My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 32

Aidan

The moment we stepped into the club, my senses got hit with a wave of musty air that clung to the skin. The strobe lights flickered like faulty stars in the smoky haze above us, and the thumping bass from the speakers rattled my ribs.

I coughed, trying to clear my lungs of the thick air as Joseph nudged my shoulder.

"Keep your eyes peeled, Joseph," I muttered over the racket.

My gaze swept over the grimy dance floor, past the silhouettes swaying and grinding to the relentless beat. And then, there she was. My heart kicked against my chest as I spotted Ellie—or whatever name she went by here—on that small stage in the dead center of the room. A spotlight clung to her like an unwanted suitor, illuminating her every move.

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. Relief because we found her; anger because she was up there, exposed and vulnerable, dancing for the pleasure of these vultures. The sequins on her dress caught the light as she moved, but it was the look in her eyes that snagged my attention—a far-off stare that told me she wasn’t really here, not in spirit anyway.

"Damn it, Ellie," I hissed under my breath, my fists clenching at my sides.

Joseph leaned closer, his voice barely audible, "What do you want to do, Boss?"

"We get her out, no mess. In and out," I hissed through my teeth.

"Right," he nodded.

Weaving through the sea of bodies, Joseph and I were like shadows slipping through a fractured reality.

"Watch it," Joseph grunted, his shoulder colliding with a man too lost in his drunken haze to notice us.

I didn’t have time for apologies or subtleties. My focus narrowed to the small stage where my sister danced. It took me so long to find her, but I finally did. Hopefully it wasn’t too late.

"Ellie," I whispered, not even sure she could hear me over the pounding rhythm of the music that seemed to shake the very walls.

At the edge of the stage, I paused, looking up at her. Our eyes met in a silent collision of worlds—hers filled with the harsh glare of the spotlight, mine shadowed by the urgency of our mission.

"Ellie," I said again, louder this time, my voice laced with a promise I intended to keep.

Her body faltered mid-move, the beat momentarily losing its grip on her. She recovered quickly, but not before others noticed the break in her performance. I felt Joseph’s hand on my back, a silent signal that it was time to act.

"Get ready," I told him, my muscles tensing for what was to come.

"Always am," he shot back, his tone steady despite the adrenaline that I knew coursed through us both.

Ellie’s gaze stayed locked with mine, and though she continued to dance, there was a new awareness in her movements—a readiness to flee. And I’d be damned if I let her down.

But then, a man came and stood in front of the stage.

Slava Morozov. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Slava," I began, my voice cutting through the thump of bass like a knife’s edge. "Let her go. This ends tonight."

A smirk twisted his lips, grotesque under the strobe lights. He folded his arms across his chest, the motion dismissive, as if I were nothing but an insect to be squashed. The sight of him so close to Ellie ignited a fire in me that burned hotter than fire.

"Ah, Aidan Blackwood," he drawled, his voice a sickening purr that grated on my nerves. "So brave. So foolish." He leaned closer, his breath reeking of vodka and cruelty. "You think you have any say here? She’s mine."

"Over my dead body," I spat, my fists clenching at my sides.

"Such passion," Slava taunted, his laughter booming over the music.

I could feel Joseph’s tense presence behind me, ready for whatever came next. But it was Ellie’s fate that hung precariously in the balance, her life a pawn in Slava’s sadistic game.

"Let her go, Slava," I warned, each word laced with venom. "There will be consequences. You know who I am."

"Indeed, I do," he sneered, his gaze flickering to Ellie and then back to me. "But threats are cheap, and I am not easily intimidated."

"Last chance," I growled, knowing full well it would never be that easy.

"Last chance?" Slava echoed mockingly. "No, my friend. This is just the beginning."

The world around me became a blur, my focus narrowing to the sneer on Slava’s face. He stood there, oozing arrogance, his eyes glinting maliciously in the dim club lights.

I lunged forward with all the pent-up rage of a storm, my fist sailing through the smoky air. It connected with Slava’s jaw with a satisfying crack. For a split second, time froze, and I saw the shock flicker across Slava’s features before he stumbled back.

Chaos erupted.

Everyone screamed and scrambled. Glasses shattered, spilling alcohol everywhere as I kept my gaze locked on Slava, watching him regain his footing.

"Joseph!" I bellowed over the chaos, not needing to look to know he was there. Trust built in blood and battle told me he’d have my back.

"Got you," Joseph grunted, appearing beside me within seconds, along with some of my other men. There was no hesitation in his movements as Slava’s henchmen gained on us, their faces twisted with blind loyalty and rage.

The first one came at me at full speed. I ducked, feeling the rush of air as his punch missed its mark, then drove my elbow into his gut. He doubled over with a wheeze, and I didn’t wait for him to recover, slamming my knee into his face.

Beside me, Joseph was a whirlwind of controlled violence. His fists were precise, his blocks efficient. He caught a henchman by the wrist, twisting it until something popped, and the man cried out, dropping like a stone.

Every hit we took, every grunt and thud, fueled the adrenaline coursing through me. We were outnumbered, but damn if we weren’t holding our own. Chairs crashed, tables flipped, and in the midst of it all, the image of Ellie’s wide-eyed fear gave me strength and purpose.

"Come on, you bastards!" I taunted, my voice raw. "Is this all you’ve got?"

Slava’s men kept coming, relentless waves crashing against the shore of our resolve. But we stood firm, knowing that failure wasn’t an option.

Slava’s leer faltered as my fist connected with his jaw for the second time, his head snapping back. He stumbled, and I seized the moment, driving forward with the full weight of my rage and desperation. We hit the ground, his breath whooshing out as I landed on top.

"Ellie is my sister," I growled into his face, my hands grappling for control as he clawed at my grip. "I won’t let you keep her."

"Get off me!" Slava barked, spittle flying from his lips. But I had him pinned now, my body a cage he couldn’t escape.

"Never again," I swore, thinking of Ellie, of how she’d looked under those lights, so vulnerable yet so fierce. "You’ll never touch her again."

As if summoned by my thoughts, Ellie appeared at the edge of the crowd, her eyes wide and shimmering with unshed tears. She was trembling.

"Ellie," I breathed, and it was like I’d spoken her name into existence.

She surged forward, her limbs shaky as she pushed through the human barrier.

"Ellie," I said again as she reached me, her hands clutching at my arms.

"Aidan. What are you doing here? Let go of Slava!" she cried.

"I am here to get you out of here," I said.

"Aidan. You are my brother, and I love you, but I can’t go with you," she said, sighing.

"I don’t understand," I said, my grip loosening on Slava.

"I am sorry," she whispers, "but this is where I belong now."

I felt the sucker punch of betrayal as I let go of Slava, staring at my sister in disbelief. Joseph looked at me with wide eyes. "What the fuck are you saying, Ellie? I know I am so late finding you, but you don’t belong here in this club," I growled.

"I know I should have told you, but this is my choice," she said, her gaze flickering to Slava for a brief moment. "I...I am the mother of his child."

"What?" I breathed, my heart pounding in my ears.

"I know you will never understand," Ellie continued, "but this was my choice. I love you, Aidan and I always will, but...please don’t come after me again."

With those words, she turned on her heel and disappeared into the chaos of the club.

"ELLIE!" I yelled after her, but she didn’t turn around or come back.

I turned to Slava and glared at him. "What the fuck did you do to my sister? Did you brainwash her?"

As the adrenaline wore off, I felt a hollow ache in my chest where hope had once been. Slava smirked, "You heard her. I knocked her up. And after that, she was willing to stay. No need for brainwashing."

I glared at him. My whole world was crashing down around me. My sister worked at a sleazy club under a fake name and had a child with my biggest enemy. It felt like a punch to the gut.

The thumping music from the dance floor echoed in my ears as I tried to process it all.

Joseph put a hand on my shoulder, but I shook it off.

I should kill him.

"What? You gonna kill me, Blackwood? You think you’re better than me? Well, guess what? You’re not because I know what you’re doing with that heiress, Ivy Williams," Slava grinned.

"You better shut your damn mouth, Slava," I growled.

"You and I are the same. We are both criminals, cold blooded murderers," Slava spat out.

"You’re right," I ground out, and I grabbed him by the collar, pulling him to his feet. "But this is my sister you took. She is the only family I have left."

"I saved her," Slava sneered.

"Saved her from what, you asshole?" I shoved him into a wall.

"You," he spat, and for a moment, I halted.

"What do you mean?" I growled, my fists clenched.

"How about I make you a deal, Blackwood? I will let your sister tell you all about it herself. That is if she wants to tell you at all," Slava said, straightening his suit. "And when you know everything, then you can decide who the real monster is."