HANA I parted my lips to feel more of his. But all I got was a graze of his lips. "What's your safe word?" He asked me against them. "STING," I breathed. He dipped his thumb into my mouth and I sucked, feeling hot and aroused. "Yes," He growls. "It's STING, Hana. I don't take no and you are not allowed to say no to me. Do you understand?" I nod my head frantically as he sucked on my lower lip. "Remember, when you said, no, at the end of the day, I'll command your body. And the shit you talked about in my office, I'm not taking it." "There's no other way Bash." I protested. He bit my lip as a punishment. "All you have to worry about is how you can get away from me. Because I'm not leaving you anytime soon now." I was supposed to be scared but I felt myself becoming wet. "Bash," I breathed tugging at the tie around my hands. Bash palmed my breasts, making me arch my back. He squeezed them hard, taking on
BASH I looked at Leo, scooting to the corner of his dark room. I sighed because the more I looked at him, the more I got tired of him. He pressed his palms together, his eyes looked like they could drop anytime soon, "Please. Leave me." He begged. I smiled and sat on the chair before him. "I will ask you a question and if I like your answer, I will grant you freedom." I saw a glimpse of what is called hope in his eyes before it disappeared and he nodded his head frantically. I undid the clasp of my watch. "What did you just ask me?" He looked confused but he quickly pulled himself together. "Please leave me," He says quickly. "I asked I mean I begged you to leave me." I gave him a cut node. "Have you ever heard someone else use that sentence before you?" His eyes shot up, his face consumed with horror at the reality he was in. He shook his head, scooting back even though I hadn't got up from my seat. "I asked you a fucking question, Leo,
HANA There is a glint of amusement in the way Bash is looking at me. "What?" I asked him slowly. He leaned on my bedroom door and shook his head. "How did you hack his account?" "It is possible to use malware that redirects their text messages and phone calls to a phone number I own," I explained to him, feeling ashamed of what I did. I had training in ethical hacking until I met a friend online who helped in enhance my skills. I felt my cheeks burn when he handed over a cup of coffee. "I am sorry," I muttered. "No. My doubt is why would you cry after hacking his account?" I shrugged. "It always happens with me. I did things first. and they regret them later. I have always been like that. It's like a defect in me." That made him chuckle. I couldn't see why. "That's your overthinking." I held his gaze, a small smile lingered over his face and he shook his head, slowly walking towards me. He placed a kiss on the side of my for
HANA "I have a deployment again." Shalini sighed, slumping into her seat. I looked at my watch. "It's 6:30. We gotta go home." "Yeah. But Asli asked me to do the deployment after working hours, so." She casually shrugged as if it was not a big deal. "I will help you," I tell her, opening my laptop. "No yaar. It's fine. I can..." "Shalini," I put a finger on her lips. "It will be less burden for you if we do it together. If I am unable to do it, I could keep your company." She smiles, giving me a thumbs up, "You are the best." Shalini got up excusing herself. "If you are free, then why don't you work on Riyad's escalated issue?" I heard Asli say from behind. I turned around to watch her coming our way. "Work on that issue, today instead of doing someone else's work. Stop acting like a Mother Theressa. It's unbecoming." "I am sorry. Is something wrong?" I asked her, perplexed by her behaviour. I know that Asli likes to dump h
HANA "I have a user story, two tickets, three KT sessions and one hotfix." Shalini stared at her Team's calendar and said. "What about you?" "Just double what you have," I said, looking at my calendar on the system. We both blankly stared at the screen for fifteen minutes. "Can I go back in time and kiss her ass?" I asked her without turning to Shalini. From the corner of my eye, I saw her shaking her head. "Too late," She says. "If only we had let Bash fire her." She murmured. "If only I nodded my head instead of raging like a spitfire." "If only we hadn't discussed about sharing the work loudly." We both looked at turned towards each other, our faces grimacing as a low scream erupted from our throats. Shalini did a fake cry. and I touched my temple. "This is our doom," Shalini cried. "It is," I agreed. Asli started to retaliate in the way she knew by dumping all the work on us. "Mommy," Shalini cried. "I s
HANA I stayed up all night, scrolling through i***a, waiting for Bash's message and trying to reach Violet. This is something Bash asked me not to do. I looked no less than a zombie when I went to the office with dark circles and messy hair because I was late to straighten it. "Do you happen to have a Band-Aid? ‘Cause I scraped my knees falling for you." "Shut up, Mateo." I chided him. "I am not in the mood for it." "Wow, how do you even manage to look worse than yesterday?" Shalini asked me, wide-eyed. She linked our hands while Mateo tried to do the same. I swatted his hand away. "Come on, what did I do? You should have gone with him." I know I should have. It has been two days since he left for New York. I don't know what's happening there. I don't know how he is dealing with the death of his only family member, if he has eaten, if he needs help or if he needs me. I knew nothing. I felt like such a useless person when he somehow c
HANA A faint glow of light was cast into my room when I opened my eyes. I remember closing the curtains of my bedroom because of the street light that stood across my apartment. I couldn't tolerate the faintest beam while I slept, especially when I couldn't sleep. I turned my head, taking in my surroundings. His watch rested on my bedside table. A smile tugged my lips. It's just a watch but it gives me such a sense of safety. I groaned, covering my face. "What did you do to me, Bash?" "I don't know. You tell me." My eyes cracked open, searching for the sound of the voice in the low-illuminated bedroom. I gasped looking over the stretched hand across my waist. I almost screamed if he hadn't covered my mouth with his palm. Panic started to grip me. I bit his hand to escape. "Hush," He says, drawing his hand back. His frame was backlit by the beam of a street light passing through my window before he moved closer. He smiled at me, his hand caressing
HANA I remember the time when I held a stone in my hand, ready to fight the boys who bullied my sister. I used to be fiercely protective of people I love until I was made into someone I don't recognise because of Leo. That protectiveness emerged out of nowhere. In many ways, Bash is just like me. He stared at everything silently because he was so proud of me. But the moment a stranger called me a whore, he broke his nose. I didn't know what that word meant for Bash to react like that until Shalini translated it. We would make such a perfect couple if we weren't what we are. I quickly packed my bag. Now that Bash has clarified that all we had is two months, I don't want to waste a minute of it. When I went to Bash's apartment, Bash was in nothing but a trouser. He is cooking. "If I hadn't known that you are a very bad cook, I would say, what a sexy sight it is." I watched his shoulder shake as he burst into laughter before he turned towards me. He held hi
BASH Celia is not due until next month. But that little shit can't wait for any longer. He came out earlier than expected, and if you are asking me why I am calling a one-hour-old baby, little shit, wait until I finish the full story. I didn't let Hana step out of our room for another five days. She has stitches, and what was she thinking, trying to sit in a wheelchair? Not under my watch. My Rose yawned in my arms and went back to sleep, her tiny hand wrapped around my finger. A few days back, if someone had told me that I would call another human being cute other than my wife, I would have laughed at them. Now, looking at Rose's sleeping form, that's all I can think - cute, delicate. She needs to be protected from all the ugliness of the world. I will make sure she is untouched. When my wife and daughter were being discharged, we visited Celia and Alex. Three-year-old Willow ran to me, hugging my leg. "Hey, sweetheart." I smile at her. "Mommy birth me a brother."
HANA"What are we doing in Japan?" I asked, glancing around at the sea of cherry blossoms, their delicate petals drifting through the air like whispered dreams.Bash smirked. "I told you that's exactly what you would ask."It took me a moment to understand. Then, I remembered—the night we spoke of impossible dreams in Istanbul, the ones we knew would never come true. Anniversaries we’d never celebrate, trips we’d never take, a life we’d never have.Yet, here we were."It happened," I whispered, as a pink petal landed softly on my cheek.Bash's eyes held mine, warm and unwavering. "We made it, Mrs. Merrick."And then he kissed me beneath the cherry blossom trees.Ahmet always said we were just two lovesick fools wandering the world, celebrating life. He wasn’t wrong. For three months, that’s exactly what we did—travelling with no destination, doing nothing but making love, laughing, and getting lost in each other.Then, we returned to Istanbul.Bash wanted to rewrite the memories. What
HANA"Can I disown him?" Sandro muttered behind me. I followed his gaze to Matias sitting in the front row and wiping his tears with a tissue. "Fuck." Another hiss from Sandro. Matias is sniffling-- hard.Bash is scowling at the kid. I nudged him gently so that he would change his expression. My attempt is futile."I will disown him." "No," It's Vin this time.I like how the guys tried to blend in. But they failed miserably. With their tattooed body, hidden arms, and bulky personality, there's no way Sandro and his crew can blend in. But I can give ten out of ten for the attempt. Though Bash and Sandro still joke about killing each other (sometimes it doesn't sound like a joke at all), they are there for each other. They formed a bond. Bash is not part of the outfit anymore, but they have each other back in their own way."Where is Luna?" I questioned Bash while posing for the photo."Avoiding me," Sandro answered.As the night came alive, we danced. Bash glared at everyone who dan
HANA || THREE MONTHS LATER "Are you fucking someone else?" Bash gasped, turning around. "Jeez, babe. What are you doing up so late?" It is almost one o clock in the night. According to my fiance, it is the ideal time to come home. At first, I didn't give it much thought. There are a lot of things to take care of with Sandro taking over and Bash cleaning the mess Elio left in his export and import businesses. It has been three months since I almost lost my life. For the first few weeks, Bash didn't leave my side. He nursed me back to health, accompanied me to the hospitals, and made sure I had a perfect diet and sleep. Once he started going to work, he seemed distant. I thought he was busy. I thought he was feeling guilty for what happened. I can understand how his mind works. He is fiercely protective of me. He thinks he failed me. Still, that doesn't explain the growing distance between us. I took a threatening step forward. "Are you fucking someone else? Are you
BASHThe world narrows to the rhythmic sound of Hana's laboured breathing. Her blood stains my hands, her pulse weak beneath my fingertips. "Sandro," I command, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "Take care of Colton and his men. I'll take Hana to the hospital."He came to my side, and for the first time, his eyes softened at Hana in my arms. "Take care of her. Luna won't like it if something happens to her sister."At this moment, I don't even care why Luna's likes matter to him anymore."Do you want Colton alive?" He asked me.A gun fired in the distance, and someone screamed.I gently lift Hana, cradling her against me. Her eyes flutter open, and she offers a faint, reassuring smile."I'm here," I whisper, brushing a strand of hair from her face."I don't care what you do with him. It doesn't matter anymore."Sandro nods, understanding the gravity of my decision.With urgency, I carry her to the car, my mind racing. The nearest hospital is miles away, and every second co
BASH The tension in the room was palpable. Colton stood across from me, a smug grin playing on his lips as he held Hana captive. Her eyes met mine, filled with a mix of fear and determination. I looked for any visible wounds on her body. I swear if he touched her, I'd make Colton's death ten times more painful. I'll do the same even if he doesn't touch her. Hana looked terrified. Her eyes filled with unshed tears find mine. She would have pressed her knuckles to her eyes if her hands weren't tied. That must have hurt. She has no pain threshold when it comes to physical wounds. Emotionally, she fought many battles. Her wrists will have marks from that rope and I imagined choking Colton's neck with the same. Her eyes zeroed on my clenched fists and she shook her head. She is trying to be brave —For me. She is asking me not to lose my patience. "Finally." Colton opened his filthy mouth, "The son of Xavier and Rose. We had a history we need to settle." I unclenched my
BASHThe snipers might have reached my house by now. Hana is safe. For now.“Elio knows what we’re doing,” Sandro said. “Vin and his team will take care of him. We need to get to Colton’s house. Now.”“Why now?” I asked, brow furrowing. “And I thought Elio knew about this long ago.”“Colton is seeking Drago’s help. If Drago steps in, we’re outnumbered.”“And this Drago is—”“Someone powerful,” Sandro cut in. “That’s all you need to know.”I nodded, pulling out my phone to send a quick text to my Bee—Thud.Someone crashed into me, knocking the phone from my grip. It hit the floor with a crack, the screen shattering into a useless mess.A string of Italian curses spilled from the idiot who ran into me.Sandro didn’t even glance his way. He was already focused on the guy’s message.“The fuckard broke my phone,” I muttered.“We need to hurry,” the guy panted. “Colton is unguarded.”I scoffed. “Colton? Unguarded? Yeah, right.”“We killed half his men,” the newcomer said in a thick Italian
HANA It has been two months since we sent Mateo and Luna away. Even I have no idea where Alexander hid them. No one knows. He says it is for their own safety. Sandro has started to lose his mind. There were tensions in the outfit. The supplies to Elio's territories have stopped coming. Distributors are worried because Elio is losing power. Bash started avoiding his calls. Elio almost came home last week. Sandro interfered, and they met at his house instead. I rarely stepped out of our home these two months. Even if I did, Dion and his team would follow me everywhere. I don't what information Luna has given about her father. Sandro started to attack his clubs, his brothels, and the restaurants he owned. Bash tells me Sandro has no reason for going against Colton except for Matias's attempted kidnap. But he is somehow taking this who takes down Matrix to a different level. The Matrix organisation's main business is human trafficking. They can make cash with the deadbod
BASH I covered my face with my palm as she clicked another photo of me, lying on the bed, naked and satiated. Since yesterday night, Hana has captured hundreds of pictures, of our rings, our hands, of me and us. "It's enough baby. Come to bed now." She shook her head, looking for a different angle. I wrapped my fingers around her neck and pulled her to me, capturing her lips into a fierce kiss. "Are you going to take a rest or not?" I demanded. She shook her head again like a kid. "I am too excited and happy to take a rest." She jumped on the bed, "I have to show the ring to Shalini and Mateo." I groaned, pulled her again and wrapped her in my arms, "Stay here." I whispered. Half an hour later, the three friends are still talking about the rings. "Yaaaaaarrrrrrrrr... Congratulations!" Shalini screamed in the video call. My bee flaunted her ring for the tenth time, showing her friends all four of t