> Antonio's POV <

Xenia Doukas. She was something special. I didn't know what it was but something about her drew me in like a prey to a predator. Her touch was my most favourite thing and I savoured every second of it but the moment I met her dark alluring hazel eyes I melted and instantaneously knew that I couldn't be alone with her again or I'd do something I'd regret.

I spent all night restlessly sleeping in my bed as the image of Xena in a sexy lingerie always remained in my mind, taunting me and reminding me that I could never have her. The next morning, the girls, Claudio and I will begin to formulate our plan to wring out the traitors.

I was in my office at eight in the morning as I wasn't getting any sleep so I decided to work instead to distract myself. I was barely dressed, only in cotton trousers that hung loosely around my waist, and my hair was dishevelled from the amount of times I ran my fingers through them in anger.

I growled, throwing a book against the wall, trying to get rid of this built up infuriation.

"Cazzo!" I hissed, pouring myself a glass of Rum and downing it down in one swift motion.

The moment the glass hit the mahogany desk, the door to my office opened slowly and cautiously. Immediately I was on guard but relaxed when I saw Xena slip into the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

"What you doing here?" I asked gruffly.

She gave me a once over before sighing as she took a seat opposite me. "I heard something bang against a wall so I was curious. Why you up so early?"

"I couldn't sleep." I replied, eyeing her down as she played with the hems of her nightie. She looked so pure and the monster in me just wanted to ruin her. I gulped. "You?"

Her hazel eyes looked up at me, a flash of desire blinked in her eyes before disappearing at the speed of light.

"Same. I had a headache." She answered. "What got you so stressed out?"

"You." I wanted to say but instead I leaned back with a scowl and lied. "The traitors."

"Ah, the betrayers. Nothing is more fun than getting rid of them. My uncle would have me deal with the traitors in our family." She revealed.

Immediately this piped my curiosity and I lead forward, the scowl disappearing and instead I allowed the curiosity to show on my face.

"Uncle?"

"Yes, uncle." She gave me a secret smile. "People knew never to cross my uncle but when you do, oh you'd wish you didn't."

"And who is your uncle?" I dared to ask. Seconds after, a smirked crossed her face as she leaned back into the chair, crossing her arms over her chest and tutted at me in amusement.

"Can't tell you that. Goes against company policy."

"Would you ever tell me?"

She shrugged, her dark brown hair bouncing on her shoulder as she did so. "Maybe on the day our contract ends. Or maybe not at all. I heard you like mysterious girls."

I smirked at this statement. "And what would that mean for you?"

She laughed, so beautifully it made me feel as if no one could ever laugh the way she did. A bright amused smile spread across her face from ear to ear as her hazel eyes glittered at me.

"Don't get too cocky, pretty boy." Xena mused. She stood up, kneeling down to get the book I threw then placing it on my desk. Her eyes carefully grazed over my paperwork as she gently placed the book to the side.

"Looks like fun." She gestured to the paperwork and I snorted.

"Bella, paperwork is anything but fun. Come here." Xena looked hesitant at first but that was quickly pushed away and she walked around the desk to stand besides me so I could show her what I'd do.

"These paperwork are shipments for what?"

"Weapons, money, drugs, you name it."

Her feline fingers gently separated the paperworks so she could distinguish what was what.

"This is for the Estate?" She glanced curiously at me. "What's the Estate?"

I smirked. "Where you are staying right now." Her brows furrowed in confusion. "This mansion is called the Estate. You'll hear my men, my family, Claudio or I use it as this is the main home for people in the Italian Mafia."

"Oh, I didn't know that." Xena said softly and for some reason that made me place my arm around her waist and draw her closer to me. Surprise covered her face when I pulled her onto my lap, reminding me of the events of last night.

"What are you doing?" She questioned.

"You're constantly on my mind, it's infuriating." I stated softly, my fingers brushing against her cheeks.

"Whatever you want, Antonio, you're no getting it." She answered back sassily but the hitch in her breath said otherwise.

"You make me so hard, angelo." I groaned at the memories of our nights together. "All I want is to ravish you."

She discreetly clenched her thighs together, thinking I didn't see it but I did. My words affected her and that brought a little light to my dark heart. Before I could do anything, Xena jumped out of my hold, distancing herself from me.

"I need to go." Xena said without stuttering. "I'll see you later with Coco and Claudio."

Before I could answer back, she fled out from my office, she door gently closing behind her. I sighed and noticed my hard on so I dialed a reliable and useful number that I'd know would pick up anytime.

"Hello?" She purred.

"In my office now." I growled before hanging up.

>Xena's POV<

Fucking Italian Man. I cursed Antonio in all the Russian swear words I knew. He was constantly playing in my mind, his touch, his voice, his taste. It was too addictive that's why I left like he did to me last night. I muttered angrily to myself as I walked mindlessly down the foyer, not noticing the person walking towards me. Our body collided and I stumbled back before regaining my balance then looking at the offender.

"I'm so sorry," He said with an apologetic smile that made my insides warm up.

The man held his hand out to me and I cautiously took it, pulling myself up with his help. I brushed the dirt off me while feeling his eyes scrutinise me so I turned my attention to him.

"Yes?"

The man snapped out his daze and shook his head, a gentle smile on his face. "You look familiar."

I didn't flinch or deny him. Instead I smiled.

"Nia, that's my name. You've probably seen me around." I lied.

He shook his head, furrowing his eyes as he concentrated. "No, that's not it-Aha!"

I jumped in shock of his outburst, surprised to see him grinning at me with his taunting grey eyes. He looked familiar as well, the shabby dark hair messily on his head as he bounced on his feet like a little boy.

"You're Xena!"

I slapped my mouth over his hand and hissed him to be quiet. His eyes widene and nods frantically at my request. Slowly I removed my hand and immediately the grin was back.

"You must be here to kill the weasels. No fair, I wanted to do that." He pouted like a little child while I stared gobsmacked at him.

"Who are you?" I blurted out and the pout faded into a bashful smile.

"Valentino Moretti the First." He bowed and I gaped at this information.

"You're Antonio's b-"

"-Brother? Sì! Only better looking."

I grunted. "And still fucking arrogant."

Valentino winked at me. "Where you heading to?"

"Well I was going to-"

The elevator doors opening cut me short when I saw Katrina saunter out and heading to Antonio's office, not before sending me triumphant smirk. I felt my insides curl in disgust and forced myself to look away and mask my feelings.

"Anyways-"

"-What was that?" Valentino asked.

"What was what?"

"That."

"What?"

"That look on your face when you saw Katrina."

Busted.

"I hate her." I answered but he frowned, unconvinced as he cocked his head to the side as if he was reading me.

"No. That's not it."

I scoffed.

Suddenly I heard him snap his fingers together and my eyes snapped back to him.

"That's it!" He said happily. "You're jealous."

"Wait wha-what?" I sputtered out.

Valentino rolled his eyes. "Don't deny it."

"I'm not jealous." I said defensively.

"Sure." He answered sarcastically.

I scowled and walked away from him, ignoring his cries for me to come back. Stupid boy. Just like his fucking brother.

In the afternoon, Antonio called a meeting with Coco, Claudio and I to discuss our plans. I was with Rosetta when Coco informed me so I regrettably got up from my seat in the living room, sending Rose an annoyed look to which she laughed at before trudging into elevator which took me to the top floor.

Coco and Claudio were already in the room when I arrived. They sat closely to each on the couch and Antonio was in his boss chair like usual with that frustrated look on my face which I wanted to kiss away. His eyes shot up when I closed the door behind me and watched me sit in the chair in front of him, one leg crossed over the other. His tongue snaked out and licked his bottom lip as his eyes grazed down my body.

"So," I said, snapping him out of daze, dark brown eyes filled with amusement. "What's your plan?"

"Claudio." He simply said and with that his second in command immediately got to his feet.

"Tomorrow we are holding a dinner party and the people we suspect are involved with Apollo are being invited. Your jobs are trying to get information about the delivery to the Russians they made and anything else." Claudio instructed.

"That's it?" Coco asked, bored.

"It's not as simple. These men have been trained to not even speak even at the brink of death." Claudio stared at us seriously. It was quite amusing. "It will be incredibly difficult."

"Stop right there, Mr Russo." I said with a smirk. "Nothing is difficult for us. Do you know who we are?"

Before he could reply, I cut back in.

"That was a rhetorical question. Of course you know who we are. We are Xena and Coco, the Goddesses of Darkness. They call us that because we are in and out before you know it. We're seductive and we are killers. We are your worst nightmare and your favourite dreams."

I stood up, cocking my head to the side in amusement.

"So, why would you for one second think we aren't capable to get information from your men's mind? You say that they're trained to not to speak but we are trained to break," I tapped my head and then where my heart was as I finished my speech with, "the mind and the soul."

It was silent in the office until Coco broke the silence with a slow clap and a smirk sliding across her lips.

"I think that was well said, Xe. How about we go and get ourselves ready while these men remember who they're dealing with?" Coco asked suggestively.

I winked at my best friend and she made her way out with me closely behind her tail. Just as I began to close the door behind me, I glanced at the speechless men and smiled seductively, my eyes locked on with Antonio's eyes. I couldn't read him but at that moment I didn't want to.

"You might be the King but I'm the Queen and in a game of chess, the Queen always protects the King."

••••
What do you guys think of Xena?

LMB