He was excited, or more like thrilled to know that in a week time, he'd be in the same room with the man he despised the most and he'd have something of so much importance to Enzo in his possession.

He hadn't gone to see her in almost a month, because he knew if he did, he'd torture her and probably inflict wounds on her, which would probably spoil his plan of taking her with him to New York.

But he had been watching her from the cameras, there hadn't been a day that passed that he hasn't gone to his computer to watch her.

His cousin had taken an unhealthy liking to her, and he hated it so much. It unnerved him to no end, what was so special about this girl that his cousin liked her so much.

Everyday in the past month, he watched as both of them became close, more like friends. He didn't like the idea of his cousin befrending someone like her but he couldn't stop him either.

She wasn't to be trusted he knew that, she was sly than she looked, he knew that under all that calm and cool, timid young girl was a heartless and skilled killer.

What he didn't understand tho, was the fact that she'd never tried to escape, not once since she'd been here. It intrigued him to know why she never made and attempt to run away

He hadn't checked on her today because he didn't see the need to, why? Because he was going to see her personally in the basement and inform her of the plans he had.

The one that involved her traveling with him to New York for the ball, the same ball her husband would be attending.

But to his utmost surprise and shock, she wasn't in the basement. it was infact empty, the cuffs he had put on her were laying on the ground.

He was aggravated to no end, had she finally escaped from him? How did she do it?

With a low growl he walked outside to find the two guards there, where were they when she escaped, he thought with anger.

"Where is she"? He growled out and both guards looked at themselves with fear, they knew how bad and heartless their Don could be if provoked.

The much older one took the chance to speak up "She left sir" he voiced out trying to compose himself "She left moments ago with Ivan" he added

On hearing that, Dimitri's anger only doubled, how dare Ivan let her out without his permission, he was really testing his patience.

What did Ivan see in this Italian bitch that he'd dare to counter him? He thought to himself, as he made his way upstairs from the basement.

He was fuming with so much anger, he knew exactly where they'd be, in Ivan's room Probably Ivan was letting her take a bath, that even annoyed him more.

When he finally found them, he was right, they were infact in Ivan's room, but she was nowhere to be found, only Ivan was sitting there on the bed.

He saw the shock, surprise and fear in his eyes when he walked in. Ivan knew he had really gotten into trouble with his cousin, but he wasn't in fact afraid, because he knew it was worth it, for Cara, everything he did was worth it.

He didn't know when it happened or how, but he knew he liked her, more than he should, more than he thought he would.

And looking at an enraged Dimitri right now, he knew he was in big trouble and somehow, he may have dragged Cara into it.

"Where is she"? He spat out looking at his cousin with anger, Ivan just breathe out before walking towards Dimitri

"Calm down D, she's...." He tried to say but he was cut off

"Don't even start with me Ivan, I should kill you right now" he gritted out, even though he was angry he really wouldn't kill his cousin, family meant more to him than anything.

Ivan was a bit shocked to hear Dimitri talk about killing him, this wouldn't be the first time he'd threaten to kill him, and all because of Cara

He can understand why Dimitri would habour any form of dislike for her, but right now he knows Dimitri doesn't just dislike Cara, he hated her

"Where is she"? He didn't even need to ask again because he could hear the shower stop in the bathroom, she was in there taking a bath, he quickly side stepped his cousin

Ivan's eyes widened upon realization of what Dimitri was about to do so he quickly started following him in defense

"Dimitri stop, she's taking a bath" he said following closely but Dimitri wouldn't even stop to listen, he would do whatever he wanted

"Maxim she's naked" he rushed out hoping that would stop his enraged and seemingly insane cousin but he should have know better.

He should have known better than to go against me, Dimitri thought as he latched his hands on the doorknob before twisting not even giving Ivan enough time to process it.

What Dimitri didn't expect was to find a completely naked and shocked Cara on the other side of the door.

Unknowingly he raked his eyes through her naked body, he almost forgot why he was there in the first place.

Her perky breast and pink nipple had managed to steal the air from him, her skin was so fucking perfect and flawless. Her hair was still dripping with water and her curves were sitting there just messing with his mind.

Ivan had tried not to look but he couldn't stop himself either, in all his years of living he had never seen someone so perfect and beautiful.

His eyes moved from her face and landed on her breasts, they looked soft and portable, he swallowed on instinct, this was wrong, he shouldn't be looking at her nudity but he couldn't help it.

Even the little guy between his legs jumped in excitement upon seeing her, his whole body was on fire just staring at her. But being a gentleman he is, he quickly averted his eyes from her naked body.

Dimitri quickly composed himself, because he was already losing focus, he didn't come here to stare at a naked woman but to humiliate the woman he hated the most in this world.

She had taken something from him, something he'd never get back And for that he was ready to take something too from her, her personality, everything that made Cara De Luca who she was, he would snatch it from her and leave her broken.

Cora on the other hand, had to stand and listen to Dimitri threaten to parade her in front of his men naked, she knew he could do it and he would but what hurt her the most was the fact that he body shamed her.

He called her disgusting and unappealing to the eyes, she knew she looked bad from all the months she'd spend in captivity but hearing him tell her, only broke the little self esteem she was trying to build

She couldn't stop thinking about why Dimitri hated her so much, or rather why he hated Cara so much.

He didn't know why he had called her disgusting but he knew for sure that she was from any of the things he'd said, and yes he hated her, he'd never parade her in front of his men, especially naked.

He wasn't that heartless or cruel. He had to quickly get out of there because it was taking a lot of restraint from him to keep his eyes from wandering her naked body.

He was already feeling all the blood rush to his nether regions, he dashed out of the room and made for his study, he could hear Ivan's footsteps right behind him.

If Ivan knew this would happen, he never would have taken her out of the basement, he was only trying to do something nice for her but now his cousin had ruined it and probably hurt the girl more than required.

He saw the tears in her eyes when he left her and he couldn't even take it, he hated seeing her cry, it made him feel weak in a way.

He had to leave because she was still very much naked and he wasn't really sure he could keep his hands to himself if he remained there.

But why did Dimitri call her disgusting, if there's one thing he has learned, is the fact that nothing hurts a woman more than being body shamed and Dimitri just did that to Cara.

He was trailing right behind Dimitri and they both entered into his study together, Dimitri quickly walked towards where he put his whiskey and poured a little into his glass and chunk it all down

What he just saw is something he doesn't think he'd forget in a hurry, the image was still very much clear in his mind.

He needed as much whiskey as possible to keep him from going back there and doing whatever the fuck his body wanted him to do, which he definitely would regret later.

"Why did you do it"? Ivan asked in a whisper, he couldn't understand why Dimitri would humiliate her like that.

"Not now Ivan" he dismissed his cousin, he wasn't really in a chatty mood right now and he just wanted to be left alone

Ivan chuckled not believing what he was hearing, it wasn't a nice chuckle but an empty one. "What are you turning into? Is this what revenge feels like"? He asked looking at his cousin in awe, he understands where he was coming from but it was getting too much, he was definitely taking it too far.

"Don't even start Ivan, you're lucky I didn't kill you where you stood and dragged that bitch back to the basement where she belongs" he spat.

Ivan almost growled out hearing Dimitri call her a bitch, he hated that word and he didn't like the fact that Dimitri would use it for her.

"I won't be surprised if you actually kill me, because I don't recognize you anymore" he gritted out looking at his cousin

Dimitri was agitated, angry and pissed off that his cousin would dare talk back at him, all because of her. They'd never had a fall out before, but since she came, he'd been having arguments everyday with his cousin

"You're talking back at me because of that bitch" he asked standing up and walking towards Ivan, Ivan didn't even move or attempt to waver in his quest for answers.

"Don't call her that" he muttered glaring at his cousin, He knew he was threading on dangerous waters talking back to a Don, family or not, Dimitri was still one of the most feared Don in the mafia.

"Why are you so interested in her anyway, there are tons of pussy you can find in motels and on the streets, why her"? Dimitri asked, he didn't a soothsayer to tell him before he could deduce that his cousin had developed feelings for this woman, this killer with no remorse.

Of course Ivan would never see her for who she really is, because he's blinded apparently by her fake innocent facade. But of all the women in the world, why did Ivan have to go and fall for her?? The one woman he hated with passion and wanted beneath him, is the same woman his cousin had started having feelings for.

"That's none of your concern Dimitri" he said making His cousin look at him in amusement, Dimitri would never understand how Cara made him feel, no one would. Of course it was dangerous because she was the wife of a seemingly dangerous Don, or was she?

Ivan has had the hunch that she was not Cara, he had seen Cara up close, he was there the night it all happened. And the woman he had come to like over that past two months, was nothing like the woman he saw that night.

And the fact that she doesn't seem to recognize or remember him is what strengthen his fact, that they may in fact have the wrong person with them.

"It is my business if you keep going against me because of her" Dimitri snaps, he suddenly takes two steps close to his cousin before whispering "this will be the last time you'll go against me in this house again" he said lowly.

Of course Ivan is in no way scared of his cousin "Take her back to the basement" he says turning around but he stops in his track when Ivan speaks up

"No, she's not going back in there, infact she'd be staying in my room from now on" he said standing straight to match his cousin's height.

Dimitri almost went rigid hearing this, he was obviously asking for trouble, he just warned him not to counter him but he was doing exactly that

He turned around and looked at his cousin closely "She's going back into the basement and that's final, Counter my orders again Ivan, I dare you and I swear to God, I'll go back there, and I'll have my way with her on your bed and I'll make you watch every second of it" he muttered word for word to his cousin, he hated how Ivan was quick to come to her defense even if it means going against him

Ivan looked into his cousin's eyes to see any trace of hesitation, or lies but he found none. Dimitri would make do with his threat, that he was sure of and he knows he won't be able to take it if that should happen.

"You won't do that" he voiced out trying to see if Dimitri would waver but he just smirked and whispered

"Watch me cousin" he said before walking back to his chair, of course he was only bluffing but Ivan wouldn't know that, he'd never do that to a woman, even if he hated her guts.

Ivan just scoffed before walking out of the room.

Just wanted to try this, I want us to know what they're all thinking, what's going on in their minds

So Ivan likes Cora🤩🤩

Also Dimitri is Maxim, that Is his middle name Dimitri Maxim Ivanov, so don't get confused