Lilith kept crying as Zhanna gently removed the knife from her arm.
"Ow…" she said.
"Sorry, baby," Yulian said, patting her head softly.
"Daria, bandage the tiny girl's wounded arm."
Nikolai was still angry as he saw Lilith who was still crying, her panic attack beginning again for the sixth time.
"Everyone leave us now," Nikolai said.
"But she—" Zhanna began.
"Now," Nikolai said firmly.
They all looked at him before leaving, though secretly they watched from afar.
He took off his suit jacket, folded his sleeves, and lifted the tiny girl into his arms. She was rubbing her eyes, still crying softly. He carried her outside. Everyone followed at a distance.
He took her to the garden where he had a secret path and disappeared with her.
"Where did they go?" Hassan said.
"Ugh, I wanted to see the soft spot!" Addison said.
"Us too!" Nikolai's siblings whispered.
"Bambi, look," Nikolai said as he turned her gently to the right side, still holding her.
She sniffed her nose and looked up. Her eyes widened as she saw the gorgeous night sky — the beautiful stars shimmering endlessly above.
He gently set her down.
Everyone finally saw them from a distance.
Lilith raised her hands up in the air. A smile slowly grew on her face as her sweet giggles rang out like music in his ears. She ran through the grass as the fireflies came out glowing around her.
"Awwww," Nimra whispered.
Nikolai stood behind her, watching.
"Pretty!!!!" the tiny happy girl shouted.
"Happy?" Nikolai asked quietly.
"YEAH!!" she said, jumping up and down.
Nikolai kept staring at her as if memorizing the sight.
"Nikki, look!" she said, pointing at the brightest star.
He stepped closer and held her gently.
"That you, Nikki," Lilith said.
Nikolai looked at her carefully. She was happy now. Not crying anymore.
He slowly turned her around so she faced his chest and held her close.
"Bambi, wanna see something more beautiful than the stars?" he asked in a deep husky tone.
The tiny girl nodded quickly. "Where?"
"Right here," he said.
He placed his thumb on her soft plump lips and bent down, his lips claiming hers.
Lilith froze in shock, her eyes slowly closing.
"Damnnnnn!!" Nathan whispered loudly.
"Oh my God," Arina gasped.
They were shocked.
Nikolai pulled away.
"W…w…what was that, Nikki?" Lilith asked.
"It's a lip kiss, baby," he said, looking into her eyes.
"L…l…like the ones in the princess movies I…w…watch?" Lilith asked softly.
"Yes, baby. Because you're a pretty princess," Nikolai said.
"L…Lily is a princess!" she whispered loudly.
Nikolai chuckled and hugged her tightly.
"Yes, Princess Bambi."
The next morning in Lily's room, Nikolai checked her arm before giving her a soft kiss on her nose.
Lilith sometimes had crash-outs due to the poison pills she took last month that nobody knew about. Nikolai and everyone once had to hold her down during one of those episodes.
Damian walked in holding a letter.
"Boss, a letter came in. It has your name and Lily's name on it."
Nikolai opened his first.
I am coming, my gem. Or you give her back to me. If not, her father himself will take her and handle you. I give you three days to return my gem. If not, I will take her myself.
Signed, Her Mumma.
Nikolai chuckled darkly.
"Lilith's mother is alive."
Damian's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yes."
He opened Lilith's letter.
Hi my precious gem. I missed you so much. I can't wait to see you soon, love. I hope you're getting better now, sweetie. Mumma loves you so much.
Nikolai folded it calmly and continued eating.
A cute yawn echoed in the room.
They turned to see the tiny girl awake.
She raised her right leg up effortlessly.
"Oh my—" Arina gasped.
Lilith stretched both legs, placed one over her neck, and did a perfect split on the floor.
Nikolai raised his eyebrow.
"G…Good morning," she said.
"Morning, Lily," Zhanna smiled.
"Lily, do you want to celebrate Holi?" Urmila asked.
"Hoil?" Lilith tilted her head.
"Yeah, Holi is in two days. Don't you want to apply colors?" Vishal said.
"I…I ha…ve n…never do…it before."
"REALLY?!" Urmila exclaimed.
Lilith quickly covered her ears.
"She doesn't like loud noises," Nikolai snapped.
Urmila covered her mouth immediately.
"But Annika said they apply colors and also play a lot!" Lilith clapped excitedly.
Their eyes softened at her giggle.
"He got the letters, Ma," a spy said.
The woman, surrounded by millions of guards, stood up calmly.
"First home… then my little gem," she whispered as she boarded her plane.
"Next stop… New York."
Meanwhile, Troy was in his office working. Through the glass window, he saw an employee flirting with Vanya.
Vanya was nineteen. Tamanna never cared much about Vanya and Trinetra, seeing them as failures. Ishaan had raised both of them.
Troy had small feelings for Vanya. He had given her a job in the company while Trinetra ran a fashion boutique.
"Ms. Vanya, boss wants you in his office," a lady informed her.
Vanya entered nervously. "Yes, sir?"
"Lock the door," he ordered.
She obeyed.
"Why were you smiling at him?" Troy asked.
"Pardon?"
"I said, why were you laughing and smiling at him? This is an office, not a love garden."
"Excuse me, sir. You have eyes. I clearly did not smile or answer him in any way. Please don't insult me. I have manners and I know my work. He has been bothering me for weeks."
Troy smirked, leaning back in his chair.
"Attitude, huh?"
He stood and walked toward her.
"Listen, sweetheart. I don't take sassy attitude. Or I teach you manners," he said huskily.
She blushed. "P…please move back."
"Make me."
Her back touched the door.
"What's wrong? You were a firecracker just a second ago, and now you're silent?" he teased.
"I have to go. I have work," she mumbled.
He pulled her closer, cupping her cheeks.
"Anya?" he whispered.
She looked into his eyes.
"Roy…"
Their noses touched. Lips almost met—
A knock interrupted them.
"Fuck…" Troy muttered.
Vanya pulled away quickly. "Nothing happened."
She opened the door and saw Zafraan.
"Oh hey, guys. Did I intrude on something?"
"N…No," Vanya rushed out.
"Yeah, come in," Troy said, rubbing his neck.
They discussed getting Lilith back home.
Two days later — Holi.
Meghna dressed Lilith in a beautiful white dress. Nikolai's men also wore white.
"Who gave you this necklace, baby?" Daria asked.
"B…Baba gave me. H…he said it will protect me. Any…one who s…see it will k…know," she said softly.
Nikolai wore black. He and Lilith sat in his Porsche 911.
"Zoommmmmmmmm!!!" the tiny girl squeaked as he drove fast.
He grinned.
At Urmila's mansion, he lifted her.
"Kisses?" she asked adorably.
He checked if anyone was watching and kissed both her cheeks, then pressed a soft kiss on her lips.
Drums beat loudly as they entered.
"Hi Lily!" Urmila waved.
Everyone turned.
Urmila's father's eyes widened at the necklace and the mark.
"The Gem of the Obsidian Triad…" Mr. Advay whispered.
Everyone bowed before the tiny girl holding her teddy bear.
The Dominion Apex were shocked as they bowed too.
"Nikki?" Lilith asked, confused.
"Hm?"
"Welcome. Come in. Is Mr. Sohan released?" Advay asked.
"Baba… you know Baba?" Lilith blinked.
"Yes. I did business with him. Because of him I got a job worth millions. I used to be a taxi driver," Advay admitted.
"After saving Sohan and taking him to the hospital, he gave him a job," Mrs. Janvi added.
"I am sorry about your Mumma, dear."
"Mama… she mentally unstable. Her mind is childlike," Urmila explained.
"Then how did she get here in Russia?" Janvi asked.
"I took her away from her brothers since they messed with my goods. I took her as exchange," Nikolai said coldly.
"Are you mad?!" Advay snapped. "Do you want to die? Do you know what her father will do to you?"
"Sohan is a monster… a beast!"
"I heard," Nikolai replied calmly.
"No. That man walks on blood and money. He had everything wrapped around his fingers. He killed families of the people who harmed her and killed his wife. Her mother meant the world to him."
Lilith was simply playing with Nikolai's shirt, tongue sticking out in concentration.
"Do I look scared?" Nikolai said. "If he comes, I'll be waiting. I'm not letting her go."
"Come on, Lily! Let's apply colors!" Meghna shouted.
Holi began. Colors everywhere. Milk. Alcohol. Drums. Dancing.
Nikolai watched Lilith running as the girls chased her.
He told Damian to send a live video of her to her brothers.
Meanwhile, Tamanna wanted to throw a Holi party but was forbidden.
"I wanted this Holi to be with Lily," Annika whispered sadly.
"Happy Holi!" Tamanna said loudly.
Nobody responded.
"Guys! Nikolai's assistant sent a video!" Farhan announced, connecting it to the TV.
They saw Lilith running and giggling, dancing with women while holding her teddy bear.
"So he didn't lock her up nor torture her?" Vamika whispered.
Lilith threw colors in the air and drank milk, leaving a mustache.
Anika laughed.
She grabbed blue powder and skipped toward the tall man dressed in black.
"Nikki… c…can I apply color pretty please?"
The family stared.
She applied color to his face.
It was the Mafia King — Nikolai Devereaux.
He was smiling.
"No freaking way," Aarav muttered.
"Is this real or AI?" Tory said.
He hugged her.
"Lily, say Happy Holi to the camera."
"Happy Holi!!" she giggled loudly, hugging him tightly.
He kissed her cheeks.
"What the hell?!" Karim said.
"Did he just kiss her?" Annika gasped.
"He did," Nihal confirmed.
The video ended with her giggling in his arms.
"Well damn," Vanya muttered.
Everyone fell silent.
Elsewhere, Troy, Ishaan, and Rezaul discussed Sohan.
"Sohan said if anyone marries her, they will get 50% of the Gem shares," Rezaul said.
Nikolai's spy listened carefully.
"Tamanna shouldn't know about it," Troy warned.
But Tamanna had already heard.
She smirked.
She took her phone and hired another assassin. She had a big plan.
Meanwhile, Damian received a call about everything they overheard.
"Good. I'll get back to you," he said before informing Nikolai.
Nikolai stood by the window, looking outside, deep in thought.