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15| Don't Blink.
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
Dream ShadowI'm sorry it has taken me a while to update the book. Being a new writer, I did not know that I can not claim my bonuses for two exclusive books at the same time. With that being said, Defiant Queen will be updated daily next month. Thank you for your patience! 09-08-23
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Defiant Queen 16| I Need You.
With unstable hands, I pull out the phone Dmitri had slipped inside my leather jacket as we entered the club. I bite the bullet and call the one person I know who will still drop everything to come to my rescue at the drop of a hat. Even if he despises himself for it in the end. Inhaling a shaky breath with my eyes never swaying from Dmitri, I press the phone to my ear and pray to the Gods that the son-of-a-bitch answers. "Hello?" He answers on the second ring in a clipped tone. The words, "I need you," are all I'm able to utter at the moment. The plea that departed between the grim lines of my mouth only seconds ago, sounded like three very simple and harmless words. But these three words, to someone like me, at a time like this, are effortlessly blurring the lines between life and death. "Please." I implore, biting back a sob. He grunts, "I'm on my way." And instantly, I hear his car door slamming in the background. The second the light comes back on in the office, I yank o
Defiant Queen 17| Mi Dispiace
"Just so you know, I did come to see you... to tell you what really happened... Your father refused to let me speak with you." His words replay in my head like a broken record and my pulse spikes. Again, my father interfered with my love life. Just like I know he and Viktor planned on sending Dmitri to Russia together. I stalked after him into the living room. "Wait, just a second!" I sneer. "Did you just say that you came back for me?" His shoulders sag as he spins around to look me in the eyes and he takes another sip from the bottle. Like the whiskey was giving him the courage to stand there and tell me the utter truth. "Si, I did. But I was never good enough for you in your father's eyes." He chuckles acidly with a shake of his head and he points the bottle at me, "The great Artemis Volkov didn't want his precious daughter dating an Italian." Suddenly it feels like my stomach has grown teeth as it churns with his harsh declaration about my father. The abundance of anim
Defiant Queen 18| I Was Drugged.
A soft moan escapes past my lips and he greedily swallows it, keeping the forbidden sound solely for himself. His lips are cool and soft. His tongue feels like velvet and tastes like whiskey. My hands glide up the hard wall of his chest, over the hard balls of his shoulders and through his soft hair. "You taste like heaven..." He grumbles with desire. Hooking one leg over his waist, I pin him to me with the heel of my foot and I moan louder when his bulging cock rubs against my sex. His hands roam over my body until they reach my ass, his fingers dig into my flesh and he swiftly picks me up off the floor. This is how I remember it always being this way between us. Hot and heavy. Fast and feverish. "I should have fought for you. I never should have left without you." He mutters between our kisses. This is wrong. I know it is. I'm with Dmitri and here I am kissing my ex like I'm trying to make up for the lost time between us. I tear my lips away from his, panting; tryi
Defiant Queen 19| A Taboo Topic.
Sitting across from Amani, I cross my left leg over my right and I lean back into the sofa giving him my undivided attention. I wasn't there for him two years ago when he needed my shoulder to lean on. But, I'm here for him now, I may be tired, sore, and worried about Dmitri... But those feelings are going to have to take a backseat ride until Amani is content with what he's shared with me. He leans forward in his seat, spreads his legs wide open, dipping his head, he watches the bottle of whiskey in his grasp, swinging back and forth. Silence lingers between us. Heightened emotions are soaring high, and the beating of our hearts hammers against our ribcages. "It is such a taboo topic for a male to speak about being raped." He speaks with venom lacing his words as he starts to open up. "Whether it be by a male or a female. But it is so much worse; degrading when you try to tell the authorities that you were sexually violated by a female half your size. The men all but laugh in
Defiant Queen 20| A Suppressed Memory.
I jolted awake with a whimper that was stifled by the sweaty palm pressed against my mouth.The heavyweight was cutting off my air supply as another hand glided up my nightgown, it was rough, kneading and bruising. Fear, surprise, and alarm gripped me. I thrashed against the bed, kicking my legs frantically."No... Please, stop... What are you doing... you are hurting me..."Panting erratically, my legs were suddenly yanked apart. The hard thing between his legs rashly poked... stabbed my inner thigh.My lungs feel like they are on fire, he's strong, and no matter how hard I try to push him off me, he's just too heavy. I'm a prisoner in my own bed."Stop... Get off me... Please! No.. don't touch me there, not there... it hurts... Why are you hurting me?"Mummy!!!The man's hand pressed down on the side of my face, forcing my head into the pillow. The more I struggled, putting up a fight, the more excited he became.Panting horrible, vile words against the hard shell of my ear, he fo
Defiant Queen 21| I Hope It's My Name You'll Be Uttering.
"Tesoro [Treasure], Listen to the words that are coming out of my mouth very carefully," He says fiercely, taking no prisoners. "No one is going to touch you, no one can get to you ever again, they would have to get through me first."My fingers bite into his skin as they tighten around his comforting words."And that will never happen." He says with conviction.I speak through the ache in my throat, "He's dead," my voice shudders, "My mother had come in to check on me, with Uncle Viktor by her side like she usually did. But this time, something had compelled her to come to check on me earlier and she told Uncle Viktor to bring her gun with him. Just as my attacker was..." I sniffle, shaking my head as I release a shuddering breath, "... just as he was entering me, stretching my insides... the light came on, and my mother yelled something out in Russian. She took the gun Uncle Viktor had passed her and ... She shot him." I whimper, letting the torrent of tears free; releasing the press
Defiant Queen 22| I'm Going To Russia.
I exit the ensuite wrapping my towel around my body a little tighter than I usually would. For some odd reason, I feel dirty, my body tingles with a forbidden sensation that has me questioning my sanity. How could I want to be touched, sexually after my night's terror and by Amani, whom I'm not in a relationship with? Does masturbating in the shower thinking of an ex make me a cheater? Is there something mentally wrong with me? Shouldn't I be feeling sorry for myself and sick to my stomach? There are so many emotions bomb barding my mind and I don't know what to make of it. As I peer up, I see Amani sitting on the foot of the bed with his head dipped, and wearing just a pair of sweats. I falter in my strides and gasp with surprise as my heart momentarily ceases, and my breath hitches. He looks up through narrowed eyes, they slowly glide up my body, drinking in each inch of my exposed flesh and I gnaw on my inner cheek suppressing a soft moan. As his gaze trails up my body,
Defiant Queen 23| Loner.
I step out of the uber out front of the airport and I slam the door behind me. The icy cold feeling of bitter annoyance at myself invades my mind like a plague. I still can not believe I pulled a fucking gun on Amani. He didn't deserve it but in the heat of the moment, I didn't know what else to do. If I had told him to stay, he would have fought me at every corner until I gave up. I walk through the airport cautiously looking over my shoulder, scrutinizing everyone near and far from my proximity. I'm so out of my element, if someone was to rush up behind me, place a pillowcase over my head and shove me into the back of a white van with blacked-out windows, I'd still be trying to find my voice to scream for help. "Hello, my name is Alicia, thank you for flying with us, how may I help you?" A petite female with exotic taupe colour eyes addresses me with her focus on the computer in front of her, and her fingertips effortlessly glide across the keyboard. I pull out one of my alias
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Defiant Queen 65| Room To Expand.
The world is very good at inflicting pain on me.An agony that is so intense that there is nothing else.Darkness engulfs me, blinding me.I’m dying. I just know it.I’ve fought a good fight in my life, and everything I have been subjected to; forced to endure is nothing like this. Only death can feel like this.No matter how much I will myself to keep on fighting, there just isn’t anything left in me to keep going.I ache all over. Every muscle in my body has been robbed of its strength, and I can feel myself sinking deeper into the endless sea of darkness.Dmitris’ face flickers before me.His voice fills my ear canals, stroking my feverish flesh like velvet.Then I think of Leo, how he did right by me, and how my heart slowly began to open up and let him in. He loves me fiercely, and I know if I give up, he will have Wolf by his side.Wolf, looks like Amani. He has a gentle soul and the day Ivan brought him home, he has thrived beyond our wildest dreams. Proving himself to everyon
Defiant Queen 64| We Have Forever.
FORTY-EIGHT HOURS LATER: Lifting my hand with my heart hammering in my chest and butterflies fluttering in the pit of my stomach, I knock on Leos’ office door. I wait a few breaths before the door is pulled open by one of his men. As his gaze falls on me, he steps to the side to allow me to enter, and when Leo sees me, he rises to his feet from behind his desk, buttoning the front of his charcoal suit jacket. He clears his throat, “Leave us.” Without any hesitations or questionable expressions marring their features, all fifteen of his men exit the room in utter silence. “Bella, what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” He smiles as he walks around his desk, cupping my face in his hands, and places a gentle kiss on the top of my head. Since we have been married, Leo has not made any attempt to pressure me into filling my duties as his wife or so much as tried to kiss me on the lips. He has been very patient with me, giving me all the space I need, as well as sleeping in the room
Defiant Queen 63| Make It Look Like An Accident.
TWO MONTHS LATER:Three weeks have passed since I arrived in Sicily, accompanied by Leo, my husband. It has been four weeks since we exchanged our vows and became one. Fortunately, Leo had kept his promise and ensured that our wedding was a small and intimate affair, just as I had requested.The sole attendees of our union consisted exclusively of the distinguished members of the Elite Family's leadership. The only witnesses and approvers of our holy matrimony were the ones we deemed necessary; those of the inner circle that influenced a wider spectrum. As we sat across the table, I knew that our reputation was on the line. Our coming together was questioned.The rumours of a feud between Leo and myself had spread like wildfire, threatening to tarnish our image as a united front. But I was determined to set the record straight. With a confident smile, I spoke of our shared vision and unwavering commitment to success. As I looked over at Leo, I knew that we were more than just a co
Defiant Queen 62| It's Not A Request.
As I continue to helplessly stare after Dmitris’ fading figure, I collapse to my knees-my right knee hitting the wet concrete ground first, then, my left. Pain disperses across the hard balls of my kneecaps, but the foreboding pain of heartbreak that continues to seep into the roots of my heart outweighs any other pain my body is slowly trying to register.He left me.In the rain.Crying.Heartbroken.Alone.I hate him!I fucking hate him with everything I have and I hope he crashes on his stupid bike that makes him look smoking hot!Covering my face with my hands, I burst into tears.I don’t hate him.I could never hate him.I love him so fucking much that I would die for him.I’d kill for him.Why does loving someone hurt so much?Is this what men mean when they say that love is the greatest weakness one can possess?It can be one’s downfall until there is no return.“Time will heal your broken heart, cara mia. But first, you need to push through the pain and accept Dmitris’ decisi
Defiant Queen 61| Indefinitely.
My heart feels like it is shattering into a million pieces for the last and final time as I intently gaze at Dmitri. The look of unwavering disbelief tainting his features makes my stomach churn. Gods, I feel sick. I’m so torn between doing what is right and disregarding everything just to be with the one person who makes my heart whole. Both Dmitri and Leo have one thing in common. They never let anyone get close enough to see the real them. No one aside from me anyway. I jolt the second he takes one step toward me, his eyes blazing with rage. “If he is forcing you to make this oath with him, decline it now, and we will get the hell out of here.” He whispers roughly as he turns his head to the side to mask his words from Leo. Sighing, I shake my head, trying to rein in my runaway heartbeat. “He isn't D. When he presented me with the proposal, at first, I laughed, then I became enraged, and finally, I realised where he was coming from. Marrying Leo ensures our safety. Marrying Leo
Defiant Queen 60| My Word Is My Bond.
Leo slicks back his hair, still damp from the shower, and squares his shoulders as he locks eyes with Dmitri. The air in the dimly lit room is heavy with tension as the two men stand face to face, their eyes locked in a deadly stare-down. The atmosphere is charged with danger as they wait for the other to show weakness and submit to their dominance. I know for certain that Dmitri will not lower his gaze first, especially since he is slowly removing his jacket. I also know that Leo won't back down either, and I find that incredibly alluring. I underestimated him right from the start, but now I see the fire in his eyes and the power he holds. I won't be making that mistake ever again. “If this clown shoots Dmitri, the deal is off,” I state firmly, reminding them both that I am still present. “D, you can put your jacket back on, this isn’t a pissing contest.” Church keeps his gun raised, paying no attention to me as he clears his throat and moves closer to Dmitri. I step out
Defiant Queen 59| Let's Go Home.
I stand outside on the balcony of my hotel room, which overlooks the small city with bright lights illuminating the sidewalks. The cool early morning breeze gently sweeps across my face, cooling my flushed cheeks and my boiling blood thrumming through my veins.Dipping my head, I look down at my hands which are no longer covered in Giovanni's blood. Flashes of me slitting his throat wash over me, making me dizzy, fuelled by sin. Sucking in a razor-sharp breath, I focus on the sky's blanket of beauty that is staring me right in the face. There is no point in me wasting what little energy I consume, bemoaning crimes I've committed, or wasting precious time by expressing regret. It is done.It's over.The streets run red with the blood of our enemies and vengeance has been achieved.I’m safe.No one is coming to hurt me any time soon.I can finally breathe and not feel like I’m choking on my anxiety. My fingers grip the steel fence, turning my knuckles a ghastly shade of white, as
Defiant Queen 58| End Game.
LEO'S POINT OF VIEW: As my father gives me the order to shoot Zeynep in the kneecaps, I watch the look of defiance and unwavering courage burn in her irises. She is truly spectacular, a little bud that has blossomed into something beautiful since I met her. She has created an unexpected throb in my heart and messed up the rhythm of its beat. I hate my father with a passion, and I have been waiting for this opportunity for as long as I can remember. From the moment I learned the truth about my mother’s demise, I have lived and thrived on deception and deceit. Manipulating the game is a thrill of mine, and I never let anyone get close enough to discover my hidden truths. Zeynep is a prized gem, something to be cherished. We are rivals. Sworn enemies yet, she is the only woman who can put out the fire in our bloodlines. “What are you waiting for, Leo? A fucking invitation? Shoot her knees!” My father orders. I cock the gun, waiting for Zeyneps’ jaded-coloured irises to meet mine, an
Defiant Queen 57| Hopes And Dreams.
My heart aches as a dull pain splinters across my chest while Leo continues to meet my gaze.Never in my brightest days did I imagine that I would see Leo standing by his father's side, and now that I do, the thought of trusting him makes me sick.“Are you going to kill me?” I courageously ask, suppressing my fear back into the darkness where it belongs.Drip. Drip. Fucking Drip…Leo’s brows furrow for a second and an unreadable expression masks his features, but it disappears just as quickly as it appeared.“Kill you?” He grounds out, straightening with a cruel hiss departing between his lips.His arm is still in a sling and his face still looks like a messy canvas with different coloured bruising splattered along his jawline.“Yeah… Are you going to kill me?”Slowly shaking his head, Leo sighs roughly and combs his fingers through his hair. “We aren’t going to kill you, Zeynep.” His voice is smooth and gentle. “You are aware that my father wishes to marry you to completely corrupt
