BASH Alexander whistled as soon as I walked into the VIP room in Esten's bar. "How does it feel to fuck up one thing that gave meaning to your pathetic life, huh?" If only I had the power to kill him right here, I would have done it in a second. It's not what he said that bugged me, it's the truth in it. One more time, I successfully pushed her away. Kudos to you, Bash. You did what you want and left her on that bed without a glance. The look she gave me while she wrapped her pyjama shirt around her chest still haunted me. I did what I did last time. I kissed her, touched her and pushed her away. She was supposed to be there on Saturday. I was prepared how to send her away if she had shown up. But I wasn't prepared how to handle the knife in my chest when she never showed up. Apparently, she booked a flight to Istanbul. She had gone. No, Bash. You sent her away. Alexander handed me a bottle, and I swig it, feeling the burn in my throat. It doesn't
HANA I caressed Seb's head gently. He fell asleep on my chest after playing for the whole day. How is that even possible? He couldn't even sit without our support. At least, not yet. But we played a lot, and I felt so exhausted by the time he was asleep. "Put him in the cradle, Hana. You have to eat." Shalini reminded me for the fifth time. I shook my head, not wanting to miss the feel of Seb sleeping on me. God, I miss him. I miss his toothless grin and little coos. "Hana," Shalini started to lose her cool now. I better move my ass. I reluctantly put him in the crib and walked into the kitchen. I flew to Istanbul on Saturday morning right after the night when Bash asked me to leave one more time and made clear that my being there was not helping him. I wasn't angry with the way he left the things and walked away. I started to realise that he was speaking the truth, and it hurt more than anything. Instead of going after him and pulling silly stunts, I f
HANA Bash gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath. He looked away for a split second. Again, his eyes are on me. His gaze was hard, intense and something felt like longing flickered in his stare. He looked away again. Just for a second. His jaw tightened when I finally reached his car. I gave him my best girly smile. "Thank you." "I didn't say anything." His voice was plain, emotionless as if he wasn't affected after he saw me. "You don't have to," I winked at him. He scowled at me when I whirled to show him my attire. "Where is the dress on the back?" The old Bash wouldn't have cared. Because he put a stamp on me and made it obvious that I belonged to him. He can't do this now, especially when he thinks that we are better off without each other. But he will care. I will make sure of it. I helped myself into the car. Of course, the driver opened the door, and Bash spent a decent amount of time before he got in. Poor guy. I pity him already.
BASH "Thousand euros. That's a cat's shit." "Two thousand euros. That's cow dung." "Three....." "Shut the fuck up," I yell at the two brothers who were so engrossed in betting on the new painting Hana bought with the money she stole from me. She is getting better at this. The breach wasn't identified after three minutes not before. I asked my team to back down before they shut further access for her just so I could see what kind of painting she would buy this time. The grosser the painting was, the angrier Hana was. It's a dick move. I knew it. She is letting me walk all over her. She is not backing down. And the painting was delivered to the private club. Celia might have told her where to find me. But the worst part is, Alex and his brother betting on what that shit was on the canvas. As if I don't have enough shit going on in my life. "I am going to ask Alessandro to kill you both," I warned them. The chances of me asking Alessandro for a favour are zero. But I could ent
HANA My phone vibrated for the thirteenth time, and for the thirteenth time, I hoped it was Bash even though I knew it was not possible. I shouldn't hope for it. I should not go to him again. I should not meddle in his life again. WE ARE OVER. I know we are over. Then why am I looking at my mobile as though he could burst out of it and hoping for him to call more than ever? I don't want to get out of my bed. I just lay, staring at the ceiling. His watch will never sit on my bedside table. His shirts won't lie in my closet anymore. I could never smell his scent anywhere. I have been there. I have seen it all. I am afraid of it. I am afraid of going back to the world where Bash and I broke up. We weren't together before. At least, I knew we had a chance. I knew he loved me. I knew he wanted me. Now it's all in the past. What do I do now? The thought of going through this separation all over again made my heart sink. How much time will I take now? How do I move past this after ho
BASH I hate that look; the look of hope, of spring and future. I hate it when she did that. Because I have to crush it and stomp it down. She didn't put up a fight this time. She left suddenly, and slowly. I slumped down into my chair, looking outside the city with a very dark future awaiting me. This should be supposed to be a victory. She left. I should be at ease. I should tell myself how fucking safe it was for her now that she is out of the picture. But my heart wants something else. It raced when she stood outside the elevator, holding her things. I was expecting another fight, another painting, another Don't-do-this-Bash dialogue. She might have expected a grand don't-go gesture from me. I knew that flicker in her eyes when she hoped for something good. But she and I were never good. I gave her a nod, watching that little flame of hope dying, and she hung her head to go back. "Hana is gone," Dhalia informed me as soon as she walked into my office. "She left a n
BASH Dion informed me that Romero, Alessandro's right hand had left his little brother alone at a park. It's something that will make Alessandro want to break a leg. That kid has a tact for running away from his brothers. It's another broken family. Something is fishy. "Is there anyone who looks suspicious around the park?" I asked Dion through the speaker while I set my GPS to the park. "Nothing as of now. But..." His voice trailed off before he cleared his throat. "There is a marathon going on in the city and the crowd will reach the park in another ten minutes. Something is not right." I knew it dammit. "Take Miss. Levine and Matias to a secluded place. I will be there in ten." I ordered him. My heart started to pound hard inside my chest. Alex's men are good. They will keep her safe. But the nibbling sensation won't go away. Whatever was eating at me came true the moment I stepped out of my car near the park. There was a lot of smoke, and I kne
HANA I was pushing and pulling; hitting him on his chest, pushing him away while leaning into him more to deepen the kiss and tightening the hold of my legs around my waist. He groaned into my mouth as he pulled back for a second to put me down on the bed. I reached out to his shirt, unbuttoning it, franticly. His lips find mine once again as he undid the remaining buttons. I peeled off his shirt. The sight of chest hair, his sculpted abs, and the erratic rhythm of his heart under my hand brought memories I keep hidden in my heart. He was mine. I was his. I hadn't realised it then. We truly belonged to each other, and I wasted most of my time on work and overthinking. Just one chance, I will cherish every moment I get to spend my time. "I missed you," He murmured against my neck. "I missed you every fucking second. You have no idea how torturous it was to see you in the same room and not be able to have you in my arms." He held my chin, pulling me to him
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