Kane's pov I was in the relaxation spot in my mansion, thinking of ways to make my plans work out when the buzzing sound of my phone diverted my attention from the beautiful flowers I was watching. Kane picked up his phone and it was one of his men calling. “Yes?”“We gave good news, boss,” he answered, sounding so excited over the phone like he won a lottery ticket.“What good news?” I asked him, wondering what it might be that he had to say. The only good news he was expecting was them finding Artemis, not any other thing.“I and the boys worked harder like you asked us to, and now we have found the location of the lady you described to us and the guy.I stood up from where I was sitting. Is this a dream or what? It must be a dream.“If you think you can joke this important issue away, then you're close to your death because I'm gonna kill you as planned and make your family pay for it,” I warned him so he wouldn't think this was the right time to mess with me.“Who am I to joke w
Author's POV.Not like Kane's men worked hard to find Artemis and Daymon, they just happened to be lucky to find them when one of them was wandering around the bush, looking for what was not lost. ****Artemis lay helpless on the floor, moving from one side of her stomach to another; it had not been an easy one for her. The month of menstrual cramps was not taken lightly. She tried all she could to keep it away from Daymon but it was too painful for her not to be unnoticed.“How are you feeling now “Daymon, who could not help but watch me, asked me.“Don't worry about me, I will be fine” I replied to him, groaning in the middle of my words.“Are you sure you will be fine?” Daymon asked her again.She was not in the mood to talk to anybody but Raymond kept asking questions upon questions.“I said I will be fine!” Artemis said out loud, trying her best not to sound rude and mean.Daymon distanced himself from Artemis when he knew what was going on, he could read the room.He began to
Author's POV Daymon made sure he put her to sleep before he went to fetch the herbs because he knew she was still going to be in pain even if she woke up.He was still worried even now that he had a solution; there was nothing to eat even if she wanted to take the herbs.Daymon wandered into the forest, using one of his hands to make a path for himself, and he walked through the bush.After a few minutes' walk, he found one of the herbs he was looking for, and in no time, he found the second; he was happy he found them easily without stress.After fetching the herbs for her, on his way back, he heard something silently making some sound in the bush; as he watched to check what it was, a big rabbit ran out of the bush, climbing Daymon's leg as he escaped. Scared, Daymon jumped up, thinking it was something else.“ Damn, this little thing scared the hell out of me,” Daymon said. “I will make sure I use you for this morning's meal.” Daymon made sure he killed the bushmeat and carried it
Author’s Pov The man waching Artemis and Daymon’s hideout from a hidden corner chose a tree. Sure, the tree could make a better hideout, and he just can’t tell why he’d since chosen to lay by the shrubs as he atched and waited for ages for the promised backup.Hesure didn’t know his boss to be so tardy, especially with the knowledge of the fortune they’ll make from delivering the two scurry birds in the hideout.He leaned to the tree and sucked air through the gap of his teeth. the two scurry birds hadn’t shown up from the hideout. They’d been in there probably deciding their next move, maybe knowing fully well that no matter where they get their asses to, they can’t flee from Kane; no one can!His phone buzzed in his pocket and he gripped his pocket like the phone will drop from it and shatter at the soft earth beneath the sole of his boots.“You said you were sending backup,” he hushed as his placed the phone to his left ear. “Haven’t seen any.”His boss drew deep breath and clea
Artemis’s Pov My heart skipped as the throaty crackly of the hinge of the door slowly rotated under the pressure of a hand holding onto the door handle. I shot my eyes tight; maybe this is the time to take my last breath. Who knows, the world is full of scorpion and spiders and worst of them are outside our hideout, about to walk in and end us for real.“Stand behind me,” Daymon whispered as the door slowly clicked open. My eyes were hurting really bad and breathing was becoming quite difficult, but I felt my feet move as I swung behind his broad back.I heard footstep. The person who just walked in seemed to walk on tiptoes, but something seemed to have betrayed him. dried grass, I guess.I could hear them crunching under his feet like corn flakes. I heard the crackle of metal, maybe the person had just cocked his gun, but then came a heavy jab that filled the passage and a grunt.“Come on, let’s hurry out of here,” I heard Daymon’s voice. It was no longer a whisper. I opened my e
Aiden’s PovI could remember dialing Damon’s line that fateful night.I had long given up on hoping that Artemis will return to me, but it nearly dawned on me when I heard her voice.Panic! That’s the best way to describe how her voice sounded through the phone.“Damon was shot!”***The room went silent as I ambled into it. It was a white room which aligned with the white apparel of the doctor and the nurse behind him.My eyes went straight to the bed. Artemis—my Artemis was lain on the bed with a drip wire connected to the lower vein of her right hand.I can’t remember the last time I met her in such condition but this was sure the last thing I will ever wish for her even though somehow, Kaden managed to rob me of her.“We will excuse you,” doctor Twain, as he called himself earlier before now, said at the sight of me in the room, and left the room with the nurse, while I stood in silence.“Aiden…” she whispered sickly. The doctor told me she’s doing good now and I could see her if
Author’s povThey arrived pulled into a hotel, not Aiden’s place as Artemis had thought. Their trip on the other hand had been a silent one—silent and anxious. They snubbed the parking lot and drove towards the huge fountain in the hotel and stopped there. Aiden turned to Artemis who was nestled next to him at the back seat of his car.“My place is still far from here as you know.” He started with a wink. “We have to rest here, and from here, we’ll meet with Damon’s brothers to inform them of what happened to Damon and maybe, arrange his burial.”Artemis fiddled with the thought to tell him that they shouldn’t just arrange Damon’s burial, they should be part of his burial. They should mourn him alongside with his family for memory’s sake.“For now, let’s get some rest, and maybe, you might find it at your disposal to tell me what happened last night.” he added as both doors of the car were pulled open by his men.Outside the car, Marlon and the rest of the men were waiting, except t
Artemis’ pov“The lady who showed us in will fetch you something nice to wear.” Aiden’s eyes seized me up with content. I moved my lips in response but they produced no words.He nodded, maybe he knew I was void of words for many reasons. First, for ever leaving him for his brother who posed to be better than he ever was, and second, for Damon’s death.If I never made the wrong decisions, Damon might still be hale and hearty. I blame myself for his death and I hate that Aiden does not wish to have me take the blame for it.He left me and made to the cellar in the room, while I waited on the couch for the lady to report with the dress as he claimed. I watched him chose a wine from the cellar. It looked classic from what I could see, like a bottle picked from the reserves of an extinct brand. I waited for the familiar sound of him pouring wine in the glass, but he returned the bottle to the cellar.Maybe he’d grown bored of me. I was there with him but I wasn’t keeping him company the
(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