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NOTE:
  Chapter ten!!! Whoop Whoop. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. It is long overdue. Let me know your thoughts as it pertains to the plot, characters, etc. Does Eryn's actions make sense? I tried to be discrete but also subtle I don't know if it comes off as forced lmk. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Also if you are enjoying the story don't forget to vote, comment, and share. Even an emoji brightens my day.

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1 0 | How Far We Go

C A L I X A C E

In the night, stars dawned in a mist of tempting darkness. Wallowing in an onyx, velvet canvas a different reality resided. The moon was a crater of humiliation, sloping the shadows of tree limbs. Stories were anchored in the cracks of the night.

Cloaked and distilled were the panting thoughts of Calix Ace. Unfulfilled predictions loomed. What ifs seemed to tattoo themselves along his chest, right next to the intricate word sinner, and that he was. An unsaved sinner who clung to an unhealthy fixation.

Crescents drove into his palms when he attempted to contain his frustration. The world was a whimsical haze of blurring smoke and flames of red. Heat infiltrated all of his senses as that frustration merged into fury. Catastrophe impregnated all patience he held.

This was never the plan. He wasn't supposed to have Vulia Amour in his grasp, yet here she was, a room down from his bedroom cloaked in silk and draped in midnight light. Her brown eyes were probably boiling with hatred for the man who initiated her taking. She hadn't known that it happened because of Isaak. Her hatred would leak for Calix's presence and absence instead. She'd blame him for her entire stay there.

He liked to think he was a patient man unless provoked, but that patience was winding down into fury when he thought of Isaak and how Vulia ended up on his estate instead. He knew the compromise he took taking her. He understood the complications if he let her go and what that looked like on his end. It meant he was weak, stupid, and improvised. It meant he didn't know how to strategize and more importantly it meant that he had mercy for Vulia Amour, the enemy's sister.

Calix wanted to rupture something or someone. He wracked his brain for ideas but fabricated none as he stood in his bedroom shirtless. How the hell could he fix any of this? A knock sounded on his door. He was hesitant to answer it.

Why was Vulia even at the bar? Eryn knew what she doing, scheming behind his back. She would pay for it because if Calix hadn't been there for that meeting there was no telling what could have happened. Fuck.

"Can I come in?" Maverick asked outside the door. Calix proceeded to unlock the knob, letting his brother in. The door closed behind him and silence swallowed the room.

He turned his head to face his brother, familiar with the conversation's direction. He prepared himself for it. Calix's eyes turned tired, but his body spoke a different language. "Don't fucking start with me, Maverick. This could have been avoided."

"Could it?" He questioned, really looking at his brother and crossing his arms. "It was a matter of time..."

"A matter of time before what?" Calix urged.

"Before someone caught on," Maverick answered.

"What is there to catch on to?" Calix questioned. He stood up, crossing toward his brother with fire in his eyes.

"You're going to make me say it? You aren't exactly subtle," he responded. "You practically fuck her with your eyes."

"And that's all there is to it," Calix stated. The truth pooled out of him like honey. Maverick released a laugh at his brother's heartless and horny words. It was so like Calix to dismiss any brewing inklings. This one, however, would never come to fruition. Calix Ace knew better. All Vulia would ever be was a good fuck, saturated with temptation and fire. His mind raced, running like clockwork. All he could think was where the trajectory of this path would lead him.

"One day you will care about someone more than this mafia, Calix," he theorized. "And I won't be able to stop you from burning the world."

"That will never happen," was his haste reply. It was the truth. Calix had already been burning the world. He was in hell, after all, burning in the eternal flames as bodies piled up and enemies schemed covertly in corners.

"Why is she here and not with Isaak's men?"

Just like that, the conversation was stumped as Calix glared at his younger brother. Maverick hadn't backed down though, sharing his brother's tumultuous gaze, too. In truth, Maverick hadn't understood what was happening when he said those words. He hadn't known how much it made Calix's mind whirl. He hadn't known that behind those words was everything else.

Vulia Amour was a dangerous attraction, a lustful obsession. Calix feened for her touch, wanting to capture her soft breaths between his lips until it clogged his lungs. He wanted to trail kisses down her skin until she quaked and begged for him to touch her everywhere. He wanted those dark brown eyes to bore into his, invading every rational thought he knew. He wanted to salvage all of her, worship every inch of her soul. He was greedy for her delicious poison, but that didn't mean he cared. No, Vulia had been here because Calix was truly selfish. And he always got what he wanted.

"The risk is just as faulty if she wasn't, fratello."

This time, Maverick didn't press his older brother, trusting his words.

"Delano doesn't know that we have her," Calix added. "We let him think that it was the Russians, use it to our advantage until we can't."

Any allegiance Isaak had with the Italian mafia was disintegrated when he decided without consulting him first. Calix didn't feel bad about it and he wouldn't feel bad if a bullet split the middle of his skull either. Isaak's next move could have been to side with Delano. However, something told Calix that Isaak believed the words he spoke at Nightcap. It was too late for loyalty when Isaak had already fucked him over.

"Any other updates?" Calix asked.

"Not at the moment," Maverick voiced. Calix nodded.

Maverick didn't stand there a second longer before he left the room. Calix locked his door and stalked towards his window, gazing down. He knew before he approached his bed he wouldn't be getting any sleep. His mind would be plagued with nightmares or thoughts of all that occurred. So he left his room instead and decided to grab a drink to assuage his troubles. Despite the alcohol's assistance, he didn't obtain a wink of sleep.

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The following morning he was in the shower before the sun rose. When he stepped out the sun was basking in all its bright glory. He was dressed in an all-black suit that hugged his body perfectly. He closed his cuff links, giving himself a once over in the mirror before departing. The craters under his eyes were getting more noticeable.

He had business to attend to for the entire day. However, there was something remarkably different about today that led Calix to the dining room. Vulia was there. Most times, Calix would skip breakfast because he didn't have time. Today, Calix made time. A flame burned in him and he wanted nothing more than to ignite it beyond its capabilities.

When Calix entered the dining room all of his men rose. Vulia sat at the other end of the large table, her natural hair in a fro. Elation decorated her expression as she played with a fork next to her plate. Smoke steamed from her plate, but she didn't touch it. Her soft eyes met Calix and she remained seated as if to taunt him. The only sound was the clink and clack of the fork hitting the table. Again and again. They never broke eye contact.

"Stand," he commanded. His jaw ticked at her playfulness.

"I won't," she challenged, letting the fork stay in its position and turning to look at the other men. She met his gaze once more. "You are not my Don."

"As long as you're here, you will stand," he informed her. The guards and all the other men that occupied the space diverted their gazes. "Now."

"Fuck you," she said slowly and it took all of three seconds for Calix to stride over there and lift Vulia out of the chair and over his shoulder. She let out a yelp and proceeded to slap at his back which earned her a slap on the ass. She no longer wore what she came to the estate in. Instead, she had on these shorts with a large graphic tee.

He tried not to let his imagination roam, but it was impeccably hard the more she moved. He led her out of the dining room and into a guest bedroom where she collected a spot over his thighs. He had one of his arms over her back to angle her correctly so she wouldn't wiggle free.

"When I enter you stand, understood?"

"This is fucking ridicul—"

He raised her shirt to reveal her ass and--

Smack.

"Motherfu—"

That earned her another smack, but this time he rubbed her skin as if to soothe the pain. Something about that made his dick twitch. Vulia let out a soft and muffled groan. Calix stole a peak at her. Part of her thumb had been in her mouth as if to stop her from doing or saying anything drastic that'd earn her another smack on the ass.

"You will stand."

"I don't think I should have to. You kidnap me and now you're commanding me to follow your rules," she voiced.

"Doing otherwise won't be in your best interest. Do not test me," Calix warned and slapped her ass again. He could almost feel the burning of her skin leaving his palms and could see parts of her skin turning red from the impact. Vulia didn't respond. Calix raised his hand to hit her bottom once more.

"I can't wait until my brother puts a bullet in your head," she agreed. Her ass was on fire and another smack would probably make her skin uncontrollably sore, especially with the force he was using. It was only a matter of time before she'd give in.

"I don't like repeating myself," he stated, ignoring her statement. He smacked her ass again.

"Then don't," she responded breathlessly. He smacked her again. "I'm not backing down, and it seems like you're getting off on this, you sadist."

"If you want pain, I will give you pain, douceur," he challenged, smacking Vulia the hardest. This caused her to close her eyes and bite her thumb at the impact of the slap. "If you defy me I will bring you your brother's head on a fucking platter and shove it down your throat with my cock."

Vulia stilled at his words as if a wave of fear bubbled. Calix smacked her ass again.

"Fuck," she whimpered, clearly not expecting another hit so soon. His dick twitched in his pants.

"Now say it."

She didn't look at him. As a result, Calix pulled her off his lap. She rested on her knees between his legs. He gripped her chin so she had no choice but to look at him.

"Say it."

She closed her eyes and said, "I will stand."

"Look at me when you say it."

She opened her earthy eyes. There was something about those soft brown eyes that could burn nations and save them. They bored into his, something spiteful spinning, as she said, "I will stand."

"Good," he stated. "Now, let's try again."

Calix let a sly smile decorate his face as if to state otherwise. He turned and walked towards the door, his grin dropping. Calix could feel her presence easing up on him, then he could hear her footsteps lulling to a halt. He felt her anger like a wave of heat behind him. Something morbid and dark stirred between them. She stalked past him and returned to her seat. She sat and then stood up, matching Calix's gaze mischievously.

"All hail king of whatever the fuck this place is called."

"--of the Accelotta estate."

"Of the Accelotta estate," she repeated. "May I be excused, King Ass-elotta. I must powder my nose."

Some of the guards nearby snorted while others remained as stiff as bricks. Finally, Calix exited. The drive to Temptation was a silent one. Calix was always comfortable with silence and yet something about that one seemed reproachable and overwhelmingly unbearable. He cast his gaze out the window and then to his phone where he received several notifications and updates. His mind was racing as it always did, faster than the car could carry him to Temptation.

He tucked his phone away and clenched his jaw as they arrived at the back of Temptation. Calix's door swung open and he brushed off his suit before entering the back of Temptation. He walked into the back room where his people occupied the space. It had been a while since Calix had been there, which made everyone stand up in his presence. The room fell silent.

"Where is Eryn?"

Every eye in the room trailed to Eryn sitting on the pool table with her legs crossed. She was the only person who hadn't stood, engrossed in a conversation with one of Calix's men, a night guard for one of the territories.

"We need to talk. Now," he demanded and she stood up and walked towards him without a second word. She followed him to an empty back room that was only ever used for immediate meetings at Temptation.

"I've been summoned," she said when the door closed behind them with a loud thud. He glared at her, something sinister and bitter in his eyes.

"I will not promise that my reaction will be sane or just. You know how I feel about traitors," he stated and Eryn's eyes widened and she looked lost, confused, and afraid all at the same time.

"What are you talking about?"

"Tell me that you didn't work with him."

"With who? Calix, what has gotten into you?" She questioned as she approached him and placed a hand on his arm. He shrugged her off and glared in her eyes, into her soul where the truth resided.

"You knew she would be there. You knew Isaak would be there. You gave him information, didn't you?"

She didn't admit to it. Not easily, of course, but Calix knew. The dots connected when Lachlan unveiled that Eryn had befriended Vulia's friend.

"Choose your words carefully."

Eryn retracted, afraid of his promised threat and he knew it. It was what he wanted. He was tired of getting crossed and that said everything about his leadership skills. His father's voice, though faint, echoed in the back of his mind--

"I wanted to protect you. I wanted to protect mia familigia," she whispered.

"You committed treason by plotting against me," he informed seethingly.

"I—" was all she managed to get out. She couldn't look him in the eye for a long moment, but when she did hellfire broke loose. "Treason?"

The words settled between them. Calix didn't back down. No remorse leaked from his irises as he stared back at her. Eryn's face said all she needed to know.

"This has nothing to do with treason. Does it, Calix?" she questioned accusingly. "This is your way of reclaiming your power. Are you losing your touch?"

Her voice was shaky and Calix knew she was hurt, trying to cling onto anything. It wasn't the first time she had gone behind his back. She attacked Vulia at the tattoo parlor, going against him once more. Eryn and the Ace family went way back, but that didn't exempt her from the rules everyone had to follow.

She was no exception to the rule. If he allowed it, corruption would drip like a faucet. His invisible throne would quake and anyone could intrude. Men like Delano and Isaak. This was the perfect opportunity to make an example out of her.

He didn't answer the question. Something was menacing in his eyes, lethal. A myriad of dark blues infiltrated those orbs. His entire demeanor had shifted as if she had been the enemy and not the person he had worked alongside for years and occasionally fucked. At that moment, none of that meant shit. She was just a traitor and working with Isaak to get Vulia had been the icing on the fucking cake. Eryn had broken his trust on two accounts. It was of her own free will.

"Don't make me laugh, Eryn," was his reply and he removed his gun from the spot under his shirt and belt, raising it to Eryn. His face remained the same, no emotion protruding from the stone. She hadn't faltered either as if accepting her fate at that moment. She could have run as far as the sun could carry her, but she didn't. She waited for that bullet to implode her skull and cut her existence. She had to go. She had to.

"Go ahead, do it, make an example out of me. Show them you're not weak," she encouraged, but her words were anything but confident and willing. Calix knew by the tremble in her shoulders that she didn't want to die. She gazed deep into his eyes as if pleading for mercy--something Calix didn't have.

"See you in hell, principessa. Mantieni caldo il mio trono."

He shot the silencer. Silence drowned the space when her body dropped and blood spilled.

Keep my throne warm.

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TO BE CONTINUED

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