Chapter 14

• Brace yourselves for a lot of Russian •

Unknown POV.

6 years.

This woman has escaped me for 6 goddamn years!

I squeeze the glass in my hand so tight I'm sure it'll collapse on itself. Someone knocks on the door and I put my glass down.

"Kakiye?" [What?] I ask, irritated by the thought of the woman I had in my grasp 6 years ago.

"No need to be so rude." Vladimir says, rolling his eyes at my tone.

"You're gonna need a refill, my friend." I raise an eyebrow at the illusive man, but pour another glass anyway.

"Boss. Vy dolzhny posmmotret' na eto." [You should see this.] A man says from the door.

"Eto ona." [It's her.] Vladimir, who has made himself comfy on my couch, says. 

I look at him and he wears an evil smirk on his face. I raise an eyebrow and signal for the man to come in with my hand.

"YA ne znayu, kak vy mozhete byt' uvereny. Eto ne pokhozhe na neye." [I don't know how can you be sure. That doesn't look anything like her.] The man states, shutting the door and making his way over to me at an excruciatingly slow pace.

"Net. Eto ne tak. No eti glaza. Eto ona. Vy ne soglasny boss? [No. It doesn't. But those eyes. It's her. Don't you agree boss?]

The newspaper lands on my desk and I pick it up.

The first thing I see is her eyes. The draw me in like a moth to a flame and I know I have her. She can change everything about herself, but I will always know her by those eyes.

I see a hand on her and my attention is immediately drawn to Cole Santini. The fucking Italian Mafia?! Seriously! Oh Cassie, Cassie, Cassie. You have no idea what you've just started.

I begin plotting ways to painfully end the lives of the Santini family when the clearly of a throat brings me back to the here and now.

"On prav. Eto ona. Ona umnaya. Ona znayet, kak my rabotayem. Vozmozhno, ona ispol'zovala maskirovku, no ya uznayu eti nvinnyye glaza gde ugodno." [He's right. It's her. She's smart. She knows how we work. She may be wearing a disguise, but I'd recognise those innocent eyes anywhere.] I state, staring at the woman who has not appeared to have aged a single day, my finger lightly trailing over her face.

I look at the man with new found determination coursing through my body. After so many years, we finally have a solid lead. The same sick grin on Vladimir's lips fall on mine as I mentally plan our course of action and all the delights to follow.

"Podgotov'te samolet dlya Italii. Teper'! Nakonets-to ya poluchil svoy tsvetok obratno." [Prepare the jet for Italy. Now! I'm finally getting my flower back.] I command. 

The man bows his head and scurries out the room in a rush.

This time, she's mine. Vladimir will not have his way. I have missed having my malyshka in my arms, having my way with her, having her beg at me feet, for far too long.

I look over at the still smug man and he rises from his seat. Vladimir walks over to my assortment of drinks and pours himself one as I down the rest of mine and pour another one for myself.

He stands in front of me with his drink before speaking.

"I need her."

My blood boils but I don't show any reactions. I just roll my eyes at the man-whore in front of me.

"Go fuck one of the other whores we have." I state is as calm of a tone as I can produce.

"They're not her!" He groans, running his hands down his face. "I need her. I miss her sweet little-"

Punch.

"Say another word, and I'll kill you. She. Is. Mine!" I roar, my tone screaming dominance. Vlad puts his hands up in surrender and I smile in response.

I walk back over to my desk and begin planning our next move. We have a safe house in Italy where we'll stay.

I map out everything I can and send out orders to get a hold of the Santini Mansion's blueprints. Once we're there, we'll scope the place out anyway.

"We shouldn't stay at the safe house." Vladimir points out.

"Why the hell not?" I ask. 

It's not like the Italian's know about its location.

"Cassie knows where it is." He states.

I hadn't considered that. She is very familiar with our usual tactics in these types of recon missions.

"What about this one? Only me and you know of its location." I point to a safe house in the slums of a town next to where the photo of tsvetok was taken.

Agreeing on the safe house's location, we decide on what tactics to use.

After an hour of debating, we come to a conclusion and decided on the necessary men and women for the mission ahead. It's vital that these soldiers are willing to risk death for this mission.

I will not rest until she is back. I will punish her for escaping. For hiding from me for so long. I will make her suffer in ways she cannot even begin to fathom. I swear it on the Devil.

Stepping away from the board, I admire the rapidly efficient plan we've created in such a short amount of time.

"I'll go prep everyone, the jet should be ready whenever you are." Vladimir says, standing beside me. I walk over to my desk and admire everything about her once more.

"We'll finally have her back." I say more to myself than anyone else.

A devilishly smug look creeps its way to my face at the next words that leave Vlad's mouth.

"Let's go get your girl, brother..."