Brielle's POV The Aston Martin Vantage is parked curbside That glossy blue paint job is pure perfection. And there’s Andrei, his lean frame propped against the car like he’s auditioning for a part in ‘The Fast and the Furious: Therapy Drift.’ His effortless charm is on full display as he lounges against the car… Why, do I feel like a gas station hotdog next to his caviar-and-dom-perignon charm? That’s right, I’m feeling like a greasy, no-frills piece of road trip sustenance compared to his gourmet level of sophistication and style. He’s the Maserati, and I’m the beat-up Honda Civic from the 90s. “Took you longer than I expected.” With I calming breath I query, “No heads-up, huh? Why's that?” “Seriously, Brielle? You're asking me why?” “Didn't you send me a text asking about my therapist choice?” The passenger door swings open, and he steps back, his eyes never leaving the horizon. He's not even bothering to look at me, just stands there, holding the door. I'm thinkin
Brielle's POV “What's going to happen?” I ask. A simple query, yet one that stirs my heart to frantic rhythms. A faint sneer ghosts Andrei's lips as opens the car and steps out into the night air. I follow suit, Why? Because I'm dying to know what's gonna happen. The glint in his beautiful brown eyes is unmistakable, as mischievous as a raccoon raiding a trashcan, “A war is coming, Brielle. A category 15 hurricane that's gonna rip our families apart. We're talking Corleones vs. Tattaglias, but instead of just guns and money, it's gonna be secrets and lies that kill us. You know how Tony Soprano's crew thought they were above the law? Yeah, our families are about to take that to a whole new level. You ready for that?” I respond in kind, my tone tart with annoyance, while fighting the impulse to shake some sense into him." Are we reenacting The Godfather or something? Is someone gonna wake up with a severed horse head in their bed?” My eyes narrow, daring him to feed me anot
Andrei's POV Can’t bear to see Brielle cry. It tears me up inside when she’s hurting, and I don’t know what to call that feeling. It's something profound. Something so much stronger than just basic empathy or sympathy. I'd take a beating any day over seeing her hurt. “If you're willing to spend the rest of your life behind bars, Andrei, then you'd better have a plan for how I'm supposed to move on without you. How do I live without you by my side? You'd better have an answer because otherwise, I won't let you take that step.” “Jail for life? You're jumping to conclusions.” She shoots me an incredulous look. “Are you seriously gaslighting me again?” I laugh, the sound a little rough around the edges. "I'm talking forever with you, Brielle – but not the kind that involves parole officers or therapists' couches." Her head cants to one side, Her gaze skewers me, a sharp, pointed thing that demands an answer. “Andrei, do you honestly believe that talking to someone about our
Brielle's POV. Andrei’s sweatpants could have fit two of me—and the kitchen sink. He’s a big guy, but these pants were made for a grizzly bear on a beer bender. If I didn’t cinch the drawstrings tight enough, I’d be wading in a sea of fabric, wearing a tent masquerading as sweatpants. I’m halfway through adjusting my shirt when I catch a glimpse of my him in the kitchen. Oh, dear lord. The man might as well be wearing oven mitts for hands. I reach for a bottle of water, partly because I’m parched, and partly to cover up the fit of giggles that’s about to erupt from my lungs “You okay, chef?” I ask, trying to keep a straight face as I watch him fumble with the spatula. “Yeah, sure Brielle.” He scratches his forehead, and I can practically see the sweat beading up. Poor baby's never looked so stressed. “Sure you've totally got this, Andrei?” I survey the chaos, raising an eyebrow at the egg-astrophe. The shells are scattered everywhere and there's a bowl of what appears to be e
Brielle's POV. Drying soap bubbles speckle Andrei's hands as he meets my eyes, “What's so fascinating?” “It's your charm, Mr. Carter, that's got me in a stare.” His mouth curves into a sly, upward tilt, “You're not so bad yourself. Maybe we can stare at each other for a while and see who cracks first.” Deep down, I'm thinking, 'Seriously, Mr. Carter? Are you not seeing this ensemble?' Perhaps he's just trying to be kind? Yeah, that must be it. After completing the dishes, Andrei takes a moment to dry his hands before wandering over to where I'm sitting, his pace leisurely. I stare at his bare feet, my brain momentarily fixated on the sight. “Why no shoes, Mr. Carter?” “Walking barefoot is like a yoga practice. Builds up the balance, strengthens the soles, and gets you in touch with Mother Earth.” I raise an eyebrow, skeptical. How much of that is actually true, I wonder? He reaches out and takes my hand, pulling me gently into his orbit. And suddenly, my focus shifts from An
Brielle's POV My heart stutters, “What?” I try to speak. The words wouldn't come out. Not one single word is showing up to the party. Wearing a sidelong smirk, Andrei jerks his head towards the elevator, “she's been tapping her foot impatiently. Shall we give the poor thing some attention?” Nodding, I swallow my regret. Why didn't I just say something? “I'm intrigued, Brielle. This demure side of you is… unexpected.” He plunders the guest room closet, digging through piles of high-quality linens, designer clothes, and expensive accessories. it's basically a carbon copy of his own — super luxurious. I stand back, curious about what Andrei's searching for. My nerves are still on edge, which is… ridiculous. “Guess, I'll coax them out of you. Every last one.” My curiosity spikes, “How?” “All in good time. Shall we get you into something a bit more… refined?” The robe he hands me is a stunner — bold red, V-neck, and flowing long sleeves, all accented perfectly with
Brielle “You’re my wife,” he insisted, his words tinged with a sense of ownership that made me shudder. “You signed the contract, remember? It’s binding.” I tried to protest, but every denial was met with the same adamant response: “You’re my wife now.”***Three Months Earlier…I groaned, struggling to wake up as my mom called my name for the tenth time, shouting it like there was no end to her chorus of “Brielle! Brielle!”Christ, Mom. Gimme a break.And before I could even open my eyes, she'd already yanked the covers off my bed, leaving me shivering and cursing in the chilly air. I groaned again, rubbing my eyes to clear the sleep away. “Seriously, Mom? Can’t a girl get some rest on a Saturday morning?”With a resigned sigh, I forced myself out of bed, brushed my teeth, and took a shower. After that, I joined Mom and Dad downstairs for breakfast.As Mom slid a plate of fluffy omelette in front of me, and she pinned me with a maternal gaze. “Hunny, did you write down that list I
Brielle's POV Graduation day had come and gone. Mom, Dad and I had celebrated, done the whole 'picture with the diploma' bit, and now I was ready to party. Ivy and I had hit up the local bar, and were letting loose, celebrating our newfound freedom from school. Mom, bless her heart, was unaware of this particular part of the celebration, also the fact that her goody two shoes daughter was pounding down the drinks like there was no tomorrow. “Hey, bartender, what's that drink called again? You know, the one with the little umbrella?” I slurred my words, barely holding it together. The bartender, a patient-looking woman in her forties, smiled kindly at me. “You mean Mai Tai, hon?” “That’s the one,” I said, giving her a thumbs-up. “I'll have another one of those,” I was having the time of my life. Ariana Grande’s 'Thank U, Next' blasted through the speakers, my head swaying from side to side, nodding to the beat. For the first time in my life, I was in a bar, getting tipsy_
Brielle's POV My heart stutters, “What?” I try to speak. The words wouldn't come out. Not one single word is showing up to the party. Wearing a sidelong smirk, Andrei jerks his head towards the elevator, “she's been tapping her foot impatiently. Shall we give the poor thing some attention?” Nodding, I swallow my regret. Why didn't I just say something? “I'm intrigued, Brielle. This demure side of you is… unexpected.” He plunders the guest room closet, digging through piles of high-quality linens, designer clothes, and expensive accessories. it's basically a carbon copy of his own — super luxurious. I stand back, curious about what Andrei's searching for. My nerves are still on edge, which is… ridiculous. “Guess, I'll coax them out of you. Every last one.” My curiosity spikes, “How?” “All in good time. Shall we get you into something a bit more… refined?” The robe he hands me is a stunner — bold red, V-neck, and flowing long sleeves, all accented perfectly with
Brielle's POV. Drying soap bubbles speckle Andrei's hands as he meets my eyes, “What's so fascinating?” “It's your charm, Mr. Carter, that's got me in a stare.” His mouth curves into a sly, upward tilt, “You're not so bad yourself. Maybe we can stare at each other for a while and see who cracks first.” Deep down, I'm thinking, 'Seriously, Mr. Carter? Are you not seeing this ensemble?' Perhaps he's just trying to be kind? Yeah, that must be it. After completing the dishes, Andrei takes a moment to dry his hands before wandering over to where I'm sitting, his pace leisurely. I stare at his bare feet, my brain momentarily fixated on the sight. “Why no shoes, Mr. Carter?” “Walking barefoot is like a yoga practice. Builds up the balance, strengthens the soles, and gets you in touch with Mother Earth.” I raise an eyebrow, skeptical. How much of that is actually true, I wonder? He reaches out and takes my hand, pulling me gently into his orbit. And suddenly, my focus shifts from An
Brielle's POV. Andrei’s sweatpants could have fit two of me—and the kitchen sink. He’s a big guy, but these pants were made for a grizzly bear on a beer bender. If I didn’t cinch the drawstrings tight enough, I’d be wading in a sea of fabric, wearing a tent masquerading as sweatpants. I’m halfway through adjusting my shirt when I catch a glimpse of my him in the kitchen. Oh, dear lord. The man might as well be wearing oven mitts for hands. I reach for a bottle of water, partly because I’m parched, and partly to cover up the fit of giggles that’s about to erupt from my lungs “You okay, chef?” I ask, trying to keep a straight face as I watch him fumble with the spatula. “Yeah, sure Brielle.” He scratches his forehead, and I can practically see the sweat beading up. Poor baby's never looked so stressed. “Sure you've totally got this, Andrei?” I survey the chaos, raising an eyebrow at the egg-astrophe. The shells are scattered everywhere and there's a bowl of what appears to be e
Andrei's POV Can’t bear to see Brielle cry. It tears me up inside when she’s hurting, and I don’t know what to call that feeling. It's something profound. Something so much stronger than just basic empathy or sympathy. I'd take a beating any day over seeing her hurt. “If you're willing to spend the rest of your life behind bars, Andrei, then you'd better have a plan for how I'm supposed to move on without you. How do I live without you by my side? You'd better have an answer because otherwise, I won't let you take that step.” “Jail for life? You're jumping to conclusions.” She shoots me an incredulous look. “Are you seriously gaslighting me again?” I laugh, the sound a little rough around the edges. "I'm talking forever with you, Brielle – but not the kind that involves parole officers or therapists' couches." Her head cants to one side, Her gaze skewers me, a sharp, pointed thing that demands an answer. “Andrei, do you honestly believe that talking to someone about our
Brielle's POV “What's going to happen?” I ask. A simple query, yet one that stirs my heart to frantic rhythms. A faint sneer ghosts Andrei's lips as opens the car and steps out into the night air. I follow suit, Why? Because I'm dying to know what's gonna happen. The glint in his beautiful brown eyes is unmistakable, as mischievous as a raccoon raiding a trashcan, “A war is coming, Brielle. A category 15 hurricane that's gonna rip our families apart. We're talking Corleones vs. Tattaglias, but instead of just guns and money, it's gonna be secrets and lies that kill us. You know how Tony Soprano's crew thought they were above the law? Yeah, our families are about to take that to a whole new level. You ready for that?” I respond in kind, my tone tart with annoyance, while fighting the impulse to shake some sense into him." Are we reenacting The Godfather or something? Is someone gonna wake up with a severed horse head in their bed?” My eyes narrow, daring him to feed me anot
Brielle's POV The Aston Martin Vantage is parked curbside That glossy blue paint job is pure perfection. And there’s Andrei, his lean frame propped against the car like he’s auditioning for a part in ‘The Fast and the Furious: Therapy Drift.’ His effortless charm is on full display as he lounges against the car… Why, do I feel like a gas station hotdog next to his caviar-and-dom-perignon charm? That’s right, I’m feeling like a greasy, no-frills piece of road trip sustenance compared to his gourmet level of sophistication and style. He’s the Maserati, and I’m the beat-up Honda Civic from the 90s. “Took you longer than I expected.” With I calming breath I query, “No heads-up, huh? Why's that?” “Seriously, Brielle? You're asking me why?” “Didn't you send me a text asking about my therapist choice?” The passenger door swings open, and he steps back, his eyes never leaving the horizon. He's not even bothering to look at me, just stands there, holding the door. I'm thinkin
Brielle's POV Coffee. My savior. I stumble to the kitchen, brew a cup, and chug it down. Now I'm human, sort of. I scroll through my phone, check my schedule, and see that I've got an appointment with Dr. Lane later. Ivy's been trying to reach me, but I've been conveniently unavailable. For a reason. I'm not investing in her therapist fan fiction. I've got a real-life storyline with Andrei, and that's where my focus stays. Pope Moonlight on the pole? Just a little satire, don't @ me. The Pope's got enough on his plate, saving souls and whatnot. And Dr. Lane? He's an island of calm, not a stormy sea of scandal. Ivy's just casting her own wild net of imagination over the poor guy who's nose-deep in his notes, trying to decipher whatever scribbles are in there. Dr. Lane’s focus shifts, back to me. “You and Andrei. I’d like to know how things are going between you two. Are you getting along, or is there friction?” “We're fine. Just…coexisting, I guess. Things have improved between u
Jeremy's POV. I light a cigarette, fighting the urge to grab Odessa by the throat. “You're in bed with that son of a bitch, aren't you? You're working with brother.” I watch as her eyes slightly go wide. She sucks in a breath so deep, I think she’s gonna pass out. Then, she shakes her head at me. “No. I’m pretty damn sure you’re playing for the other team, so let’s cut the crap. Which side are you on?” “My side has been yours… since day one.” I pull out my gun from the drawer. Patience isn't my strong suit. That's the fundamental difference between my brother and me: while Andrei's a saint, I'm the devil with a deadline. Odessa, on the other hand, looks unafraid, trying to tough it out. Typical witch, all bravado, and mystery. I'd caught her off guard back there; for a split second, her mask had slipped. Beneath all that witchy bluster, she's just a softie who's been caught… and isn't exactly thrilled about it. “Seems my brother worked his charm on you. I'm well aware of Andre
Andrei's POV “I'm dead serious, Paul. I'm asking you because I need a second pair of eyes on this. Maybe you'll catch something I'm missing. Help me out. Give me your gut instinct.” Paul’s eyes shift to the left, then to the right, “Well. I’ll put it this way—if Odessa told me she was baking a cake, and it tasted good, I’d still check for poison. If she said it was sunny outside, I’d still look for storm clouds and if she told me she was going to buy me a beer, I’d still count my fingers after shaking her hand. That’s all I’m saying.” I cock my head to the side, "Just doing your usual verbal gymnastics to avoid giving me a straight answer, Paul." He smiles, "She's a unique snowflake, boss. I'll give her that, and technically, You've spent more time with her than I have" Paul's not wrong. I've been riding this wild Odessa train way longer than he has. If there's a forked tongue behind her Bambi eyes… I'm better off knowing than he is. “Monitor my sanity.” I tell him. “If I start