Otto
|Sybella Fiori|
"Where are we Ilya?" my head turned to him. "This is not the way to the house."
"That's because my parents don't live in that house anymore," his eyes found mine. "Calm down, I'm not kidnapping you."
A deep sigh left my mouth "It's just the habit..."
"You have a habit of being alert and feeling like you're gonna get kidnapped? Might have to rethink who's in charge of your security," the man chuckled.
"Shut up," I slapped his chest with the back of my hand. "Antonio is perfectly capable of taking care of me."
"And why isn't he here?"
"I have two phones: one belongs to Sybella and the other one to Hazel, he tracks me with my Sybella phone which I left back at home; according to his data I've been at the apartment all day long," a proud smile appeared on my lips.
"Didn't you have guys looking over your shoulder 24/7?"
"Used to, got rid of them after one night out; Antonio dragged me out of a bar as if I was 16 years old," I grinned.
"What were you doing at a bar?"Ilya cleared his throat.
"I needed time away from everyone. Nicolas had been awful to me and it got to me so I decided to wear leather, let my hair down and go drink some tequila," a weak smile appeared on my lips at the memory. "I had been doing Hazel things for a week straight, it felt as if Sybella Fiori was slipping through my fingers."
"I'm sorry," he told and actually seemed sorry but for what?
"Why are you saying—"
"Because Santino and I should check on you more often, make you feel like yourself," the man let out a deep sigh.
"It's okay, Ilya."
"Now I'm making this about my own guilt, right?" He weakly smiled.
I nodded "Really masculine behavior," we both chuckled.
"I'm sorry," he leaned his head back as his eyes fell close. "Today has been a long day."
"Who did you have to kill?" I asked and he immediately opened his eyes.
"Someone who has been giving me trouble for a long time; I made rules so everyone could live in peace and there were no wars between smaller fractions but this man had been injecting chaos into the community for three years. I gave him three strikes but he blew it," he seemed unbothered; with time you lose sensitivity to killing people.
"What did he do to earn so many bullets?" I know his M.O.; Ilya never kills slowly, he hangs people from the ceiling and shoots the person's hands, knees and feet.
"He kidnapped and raped the daughter and heiress of Pietro Ravenov," Ilya gazed at me. "He thinks a woman should never have power because, according to him, you never think with your head and feel too much. One of his many vacuous and callous reasons to have done such an inhumane act..." he let out a deep sigh. "I should've done it earlier and would've spared Oksana of the pain and trauma but the important thing now is to get her all the help she needs."
"This isn't your fault, Ilya. That animal is the one who hurt her and now you're trying to help. The most important thing here is that she gets the necessary attention and I know you'll do everything in your power to give her that," my left hand reached for his right one.
His eyes fell on our hands as a weak smile appeared on his lips "We've really come a long way."
"Ilya you must realize that I never hated you," his head turned and our eyes met. "You're the one who felt ill just by looking at me and with good reason, taking in consideration what I did. However, despise has never been a feeling I've had towards you, just towards the attitude you took against me which was completely understandable but you could take the blow...I needed that money."
The man seemed utterly speechless "What do you say we make a deal?"
"What kind of deal?" The car stopped but my attention remained on Ilya.
He showed me a soft smile "Let's just forget about it; the past is the past and there's no reason to dwell on it, especially if my bitter comments hurt you."
I shrugged "It's not that bad being a snake; you have fangs filled with poison."
Ilya laughed "I think you would be a cobra; alluring and dangerous."
My lips curved into a smile "I had forgotten how flirty you are."
"I believe I'm changing for the best," his cheeks turned slightly pink but I don't want him to feel embarrassed and hold back. This new Ilya that he's letting me see is delightful.
The car moved once again and my eyes glanced forward, I was about to look back at Ilya but the lit up castle stole my attention.
"Woah."
"You're such a momma's boy," the car made its way down the gravel path surrounding the beautiful loan with the circular fountain. My eyes couldn't deviate from the palatial home.
"She has given me everything, this is nothing compared to what that woman has done for me," Ilya told.
Ekaterina has been nothing but loving to me, a person who she not gave birth to. Imagine how loving she is to her first born, her golden boy. This kind of thinking does not only make me think of what would've been of me if I had a mother at all or just parents to be honest. I don't blame mine for their behavior, they just weren't made to have children. It took me a long time to make my peace with those facts.
Ilya's head of security opened the door for me; I was too distracted admiring the place "Spasibo, Ivan," my eyes were glued to the amazing architecture.
Listen, I have money but obviously not as much as Ilya; his family comes from old money. Back in the Czar times, the Zharkov family was close with the rulers of this country, their favorites in fact.
"Come on," Ilya walked past me. "We have steak and mashed potatoes waiting for us," the man used a key to unlock the door. It's kind of odd seeing such grand doors being unlocked. "Do remember that my mother is quite dramatic so this place is bound to be the same," he told as I walked up the three limestone steps.
"Just open it," I chuckled.
The man gripped the knobs and pushed both doors open as he walked in. A beautiful limestone grand staircase which seems to be between L-shaped and curved, received me. The black and white marble flooring is a classic which gives it a vintage luxurious feeling.
"Come on, I'll show you to your room," Ilya guided me up the stairs. As soon as we reached the top, he turned left and we walked past a sitting room with gorgeous colors that Hazel wears too much. I don't like pastels but they just make sense here and look absolutely stunning.
Along the hall there were more doors but were all closed. Once we reached the end of the hall, Ilya stopped and pushed open the double doors with magnificent molding. I'm an architecture fan, don't know anything about it but I love the architecture of things.
"Here we are," he told, standing in front of the pristine bed.
"The heat is on so you can take the coat off if you want." He turned around and pointed at the hall that leads behind the bed "That's the bathroom, through there is the closet and your suitcase is already there; no one has touched the inside so don't worry." Ilya let out a deep sigh as his body turned my way "My room is exactly under this one and the one across is Anna's so feel free to grab whatever you need from there."
"Thank you, Ilya," I shimmed off the coat and left it on the bed. "Shall we have dinner?"
"Of course, I'll go take this off and meet you at the bottom of the stairs."
"Well, I'm ready so I can go with you," I took the Kubanka off and left it above the coat.
|Ilya Zharkov|
Last night we had a lovely dinner, my parents arrived when we were having dessert which was cheesecake; mom's favorite.
Mom and dad talked to Sybella, mostly, they truly adore her. They asked her about how everything is going in her life and she hid her emotions quite well. I mean, it must be hard carrying around all that grief. Maybe she talks about it with Santino or Slava but my brother hasn't told me anything else about the subject but from the little he has, Anna knows nothing about it.
It's 10 am, I woke up 30 minutes ago because we went to bed around 2:30 am; Ekaterina and Vladimir are a chatty couple. Much like an old Arabella and Apollo. Which reminds me Arabella wants to meet my parents so I have to set that up.
"Sybella?" I softly knocked on the door but no response. "Sybbie, I was thinking we could go have breakfast in town and—"
"Oh Sybbie! Please open the door, Sybbie!" Slava mocked from my left flank.
My head turned to have my brother on sight "Shut up, Slava. I don't want her—"
"She's not here," my brother was naked from the waist up as he ate chocolate ice cream from the pint. He always does that and it's so disgusting when he dips in the licked spoon since he puts it back in the freezer like that. Yuck.
My right eyebrow arched "What do you mean she's not here?"
"Not being here, Ily boy, means that she went out," he rolled his eyes. "You're sometimes as dense as Anna's makeup."
I approached him and slapped his forehead "Don't talk that way about our sister."
Slava gasped "Why didn't you slap her forehead when she called me a slut?"
"You told her not to slut-shame you and she hasn't since then but you have got to stop commenting on her appearance, it's none of your business. She looks beautiful with and without makeup, leave her alone."
My brother did seem repented "Fine, sorry," he let out a deep sigh. "Sybella took a car but I don't know where she went."
"Great," I walked past him and rushed downstairs. Ivan was by the door, looking at his wristwatch "Dobroye utro—"
(Good morning.)
"Mashina zhdet nas snaruzhi, chtoby otvezti tebya k ney," Ivan informed as Ben stood beside him.
(The car is waiting for us outside to take you to her.)
"You two are always prepared, aren't you?" I chuckled walking out of the house, throwing on my coat.
Ben caught up with me "That's your new suit," he said in a know-it-all tone.
"I see you still like to point out the obvious," the driver opened the door for me. "Spasibo, Dima."
|Sybella Fiori|
"Why the fuck do you always look so hot?" Anna chuckled.
I laughed "Black clothing."
"That autumn color on you and the slit with the hosiery!" She squealed.
"So, were those all the places you want me to visit?" My right eyebrow arched as Michail helped me put on the black shell coat.
Anna nodded with a big smile "I want you to bring me cheesecake from the bakery on the list. It's fucking yummy."
"Woah!" I chuckled, approaching the bed. "Those words sound so classy leaving your mouth."
She grinned, looking down at my nephew whom she's breastfeeding "Michail has shown me that life is not like my friends think it is."
"I'm his biggest fan," I whispered before pecking her lips. "I'll bring the cheesecake before dinner."
"Buy three and have them send another two to the house," Anna and Michail are going to live with her parents for six months so they can teach them the basics.
"Perfect, baby," I grinned. On my way out of the suite, I grabbed my Kubanka and purse.
The black Mercedes Benz SUV was waiting for me in the parking lot of the hospital; the motor was still sort of warm since Anna only called me to give me a list of spots in the city I should visit. She's so humane now; cares about things that actually mean something.
Once in the car, I slipped off the sleeves of the coat and let it be my back pillow and pool around my waist.
After driving for 20 minutes, I parked in front of the main entrance of Gorky Park. Before hopping off, the coat and Kubanka were back on me. Various people were entering the place, I believe there's a skating rink and the scenery is absolutely breathtaking.
My feet took me along one of the paths and I didn't stop until there was an empty bench on sight. There are many families around and as much as I love the giggle of babies, right now I'm not in the mood...because mine never got the opportunity to see snow or giggle while running around in a cute little shell coat. Fuck.
Tears slid down my cheeks as I took a seat and pulled out my phone from my purse. "Shit..." I muttered wiping my tears away as my phone was pressed against my right ear. After three sounds, the subject picked up.
"Hi, Sybella."
"Hi Ilya," a deep sigh left my mouth as I leaned back on the bench.
"What are you—"
"You know the answer to that question," I hung up with a smirk on my face. It thrills me to be the smartest person in the conversation.
After three minutes of looking at little kids running in front of me, someone cleared their throat behind me "When did you notice?"
"Five minutes after leaving the hospital," I told.
Ilya took a seat beside me "How did you know it was me?"
"Your license plates, obviously and Ben sitting on the front seat," I chuckled as my sight was still forward. "Why were you following me?" My head turned to meet his eyes.
"Mom sent me—"
"Don't lie to me, Ilya."
He groaned, crossing his arms as he looked forward "I don't like you being alone here; it's dangerous."
A grin formed on my lips "Dangerous?"
"Yes, Sybella," he looked at me and seemed seriously concerned. "You are also a boss and your security team thinks you're in Paris. I don't doubt you can take out ten guys at the same time but I'm not taking any chances."
My grin faded; I hadn't thought about that because I'm so used to being followed by my team but not noticing it.
"Is that the only reason?" I cleared my throat.
Ilya leaned forward and rubbed his face with his hands "No. I thought maybe you would need someone to point you to the good restaurants in town and of course the stores."
A soft smile appeared on my lips "You're driving," I threw him the keys and he caught them. "Andiamo!" I shouted, walking away.
(Let's go!)
You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net