Chapter Twenty-Two

Andro’s POV

Hours earlier Anger surged inside of me as I marched out of Annika's room. That bastard has disguised himself as Nathaniel and still went on to make plans with my woman, but I could bet that whatever his plans were, they would go down the drain.

"What's up with you? I can feel your anger from across the room." I didn't have to turn before I knew it was Adonis.

"Nothing you should concern yourself about," I replied.

"Even if I'm still mad at you for not telling me about Annika, I can't let this one slide. What's up?"

"I didn't mean to keep her from you," I replied honestly.

"I know you don’t, but the fact remains that I just got to know about her yesterday and you got to know about Bella just a few days after I'd met her."

"That was because you called for something, Adonis. If you hadn’t needed my help, you wouldn't have mentioned her to me."

"You know that's not true. I wouldn't have mentioned her if I had the intentions of not letting you know."

I deflated in defeat. He was right, if Adonis doesn't want to talk about something, he wouldn't, no matter how much you try to get him to talk.

"That aside, what's bothering you so early."

"It's a mafia family thing. Someone is trying to hurt Annika because of me," I answered.

"What will you do about that? Wait until he does something."

"No!" I roared.

"Then, what's your plan?"

"Kill him before he can even touch a strand of her hair."

"Will that be possible? Is there anything different about this person? Is he like us?"

"I'm not sure but no, he's human," I assured him.

"Then, I guess you shouldn't hurt this person because if he tried, he can't even kill her unless if he's affiliated with a Vampire Hunter".

"That's my major concern," I confessed.

"I think it's time you leave all these behind and move away. I was talking to Marco and we're planning on having our own pack soon. Since we three have found our soulmates and even the vampire King is still dealing with his mate, it'll be best if we form a pack for our safety."

His words caught me off guard.

"Marco found his mate and I didn't know about it," I asked him.

"Well, you were too busy with your mafia family that you totally forgot about your real family," he reminded me.

"You know it's not like that, Adonis. You guys will always be my top priority".

"Are you sure about that?" He raised an eyebrow.

To be honest, I wasn't sure. I'm not particularly sure if I'd choose my mafia family over my own people. I cherish both sides of me but now, I have to choose one. With the Nikolaev family, I'll be the one protecting and with my pack, I'll be one of those protecting others.

"Four of us can't possibly form a pack."

"You mean eight of us, including our mates. It's still a work in progress, Andro. We might or we might not," he explained "We're actually nine," I informed him.

"Five vampires, since when?" I asked him.

"It's supposed to be a secret, Adonis. I can't divulge the whole information right now. We need to be complete."

He nodded, understanding what I meant. The walls they say have ears and speaking of such could tamper with the whole plan.

"So, what's your decision? The Nikolaev family or your safety, our safety and that of your girl."

I hesitated for a minute, thinking deeply about what my answer would be. My allegiance lies with the family and also with my real family. There's no way I can pull the strings on both and there's no way I can rule the Nikolaev family forever. It'll be better if I hatch a plan, something that'll make me serve both wherever I get to.

"Who's the poor girl unfortunate enough to be the King's soulmate?" I asked, trying to change the topic.

Adonis laughed. "Destiny sure is cunny. Trust me, that guy's heart is..."

"Boss," Stefan interrupted, skipping up the stairs while trying to maintain balance.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

He raised a flash. "We got the videos back from the dashcams."

"Dashcams?" Adonis asked.

I gestured for us to walk into my study room and see whatever it was that's on the flash drive. On our way to the study room, I quickly explained to Adonis about how our men were killed and so on.

"Tell us, what's going on?" I asked Stefan.

"The dashcams actually captured the plate number of the cars that stopped in front of our trucks."

"And?" I asked impatiently.

"One of them belongs to George Nikolaev," he replied.

I knew it! I hit my hand against the table, about to lose my senses.

"Who's George?" Adonis asked "The former family boss' son. He wants to become the Boss," I explained.

"Then, why are you the boss?"

"Because his father felt he was incompetent, rash, and too troublesome to become his successor and I, agreed to every of that." Stefan was the one who replied this time.

"He's the same person messing around with Annika"

"What?"

"He told her he's Nathaniel and asked her to go on a date with him tonight. Not ask, actually, threatened." I laughed.

"What's he aiming at?"

"He's trying to make me appear useless to my family so they'll turn against me and worship the floor he walks on. When that didn't work, I guess my girl is the next target."

"He's messing with the wrong people." Adonis laughed.

Since they came here, Adonis had been acting strange, especially around Bella. He's always on the edge, trying not to mess things up when he's with her and he's suddenly not as dangerous as I'd perceived my brother to be. But today, I could sense that power radiating around him.

"I'll love to say that to his face," Stefan yelled.

"We shouldn't do anything stupid. I don't want us spilling anyone’s blood. I have an idea about what to do."

"Which is?"

I began explaining my plans to Adonis and Stefan. Stefan made some adjustments to the plans and Adonis was on with the plan. He was ready to help me get out of this situation and Stefan was ready to be a different person.

"Do you think we can trust him?" Adonis asked as Stefan walked out of the house.

"Why? I don't think he has anything to gain in the whole situation."

"Trust me, he has a lot. Since he's next in line after you, getting rid of the two of you will be very beneficial to him."

"I trust Stefan. He wouldn't do something like that, right?"

I asked and Adonis shrugged, successfully planting a seed of doubt in my mind.

Hours later After dropping off the lawyer who will help Annika with her case at the station, I went ahead to the house to continue clearing up the plans.

Minutes later, Adonis left with Bella to activate his side of the plan while Stefan also did his.

According to the plan, I was supposed to meet up with Stefan at the first bridge until I got there, and Stefan was nowhere to be found.

I brought out my phone and dialed his number. He picked immediately and asked me to join him inside a car on the second bridge.

Once I saw the car, I opened the door and got in.

"Sorry I changed locations, Boss. By the time I got there, a lot of George's guys were waiting with a gun."

"Someone snitched on us."

"Correct, whoever it was is not what I know."

"Has he called?" I asked him.

"Not yet but I'm so sure he'll soon call," he explained.

"Igor and Dimitri are ready," I informed him, and he chuckled.

"That's perfect."

"This is your chance as well to take over."

"Take over what?" he asked, not paying total attention to whatever I was saying.

"The Mafia world. You can use all these to your benefit."

He laughed.

"You're messing with me, right? Cos wherever the hell it is you're going after this, I'm going with you. I've packed all of my shit for Christ's sake."

"That's impossible, Stefan."

"You wait and see. My allegiance is not for the Nikolaev family, my allegiance is with you, Boss."

"Stefan," I yelled.

"I don't care about what you are or who you are, okay? Wherever you go, we’re in this together. At least humans are allowed in the Vampire's world, and I can be really useful to you guys. I have a law degree, thanks to you."

I was astonished by his stubbornness and even his demands. I couldn't possibly take him to wherever I was going to next if I don't even know where that is.

"Are…?"

"I'm hundred percent fucking sure about it. We're leaving together," he finished even before I could ask my question.

I heaved a deep breath, worried about how difficult it'll be to inform the others about his demand and how they'll take it.

My phone started ringing almost immediately.

I looked over at Stefan and asked him, "You ready for this?"

"Anytime, any day."