ARIA.
It's taken days to organize the Cosa Nostra's dealings for Dominic to manage in my absence. Once my father's consigliere, Dominic is without question the best man to act as Don while I'm in Russia. Still, despite the distance, I'll be watching. Just because I won't be there in person doesn't mean I won't be in control.
But I've been wondering whether this was the right choice. I've tried all my life to make my father proud. When my mother died, my father was heartbroken. I don't remember them together, but he had to have loved her. He refused to get married after her death.
Eventually, he caved to pressure from the Capos and married Mariella. But he never gave her a child. He had already chosen his heir. Me. It didn't matter to him that I was a girl.
That was why I had to protect his legacy. I have to make him and my mother proud, prove that I am who they wanted me to be.
A soft knock preceded the door creaking open.
Lena stepped in and gave a respectful bow. "We've finished packing your bags, Donna."
I nodded, exhaling slowly. "Have them taken to the car."
She turned to leave, but I stopped her.
"Oh, and Lena?"
She paused, glancing over her shoulder.
"You'll be coming with me. To Russia."
Her eyes widened — shock first, then happiness bloomed beneath it. A smile tugged at her lips. She bowed again, this time a little deeper.
"Yes, Donna," she said, and slipped out quietly. Lena had been loyal to me for years. I'd only allowed Rosa to serve me, but I was beginning to like her.
I took another long drag of my cigarette, letting the smoke curl between my fingers.
I should really stop this habit.
I've been addicted once before.
And the last thing I need right now is to lose control again.
****
The car came to a smooth halt in front of the Mikhail's mansion, its size even more imposing now that I was expected to live in it.
Several maids stepped out from the front doors, their heads bowed respectfully. They stood in a near-perfect line — black uniforms, trained eyes lowered.
The old man from my previous visits stepped forward with a polite smile.
"Welcome back, Mrs. Volkov," he said kindly. "Forgive me for not introducing myself properly the last time. I'm Pavel. The head of staff."
Before I could respond, he turned to the line of maids and gestured toward me.
"This is the Pakhan's wife."
All the maids bowed in unison, the synchronized movement unsettling in its precision.
Pavel nodded once, and they broke formation, moving swiftly to my car to retrieve my luggage. One of them paused beside Lena. "You'll come with us," she said softly in lightly accented English.
Lena glanced at me for confirmation. I gave her the faintest nod, and she followed them — likely to the staff quarters.
Pavel turned back to me. "Shall I take you to your room?"
I followed him inside, the mansion's interior as cold and vast as I remembered. He led me down a long hallway and stopped at a tall set of double doors I recognized as Mikhail's.
"This is the Pakhan's room," he said. "He instructed that you'd be staying here."
I blinked but said nothing.
"If you need anything," Pavel continued, gesturing to a small, sleek panel on the wall, "press this button. It alerts me directly."
He gave a small bow and left without another word, the doors clicking shut behind him.
I was looking around Mikhail's room when I heard it.
The softest sound — a padded step, like movement over carpet.
I turned, slowly.
From behind a low partition near the fireplace, a lion emerged.
A living, breathing, dark-maned lion.
It moved with slow, calculated grace — each step deliberate. Its massive paws padded toward me slowly; not yet sure it wanted to devour me.
My heart kicked against my ribs, but I didn't flinch. I'd handled worse. What was a lion compared to me?
So, I didn't scream, and I didn't move. I simply adjusted my stance, shoulders square, muscles coiled. My hand hovered near the Glock tucked into my waistband.
The lion kept coming.
It didn't growl. It didn't bare its teeth. It simply stared at me — those wild amber eyes locked onto mine, searching. Not for weakness, but something else. Recognition, maybe?
It was close now. Close enough for me to see the subtle twitch in its whiskers, the faint rise and fall of its breath.
And then, just as I braced for it to make the final move—
It sat.
Calmly. Still watching me.
I exhaled sharply, relief coursing through me. I slowly dropped to the floor, my eyes still on the animal. Why does Mikhail keep a wild animal in his bedroom?
A glint of metal at its throat caught my attention — a collar. I leaned toward it slowly, my arms raised slightly to show I wasn't a threat.
The mane shifted just enough for me to glimpse the thick silver collar wrapped around its neck.
Drago.
The name was etched into the metal plate. I realized I'd said it out loud the moment the lion moved.
It stood sharply, eyes locked on mine. It looked like it was waiting.
It then clicked to me. Instructions. It's waiting for instructions because it's Mikhail's guard dog.
MIKHAIL.
I shook hands with Arban, the Italian Underboss, to finalize our agreement. I didn't like the man for several petty reasons to be honest.
He was too slick to be an Underboss, he practically radiated the charm of a drug-dealer. Slick tonged with a permanent grin. The glint in his eyes proved he was very satisfied with our agreement.
I tsked in annoyance, scrubbing the traces of his damn hand cream off my palm with a wipe that I tossed at Felix after. He opened the door and I slid inside.
This had better be worth it.
I couldn't even welcome Aria to my own house, because of this deal. Should I get her something? Flowers perhaps. She didn't seem like a flowers person.
I didn't register a damn word Felix was saying — not until I caught one name.
Drago.
My guard dog.
I turned sharply. "The dogs are back?"
Felix nodded. "Yeah. They brought them to the safehouse—"
"They're all by the safehouse, right?" I interrupted, already feeling the knot twist in my gut.
"Yes, but…" He hesitated. "Orlov… put Drago at the estate."
His voice trailed off the second he saw my expression.
The second he realized what that meant.
Orlov had placed my highly trained, kill-on-command lion in the same house as my wife. A stranger. Someone Drago didn't know.
"Drive, for fuck's sake!!" I barked, already picturing worse case scenarios.
Felix punched the accelerator, tires screaming as we shot forward.
******
I didn't wait for the car to stop.
The second the tires screeched into the driveway, I was out —steps pounding against marble and stone as he stormed through the estate.
Aria.
His blood roared in his ears.
I've seen Drago with strangers. He didn't take well to them.
I tore down the hallway at full speed, shoving open the double doors to his bedroom with a force that rattled the hinges—
And froze.
Sitting cross-legged on my bed, laptop open on her thighs, her expression calm and focused.
And there, draped lazily across her legs like a content housecat, was Drago.
The lion blinked slowly at me, one paw twitching as if annoyed by the sudden interruption.
Aria didn't even look up. "You're late."
I stood in the doorway, chest heaving, heart pounding. I looked from her to Drago — the beast looked relaxed, utterly at peace.
I didn't say a word.
I couldn't.
"Did he—Did he hurt you?" my voice shook slightly. Aria rolled her eyes at his obvious worry. "I'm fine, he's been a good dog."
She patted his head as she said that, Drago allowed her to do as she pleased.
"Drago, sdvín'sya," I ordered in Russian, my voice low but firm.
The lion moved immediately, slipping off her lap and settling at my feet knowing exactly who was in charge.
Aria shot me a glare sharp enough to draw blood.
I answered with a slow smirk.
"He's an animal. Don't touch him," I said, approaching her step by step.
"He has feelings, you know."
I rolled my eyes. "He also has fangs."
I stopped just in front of her, close enough to feel her breath shift. Then leaned in, voice low and deliberate.
"I've been waiting a long time to see you on my bed, malyshka."