Amaranthe
It was on days like these that Amaranthe wished her babies would come already. It was the hottest day of the year and she had spent it all floating in the pool again. As blessed as she felt at 8 and a half months, she also wished it were all over by now.
All the twins wanted were pickles and ice cream; sometimes even mixed. Dimitri got so frustrated with her need for thick milkshakes, he bought her an appliance that produced milkshakes to the same consistency she craved.
“Amaranthe! Get out of that pool!” Dimitri called from the edge and she groaned. He hated her lounging in the sun for too long. “You will get heatstroke, get out of that pool or I will come to get you.” He ordered, but all she did was raise her sunglasses and look at him.
“Fine.” He says and gets into the pool, fully dressed in his three-piece suit.
“Dimitri! What the hell?!” She called out as he swam over t
Amaranthe’s eyes shot open at Dimitri’s voice. She pushed the blankets back and felt the moisture beneath her, showing that her water had broken while she was in a deep sleep. “No, no, no! It’s too soon!” She cried as she clambered out of bed. Dr. Meyer had recommended a cesarean section because of her high-risk pregnancy, but they only planned it for the following week.“Call Dr. Meyer, Dimitri!” She shrieked as she waddled towards her walk-in. She needed to change before she left for the hospital. No way would she show up in wet pajamas, no matter how freaked out she was. Looking at her wristwatch, she realized the time: 4:30 am.“Yes, I am certain!” Dimitri shouts at the doctor over the phone. “Her water broke, I am bringing her to the hospital right now and you better be there.” The Pakhan had spoken. He threw the phone down and rushed towards her.She could tell he was nervous, which was a firs
Amaranthe lays back in the hospital bed and sighs. She came out of theatre two hours ago and made Dimitri go home and rest. Of course, he did not listen to her and was now attending to work on his laptop in the next room. Her eyes fell on her twins in their bassinets. They were the most beautiful babies she had ever laid her eyes on.Ayden had dark hair like her, while Anastasiya had her father’s blonde hair. They were sleeping now after their first feed and burp, so that gave her a chance to rest her eyes a bit.Three years ago, she never would have thought her life would play out the way it did. She was prepared to die in obscurity and live happily with her sister. Moving to New York and marrying the feared Russian mobster had terrified her, but she knew it needed to be done or they would come after Bailey. In the end, she placated the mob by doing this.If she had to do it over again, she wouldn’t change a thing.Ͼ Ͼ Ͼ
DimitriAmaranthe was settling herself into bed after her eventful afternoon with Elizabeth and Anya. Dimitri noticed she was a little drunk and couldn’t help but smile; she needed this brief break after all. He strode across the room to their walk-in and got into his boxer shorts. With the kids around, he doesn’t sleep naked anymore.“Hmm, Mr. Baranov, you look delicious.” Amaranthe slurred when he removed the towel from his waist. He snickered, “And you are drunk, Mrs. Baranov, so no sexy time for you.”“Sexy time?” She said with a giggle, “You just said sexy time.”Her cheeks were rosy from the alcohol, but to him, she looked lovely. Shaking his head, he got into bed with her and pulled her into his arms. “moye solntse, what am I going to do with you?” He asked, kissing her hair and felt her smile.Amaranthe traced circles on his chest, “What di
AmarantheShe found Matteo sitting on the terrace when she went looking for him. Amaranthe resolved to tell him first. She sat down opposite him and he turned his head. His face was set in a somber expression that caused her to frown.“Matteo- ““Something bad happened to Anya, didn’t it?” He asked abruptly, eyes brimming with unshed tears. It turned out that Matteo was a lot more perceptive than he let on. “I heard you crying, so it must be really, really bad.”She nodded sadly. “Yes, love. There was a big accident on their way here.” she started, “I’m sorry, Matteo, but she didn’t make it.” Amaranthe felt the tears falling down her cheeks. She tried to be strong, but wasn’t doing as well as she expected. Peering at Matteo, she noticed his tears falling as well.He looked down and put a hand to his chest. “The pain is back, just when it started to go away.”Amaranthe stared at this little boy who had lost so much already. He’s kn
DimitriSergei’s car had pulled into the cobblestoned driveway 20 minutes ago, but he still had not made a move to climb out.Dimitri was getting frustrated, so he got up from his chair and left his study.As he walked through the mansion, he heard the twins’ laughter reverberate through the walls of their room. They were truly his blessings and could never imagine putting them through the kind of pain Sergei brought upon his own children.If he was indeed to blame.As he descended the steps in front of his home, he caught Sergei’s expression. He was broken.Slowing his pace in front of the SUV, he walked up to the driver’s seat and leaned on the door.“First off,” He started, “never put the phone down in my fucking ear again. Second, what the fuck are you still doing out here?” As much as he knew Sergei needed to feel like he wasn’t alone, Dimitri could never show it. T
DimitriAfter much deliberation and finally hearing Sergei out, Dimitri made up his mind and called a meeting the following day. He had hoped that Francesco would see this as a peace offering and leave it at that. His family would not suffer because of an indiscretion they were not a part of. It was nearing the anticipated meeting and Dimitri had to admit that he was nervous.Sergei entered Dimitri’s downstairs study, a bit more nervous than before. Ashen faced and visibly terrified, he sighs and waits for Dimitri to start.Dimitri sat forward in his chair, threading his fingers underneath his chin. “I cannot begin to tell you how disappointed I am. When I left Chicago in your care three years ago, I expected more out of you, and yet this is the repayment I get.” Dimitri started and glared at Sergei, who was about to speak but he held up his hand.“You will be silent and listen only. I have communicated with
DimitriDimitri walked into the den and locked the door behind him. Sergei followed suit and sauntered towards the desk that stood in the middle of the room, planting himself on it. He stared at Sergei and offered him a patronizing grin, “You should have been honest from the start, fucker. We could have avoided this.” He replied, giving his friend a jab to the arm.“Next time, don’t try to fucking strangle me before you hear me out. mudak(asshole).”Dimitri laughed, “There won’t be a next time. I think I’ve seen more than enough of Francesco de Leon.” He said, still disgusted by the man. Sergei nodded, then his expression got serious.During the confrontation with Dimitri yesterday, Sergei eventually came clean about everything. After his meeting in Chicago a few months ago, he met up with his brother, Sascha. They were the spitting image of one another, even though th
At that moment, Bailey turned around and spotted her big sister. Without thinking, she ran up to her, “Amy!” she cried, tears visible in her eyes.Amy. She couldn’t remember the last time someone called her that.Bailey slammed into her. Holding her tight, “My Bailey-bales! What are you doing here?” She asked, taking in her little sister’s mature look; Her auburn hair was cut short in a pixie style, she had a lean/athletic build and her skin tanned a warm bronze by the Sicily sun.“Dimitri and I have been talking, I’m moving here with you!”As soon as the smile appeared on Amaranthe’s face, it dropped. Dimitri had taken it upon himself to make a momentous decision regarding her sister. It was a decision she did not like.“Oh, he didn’t speak to me about it,” She said with a raised eyebrow.“Of course not, silly. It was supposed to be a surprise!” She said w
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