Artemis POV After we got all the information we needed from the woman, Daymon whispered into my ear. “ Can we talk over there?” He pointed to the spot and I nodded.“We will be right back,” I said to the woman on the left with Daymon.“What do you think we should do to the woman?” Daymon spoke softly for the woman not to hear what he was saying.“What do you mean, what should we do to the woman?” I frowned at his question. “The plan was to let her go after making sure she was not a spy, and she has given us some information, so why the question?”“ You are not seeing this situation from my point of view” Daymon mentioned. “What if we left her go now, and she ended up talking to Kane's men, or they even asked her if she saw anything?”“Yeah, you're right, Daymon,” I reasoned with him. “so what are you suggesting we do to her now?”“Get rid of her, of course,” Daymon Shrugged.“What?!!” I exclaimed out loud, my voice high that the woman might hear from where she was sitting. Daymon cov
Artemis POV I began to reason with Daymon but killing the woman is not an option for me. I know what kids with any or both parents go through; I'm sure the woman has children at home, and it won't sit right If she gets killed here.“Daymon, I understand you but let's just look for another way to sort this out,” I said to him“Okay, what way do you have in mind?” Daymon asked me, folding his arms around his body.“I don't know,” I replied, looking confused. “Hhmm, we can just send her away, warning her not to answer anybody who asks herasksy questions about what she saw in the Forest.“Do you think that makes any sense?” Daymon asked me angrily. “So you expect her to still stay quiet and loyal even under pressure and threat? Even If you are in that kind of situation, would you Kee quiet?”I began to reason with what Daymon was saying but I still didn't see any reason why he should kill the woman. If he kills her now, I will still feel guilty; her blood will still be on my neck even if
Daymon's PovI wish Artemis would listen to me and make us do what we are supposed to do to save, but she won't listen, which is more reason why I hate doing business with women.I looked from Artemis to the woman, the woman looking for me to attend was trying to figure out what was going on. Artemis noticed the look on my face and dragged me out of the scene.“But we've talked about it daymon! Why don't you just take her to where you want to take her to and then we'll continue our lifestyle here. We already know there's no hope for us, so just let the poor woman go,” Artemis yelled at me; I was so sure the woman overheard her.Artemis' statement made me more vexed and angry. If not for her being my boss's woman, I would have killed both of them without looking back; what does she mean that we don't have hope and let the woman go?I left her standing and went to sit on a big stone, trying to figure out what to do. “So I will just let her go or kill her while taking her to the end of
Chapter 65 Temper's edge Daymon's Pov But as I turned to face Artemis, my relief quickly turned to anger. “What is wrong with you Artemis? I demanded, my voice low and menacing. “Why can't you just listen to me and do what we're supposed to do? What if we get ourselves into more issues, do you even think at all?” I couldn't hold my anger and the words coming out of my mouth.Artemis raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lips. “Oh, Daymon,” she said. "You're so predictable. Do you think you're the only one who knows what's best? Newsflash: you're not. And don't keep behaving like I'm the younger sister here or the baby”My anger boiled over, and I took a step closer to Artemis, my fists clenched. “You're going to get us both killed,” I snarled.“And then what if they don't get us killed, are you still the right one here?” Artemis snickered. “Have you ever thought of the good side at all, here you are always thinking about the bad side of everything that is going to happen,
Kelly's PovI'm so grateful for what Artemis and Daymon did for me but I haven't figured out why they are hiding from those people. “What could be their reason?” I finally saw the light out of the tunnel as I took the last step out of the bush. It has been a horrible experience in the bush; I still can't imagine how they are coping; another day in there, I might pass out.As I got out of the forest, I saw the guys Artemis and Daymon were running from. I paused and took a deep breath, my silent prayer was for them not to approach me, not to talk of them asking me any questions.I looked away from their side and pretended like I didn't see them, it was so unfortunate they saw me before I escaped “damn it!”I tried to quicken my pace, but my legs felt like lead. I could feel their eyes on me, and I knew I had to think fast. I didn't want to put Artemis and Daymon in danger, but I also didn't want to be caught by these men.“Hey, young woman!” one of them called out. “Wait up!” I could
Kelly's Pov One of the men moved closer to me with his 0alm wide open like he was about to lay his hands on me.“No, just let her be. I'm still in a good mood” the boss said. “Answer the question like I want before I lose it”“I didn't see anything aside from those things I mentioned,” I said again.“Where are they?” one of the men growled, his eyes scanning my face. “Tell us where those useless things are hidden, Artemis and Daymon where are they?”“Who is Artemis and Daymon?” I asked,d looking as serious as I could. “I have never met any Artemis and Daymon outside this place, not to talk of the forest where a man can barely survive,” I lied.“Are you sure, you're being serious and not lying to us here?” The man asked with a stern face.He stared at me for a few seconds and shook his head. “You're a liar. I'm so sure you saw those people but you don't want to tell me, but I will ask you one more time. Did you see a lady and a young man in the forest?”I shook my head, trying to th
Author's POV As soon as Daymon showed Kelly the way out, he decided to hang around the forest to know if she was going to betray them or not. He stood there as he watched Kelly converse with the men, hoping she was not going to say anything about them.“Please let me go” Kelly pleaded “I have missed the road with my colleagues and I don't even know if I would ever find my way out of here soon without any help before the goes dark”“ So what you trying to insinuate with all these chit-chat?” One of the men asked Kelly.“I won't mind you helping me out if here if possible” Kelly answered him with a calm voice.“You want us to help you?” The man repeated, “Do you want to die?”Kelly moved back in shock, knowing so well that those people could kill her if she tried any shit with them. “I'm sorry if my words met the wrong side of you but please just let me go, I will find my way out”“It is useless killing anybody right now,” The leader said. “Our main focus here is finding those people
Author's POV “ Did you see what I was talking about?” Michael yelled at James. “We haven't gone Into the forest; a big snake is already appearing to us; what if we enter deep into the forest? What are we going to encounter?”“Spare me that crazy things you're spilling out of your mouth Micheal; you don't want to go into the forest; you just wanna stay out here lazing around when our boss sent us out on a mission, you lazy ass!” John replied Micheal angrily “Oh, so I'm the only lazy ass here?” Micheal smirked. “The same person who wants to go into the forest to confront the wild animals is scared of an ordinary snake,” he laughed out loud, each made John so angry that he went towards him with his clenched fist, ready to throw them on Micheal's face but the voice of the leader stopped him.“Enough of this you idiots, enough!” Their leader shouted at them, and they became calm. “Do you think arguing and ranting like a nuisance would solve the problems we have on the ground? Don't you
(Artemis’ POV) I knew something was wrong the moment I tried to stand. Pain. Sharp, deep, and all-consuming. For weeks, I had ignored the discomfort, brushing off Aiden’s concerns, assuring everyone that I was fine. I had always been strong—had survived things that should’ve killed me. But this? This was different. I braced myself against the vanity, sucking in a sharp breath. Aiden was already watching me from across the room, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable—but I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his hands flexed, ready to catch me if I fell. "You should rest today," he said, stepping toward me. I rolled my eyes. "I’ve rested enough." "Artemis." His voice was firm, a warning. I turned, meeting his gaze, ready to argue—when the pain struck again. It was like my bod
(Artemis’ POV)Pregnancy wasn’t supposed to feel like this.I had expected discomfort, sure. I had expected my body to change. But this… this was something else entirely.The exhaustion was unbearable.At first, I thought it was just the lingering effects of our honeymoon—late nights in Paris, stolen kisses in hidden alleyways, and mornings wrapped in silk sheets with Aiden refusing to let me leave the bed. But then the nausea started, and I knew something was wrong.I tried to push through it, keeping up with my work, but even Naomi noticed."Boss, you look like you’re about to pass out," she said, frowning as she set down a stack of files. "You should rest.""I'm fine," I muttered, waving her off, but the moment I stood, the room spun.I barely heard Naomi calling my name before strong arms caught me."Artemis."Aiden.His voice was tight, controlled—but his grip was anything but. He held me as if I’d shatter, his eyes scanning me for injuries."You’re not fine," he said. "We’re goi
I woke up sore.A deep, aching soreness that was both a reminder and a warning. Last night had been… intense. More than I expected. More than I could have imagined. My body felt like it had been claimed, worshipped, and thoroughly ruined, all at once.Aiden wasn’t in bed, but the warmth on his side hadn’t faded yet. I blinked up at the ceiling, barely able to move, and then I smelled it—coffee. The scent curled into the room, rich and inviting, followed by the quiet creak of the bedroom door."You're awake."I turned my head and found Aiden standing in the doorway, carrying a tray.My stomach flipped. He was shirtless, his sweatpants hanging dangerously low, his hair slightly tousled from sleep. But it was the look in his eyes—the satisfaction, the possessiveness—that made my breath catch.He set the tray down beside me. A glass of water. Coffee. Toast. Painkillers."I figured you'd need this."I huffed out a laugh. "You think?"Aiden smirked but didn’t argue. Instead, he sat on the e
Artemis' POVParis.The city of love, of whispered promises, of things that felt like forever. It wasn’t the first time we had been here. The last time had been chaos—high-stakes deals, power plays, and the weight of a contract binding us together. But this time? This time was different.The garden where we stood was secluded, hidden away from the noise of the world. White roses lined the aisle, their scent mixing with the crisp autumn air. The Eiffel Tower loomed in the distance, its lights just beginning to flicker against the darkening sky.Aiden stood at the altar, watching me.No guards. No enemies. No ulterior motives.Just him. Just me. Just us.My dress was simpler than the first one I had worn. No heavy jewels, no extravagant embellishments—just clean, elegant lines that moved with me as I walked. But Aiden? Aiden still wore black, sharp and commanding, his presence impossible to ignore.As I reached him, he took my hands in his, his grip steady, grounding.“We’ve done this b
Aiden’s POVI wasn’t used to an empty house.The penthouse was quiet, the kind of silence that made me restless. Artemis had left early, slipping out before dawn, her scent lingering in the sheets beside me. She had a fitting today—something about finalizing designs before her next trip. I hadn’t asked for details, but I knew she was busy.I ran a hand down my face, exhaling.She was everywhere, even when she wasn’t here.The coffee machine was still warm, the cup she’d set aside for me untouched. A plate covered with foil sat on the kitchen counter—breakfast she’d made before she left, knowing I probably wouldn’t eat if she didn’t.In the closet, one of my suits was laid out, ironed, with a note tucked into the sleeve: Wear this one. You look good in navy.She did things like that. Little things. Thoughtful things.For someone who had grown up fighting for every scrap of control, she gave so freely—to me, to the people she cared about.And I—I hadn’t given her nearly enough.I leane
Aiden’s POVFor the first time in my life, there were no contracts. No lies. Just her.But peace was an unfamiliar thing.I still woke up before dawn, instinctively reaching for the gun that wasn’t under my pillow anymore. My body was trained to react before my mind even processed that there was no longer a war to fight. My enemies were either dead, exiled, or too afraid to make a move.Yet, I found myself restless.The empire was still mine. The city still ran on quiet threats and well-placed alliances. But Artemis had planted a dangerous thought in my head—what if I ruled differently? What if I built something that wasn’t always on the verge of burning to the ground?She was asleep beside me, her breathing steady, her body curled toward me like she belonged there. And she did.I ran a hand down my face and exhaled.I couldn’t just sit still. That had never been my nature.So, I got up.---The sun had barely risen when I walked into the warehouse where my men were gathered. Conversa
Artemis' POVThe battle was over, but the aftermath lingered. Scars—some fresh, some old—marked more than just skin. The weight of the past did not simply lift because the fighting had stopped.I sat on the edge of the bed, watching Aiden pace near the window. His reflection in the glass was sharp, rigid, like a man still expecting a knife in the dark. The empire was his now, but peace was foreign to him. Stillness felt unnatural."You don’t have to stay," he said, his tone measured, unreadable. "You’ve done enough."It wasn’t a command. It wasn’t even a suggestion. It was a defense mechanism. Aiden didn’t push people away forcefully—he gave them an exit and waited for them to take it.I tilted my head, pretending to consider. "And if I don’t want to leave?"His gaze flickered toward me, just for a moment, then away again. "Then you’re a fool."I rolled my eyes, standing. "That makes two of us."I closed the distance between us and pressed my palm against his chest, feeling the steady
Aiden’s POVThe study smelled of aged whiskey, leather, and cigar smoke—just as I remembered it from my childhood. Nothing had changed. The same books lined the shelves, the same decanter of bourbon sat untouched on the desk, and the same man occupied the chair at its head.I stood in front of Don Carlo, the weight of everything that had led to this moment pressing down on my chest. Kane was gone. Hera was locked away where she belonged. The war was over. And yet, the victory tasted bitter. It felt like exhaustion.My father—Don Carlo—sat behind his massive desk, his expression unreadable. The same man who had doubted me. The same man who had once called me weak."You’ve proven yourself," he finally said, voice heavy with reluctant acceptance. "The empire is yours."I didn’t respond immediately. Instead, I studied him. The man who had shaped me, tested me, pushed me to the edge time and time again. And for what? To prove I was worthy of something I never truly wanted?"You thought I’d
Aiden’s POVHera screamed as the guards dragged her away, her shrieks cutting through the air like the wail of a banshee. She kicked and thrashed, her dark hair wild, her emerald-green eyes blazing with madness."You can’t do this to me!" she screeched, her voice raw. "Aiden, you think you’ve won?! You think locking me away will change the truth?! You’ll regret this—I swear it!"I stood motionless, watching as the woman I once knew was forced back into the nightmare she had clawed her way out of. My hands were clenched at my sides, my pulse steady, my face unreadable.The weight pressing against my chest wasn’t fear or anger. It was relief. A slow, settling kind of relief that came when a battle was finally over.There was no regret. No hesitation.She belonged there.The black van’s doors slammed shut, muffling the last of her wails. The driver exchanged a brief nod with the men guarding the facility before stepping into the driver’s seat. With a low, mechanical hum, the vehicle roll