(It was morning.)
Soft light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room.
Aarav held Nishi's hand as she sat quietly on the bed, dressed in a white silk salwar kameez. She looked fragile, still recovering, her fingers resting gently in his as if grounding herself.
"Rest," Aarav had told her earlier—and she obeyed.
Now, he stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, water droplets trailing down his chest, his V-line visible as he ran another towel through his damp hair.
Nishi immediately looked down, her cheeks flushing.
"Love… please come help me with this hair," he said casually, already pulling on his pants.
She nodded softly.
Walking over, she took the towel from him and began drying his hair carefully.
Aarav sat on the bed.
But he wasn't thinking about his hair.
He was looking at her.
Just looking.
His eyes were filled with something deep, something unwavering.
Love.
He had loved her for twelve years.
Twelve.
And now, at twenty-seven, she was finally his.
Nishi felt his gaze and blushed harder.
"Why are you looking at me like that…" she whispered.
Instead of answering—
He pulled her gently into his lap.
She gasped softly.
Their noses touched.
He smiled.
"May I?" he whispered.
She nodded.
And his lips claimed hers—softly.
Gently.
His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer as her fingers slipped into his hair. The kiss deepened, slow and tender, their breaths blending, their closeness speaking more than words ever could he suck her tongue and pull her more closer he licked her soft pillowy lips and groaned into the kiss.
He kissed her lower lip lightly before pulling away.
They rested their foreheads together, breathing heavily.
He smiled.
"We'll go visit your family later."
She nodded.
"The guards will come with us too."
"Thank you…" she whispered.
He hugged her again, holding her close as if shielding her from everything.
—
(Meanwhile…)
Lily (Neva) hadn't woken up yet.
Nikolai, too, had fallen asleep beside her.
Taran (Massimo) quietly entered and covered both of them with a blanket, ensuring they were warm, watching them for a moment before leaving silently.
—
(Downstairs…)
A family sat waiting.
Rima's family.
Mr. Rahim Uddin sat stiffly beside his wife, Mrs. Brenda. With them were their children—Saim, Jeffrey, Everly, and Nancy.
The air was tense.
Heavy.
Rima had lost her elder sister Mina years ago—or so they believed.
A car accident.
Overspeeding.
A race.
Death.
That was the story.
And since then—
Their lives had fallen apart.
Then—
Footsteps.
They turned.
She walked in.
"Shubhechha haramjadara (Greetings, motherfuckers)," Rima said coldly.
She wore a dark brown jacket and pants, her hair in a messy bun, dark red lipstick accentuating her sharp expression.
Asif stood behind her.
Olivia too.
Others gathered, watching.
There was nothing else to do—their Capo and his Queen were asleep.
Rima sat down, crossing her legs.
She lit a tobacco stick and inhaled slowly.
Her father stared at her in shock.
Smoking?
"Shall we begin your bullshit? I have work to do," she said flatly.
No one spoke.
"Speak. We are listening," Asif said calmly.
Mr. Rahim cleared his throat.
"There is… someone who wants to see you. She has waited twenty-two years for you," Mrs. Brenda said softly.
"What we did to you… is unforgivable. We want to make you happy again."
"Please forgive us," Mr. Rahim added.
Rima exhaled smoke.
"You think it's easy?" she said coldly.
"It's not easy… but we want to make it right. We want you back," Saim said.
"No."
"Please, Ria—" Everly began.
"Don't you dare call me that again," Rima snapped, standing up.
In one swift motion—
She pulled out a fully loaded Colt M1911 and pointed it at them.
"A g…gun? Rima?!" Mr. Rahim stammered.
"When did you learn to use a gun?!"
"I am asking you—HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW TO USE A GUN, RIMA?!"
A voice thundered from the doorway.
Rima froze.
She turned.
Her eyes widened.
"Mina…?" Olivia whispered.
Rima didn't move.
Her elder sister stood there.
Alive.
Wearing a dark blue cotton saree.
"I'm asking you!" Mina repeated.
Rima stared.
"…You're alive," she said, letting out a small, disbelieving laugh.
Then—
She started laughing.
Loud.
Uncontrollable.
Manic.
"Ria…" Mina whispered.
"That's why you want me back?!" Rima shouted, laughing through tears. "Not because you're sorry—but because Mina is alive?! The golden child is alive!!!"
Tears streamed down her face as she laughed.
Olivia sat beside her, rubbing her back.
"Ria, please listen—"
"Ria?"
A tiny, sleepy voice interrupted.
Rima turned.
Lilith (Baneva) stood there, rubbing her eyes, yawning.
Nikolai held her hand.
"Your mad psychopathic laughter woke her up," he said coldly.
Rima was still crying.
"Oh no… R…R…Ria c…c…crying…" Lily (Neva) said softly.
She waddled over and climbed into Rima's lap.
Tiny hands touched her face.
Wiped her tears.
She kissed them.
Rima chuckled softly.
"Shubhechha rotno (Greetings, gem)," the family greeted.
But Lily ignored them.
"Lily… Ria…" she said, hugging her.
Nikolai sat down.
"Mina… you're alive. After all these years—why now?" he asked.
Zhanna handed him tea.
"Go outside, baby. Get some fresh air—you just woke up, right?" Rima said, sniffing.
"Uh huh…" Lily nodded.
"Why is she acting like a child?" Jeffrey muttered.
"Mhmh… Mkay… Lily go outside now… no c…c…cry… M…M…Mkay?" she said.
"Okay, baby," Rima whispered, kissing her forehead.
"Come on, Your Highness—let's go play ball!" Rohan called.
"Yeah!" the others chimed.
They all went outside—Mr. Greyson, the twins Xeno and Salvatore, Logan, Galina, Naomi, German, Leon.
"Let's begin, shall we?" Nikolai said.
They nodded.
Rima picked up a glass of whiskey and drank.
"You drink too…?" Mina asked softly.
"Got a problem?" Rima replied.
Asif grabbed the glass.
"Hey—!"
"Shut up and sit quietly. No drinking," Asif said firmly.
Nikolai sat at the table, absentmindedly making nose cuffs and rings.
"Mina… Abellona attacked your wife, right?" she asked.
He froze.
"You know that bitch?" Rima snapped.
"Yes. She was in my set at university. I was there that day," Mina said.
"I don't want to talk about it," Nikolai muttered.
"But Nick… there's someone worse. Much worse. The leader of Krasnaya Prikaz (The Red Order). She's the strongest woman in that group. She controls half of Russia. She has a snake and spider tattoo on her neck and thigh."
Silence.
"I've seen her. She bathes in blood. She sits on power and money. She strips people of everything."
She paused.
"And your tiny wife… has become a target."
Nikolai's jaw tightened.
"You might lose her. She might die—"
"My Lily will not die," he cut in sharply. "Nothing will happen to her. She's with me. Only me."
"You won't even know how she enters your house… and destroys everything," Mina said softly.
Rima inhaled her cigarette.
"Then let her come."
She stood.
"I will never forgive you all. Stay far away from me."
"Ria!" Mrs. Brenda cried.
Rima raised her hand—
Made a Fuck you middle finger sign And made a clear, unapologetic gesture.
Then walked out.
—
(Outside…)
She reached the garden—
And dropped to her knees.
Crying.
The twins saw her.
They ran over, holding flowers.
"Why pretty auntie sad?" Yasmine asked.
"I'm not sad…" Rima whispered.
"Hmmmm liar liar pants on fire!" Yasmin clapped.
"Pretty auntie really sad!"
Rima smiled weakly.
They wiped her tears.
Kissed her eyes.
"No more cry!" they giggled.
And suddenly—
Rima laughed.
Real laughter.
She hugged them as they placed flowers in her hair. She braided theirs, kissing their cheeks again and again.
Asif watched from a distance.
And smiled.
—
(Inside…)
"Tell me about her," Nikolai said quietly.
"She's dangerous. A serial killer," Mina replied. "Back in school, she was weak. A nerd. She used to follow you."
Nikolai frowned.
"She wrote you a love letter once. After the Abellona incident. You tore it apart. Said no woman would ever get close to you again."
Silence.
"All the girls who got close to you… died within three days."
His expression darkened.
"I remember… the news," he whispered.
"Tortured. Chopped. Brutal deaths," Mina continued. "Now she's back. Changed. She knows you're the King of the underground world. She wants to be your Queen."
"And when she found out about your marriage…"
"She burned half a city."
"I saw that on the news," Hassan said.
"Me too," Kenan added.
"This is bad," Alexio muttered.
"Fucking bad," Enzo said.
"They're going to hurt Lily."
"No one will," Sohan said firmly, standing with his sons.
Nikolai leaned forward, resting his jaw on his folded hands.
He looked outside.
Lily (Neva) was laughing.
Clapping.
Doing her happy dance.
"It's not a war," Mina said quietly.
"It's a storm."
"I know," Nikolai replied.
"Are you ready for it, Nick?"
He kept watching Lily.
Smiling.
"Yes."
Olivia glanced outside.
"Let Rima calm down for a while… she needs it."
They all nodded.
Outside—
Rima and the twins laughed together.
But inside—
Everyone knew.
The storm had already begun.