather, Francesco Giordani, was an Italian Mafia boss. My brother Tomas was murdered, so I attended his funeral. That was how I figured out that people aroun

ging a marriage, I found a way to escape. I mean, who did that

en Francesco talked about marriage, I knew I had

ae Vasilyev. I took the risk and used my American name and traveled to Russia so that my father

ith us." Volk dragged his Engl

e wouldn't have come all the way here if it weren't important. Be

Miss

ong?" I clutched my ba

wants to talk to y

atva didn't take no for an answer. Before Maxsim, one of t

as silent and tense. I closed m

rywhere. Two more SUVs were p

't my father who came all the way here to take me or arrange

re not safe everywhere, and they always wanted power, control, and

trusted me, knowing who I was and where I came from, but I worked and made sure I didn't cause problems beca

wung open. The strong musk of a male per

assic royal desk like a king. Ilya was so attractive with dark hair and intense blue-green eyes.

smiled politely even though

did for a living, but if what I heard was true, he fell in love with a

hat I am her

ked someone to

ike burning candles, slo

club, I told him everything, who my father was before he found out and put a bullet in my head. It took m

go home, Danie

to fall. "I'd rather hang myself, but if you fired me,

wed him, but he's a good man. You have to hear him out fi

e is over. You know that. I can't risk my lif

lips. "Yet, you chose to come here and work a

t you don't have the intention of tying

you. Anyone who hears you say that will take advantage of you. I'm sorry, Danielle. I like you working for me, but I have to let y

s nightclub was only a temporary shelter, but I ne

in to the next city. Then take a flight to Türkiye. There's an address

helping me?" I bl

ised you safety

ears off my face. "Who's t