Charlotte "Home. Sweet home. Italian style for American girl and Russian wife."

I drove through the big massive golden gates with my head held high, as I was always taught. The car is not mine - it belongs to my Russian husband, the house I will soon enter is also not mine - it belongs to my Italian brother, so at least the confidence will be mine.

It's easy to be intimidated in such a world, but that's what makes you tough. Most people, including my "relatives," are cold-blooded killers. While it's a disgrace in the outside world, it's a badge of honor for the mafia. But I'm not that far from them, am I?

We hadn't even gone a few meters when the head of security, Angelo, came out of the small guard house. He is old, in his sixties. His once fair hair is now completely white and washed out by time. Although the years have made him older, he still seems the same as on my first visit to this place. I try not to look at him now that I know that since I became the princess of this Italian clan and have seemingly turned into an enemy.

He comes to the glass on my side as I lightly press the brake and leans over, urging me to roll down the window. As I do, his voice is completely at odds with the calm expression on his face.

"Miss Kirillova, how can I help you?" "Oh, it would be nice to say hello, Angelo." I pushed my sunglasses up my nose a little so he could see my gaze. "And for you to shove your stubbornness up your ass and let me in."

"With all due respect, you don't dare give me such orders." His jaw twitched slightly. "Oh, with all due respect, but I'm afraid Alex will kill you if you don't let me through." All the sweet smile immediately disappeared. "You're passing." "Thank you, you're so sweet, Angelo." I snorted and closed the window and stepped on the gas again.

"They clearly don't like you." My ponytail for a week twitched. "Why?" "I don't really care." I shrugged. "The Italians don't really like the wife of the Russian mafia, you know."

We drove along the gravel past the hundreds of bushes and trees of the garden to finally reach the house. The house is huge, as you would expect from the residence of the Italian mafia in New York. A wide marble staircase leads to a large door. Pathos is my brother's middle name.

"God, I am in heaven!" I turned my head towards the voice of Lin who pressed her cheek against her window. "Tell me that I can marry your brother." "I'm afraid that's not entirely possible because he's married and has three children, dear." I rolled my eyes as I turned off the ignition. "No luck," She clicked her tongue, getting out of the car after me.

Exhaling, I began to climb the steps, wanting to hear the sound of heels for even more confidence, but since it would not be appropriate for shorts and a simple T-shirt, my huge brother would squeeze my 5'7 body like bread in a toast box.

Hearing quick footsteps behind me, I pushed open the massive doors and entered the cold room. A wide marble staircase leads to a large hall with a light marble floor. The gold rim of the Chesterfield sofa in the middle, the columns and even the carpet are visible even from the entrance. The ceilings are vaulted, and in the middle is a painting of angels fighting demons. They are literally everywhere. This usually makes visitors stop and stare at the intricate detail inserted into the image.

On the other hand, it is also usually the last thing they see before they are "taken care of". While the hosts invite their partners here, their enemies are always invited too. Heaven and hell. Angels and demons. So different, but without both there would be no balance in the universe.

"Your brother is waiting for you in the living room." I saw a body silhouette in the dark corner, Karl, my brother's assistant." "Long time no see." I smiled falsely again, moving closer to him, because that was where the open entrance to the living room was. "You seem to have matured." I tossed him the car keys. "There are my and Lin's baggage in there, take them to our rooms."

Such people do not like verbosity at all. If you have the right to do so, then give the order, but if not, then do not even think about doing anything. My theory is confirmed when Karl simply nods, passing by us.

"Oh, and find someone to take her to her room." I started point a finger at Lin. "Hey, what does this mean?" She grabbed my elbow. "What I'm going to talk to my brother is confidential." "But..." "No." "I wanted..." "No." I wriggled out of her grip and headed towards the living room. "You can't leave me here." I heard a scream behind me. "I've already done it.

***

And so. After even five minutes of hugging, even my ribs are intact, there is just one small problem. Alex's sweet side immediately gave way to a furious one when he sat down on the couch for negotiations. Yes, that's exactly it. Now the Don of the Italian Mafia was sitting on the couch and I, like a little girl, was sitting on the chair in front of him.

I wasn't scared but he's my older brother and even though we don't have an ideal sibling union, I don't want to show my bitchy side to the only person I care about.

"So, what the hell do you and your idiot husband need from me?" The judge of his voice is doing shit. "What makes you think that?" I rubbed my sweaty palms on my shorts. "I just missed you." "Oh, yes, of course, you haven't visited me for 8 months, since you told me about that seal of yours John." He smiled kindly. "So either you have a fatal disease or you're back in the shit called Roman."

My palms stopped the nervous movement, starting to lean on it, allowing me to lean my body towards him. "And when were you going to tell me that the Russian mafia empire is falling apart, losing a lot of money!" I burst out a little louder.

"And did you even care? I just watched your almost ex-husband fall from his throne and I didn't even have to lift a finger. Someone clearly hates him even more than I do."

"Oh, and did you know that it was these very favorites of yours who kidnapped me 10 months ago?" I laughed unhappily, watching as my brother's expression was covered with a shadow of confusion. "Exactly." "For what?" "You have a sister who is too smart to stop them." I exhaled tiredly, relaxing.

"And what are you going to do?" "Kill." "With a Roman." "Exactly with him."

"Then why are you here?" "I may need a little more information from you." I widened my eyes cutely. "That's his plan." "You don't trust him?" "I don't trust myself."

"Okay." He nodded slightly. "Is that all?" "I'll also need some backup." "What kind?" "I'll tell you now." I smiled triumphantly. "You'll have to keep an eye on us all from afar, I'll send information about the others...if something happens to them, call me, but if something happens to me..." I swallowed. "Don't save me."

"What?" My brother nearly choked on his own spit. "You can't be serious." "That would be right." Without changing my serious expression, I moved to sit next to him on the sofa. "As my brother, you will want to save me, but as Don, you must understand that you cannot save a Russian's wife." I covered his palms with mine.

"Do it, okay?" "Never." Our gazes fought a terrible battle. Mine burned with despair and need, but his was too adamant. "My sister will live as long as I live, understand?" "But..." "I've said it all." Alex stood up abruptly. "If you lie in a coffin when I had the chance to save you, I'll lie down next to you." And the last thing I heard was his heavy steps on the floor, echoing in the silence.

***

After such unsuccessful negotiations, the only wish of any tired woman is to take a bubble bath. This is what my brain dreamed of when I lay down on a comfortable mattress. So good. Cozy, calm, sil...

"Auntie! We're here!" Three children's voices rang out throughout the room. My eyes widened as I heard the door slam against the wall, but before I could take the necessary amount of air, Julia, Francesca, and Eleanor covered my body in hugs.

The triplets are only 4 years old and although I rarely see them, I am glad that they remember me and love me. That is why I hug them all and for the first time in a long time I really laugh happily.

"How you've grown." I sat up awkwardly. "The best nieces in the world." "And the most capricious." I smiled when I saw Lilith, Alex's wife. She stood in the corner with a smile, watching her children try to strangle me.

"Hi, how are you?" I asked, trying to get the kids to sit on my lap. "I'm totally, and you?" Well, at least we're not enemies, and that's good, but it's hard to be on good terms with people you rarely see. "Everything is as usual." I answered, knowing that this was the end of our conversation. "We just came to say hello." I got another fake smile. "Children, your aunt wants to rest."

The girls smelled me again and, lowering their heads, also left, only quietly. I looked sadly after them, feeling what a terrible person I am. I rarely see my real family, but I always found time to save my ass. The longer I live, the more I turn into my father.

But before I could go too far in my darkness, my phone started ringing in my pocket. Lob frowned at the unfamiliar number. "Yes? I'm listening." "Hello, this is Natasha." The woman whispered.

"But how did you know this number?" "It's not as important as the fact that Roman found out that you stayed with Alex after all." Damn Lin.

"But I told him that..." "What are you going to do there? Oh yes, but the fact that you'll be living there for a week and the fact that you'll still do it isn't very good." "What are you talking about?" I swallowed. "He's going to get there now and the war will start, honey." "Well, yes, of course. Don't exaggerate, he won't do it, and in general, tell him that my affairs are none of his business." "But Roman..." I hung up impolitely.

My knuckles were white from how hard I was smashing my phone. What a cocky turkey. He thought I would listen to him or believe he would break into his enemy's house. Yeah, right. He wouldn't do that. Right?

I pushed these thoughts away and headed to the bathroom as planned, throwing the phone on the bed. I began to take off all my clothes, remembering to turn on the water that began to fill the bathtub. For a few minutes, I froze completely in front of the mirror. I was beautiful, attractive and sexy. I knew it and used my long brown hair, big brown eyes and full lips.

The world is so cruel. Everyone is so taken in by the candy wrapper, thinking it will be sweet, but it turns out that the filling is bitter. I became like this a long time ago, when I had to pretend to be an obedient child during the day and work illegally in the evening just to save my father's ass.

Well, yes, big breasts and a butt with a thin waist play into your hands if you want to win over men using their own methods. My hand went down to my left breast, lifting it up a little to see this tattoo because it can only be done this way. Tu semper eris Kirillova. This is what was written in small ink on my body. Under my heart.

It was stupid, but on the day I ran away it seemed like it would help me remember how strong and bad I was. And here we are again. I wrote my enemy's last name on my body, but the worst thing is that this phrase looks more like an oath or a threat. It means...

"Where is my fucking wife?" A loud voice throughout the house made me drop my hands sharply and feel fear in all my insides. Fuck. This is definitely a threat to my entire life.

Tu semper eris Kirillova. You will always be Kirillova.