Page 102 of Merciless Queen

Which means I need an advantage.

June 28, 2010

I got it.

July 2, 2010

The Cosa Nostra might be an allegiance of Five Families, but they’re not loyal to one another at all. With a few attempts at contacting them, the Vitales has finally returned my call and is willing to strike a deal.

I offered my most valuable possession: Vanessa. In exchange for control of their army for a predetermined time, one of their sons will wed Vanessa once she’s eighteen.

Vitale’s reply was positive, willing, until he explained they don’t wed outside their culture. Something about keeping their Italian bloodlines strong. As pissed off as I was at first, I could respect it. Understand it. There’s value in purity.

It was all too easy because I now have a use for my other daughter. Being half-Italian, half-Russian descent, they agreed and unbeknownst to everyone in the Mancini Family, their youngest is now signed away in a marriage deal to take place in eighteen years from now to Alessandro Vitale’s son, Alessio.

Since I now have a stake in the girl, I’ve sent men to spy on her in Ostia, a small village a short drive away from Rome, where she and Gabriella moved to shortly after the girl’s birth.

Her name is Serafina.

The only person in the Bratva to be aware of her outside this journal is Ivan. He’s weirdly excited about the prospect of having a direct connection to the Cosa Nostra.One that, no matter how much the Mancinis fight, is inevitable due to the blood that runs in that girl’s veins.

July 6, 2010

With the Vitales’ assistance, it was all too easy to slip into Rome and take out one of Mancini’s bars, the very one my spies told me he’d be doing business in that night.

He’s finished, gone, and no longer my concern.

I kept Zeno Mancini alive, though I’m not sure why. Definitely don’t know why I lied about not harming children. You and my black soul both know that’s a lie.

Hate to say, but the fierce expression on his face as he vowed to wipe out my entire family—laughable—was intriguing, in the sense it reminded me of myself after Mama’s death.

May 27, 2012

I was made an offer today. One regarding Vanessa, but not for marriage.

Ivan believes I should accept since a connection to Boris Agapov, the Minister of Finance would be useful, and I agree. At first, some instinct wanted me to turn him down. To keep Diana’s look-alike safe and protected, but the fact is, Vanessa needs to play her part. She’s a commodity and until my meeting with Boris today, I never considered how else she could be useful.

He's an insider to the government, and the payment isn’t a one-time thing. A revolving payout every year in exchange for Vanessa for a night—and her virginity. The benefits greatly outweigh the way she’ll despise me.

More than she already does.

June 1, 2012

I write this after I had her tied to a bed and left the room. Boris will undoubtedly descend shortly.

I write this with liquor in my hand. Vanessa needs to learn her place because she’s too vicious, too spirited. She’s demanding to be the next Pakhan and not wed. She’s a stupid girl, and without a mother figure in her life, I must be the one to break it to her—by breaking her.

Perhaps I should have remarried like Ivan recommended many years ago. Only so Vanessa had another woman who could’ve taught her who she should be rather than the brat I have.

Tomorrow, she’ll look at me like I’m a monster. Lucky for her, she’ll be right.

No Pakhan’s soul is ever intact. Mine started to crumble the night I lost Mama.

It completely disappeared with Diana’s death.

July 13, 2014

Darkness runs in the Volkov bloodline. I knew that already because Papa was the definition of cruel, and I’ve been encased in so much darkness, I don’t even recognize myself anymore. Years and years of being a leader has weighed me down.

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