"The most dangerous thing you can do in life is play it safe" -Casey Neistat- *** Phoebe's P.O.V "Phoebe" he slowly stands up and I can see the woman's expression darkened as she puts on an annoyed frown on her face. "I'll just go." I tell him in a whispery tone and he grabs my hand before I can even leave. He pulls me closer to him with his strength and at this moment, I know that he is still in the heat from what he did with the woman, because I can feel the part near his groin growing through his pants on my lower stomach, and I am feeling really uncomfortable right now. I don't know if it's because the mood he is at but he begins moving his hands on my back and try to caress my hair, and I am so scared right now. But a part of me doesn't want to refuse it as well. He slowly leans in closer to kiss me but before he can do that I slowly back away my face from his. It brings me to reality. All of a sudden, Nikolai words get repeated on my head, and I shake off his hands as well as pushing myself away from him and I can see him looking a bit surprised and annoyed as well. "Listen, I regret what I did to you and just so you know, you don't have to avoid me like this." he says in monotone. I guess he is not someone who is used with saying the word sorry, which is why he has to put in some attitude even while saying those words. "I am only a prisoner here, I do not think it is appropriate if you treat me this way." I say sarcastically, what could I say, I do feel annoyed and intimidated by him at the same time. "Listen Phoebe, I-" "Are you done yet, Darling?" The woman approaches him as he is on the mid of his sentence and begins to wrap her arms around his waist and slowly moving her hands on his body. "Why don't we continue what we were doing?" She says in a thick Russian accent. "Please, suit yourself." I say in a quiet voice as I stare at Edgar in a certain emotion I can't even describe myself. But obviously, it's NOT jealousy. Without saying any other words, I begin walking toward my room again. I guess it's not safe to be out for a while now. *** Edgar's P.O.V She saw me with this woman I barely know and now she is avoiding me again. Why do I always have the worst timing? Screw this. I walk away from the woman who is now cursing in Russian, as I make my way toward my office. I sit on my desk and slowly moves my hands toward my hair as I groan in annoyance. This feeling is killing me, now that I have admitted it, it just wouldn't leave me alone, I think if that woman keeps on ignoring me, I may go crazy. How can it be so easy for her to ruin and destroy the ice wall I have built throughout the years? She is dangerous, not in a way which would hurt me in a physical way, but in an emotional way, I have always thought my whole life, that if I can just keep it all for myself, then I would be able to get rid of the last pieces of emotions inside of me. However, I hope this newly found emotion would not get in my way I lean in on my chair and start thinking about my plan for today. I grab my phone to make a call to one of my man in Japan, because I have been planning on visiting Japan to get some supply from a pretty well-known yakuza group which used to be the acquaintance of my father. Let's just say, in my world, everything is inherited. It's all passed down to the further generation, whether it's an enemy, or a friend, it's all been decided since the beginning by whoever started it first. Kind of pathetic really, for I am an only son brought into this kind of world with no choice, but then again, this is the only side of the world that I know, the harsh and mean side. A side where most sane people wouldn't touch. "Nikolai, prepare for our jet, we are leaving to Japan tomorrow." I tell him through a communication device in my room. "I thought it's supposed to be in three days?" He replies back. "Change the schedule, make another appointment and reschedule everything with them, I need to get out of this place for now." He stays silent but I am sure he understands perfectly what I mean by that, and he replies shortly. "Understood." I need to take a break from this place and from seeing her, it's just perhaps, if she is gone from my sight, then maybe, Just maybe, for once, I will be able to go back to where I was before. I do not wish to feel this way and it makes me feel slightly vulnerable, why is she doing this to me? She is my prisoner and yet I am the one being tortured, it's almost as if she casted a spell on me or something. I hate this. Because I hate changing and I hate having all of these ridiculous emotions unfitting for a man like me. *** I get out from my office after doing a few works, and believe me when I say, it's not just about physical work with guns and other weapons that get involved in my world, but it's also about the brain. One of the many misunderstanding people have is thinking that all we do is crime and stuff without thinking about the consequences and let me tell you that most people my kind actually know the consequences and they are fully aware of it. We don't just go around and shooting people for no reason. Anyone who believes in that must have had a huge misconception in their life regarding this topic. In fact, most of the time, we leave innocent people alone as long as they don't get in our way, because once they do, they are considered as a threat or obstacles and thus, needed to be eliminated. It's just, this world, no matter how much they deny it, they need villains like us, just so that someone could be called a hero, and people like us do exist to be pointed at, because of people like us, some people can have someone to be pointed at and compared to. It's like saying "I am not as evil as that person, and thus, I am still safe." No matter how much the majority of people deny it, it is still a truth. It's the reality of this world. *** On the way, I see Matvey, Viktor, and Ivan on the living room, they are playing some cards and although they an do it in the game / billiard room instead, they choose to play cards in here most of the time, to make things feel less formal and more casual. "Hey Ed, wanna tag along?" Viktor asks me with a stupid grin on his face. "No, I'll just go straight to my room." I tell him and Viktor tilt his head. "Suit yourself." As I am about to walk again I hear Ivan speaks as he looks straight at me. "You haven't got rid of the girl, have you?" I turn my head and face him. Gosh, I swear, he just wouldn't leave me alone, would he? "Based on what I heard, you confessed to her, didn't you?" The other two are now staring at me with shocked expression on their face. I swear I can see their jaw drops from their face. "Is that true?" Matvey asks me as he stands up, Viktor just continue to stare with a dumbfounded expression which suits him well, pun intended, it's just, the current situation is very unnecessary. it makes me feel like I am doing something wrong, while my mind knows I don't. "So what if I did? You've got a problem with it?" "Man, you are crazy!" Matvey says as he runs his hands through his fingers. "She is going to lower your guard, man." he speaks again in a lower tone. "I know, but my relationship is none of your business, and I am not straying from my original plan, there is nothing to be worried about." "You have changed, Edgar, you are no longer the great Russian Mafia boss, you are just a weakling guy in love!" Ivan says as he stands up and this time, he truly crosses the line. I had enough hitting him, so this is my last choice. "Then, you are free to leave" I say in the calmest tone I can ever imagine making. "Right! You are kicking me out then! Fine! You know what, you are going to regret this, Edgar!" Ivan speaks in the most venomous tone I have ever heard him speaking. I know that he really means his words, and I wouldn't be surprised if he is going to take the enemy side now, even though I don't know if he will go that low, just yet. He begins stepping outside the mansion and the rest of them stare at me in slight disappointment, but I know that these two wouldn't follow Ivan steps, simply because they have sworn and shown their loyalty to me way deeper than Ivan could ever do, even though he was my third in command. Besides, they already know how it works in here. Therefore, losing a member shouldn't bring them to a shocking state. "You two, go get some rest, we are going to Japan tomorrow." I tell them as I walk away to my room. This is going to be tough.