Chapter 15ArielLiora's face held different emotions, the dominant one being fear. If I guessed correctly, she could be going through some disorder and it made me want to know what happened.Unfortunately, no one wanted to tell me anything, not even Dmitri.Another thing I noticed was that she rarely spoke to anyone. The only thing she did was to tell shriek and cry and that bothered me the more. She was going through a lot of pain and no one could understand her."Do you want to talk to me? I'm here for you," I offered, my tone light and warm.She blinked and inclined her head and that encouraged me to draw closer to her. At least she wasn't tearing the walls down with her screams."Alright, Ariel is going to feed you now,"That was it.She raised her head sharply and pressed her lips, her eyes watering. I shook my head and took a step backward, kneeling on the floor."No, don't cry, baby. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to help out," My lips trembled and my eyes were alread
Chapter 16DmitriBy the time I returned to Liora's room, she was already calm and collected though her body was shivering uncontrollably and that caused fresh waves of anger to surge through me.I felt like intensifying Ariel's punishment but then, she was my wife and there was a limit to everything. Maybe she'd learn to mind her business after this.My heart ached at the pitiable sight of my daughter and I sank onto the bed beside her, taking off my mask."It's fine, baby. No one will hurt you anymore. I'm here for you," I cupped her cheeks and pulled her close to me. She snuggled me and gradually the shivering ceased. "I'll protect you, my princess, and ensure that you are safe from harm," I assured her in a gruff voice. I waited patiently for her response, even if it was just a monosyllable but nothing came out of her mouth. It was seven years already and I'd never heard her voice. She used to be a bright and bubbly baby until the Outfit murdered her mother when I went away for
Chapter 17Dmitri Just like I expected when I got into our usual room in the hotel that was slated for our meeting, she'd laid on the bed with a white robe on and her hair dripping wet as if she just had a shower.She raised her champagne flute in the air and tilted it slightly. "Cheers, Mr Mikhailov, I thought you had changed your mind," She smirked and glanced at the clock.I took off my jacket and advanced toward the bed, suddenly feeling tired. I sank onto it and rested my head against the headboard. "There's nothing else that could have changed my mind," I admitted because it was the truth.My home was a mess and I wasn't ready to fix it. All I needed was some sort of distraction and I was glad that I was getting it.She nodded, dropped the champagne flute on the bed stand and crawled toward me. The rope that held the robe together loosened and her breasts dangled before my eyes.The sight was alluring and arousing and instantly I felt my third member twitch.She peered into my
Chapter 18ArielWhen I said that I hated everything that concerned me today, I didn't know that I'd be given more reasons. Though I'd made a mental note to search for the basement, I didn't know that I'd be thrown into it like trash by my husband. Well, he wasn't one to me. It was dark with just one window that allowed some rays of light, but it wasn't wide enough to allow more illumination into the room. Cobwebs perched on my face as I tried to navigate through the boxes that were stacked in a disorderly manner.My heart clenched and I struggled to keep my breathing stable. I'd never been locked up in my entire life even when I gave my father several reasons to, so it felt strange being alone without any hope of being released.What was wrong with showing concern for someone you liked?The most annoying part was that he didn't give me the chance to explain myself. Did he despise me so much that he'd treat me like one of his offenders? And then, he had to give a silly excuse for k
Chapter 19DmitriI took off my mask and fixed my butt on the bench in my garage, avoiding Vladimir's puzzled gaze. This was one of the times he forgot that I wasn't just the boss, but his elder brother.However, I deserved the slight disrespect with the way I lost my temper and almost murdered her even though she caused it."Did you truly plan to unalive her? Did you even think of your actions before pulling out your knife?" He barked, pacing to and fro restlessly."Hey, I'm still the boss," I reminded him, producing a pack of cigarettes from my breast pocket and I took out a stick. My lighter wasn't with me so he sighed in resignation and flicked it, lighting my stick.Taking a slow drag and puffing out some smoke, I quietly repeated the same question he asked me and the response caused me to shiver."I can only thank you for walking in when you did. That little pest doesn't know how to control her tongue," I rasped, the image of how she froze and pleaded that I should stop popping
Chapter 20ArielI truly meant it when I said that I didn't want to have anything to do with him anymore. He'd crossed the line by pulling a knife at me and if there was any hope I had for this sham of marriage, it had already shattered.My phone rang and I sighed, hesitant to pick it up as I just wanted to enjoy the comforting silence of my room, but I went ahead and picked it up, forgetting to check who the caller was. "Hello," I yawned tiredly, staring at the talk grasses that danced in the direction of the evening breeze. "Ariel?" Came the familiar voice that rang with fear and uncertainty. My heart skipped for a bit and I clutched tightly to my phone, prancing to the door to ensure that it was locked. Satisfied that no one could barge in, I sank on the bed. "Guilia, is that you? Are you alright?" I asked worriedly. She sighed and I could hear how scared she was. The urge to protect her and take her from the hellhole she was in overwhelmed me, unfortunately, my hands were tie
Chapter 21ArielMy brain was taking another vacation and my body was acting on its own accord, disobeying what my mind had decided. I was supposed to dislike the monster standing in front of me but why my body was having an instant craving for him was what I didn't understand. "If you don't move away, I'm going to take off your mask," The words rushed out of my mouth and he jolted away from me while I let out a deep breath.He plopped down lazily on his armchair while I fiddled with my fingers. "Alright, I've moved away so tell me why you barged into my room a few hours after you said that you told me not to come six meters close to you,""It's because there's something I want you to do for me and you have to do it,"A deep chuckle hummed in his throat which transcended into a brief derisive laughter. "What makes you think I'm going to do your bidden, doll? The reverse is supposed to be the case, remember?"He knew how to rile me up but I wasn't here for his games. My best friend ne
Chapter 22ArielThe car rode slowly into the parking lot of the airport and I hissed for the umpteenth time, yawning in exhaustion while I trained my attention on some of the passengers who dragged their luggage into the airline's check-in counter and another set of passengers who sat patiently at the lounge.I didn't bother to check what the others were doing as I was already getting irritated by Dmitri's silence. It was raining rather heavily and I was supposed to be in the attic, enjoying how the rain pattered on the roof and the cool breeze that carried the scent of wet ground since I wasn't sure he'd allow me to play under the rain, but here I was, acting as his escort.Unable to tighten the lid on my curiosity, I asked him the question. "Why are we here again?" I made sure the annoyance in my tone was audible."Just be patient, you'll see,""I don't want to see anything. Why did you drag me out of the house without any explanation anyway? Agreed, I don't have much to do with m
Chapter 98ArielTWO MONTHS LATERI stood before Dmitri with the priest holding a book in his hands. A petal dropped from the canopy of flowers that was used as a roof to shield us from the harsh rays of the sun.And Dmitri beamed at me with the brightest smile I'd ever seen as we renewed our vows to each other in the presence of my parents, Vladimir, Liora and a few important Bratvan members.He reached for my hands and squeezed them tenderly, peering into my eyes. "A year ago, I was bittered by the fact I'd be getting married to a woman whom I barely knew anything about. We met for the first time unconventionally and your sassiness strengthened my dislike toward the idea of marrying you. I continued to console myself with the fact that the alliance would help solidify the gang and our trade, but what I never knew was that the marriage was arranged to make me a better version of myself,"His voice cracked as he paused and I began to wonder when he became this emotional.I leaned clos
Chapter 97DmitriAriel should have been here with me to say goodbye to the last phase of our trauma, but her body suddenly started acting up this morning, and after what happened three days ago, I admitted her for a general body check."Wait, Dmitri," Anya's raspy voice stopped me from taking any further step out of the ward.She'd be locked in here until the psychiatrist decided that her mental health was back to normal. At least, it was better than living in guilt for the rest of my life.I spared her a backward glance, my eyes roving through her pale face. How did I go from being madly in love with this woman to feeling nothing for her?"What do you want from me?"Her hands had to be chained to the metal rail of the bed after she made two attempts to escape from her ward this morning. I couldn't have her doing more damage to my family so the doctor and I decided on forcefully restricting her to a place."I'm sorry," She sighed, running her tongue over her lips. "Can I have thirty
Chapter 96Ariel Anya smirked. "Who else do you think it was?"Dmitri's eyes shimmered with tears. "I loved you so much, Anya. Why didn't you just tell me who you were?"She sunk her ass on the edge of the chair and shrugged. "I was scared that you'd break up with me if you found out so I faked my death. The plan was to watch you from afar and make sure you were alright. I didn't want a woman whom I couldn't control to be around you so I sent Margaret to watch over you, fortunately, she was indebted to me,""Don't you think you need to visit the hospital? Who sends a woman to fuck their man?""I do," She flashed her teeth vilely. "The plan was going smoothly until you decided to get married to this bitch and fall for her. I couldn't bear it anymore and then I thought to come back and get my man. It's that simple,"Dmitri paced around the room in frustrated struts, while drawing in shallow breaths to control his anger. "I have a question for you, Anya, and I want you to answer me trut
Chapter 95ArielIt was another chill morning for me to experience different kinds of emotions while everyone went about their day peacefully. The worst part was that I couldn't follow Dmitri around as I wanted.His work was just too violent and unsafe and we couldn't tell the next enemy who'd waylay us and use me as bait.The drama playing on the television was too chaotic for me to follow so I turned it off flippantly in a bid to head out. Maybe take a stroll or stop by Cake Treats.The doorbell rang twice and I abandoned my initial plans, hurrying off to get to the door. I placed my eye on the peephole and my heart skipped a beat.Overcome with trepidation, I dashed back to the sofa to get my phone to inform Dmitri about Chiara's visit, unfortunately he wasn't reachable.Back in Chicago, we had a safe house where we'd hide if anyone was in danger, but I couldn't make assumptions and raise an alarm when I wasn't sure of her identity.At least she was here, and I'd get the opportunit
Chapter 94DmitriMy knuckles met on the wooden frame of the door and then I halted for a while, impatiently waiting for the permission to come in. Nikolai and I had never related to each other as brothers so I didn't have access to his house.We fought a lot when we were younger and while I thought that we'd grow out of the resentment we bore for each other, it tripled when I found him banging a girl I liked in high school.I was met with silence so I knocked again and my instincts urged me to open the door. The door gave way and I strolled in, quietly taking in the features of his mansion.I didn't even know he had a mansion here in Seattle.Giggles and murmurs resonated from the staircase to the living room where I was. Then he appeared behind her, spanking her ass while she blew a kiss at him.She froze when she noticed my presence, her eyes bulging in surprise. Nikolai trained a smirk at me, clad in a long black robe that he didn't bother to tie up.His face was quite red, his li
Chapter 93ArielAnger and jealous tears streaked down my cheeks as I palmed my face; my raging hormones spurring the roller-coaster of emotions that rode through me.I quickly wiped the tears off my face when the door made a creaking sound.Shit! How could I have forgotten that Dmitri would be returning home soon? Not wanting him to find me in this embarrassing position, I dragged my panties up to my butt and kept the dildo back in the drawer, leaving the frame on the desk.In hasty and sad strides, I pushed the door open and he waltzed in, his dark orbs scrutinizing my face meticulously. My emotions chose to betray me at that moment as tears welled up in my orbs again."What's wrong, Ariel?" His voice was so soft and soothing."I don't know. I missed you so much," The part where I missed him was partially the truth, but I couldn't tell him that I was grieved about his past.He cupped my cheeks, his thumb wiping off the tear that hung around my eyelid. "I missed you too," He replied
Chapter 92Dmitri "Shoot them," Enzo's gruff voice resonated in the darkness and I lurched forward, falling flat on my stomach as more shots were fired above me. Nikolai single-handedly cleared all the guards that came with Enzo and then the light flickered on. Dead bodies were littered around the room, some of them stacked upon each other like a pack of cards. A deep pain-filled groan caught my attention and I found Enzo, holding onto one of his thighs, the same one I'd planned to explore my artistic carving skills on. A black vest was flung at me and I put it on quickly. As I crossed over to him in slow and calculated strides, he cowered, his body trembling visibly while blood seeped out from the bullet wound on his thigh. "How the mighty has crumbled," I mocked him, reveling in his fear. He flitted his gaze around and the light dimmed in his eyes when he realized that no one was coming to rescue him, just the same way he'd made me feel some moments ago. "Please," His lips qu
Chapter 91DmitriIt was one week already and I was yet to believe that Ariel was in love with me, just as I was with her. My lips stretched wide with a grin spreading over my face; a light chuckle cracked from my throat. Fortunately for Vladimir and me, I wasn't in the driver's seat or our lives would have been under threat without how I was chuckling nonstop. Vladimir spared me a glance, his brows arched. "What's wrong with you man?""I'm in love again, brother. Never knew it would happen this soon," I declared, pressing my knuckles. I was sure that if we weren't on a mission, he'd have parked the car to the side and drilled me of all the details. "Fuck that shit, Dmitri! What did she do to make you this excited about love again? I thought you just wanted a physical relationship with her,""It's hard to not fall in love with a woman who's everything to you. She's carrying my child,"This time he couldn't help but step on the break and floor the gas. "How did that happen so fast?
Chapter 90ArielThe rays from the bright incandescent bulbs fixed on both sides of the room jolted me from my sleep. At least, I wasn't feeling exhausted anymore and my vision wasn't blurry.Forgetting that a cannula was fixed to the vein on the back of my palm, I sat up abruptly and passed a paranoid glance around and realized I wasn't in my room. This wasn't even the queen-sized, plush bed I enjoyed sleeping on every night.It wasn't that the bed wasn't comfortable. I mean it was bigger than the size of most beds in each ward, and maybe a little birdie might have told the nurses whose wife I was, but I wasn't just comfortable being here.Then my mind flashed back to the reason I was here and Liora who was earlier staring at the window, spared me a glance and came to me with a huge smile plastered on her face."Mommy, you're awake. I'll go call, Dad,"I grabbed her arm in shock before she could take another move. "Your father is here?"She nodded with a sweet smile. "I called him on