NerthusI stand there smiling and watching the sea as if nothing happened.And it has me boiling.But I’m currently holding the most beautiful and adorable little baby that I have ever seen.And she smells amazing.So, it’s okay, I guess.I cuddle the baby girl closer, as she is staring out at the waves as if it’s the first time her luxury-spoiled eyes see it.“Oh, looks like you got yourself a new friend,” Emily says in a high-pitched voice, making me turn around while I’m rocking her baby. She leans in with a big smile, shaking a bottle of milk in front of her daughter’s face while holding a bottle of champagne in the other.She is my idol.Larissa kicks with her little legs while pushing out the cutest giggle ever, making us both laugh as well. “Isn’t she heavy? I’m so sorry. It’s already been hours that she is clinging to you.”“No way. She is perfect and not heavy at all. And we are having fun.” Hugging her closer I change my voice playfully, “Right, little angel?”As if wanting
NerthusThe dinner is lovely, and I can see how much thought and planning they put into everything, and I absolutely love it.I also love the thought that I was a direct recipient of all this as I’m invited as myself, being Arawn’s girlfriend, and not just the company who happened to be booked for the evening.After dinner, and the children being put to bed by the nanny, we are sitting in a heated winter garden. We are chatting happily while the wine flows and the men are smoking cigars.I’m enjoying my tiramisu while being cuddled against Arawn’s side in a cozy lounge.“You can stay overnight if you want. We have enough guestrooms,” Harvey offers, making me look at Arawn with big eyes.He chuckles, tearing his eyes from me. “Don’t look at me like that! I told you we had to go back to the City after dinner.”“You could leave right after breakfast,” Emily adds, making me giggle.Arawn groans as I scoop another bit of the delicious dessert into my mouth. “Why don’t you all make your pla
NerthusI hurry to collect my things and follow Arawn into the car without making a scene.As I get into the car, my heart is already beating into my throat.Arawn starts the car as soon as I have settled in and drives off the property while clasping the steering wheel.“What is happening, Arawn?” I finally ask as we are already on the road for several minutes.He shakes his head, scoffing, “I don’t know. But I have to go back to the City to check on something. If he plays like this, he is already deeper into my organization than we previously thought. This is bad, Nerthus.”I look at him lost as panic expands in my chest as he sighs, “I also don’t like that he is checking you out! I have to see who gave him such information when my men weren’t able to find who your father could be.”“Wasn’t it clear that he would look into everything that concerned me as you didn’t correct him when he kept calling me your wife?”He shrugs, avoiding looking at me, “Sure, but I didn’t think he would go
Nerthus As soon as we start to drive into the neighborhood where Danny lives, I get a horrible feeling. Scooting closer to Danny in the backseats, I loop my arm around his, leaning my head against his shoulder. “Maybe it was a bad idea,” I murmur, but he shakes his head. “It’s going to be great. You’ll see,” he says elatedly. I would like to believe it. But even though Aleksei is stoically driving the car as if we were going to buy daisies, Giulio’s leg that keeps jumping up and down is freaking the shit out of me. “You can all prepare yourself for him killing us all.” He turns around to us in the backseats as Aleksei chuckles, “And you princess will pay for your survival dearly.” “Stop being scared rabbit,” Aleksei stops the black SUV right in front of a bustling building. The beats are so loud that they were already audible as we turned into the street.My heart beats into my throat as we get out, Giulio’s words resounding over and over in my head. The street as well as the illu
NerthusAs I turn around, I see Giulio already opening the car door for me as Danny groans. “I’m not going anywhere with you.” He cuts the air with his hand, making me turn back towards him. “You are dead to me!” “Oh, Danny…” I sigh, crossing my arms on my chest. “How can you treat me like this in front of my friends?!” I lower my tone further, wanting to de-escalate the fight as everyone is already staring at us. “These people aren’t your friends, Danny!” “You don’t know anything about me or them! Don’t act this bougie. You are not better than any of us,” he shouts, making me roll my eyes. “Stop using these words! Nobody understands what it means!” Our fight even gets Aleksei to step out of the car, lighting a cigarette while Giulio is leaning against it, observing us with a grin. Danny points his finger at me. “Just you don’t know because you are old!” “Ooooh, you didn’t!” I squint my eyes, taking a step towards him. “I will just act like I didn’t hear it. And you will get
Nerthus “I have everything! I can pay for everything!” I empty my stupidly small wallet, letting drop all the cards and my small change onto the counter. “Just save him! I can pay for everything he needs!” The nurse behind the counter lays her hand on mine, stopping my panicky rambling. “Ma’am, please. You were injured as well. We checked your credit score, we received your upfront payment, and I can assure you that he is treated by our best surgeons. Now please let this nice nurse take you to your operation room as well.” Gesturing to me to wait by lifting a finger, she picks up the phone. “No! No! I don’t need any surgery. I need to know that my baby is being operated on by the best surgeon in the country! Fly him in if possible.” “Ma’am! Ma’am!” The nurse standing next to me gets my attention on her, allowing her colleague to talk on the phone in peace. “He is already in surgery. Flying in another surgeon won’t help him. Now please, sit down in that wheelchair, and let us treat
Arawn I don’t like this feeling. I’m kneading my hands impatiently as I’m sitting next to Nerthus’ bed. They finally got her to sleep, even if she had to be sedated for it. I don’t like to feel so powerless. I hate not being able to do more than just sit here and watch her sleep, praying that she will get better and not hate me because it is all my fault that she got into this kind of situation. My chest squeezes as I think that she might hate me for not having intervened in this critical situation sooner, allowing my arch-enemy to hurt her and the boy she loves so dearly. And I hate myself for nearly praying more for his salvation out of fear that she could blame me for his death, rather than for his precious life’s sake. The worst thing is that the bugging feeling didn’t leave me after she told me to go check on him. And so, as I finally went to take a look and inquire about the status of the surgery, one of the doctors told me that his heart had stopped beating for a few seco
Nerthus Opening my eyes, I struggle for a few seconds, until I get them to adjust to the bright light. Blinking repeatedly, I think I am hallucinating at first as I see Aleksei, leaning against the wall near the door to my hospital room. I rub my eyes, but as I look again, he is still hanging around leisurely, scooping pudding into his mouth unbothered. “Aleksei?” I say raspily, my speaking turning into coughing. “Whoa, slow down, princess,” he says with a full mouth, his Slavic accent heavy in his speech. “Drink something first.” Taking a sip from my glass with a straw, I gulp painfully, “You… You… You are alive?” He spreads his arms, distorting his face as if I was crazy, “Of course I am.” “But I saw you lying in a pool of blood… I… And…” I try making sense out of my distorted memories even if there isn’t. “Argh, yeah. Four shots in back, two in legs. Not the worst I ever got. You children are so carefree. Living around happily without seeing war, then there is a bit of blo