Chapter 3 Night To Kill

• Hours later, as the sun dipped below the horizon, a warm orange glow cast over the mansion. The atmosphere shifted. The preparation for the evening's celebration was palpable. Eve sat in her chair, eyes glued to the laptop screen, scrolling through endless pages of information. She was determined to know everything about the mafia king, but so far, she had uncovered nothing.
• Her thumb instinctively found its way to her mouth, a nervous habit she thought she'd long outgrown. She bit down gently, scanning the screen for any mention of the mysterious figure. But there was nothing. No wife. No girlfriend. No personal connections. He was a ghost, a figure who existed outside the realm of real life.
• Just as she was about to close the laptop in frustration, her phone rang, shrill and sudden in the stillness. Eve stood up, the phone pressed to her ear as she walked to the window, gazing out at the starry night sky.
• "Boss, I found nothing,"- Kelly, her manager, spoke on the other end, her voice low and gravelly.
• Eve's eyes caught sight of fleets of black cars driving through the gate. She turned her attention back to the phone. "Not even a loophole?" Her voice was firm, unwavering. The game had just gotten more interesting.
• Kelly hesitated before responding. - "Nothing, boss. He's a difficult one... are you sure you can handle it?"-
• Her concern for Eve was evident, though Eve was unbothered by it. She kept her gaze fixed on the men stepping out of the cars, their movements swift, purposeful. It was like watching a well-oiled machine. Then, one man rushed to open the car door. A figure emerged, and Eve recognized him immediately.
• "Loren's half-brother," she muttered under her breath.
• Her gaze sharpened as the men formed a protective circle around him, and the others began to bow in respect. The figure moved with an aura of authority, his steps calculated and commanding.
• Eve closed the curtain, her mind already spinning with strategies. She spoke into the phone, her voice calm but filled with intent, "I’ll capture his attention tonight. Have my dress sent to my room."
• "Already done, boss,"- Kelly replied.
• Just then, a knock echoed through the room. Eve turned, her eyes darting to the door. "I think it’s here," she said into the phone.
• She opened the door to reveal Nik, standing in the hallway, a long black box cradled in his hands. Eve raised an eyebrow, surprised by his sudden appearance.
• "Seen it," she replied briefly, ending the call. She shifted her attention back to Nik, who was waiting expectantly.
• "I got you a gift, Eve," he said with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Can I come in?"
• "Sure," she replied, stepping aside to let him in. Nik entered, and she closed the door behind him. He held out the box, his eyes glinting with amusement.
• "Are you going on a date?" Nik teased, his voice low, his gaze filled with curiosity.
• Eve scoffed and asked, "Date?" She took the package and placed it on the bed, unwrapping the crimson ribbon carefully. There, in the box, was a stunning red-colored party dress that shimmered in the dim light of the room.
• Nik smirked. "This will look great on you."
• Eve studied the dress, her fingers brushing over the intricate details before laying it on the bed. Just then, Nik spoke again, his voice laced with something Eve couldn’t quite place.
• "The mafia king," he muttered, almost to himself.
• Eve’s head snapped up. She froze. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned him, then immediately moved to shut down her laptop, realizing that Nik had been watching the screen.
• "Mind your business," she snapped, her tone sharp, warning him not to pry.
• Nik raised an eyebrow, his gaze never leaving hers. "You won’t find anything about him. Trust me. I know him better than you think. So, be nice."
• Eve’s eyes widened slightly. She couldn’t hide the curiosity that flared inside her. "Really?" she asked, her voice low.
• Nik folded his arms across his chest, his lips curling into a sly smile. "Ask away," he challenged.
• Eve, now seated on the bed, crossed her legs and tilted her head slightly. "How did you know him?" she asked, her voice steady, yet laced with a mix of intrigue and caution.
• Nik’s expression darkened for a moment. He sighed, as if the weight of the memory was heavy. "He was my boss," he said, his voice low.
• Eve’s eyes widened in shock. "You worked for the mafia king?" she asked, disbelieving.
• Nik nodded, his smile barely there. "Yeah, back in Moscow." The revelation hung heavily in the air. Eve stared at him, her mind racing. Nik, with his charming demeanor, had ties to the mafia? It was almost too much to process.
• Nik shifted slightly, sensing her growing unease. "What, you didn’t think I had a past?" he asked, his tone teasing but not unkind.
• Eve felt a twinge of guilt. She had always focused on her own world, her own ambitions, without bothering to learn much about the people around her. Nik was a mystery to her, but now, the layers were beginning to peel away.
• "I think I don’t know much about you," she said, her voice quieter now. "Do you want a glass of wine?"
• Nik declined, his expression serious. "No, thanks."
• Eve, sensing something was off, tried a different approach. "Why did you stop working for him?" she asked, her voice gentle but probing.
• Nik’s eyes clouded over, and he looked away, his jaw tightening. "Let’s not talk about that," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
• "Why are you looking for the mafia king?"
• Eve eyed him closely but didn’t press further. Instead, she stood and moved toward the bathroom. "You don't need to know," she said dismissively, though there was a touch of vulnerability in her voice.
• Nik watched her for a moment before asking, "But why do you want to get involved with the mafia king?"
• Eve stopped in her tracks, her mind whirling with her answer. She smirked, and turned to look at him. "I’m going to kill him tonight," she stated flatly.
• Nik’s expression faltered. He stepped back, his eyes widening in disbelief. "You’re not serious, are you?"
• Eve rolled her eyes, a wry smile spreading across her face. "Do I look like a clown?" she shot back.
• "Why? What did he do to you?" Nik asked, his curiosity piqued.
• Eve’s expression shifted, and she started walking toward the bathroom, her voice tinged with annoyance. "You don’t need to know that."
• Nik’s concern deepened. "It’s impossible to kill the mafia king. You won’t survive. Whoever’s advising you to do this is sending you to your death."
• Eve stopped, her back to him. Her voice was firm, unwavering as she responded, "Nothing is impossible."
• Nik’s expression darkened, his voice tinged with worry. "Eve, this isn’t some game. This is real, and if you go through with it, you’ll be walking straight into a death trap."
• Eve turned to face him, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination. "Nik, I don't need anyone telling me what to do," she said, her voice low and intense. "Not even you."
• Nik shook his head, frustration building within him. "You don't understand," he said, his voice quieter now. "The mafia king will make you pay, and everyone around you will pay with you."
• Eve’s gaze softened for a fraction of a second, but then she turned and walked into the bathroom, leaving Nik to contemplate the consequences of her actions.