Antonio arrives 15 minutes later and at this point, Amy was not sure how she would broach this topic with him. She was bound to Dimitri, had been bound to him since she was three years old due to an agreement between two large New York mafia families.
And they knew where she lived, and they knew about Bailey.As she opens the door for Antonio, she falls into his arms and sobs her heart out. Antonio, taken aback, holds her tightly and leads them both inside the house. He wasn’t sure what happened in the hour he was gone, but by the looks of things, it was not anything good.Amy composes herself and wipes her tears away. He must surely think she is bipolar by now, telling him to go away one second and crying for him to come back the next. She looks up at him with sadness, knowing nothing good can come of their relationship. “What happened, Amy?” he asks her softly while cupping her face. Amy braces herself. “Do you know anyone byAmy watches his Emperor leave her home for the last time. They had spent one last night together just laying in one another’s arms and not speaking a word. She knew he couldn’t help her even though he was dying to. She was an offering, a necessary sacrifice.She called Julie and asked her to come around to the house as she needed to discuss a few things with her. She needed to consider Bailey and would not allow her sister to get mixed up in any of this. In order to keep Bailey safe, she would need to leave her in Olivewood under the protection of Julie, the only person she trusted with her sister. This will need to make the necessary arrangements at the diner as well.But first, she needed to sort something out with the man she was to marry. Sighing, she takes out her cellphone and scrolled down to the last number Dimitri had called her from. Bracing herself, she pressed dial – He answers on the third ring.“Amaranthe,
DimitriDimitri watches her sleep. They were on his family’s private jet and on their way to New York. He could tell this whole thing frightened her immensely, but he knew she needed to be afraid, her fear would help her survive his family. The New York Famiglia and Bratva had been waiting over 20 years for this union, and now the two of them would unite the two volatile families.He remembered the first time he saw her in the diner. He had been coming into the diner every night for over the past three months, but she never took notice of him, until he made himself known. Then he found he couldn’t stop coming into the diner every night to speak to her. He knew she was his by right, but he needed to know her first. He needed to know the woman he was to marry.And what a woman she was! She was full of life and spunk and she seized the day as if it were her last. She had grown on him, but he knew he would have to break her t
AmyHolding his hand tightly, Amy is lead to who would be her in-laws in a week’s time. Halfway up the stairs, Dimitri squeezed her hand. Amy looked up at him, but he was looking straight ahead, a steely gaze pinned to his parents. Viktor and Lizabeta Baranov looked like Russian royalty, His mother had pale skin, grey eyes, and was of average height and weight. She held her head high and poised. Wearing an elegant emerald green wrap dress and black platform heels, her long blonde hair cascading in curls down her back, she had a lovely smile on her face, and Amy could not help but smile back. Viktor on the other hand, was an opposing figure in black, watching them with a stoic expression that was the usual look for The Baranovs.“Dimitri,” Lizabeta gushed out, holding her hands out for a hug and Dimitri reciprocates, giving his mother kisses on both cheeks. “Mama,” he greets her and Amy noted the real smile on his fac
Amy Amy paces her room; she had been up since 4 am wracked with nerves. Could she go through with this? She had no one for support here, no one at all, and she felt so utterly alone. Her time spent in New York had been opulent so far, the Baranov’s were classy spenders and showed it. Viktor was still cold towards her, but she had been nothing but polite to him at every turn.Dimitri avoids her like the plague these days. Ever since his half-assed apology in the gardens the other day, she had seen less and less of him. She wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or not. Suddenly her mind goes to her wedding night and she groans. Dimitri will expect her to spread her legs for him tonight, something she hadn’t thought about until now. Another thing for her to worry about today. Great.There was a knock at the door and her heart leaped out of her chest. “Amaranthe, the makeup artist is here.” Came
DimitriDimitri held her hand and led her towards the elevator. They had just arrived at his penthouse after the disaster of a wedding and he could tell Amy was still in shock. Lev parked the SUV and checked the perimeter of the underground parking before giving them the all-clear.He noted that she held onto his hand tightly, a sign that she wanted him to make her feel safe, a feat he knew he could carry out. But would she see the effort he would make? Time would tell. As they step into the elevator with Lev, Boris, and Alexei in tow, Dimitri input the code that would lead them to his penthouse.While the elevator ascended, he squeezed Amy’s hand and smiled at her. She looked at him and gave him a tight smile. Today’s events have left a deep impression on her. The life of a Made Man was never easy, but even more so for their wives. They get traded and kidnapped as if they were the glue holding the organized syndicate together. When th
AmyThe following morning, she woke up to a heavy arm draped across her waist and froze. Dimitri was holding her tightly and she could feel his bulge pressed against her lower back. With heat rising in her cheeks, she gently moved his arm and feels him stir next to her. Dimitri pulls her closer and slams her lightly against his solid chest. “Good morning, moye solntse.” He sighed in her ear and kissed her neck. His hand trailed slowly towards her chest where he brushed her nipple with his thumb. She gasps quietly and she could hear him chuckle.Dimitri then unwraps his arm from her and gets up. As she watched him get out of bed and stretch the sleep away, she realized he had slept naked next to her. She slipped her head lower into the comforter and blushed to the roots of her hair. When he sauntered towards his closet and angled slightly when he reached for a shirt, she peeped out from under the blanket to examine his nude form and
Amy7 pm – Amy just finished preparing supper; chicken cordon bleu along with a salad and red wine to wash it down. She set the dinner table and laid out a plate for Dimitri as well, but he said he would be home late, so she didn’t bank on him showing up for their first supper together.Just as she sat down and poured herself a glass of wine, she saw the elevator open and heard Dimitri’s rough voice to Alexei, “That will be all,” and with that Alexei nods and turned to leave. Amy got up to go greet her husband, but as she strode towards him, she saw the look in his eyes.He was livid.She had never seen him this angry before. He had a wave of calm anger about him, something she realized could not bode well for her. So, she decided to turn away from him but as she had her back to him, he said something that made her stop in her tracks, “Amaranthe, I will not have a whore parading as my wife.”
AmyAmy stretched as she stirred awake, her arm touching the empty space next to her. Why didn’t Dimitri wake her? Things have gotten reasonably better between the two of them over the past few weeks, not amazing, but better than before.Sighing, she picks up her phone from the bedside table and saw there was a text from her husband:Had to leave for work early and did not want to wake you. Today will be better than yesterday. DSmiling at his text that explained his absence, she puts the phone down after noticing the time he had sent it.3 am!She feels a chill down her spine when she realized his ‘work’ was Bratva business. Shrugging it off, she gets out of bed and heads to the bathroom.She knew life in New York would be lonesome, but she didn’t expect it to be this lonely. In her everyday life back home, she was always surrounded by people and always had someone to talk to. Yet her
I watch as Anastasiya walks away from me, and I feel my heart break even more. Deciding to reveal my secret to her had proved futile because she told me exactly what I feared she would. She took Ayden’s side, which is exactly what I would have done if Damon’s fiancee had to do this to him. I was Anastasiya’s best friend, but Ayden was her brother. There was no way I could make her choose between us. Sighing, I turn around and decide to head towards the exit. I do not think I could get through this day. Ana had told me to come clean to Ayden, but he would surely kill me and Matteo. Why did he have to kiss me?! How could I have been so stupid! I walk down the corridors and spot a familiar figure heading my way and froze. Ayden was walking with another girl with long blonde curls. She was an older girl from New Orleans and belonged to the Benedetti family, a Mafia Princess if there ever was one. Poised and proper. I slipped into the classroom next to my
Killian was sitting opposite me, trying to convince me to change my mind.“Please reconsider, Anastasiya. I am sure we can make this work.” He said as we’re sitting in St Leonard’s cafeteria. I had decided to take my father up on his offer of choosing someone of my own free will. Killian and I would never work, not after finding out about his man whore ways.“I’m sorry, Killian, but I have seen and heard things about you. We would never work out, not with your wandering eye and cheating ways.” I tell him and stand up from the cafeteria table, “You’re free now to fuck around with whoever you want to, just not with me.” Then I turn to leave.The last thing I needed was to be disrespected by a boy in a lower tier than my Bratva line.I started adopting more of my brother’s attitude and confidence over the last few days. Seeing how people respected him when he walked into a room made me realize
We have just left the hospital after seeing my mother. Her MRI showed nothing serious was wrong, but the blow to her head heavily concussed her. I have to admit that seeing her pale and bleeding had scared me half to death. My mother had always been a fighter, she was the toughest woman I knew and worthy of the title of Bratva Queen. She was quiet when she needed to be and fiercely protective of those she loved.Which was why I understood her decision to not tell me about Dakota and Matteo.After I met her on the stairs, I realized that I had forgotten my phone on the counter downstairs. I got the end tail of her conversation with a man I trusted above anyone.“It wasn’t supposed to happen, Ama. I think of Ayden as my brother as well. I would never do anything reckless to hurt him-”“But you have, Matteo. You betrayed him today by kissing Dakota.”My heart stopped at that moment. What had I just walke
It was as if everything was moving in slow motion as I entered the kitchen.Amaranthe turned too quickly and bumped her abdomen on the side of the breakfast nook, then she faltered backwards and started to fall. I ran to catch her, but I was too late… She hit her head on the opposite counter before I could reach her.And she hit it hard.“Alexei!” I scream for her bodyguard, who was nowhere in sight. I told him to be with her at all times, she was too weak to do things on her own now. Amaranthe was always giving him the slip, adamant she could do things on her own.Always trying to hide her weakness away from me, but she didn’t know that I could see right through her.I cradle her in my arms, cradling the back of her head… then I smell it - blood.“ALEXEI! LEV!” I cry out loudly again, feeling completely unhinged now. She knocked her head so hard that she was bleeding, who knows the damage she has
AmarantheSimple things have become more difficult for me to do.Showering takes longer now and I am out of breath by the time I am done washing my hair. Even brushing my hair takes everything out of me.I dare not tell Dimitri how bad the recent cancer treatment has got me, he would surely strangle the newest doctor. Or keep me home.I remember the time I left Dr. Martin’s after she told me it was not cancer they discovered in my mammogram. I felt elated that after a few treatments the growths would have been all but gone and I could move on with my life. But fate did not mean it to be. After Dr Martin removed the growths, the cancer cells spread sporadically; it was as if the growth prevented the cancer cells from growing.I have not heard from Dr. Martin since the cancer was first discovered; I think Dimitri had her killed, but I dare not ask him.I look at myself as I stand naked in my walk-in and sigh. After my do
I watched as Francesco pulled up in his Maybach with two of his bodyguards, and the first thing I noticed was that he had no entourage along with him.Was this his way of showing that he meant me no harm?Even so, this bothered me. Why would he need to show me this?I input my thumbprint on the pad in my phone and the gate opened. Thereafter my men collected their guns and walked them through to my office.I do not know how to handle this. What do I do if I discover my family might be in more danger than I originally anticipated? Amaranthe is too weak to go into hiding by herself.Francesco saunters into my office and glances towards my desk with a disturbed look on his face. His bodyguards follow suit and stand behind him.“Dimitri,” he greets me with a nod and I return the gesture.“Glad you could be here, Francesco,”There was no point in being an asshole right now. If there was something he needed to
Ayden is sitting opposite me, waiting for my next move. He does not yet know that most of the work of a Pakhan is done without the use of his fists. This is the reason we have enforcers. The negotiations my father has done throughout the years and what I have achieved after he died, were all done through our enforcers or via meetings with leaders.This is why I’m currently staring at Francesco’s number.I press dial, willing my anger to come to the forefront, and Francesco answers on the fourth ring.“Bratva Bishop! To what do I owe this surprising call?” He answers in a mock surprised tone, causing me to grate my teeth.“What happened to the Bratva and Cartel keeping out of the other’s way, Francesco? I thought we had a, how did you call it, unwritten rule?” I reply, echoing his sentiment from years ago. Before Sergei’s brother’s deed, we had kept out of the other’s way.I hear him chuckl
There seemed to be another war brewing, and this time it was between Bratva and Cartel members.I looked down at my most trusted man. The man I had trusted with my children, with my wife and with my own life - only to find out he had done the most despicable thing I could ever have imagined,And all under my own roof.Kiara did not need to say more I understood clearly; now I am in the basement where my fists were meeting his jaw repeatedly; the last blow dislocating it completely.“‘Mitri!” Came the voice of Sergei, my brother for all intents and purposes, “Keep him alive, I need to get a few blows in as well.”I know Sergei was itching to get his hands into Boris, but this was my blood debt to take. He violated Kiara while I trusted him inside my home.Looking over at Sergei, I shake my head, “I failed you, brother. I trusted the wrong man to protect your daughter with and now he has taken something from
Dakota Dereon - 16 Years OldThey say the life of a Dereon will always be privileged.Elizabeth and August Dereon are my parents, known as the CEO Power Couple, they instantly tripled everything they touched in profits. My older brother, Damon, was set to follow in their footsteps, while I was to become a Bratva wife.The prospect of being married to anyone in the Bratva would make any woman shiver right down to their bones. Especially if that person was the son of The Bratva Bishop, Dimitri Baranov.But not me.Ayden and I have been close since we were young, we were inseparable, and now our parents have fated us to be married. It was perfect.Until Matteo had to ruin it.It was the evening of my Sweet 16, Ayden had snuck some of his father’s Vodka into the punch bowl, and our parents being exceptionally trusting had kept us unsupervised. An hour later, and everyone was drunk. Ayden had passed out on my bed whe