Alexander's POV

I've been told to toughen up. Hide my emotions. Be a man. Don't cry. And all of that turned me into a heartless beast. Dayavol. The Devil. A name whispered in fear. I lived in the streets, survived by spilling blood, and became the monster they all feared.

But somehow, this little girl made me weak.

I never wanted a wife. Never wanted a family. I thought I'd die in the middle of a war, my body riddled with bullets, my name carved in blood. But the moment my eyes landed on her, I knew. She was mine. My obsession. My destruction.

At first, I tried to purge her from my mind. I tortured men in the basement, hoping their screams would drown out the sound of her soft voice echoing in my head. I fucked other women, but the moment I touched them, all I saw was her green, gem-like eyes burning into me, haunting me, making me loathe myself.

So, I stopped.

I haven't touched another woman since I saw her. And when I couldn't take it anymore, when I realized I needed her more than I needed my own goddamn breath, I fucked the last piece of my morality and took her.

Now, she will be the mother of my children.

The Bratva forbids us from marrying outside the Mafia. But I don't give a fuck. I'm the King, and my word is law. I will rewrite the rules for her. I will burn down traditions for her.

Now I sit, watching her reaction, and for the first time in twenty years, I feel something foreign slithering through my veins. Nervousness. The last time I felt this was when my father was beating Xavier, and I thought he was going to kill him.

She hasn't answered me yet. Her lips are swollen from how hard she's biting them.

Then she finally speaks.

"I-I... No."

The word slams into my skull like a bullet.

No?

A muscle in my jaw ticks as I stare at her. "No what, kotenok?"

She shakes her head, her emerald eyes filling with unshed tears.

"You-You'll cheat on me."

I go still. My blood turns to ice.

She thinks I'll cheat on her?

I haven't been able to breathe without thinking of her, and she thinks I'll betray her?

My hand shoots out, gripping her throat, dragging her closer. She gasps, eyes widening, but she doesn't fight me.

"And what made you think I'd cheat on you, kotenok?" I growl, my voice like steel. "After ruining my peace of mind, you think I'd throw you aside for some whore? Maybe I need to fuck that into your pretty little head."

Her chin wobbles. Fuck. This woman will bring me to my knees.

"T-they said..." she stutters. "Charlotte told me you'd eventually marry her. She said it's against the rules for you to marry me."

Of course. That bitch Charlotte. I should've put a bullet in her skull a long time ago.

I cup Emily's cheek, forcing her to look at me. Her skin is so soft, so delicate, completely opposite of my calloused hands.

"Listen to me, little one," I murmur darkly. "I'm the fucking King. If I decide to marry you, I will marry you. And those who dare go against me? They'll be buried six feet under. Now... come here."

I pull her into my chest. She's trembling, but she doesn't push me away.

"You... you really want me?" Her voice is barely a whisper.

"I do, kotenok." I tilt her chin up. "So, will you marry me?"

If she says no again, I will make her say yes-the easy way or the hard way.

"I-I'll marry you," she finally whispers. "But I want Salley to go shopping with me first... if that's okay."

She looks up at me with those wide, Bambi-like eyes. Fuck.

"Of course, kotenok," I rasp. "Xavier will be here tomorrow. I'll tell him to bring your friend."

She throws her arms around my neck, pressing against me. My chest tightens. She has no fucking clue how deep I've already fallen for her.

She'll be my wife. My Queen.

3rd Person POV

Brat'ya po vyboru. Brothers by Choice.

It is an elite group of men, bound not by blood but by war. The most trusted members of Alexander's circle-his only family. Some older, some younger. Some found in the depths of street fights, others saved from death itself.

Among them is Victor.

Twenty-three years old. Ruthless. Loyal. His allegiance is to Alexander alone, though he serves as a double agent within the Italian Mafia.

Alexander's POV

After Emily fell asleep, I left her to take care of business.

Victor was already waiting for me when I arrived. I stepped out of my car and entered the darkened warehouse.

"Ahh, Dayavol," Victor smirked. "Feels like it's been ages. Give me a hug, bro. I missed you."

I exhaled sharply. This fucking idiot.

"It hasn't been that long, Victor."

"Too long," he insisted, wrapping an arm around me. "Come on, don't give me that look. So? How's the little beauty you're keeping locked away?"

My expression darkened.

Charlotte has been running her mouth.

Victor laughed, holding up his hands. "Relax. Almost all of the Familia knows about her now. Daniel is furious."

I grit my teeth. That bastard.

"I'll deal with him later." I brush past him, walking deeper into the warehouse. "Right now, we need to talk business. I'm getting married in three days, and I want the Italians at my wedding. You need to make sure they don't pull any shit behind my back."

Victor froze. "Wait-WHAT?"

"I didn't even tell Xavier yet." I shot him a warning look. "So stop whining and get to work."

Victor groaned. "Fine. But I want to meet her before I leave."

I clenched my jaw. The possessiveness inside me flared like wildfire, but Victor was family.

"Come at eight for dinner," I muttered.

"Good," he smirked. "Because if you married someone boring, I'd have to put a bullet in your skull."

I rolled my eyes and continued walking. "Come on. We have a shipment arriving. I need to make sure it's all clean."

Victor fell in step beside me, his smirk gone, replaced by the cold, calculating face of a killer.

Business first. Then my wedding.

And after that?

The world will know who Emily belongs to.

Author's Note:

Hey, my dark souls!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter filled with possessiveness, danger, and Alexander's obsession with Emily. Things are getting intense, and our Mafia King isn't holding back anymore. The wedding is coming, but so are the enemies lurking in the shadows. Will Emily finally accept her fate, or will she find a way to escape?

Also, what do you guys think of Victor? Do you trust him, or is he just another snake waiting for the right moment? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Stay tuned for more twists, betrayals, and, of course, some dark romance.

- Your Wicked Author