Alexander's POV

I carried Emily out of the basement and straight to my room. Someone had cut the lights down there. I don’t know which fucker thought they could play games in my house, but I’d find out soon. First, I had to deal with the Italians. They were testing my patience—bringing their sister here, thinking she could smooth over their mistakes. Pathetic.

Did they really think a woman would be enough to buy their way out? That she could seduce me, bargain with me? Fools. My heart, my soul, my very existence belonged to only one person. And she was the trembling girl in my arms.

She doesn’t even realize the power she holds over me. I should be disgusted by my own obsession, but I can’t bring myself to care. The moment I saw her, something inside me twisted, snapped, and rewired itself completely around her. I tried to push her away, erase her from my thoughts, but every time, she came crawling back into my mind—so I did the only rational thing.

I took her.

Now, as I carried her broken body, rage coiled in my chest like a beast ready to be unleashed.

I was on my way to a meeting when I heard her.

"ALEX!"

Her scream tore through the air like a dagger.

I turned, and what I saw made my blood run cold before it boiled over with murderous rage.

Emily—barely dressed, her hair a tangled mess, her face stained with tears.

And behind her?

Niko.

That dead fucking man walking.

She fell. My little one fell in front of me, and when she looked up, she was crying. Begging.

"Please… I’ll go away… I swear, just don’t let him hurt me… I didn’t know you were engaged…"

Engaged? What the fuck is she talking about?

I didn’t answer. I just took my coat off and moved toward her.

She flinched.

My little one flinched from me.

Something snapped.

I wrapped my coat around her, shielding her, staking my claim for the whole world to see. Then, I lifted her into my arms.

Niko didn’t even realize he was already a dead man.

I signaled my men. Take him.

They dragged him toward the torture room, his screams of protest like music to my ears. But I wasn’t done yet. Not even close.

Emily clung to me, her body shaking. She looked up at me, wide, glassy green eyes drowning in fear.

Not of Niko.

Not of Charlotte.

Of me.

I laid her down gently on my bed, but she was trembling so hard, I thought she might break apart in my arms. Then it happened—her breaths shortened, her chest heaved erratically. She was hyperventilating. A panic attack.

I gripped her face, forcing her to look at me.

"Breathe, kotenok. Look at me. In. Out. Slowly. Follow me."

I guided her, whispering in a tone I reserved only for her. It took time, but eventually, her ragged breaths evened out. I tilted a glass to her lips, making her drink, but her hands were still shaking. Water spilled down her chin.

I didn’t care.

I pulled her onto my lap, stroking her back, pressing soft words against her ear. She sobbed against my chest, gripping my shirt like I was the only thing tethering her to this world.

"Now," I murmured darkly, my voice sharp as a blade, "tell me everything. And don’t leave out a single detail."

And she did.

The more she spoke, the deeper my nails dug into my palms. Charlotte. That fucking bitch. I already knew she was involved, but hearing it from Emily’s own mouth made it a thousand times worse.

By the time she finished, she was still sobbing, curling into me like a frightened child.

"Please… don’t leave me. He’ll come again. I’m scared."

I pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"I’m not leaving, kotenok. Sleep."

I held her close, feeling her breathing slow.

And once I was sure she was asleep, I moved her head gently onto the pillow, stood up, and walked out.

Time to fucking ruin them all.

Xavier’s POV

Home.

It’s been too fucking long.

I’d been dealing with a human trafficking ring for weeks. We may be criminals, but even we had lines. And selling people like cattle? That was below us. My father had been a sick fuck who profited from that filth, but we weren’t him.

I don’t love. Love is weakness. But my brother?

That bastard is completely gone for one green-eyed girl.

How do I know? Because I have my ways. And I always knew Alex would be the first to fall. He acts like an unbreakable monster, but deep down, he’s always been a family man. He protected me from our father. Took my punishments as his own. Killed for me.

He killed our father for me.

He thinks I don’t know, but I saw everything.

He wanted to keep me away from the darkness, but what he didn’t realize was…

I am the darkness.

I was standing on the porch when I heard the scream.

"Help me. Please. Help."

I turned and saw her.

Emily.

Her torn shirt. The bruises on her face. The raw terror in her eyes.

And Alex?

He snapped.

The moment he saw her like that, he didn’t hesitate. He picked her up, his face carved from stone. His guards dragged some fucker toward the torture room.

I knew instantly—Niko.

That dumb motherfucker was already dead.

I lingered outside, waiting. Charlotte slithered toward me, her heels clicking against the floor like a fucking insect crawling toward its own death.

"What did you do to Emily?" I asked, voice razor-sharp.

She scoffed. "Emily who? Oh, don’t tell me you mean that whore."

The moment the word whore left her lips, I had her throat in my hand.

She choked, clawing at my fingers, but I only squeezed harder.

"Listen to me, cunt." My voice dropped into a deadly whisper. "That girl is my sister-in-law. And you? You’re just a pawn in a game you don’t understand. I don’t care what deal your brother made. You think you’re safe here? You’re fucking not. You so much as breathe in her direction again, and I’ll personally send your pretty little head back to Italy in a fucking box."

She struggled, gasping. "A-Alex won’t let you—"

"Alex?" I laughed darkly. "Alex will burn the world down for her. And you? You just lit the fucking match."

I let her go, watching as she stumbled away, coughing.

Then I went to check on my brother.

I found him in his room, stroking Emily’s hair, watching over her like a man on the edge of sanity.

"Is she the one?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"Yeah," he murmured, barely looking at me.

"Good," I said. "Then don’t let her go."

For the first time in years, Alex looked unsure.

"I don’t think she can handle my darkness."

I snorted. "She chose you when she ran to you. Not me. Not anyone else. You. That means something, brother."

He exhaled sharply, staring at her like she was both his salvation and his downfall.

And as I watched, I realized something.

Maybe Alex was obsessed.

Maybe I was a monster.

But between the two of us?

I think I might be the worse one.

Author’s Note:

This isn’t a fairytale. Alexander is ruthless, Xavier is just as dangerous, and Emily is caught in a web of obsession, power, and darkness. She will break, she will hate—but she will rise.

If you’re here for a love that’s toxic, inescapable, and all-consuming, welcome to Dayavolicia. Buckle up—the chaos is just beginning.

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