Artemis' POVThe silence of the forest had become familiar, almost comforting, but tonight, something felt different. A strange tension hung in the air, making my skin crawl. I shifted on the small couch in the cabin, my gaze flickering to the door where Daymon stood, his posture rigid as he peered out the window.We had been here for weeks now, surviving off canned food and whatever small game Daymon could catch. Every night, we’d take turns keeping watch. Every night, we had a quiet understanding—stay hidden, stay alive.But tonight, something was off. It felt strange, I could not pinpoint to why it felt that way, buh it did.I hugged my knees to my chest. “What is it?”Daymon didn’t answer at first. His sharp eyes scanned the darkness outside. Then, without looking at me, he murmured, “They’ve found us.”My stomach dropped, my jaw dropped too. I was lost, I didn't know if I should cry or run for my life. I have never been this scared. The fear overwhelmed me that I find my teeth hi
Artemis’ POVI drove like a madwoman.The wind cried out against the car, but it wasn’t loud enough to drown out the ringing in my ears. The gunshot replayed over and over, splitting my mind in two.Daymon was gone. I couldn't believe it. The only man after Aiden to show me love in ways I didn't expect—died right in front of me and I couldn't do anything to help. I only watched it happen and sped off like the coward I was. I didn't deserve the love he showed me and I wish he hadn't come to my rescue then he'd still be alive right now.I gripped the steering wheel, my fingers aching from how hard I squeezed. My vision blurred, but I kept going, pushing the car past its limit. I didn't know where I was heading, but I knew one thing—I couldn’t stop. If I did, I’d have to face the truth.Daymon was dead because of me.My chest tightened, a choked sob ripping through my throat.I should have stayed. I should have fought with him. But I ran.I was an idiot, a fool.The car skidded as I turn
Aiden’s POVMy fists clenched at my sides. I was seeing red. Daymon was gone. Killed. And the man responsible was still breathing. Kane murdered him, and I was supposed to just let it go? I wanted nothing more than to make him pay, to make him suffer for what he did.But then my father called me into his office that afternoon, ruining my trail of thoughts.I had spent hours thinking of how to deal with Kane, of how to make him regret ever trying to hard to destroy my life. I walked into the room, barely masking the storm raging inside me.“Good day, Dad,” I greeted, though the words felt empty.“Good day, son.” His expression was unreadable, but I could see the weight of everything pressing on him too.“I called you in to tell you not to do what you're thinking.”I stiffened. “No, Dad. I will kill Kane. I promise you. He must die, he has to pay for what he did to Daymon.”“You will not touch Kane, Aiden.”“I must.” My voice came out harsher than I intended. “He took a brother from me.
(Artemis' POV)I curled up in the corner of the bed, hugging my knees to my chest. The room was silent, but my mind was anything but. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it—Daymon stepping in front of me, his body jerking as the bullet tore through him. I heard the sound of it, felt the warmth of his blood on my skin. I was tired. Not just physically, but mentally, emotionally—down to my very soul. Every breath felt heavy, every step a burden. The weight of Daymon’s death sat on my chest like a stone, suffocating me.I gasped, shoving my face into my hands. This is my fault.If I had trusted Aiden, if I hadn’t followed Kane like a fool, Daymon would still be alive. I let my guard down, and now I was paying the price.A knock on the door made me tense.“Artemis.” Aiden’s voice was soft, careful.I stared at the door, heart pounding. I didn’t answer.A sigh. Then, “I know you’re awake.”I swallowed, forcing the lump in my throat down. “What do you want?”“To talk.”“I don’t want to talk
ARTEMIS POV I eyed the golden watch on the table, pretending to be interested in something else while inching closer to the table. I knew it was wrong to steal but I couldn’t help it. I was hungry and I didn’t want to die.I imagined the funeral poster would read thus, ‘Artemis Vincent, died of hunger because she didn’t want to take a watch that some rich dude left behind.’I shook my head. Gosh, I needed therapy. Why would I even think that? I eyed the watch again while cunningly looking around. When I got right to the table, I snatched the watch and shoved it into my pocket.'You did it Artemis. You can buy burgers from Starbucks... you can....'“THIEF!!” Someone shrieked and I turned to see a huge oaf of a man charging right at me. He was dressed in a black suit and wore dark sunglasses. My survival instincts kicked in and I beelined for the open window.‘If they catch you, you are dead. Fucking run, legs.’I pumped my legs faster and easily slipped into the window and outside th
Aidan Creek?ARTEMIS POV Now where had I heard that name? I must have seen it in a newspaper somewhere. I couldn’t remember, but from what I gathered he was one the richest men in Florida. Why would he want a thief to be his mistress?“It sure seems like you must be over in your head. I ain’t marrying you, I’ll marry a pig first,” I said, huffing angrily.But Aidan stared at me for a full minute, creeping me out, then he finally nodded.“You’ll go to jail then, I’ll make sure you get it hard there. Trust me you don’t want to see what they’ll do to you there,” he said and I shot him a fierce glare. He was right. He had influence, I was a nobody. I would be molested there and forgotten.“Why won't you let me go?” I asked and he raised his brow. That elegant brow.“You stole my watch woman” he growled. I gave him a stubborn look. It took all my willpower not to poke out my tongue.“That watch is not one percent of your net worth sir. So just let me go” I said and he nodded.“Take her aw
ARTEMIS POV It took me almost a while to find where Aidan was. Daymon didn’t even tell me where to find him. Eventually, I wandered to the gardens and met him there waiting... probably. “Hi,” I said and he turned. How could someone look so hot and cruel at the same time? The afternoon breeze blew his dark hair, making him look more... handsome. “So here’s what I wanted to tell you before we meet my parents,” he started, going straight to the point and I shot him a glare. “Can’t you reply with ‘Hello’?” I retorted and his eyes darkened. I watched the light go out of them replaced by cold dangerous anger. “Watch how you talk to me,” he sneered. But I didn’t care. I wasn’t scared of anyone or anything, not even the icy chills of his voice. “And you don’t treat me like a piece of shit too,” I replied sharply. Aidan growled, he grabbed me and shoved me to a barn wall. “You don’t understand. You have to get this or I’ll lose all I have worked for to my brother,” he seethed and I sh
ARTEMIS POVThe rest of the weeks were just a blur of activities. Me, trying to keep up with the lies and Aidan being grumpy as ever. We even had to pretend for the camera. It wasn’t what I bargained for and being in front of stubborn paparazzi was beginning to tell on me. Every click of the camera gave me paranoia.Aidan had told me not to worry that it would still stop but I was getting wary. I was a small-town girl and wasn’t used to all this glamor and paparazzi. It wasn’t funny at all. The other part of this deal that made me uncomfortable was having to sleep on the same bed with Aidan. It wasn’t so before, I had my room but his father had insisted on it.I peeled my eyes open now watching Aidan sleeping. Even with my resentment I couldn’t help but admire how perfect he looked. In his sleep, I couldn’t find the cynical circles around his eyes. He looked young and at peace, and his hair. I had always wondered how they were so black, like midnight. They cascaded his face and I rea
(Artemis' POV)I curled up in the corner of the bed, hugging my knees to my chest. The room was silent, but my mind was anything but. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it—Daymon stepping in front of me, his body jerking as the bullet tore through him. I heard the sound of it, felt the warmth of his blood on my skin. I was tired. Not just physically, but mentally, emotionally—down to my very soul. Every breath felt heavy, every step a burden. The weight of Daymon’s death sat on my chest like a stone, suffocating me.I gasped, shoving my face into my hands. This is my fault.If I had trusted Aiden, if I hadn’t followed Kane like a fool, Daymon would still be alive. I let my guard down, and now I was paying the price.A knock on the door made me tense.“Artemis.” Aiden’s voice was soft, careful.I stared at the door, heart pounding. I didn’t answer.A sigh. Then, “I know you’re awake.”I swallowed, forcing the lump in my throat down. “What do you want?”“To talk.”“I don’t want to talk
Aiden’s POVMy fists clenched at my sides. I was seeing red. Daymon was gone. Killed. And the man responsible was still breathing. Kane murdered him, and I was supposed to just let it go? I wanted nothing more than to make him pay, to make him suffer for what he did.But then my father called me into his office that afternoon, ruining my trail of thoughts.I had spent hours thinking of how to deal with Kane, of how to make him regret ever trying to hard to destroy my life. I walked into the room, barely masking the storm raging inside me.“Good day, Dad,” I greeted, though the words felt empty.“Good day, son.” His expression was unreadable, but I could see the weight of everything pressing on him too.“I called you in to tell you not to do what you're thinking.”I stiffened. “No, Dad. I will kill Kane. I promise you. He must die, he has to pay for what he did to Daymon.”“You will not touch Kane, Aiden.”“I must.” My voice came out harsher than I intended. “He took a brother from me.
Artemis’ POVI drove like a madwoman.The wind cried out against the car, but it wasn’t loud enough to drown out the ringing in my ears. The gunshot replayed over and over, splitting my mind in two.Daymon was gone. I couldn't believe it. The only man after Aiden to show me love in ways I didn't expect—died right in front of me and I couldn't do anything to help. I only watched it happen and sped off like the coward I was. I didn't deserve the love he showed me and I wish he hadn't come to my rescue then he'd still be alive right now.I gripped the steering wheel, my fingers aching from how hard I squeezed. My vision blurred, but I kept going, pushing the car past its limit. I didn't know where I was heading, but I knew one thing—I couldn’t stop. If I did, I’d have to face the truth.Daymon was dead because of me.My chest tightened, a choked sob ripping through my throat.I should have stayed. I should have fought with him. But I ran.I was an idiot, a fool.The car skidded as I turn
Artemis' POVThe silence of the forest had become familiar, almost comforting, but tonight, something felt different. A strange tension hung in the air, making my skin crawl. I shifted on the small couch in the cabin, my gaze flickering to the door where Daymon stood, his posture rigid as he peered out the window.We had been here for weeks now, surviving off canned food and whatever small game Daymon could catch. Every night, we’d take turns keeping watch. Every night, we had a quiet understanding—stay hidden, stay alive.But tonight, something was off. It felt strange, I could not pinpoint to why it felt that way, buh it did.I hugged my knees to my chest. “What is it?”Daymon didn’t answer at first. His sharp eyes scanned the darkness outside. Then, without looking at me, he murmured, “They’ve found us.”My stomach dropped, my jaw dropped too. I was lost, I didn't know if I should cry or run for my life. I have never been this scared. The fear overwhelmed me that I find my teeth hi
Artemis' POVThe days in the old cabin had elongated into weeks, each one mindlessly running into the next, making it feel like we were losing track of time. The dense forest that surrounded us became both a sanctuary and a prison, offering protection from Kane's relentless pursuit while isolating us from the world we once knew, after all the life hack and the steady look out for Kane and his men, how can one remember what the real world actually looks like. In this enforced solitude, Daymon and I developed a routine, a delicate dance of survival and companionship.Each morning, the first light of dawn or will I say the first sun rays hits the cabin, which will obviously hit us so had forcing sleep out of our eyes, we had to wake up, nothing much to do just the survival routine but the direct sun rays won't let us get back to sleep. We would rise early. Daymon took it upon himself to teach me the essentials of survival. We'd venture into the forest, where he demonstrated how to identi
Artemis' POVThe forest had a way of amplifying solitude. Each rustling leaf, every distant sign of wildlife, served as a reminder of our isolation, of how disconnected from the world we are. Daymon and I had been hiding in the cabin for what felt like an eternity, and it didn't seem to end. The days blending into nights in a continuous never seem to end cycle which was already draining me both mentally and physically even Daymond noticed . The constant threat of Kane's men loomed over us, turning even the simplest tasks into exercises done with absolute care and vigilance.One particularly cold evening, the wind bleed outside, rattling the windows and blowing through the cracks in the wooden walls. I sat by the fireplace, its warmth doing little to chase away the chill that had settled deep within me. The weight of our predicament pressed heavily on my shoulders, and an overwhelming sense of loneliness washed over me, total and general weakness flushed me, both weakness from the dail
Artemis' POVThe days in the cabin blurred together, each one marked by a cycle of survival. These cycles never seemed to end, the time there was just static. Daymon and I fell into an unspoken rhythm, gathering firewood, rationing our limited supplies, and maintaining the routine of sleepless nights, for any signs of Kane's men. The forest felt so isolated. This isolation felt like both a blessing and a curse; it shielded us from immediate danger but also confined us to each other's company, which was not helping the unspoken tension between us.One evening, the sun was hitting on a different level , casting long shadows through the trees, I found myself sitting by the fireplace, the flickering flames offering the feeling of warmth and uncertain cozyness. Daymon was outside, ensuring our tracks remained concealed. The weight of our situation pressed heavily on my shoulders, and my thoughts drifted to Aiden. Guilt filled me like an empty vessel for doubting him, for allowing Kane to
Artemis & Daymon’s POVArtemis' POVThe darkness of the forest swallowed us whole as Daymon drove deeper into the unknown, the headlights barely cutting through the thick trees. My heart was still hammering in my chest, my breath uneven. Every nerve in my body remained on high alert, expecting gunshots to ring out at any moment, expecting Kane’s men to appear from the shadows and drag me back to that nightmare, shit hole!I stole a glance at Daymon. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his jaw locked in determination. The way he maneuvered the car, every calculated turn, every sharp swerve, spoke volumes about his skill. I must admit, at this point I was beyond impressed. He had always been Aiden’s most trusted bodyguard, and now, he was my only chance at survival.“You okay?” His voice was rough, edged with concern, but he didn’t take his eyes off the road.I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “I don’t even know where we are.”Daymon pressed his foo
Artemis povAfter crying myself to sleep, I decided that I can't be living like this, from frying pan to fire , I can't be running round in circles and getting hurt. Kane is an animal, he is a wicked person. I thought I ran to safety and comfort ,not knowing I ran into my own early death. I wholeheartedly entered the lions darn.Now Jesus won't even think of saving my butt like he did with Daniel in the Bible. I am such a fool, and I can't reach Aiden, I need saving.Now all this event has occurred thanks toe, the guards are more on guard, silently and stylishly following me every where I go like I am in some sort of prison or something.If I run out , before I can even make it to the gate , I might get shot or I might be captured and this time around restricted to my room only, maybe with chain also. Kane made it clear ! If he can't have me, then no one can. It's either him or I die. I am cooked. I thought of all these so deeply and tears rolled down my cheeks, I am all alone again