"Say something A."

Amy is looking at my engagement ring blankly.

"A, please say something! Aren't you happy for me?"

"I just never thought that this would happen so fast. I mean, how long have you known Nikolai? I thought that the two of you are just, you know, going to get to know each other more before getting engaged. And Nikolai is the Boss of the Russian Mafia, he is the head of a criminal organization B! They kill and beat people down just like that." Amy is saying her words with all her conviction.

"I know Nikolai more than you could ever think A. I know the real him. If you could just give him a chance." I held Amy's hands tightly.

"B, he's gonna have to ask a lot from you. Are you sure you can handle it? He is going to control you. Heck, he even controls your freakin haircut!"

I did not answer Amy. I looked down and realized something. Nikolai indeed is in control of my life now.

"Did he... did the two of you?"

I know what Amy is trying to ask.

"Yes."

"Did you use protection? Gosh B, please tell me you used protection."

I looked down because I cannot look Amy in the eyes.

"Are you really out of your fucking mind?!!!!! Where did your humongous brain go Arabella? What if you get pregnant? What's next B?! How are you going to raise your kids if their father is a gangster?"

A tear is now falling down my face. Why cant she just be happy for me? I can't stand this confrontation anymore so I quickly stood up and stormed out of Dylan's house.

"B!!!"

Amy called out my name but I ignored her. I try to wipe my tears off of my face before Ivan and Vasily will notice me. At the back of my mind I know Amy is just looking after me. Perhaps I just cant stand being slapped in the face with the harsh reality of my relationship with Nikolai.

"Where to Madamme?" Vasily asked while looking at the rear view mirror.

"Home please."

♥♥♥♥♥♥

I'm in Alexei's room, staring blankly at the television. I'm resting my back on the pillow I placed on headboard of the bed. I did not bother Nikolai and Alexei anymore. I'm sure those two are busy.

A few seconds later I received a text message from Nikolai.

I think he knows I'm already home. I quickly typed in my reply.

I blush as I type my message to him. A few seconds later Nikolai replied.

Geeez... I did not intend for him to go home. That was just a rhetorical statement. Men are so literal.

Moments later my phone buzzed, I thought it's my Nikolai but it's from an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Hi baby." My senses jumped to overdrive when I heard a familiar voice. Oh my god, it's Artan.

"Don't call me baby Artan. I'm not your baby."

I heard him soft chuckle.

"Did you like the roses?"

Oh my god, what is wrong with this man?

"Please stop calling and sending me flowers Artan."

"Haven't you read my message to you?"

"Goodbye Artan!"

"Aria needs you."

I went silent for a few seconds. I can hear a different tone on Artan's voice. Shit. I cant believe he's using Aria to get to me.

"How is she?"

"She's been drawing about you."

I feel like my heart is being crushed. My poor Aria. Just the thought of her face makes my heart melt.

"I will see her, but in my terms. I will let Dardan know."

"Okay my baby." Said Artan all too gently. I can sense that he's intoxicated. I can still recall Artan's distinct scent that night when he forced his way to me. A mixture of scotch, cigar and a hint of his cologne.

"Artan I'm doing this for Aria. I only want to see her. If I see you at any point, I am never going to forgive you."

"What's with Volkov that you did not find in me?"

I feel like everything around me took a halt. He knows Nikolai. My lips suddenly went dry. How did he know about me and Nikolai? And he called him Volkov. Perhaps from Dr. Thomas? A lot of thoughts are running in my mind right now. I am already panicking.

"Don't call me again Artan."

I quickly cancelled the call. I feel like my heart is beating a million times. How did Artan know about me and Nikolai?

My heart jumped when my phone buzzed again. It's Nikolai.

"Why was your phone busy? Who were you talking to?" Said Nikolai and he sounds mad.

"Uh..I was talking to Amy, Nikolai." I cringe as I lie to Nikolai. "Are you on your way home now?" I said as I quickly change the topic.

♥♥♥♥♥

Several minutes later Nikolai and Alexei arrived came barging in. I feel like the room suddenly lit up and filled with this breathtaking energy. Nikolai and Alexei's presence are electrifying.

I notice Alexei is holding a box in his hand.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Chocolates for my princess."

Alexei then placed the box on top of the bed in front of me. My eyes widened when I saw different shapes of chocolates. I quickly took one piece of heart shaped milk chocolate.

"Thank you Nikolai, Alexei." I close my eyes and inhale deep as I savor the chocolate. This is a piece of heaven on earth.

Both of them took their clothes off one by one. Alexei then walks to his closet. When he came out, he puts on a white cotton shirt and throws the other one to Nikolai. Geez.. I can get used to this view everyday. Nikolai and Alexei, half naked in all their glory.

Nikolai then cuddled me while the box of chocolates are on my side. "Ivan and Vasily said you were crying after you went to see Amy."

So this explains the chocolates and both of them coming home. My heart is suddenly filled with warmth.

"What happened baby?"

"Just a bestfriend thing Nikolai. I'm sure we can fix this soon." My bestfriend is worried because I'm getting married to you, the Mafia Boss. And she's mad because we had sex without protection.

"Is there anything that I can do?"

"I'm okay Nikolai. Don't worry. Here." I placed another piece of heart shaped chocolate halfway in my mouth. He then took a bite while touching my lips with his.

I took another one and bit it again halfway. To my surprise Nikolai held my chin in place so Alexei could take a bite off the chocolate from my mouth. Alexei had this naughty grin plastered on his face.

"Alexei, you could have asked politely."

"Where's the fun in that?" He retorted while munching the chocolate.

I just sigh in defeat. When I am around Nikolai and Alexei, I feel like I am the safest and happiest. They both went home because they knew I had a bad day and to top it all up, they brought me chocolates. If we could just stay like this forever.

"Don't you two have important business to attend to?"

"Exactly why we are here. Family business first before anything else." Said Nikolai.

How do I even respond to that? Nikolai has already hit the bulls-eye. The three of us stayed in Alexei's room the rest of the day watching horror movies. Alexei knows I like watching horror movies. I'm not sure if they are enjoying the movies though.

They are both resting their heads on my lap. I feed them with the chocolates and pizza they ordered for dinner. Nikolai is on my left thigh while Alexei is on my right.

While in the middle of our second movie, my phone vibrated in my bag.

"Nikolai, baby, can you hand me my bag please?" My purse is near Nikolai's feet at the edge of the bed.

"My reward?" Said Nikolai like a teenage boy. I kissed him on his lips passionately and inserted my tongue in his mouth a couple of times. Nikolai lets out a content smile in response.

I opened my bag and placed it beside me. When I took my phone, I see that Amy is the one calling. I excused myself from Nikolai and Alexei and went out of the room.

"A."

"B. I know you still hate me but you have to know that our front lawn is full of petals of red roses right now. It's like a flower festival here at my brother's house. Let me be precise, red roses festival at our front lawn. And there's this really glamorous bouquet of red roses inside a box. This was sent for you B."

Oh my god, Artan. Why cant he just leave me alone!

"I'm so sorry A, and please extend my apologies to Dylan."

"Are these from Nikolai?" Asked Amy.

"No A. It's from Artan, my former boss."

"Oh my god! B! You know what this means right?" I don't know if Amy is excited or worried.

"A. I have to go. Ill see you tomorrow"

"Okay. I love you B."

"I love you too A."

As I walk back to Alexei's room I received two photos from Amy.

Oh my gosh, the first is a photo of the front lawn now covered with petals of red roses. They are scattered all over Dylans lawn up to the front door. The second is a picture of the bouquet of red roses inside a box, similar to what he sent to me at school but the one he sent at Dylan's is in a bigger box.

I really need to end Artan's madness. God, I think I'm going out of my mind. Why is this even happening to me?

I decided to turn my phone off. I will deal with Artan tomorrow. Meantime, I will spend a quality time with my two boys.

When I entered the room, I instantly felt that something is wrong. Nikolai and Alexei's mood suddenly changed.

Alexei is already standing beside the bed placing his arms in front of him while intertwined. He looks mad as hell. The same look he had the night of his birthday when he was destroying all the things in the room where Nikolai took my virginity.

Nikolai is resting his back on the headboard of the bed. His eyes are full of rage. He is fisting his right hand that is resting on top of his knee while he is holding something on his left hand.

My heart sunk when I realized what Nikolai is holding. I feel like my knees are going to crumble down. My future husband is holding in his hand the note sent to me by Artan.