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2024-11-06 06:09:34
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DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 22
DAMIAN “What the fuck?!” I thunder, my self-control slipping out of my grip. Zoran watches me with a look of indifference, like a detached audience assessing the performance of a stranger. “Why had no one bothered to tell me about this?” “I got the information right after we got news of the attack at your safehouse. I thought you knew and that's why you were going after his widow instead.” My blood boils with a rage so intense that I see red. My chest heaves in tandem with the ticking inside of my head. ‘That… that worthless parasite!’ “Bloody cowards!” I shout, slamming my fists on the table. “I'm going to make her pay for everything.” “What do you want to do about her? I doubt the woman knows anything about the skeletons her husband hides in his closet.” “I don't care.” I reply in a low voice, my gaze pinned on the table. Every muscle in me yearns to flip the district inside out and find her, then make her pay. That treacherous, deceitful bitch. No way in he
Last Updated : 2024-11-07DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 23
LILIANA I don't know how long I'd been asleep for but when I open my eyes, the window shows the dimming sunlight, now a warm orange. It is a testament to how I've slept through the day into the early evening. I do hope Theodore is on his way as promised. I can't afford to spend one more night in this apartment. Apart from putting a strain on their finances, even though they look comfortable, a deep sense of unease is beginning to settle in my bones. When Rachel's father came knocking, I thought he had something urgent to disclose. Well, he did. But it wasn't for my ears. So I'd gone to my room to give father and daughter some privacy. From that point when I went back in and now, everything seemed like a haze. Like a part of my memory was hacked out. It has to be an ingredient in the drink. Either way, it worked in my favor to soothe most of my frayed nerves. It is early evening and it indicates that Theodore is already close. In a little while, I'd be out of here and
Last Updated : 2024-11-08DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 24
DAMIANI waste no time in peeling out of the parking lot and onto the highway, my tires screeching in protest. Like a crazed man, I speed down the highway with the needle of the speedometer quivering over a hundred miles per hour.Beside me, Zoran's face is set in a grim mask and although his eyes are fixed on the road ahead, I can see the ghost of fear playing around his features.He had offered to drive but I'd refused. I needed something to exert my pent up rage and an anchor to keep me from unraveling. I felt like driving would do me some good.Why then did I want to pull the steering wheel out of its place so bad?“I know I shouldn't be saying this but you need to slow down. If anything happens to you, Liliana would roam freely and dance over your grave if she knows where you'd be buried.”Unbidden, a small smile cracks my lips. I glance at his profile. My smile widens when I see his throat bob and his fingers grip his seat tighter.I ease up on the pedal only a little just for
Last Updated : 2024-11-08DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 25
DAMIAN “Kristoffor!” Shrieks Alice in a horrified voice as I climb out of the passenger seat with Liliana's unconscious body in my arms. "What have you done to the poor girl?"“Stay out of this, Alice,” Zoran tells her, pulling her back before she comes to pose as a blockage to my destination which is my bedroom. ‘Are you even making the right decision?’ An inner voice queries.I don't have the time to answer that because I'm trying to make it to my quarters in record time. I push my door open and walk towards the bed where I lower her on it. Her thick hair curtains a part of her face as her head lolls to one side. My fingers itch and without inhibitions, I reach to brush the strands out of view, revealing her creamy flesh with a fading purple stain. A reminder of my men's brutality.I frown, recalling the vicious headbutt that gave me a wicked migraine for days. My teeth grit in anger and I yank my hand back with a scowl like a force just struck me. This will be the last time I
Last Updated : 2024-11-09DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 26
LILIANAMy eyes crack open after so many futile efforts and the first thing that heralds my awakening is the unfamiliar ceiling.The dull, cream-colored surface stares back at me. It is a welcome change from the darkness that had shrouded my mind for what felt like an eternity. I try to sit up as consciousness slowly seeps in. I wince, becoming aware of the dull ache driving through through my head like a sledgehammer. I move my tongue but it seems as though the organ has doubled up in size. The weight of exhaustion deep in my bones renders me incapable of moving my limbs any further.“Theo…” The word dies on my tongue before I even complete it. I swallow dryly. My throat is parched and my body feels hotter than usual. I close my eyes, trying to recall the incident that led to my passing out, but every time I try, I come up blank.“Theodore,” I manage with weakness. I keep my gaze on the door for his entrance. It seems no one heard me because none came in. Wait… Why is this place
Last Updated : 2024-11-11DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 27
LILIANA After he leaves, I collapse in a heap on the bed as choking sobs tear out from me with a blinding force. I want to wake up from this nightmare but everytime the cuff tugs at my ankle, it pulls me back to the reality that has now become my life.“Kyle, what did you do?” I wail to the silence, my heart wringing in the despair that has begun to fester into a deep wound.Thinking back upon my life, I try to recall anything suspicious about Kyle but my mind draws blank. He never gave me one reason to.Except for his friendship with the man Nicolo…Or could that be it?I roll on my back to lay eaglespread on the bed, my watery gaze towards the ceiling to trace the patterns. The fat drops slide down both sides of my face relentlessly soaking into my hair and the mattress until finally, there are no more tears left to cry. I continue to stare blankly at the ceiling for a while longer as sleep drapes itself over my eyelids. If I sleep, at least there'll be some kind of peace for me
Last Updated : 2024-11-12DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 28
LILIANAAt first it is shock, then denial and lastly anger, each of them like a potent spell targeted to destroy the very foundation of my relationship with Kyle.Will I get to accept this bullshit news? Never!I seethe, “Don't be ridiculous.” Pushing away from Damian, I scramble to my feet and pull my sweatshirt down. His eyes follow my movements with a dissatisfying blankness on his face. That is all I need to have my blood boiling over. One step closer and I'd be able to claw his eyes out.He rises, his calculating eyes trained on me and lips drawn into a thin line. How can he be so calm after he had just defamed one of the most influential people in Russia?“You don't look too happy at the news, Milaya.” His voice breaks through my train of thought out of nowhere. “Having a hard time processing it?”“No.” I retort with anger as it builds in my chest like a small fire. “You are a liar and you are fucked up in the head. If you could kidnap a widow while mourning, what else can you
Last Updated : 2024-11-13DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 29
LILIANAI'm thirteen again. I stand in a corner of the room shaking as my mother begins a racket, thrashing our living room and wagging an angry finger at me from time to time. Her breath stinks of local rum and cigarettes, that I am certain of. My school bag has been flung, table upturned and I remain where I am for fear of her pouncing upon me should I try to call for help. My lips quiver and I flinch when a glass comes flying close to my head. It shatters on the wall next to me but thankfully, the shards don't pierce my skin. “Where are you, you little rascal?” She turns to me with a wild gaze. This animosity only shows up when I'm on her radar.“Mama?” I whimper, refusing to leave the corner as it is the only place I feel safer.“Your father is out again, the cheating bastard. I shouldn't have let him get me pregnant. I shouldn't have let my parents talk me into marrying him.” Her eyes have a faraway look but it is masked with fury. “I'm sorry.” It is barely above a whisper.
Last Updated : 2024-11-14
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DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 91
DAMIANA week later, I call for a meeting between my closest men in my office.The place smells like cigar smoke and rich leather. The air also is thick with the low murmur of conversation. Zoran talks about his latest security expansions, high-end contracts of which most are surprisingly legal this time but he never turns down a favor for the right price. Andros leans back in his seat, nodding along but mostly listening. Sydney hangs around my left with his arms folded, occasionally offering a word or two when necessary.I take a sip of my whiskey, letting the amber liquid burn slowly down my throat. “The real estate projects in Bogota are progressing well. The columbian families are using the resorts exactly how we expected, you know, keeping their assets clean, moving money in and out without suspicion.”Andros smirks. “Bet they love the extra security too.”“They do,” I agree, setting my glass down. “And it benefits us. A win-win.”Sydney scoffs lightly. “Until the wrong person f
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 90
ANOTHER CHARACTER POV ALERT!SICILYThe garage smells of oil, metal and hardwork as is required of a car factory like mine. My men, the ones closest to me, move around like a well-oiled machine to check the compartments, tighten the bolts and seal the hidden spaces where the firearms rest. This is our craft. Our business and survival. My focus is soon interrupted by my phone ringing. When I pull it out of my pocket, the name that reflects makes me grin. I flip Oleg the bird when he starts to make noises like a monkey. “Hi, munchkins,” Zip drawls, dragging her nickname for me longer than necessary.“Hey, baby.”“You sound tired,” she says immediately. Trust her to be observant when it comes to me. “Long day?”“You could say that. How’s yours?”“Better now that I’m talking to you.” She teases with a light laugh. “I went shopping today. Got a few bags, an antique rug for my condo and oh, those whiskey glasses to replace the ones you kept complaining about.”I huff a laugh. “You mean t
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 89
LILIANAAlthough Zoran is smiling at his wife, he looks like he’s been through a tough time. The exhaustion lining his features says enough. “Liliana, how are you feeling?”“I’m alright,” I tell him honestly. “Just need a few more days and I’ll be back on my feet. Don’t worry about me.”Selena claps her hands together. “And then you two will work on coming together to make me an aunt. I need a little running around the house and going on a destructive spree.”Damian’s head snaps toward her so fast I can almost hear the crack. “Get out.”Zoran lets out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head like he can’t believe his wife. “Let’s just go home.”She snickers at him, sliding off the bed. “What? Too soon? Nobody says they have to start going at it like rabbits right away.”“Out. Go with your husband,” he orders, already pinching the bridge of his nose. Zoran barely holds in a laugh as he takes her hand, leading her towards the door. “Come on, troublemaker.”Her eyes meet me, rounding in di
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 88
LILIANAI feel a lot of things as Selena sits with me and sympathizes for the loss of my baby. If I were to be speaking in all honesty, I doubt I’d be able to give that child what they need.Hell, I barely have control of my life, which makes raising a child the least of things I want. “If I didn’t get a lot of love growing up, what makes you think I’ll be capable of showering them with motherly attention?” Selena lets my words stew before she gives a helpless shrug. “Am I going to be called an asshole for supporting your decisons?”I smile and give her fingers a little squeeze. “You’ll be one if you’re not in support. Kyle betrayed me and I don’t think it’s something I’ll forget in a long time.”Selena turns her head and I look in the direction she turned to see Damian strolling in with a neutral expression. Instantly, my heart rate speeds up and my fingers tremble slightly. He stops by the foot of the bed, his eyes gentle as he watches me. I don’t know what to make of that look.
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 87
DAMIANI gently lower the organs into the cooler after securing it into a zip lock with great care not to cause damage to them. Sicily and his men had found some people sniffing around the dock and brought them to me. To distract myself, I decided to do the dirty work myself, easing into the calmness it brings. Andros walks in without bothering to knock and I can tell from the haste in his steps that whatever has pushed him to forget rules is bigger than he can handle. “It’s the note found on the maid that died last night.” he passes the folded paper over the dead body on the slab.The letter begins with so much apology, thanking me for my good deeds—which is laughable because I don’t do anything unless it benefits me directly—and how it hurts to betray the Seemya this way. A bunch of other nonsense I lose interest in until my eyes catch Selena’s name. “WHAT?!” I bark out, enraged. “What is it?” Andros asks but I’m already on my feet. He grabs the discarded paper and his eyes go r
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 86
LILIANAThe next time I’m conscious, I hear the angry voice of a man threatening to raise hell on someone. I don’t know how long I’ve been out but I do know that I crave complete silence to clear this buzzing in my head.That is until fragments of the conversation floats over to my hearing. “...the hell is that even possible? How could you make such a costly mistake?”“I swear, it was an oversight, Pakhan. Nothing intentionally done.”“Quietly now,” someone hushes the person. It sounds like Alice. She steps up to my side and cradles one of my hands in her very warm ones. “She’s stirring awake.” The voices stop talking at once. That’s when I open my eyes to blinding lights and a pair of mismatched eyes staring down at me with deep concern etched between those brows. He looks like he’d spent the last few minutes getting upset over something. Looking over my head at someone, the anger is back in its place. “Tell her what you told me.”Imagine waking up to shit you have no idea about an
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 85
LILIANA"Liliana…"The voices are all distorted as my vision swims and all the blood rushes to my ears. A hand snakes around my waist to keep me on my feet and then it hits me…I'm going to die. Memories fly around in my head, each a reminder of that time when I was starving and mother refused to feed me because my father had been out for days. Then I ate the only thing I could find stacked amongst Lajla’s belongings: A small scoop from a jar of peanut butter. If it weren't for my sister's timely arrival, I probably might have not witnessed her bailing out on me when I needed her the most.My life's history starts to flash before me and I know without a doubt what it signifies. “Radi boga, don't just stand there. Do something!” Someone yells. Panicked feet resound from everywhere in the room all at once, the voice of Irina panicking as she shrieks, “What's wrong with her?!”The tingling in the back of my throat and the roof of my mouth starts to spread again, prickling my tongue
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 84
LILIANAIt's with tasteless buds that I wake up this morning. My head feels like someone had thrown a party in it throughout the night. My body for some reason won't obey to instructions. One nostril is blocked like traffic on a Monday morning, while the other is a smooth ride to fun town. I hate the day already. After what feels like hours of willing my eyes to open, they pop open of their own accord and I scan the bedroom. Irina is nowhere to be found. “How can such a little girl be up so early while I stay here and sloth away like a snail?” I murmur, rolling until I'm laying on my stomach with my face buried into the pillow. The door opens. “Very gently, Duska.” Alice says to someone in a gentle voice. I'm too tired to look but when I do, I'm immediately thrown off by the smell of the eggs. “Good morning, Alice.” I tell her groggily.“Oh my goodness!” She gasps horrified. “You look terrible. What happened to you?” “I don't know. A truck ran me over last night?” I reply wit
DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES 83
DAMIANWhat should serve as comfort, brings me none. I'm tossing and turning in my bed, sighing, willing this anger swirling in my chest to disappear.I don't know how long it's been but Liliana's earlier rejection burns vivid in my mind. Running a hand through my hair, I begin to pace my bedroom. Sleep won't come, and I think I know why. Liliana rejected me. Not in an emotional outburst, nor with hesitation. Just a simple, uninterested dismissal, like one would a schoolboy who didn't matter. The last time anyone made me feel like this was with Stellëza. It's pissing me off. No one has ever turned me down like that before. Call me egoistic but it's not just my pride that took the hit—there’s something else I can't shake. And then, there is her damn request. The one that ruined the night. She wants me to send her home. She is still ignorant to the way things happen in the Bratva. How else do I make it clear to her that home means death. As long as people think I killed Genovese
