[ Arielle ]
I gulp down, embracing myself with my hands, the heavy fur overcoat wasn’t helping much in this chilly weather as I was trying my best to reach home before my father comes. It is an unsaid rule in my house, no women should be out after six and it’s past seven thirty. I don’t need to visualize what my father would do to me if he finds out that I wasn’t home before the dusk.
I live in a world where my life was decided for me even before I was born and since last twenty-one years, it has been the same. I can’t even breathe without my father’s permission. My father is Desmond Wilson, the head of the American mafia syndicate. He is the most feared man, the human incarnation of Satan, what people call him in the whispers of night. His power radiates off him, power that demanded respect and obedience from everyone, the business, enemies and family.
I took a deep breath and began to walk with quick steps, I already regretted ditching my security. Sometimes, it’s my escape from my scripted life but I didn’t know it’d turn out to be a stupidity since I lost track of time and my father’s hounds were sniffing me everywhere.
Just as I was about to cross the deserted road, I heard footsteps and my senses got alerted. My hand went for the little knife I keep for my safety but it was too late. Suddenly, I felt a gloved hand slip over my mouth and pulled me behind trees. Fear gripped me. It was inevitable and obvious when my father had enemies everywhere.
“You were a hard one to catch, bitch.” A gruff voice reached into my ear, I could smell tobacco and alcohol in his breath. I tried to kick him but another man held my hands to keep me still. The other man pressed hard against my throat.
I couldn’t breathe. A shadow appeared in front of me. My heartbeats raced.
“Hello, my sweet little kitten. You are more beautiful than your brother described. Rare jewel of Desmond Wilson.” The man, whose silhouette came into light, said with a sly smirk. He tried to touch my face but I jerked my face to other side.
“Release her. She won’t be a trouble. Just look at her fragile frame. She looks like she’d pass out if we put gun on her skull.” He laughed. I realized I wasn’t in my father’s area.
“Wha…what..do you want from me?” I asked him in a trembling voice.
“I do not want anything from you, malishka but my brother wants a compensation for what your younger brother has stolen from us. We had a peace pact with your father but your brother is an imbecile who needs to grow up first if we spare his life. Anyways, the loss was huge and only you can compensate for its value. Your brother Adrian stole our cocaine worth thirty million dollars.” The man said and I felt like my blood froze into my veins.
“It’s impossible! Adrian hardly takes interest in business. You’re lying. Let me go or my father will come for you. He will make you pay for this. If you love your life then let me go.” I cried and yelled. I tried running but those bulky men blocked my way, they had guns in their hands whereas I was all alone, helpless.
His face hardened and a slap crashed across my left cheek. As a result, I stumbled and fell on the concrete ground. My knees hurt and cheek stung. I cried silently and prayed my father’s men would come to save me.
He towered above me, “Your father won’t do anything, my sweet little kitten. This is our area and he’d be a fool who will try to strike a war with Russian boss Nicolai.” He said and fisted my hairs, “My brother wants me to bring you untouched and pure but I don’t take his orders by words. I want to have a taste of you first.” His eyes displayed lust and I froze more with fear. He was going to do the worst with me.
“Please..let…me go.” I whimpered but he began to kiss on my face, it was rough and disgusted but there was no one who could help me.
A deafening barrage of gunshots echoed in the peaceful air, sounded like a sinister melody replacing the silent terror. It was swift and silent, if you blinked your eyes or not looking forward, you wouldn’t have seen the impact. In the next moment, it hit the man who was holding me first, right between the eyes and he fell on the ground lifeless. The man who was forcing himself on me, stood up and pulled out his gun whereas I crawled into a corner.
“Shit! We’re under attack! Who is this fucking motherfucker! Catch him!” He shouted but more gunshots blared and one bullet pierced through his leg and he fell on the ground limping, crying and cursing. But the man were laying dead before they could shoot more.
A tall man, walked through the heaps of bodies and his cheering men. He wore an expensive black suit, all black and his steel grey eyes pierced into mine.
Darkness wrapped around him, he radiated fear and the regal presence of a war god. His feet halted a few steps away from me. my body shook in fear. Was he going to kill me?
“Long time no see, Anton. I didn’t expect to meet you like this.” The man said to my molester in a deep voice, his face devoid of any emotion but emptiness and icy cold blankness.
“Vincent De Niro! What are you doing here? You know my brother won’t spare your life if he sees you here.” Anton yelled but another bullet hit his arm and he whimpered on the ground.
“You dared to touch what is pure and meant to be worshipped, Anton. You had to pay the price.” The man named Vincent smirked, his eyes showing no mercy, “I am sparing your life because I want you to pass my message to your brother. We’re going to meet very soon. He tried to steal from me to compensate for the loss done by the Wilson pup.” He said and my ears perked up.
How did he know my brother?
“Are you okay, Miss?” The man asked me and I was pulled out of the living nightmare.
I nodded my head weakly and tried to stand up but my knees buckled up. I had scratches on my knees. He forwarded his hand but I refused. He was also a dangerous man who killed four bulky men in front of my eyes.
“I don’t force women against their will.” He said in a smooth voice.
I hesitantly accepted his help and stood up. When I took a glance at him in light, I gasped when I noticed his white shirt smeared in crimson red. He was pressing the side of his stomach. He was shot.
“You’re shot.” I said pointing on his wound but he stood unaffected.
“Let me drop you safely at your house, Miss.” He said ignoring my words but he saved me and it was my duty to repay his kindness.
“I have a spare apartment at ten minutes’ distance where I keep my paintings. Please, allow me to tend to you.” I said with gratitude and the man.
“How can you be a fool to trust a stranger who just killed people? It will be fatal for you, principessa. Our world doesn’t know the word ‘trust’. It runs on deceive and foul plays.” He questioned me. His grey eyes showing some amusement.
[ Arielle ]The room shrank two sizes when the tall man, whom I had supported on my shoulder entered in my apartment. My paintings were laying in every corner, covered in dust. I hardly come here since my father found out about my passion for painting and art. He thinks it’s useless since I have to make a good, obedient wife in future.He groaned a little when I helped him to sit on the sofa and went to bring first-aid kit. Born and raised into a mafia family, treating a bullet wound wasn’t new to me. I had treated my brothers before. When I came back into the living room, the man laid back on the sofa.I knelt down and carefully removed his shirt to see the severity of the wound. It looked really bad. I took the tweezers and sterilized it before removing the bullet and the man winced. He looked in pain yet he tried to remain strong and unbothered.“You should see a doctor soon or it will get infected.” I said to him but he didn’t respond.I quickly bandaged his wound and gave him pai
[ Arielle ]A feeling of safety flowed through me when I stepped into the patio of my mansion, it was guarded heavily where a fly can’t pass without my father’s permission. Vincent dropped me outside the mansion before my security guards could stop and interrogate him.Breathing for a while, I prepared for the worst. My father’s car was parked outside. I should embrace myself for the punishment waiting for me. I could feel house maids and guards’ gaze on me as I walked passed them.“Where have you been, Miss Wilson? You did the wrong thing by escaping your security, your father doesn’t look pleased.” Parker, my head bodyguard met me in mid way. He looked disappointed.“Where is he?” I asked him avoiding his gaze.“In his home office. Please, follow me.” He said and lined behind me.He can save me from everything but not this. My heart was sinking with each step I took towards my father’s office. Disobedience always comes with punishment.The wooden doors were opened by my father’s gua
[ Arielle ]I groaned as I gained my consciousness. My head felt heavy like I was hit by a hammer. I tried to flutter my eyes and the first thing that came into my view was a sparkling crystal chandelier and soft music. My memories before I passed out began to come back in bits and pieces. My father came to me in the night when I was sleeping. He was furious, burning in rage. He kicked me out of my bed and then asked me to be ready early in the morning. He said nothing. I only remember Alexander arguing with him when father aimed his gun at my elder brother and then I came in between to save him. All I could remember leaving home in his private jet.My eyes widened and I tried to get up but realised I couldn’t move because I was tied on a chair. The room looked like an expensive suite. Fear gripped me. I was locked for sure but when my eyes fell on my appearance in the gigantic mirror, it only worsened mixed with confusion when I saw my dressed changed into a skimpy dress, showing mos
[ Vincent De Niro ]The sound of crushing bones and heart wrenching cries of the man tied on a chair behind me, felt like music to my ears. It was the starkest reminder of my job. It was the death, danger and mayhem that thrive around me since I had to step up on the throne of capo de capi of De Niro famiglia.“Capo, he isn’t cracking his mouth open. I must say he is very loyal to his master like a dog.” Marcello, my right hand man said to me.I turned around and faced the half dead man. It was my normalcy, the copious amount of blood seeped on the floor which lost its original colour and looked more black and crimson due to sedimentation of blood. The basement smelled rotten and putrid. The smell of death lingered in the air.There wasn’t any window. We don’t believe in giving our enemies a chance to breathe or see light, coming here itself means death. Eventually, they’d go to hell.“Your boss think he can steal from me and get away?” I chuckled dryly at the man sitting in front of
[ Arielle ]This morning, I woke up with the worst headache, I felt like someone had hit me with a iron rod. The plain while walls and a cozy bed beneath me, made me panicked. I was in an unknown place. The events from the day prior began to dance in my mind in bits and pieces. I was sold by my father and almost auctioned by some cruel men when another predator saved me and everything went blank after that. Fear gripped my heart in its clutches and I searched for my phone, I sighed in frustration when I didn’t find it anywhere in the room. I recalled it was snatched from me by the Russians.I padded my way to the door and tried to open it and surprisingly it opened, I thanked the God and peeked out, the house was big, I almost gasped seeing it’s marvellous interior but it was awfully quiet.“Do you want something, Signora?” A deep manly voice made me flinch in fear as I didn’t expect a human presence and I turned to look at the left side of the door. There was a tall man in black suit
[ Vincent ]As I finally had a moment to sit down and reflect on the choices I made. I had no plans to meddle with the Americans, especially Desmond, the viper but his secret alliance with Nikolai Ivanov under the nose of European syndicate forced me to take a decision which might determine my position in the mafia, for better or for the worse.My mission had been straightforward, I went to America to trace Nicolai’s links to my stolen shipment, it could be a great taint on my smooth, spotless image I built over years. He ignited an inevitable war which had been under cold ashes since my brother Alessandro’s feud with Dimitri, Nikolai’s elder brother. My mind was a whirlwind of uncertainty.This new situation forced me to run the wheels of my mind in every possible direction. I raided their auction and practically abducted Desmond’s daughter. She’s breathtakingly beautiful, her pale blue eyes harbour innocence and purity. She’s born in a wrong world. I want to protect her. An inexplica
[ Vincent ]“I am not going to repeat myself, Vincent.”The man sitting across me said in a whisper like of a viper.I sat calm, unphased by half dozen of American men pointing their guns at me. If someone had seen me like this from my family’s side, they’d be stunned but it was my turn in this game of chess. Right now, he wants to see if he has a leverage on me and I am giving him the disillusive satisfaction.Because it will be me who take the last strike.“My deal is clear, Desmond. I want you to cut your ties with Nikolai if you want to live a few more years and die with respect among your kins. Nikolai is a sinking ship, sooner or later, I am going to destroy him. Russians were never that smart, especially when they made us their enemies number one. Choose wisely, I do not forgive easily, I am giving you a chance because I can see a potential leader in your son.” I said, clearly not liking how I have to repeat myself.He snickered on my proposal, snakes like him don’t let go of t
[ Arielle ]To say, I didn’t freeze when my father’s icy gaze scanned me from my top to bottom, it’d be a plain lie. I was presented in a room full of dangerous men who were gathered to decide my future. I don’t know what is the deal with Vincent, the man confuses me more with passing time but I can say that I am safer with him than being with my own family.Marcello, the man whom Vincent must have told to baby sit me, was driving the car while I was sitting on the passenger seat of a bulletproof SUV. The car was going through the far stretched vineyards, I could have observed the beauty of countryside and painted something inspired by it but my zeal has died.“Penny for your thoughts, Signora.” I heard Marcello’s smooth voice, his English accent isn’t refined like Vincent’s but at least he could talk to me in my mother tongue.“Nothing.” I shook my head. In reality, a million of thoughts were running in my head but I’d not share with someone who doesn’t understand human emotions.“Ar
[ Arielle ]I tried my best to not move from my spot on the king-sized bed. The softness of the mattress, mils temperature and his scent could help me to find peaceful sleep but I was far from being at peace. His closeness was making me conscious, that night, we both rode on the waves of sexual pleasure but this night was different.“Aren’t you feeling sleepy?” He asked, his eyes were closed yet he sensed my discomfort and how I was pinning myself on the farthest corner.“I don’t sleep early usually.” I replied and it was true. Having nothing to do throughout the day doesn’t tire me so I end up waking till late and read books.He shifted slightly so he could face me, my breathing was shallow even though our bodies weren’t touching.“Let’s talk then because I am also not feeling sleepy.” He said and my pupils dilated.“What do you want to talk about? We don’t have anything in common.” I said in a low voice, I found it hard to look at him directly.“Tell me more about yourself other tha
[ Arielle ]“You seem troubled. I know it’s not place to ask you, it must be work related but shouldn’t you be keeping stress away until you recover?” I asked my husband who keeps zoning out when I served his dinner.“I am not able to come on a decision, Ari. This is very new to me and it keeps frustrating me because every time I come to a dead end.” He replied.“Well, this is also new for me to hear. You are the most sorted person I have ever met, Vincent. You don’t regret your decisions because you always weigh pros and cons before coming to a conclusion.” I said and his eyes again fixed on me.“But I am doubting my own self right now.” He shook his head.“May I help if you allow me?” I tried my luck but I didn’t expect him to tell me anything.“Well, it’s complicated. Do you want to hear me out?” He raised his brow and I was surprised because he was willing to share his dilemma with me.“I’ll try. I may not have a vast experience of life and people because I never got the chance to
[ Vincent ]“Vincent De Niro, I can’t believe you’re still breathing here.” Anton, who was tied on the chair and my men had their guns aimed on him, gritted his teeth at me.I smirked, “Yes, I am alive, you can see, I have a little scratch on my body but I am fine and soon I’ll resume my job.” I said, his cold blue eyes were darted on me.“My brother won’t leave you, Vincent. He’s going to hunt you down again. I am sure this little scratch is given by him.” He signalled at my chest.I chuckled humourlessly.“You’re right, this scratch is given by your brother before I sent him to rest in peace forever, dear Anton.” I said and his forehead creases disappeared.“What do you mean?” He asked me in a serious tone.“I think you are well educated to catch my words, Anton Ivanov.” I said and gestured Giovanni to wheel him close to my bed.“Tell me what did you do to my brother?” He growled in a low voice, seemed desperate to kill me.“I killed him.”There was silence in the room before the ma
[ Vincent ]Her touch, the familiar fragrance of her perfume and her shivering warmth against my skin, this is what I missed in days. I wish I could share my feelings with her. I wish I could tell her that I heard her talking to Marcello how she’s determined to not give up on me. She won’t allow me to push her away.Her confession came from her heart, I felt it and it was the moment when I decided to break the promise that I made to myself when I buried Fiona. I am ready to fall in love again.I am ready to let Arielle break the wall I built around my heart because she’s the rightful owner of my heart now. I know what I feel for her is stronger and more intense than lust. I need her emotionally and I know that she’d be there for me if I ever need her.“Signora isn’t here, Capo.” Marcello’s voice pulled me out of my trance and I looked at my right-hand man giving me a raised look.“I know, I am not blind.” I rolled my eyes but his grin widened.“Yes, I also know that she isn’t here but
[ Arielle ]I couldn’t get the thought of Vincent’s ex-girlfriend off my mind since Lilliana told me about her. Vincent’s fear was pretty obvious, I would have felt in the same way for someone I love. In fact, I am feeling the same fear right now.Vincent is hanging on a loose cord of life and death.“Signora, you have to come with me.” Marcello’s voice forced me to shift my attention on him, he was standing with a blank face which was enough to alarm my fears and I jolted up from my seat.“Is it about Vincent?” I asked with a hard gulp.He silently gave me a nod and I was already on my way to Vincent’s room. Every single bone in my body was telling me to keep faith and see what exactly happened. I opened the door and pushed Giovanni out of my way to see my husband and I was left stunned when I met with those silver eyes staring at me.I couldn’t believe that he was actually sitting in front of me, his eyes fixed on me. The time seemed to stop there, I forgot that there were other peo
[ Arielle ]“Darling, please don’t take my husband’s words on heart. All the men are like this, they find it difficult to digest their defeat or failures. It happened to Vincent for the first time and Lorenzo is scared from inside. He was never able to make to the position and now when his son is on the position of the Capo, he doesn’t want him to be replaced by anyone else.” Lilliana, who came after me, tried to cover her husband’s allegations with some comforting words but they were hollow.“He blamed me for everything, Mother. He thinks I am the root cause of every problem this family is facing. De Niros were always unchallenged and unconquerable. Do I really look like a woman who wants her husband to face shame or die?” I cried and looked at her with teary eyes.She hugged me instantly and I cried more into her arms. I felt all alone in this vast world.“Don’t cry, my dear. I know you’re the perfect match for Vicent. For years, I was worried for him. He’s closed from all of us. I
[ Arielle ]I don’t remember when the last time I felt this kind of agony, voidness and fear invading my heart. Perhaps, when my grandparents died but I was only in deep grief back then. Currently, I am feeling a mix of emotions that I can’t express as I have been staring at the lifeless frame of my husband laying on the bed.It has been three days since he’s un this condition. He neither woke up nor moved. The doctor said they had done their best to save him, his body is reacting to the treatment then why isn’t he opening his beautiful eyes.I need to look at them and ensure he’s alright.My heart ached whenever my eyes fall on his bandaged chest. He received a deadly stab by Nikolai who is dead now.How ironical is it?He received victory in the shadow of defeat.He might die and there will be no meaning of eliminating his enemy.“Signora, it’s not good for your health to stay like this for hours. Please, go back to your room and rest. We all are here with Capo.” Marcello’s concerne
[ Arielle ]I don’t know why but my heart was sinking after I talked to Marcello. I asked him about my husband, he told me that Vincent is fine but my heart was heavy and mind was at unrest for no reason. Sleep was also far away from my eyes even though my body ached with soreness all over.Unable to sleep, I got up and decided to call Marcello through the landline in the living room but when I checked the time, it was one in the night. Calling him means bothering them unnecessarily. I yearned to hear Vincent’s voice.So, I wrapped a shawl around my torso and padded my way out of my room, the house was quieter than usual since it was night time, the guards were also resting. One of them saw me and stood up.“You can rest, I am only going to the kitchen to fetch myself a bottle of cold water.” I lied with a polite smile.“I can bring it for you, Signora.” He offered and about to leave but I blocked his way, I looked tiny in front of his giant figure.“No, I can take it myself. Actually
[ Vincent ]“Vincent De Niro, I knew that you won’t break my heart and come here sniffing me.” Nikolai in a broken English accent said who was sitting on a chair in the centre of the basement.“How could I break your heart, Nikolai? I am the one who’ll pluck the heart out of your chest and preserve it in the gallery of glory at the estate.” I said with a smirk.“You think you can kill me, De Niro? You De Niros have a trait to day dream. I am not Dimitri. I know how you and your Italian bloodline works. You are here because I wanted you to come and I can settle the score of Vienna.” He said and rose from his seat, our men stood alert with their guns aimed at one another, one move and the place will be filled with corpses.“I didn’t do anything at Vienna, Nik. I was only taking back what’s mine. You stole my enemy and my future wife so I had to come.” I said and saw how I pressed his aching nerve.“Arielle Wilson is mine. You succeeded in marrying her, probably fucked her but I am not g