Dimitri
Amaranthe was in bed reading when Dimitri went up to bed. He still could not fathom how or why she loved him. He was, for all intents and purposes, death incarnate. Dimitri did not care if his target was man, woman, or child and it was what bothered him more than anything. His taking over of Chicago proved this; his small army had made sure there were no heirs or survivors left alive. Yet, this beauty loved him as if he was as pure as the driven snow.
She looked up when she heard the door open and frowned. “You’re done early. Are the designs completed?” She asked, putting her book down then setting her reading glasses on top of it. He shook his head, taking off his tie as he walked towards their bed. “I missed my wife,” He said and sat next to her. She gave him one of her smiles that made him fall in love with her all those years ago in the diner. “Is that so? Well, come to bed, I’ve missed you too. It
AmarantheThe drive to the airport was uncomfortable. The children were at home with RG and Mari so Amaranthe couldn't even use them to distract herself.You could cut the tension with the tip of your fingernail. Amaranthe tried to make small talk but to no avail. Maybe Bella is still resentful towards her, and now she would be sending her away. She finally turned towards her sister, “Bella, what’s wrong? I thought you would be happy to be going to the school of your dreams? Are you still upset with me?” She asked and noticed the surprise in Bella’s eyes. Bella put her hands on Amaranthe’s leg, “No! Not at all! I will just miss you, that’s all. I barely saw you and now I’m leaving again.” She finally revealed, but Amaranthe did not miss how her eyes flicked to Dimitri. It was quick, but she caught it.Did something happen between them?She offered Bella a tight smile, &ld
Amaranthe2 am - Dimitri had still not been back home. He was ignoring her calls, including her messages, and Alexei did not reveal anything either.Bella had tried to seduce her husband, with complete disregard to her own sister. That hurt a lot more than she cared to admit, but not only had Bella done that, but she accused Dimitri of being compliant. Not only did she insult him to his face, but she proved to him she did not trust him.She walked the mansion halls and stopped in front of the twins’ room and peeked in. They were fast asleep without a care in the world, as it should be, and a small smile crossed her lips. She did the same to Matteo and Kiara but noticed Matteo was awake and staring out the window.Frowning, she walks into the room, “Matteo, honey. Why are you still awake?” She asked, coming to a stop at the edge of his bed. He looked towards her, his little face scrunched up as if he was deep in thought.
AmarantheShe walks the halls of St Leonards in complete silence. In a few years’ time, her own children would be doing the same. Anya had just joked about their girls running the school alongside their boys, and she was lying to herself if she said she didn’t think so as well.They were at full occupation now, with the waiting list growing. She never would have thought Dimitri’s venture of a school for kids of crime families would do as well as this, with an expansion looming as well.This proved that even the most hardened criminals cared for their children enough to send them to a school where their familial feuds did not reach them.She rounded the corner to her office, and she got a lump in her throat when her eyes fell on Anya’s empty office. She could not bring herself to replace her best friend, so she struggled through the paperwork on her own. Dimitri had said she would need to replace the post soon, especially with the e
It has been two months since Amaranthe went for her checkup. During that time the doctor had called her back twice for a breast ultrasound, follow-up mammogram, and biopsy. Dr. Meyer had said that she wanted to rule everything out, that these follow-up tests did not necessarily mean she had cancer.Dimitri had been so caught up in work that he did not notice the change in her demeanour. It was close to spring break and the school would be closing soon, so she would be at home with the children. As well as her thoughts.For the past few weeks, she spent more time with her children than she ever had before. She hugged them a little tighter, laid with them a bit longer, and read that extra bedtime story when they asked. Tomorrow she could get a call that would change their lives forever, so she was making the best of things while she could.It was on one particular afternoon when she found herself hunched over and grading papers, when she received
Ayden - 15 Years Old“Ayden, Ana! Hurry up or we will be late!” My mother calls from the foyer. I gave myself another once over in the mirror and nodded. Dressed in the average school uniform for a private school, except this uniform was Gucci made. My father only wanted the best for his school.I ran my fingers through my thick dark hair and breathed out a sigh. Today would be my first day at St Leonard's and I was extremely giddy. I walk out of my room and spot my sister as she walks down the winding staircase, her blonde curls bobbing up and down as she hums. We were twins, but could not look different from one another.Where Anastasiya had my father’s fair blonde hair, I had my mother’s thick brunette mane. However, the both of us had my father’s blue eyes. Anastasiya was kind like my mother, whereas I inherited my father’s bloodthirsty Russian blood.I killed my first man over the summer, and my fa
We arrive home and I immediately head to my father’s study. He needed to be informed of Killian’s doings.As I near his study, I poise my arm to knock when Lev grabbed my hand. I peered up at my father’s most trusted man and he shook his head. “Your father is in a very important meeting with Moscow. Give him an hour or two.” He explained in his thick Russian accent and I nodded at this. Things in Moscow were escalating again, and it had distracted my father, to say the least. He told me he might have to go over there to placate the Pakhan’s but he dreaded to. My mother, of course, did not know about this. The last time my father went to Moscow, my mother had been touring Italy when a rogue mafia gang kidnapped her. They think I do not know about this, but people talked.My mother was known as The Tortured Queen in mafia circles.Taking the stairs up two at a time, I round the corner to my bedroom when I spot Kiara lurking abou
Anastasiya Baranova - 15 Years OldToday would be my first day at St Leonard’s and I was not sure if I was excited or scared.Kiara had told me about all the nasty goings on that no one knew about, and frankly, it terrified me. Checking my floor-length mirror one last time, I left the confines of my room and hoped today would be a good day.I hum my favorite tune as I descend the staircase and see my mother getting her bag from the foyer table. She was so beautiful; I admired her so much, but her recent cancer treatments have taken it out of her. I don’t know why my father allows her to be back at school when she should be focusing on her health. At night, when she thinks everyone is asleep, I hear the heart-wrenching music emanating from her music room. Her cello weeps for the pain she is in.“Mamma,” I call and her head whips up. She smiles when she sees me and I run into her arms, wrapping her in a tight embrace
We enter the school doors and I scan the hallways, spying a familiar face and immediately a smile crossed my face.Killian was walking towards me, and he had a very lustful look in his eyes. I put my hand up to wave at him, but he walks right past me. I frown and turn around to face him as I realize now that he was not looking at me.I wish I didn’t turn around.He had a busty brunette in his arms and was kissing her as if he was parched and she was the only drink available. Dakota turns towards me, “Oh my god, Ana, I am so sorry,” she says and I swallow my shame down. I shook my head and walked towards him, tapping him on the shoulder.He twists his head around and his olive green eyes meet my blue ones with surprise, then dread.“Anastasiya!” he exclaims with an anxious tone, and I smile at him sweetly. Do I really want to end up with this person forever?“So this is what my intended husband is getting u
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