“Ya first time here?” I corked my head up to the driver, nodding my head slightly which sent sharp pain through my skull. He asked a few more questions but gave up from the lack of a reply. My mouth was burning, my head hammering and body aching badly. I felt weak, queasy, and seriously unwell. The flight had made matters worse, nine hours of absolute hell and I had vomited all through it. “Just a few minutes away.” The man’s voice was hitting the nail in the coffin. I was afraid I would vomit again but I had nothing more in me and my pipes burned from all the gagging. The car slowed down. I pulled my bag, pulling out a few notes to pay the driver. My hands pulled the paper bags before I exited the car. Coming here was a risk. I did not know the state of the house but looking at it, I knew I had made the right choice. “Bye miss.” I nodded my head, the driver turning the car away, the tires crunching through the pebbles on the driveway. I turned, staring at the old stone hous
Nine hours later and my eyes were raw. Sleep had failed me and my thoughts haunted me through the night. I got off and caught a cab straight to the office. It was six in the morning, a cold night having drifted away, leaving a light mist and drizzle behind. I got off the cab, turning to see a cafe not far from the building. Most that passed were in gym outfits, running down the street even with the cold and rain. I got myself a coffee, still not able to stomach much. My bags in hand, I walked to the company. Only one of the receptionists sat behind the humongous desk. The floors were being mopped, none paying attention to me as I strutted through the waiting area to the elevator. Music played in the background of the elevator and when it opened on my floor I took it in greedily. Large cubicles stared back at me and as I made my way through them, I could see that some of my team had already made it their home by the pictures and pot plants there. They had desktops, phones, and
The meeting was forever adjourned. What was the point of continuing when I had just been fired? No one dared walk into my office after that. I wrecked my hand through my hair for the millionth time. I just knew this was not the only punishment I would receive, I knew Storm had more in store for me and I couldn’t help but pale. Too many problems found their way to me and soon I could not process any of them. I was stuck and I didn’t know how to pull myself out. The scene played over and over in my head, thinking of the war I had nearly brought to life. Why had my father threatened war from my disappearance?I never thought it would all get so messy yet there was no way I would have gone home Friday night after everything I went through, after seeing Storm with that woman. Leaving had been the best option for me yet, still, I clawed at myself for all the chaos it had erupted. A knock came at my door, snapping me from the document I had been reading for the past hour. This was my la
BRANDY’S P.O.VFor so long I was in peace but then suddenly I was in a car. It sped off the road, hitting the barrier to flip. I tried to scream but I couldn’t. I tried to free myself but my limbs were heavy, unmoving. The car rolled down a slope and I screamed so loud until it hit ground and I drifted away into the darkness.I snapped out of the dream to find myself hanging from my car seat.A loud heave escaped, scraping the seatbelt, trying to unclip it but it was stuck. I began frantically pulling with no success then the car jerked and I fell off a cliff with a loud scream pouring from me.My body jerked and once again I was in the car but this time I wasn’t al
Hi guys. While we wait for our next chapter you can check out ‘Forced Mafia Brides’ by Tema G.M (me). It has the same concept when it comes to the arranged marriage but it’s more darker. The male character lead is very rough around the edges. The female lead is willing to fight this unwanted marriage as best as she could, very vocal, and strong willed. The book is spicy. Unconventional sexual content. Please read the trigger warnings. Love you all. Tema G.M
STORM’S P.O.V.“I just came from the meeting with the Prestos. You should have been there.”“I am busy, father.”Between the mafia business, the company, and the whole Brandy fiasco, I was far too stretched and soon I would burst.“Are you still busy investigating? She is a whore, shocking I know, but there is only one end for her. Her father has been told, you need to stop wasting time and kill her. Loyalty is our number one rule.”“You did not dare!” I hissed out, straightening from the seat I had been leaning on.“It’s been a month Storm. I gave you enough time. Stop wasting time and actu
BRANDY’S P.O.V.I woke up to a sponge bath the nurses were giving me yet even with them done I still smelt like smoke, still felt dirty in many places that they had not dared touch but could I blame them, I wouldn’t either if I was them.There was no joy. There was no sadness. There were no tears. I was just an echo of what once was. All I did was blink, lying there to rot as life went on without me.Sleep soon took me away after a few hours of blinking and even my dreams were vacant of life. Even in my dreams death clung to me, dark vacant space where I couldn’t even scream.Pain shot through my body immensely and I embraced it because it was a relief to feel something after being numb for so long yet the pain soon turned gut wrenching.
“Miss Brandy.”I looked up from one of the books that had arrived for me a few weeks back. I had no interest in them until the doctors took me off the heavy drugs. It felt like being free after being buried alive. The color returned around me. Even the pain was appreciated. I didn’t want to go back there again even if it meant dealing with my fear, my heartbreak, my depression, and sadness. I would take that over the numbness that slowly sucked the life out of my soul.“You are going home today.”Bittersweet news. I did not know how to react. I guess, home was better than the hospital, locked in this room alone. I stared down at my bandaged leg and arm. How would I cope at home, alone, with my burns?I had seen them, they were third degree burns, horr
Hendrix did not come back that night and the next. At that point I was dizzy and weak. Walking out of the room would soon become a need. I kept telling myself ‘one more day’, as if that would make them forget I was harbouring a whole baby in their home.On the fourth day a knock came from the door.“Can we clean the room ma’am?”I reluctantly unlocked the door and walked to sit on the couch with Blue. I watched them change the sheets and blankets, took out the trash and the laundry. The floors were scrubbed clean, no part of the room except the couch I sat on was left uncleaned.Just as they were gathering their equipment I stood and walked closer.“Can you com
I could not help the soft laugh that escaped. Sprawled on the floor, having gone through all the paper bags. Once again I was in tears, shaking hand over my mouth. Hendrix bought different brands and different sizes of diapers because he was not sure which was suitable. A large pile of clothes and baby products sat next to me. He even bought different kinds of formulas and a machine to which I unboxed and pulled out the manual to weep even more. It was a baby formula making machine. Warmth spread in my chest, not sure how I could thank him. Knowing my baby was hungry, I did not waste anymore time. I plugged the machine to an outlet and read through the instructions. I got water and put in the said scoops then stood back and watched the baby bottle fill slowly. When I was sure everything was going as it should, I took my baby to the bathroom and gave him a proper bath. I oiled his skin, brushed his soft hair and got him warmly dressed. For once we had toys. I scattered them on the fl
I did not dare leave that bathroom. I wrapped my son in a gown and settled in a corner, him patched to my chest. In my head I kept playing the scene of me nudging Hendrix and grabbing Blue. The guilt did not lower and it felt as if I would die from it. It did not allow me an ounce of sleep. The sun rose and the smell told me Blue needed a change. I pushed up, my body aching as if I was run through by a truck. I filled the tub with water then attempted to undress Blue on the closed toilet seat. It was then I realized I had nothing with me. It was then I realized I had no diapers, I had no clothes for my child or any of his toiletries. Everything had been left back at home. The realization left me drained. What was I going to do? I did not have a single penny on me and even if I did, how would I buy the things I needed? I pushed up, hands on my waist, staring down at Blue in defeat. No one said motherhood would be so hard. Storm’s words echoed in my head but I pushed them away. When
While my husband took a shower I quickly looked for a place I could put Blue. The floor won, not risking him rolling off the chair at night. I took the cushions and made a boundary for him. I dared take the throw blanket on the bed and folded it before laying it on the floor. If Hendrix decided to crucify me for going into his closet then I would face his wrath head on. I looked through the shelves until I saw the spare blankets. I took one, rushing back before he came out of the bathroom. I wrapped my baby with the blanket before lowering him to the makeshift bed. I could not take my eyes off him, scared something would happen. My shoes were kicked off and I sat on the chair right in front of Blue. I folded my legs up on the chair and lay my head on my knees, staring at him sleep. He looked so small as if to be swallowed by the blanket. Was it normal for one year olds to be that tiny? He was barely putting any weight on, as light as a feather. I chewed on my bottom lip. If I gave
Blue cried himself to sleep and I was hanging on by pure stubbornness. By the time we reached the Williams mansion, darkness had dug its roots deeply. The mansion looked even larger with the lights on and more like another prison for me. Hendrix parked the car and it took all my self will to step out, careful not to wake Blue up. His body was still shaking, breaking my heart even further than it already was. I held him tighter with my aching arms. Hendrix led the way from the garage and I followed reluctantly. I did not know what was in store for me in this new house and new family, but my guard was high up. One thing for sure was I would not go down without a fight. Even as the thought passed through I fought down tears. I was tired. I was so tired. It seemed like a century ago when I was just a spoiled brat with my only problem being my over protective mother and keeping my position as queen bee in school. “Master Hendrix,” The voice snapped me out of my head, staring ahead to
I jumped on the passenger seat so fast, quickly pulling my seatbelt before shutting the door. Hendrix closed his door and start the car. He did not get the urgency I was in, turning his head to me only for me to nod for him to get a move on it. For all we knew they were taking my baby away at that very moment. The thought squeezed my heart so hard I had to clench my chest because it felt like a heart attack was very near. The car tires screeched before the car moved, turning. In my head I was saying nothing but prayers. The way seemed to stretch long, my eyes on Hendrix, wanting to scream at him to go faster but too defeated for words. I kept looking out to see if we were going to catch up to my family but they were far gone. A part of my brain was telling me to accept, that Blue was already gone and as much as I tried to fight it, the doubt kept getting louder and louder. I thought of a life without him and there was nothing. At this point why would I continue living? It was too m
The cars turned, my only way to get my baby. “Let me go!” I screamed, shaking out of the hands that grasped me. By the time I got free, the cars were already driving away. I couldn’t think, I couldn’t see, feeling as if I was losing my mind. The panic sat right in my throat leaving me heaving, my breaths out. My baby, my baby blue. No, I could not lose him.My shaking hands quickly pulled out my phone, hitting the speed dial. I was shaking like a leaf, tears streaming down my face. Each ring that went unanswered took an ounce of life out of me. My knees shook and I knew they would crumble down. “Storm, please,” I begged as soon as the call connected. “You are now a Williams, your son has no place there.” “Storm, he is my son. Please, please. You cannot take him away from me. Storm, please.” I quickly wiped away my tears, “ It will be the last thing I ask of you, I will never ask you again, please brother, please.” “I made sure he will be put through a good adoption agency. He w
This is book two, titled : His tainted wife. This is Ruth’s storyBook tropes: New found family, forced marriage, love after marriageRuth’s P.O.V. “We are gathered here to witness the union between….” My mind went to the moment my mother budged into my room with guards, instructing them to carry me to the bathroom where they stripped me down and threw me in the tub. She woke up today and decided to wedge nothing but violence on me instead of telling me they were marrying me away to a person I did not know, to a family I never heard of before. Not even Storm, my brother, was saving me this time. I thought I had met rock bottom but I guess not.My jaw shook even as I tried to tighten it, it seemed seconds away from shattering. It was a sharp pain that told me my father was still holding my shoulders, making sure I did not run. I stared at the door and saw the guard standing there, knowing there was no running. The officiate cleared his throat, pulling my attention to him only for
ONE YEAR LATERThe phone buzzed and I pressed the receiver button. “Ma’am, a package has arrived for you.” I didn’t even answer. I bolted up the seat and ran for the door. I threw it open, catching the attention of some of my teammates. The paperbag still sat on Kimberly’s desk. I snatched it up, a grin on my face. “Thank you.” I took out my phone, pressing redial as I rushed to the executive’s elevator. “Hi, I am coming up.” I said as soon as the call connected. “I am in the middle of something.” Storm said but I was already on my way up. “I am on my way, love.” I rushed out again, nearly out of breath. My heart was beating way too hard.“Okay.” He said and I cut the call. I wanted to scream, shout, and jump around. Storm deemed me unready to take after him. He was slowly training me to head the company so he could concentrate on the cartel. He would still be chairman but I would be the C.E.O.I flew out as soon as the elevator doors opened. “Matt, Rose.” I greeted the two as