Chapter 187: Pick A Side

Viktor, looked almost relaxed as Nico kept driving as ordered.

For the first time since the battle began, he felt in control again.

He had lost his army.

But he had gained something better.

A hostage Don Roman could never ignore.

Aurelia.

Viktor glanced at her.

Then smiled.

"Do you know what I love about today?"

Aurelia didn't answer.

"I thought I had lost everything."

His eyes shifted toward Nico through the mirror.

"Then I found you two."

Nico's expression remained cold.

"You think Don Roman will surrender because you have us?"

Viktor chuckled.

"No."

He leaned back.

"I think Don Roman will do something much more interesting."

"What?"

Viktor's smile widened.

"He'll freak out when he sees I have his precious woman."

Nico said nothing.

"And when he does..."

Viktor looked toward Aurelia.

"...I'll finally have the advantage."

Aurelia's heart sank.

She looked down at her stomach.

She had escaped the safe house because she wanted Roman.

Now Viktor was taking her straight toward the very place where Roman was.

But she wasn't arriving as a woman going to reunite with the man she loved.

She was arriving as a hostage.

And somewhere ahead, Don Roman Moretti had no idea that Aurelia—the woman he had been desperately trying to keep safe—was being driven straight back into the middle of his war.

Meanwhile, Nico kept his eyes on the road.

His mind was already working.

He had to save Aurelia.

He had to save Bianca.

But how would he do that?

"So, I want to believe you both were also heading to the Russo estate?"

Viktor asked, and looked at Aurelia.

She nodded.

"Then you should be grateful. I am giving you both a lift."

Nico cleared his throat.

"We heard they were gunshots at the estate last night."

Viktor looked at him, his eyes turning red with anger.

"I guess Don Roman defeated you and your men."

"You might be the driver, but I can still kill you."

Viktor warned.

Nico sighed.

"I just want to get Bianca out of there," he said in exasperation, "I am not interested in this war."

Aurelia looked at Nico sharply.

"You didn't tell me Bianca was at the estate."

Nico swallowed.

Viktor noticed the tension, and smiled devilishly,

"I guess he didn't because he wanted to use you as a pass to get Bianca free."

Aurelia looked at Nico for answer, but he said nothing.

"Well, I am sorry to break the bad news, but Bianca is dead."

Nico stepped on the brakes so hard, Viktor and Aurelia almost hit their heads against the chair.

"Have you gone mad?"

Viktor shouts at him, his gun pointing at Nico's neck.

"Bianca is dead?"

Nico said instead, ignoring the gun.

"Yes."

Viktor answered.

"Your father killed her..."

Nico's eyes widened in shock.

Aurelia gasped.

Viktor's gun remained pressed dangerously close to Nico's neck.

"Keep driving."

His voice was cold.

"Now."

Nico stared at him through the rearview mirror.

For several seconds, he didn't move.

His mind was struggling to process what he had just heard.

Bianca is dead.

And according to Viktor...

Don Roman had killed her.

"No..." Nico whispered.

Viktor's eyes narrowed.

"You heard me."

Nico's hands tightened around the steering wheel.

"Keep driving!" Viktor barked.

Nico finally released the brake.

The vehicle began moving again.

But his thoughts were no longer on the road.

They were somewhere else entirely.

With Bianca.

He remembered the last time he had seen her.

She had been standing inside the Russo estate, frightened and confused, caught between her father and Don Roman.

She had wanted to do the right thing.

She had wanted to survive.

And now she was dead?

Nico swallowed hard.

"No..."

He shook his head slowly.

"This can't be true."

Viktor watched him carefully.

"It is."

Nico said nothing.

The silence returned.

But Aurelia couldn't remain silent.

She had been staring out of the window, tears slowly gathering in her eyes.

Bianca was dead.

Aurelia slowly wiped a tear from her cheek.

"Bianca..."

Her voice broke.

Nico glanced at her through the mirror.

He saw the tears in her eyes.

And something inside him cracked.

He didn't want to believe Viktor.

But he couldn't ignore the possibility.

Nico's breathing became heavier.

His thoughts were becoming vengeful.

He had tried working with Viktor once.

He had believed they could defeat Don Roman.

And he had regretted it.

Don Roman had spared him.

Despite everything.

But killing Bianca was too much for him to forgive.

She had chosen Don Roman's side.

And he had killed her instead.

Nico's hands trembled on the steering wheel.

What am I supposed to do now?

Should he join Viktor?

Should he help him fight Don Roman?

Should he avenge Bianca?

The thought frightened him.

Because he knew exactly where that road led.

He had walked it before.

And it had nearly destroyed him.

He remembered the pain.

The betrayal.

The bullets.

The prison.

The hatred in Don Roman's eyes.

He remembered realizing that he had chosen the wrong side.

And now he was standing at the same crossroads again.

Only this time, Bianca was involved.

If she really was dead, could he simply forgive Roman?

Could he stand beside his father after everything?

Nico's eyes became wet.

He quickly blinked away the tears.

Viktor watched them both.

Then he spoke.

"Save your tears."

Nico's eyes lifted toward the mirror.

Viktor's expression was unreadable.

"We're almost there."

Nico looked ahead.

His heart suddenly stopped.

In the distance, the Russo estate appeared.

The large gates stood ahead.

Nico slowed the vehicle slightly.

Viktor leaned forward.

"Don't slow down."

Nico's eyes remained fixed on the estate.

He could feel his heart pounding.

This was it.

Viktor lifted his gun again.

"Remember."

His voice was low.

"One wrong move..."

He glanced at Aurelia.

"...and she dies."

Nico's jaw tightened.

He nodded.

But inside his mind, another thought was forming.

I can't let Viktor kill Aurelia.

And another followed.

I can't let him kill Don Roman either.

Then came the question he had been desperately trying to avoid.

So whose side am I on?

Roman's?

Viktor's?

Or his own?

Nico stared at the gates getting closer.

He had never felt so lost.

The vehicle continued toward the Russo estate.

And with every passing second, Nico knew he was approaching a decision that could change everything.

Because once those gates opened, there would be no more running.