Misha,

I gasped for breath, and my head got dizzy; that push and fall felt like a bunch to my chest, and for a few seconds, I couldn't breathe.

I turned around and almost screamed when that little movement hurt so badly, and something almost pierced my chest. I think I broke a few ribs.

But there is no time to cry or crawl like a coward here. I needed to get out now while everyone was busy. When this thought hit me, I began to hear, smell, and feel everything around me.

I heard the screams, I felt the warm blood splash on my face and my almost nude body.

I saw the massacre that was happening right in front of my eyes in this tiny room, so I crawled and hid under the table instead and watched the scene in horror.

What pushed me back inside wasn't a wall, but a group of men wearing all black and holding heavy guns.

They were shooting at Franco and his men, and there were some other men in the room. All of that happened in the few seconds I was on my ass trying to breathe.

"Misha! Where the fuck are you?"

"otvet'te mne"

("answer me.")

A man shouted, and I wanted to weep. This was the first time in my life that I would consider kissing Artem.

"I'm here."

I said in a high voice, but then I lowered it because I saw a few men turn around to face me.

"YA tebya uvidel, ne dvigaysya, blyad'. YA idu za toboy."

("Don't fucking move. I'm coming for you.")

My bodyguard said, and I nodded my head in answer, even though he couldn't see me.

I dragged my ass to another table because my spot is exposed now, but then someone dragged me away, and he put his hand over my mouth to prevent me from screaming.

"Shut the fuck up, if you want to live."

The person said, and I relaxed when I recognized the voice; it was Renzo. He came back....for me?!

"What should we do? We need to get out of here. It isn't safe for her."

Dino said as he blocked my view, and I was sandwiched between him and Renzo, and the corner of the wall.

The two men made sure no one could see me and no stray bullets could come my way.

"Let me think, did you tell her bodyguard that we are friends? He is coming our way, aiming the gun."

Renzo said, and I tried to move and push them away to tell Artem that I was ok, but the two men pushed me back, making me wince from the pain of my broken ribs.

"Just raise your hand and make this sign, and he will know."

I said, and Renzo blinked at me, then my hand, but he nodded, and I guess he did because he relaxed.

"Anyway, my bodyguard told me, a friend said there is a hidden door here that leads to the back alley, and we need to find it." I looked behind me, trying to figure out where that door was, and I almost shouted in triumph when I found it.

"Two clicks to your northeast, Artem."

My bodyguard nodded, then he walked slowly to where I told him, as the two men covered me.

We reached the door, but then Artem was tackled, and the shooters focused on us because they were done with Franco and his army that had entered the room when the shooting started.

We kept going, and I pushed the hidden secret door open and screamed when I fell on my ass again because I didn't see the two steps there.

Strong hands helped me to stand up, but I pushed them away and turned around to throw up.

The hands held my back to their front, collected my hair, and pulled it away from my face.

"I don't think I will be able to move. I have broken some ribs, and I think I have a concussion."

He didn't say anything, but I felt something drop over my shoulder, and I was hoisted up, and I relaxed in what I thought was Artem's arms.

I began to go in and out of consciousness. I heard some whispers and sounds, a car's engine, but those strong arms never let me go.

"Now what? What should we do?"

"We will take her home."

"You know this isn't what I meant. I mean, Franco, and what happened tonight?"

"We will do nothing. The person who did it will show his face soon, and we will know who we are dealing with."

The two men kept talking back and forth while I fought the dizziness and sleep.

I remember I saw a doctor in a show that says that when you have a concussion, you must stay up and never fall asleep....

*****

"Did you call doctor Luka?"

"Yes, and he is on his way to Yakov's house."

The voices said, and this made me open my eyes and try to sit up, but I couldn't, so I whined and moaned.

"Dad will kill me for this, so please don't call the doctor."

I said in a barely there whisper, and the man who was still holding me touched my forehead, removing some hair that was sticking there from all the sweat.

"Too late, the doctor is waiting there, and he already knows about what you have done."

The gruff voice said I wanted to raise my hand to slap him, but I couldn't do it; all I could do was just snuggle closer, and that was it.

"Renzo, I don't know how to thank you for saving her life."

"Please, it is nothing, and honestly, I didn't go out of my way to do it. It happens that I was there at the right moment."

"Still, you saved my only child, and for that, I'm very thankful."

I opened my eyes slowly as I listened to the chitchat that was happening beside me, and all the talk stopped.

"How do you feel?"

A man said while he stared at my face, and I stared back without saying a word. I don't know him. Who is this?

But then the asshole put pressure on my ribs, and I screamed bloody murder.

"Yep, she has two broken ribs."

He said, chuckling, and I swore at him as I tried to sit up to fucking punch him in the face.

"So you are still alive, good, because you will be punished for what you have done tonight."

My father said coldly, and I wanted to cry because Dad's punishment is worse than death.

I wanted to defend myself, to say anything, but when I saw Renzo narrow his eyes at me, I bit my tongue and said nothing.

My father cocked a brow at him, then me, before he turned around to talk to him.

"Can we have a little chat, Mr. Valentino?"

Renzo,

I entered the office room following the older Russian man, and my mind was screaming at me to leave because what I was about to hear wouldn't be good.

Thanks to that kid, my night has been going from bad to worse to a full-on mess, and all because she chose to play stripper today.

I had a meeting with Franco, and it was starting to get annoying, then she showed up all naked and waiting to be raped or something.

And even though she was wearing something hiding her face, I would never forget those eyes. Those eyes that shook me to the core when I first saw them.

She was eighteen back then, when I had a meeting with her father as he helped me with something that saved my business. She just rushed into the office without knocking or even asking for permission. She rushed inside with a big smile on her face, he hair was flowing behind her, and her dress was sticking to her body in all the right places.

I think for a moment I forgot how to breathe, and I just watched her, feeling like she was a siren that got out of the water to seduce me. The girl didn't spare me a look; she didn't care that someone was with her father or that he might get angry. She just grinned at him and hugged the older man, giggling.

I watched the scene as they talked in Russian about something with ease; they both were lost in their own world, and I felt embarrassed to be here to watch this intimate moment.

But then Akim looked at me and smiled warmly and patted his daughter's back, asking her to say hi, and she did, our eyes met. Hers are full of pride and daring, while mine are full of questions and wonder. I was lost for words; no woman, not to mention a girl, has had this effect on me, ever. After the introduction was done, she said something in a faint voice, making her father chuckle loudly. My wonderment hit higher levels because this scary Russian mafia boss was laughing lovingly with this little girl.

If anyone saw this scene, they wouldn't believe it, even though they saw it with their own eyes. Hell, even I still don't believe it.

But then her bodyguard rushed inside, he apologized, gave me a dirty look, and then he dragged the girl outside while she spat hateful words at him. It didn't feel right, but after watching Akim's reaction, I didn't mention it. It seems like a normal thing around here.

"I apologize again for all of this. I know that my malen'kaya printsessa has caused trouble for you, but again I'm grateful that you were there to help her." Oh, Little princess.

The man said, bringing me back to reality, and I accepted the glass of vodka he was offering me, thanking him with a nod of my head.

"It is nothing, sir, our families go way back, and I'm glad that I could repay even half of the things you have done for me," I said politely, sipping my drink and thinking about going back home and calling one of the girls to blow some of the steam.

All that happened today was overstimulating. I still feel that I have a lot of energy that needs to be released, or else I won't be able to sleep.

"As you said, we go way back. Honestly, I have always thought of you as a son of mine. So, what are your thoughts about what happened tonight and why?"

I sat, taking a moment to think about the entire ordeal, and again I didn't get an answer. It was so sudden and unplanned. "I still don't know, but all I know is that it was me, the target, not Franco. Franco has always played it safe; he never took any risks, and he just stayed away from trouble. Whoever killed him today did it to frame me. Why? I have no idea." I said thoughtfully, and the man hummed, nodding his head. I think he had already gathered that before I spoke the words.

"What I want to know is if your daughter was part of it or if it was just bad luck?!" I focused on the man who was pacing the room, and my question made him stop and look at me with dark eyes. Eyes that aren't like his daughter's.

"From what I heard, it was her friend's suggestion. She was the one who dared her to do that and the one who also chose that room for her. But they were friends for years. I know her family, and we are on good terms." The older man said, and I narrowed my eyes, loyalty can be changed and bought. People's priorities change all the time, but I said nothing. I will deal with this on my own. I must know.

"Ok then, I asked Doctor Luka to check on your daughter during the day. I left his contacts with her bodyguard. He is one of my men; you can trust him and call him anytime. And about what had happened in the club, I took care of it, my men deleted all the photos and video from the CCTV cameras, all fingerprints, blood stains anything related to your daughter was wiped away, no one inside or outside that place will say or know anything about her visit tonight."

I said before heading to the door, and the man stopped me by holding my shoulder tightly, giving it a few pats before nodding his head, and I left.

I know he has a lot to say and a lot to talk about, but he couldn't voice it out. In our line of work, we don't show weakness, but we carry favors and repay them when the time comes, which I'm sure he will do.

"Where now?" Dino asked me when we left the villa and entered the car, and he started the engine, but I'm sure he knew our destination because he took us back to the strip club.

"Rocco and Dario are already there." He said, and I closed my eyes, thinking again, why did I stay?

Why did I want to make sure that she was back home when I felt things were off, or was it because the moment I saw Franco eating her up with his eyes, I wanted to strangle the fucker and burn the damn club?

"We are here, sir."

Renzo,

I sipped my bourbon while I eyed the woman who was swaying in front of me, trying to appease me, but honestly, I was getting disgusted.

But I guess she thought my disgusted looks were approval or something because she began to take her clothes off.

She took the flimsy top, then she basically crawled to where I was sitting, then she licked her lips when she reached my parted legs and settled between them.

"You are so handsome, and you give off this stay the fuck away from me aura, but I like it. You are my type."

The woman said as her hands stretched to touch my thighs, then she reached between them and began to squeeze my still flaccid cock.

I snarled, then held both of her hands in one of mine, then the other held her chin tightly, making her look at me.

"You are pretty, meaty, and know what you are doing. People might like all of this, but I don't like your attitude. Besides, I'm not into vanilla shit, femmina. Any whore walking the street can give me that with less money. Tell me, what makes you special?"

I said, smirking now when I saw her eyes glow with understanding, and my smirk grew wider when she changed her sitting position and became more submissive.

"Is this what you are looking for, sir? Trust me, I can give you whatever you want, just order me, and I'm here to serve all your needs."

The woman said in a sweet voice, and I relaxed a little, dropped my hands, and nodded for her to sit properly.

"Tell me about this place, especially the owners and their daughter, and if I am satisfied with what you just said, I might reward you handsomely."

The woman frowned at me, but after taking a look around, watching Dino carefully, then me, she nodded her head and put her top back, covering her breasts, understanding that I'm not here for a quick fuck.

"You are not a cop. I think you are here because of the mess that happened early tonight. I have been working here for a couple of months. So I'm still considered new, the owners have been good to me, the daughter is sweet to all girls, and they love her to death because she brings gifts from time to time, but she never interferes with work. Her father is the one who assigns us to the private rooms and tells us about our customers' tastes, and so far, nothing has happened during my two months. If one of the customers gets handy or rough, they deal with him instantly."

She finished nodding to the cameras in the corner, and I hummed softly because she is the second girl who said the same words tonight, and I'm starting to think these OWNERS aren't as good as they seem because it's impossible that they are this good and righteous.

I dismissed the girl even though she was disappointed, but neither she nor the first one stirred a single feeling in me; my cock had been limp, not even a twitch.

Unlike when I was holding the sweaty, stinky half-passed-away woman in my arms. She was dirty, and blood was all over her face and body, but still, she made my cock fill up in seconds and ache.

I shook my head to make that image and feeling disappear when Rocco knocked on the room's door and entered with someone screaming and fighting his grip on them.

Ahhhh, finally, the best friend is here.

Rocco threw her in front of me and left silently while the girl shrieked, but then she stood up quickly.

"Who the hell are you, and how dare you treat me like that? Do you know who I am and who my father is? He will fucking kill you all."

She shouted at Dino and me, but shut up the moment Dario entered and threw her beloved father half-conscious beside her on the floor.

She gasped, then kneeled beside her bloody father, and then she looked up at me in horror. Her eyes widened when she had a good look at my face, and I knew she recognized me.

"It is you, the one who .....was in the room with ......the... dead guy."

She stuttered, and I nodded my head, standing up and crouching in front of her, making her crawl back in fear.

"Good, then there is no need for introductions. Tell me, Sonya, did you plan all of what happened tonight? Are you the one who lured Misha to get inside that room to get killed? Fucking answer me, what do you know about that fucking hit?"

I growled at the shivering girl, and tears streamed down her face as she began to shake her head at every question I threw at her.

So I snarled as my hand circled her neck, pulling her up, then pushing her against the wall, squeezing her dainty little neck.

She struggled to breathe, and her face turned blue from the lack of oxygen, but I didn't loosen my grip. She needs to suffer for almost killing Misha.

"I.....kn....ow....nothin....g. she....i..s .....my best....friend. I wo...uld...nev...."

She began to say, but I didn't let go or loosen my hand; I didn't trust a word she was saying, and people can still lie, even facing death. It is in their DNA.

"Let her fucking go, you are killing her."

Someone snarled from behind me, and I tsked but let the girl go as I turned around to face the angry man who was ready to pounce on me.

I waved my men away when they were about to fight him. I can take him down, but I won't do it, though. I know how to crush that fucker's ego without laying a finger on him.

"What are you doing here, Artem? Aren't you supposed to be taking care of your ward, or did Akim throw you out after your big failure tonight?"

I said, heading back to the couch to sit, then sipping my drink, watching the man ball his fists and grit his teeth in anger. I know he wants to say a lot and do a lot, but he can't. And yes, I hit him in the gut without raising one finger.

"I'm here because my lyubovnitsa(Mistress) sent me. She knew that you would do this to her friend."He said, and I threw my head back, cackling because that girl was smart even though she didn't look like it. She might look spoiled and carefree, but she understands how men think, which is dangerous.

"You know that miss of yours can fight. Before things went to shit, she took down three men in mere seconds, and she would have been out of here if it weren't for those new people swarming in. Now I'm curious to know how good she is in other....aspects."

I said teasingly, and yes, I hit another soft spot because Artem rushed to me and pulled my collar, making me stand up.

"Don't you fucking dare talk about her in such a way? And if you thought about touching a hair on her head, I will fucking kill you, ublyudok" "motherfucker"

The man snarled in a heavily Russian accent, and I chuckled. I was right. That look in his eyes when he saw her in my arms was jealousy and fear.

He saw me do what he never could, which was the jealousy, and the fear was of me taking her away from him.

"If you love her that much, why didn't you protect her? Why did you let her face death? WHY WERE YOU AWAY WHILE SHE FUCKING SUFFERED?"

I roared at him, and his hand dropped. Then he took a couple of steps back, leaving without saying anything.