I

𝐈 am a bitch.

No seriously, I am.

My reputation as an assassin was legendary in New York, maybe even in the entire country. But that all changed when I fled the city to escape the bloody aftermath of my father's murder.

I returned to Russia and life was seemingly normal for a few years.

Have you ever felt like you have no control over anything that goes on in your life? Well I have a dark secret. A dark past.

Thats why I evaded the city, in order to give myself the life I felt I deserved. I chose to start over, I figured out the hard way that the only person I could rely on was me. I had to learn to take care of myself at a young age and learn how to fight as well as defend myself.

But it wasn't enough.

I still had unanswered questions about my past and why I lived the life I lived growing up.

Mom used to tell me I didn't choose this life, it chose me.

She also used to say that revenge is the path to self destruction.

Returning back to New York could be a huge mistake, but only time will tell. Everybody knows my name here.

Maybe this is for the better... or for the worst. I guess we'll have to find out...



"Lana, wake up. We have just landed." My best friend, Tanya whispers. I turn my head and open my eyes, painfully squinting as light swamps my blurred vision.

I let out an overly dramatic groan and snatch my bag from the seat besides me, taking a brief glance out of the window whilst doing so.

I hate to say it, but for once in my life, I actually feel nervous for whats to come.

New York was my crown jewel and I'm determined to take it back, no matter what it takes. No matter who I have to cross. It also just so happens to be the last place I saw my family. November sixth. The day my life fell apart.

Tanya squeezes my hand in enthusiasm to be back and practically drags me out of the plane door. She seems so happy to be back, if only she knew how much i'm dreading it

Me and Tanya are friends because we both know what its like to be in control. She is the only person I have kept in contact with for the last five years. She also just so happens to be one of the best hackers on the whole damn planet.

We used to do everything together. When I went on missions, she found out information for me.

Her code name was 'The Terminator', but I haven't heard it in a long time.

As we step out of the jet, my fingers brush over the steep necklace around my neck and a web of clouds hang low in the air, masking the city in a ghostly grey. I slide my sunglasses back in my pocket, agitated from the sudden weather change, and step down the final step.

I am immediately greeted by my manager, Elliot. He takes my bag from my hand and situates it inside the black SUV besides him.

Elliot is the one person I trust with my life. I grew up with him working alongside my family, he is one of the few reasons my childhood was actually liveable. He keeps my secrets in exchange for the same from me. Though he's more like a friend to me than a manager, I could always count on him to help with anything Mafia related.

"It's good to see you again, Miss Levine." He exclaims, extending his arm out to me. I shake his hand and flash him a broad smile before getting inside of the car. Tanya quickly follows, taking a seat in the back.

After a few of minutes of driving, I arrive at a lavishly appointed hotel. One I know is owned by the man who hates me most, Marco Cortez.

God, the things he would do to me if he found out I was bunking at one of his hotels.

I check into the hotel, making small talk with the receptionist, and advance up to my room.

I begin to unpack my bag which mostly consists of guns, knives and plenty of ammo. I don't plan on staying here for long but need to lay low until tomorrow. I strap a large blade to my thigh and secrete a gun in my pocket for safety.

Even I don't know what these stupid people will try and pull this time. Especially Marco now that he's out of prison... And hates my guts.

I am barely in my room for ten minutes before having a sudden urge to head out into the dynamic streets of New York.

Here I am supposedly known as "Demise".

Meaning death.

I am back here for two main reasons.

One, to kill my Uncle Tony, who stole the Russian Mafia from me five years ago by killing my father, and two, to finally see my family again.

I know I have enemies here, lots. But it's nothing I haven't handled before.

I confidently stride through Times Square making sure to peek into every alleyway and around every corner. Suddenly, as I am approaching an upcoming turn, I am grabbed and hauled behind a towering building.

Two bulky men stand before me, punching and kicking me. One more dashes towards me and hurls a knife in my direction, which I dodge at the last second. I glance behind me to see a machete lodged in the wall, just inches away from my head.

I fucking hate men.

I manage to shove one off me and thrust my knife into his hip. After he stumbles backwards, I quickly obtain the knife from his ruptured skin and use it to slash his throat. The cut is deep and with every beat of his heart, more and more of his liquid essence erupts from him.

He falls back in agony as blood gushes from the sickly sweet smile carved into his neck, and lands on the concrete below with a thud.

The other men freeze for a moment, eyes focused on the limp man, soaked red from the neck down. They hastily snap out of their trance and persist at punching and kicking me until I gather an opportunity to gain possession of my gun. I draw it out and notice them slightly shift back, though their face's remains completely still.

"Are you scared?" I ask as a twisted grin appears on my face. The men glare at me as if they can see my soul through my smile and continue to steadily shift back, avoiding the mutilated corpse beneath them.

"Demise." One mumbles.

I haven't heard that name for five goddamn years.

"Don't call me that." I snap, flashing him a cocky smile. The men clearly take my smile as a threat and continue to shuffle backwards.

Jesus. I underestimated how easy this would be.

"Pussies." I whisper, gazing at them with intensity. My eyes were like a weapon. A fucking powerful weapon.

Instead of using the gun, I toss it aside and land a blow to both men's ribs. They both fall down and lie still.

Unconscious?

Who knows, but I'm not willing to take any risks.

I step over their bodies and examine them further to check for any tattoos. Thats when I see it. The familiar knot and dagger tattoo. They are with the Mexican Mafia.

Anger boils inside of me as I grab my blood-saturated knife, getting to work immediately. I carve the letter M on one man's cheek and on the others chest.

The Mexican's like to brand their victims, with a stylised letter 'M' to warn the deceased's families that they are not to be messed with. Usually written in blood or carved directly into the skin - it really did send a message.

Now i'm giving them a taste of their own medicine, but instead of it standing for Mexican, the letter 'M' is for me, Milana.

I stand for a few moments and appreciate my work, wiping my bloody hands on my jacket.

The rivalry with the Mexican's began when they got overly greedy and tried to attain full control of the drug trade.

Our families circle each other like sharks, our fates brutally intwined by blood first spilled nine years ago. Leading on from then, it has been nothing but bloodshed between the two of our families. They are not our only rivals, but the most considerable ones.

I laugh at their foolish attempt of assassinating me. They didn't even bother with any weapons except from a stupid knife. I secrete their bodies behind a dumpster and calmly continue my walk, zipping up my leather jacket to conceal my bloody dress.

That's when it hits me. Around fifteen men were running at me with machine guns. I recognise them - New York's finest. I don't stare for long before sprinting at full speed through the occupied streets.

"Shit." I mutter.

I have pissed off a lot of people in my lifetime and knew one day they would seek revenge on me. They are here for my blood, every last drop of it.

My Uncle Tony probably told them my whereabouts. He is the only person who could have known I was coming back to New York, considering he has men everywhere watching my every move.

I take cover from the attackers under a large van and hope they don't seek me out from my hiding spot. Bullets ricochet off of the van, hitting the ground beside me. I fiddle around in my pockets and whip out my phone to call for backup.

Shit. Maybe I can't kill everyone on my own this time after all.

***

*One day later*

I wake up in my hotel room. My head is pounding and my eyes are burning. I throw the covers off me in agitation and stretch my arms out, seeking warmth. I keep replaying the words I was told last night.

*Flashback*

After my team had arrived and helped me kill everyone, they approached me with irritated looks on their faces.

"Maybe if you weren't such a stuck up bitch, things like this wouldn't happen!" One of them yelled, spitting on the floor.

I immediately roundhouse kicked him in the stomach and punched him until he was down. Once on the ground, I drew my gun from my pocket and shot the bastard in the head.

"If you fuckers don't want to end up like him then I suggest you listen to me." I shouted, harshly. The men exchanged quick glances and agreeably nodded.

"M-miss Levine, don't you think subsiding your differences with Mr Cortez would stop situations like this from happening?" One asked. Hearing this made me angry. So fucking angry.

I hate Marco Cortez so much.

I reached into my pocket to shoot the man for provoking me but then stop as I come to the realisation he is right.

"Yeah... Maybe."

*End of flashback*

After entirely finishing my morning routine, I throw on some clothes that were stored in my suitcase. I layer a gold chain and a pair of small gold hoop earrings to complete my outfit.

I quickly spray some perfume, Black Opium to be specific, and put my heels on. Not a very practical shoe but hotness trounces practicality any day.

As much as I do not want to see Marco, I know I have to. My family and his are supposed to be civil, but me and Marco are not and our families hate us for it.

He just isn't used to a girl testing his patience - he's so used to being kneeled before like some sort of God.

I just loved toying with him.

The only thing stopping his family and mine from fully securing our alliance is me and him. We have got in the way every time they have tried.

I patiently wait at the side of the street for Elliot to come and collect me, tapping my foot up and down on the concrete several times. He finally arrives in the same black SUV from the previous day. "Where to, Miss Levine?" He asks, gazing at me through the rearview mirror.

I pause for a moment and swallow.

"The Cortez mansion." I say, waiting for a swarm of questions from Elliot. He opens his mouth to speak but ultimately stops himself. I lay back before having a sudden thought.

"But can we make one quick stop first?"

*10 minutes later*

I am sat in the car on the way to see Marco. My Uncle Tony is next to me, tied up. I injected him with Midazolam to keep him down for a while.

My cheek still burns from where he had slapped me earlier and I rub it to seek some relief.

Fucking bastard.

Every few minutes I feel as if I can hear movement coming from Tony, but come to the conclusion that my mind is just playing tricks on me again.

We pull up to the Cortez mansion and I have to admit, Marco's home is a much more favourable than mine, it also hasn't changed at all since I have last been here.

I also remember his room all too well...

I drag Tony to the doorstep alongside myself and am acknowledged by four guards armed with hefty guns. Two on each side. They look at me in confusion.

"Is that... Tony Levine?" One guard asks, alternating his gaze between me and the limp man on the floor.

It was smart bringing Tony here.

Firstly, the whole Italian mafia despises of him for killing my father. And secondly, I could kill him here without anyone getting in my way. Almost all of them would support his death, though Marco is a problem considering he and Tony used to do private business together.

I was in the dark about it, but apparently the two of them tolerate each other - at least a little bit.

Another reason Elliot is the person I trust the most, he finds out everything for me. He even found out that Marco and Tony were both planning on killing me as soon as I returned to New York.

But that's not gonna happen.

"Yes it is. Is there a problem?" I ask, gazing at the guard.

"No, but who are you and why are you here?" The same man asks. "My name is Milana Levine and I am here to see Marco." I explain, scanning their faces for any kind of reaction.

"Impossible. Milana Levine disappeared 5 years ago without a trace."

"Well, I'm back and I urgently need to speak to Marco." I explain, becoming exasperated from the guards. The men don't budge. They just examine my face and body waiting for something to click.

"Are you guys fucking statues!? Open the damn door." I order, hoisting Tony up by his arm. The men reluctantly agree to let me in and unlock the door. They point to another room inside.

"He will most likely be in there." A guard claims. I nod and forge a smile, infiltrating the mansion.

Before facing an un expecting Marco, I tie Tony to a chair in a separate room, securing his arms behind his back and his legs in front of him.

After he is tied up, I direct steps towards the door and reach for the handle.

Marco is gonna have no idea how to act.

Only one things for sure, he's gonna want to fucking murder me.

I pause for a moment, asking myself if this is the right thing to do, but push my irrational thoughts away and barge in.

-------------------------------------------------------- Thoughts on Milana?

THANK YOU FOR READING!! THIS CHAPTER IS PROBABLY THE WORST BUT HONESTLY THE REST OF THE BOOK MAKES UP FOR IT JUST YOU WAIT!!

Honestly when they meet its just ugh🦋🦋

This is also the longest chapter there is, the rest will be shorter and more manageable.

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