My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 22

Aidan

I made the decision at the spur of the moment to make Ivy live with me.

As we sat outside on the patio, quietly eating breakfast, I got to really look at her. It was at this moment that I made my decision. I wanted her to live with me.

Because she looked so damn beautiful.

Because I wanted to see that beautiful face first thing in the morning.]

She could hate me all she wanted, but I didn’t care.

"Don’t look at me like you want to kill me with that butter knife," I said to Ivy, grinning.

"I am honestly considering," she said through gritted teeth.

"Perhaps you should spend that energy on something more fun? How about going on a tour of the Island? I can have Joseph arrange one for you," I suggested.

I could see the indecision on her face, but in the end, she nodded.

"Fine." She said grudgingly. "Anything to get away from you."

I smiled, "That’s my girl."

She shot me a glare that could have set my shoes on fire, and I chuckled. "I have some business to attend to. So, you can have all the time you need to be away from me. Try not to miss me too much."

Ivy’s reluctance was palpable, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that having her around would be worth it despite her obvious disdain. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Leaving her to her own devices, I headed off to take care of my business, the smile lingering on my lips. Deep down, I knew Ivy’s fiery spirit was exactly what I needed to break the monotony of my life. And if she wanted to resist, well, that only added to the thrill of the chase.

~-~

As much as I would love to stay with Ivy and torture her, I couldn’t since I had a mission. I needed to break Marcus so he would finally give up the location of Slava Morozov.

"Marcus," I hissed under my breath.

He was bound to the chair again, his head drooping forward, bruises marring what was visible on his face. Blood trickled from a split lip, painting a stark contrast against his pale skin.

Marcus’s ragged breathing was the only sound in the room.

I reached him, standing over this broken figure who held the key to finding Ellie. The need for vengeance threatened to overwhelm me, but I tamped it down. This wasn’t about me; it was about her—about rescuing her from whatever hell she was trapped in. And if I had to keep beating Marcus to a pulp, then so be it.

"Where is Slava?" I growled, my voice barely above a whisper but laced with venom. I felt the pulse racing in my temples, each beat echoing the urgency clawing at my chest. "You better tell me now. Because I will never get tired of torturing you. I am enjoying myself too much."

His body shook under my grasp, and I tightened my hold on his collar, my fingers digging into his skin. My heart raced, pumping adrenaline through my veins, each word I spat out sharp as a knife’s edge.

"Please," he choked out, but I cut him off.

"Slava’s. Location. Now." The words left my mouth like bullets, my breath hot on his face. I needed answers, and every second wasted was a second longer Ellie remained in danger.

Marcus’s lips quivered, his eyes flickering with something that might have been regret—or was it just more fear? I didn’t care. All I cared about was finding her, saving her, and erasing the helplessness that gnawed at my soul.

"Okay, okay! He’s at the old mill, out by the river!" Marcus sputtered, his words tumbling over each other in a desperate bid for mercy. I felt his body tremble like a leaf in a storm under my iron grip, his fear palpable, thickening the stale air between us.

I hesitated for a moment, searching his face for any sign of deceit. His eyes were wide and pleading, his breaths coming in ragged gasps that matched the frantic beating of my own heart. A cold sweat had broken out on his forehead, a testament to the terror I had instilled in him.

"Please, Aidan," he begged, the sound weak and pitiful. "I swear... that’s where he is."

I released my hold abruptly and took a deep breath. "You better not be lying to me, Marcus."

"I am not," he insisted.

I raked a hand through my hair, trying to steady myself.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath. The image of Ellie, my sweet sister, flashed before my eyes, igniting a fresh wave of urgency. She didn’t deserve this—none of us did. And I was going to make sure Slava paid for what he’d done.

"I will let you live. Remember this kindness," I said to Marcus, my voice low and grave. I didn’t wait for his nod; I didn’t care for it. All that mattered now was getting to Slava and finding Ellie.

She had been missing for far too long. My sister, the only family I had left. The only one who counted as a family, in fact. I missed her.

"Damn you, Slava," I growled, feeling the sting behind my eyelids. But tears were a luxury I couldn’t afford. They wouldn’t help Ellie. It was my fault she was taken, so I had to make things right. I couldn’t give up on her.

I quickly went back to the Villa to tell Ivy that the honeymoon was over, but she wasn’t there.

Right...she went on her little tour, I remembered. "Joseph!" I called out.

Joseph quickly appeared by the door. "Yes, Boss?"

"Get the helicopter ready. We are going back home tonight," I ordered.

Joseph nodded briskly, already moving to fulfill my command. He knew better than to question my orders. He was my most loyal employee.

While I waited for the helicopter to be prepared, I paced back and forth, the weight of the situation heavy on my shoulders. Marcus’s confession had ignited a fire within me, a burning determination to rescue Ellie at any cost.

Luckily, Ivy didn’t take too long and was back before sundown.

A wide smile spread across my face as I caught sight of her approaching. Her skin looked sun kissed already, adding a glowing warmth to her already radiant complexion.

"Good, you are back. Start packing. We are going back to the USA," I said.

"Great. As beautiful as this place is, being with you ruins all experiences for me," she snapped.

I chuckled. "That’s too bad. Just wait till we live together. Things will get even more exciting."

Ivy rolled her eyes at my remark, her lips forming a tight line. "Whatever."

"Anyway...I would love to stand here and engage in a friendly banter all day but we really do have to go soon so get ready. We leave in an hour," I said, and I walked out of the room before she said anything else.