Nikolai had the best birthday of his life.
The surprise his tiny wife had given him still filled his chest with warmth. Lilith had planned everything with that innocent love of hers, the kind that made even the coldest parts of him melt. She had tried so hard, and when the night ended she had fallen asleep in his arms, completely exhausted.
Now she lay there peacefully.
Her tiny body curled against his chest.
Her soft breathing brushed against his skin.
Nikolai slowly opened his eyes and looked down at her.
A small smile appeared on his face.
He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead.
"Thank you, Bambi," he whispered softly, rubbing her cheeks with his thumb.
She stirred slightly but didn't wake.
He smiled again before carefully sliding out of bed.
Nikolai walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Steam slowly filled the room as the water poured over him.
He was washing his hair when he suddenly heard a small, adorable sound.
A yawn.
His tiny wife.
Nikolai chuckled quietly.
He stepped out slightly and looked toward the bedroom door.
Lilith stood there sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
Her hair was messy.
Her cheeks were puffed.
She yawned again.
Nikolai opened the glass door.
"Morning Bambi," he said warmly.
"M…M…Morning Nikki…" she murmured, yawning again.
Without hesitation she slowly removed her clothes and stepped into the shower with him.
The warm water fell over them both.
Lilith immediately wrapped her arms around him.
Nikolai pulled her close, holding her securely.
"Bambi hungry?" he whispered.
She nodded slowly.
"Okay baby, let's get you breakfast," he said gently.
He carried her out of the shower, drying her carefully before dressing her.
He opened the wardrobe and picked out a pretty blue jumpsuit he had bought for her.
He dressed her carefully like she was a precious doll.
Then he walked to a small red box on the dresser.
Inside were the nose rings he had personally made for her.
Three so far.
Each one delicate.
Each one unique.
Nikolai picked up a blue sapphire nose ring that had been beautifully carved.
He carefully hooked it into her nose and placed another small ring into the second hole.
"Perfect," he murmured.
Then he applied lip balm to her lips.
Lilith immediately started licking it.
"Bambi, it's not a sweet," he said.
"But it tasty," she replied innocently.
Nikolai sighed.
He handed her a small chocolate.
She happily ate it while he reapplied the lip balm again.
Soon they walked downstairs.
"Nikki where is my teddy?" Lilith asked.
"Teddy was sinking so I washed it all clean for you," he said.
"Ohhh Lily doesn't like sinky teddy!" the tiny girl giggled.
Nikolai chuckled softly.
"Come on, let's feed and take your drugs hm?" he said.
She nodded.
"Lily breakfast is ready!" Arina called.
"Go Bambi," Nikolai said.
Lilith kissed his lips quickly before happily running toward the dining room.
The moment she disappeared…
Nikolai's face turned cold.
Ice cold.
He walked into the living room.
"Boss you need to be in Italy. It very very important," Damian said urgently.
Nikolai groaned.
"Sorry boss… it's the Bratva. They seek your presence," Damian added.
Nikolai sighed.
"Hm fine."
He gathered everyone.
"I will be leaving for Italy right now. Everyone pack up. Y'all staying in New York with Lilith."
"Bratva?" Nathan asked.
"Unfortunately… yes."
"Yayyyyyyyyy new yorkkkkkkkkkkk!" Nima shouted.
Everyone rushed to pack.
Soon Nikolai's bags were ready.
He sat beside Lilith.
"Bambi… I uhmm… I'm going somewhere far so you stay with your Mumma and be a good girl right?" he said softly.
"Where N…N…Nikki going?" she asked.
"Another country. But I promise to be back and call you every time okay Bambi?" he whispered while wiping her tears.
"O…okay N…Nikki," she cried softly.
He hugged her tightly.
"Do you want anything? I can get them for you," Nikolai asked.
"Lily wants a Pikachu toy… and T…this a c…c…cartoon coloring book… also super hero toys… and super heroes movies!"
"I'll get them for you baby."
"P…P…Pinky promise?" she asked adorably.
"Promise."
He hooked his pinky with hers and kissed it.
Soon everyone left for the airport.
Two private jets were waiting.
Lilith hugged Nikolai tightly.
Everyone boarded.
"Bye Bambi," Nikolai whispered in her ear.
She was crying.
"Shhh… don't cry. I'll be back soon love," he said before kissing her lips.
"B…Bye bye Nikki… Lily l…l…loves you," she cried.
"I love you too," Nikolai replied.
Anika held Lilith's hand.
Nikolai sighed and boarded his plane.
He waved at his tiny wife.
She waved back.
"Come Meri Baccha (My child), let's go," Riyana said.
The plane took off.
"Are you okay boss?" Damian asked.
Nikolai quickly wiped his tears.
"Yeah… I am."
His voice turned cold.
Heartless.
Five hours later…
Inside the Murad mansion.
Lilith sat on the couch holding her iPad and teddy bear.
She wore a soft baby yellow jumpsuit with a hoodie.
Her head rested on Riyana's lap.
"It's okay baby. He will be back. He pinky promise right?" Nihal said.
She nodded.
"Don't worry Lily. Brother will be back soon," Daria said.
"O…O…okay," Lily whispered.
Meanwhile in Italy…
Nikolai sat at the head of a long table.
He wore coded designer clothing.
All black.
"Our drugs were tempered with Босс (Boss)," a man said.
"Did you get him?" Nikolai asked while watching a video of Lilith sleeping.
"Yes boss. That's why we called you. They've been sneaking in and out of your company getting information to the enemy."
"The leader of Black Snakes was killed three days ago."
"The Podolskaya Gang stole the designs for our companies."
"A lot is getting out of hands."
Nikolai lit his cigarette.
"Let's go."
They all stood.
"Oh and congratulations. I heard you got married," a young man said.
"Yeah," Nikolai replied.
"Can we see her?" someone asked.
"What's her name?" another asked.
"Lilith Sohan Murad," Damian answered.
"The Gem of the Obsidian Tiral!?" a man shouted.
"Yeah," Nikolai said.
"ARE YOU CRAZY DO YOU WANT TO GET US ALL KILLED!"
"Ayaaa stop yelling," Nikolai said calmly.
"Alright let's get into business."
The Bratva consisted of eleven men:
Sergei – a Russian Mafia Don
Brandon – half Italian half Polish, a Mafia Boss
Marco – a Canadian hitman
Rohan – an Indian enforcer
Emil – half Mexican half American, the Consigliere
Hammad – the soldier
David – half Swedish half Russian, the lieutenant
Nolan – half American half Russian
Adrian – from the UK, the bookkeeper
Jaxon – half Moroccan half Russian, the weapons dealer
Enzo – half Malaysian half American
And Nikolai.
The Capo.
The Boss of the Bratva.
Four days later…
Lilith sat quietly while Rhea braided her hair into two neat braids.
"N…N…Nikki no call Lily now… L…Lily mad at Nikki hummp!" she pouted.
Sabrina recorded her.
"So you're angry at Nikolai?" Olivia asked.
"Uh huh… Nikki no call Lily now. Lily very very mad," she pouted again.
Everyone laughed.
Nikolai received the video.
He smiled.
"Capo is smiling," Jaxon said.
"Yeah this is rare," Rohan added.
"Capo we were asking about your wife," Damian said.
"She's in a childlike state?" Sergei asked.
"Yeah… and you took her away from her family as an exchange? Aren't you scared of her father Sohan Murad? She's the Gem of Obsidian Tiral," Rohan said.
"Can we meet her?" Emil asked.
Nikolai looked at them.
"Maybe."
"Awesome!"
"Is she pretty?" Enzo asked.
"She's gorgeous," Nikolai replied.
"Can we get a picture?" Adrian asked.
Nikolai sighed and showed them his phone.
"Oh my Lord," Emil said.
"Woah," Jaxon whispered.
"Capo you hit the jackpot honestly," Rohan laughed.
"I agree," David nodded.
"But they keep trying to kill her. They damaged her brain. And I will make them all bow at her feet," Nikolai said coldly.
"Can we meet her in person?" they asked.
Nikolai rolled his eyes.
"Yeah yeah whatever."
"Aww Capo is now a softie for his wifey," Sergei mocked.
"Shut it," Nikolai snapped.
Meanwhile…
Outside the Murad mansion.
Lilith was playing with ducks happily.
Rhea watched her lovingly.
Then suddenly…
Rhea saw something.
No.
Someone.
A man aiming a gun.
"LILY RUN!" Rhea screamed.
Gunshots rang out.
The first bullet hit Lilith's arm.
"Ahhh!"
Rhea ran and shielded her.
The second bullet hit Rhea.
Then another.
And another.
Four shots.
"Nani! Nani! NANI!!!!!" Lilith screamed.
The boys shot the hitmen.
Four died instantly.
Anika rushed over.
Lilith held Rhea in her arms.
"N…Nani…"
Anika checked her pulse.
Nothing.
She slowly shook her head.
"Annie… y…y…you're doctor right… save Nani… Lily begging you…" Lilith cried while holding her body.
"I'm sorry Lily… Nani is dead."
"No… No… Nani cook for Lily… see she made my hair… I…It pretty… Nani Lily like her hair… please wake up…" Lilith sobbed.
Karim tried to hold her.
"Lily Nani is—"
"NO!"
"NANI PINKY PROMISE NOW TELL HER TO GET UPIES!"
"NANI IS T…T…TAKE A QUICK NAPINE!" she screamed.
Riyana cried while holding her.
"Nani has gone back to the Lord."
They took Rhea's body away.
Lilith held her tightly.
"NANI!!!!!!!"
Her scream echoed through the mansion.
"Boss! Boss!" Damian rushed in.
Nikolai looked up calmly.
"Yeah?"
"Lily got attacked. She got shot in the arm… someone else took four bullets."
"Rhea is dead boss."
"What?" Nikolai stood.
"She protected Lily. She died in her arms."
Damian showed him the video.
"NANI!!!" Lilith cried while struggling to breathe.
Farhan held her while they pulled her away from the body.
"My Nani… M…My Nani… they took Lily Nani away…" she sobbed.
"Damn…" David whispered.
"Get the jets ready. We leave now," Nikolai said.
His voice was pure rage.
"I'm going to make them all fucking pay."
He smashed a glass with his bare hand.
Blood dripped.
Cell 222.
"Boss… Rhea is dead. She got shot protecting the Gem."
"WHAT?!" the monster roared.
He smashed the window.
Broke the jail door.
Police trembled.
"Who killed her?!"
"W…we don't know boss," Tory said.
"Find them. I will make them ALL FUCKING PAY!"
"Yes boss."
"Sir the hitmen are dead but the gem is alive. The old lady protected her before she died," a guard said.
The man sniffed cocaine.
His eyes turned red.
"I told them to get the Gem… now they're dead."
He stared at the pictures of Lilith on the wall.
"I'm coming… Mera jaan (My sweetheart)."
He laughed like a madman.
A woman was dragged in.
"Let me go please!" she begged.
He smiled.
Now I'm going to have fun.
The men held her down.
He raped her brutally thrusting harder and faster as blood spilled on the table while the lady screamed in pain please Stop! She begged as he slapped her and kept going for a while as she gave her last breath and gave up.
When he finished she was dead.
"Burn the body. She wasn't good."
"Yes sir."
The body was dragged away.
He turned back to Lilith's pictures.
"Your turn my baby."
"I will get you."
"Make you mine."
"Destroy you."
"Ruin you."
"Nobody will touch you."
"Only me."
His laughter echoed through the dark room.