The Mafia and His Obsession: Part 1 (Tainted Hearts 4)

“Then why are you calling, baby girl?” I asked quietly. Shit, didn’t Alessio tell her not to call me?

“I wanted to check if you were okay. Are you okay?” her sweet voice replied.

Ah, for fuck’s sake! This was bad. Very bad.

I wasn’t supposed to have any communication with the Ivanshov like this. It would look too suspicious. Ayla just messed up big time.

Taking a deep breath, I replied. “Don’t worry about me, baby girl. I know you’re worrying, but please don’t. Remember, no stress during your pregnancy.”

I could feel her nodding, and I almost smiled. “I know, but Alessio won’t tell me anything. If you promise you are okay, then I won’t worry anymore. I need to hear you say it instead of Alessio.”

Instead of replying with what she wanted me to, I quickly spoke. “Ayla, you can’t call me again. What you just did is very dangerous.”

There was silence on the other side until I heard her whisper, her voice now masked with fear. “Did I just mess up?”

I shook my head. “No, baby girl. You didn’t.”

“But…”

“You just can’t do that again. That’s all. Hang up and go tell Alessio that you called me. He will handle it from there.”

“Is he going to be angry at me?” she muttered. I could almost imagine her chewing on her bottom lip nervously.

Chuckling quietly, I shook my head. “No, Ayla. Alessio can never be mad at you. Now go.”

“Okay.”

Before she could hang up, I whispered the words for her to hear. “I am okay, baby girl.”

And then I hung up.

Throwing the phone on the bed, I released a frustrated growl. Fucking shit! I couldn’t even talk to her properly. Instead, the mere thought of Valentin catching me left me feeling cold and sick.

Only three days since I came back and I was already suffocating.

A small ping from the second phone brought my attention back. Walking toward the bed, I picked it up to see a message.

I am here.

Ah. Everything was forgotten when I read the message. Instead, I could feel myself smirking.

How perfect.

It was true that I was suffocating here…but there was something—or someone—who could make me feel differently.

A few minutes with her was enough to make me forget everything. All the mess and how fucked up my life was, in her presence—everything was gone except her.

But I couldn’t have her until something important was done.

I didn’t reply to the text. Instead, I placed the phone in my pocket and walked out of my room. My steps faltered on the top of the stairs, my gaze drifting toward Valerie’s wing of the estate.

Her room was at the end of the hall. Several steps and I could be with her.

But business came first.

Wait for me, myshka.

With a final look, I walked away. The car was already waiting for me. In the darkness of the night, the ride toward my destination was quick and silent.

When the car finally stopped, I stepped out and faced the dark alley. I walked forward, step after step, until I reached the mouth of the back alley.

There was no one in the streets, and at this time, everyone was mostly sleeping. There was only darkness, me and him.

I walked forward and then stopped when I saw the figure standing against the wall.

“Hello, Igor.”

He moved away quickly, his body defensive and ready for attack. I saw him reaching behind his back, probably for his gun.

Tsk tsk. Poor guy. Too bad, he already fell in my trap.

“Konstantin?” he asked quietly.

I walked forward under the single lamplight. His eyes widened at the sight of me.

“Surprised?” I asked instead.

“Wh—at? What are you doing here? I thought I was meeting…” he stuttered.

I chuckled and then shook my head. “Nope. You are meeting me.”

“But…” He paused and then straightened. “What do you want, Konstantin?”

I sighed and leaned against the wall. I removed a small box from my pocket and placed a cigarette between my lips. Igor swallowed and watched as I lighted the end.

It was done slowly, dragging out the suspense. When he trembled slightly, I knew I had him right where I wanted.

“Do you really want to know?”

He didn’t answer, so I just shrugged.

“Simple. I want you dead.”

“You can’t. Valentin…will know. And…”

“You don’t need to worry about that,” I said before blowing out a puff of smoke.

I didn’t give him a chance to answer. In a swift movement, I took the knife out and threw it at him. Bullseye.

It pierced his leg, and he yelped before falling to his knees. Igor groaned in pain, his chest heaving. He was an old guy, younger than Valentin, but still old.

Maybe I’ll go gentle on him.

He was silent for a second. “Why are you doing this?”

Igor already knew the answer, yet he still asked. But considering what I was about to do, the poor guy deserved an answer.