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
Daymon's Pov “To be honest, Artemis, I'm tired of this lifestyle here.” I felt so downcasted and fed up with the whole situation.“I understand how you feel, Daymon; I'm more tired than you could ever imagine. I wish I could just get a superpower that will get me out of here in a twinkle of an eye, but I don't have,” Artemis also complains looking down.“That is more reason why we should do everything within our power to survive” I proposed.“I know, right, but taking an Innocent person's life is not an option, Daymon; we can always look for another means of survival.” Artemis stood on her words.“Yes you're right but we have to look for a way to get out of this place without those men getting us because as it is now, they know we are here but they don't know our exact location so that is why we are still able to survive without getting caught and we have to act fast” Daymon narrated.“Wait, are you telling me they haven't given up on us yet?” Artemis asked in awe. “No, they haven't
Aidan POVThe next few days after Kane's threat began to unroll in a whirlpool of events -- within each minute the quiet strain between Artemis and I. We had decided on attending the charity gala, together, for the display of unity and defiance against the haunting shadows of Hera and Kane. I stood in front of the mirror, while adjusting my tie, pondering upon what I may have done, or not done of late, to have the weight of expectation hanging upon me. The gala would be where the most influential people would congregate. If ever there was a time for Hera to strike, it would be here."Are you ready?" Artemis called from the other room. She sounded almost haughty with a mixture of excitement and nerves. "Almost," I replied, forcing a smile. I had to be his strength. It was his entry into, a very new and dangerous world-and I had to make sure that it felt like a support.I was silent for a moment when she came out. She was wearing this lacey red gown that molded her body all the right
Artemis POVThe hallway, awash in chaos, found a frozen representation of me. Uncertainty had reduced the strength of my insides. Even as the adrenaline rush of Aidan's protection fueled my very being, my very fear of what would follow stopped my feet in their tracks. There were louder voices now: anger and indignation intermingled. I found myself rushing Aidan, heart pounding away. As I took the turn, he stood toe to-toe with various men, their faces illustrating how morally intense and confrontational the situation was. "Get lost," Aidan growled, barely above a whisper. "Aidan, you can’t just turn your back on this," replied one of the men, sharp-edged. He was the tallest, wearing a dark suit that announced authority. "Hera has powerful connections, and you have to be careful." "Careful?" Aidan scoffed, his temper flaring. "You think I’m afraid of some empty threats? I’ll handle this my way." I edged closer and heard snippets of their dialogue, which made my spine crawl at the
Artemis POVThe hallway, awash in chaos, found a frozen representation of me. Uncertainty had reduced the strength of my insides. Even as the adrenaline rush of Aidan's protection fueled my very being, my very fear of what would follow stopped my feet in their tracks. There were louder voices now: anger and indignation intermingled. I found myself rushing Aidan, heart pounding away. As I took the turn, he stood toe to-toe with various men, their faces illustrating how morally intense and confrontational the situation was. "Get lost," Aidan growled, barely above a whisper. "Aidan, you can’t just turn your back on this," replied one of the men, sharp-edged. He was the tallest, wearing a dark suit that announced authority. "Hera has powerful connections, and you have to be careful." "Careful?" Aidan scoffed, his temper flaring. "You think I’m afraid of some empty threats? I’ll handle this my way." I edged closer and heard snippets of their dialogue, which made my spine crawl at the
Artemis POVThe night air was cool under my feet as I stepped outside the garden, and everything was cast under a silvery glow by the moon. I could not shake the unnerving feeling pressing at my heart since dinner. Aidan's father and his expectations were hovering like a dark cloud above us, and I felt like a puppet in their great play. There was some magnetism in Aidan that drew me toward him, something I could not quite put a finger on. I found Aidan leaning back against a marble pillar, the phone still clutching in his hand. The air was thick with tension as my heart fluttered at the thought of going up to him. Did he feel it too? "Aidan?" I softly called, stepping closer. His head rose, and those piercing green eyes locked with mine. For a moment, everything ceased to exist outside this sphere that encapsulated both of us in limbo and yearning."Artemis," he said, his voice low and sultry, making me shiver. "What are you doing out here?""I needed some air," I swallowed, hoping
Aidan POVThe night hung heavily as we drove back to my family's estate, enshrouded in tension. The showdown with Kane had jolted us, and I could feel the pall of uncertainty over Artemis. I glanced at her: her jaw was set in a determined line, though fear, I knew, lurked beneath the surface. "You okay?" I asked after I parked the car, breaking the silence. "Just trying to process everything," she answered, her voice steady, but her eyes were full of worry. "What do you think Kane meant? That we were in over our heads?""Don't know," I said, raking my fingers through my hair. "But we cannot allow him to scare us. We are stronger together, and we need to focus on Hera."As we stepped inside, it was like suffocation; the grand foyer resounded with the silence of empty echoes. I felt my father's wishes bearing down on me as his wildest expectations presented themselves. I had gone against him, and I was wise enough to know that my father would not bear it lightly.''Let's go talk to hi
Artemis POVI felt each whisper of conversation thrum through the room. Every eye seemed to be trained on me in anticipation of what would unfold next. I noticed that Aidan's jaw clenched, trying to gain control over his anxiety. Hera walked further forward into the party and her smile lit up the room like a bolt of electric tension.“Aidan, darling,” Hera said sweetly, slicing every air with her voice. “I didn’t expect to find you with someone who looks so… so… different from me.” Her eyes shot over to me, and as they did, the rush of anger and insecurity combined in me."Aidan, is this the woman you have chosen to be with? I only hope she understands what she is getting into," she continued mockingly.Aidan spoke with a low but firm voice, "Enough, Hera. You have no rights to be here.""Oh but I do," She moved closer. "See, I came here to remind everyone of that little agreement." She pulled out a document from her purse and waved it like a trophy. "This says you owe me, Aidan. And
Artemis POVI felt each whisper of conversation thrum through the room. Every eye seemed to be trained on me in anticipation of what would unfold next. I noticed that Aidan's jaw clenched, trying to gain control over his anxiety. Hera walked further forward into the party and her smile lit up the room like a bolt of electric tension.“Aidan, darling,” Hera said sweetly, slicing every air with her voice. “I didn’t expect to find you with someone who looks so… so… different from me.” Her eyes shot over to me, and as they did, the rush of anger and insecurity combined in me."Aidan, is this the woman you have chosen to be with? I only hope she understands what she is getting into," she continued mockingly.Aidan spoke with a low but firm voice, "Enough, Hera. You have no rights to be here.""Oh but I do," She moved closer. "See, I came here to remind everyone of that little agreement." She pulled out a document from her purse and waved it like a trophy. "This says you owe me, Aidan. And
Artemis POVThe next few days rolled into a blur of work calls, meetings, and strategizing: Aidan and I finally reached out to our closest friends, determined to spend anxiety-ridden hours seeking out enough people to build a network of support able to help us resist Hera's power. With every discussion, one more layer of the web unfolded before us, and, with the feeling of growing tension as we neared the time of confrontation, I could feel the strands beginning to coil tighter.One evening we had gathered in my apartment. The air buzzed with anticipation, and Aidan, Emily, and Ryan comprising the rest sat serious in the living room discussing what would be the next move with me."I know it's a risky affair," Aidan said in a very firm tone. "But we've got to confront Hera directly. If we let her decide the narrative, we'll never free ourselves from her dictation."Emily nodded with her brow knitted in thoughts. "But what if she tries to retaliate? She has connections in places that ca
Artemis POVNights like these trail, having turmoil and kept whispers that swung clouds around Aidan and me. Hera's oculus, I could feel her weight, and every time I spotted her, a shiver disturbed my bones."Are you alright?" Aidan asked, coming closer and lowering his voice."I am fine," I said while forcing a smile, "just trying to grapple with all of this."With his expression raining, he answered. "I know it's quite some taking in, but remember, we have each other."As the gala went on, I tried focusing on the talks we were having, but my mind would attach itself to the topic of threat on us, as Kane's echoed himself in me. Somehow, it all felt like we were walking on a tightrope, one misstep away from disaster."Let's get some air," Aidan said, finding my hand with his.I nodded, relieved to get a moment away from the crowd. Together we stepped out onto the balcony where the coolness of the night air felt revitalizing against my skin. The sounds coming from the gala disappeared