AMANI“…girlfriend, what in the name of Harry Potter and the seven blind mice is that?”Fifteen seconds later and Zuri and I are still frozen to the spot, completely starstruck as we stare at the darkness before us.Zuri takes a step backwards, her brows furrowing with disbelief.“If you’re thinking of going down there, count me out. I’m adventurous but not adventurous enough to explore that tunnel of death.”My heart falls and I grab onto her tighter;“Oh, come on, Zuri, please come with me. I’ll never be able to do this without you.”She shakes her head, sending her thick blue curls flying all over the place;“Nuh-uh. Absolutely not.”My brain spins in search of ways to get her to change her mind. I finally settle on emotional manipulation.I heave a deep, melancholic sigh; “I’m sure Mario’s in there, probably bleeding to death and suffering from his injuries. We’re the ones who got him into this situation. It’s sad that we finally have an opportunity to save him but you don’t wann
AMANI“…him. The other captive…”At this point, I’m pretty sure I’m on the verge of losing my goddamn mind. Fear spikes through my heart as my eyes slowly dart to the thick darkness behind us. Zuri heaves a sigh and pats Mario’s back;“Are you hallucinating, big guy? Are you sure there’s really someone back there?” She asks wryly.Mario nods confidently. “Yes. You can come out, Nathan.”My heart thuds wildly as we wait for some stranger to appear from the shadows. Five seconds later, I’m about to conclude that Mario must’ve suffered some kind of head trauma when an eerie clinking sound suddenly pierces the air.I freeze, my mouth hanging open in part horror, part shock.“Wh-what was that?” I stutter, my fingers tightening around Mario’s arm. “Zuri, what was that…?”It sounds like chains crashing against the concrete floor. The first clink is followed by another, then another. The sound comes closer and closer until I’m almost quaking in my shoes.Finally, a figure materializes out of
AMANIIt’s crazy how life can change in the blink of an eye. Three weeks ago, I was married, albeit to a bastard, my son was not in the risk of dying and there was a semblance of normalcy in my life.Today, just three weeks later, I’m at the receiving end of the barrels of ten pistols, and I might as well be taking my last breath. Even when I’m shaking like a leaf, my eyes are firmly fixed on Bhyron’s, daring him to carry out his plan. Daring him to order his men to shoot me. Even when thunderclouds of anger swirl in his stormy eyes and his perfect, model-like jaw is set stubbornly in rage, there’s no denying Bhyron Macaulay’s breathtaking beauty. His hair is not tied back as usual. The shiny chestnut curls fall over his forehead and down to his shoulders in enviable waves, framing his face in a manner that’s simply and effortlessly perfect.Bhyron Macaulay is a gorgeous man. Full stop.While I’m still struggling to gather my confidence, Zuri suddenly appears in front of me, spread
AMAYAOne night, when I was six years old, my parents and I were playing in the snow. I don’t know what happened or how it happened, but my parents got a business call, left me outside and completely forgot about me for three hours.I almost died in the snow. I was cold to my small, brittle bones. I screamed and cried for help, but no one heard me in the blizzard until I passed out.As I stare at Bhyron’s still bleeding wound, I realize that the last time I feel such bone chilling cold was that horrible night. I’m frozen to the spot, my eyes eyes darting from the gun in my hand to the wounded man in front of me.It all happens in a blur. One moment, I’m trying to gather my scattered thoughts and the next, strong arms envelope my shoulders from behind and I’m slammed against a hard, heaving chest.Shocked, I try to speak but a cold, hard object is pressed against my temple. A man’s hot breath wafts across my ear and my shock intensifies at the voice that filters into my eardrums;“Sinc
AMANIIt’s safe to say I now understand why Miley Cyrus screamed at the top of her lungs when she sang “I came in like a wrecking ball!!!”Despite my fear and utter confusion, it still registers in my brain that there’s really no difference between Duke in motion and a flying wrecking ball as he waves both his guns in the air like a damn trophy.Bang!! Bang!!Within seconds, a single bullet whizzes past my head and Mario’s tight grip around my shoulders loosen immediately. His yelp of pain is almost eerie. I turn just in time to watch him crumple to the ground in a messy, bloody heap.The bullet pierced perfectly through his forehead. My throat tightens with dismay as I watch thick, coagulated blood spurt from the finger sized hole.I don’t know if I should be dismayed at the fact that Duke handles guns like an experienced gang leader and he seems to be interested in my best friend.It is scientifically proven that I might be crazy sometimes, but not crazy enough to wish a relationshi
AMANIIf anyone had told me that Mr. Ayutthaya would one day slap his own grandson because he hurt me, I would’ve laughed in their face. For a moment, the room is as quiet as a graveyard. Everyone is too stunned to speak. I’m pretty sure Bhyron’s bodyguards have gone into epileptic shock. “Let this be the first and last time you ever lay your hands on Amani violently. Do you understand?” Grandpa growls. “And another thing. The wedding is off. There will be no wedding until Amani decides on her own that she wants to marry you, or you tender a heartfelt apology to her.”My heart freezes in my chest. Are my ears suddenly malfunctioning or did grandpa just call off our wedding?This night has been nothing short of one crazy disaster after the other. I can feel Bhyron’s eyes on me. I can tell that he’s murderous after the cancellation of our wedding, but I keep my eyes firmly lowered to the ground, choosing to avoid his gaze while struggling to process everything that’s happened.I thi
AMANI“Amani, come quickly. Bhyron has refused to let a doctor check on his wound. He said he’d only listen to you. Please, come out! His condition is critical and he won’t let anyone into his room…!”I hate Bhyron Macaulay. I swear I do. But the second those words fall from Duke’s lips, I open my door faster than Flash himself. I should be ashamed of my weak self-will but there’s no time.Panic engulfs my thudding heart as I step into the hallway. Duke is still dressed in his rumpled three piece suit, but his entire expression is twisted with worry. I look down, noticing a bunch of keys in his grip.“Duke? What happened? Where’s Zuri?”“Zuri is absolutely fine. She’s asleep in my room. But Bhyron is an entirely different case. He was responding to us until ten minutes ago. I don’t want to be negative, but I really think he’s not okay. He was bleeding profusely. If he continues like this, he’ll die.”He’ll die. Those words should bring me immense satisfaction. Instead, a strange, pa
AMANIDuke appears beside me in a flash, stretching his hand towards Bhyron, his face twisted with worry;“Bhyron, let’s get you to a hospital. You need to treat your injury. If it gets infected…”Bhyron staggers backwards, his face firmly lowered to the ground. My heart tightens painfully. At that moment, he looks nothing like New York’s most eligible bachelor or the dark, gorgeous anime character that I’ve come to know. He looks nothing like the confident, fearless Bhyron Macaulay. Instead, he looks small… defeated.He finally lifts his eyes to mine and the wounded expression in his eyes ignites the guilt already festering in my chest. He stretches his injured hand to me and my gaze falls on his blood soaked shirt. His suit is nowhere to be seen. His once sparkling white shirt is ruined with bloody, crimson spots. Finally, I make up my mind. I turn to Duke and say as bravely as I can; “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of him.”I hear Bhyron’s hiss of relief and it only adds to the bu
AMANDAI pull my hoodie over my ears to cushion the harsh effects of New York’s cold night wind, still struggling to believe my stroke of luck.My plan was to come here, get my inheritance, go straight to the hospital and pay off my sister’s medical bills. Being “the child who was never wanted,” I was fully ready to find out that I was left out of the will.I also prepared myself just in case I was included in the will but only given a miserly sum. After everything I’ve been through, I vowed never to return to my biological family, talk more of begging them for money. But just a moment ago, I was prepared to go down on my knees and beg for money for Imelda’s treatment. Now, barely an hour later, I’m going back five million dollars richer. It feels like a dream.At first sight, Mr. Bhyron Macaulay is intimidating as hell. He had long hair in all the pictures that Caspian, my lawyer, showed to me, but his short cropped hair gives him the appearance of a seven star general in the army
BHYRON“Mr. Macaulay, your wife is suffering from severe dehydration and heartburn. That’s why she passed out. However, we have it all under control. She’s been stabilized and should be discharged tomorrow.”I sit before Dr. Samantha, Chief Medical Practitioner at one of the top private hospitals in New York, my heart beating a restless rhythm against my ribcage. The past two hours have been hell. I thought seeing Amani injured and bleeding in that horrible room was a nightmare, but I nearly lost my damn mind when I was forced to stand back and watch them strap her almost lifeless body to the stretcher.“And our baby?” I ask, tapping my feet anxiously.If anything happens to our child…The doctor flips through a couple of documents on her desk. “It’s still too early to tell. Once we conduct all the relevant tests, you’ll be the first to know.” Ten minutes later, I’m walking down the hall, intent on seeing my wife after being told I wouldn’t be able to see her for the next five hour
BHYRONThe woman on the floor lies completely still and unmoving. Her face is covered by a curtain of blonde hair and her long, graceful legs are twitching.Amani.A horrific roar tears from my throat and I attack blindly. One second, I’m standing by the door, fists clenched by my sides, and the next, I’m flying across the room, knife unsheathed. The gory sound of my blade slicing into something soft pierces the air as I tackle Antonio to the ground. Yes, I sliced off his useless manhood. And the wet sound it makes as it lands on the wooden floor does very little to soothe the beast inside of me. Pain filled moans bubble up his throat and I punch him there, forcing the bastard to stay silent.“What did you do to her, you neanderthal?! How dare you touch her!” I don’t give him the chance to fight or protest. I hit him blow after blow until his moans become off-key gurgles and his face is wet with blood; soft and disfigured beneath my fists. Even then, my anger is not soothed. Image
BHYRON“…your wife is pregnant.” The quiet world around me disappears and all that’s left is the loud, eerie buzzing in my ears. My eyes are glued to Duncan’s lips, my heart pounding an erratic rhythm as I wait for him to laugh it off, because I do not find this situation funny in the slightest.When seconds tick by and he still doesn’t attribute that statement to a failed attempt at mirth, white-hot mortification burns a hole straight through my chest.“Are you being serious?”Duncan nods, appearing braver. Or maybe he’s finally accepted that I might slash his head off of his neck very, very soon.“I’m really sorry that you have to find out this way, sir.”I take a threatening step in his direction but he stands his ground.“You’re sorry? You’re bloody sorry? This is insane!”I press two fingers against my eyes and draw several deep breaths. Amani is pregnant. My woman is carrying our child! My heart sinks with the recollection that the last two times we had sex was without protec
BHYRON“Sir, sir, I found something!”It’s been three hours since I personally set the Gunam Brother's seventh warehouse on fire. Unfortunately, the fire grew uncontrollable and gutted the warehouse beside it, burning it to ashes. That warehouse belonged to Bethel Washington, a renowned American drug and arms dealer. I’ve been trying to reason with his men for the past hour. Thankfully, the warehouse was empty and not much was lost. I only returned to my office thirty minutes ago and the police were already waiting for me, desperate to pin me for arson and send my ass to prison. My lips twitch at the thought. I don’t pay Axel millions of dollars, complete with paid vacation trips at luxurious islands to just sit around doing nothing. My alibi was ready even before I arrived at the warehouse and I just handed it to the police when I returned.The disappointment on their faces was almost laughable.Right now, I’m hunched over Axel’s computer, staring at the incomprehensible strings of
BHYRONI can count on my fingers the number of times I’ve been terrified. Five times. Five horrifying moments when I endured torture and darkness and hunger for weeks. But none of that compares to the feeling of utter, pure and undiluted horror that snakes through my bloodstream as I watch the video. My eyes are glued to the screen while the horror unfolds. My heart is barely beating as I take in the sight of Amani kneeling on the dirty floors, a group of masked men holding her down while another unknown man whips her mercilessly. The fucker blurred out his face. “No…” I whisper, my throat clogged, my lungs faltering. “No, no, no. God, no.”Memories of the horrific moments I spent in captivity, chained and whipped day and night assail my mind and I stagger backwards. I almost gave up during those horrific nights. Imagine what Amani must be feeling.Her cries are like little, venomous knives stabbed through my heart. I shut my eyes, already prepared to throw the phone across the roo
BHYRON“Mr. Ahmad, you can be rest assured that this project will rake in millions just like La Marièe. I’ll personally direct every single proposal and you’re guaranteed maximum profit.”Ahmad, one of our Arabian investors, had indicated interest in funding my new club months ago. He has the billions to spend and I’ve got the brains and man power to make sure we open another club by the end of this month that will probably earn ten times more than La Marièe.Ahmad nods, seemingly satisfied and about to give me a response when the sound of the door violently crashing against the wall rents the air.I rise from my seat, my heart pumping madly the second I lay eyes on Duncan and his grim expression. Duncan would never, ever interrupt my international meetings, talk more of slamming my door. Something’s wrong.Amani. Why is that the first thought that crawls into my mind?“Sir, I’m afraid we have a problem.”Dread settles like boulders on my shoulders. “Where’s Amani?” I ask through cle
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS A BIT OF PHYSICAL ABUSE. **AMANII made a deal with Antonio Gunam and ordinarily, I shouldn’t be scared of him. But there’s something in his eyes. Something dark and ferocious. A wild, unhinged emotion that makes my strained arms tremble. I cringe away from his touch, my heart beating wildly when he presses closer. Of course the bastard doesn’t get the hint. His lips twist in a smirk and he runs a finger over my damp, sweaty chest. When those disgusting fingers almost touch my boobs, I pull backwards and a pained hiss escapes me as my skull slams against the drywall.He bends over, giving me a strong, involuntary whiff of his designer perfume. “You’ve gotten braver since the last time I saw you, little kitten. Have you forgotten how you writhed beneath me that night?” I bare my teeth at him, hiding the excruciating throbbing of my head with a snarl; “Why am I naked, Antonio? What’s going on? This isn’t what we agreed on.” He leans back with a wicked
AMANIYesterday was grandma Ayutthaya’s funeral but I wasn’t in attendance because Bhyron obviously felt I did not deserve to be there. He didn’t let me visit grandpa at the hospital either. He hid grandma’s dead body from me and now, I missed her funeral. An hour later, I’m still in the same position that Jay left me after he spilled the news. I’m shocked and cold. So cold. I only jolt back to reality when my phone rings. It’s a strange number. I pick up the device with shaky fingers. “Hello?”“Hello, kitten.” A breathy rasp filters through the speakers.My limbs turn to ice. That voice. It’s the devil himself.“Antonio?”He chuckles, a light dangerous sound that has goosebumps spattering across my flesh. “You remember my voice. Should I be flattered?”His flirtatious tone almost makes me gag. I shut my eyes and push back the horrible, dark memories that threaten to escape.“What do you want? I’m supposed to get the money to you tomorrow. I still have time.”“No, you don’t. In fa