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Postlude: Chapter 8
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2024-10-29 19:42:56“What the fuck do you mean you won’t be here tomorrow?” She hears through the study door, her arm poised to knock. When Dimitri got like this, it was in her best interest to stay away from him.
She stares at the test in her hand and wonders how he would react. A solitary tear slipped down her cheek as she thought back to her first pregnancy. The trauma that followed afterward ate at her every day. No amount of pills could keep PTSD at bay. The nightmares were the worst. She swears she could still feel the Enforcer pulling the nails from her fingers every time she awoke from a night terror.
The door opens abruptly, giving her a fright and the test falls out of her hand. “Amaranthe?” Dimitri frowns at her, “I heard you walking but you did not come in. Why are you just standing here, love?” He asks and bends down to pick up the fallen pregnancy test.
Amaranthe’s heart sat in her throat as he looked up at her and flipp
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AmarantheAmaranthe looked down at her belly and beamed. She was showing beautifully and knew her little bean was safely inside her womb. Dimitri loved stroking her abdomen and whispering to the baby in Russian. It was a beautiful sight that frequently resulted in Amaranthe crying.Today would be their 22-week check-up, but so far Dr. Meyer was happy with the baby’s development.Dimitri was driving the Maserati Levante with the four bodyguards following suit in the Bentayga. “You don’t have to come along to every check-up, lyubov’ moya. I am sure Michael and Alexei will be ample security.”“Nonsense. This is my child, and I will attend every check-up.” Dimitri answers in a terse tone, causing her to smile. He was becoming more overbearing by the day, but she was enjoying the attention. She was worried about his duty as Pakhan as well. Hopefully, no one thought he had gone soft.“
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AmarantheIt 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
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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
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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.ΟΎ ΟΎ ΟΎ
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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
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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.βMatteo- ββSomething bad happened to Anya, didnβt it?β He asked abruptly, eyes brimming with unshed tears. It turned out that Matteo was a lot more perceptive than he let on. βI heard you crying, so it must be really, really bad.βShe nodded sadly. βYes, love. There was a big accident on their way here.β she started, βIβm sorry, Matteo, but she didnβt make it.β Amaranthe felt the tears falling down her cheeks. She tried to be strong, but wasnβt 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. βThe pain is back, just when it started to go away.βAmaranthe stared at this little boy who had lost so much already. Heβs kn
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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