One

"We lost Cole."

The soldier kept his eyes on the floor. His hands were clasped respectfully behind his back, his polite tone betraying fear.

Arnold Wolfe didn't turn around. He stood facing the window, a cigar between his lips, thick smoke curling in the dark office. His piercing blue eyes stared out at the city.

"Take care of everything," he ordered. His deep, raspy voice radiated authority. The kind that makes men flinch.

The soldier nodded. Before leaving, he pulled a folded white paper from his pocket.

"They found this in his pocket."

"Read it," Arnold said.

The man hesitated. "Boss—"

"Read everything."

It was a known fact that losing a loyal man like Cole was tough, but Arnold was used to loss. He'd learned to bury it.

The soldier unfolded the paper.

"Throughout my years with you, I learned to survive and I have been surviving pretty well. I don't know how this may sound but nothing is as good as working for you, Boss Arnold. Thank you for making life easy for me, and thank you for trusting me and allowing me to get close to you. Because of you, I'm able to have a life.

The only thing I regret is not being able to protect the one person I love."

The soldier paused. His expression shifted — sad, surprised.

Cole had never mentioned anyone special. In all his years with the COSA NOSTRA, not once.

Arnold narrowed his eyes. Cole was one of his closest men. He hadn't known he had a girlfriend. Or was the bastard secretly married? He'd hidden it well.

The soldier continued.

"So I believe dying is worth it. My loyalty is all yours, Boss. If I were to serve anyone in my next life, I would prefer to serve you. The world has not been kind to me but you have. You made me see light instead of darkness. Your protection is what kept me alive and going.

Boss, help me protect my sister if anything happens to me. She is everything to me. I trust you will do this one thing for your man, even though I'm not sure it's a good idea. She is too young to live by herself, and I don't want her to suffer.

Cole Davis."

A flicker of emotion crossed Arnold's face. It was gone in a second.

"What went wrong?" he asked. It should have been the easiest operation they'd run. Yet they'd lost a man.

"The Graysons attacked us on our way."

Arnold turned then. His black hair was neatly styled, one strand falling over his forehead. His blue eyes were cold as they locked on his subordinate.

"Who pulled the trigger and how many times was he shot?"

The soldier knew what that question meant.

"Six times. By Charles Grayson."

His expression didn't change. It was exactly as he expected. Who else would dare point a gun at his men but a fucking Grayson?

The Graysons led the Russian mafia. Not friends with the American families. Not enemies. Just a line you don't cross.

"Look into her and report directly to me," Arnold ordered. "And send her his remains. She is his only family. She deserves to say her last goodbye."

ANGELINA'S POV

How did I get here?

Everyone has left. They left me alone at the graveyard.

I still can't believe Cole is gone. He left me. I'm alone now. No one to call family. He was my only family — my brother, my best friend.

"C-Cole," I choked, my silent sobs cutting through the quiet. My palm traced his grave, creasing the fresh soil.

Why did you leave me, Cole Davis? We were together for years. Why did you leave now?

God, please let this be a bad dream. I can't lose Cole.

"Cole, please."

The cold wind blew my scarf off my head. Tears flowed uncontrollably. My throat went dry. My heart squeezed until I couldn't breathe.

I'm never going to see him again. It's just me from now on.

"Cole, you promised to stay with me till the end of time. You promised to protect me your whole life. You said we would be together as a family forever."

I can't believe this happened right after my birthday.

Two days ago, we celebrated. We were happy. We ate the cake he made together. Everything was perfect until he got a call.

I knew his work was demanding, so I didn't get angry. I didn't stop him. I locked the door after he left, just like always. Then he texted me: I love you.

I thought it was just Cole being Cole.

I didn't know it would be the last time I'd see him alive.

I wish this were a dream.

Cole was all I had. After our parents died, it was just us. He was so supportive. To keep me from ending up in an orphanage, he locked me in the house. He promised to let me out when I came of legal age.

Two days ago, before he left, he promised to take me shopping when he got back from work.

That will never happen now.

The first time I stepped out of the house after ten years was to attend his funeral. To watch him leave me.

Suddenly I felt dizzy. My vision blurred. Darkness consumed me.

My sight faded slowly, and through the blur, I saw someone approaching me from a distance.

Cole?