The Dark Ghosts

72. Las Vegas (part 3)

Unknown's POV

"I thought I had already warned you about distractions. Did I send you all of those files so you could ignore me?"

Audrey's body tensed after I spoke, still pressed against me. Not that we had much space to move in this small closet. Soon, she freed herself from my hold and I let her, not wanting her to misunderstand my intentions. Her movements were slow though, as if she was in a state of shock.

"You," she whispered in astonishment as she turned to look at me with wide eyes, a look of realization in them.

(Flashback)

I sat up in bed, pulling the covers against my naked chest before I looked to my right side in annoyance. I quietly got up and tiptoed towards the corner of the room, where a small armchair was placed with my ivory, silky robe on top of it. I put it on and walked out of the room, closing the door behind me as carefully as I could so I didn't wake the sleeping beast up.

The hallways were freezing cold, so I wrapped my arms around my body to protect myself from the low temperature. The hidden mansion we were staying in was huge, so it was harder to keep it warm, but I think it fits perfectly with the owner's personality.

Finally reaching the gym, where it was a little warmer, I stood by the door, watching the teenager hit the punching bag brutally over and over again as if it was his worst enemy.

A sad, pitiful look crossed my eyes. I had witnessed how he was treated here, especially by Nikolai. It wasn't only the threat he received when he questioned Angelo's plan at that meeting, this goes much further and deeper than that. Many people would think that having such a powerful surname like Smirnov in the underworld is a huge privilege, but I'm sure that for this boy it's a curse.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him as I made my way into the room, my arms crossed under my chest.

The boy stopped punching the poor bag and turned to me with a hard look, very different from the fearful one he had that day in the meeting room. Because I know that, even if he was scared shitless of men like Angelo and Nikolai, he didn't feel that way about other people. After all, that's how he's been trained: to be a ruthless and cruel assassin, but an obedient bitch to his boss.

"None of your business," he grumbled as he fixed the wrapping on his hands.

"You should be in bed, sleeping. It's past midnight," I stood my ground.

"Well, maybe I don't want to," he rudely retorted, though I didn't take it to heart. I knew deep down there was a little boy with such a big heart, the reason why I'm here caring for him when no one else does.

"Why do you even care?" he murmured as he fixed his hand wrap, which had moved a little with the boxing. Once it was done, he was about to punch the bag again, but I spoke up making him stop on his tracks.

"Don't you ever want to get out of here?"

He turned to me with furrowed eyebrows as he lowered his fist. He fully turned his body to me and opened his mouth to talk, but I once again cut him off.

"I know you don't like it here. With the way you are treated, nobody would."

"That doesn't matter. There's no escape. Once you are part of the Russian mafia, the only way out is death. Plus, I would never betray my dad, I respect him."

"Don't lie to me, boy. You're not loyal to Nikolai because you respect him, you're loyal because you fear him," I chuckled darkly.