A tremor of dread slid through him as he heard Hans’s words. “Hans, if you touch a single hair on her head, I will cut your mother fucking balls, and I will shove it down your fucking throat” he squeezed his phone, cracking the edges and growling into it only to receive an amusing chuckle from the other end.“Tick tock, son, tick-tock,” Hans snorted, “I heard she is carrying your child, the hair of French mafia in my hands. Who would have imagined,” Hans was amused to have Azazel where he wanted.“You fucking bastard, if you dare hurt her or my baby. I am telling you, I will rain hellfire on you, and Germany will burn,” he was full of hell’s fury.“Oh. Come on, Azazel. Now let me have some fun with my granddaughter and great-grandchild,” Hans gave a throaty chuckle.“If you are a man, don’t fucking touch her,” Azazel yelled, hanging up. Hans, too hung up and turned around.“Why didn’t you make him pay, boss? Make him run in circles to find her? Why did you give away our location?” Rus
“I could squash you all like bugs right now, but I am offering you all choices. Let Athena go, and I will let you all go,” but Hans gave no reaction other than to signal with his eyes to bring forth the girl. As one of the men forcefully placed Athena in a wheelchair, her mouth was cruelly duct-taped shut. Azazel's heart clenched painfully at the sight. His beloved wife had endured a lifetime of suffering, and now she was subjected to even more torment at the hands of this despicable man. Despite her dire situation, Athena's gaze remained locked on Azazel. He bore a visible bump on his head and a bruise on his cheek, evidence of the recent altercation. Yet, he exuded a strength that perplexed Athena, leaving her unsure of what he would do next. Surrounded by enemies who had sought their demise throughout their lives, she found herself experiencing an unexpected sense of protection, as she always did in his presence. “I will get you out of here, Athena. I will not let anything happen
They made him kneel with his hands behind his back. Hans grabbed his gun and pointed it at Azazel while eyeing Athena. He grabbed her and made her stand before him. Athena’s heart shattered. He got into this situation because of her. He doesn’t deserve to be here. “Don’t do this, please,” she begged the monsters. “Aww, I love to see my granddaughter cry. That is what I wanted all these years,” Hans winked. “Besides, once I kill this bastard, my Rustom will keep you company, that is after we take care of the thing in your stomach,” Hans tapped the gun on Athena’s stomach, and Azazel growled. A sinister smile twisted across Azazel's face as he addressed Hans with a bone-chilling intensity. His voice dripped with menace and a promise of impending doom. His eyes were red due to the blood he lost, clouding his vision, but he didn’t have to see everything. All he had to see was her. “Hans,” he spat blood onto the floor, “pray, you better pray with every ounce of your fucked up soul that
A few months later..... Orange and terracotta hues of canopy lit the maple trees, announcing that autumn had hit her stride. The evening glow cast an orange hue on the beautiful path. The trees are blooming, despite knowing that their days are numbered, knowing that they will fall and turn to dust. The gold and scarlet of the autumn days remind you that there is beauty if you look for it. A lonely woman was walking down the path to the cemetery, honey boots covering her feet, a knit scarf wound around her neck, pretty and matching the autumn vibe. She crunched on the fallen leaves, walking down the street feeling rough cracks through thin soles, the wind moving as if she weren’t there at all, as if it were a ghost whisper, nothing more, nothing less. The woman’s pregnant belly showed through her knit sweater dress. The houses are decorated with pumpkins and apples. A fresh smell of baked apple pies and cider whipped her nostrils. Despite the children and the adults enjoying the bea
Days were OK for her, but she felt the most sadness at night. It was her childhood all over again. But she wasn’t alone this time. She had her family, but his absence affected her the most. God took her parents and gave him to her, and now he took him away and gave her parents. She sat there and let the tears flow. Athena didn’t move out of her room. She still used the old space Azazel and her shared. This comforted her, as his scent was everywhere, particularly in his clothes. She stepped into the closet and took one of his jackets, hugging it close. She stood there, inhaling his scent. Another tear dropped when she heard a knock on the door. Wiping her tears, “Come in,” she announced to the person. Her mother walked inside. Looking at Athena standing there with a shirt, Iris sighed. “Penny for your thoughts?” Iris turned her daughter to her side. She formed her lips into a thin line and shook her head. “I am your mother, Theia, come here,” she opened her arms, and Athena ran into
“Do you think I should come back?” Azazel asked, sipping his whiskey. “You should,” Tristan knew Azazel and Athena loved each other, but there was something holding them up from being together, he had seen both suffer being away from each other, and God knows they were stubborn. “Although if you come back, I hope she kills you. I am tired of your ass,” Tristan was eager to see Azazel getting ass whopped by Athena. “Do you think she will be angry with me?” Azazel had a worried look on his face. “Oh, I am sure she would end you, and I am so rooting for it,” his brother needs that for following this stupid plan. “Love makes people do things, Azazel. I have never seen you pine for anyone like this. If this isn’t screaming that you love her, I don’t know what does. And as for Athena, I have seen her try and eat flowers instead of apples. She is completely off focus,” Tristan remembered the times Athena forgot to focus and did things the wrong way. The girl put cabbage in the washing ma
After many months of speculations about what happened to Azazel Black, the world finally realized that he was alive. Since he was alive and well, his company was soaring, the stocks reaching the skies. The company celebrated, and so did the underworld. But there was no news of Hans anywhere, not in the business world or the underworld. He permanently cut ties with Olivia and Charles. After Tristan explained what they did to Cissy, he didn’t have it in his heart to call him his parents, they reached out to him, but he cut them off. As much as it hurt him to do it, he did not want his father to do the same things he did to him and his brother to his children. He wanted his children to become compassionate like her. He officially canceled his wedding with Sophie. The girl was furious and tried to blackmail him into doing what she wanted, but Azazel was ahead of her. He threatened to kill her career if she tried to disturb Athena or her family. He was still in touch with Arthur as he was
Athena and Azazel hadn’t talked about their relationship much. Their relationship was evolving, but into what she didn’t know. She was sure that Athena had feelings for him, but to what extent? She couldn’t figure it out. “Athena,” Azazel yelled, coming home. “In here,” she replied, washing the milk bottles and setting them on the warmer. “Get ready. We are going out,” he turned her to his side. “No, Zae. We need to…” he silenced her by placing his fingers on her lips and closing them. “Not another word. You haven’t gone out since we had our little ones. Let’s go out, besides we have a village to watch, and you already pumped your milk,” he noticed the bottles on the counter. Knowing that there was no excuse, Athena gave in. She entered her bedroom and noticed a dress on the bed. She put on the outfit and put on some light makeup. Hearing the sound of heels, he turned around, and his heart skipped its beat. She looked ethereal in that georgette dress, “I look fat,” she adjusted t
“Capo,” a strong man strode into the hospital room, his eyes glinting with concern.“Sir is in critical condition. We don’t know what to do,” Elijah, the head of security for the German mafia, informed him, his voice heavy with worry. “He was beaten black and blue, and the hole in his voice made it difficult for him to talk. The doctor says it might take him forever to speak again. Rustom is dead, and most of our men are gone. The responsibility lies with you.”The 13-year-old boy, Alex Knight, sat weeping in the room's corner, his shoulders shaking with grief. He may have been young, but he had a commanding presence and a ruthless stature that belied his age.“Who did this?” he gritted his teeth, his voice trembling with anger.“The French, we know that much,” Elijah replied, folding his hands solemnly.Alex’s bloodshot eyes widened with fury, and his fists clenched tightly. “I swear I will get my vengeance, and when I do, they will beg for mercy.” Elijah nodded in agreement. “We’ll
Everyone was invited to their wedding except the Black parents, Sophie and Blanche. Athena was pacing nervously in her room when someone knocked on the door, and she answered, “Come in,” when Narcissa walked in.“Cissy,” she hugged the girl.“How are you, Theia?” Cissy couldn’t help but admire how beautiful Athena looked in her wedding dress.“I am good. Where were you? We were so worried about you,” she sat on the ottoman before her vanity.“I found myself and love, too,” she winked. Athena looked bewildered.“Love?” disbelief coated her tone.“Yes, I will introduce her to you once you are done with your wedding,” she kissed Athena’s cheek. She was about to leave when Athena stopped her.“I am sorry for causing you pain, Cissy. If only I had known……” but Cissy stopped her.“Don’t worry about it, Athena. I am happy for you and my brother, and my adorable nieces and nephews, I love you all equally, and honestly, I should apologize for not trusting you,” she pinned her veil on her head.
Athena and Azazel hadn’t talked about their relationship much. Their relationship was evolving, but into what she didn’t know. She was sure that Athena had feelings for him, but to what extent? She couldn’t figure it out. “Athena,” Azazel yelled, coming home. “In here,” she replied, washing the milk bottles and setting them on the warmer. “Get ready. We are going out,” he turned her to his side. “No, Zae. We need to…” he silenced her by placing his fingers on her lips and closing them. “Not another word. You haven’t gone out since we had our little ones. Let’s go out, besides we have a village to watch, and you already pumped your milk,” he noticed the bottles on the counter. Knowing that there was no excuse, Athena gave in. She entered her bedroom and noticed a dress on the bed. She put on the outfit and put on some light makeup. Hearing the sound of heels, he turned around, and his heart skipped its beat. She looked ethereal in that georgette dress, “I look fat,” she adjusted t
After many months of speculations about what happened to Azazel Black, the world finally realized that he was alive. Since he was alive and well, his company was soaring, the stocks reaching the skies. The company celebrated, and so did the underworld. But there was no news of Hans anywhere, not in the business world or the underworld. He permanently cut ties with Olivia and Charles. After Tristan explained what they did to Cissy, he didn’t have it in his heart to call him his parents, they reached out to him, but he cut them off. As much as it hurt him to do it, he did not want his father to do the same things he did to him and his brother to his children. He wanted his children to become compassionate like her. He officially canceled his wedding with Sophie. The girl was furious and tried to blackmail him into doing what she wanted, but Azazel was ahead of her. He threatened to kill her career if she tried to disturb Athena or her family. He was still in touch with Arthur as he was
“Do you think I should come back?” Azazel asked, sipping his whiskey. “You should,” Tristan knew Azazel and Athena loved each other, but there was something holding them up from being together, he had seen both suffer being away from each other, and God knows they were stubborn. “Although if you come back, I hope she kills you. I am tired of your ass,” Tristan was eager to see Azazel getting ass whopped by Athena. “Do you think she will be angry with me?” Azazel had a worried look on his face. “Oh, I am sure she would end you, and I am so rooting for it,” his brother needs that for following this stupid plan. “Love makes people do things, Azazel. I have never seen you pine for anyone like this. If this isn’t screaming that you love her, I don’t know what does. And as for Athena, I have seen her try and eat flowers instead of apples. She is completely off focus,” Tristan remembered the times Athena forgot to focus and did things the wrong way. The girl put cabbage in the washing ma
Days were OK for her, but she felt the most sadness at night. It was her childhood all over again. But she wasn’t alone this time. She had her family, but his absence affected her the most. God took her parents and gave him to her, and now he took him away and gave her parents. She sat there and let the tears flow. Athena didn’t move out of her room. She still used the old space Azazel and her shared. This comforted her, as his scent was everywhere, particularly in his clothes. She stepped into the closet and took one of his jackets, hugging it close. She stood there, inhaling his scent. Another tear dropped when she heard a knock on the door. Wiping her tears, “Come in,” she announced to the person. Her mother walked inside. Looking at Athena standing there with a shirt, Iris sighed. “Penny for your thoughts?” Iris turned her daughter to her side. She formed her lips into a thin line and shook her head. “I am your mother, Theia, come here,” she opened her arms, and Athena ran into
A few months later..... Orange and terracotta hues of canopy lit the maple trees, announcing that autumn had hit her stride. The evening glow cast an orange hue on the beautiful path. The trees are blooming, despite knowing that their days are numbered, knowing that they will fall and turn to dust. The gold and scarlet of the autumn days remind you that there is beauty if you look for it. A lonely woman was walking down the path to the cemetery, honey boots covering her feet, a knit scarf wound around her neck, pretty and matching the autumn vibe. She crunched on the fallen leaves, walking down the street feeling rough cracks through thin soles, the wind moving as if she weren’t there at all, as if it were a ghost whisper, nothing more, nothing less. The woman’s pregnant belly showed through her knit sweater dress. The houses are decorated with pumpkins and apples. A fresh smell of baked apple pies and cider whipped her nostrils. Despite the children and the adults enjoying the bea
They made him kneel with his hands behind his back. Hans grabbed his gun and pointed it at Azazel while eyeing Athena. He grabbed her and made her stand before him. Athena’s heart shattered. He got into this situation because of her. He doesn’t deserve to be here. “Don’t do this, please,” she begged the monsters. “Aww, I love to see my granddaughter cry. That is what I wanted all these years,” Hans winked. “Besides, once I kill this bastard, my Rustom will keep you company, that is after we take care of the thing in your stomach,” Hans tapped the gun on Athena’s stomach, and Azazel growled. A sinister smile twisted across Azazel's face as he addressed Hans with a bone-chilling intensity. His voice dripped with menace and a promise of impending doom. His eyes were red due to the blood he lost, clouding his vision, but he didn’t have to see everything. All he had to see was her. “Hans,” he spat blood onto the floor, “pray, you better pray with every ounce of your fucked up soul that
“I could squash you all like bugs right now, but I am offering you all choices. Let Athena go, and I will let you all go,” but Hans gave no reaction other than to signal with his eyes to bring forth the girl. As one of the men forcefully placed Athena in a wheelchair, her mouth was cruelly duct-taped shut. Azazel's heart clenched painfully at the sight. His beloved wife had endured a lifetime of suffering, and now she was subjected to even more torment at the hands of this despicable man. Despite her dire situation, Athena's gaze remained locked on Azazel. He bore a visible bump on his head and a bruise on his cheek, evidence of the recent altercation. Yet, he exuded a strength that perplexed Athena, leaving her unsure of what he would do next. Surrounded by enemies who had sought their demise throughout their lives, she found herself experiencing an unexpected sense of protection, as she always did in his presence. “I will get you out of here, Athena. I will not let anything happen