ALEKSANDER'S POVIf God had a sense of humor, it was certainly a cruel one.The timing couldn't be worse. Paired with the bone deep fear for my wife's safety at seeing so much blood on her legs, I wasn't sure how I was functioning. Not only was the Genovese family on our trail, but this additional factor also impeded her safety.While I was confident that I could handle the Italians, this was something I had no control over. Another wrench in the plan that I couldn't fathom the depths of. How could I protect Rhea from this? A technician arrived for the ultrasound moments after we received the results. Rhea wasn't speaking much in her stunned state, and I couldn't blame her. I didn't know what to say either."Implantation bleeding is simply a byproduct of the fertilized egg attaching itself to the uterine lining. It's very common and usually isn't a sign of any problems," Dr. Alexander further explained."Usually isn't," I repeated. The weight on my chest prevented me from drawing in a
It ripped a chasm open in my chest to think of this massive news driving us apart. I held onto my crumbling nerves until they slipped from my grasp."Have I done something wrong?" I blurted.Startled, Rhea froze. A long exhale deflated her body, and her shoulders fell. Her head angled enough to watch me from the corner of her eyes, still rimmed red."What?" she exclaimed. Her brows lifted higher with each second that I didn't answer. She dropped her arms from her shoulders to curl them protectively over her abdomen. "No. I'm just sorry that this happened. It's my fault. I got so swept up in the wedding planning I forgot to take my pills.""Rhea," I gaped at her.She turned, fully facing me. Tears spilled over her eyes, flowing down her cheeks as she rushed to speak again. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen.""You have nothing to apologize for, baby."She spoke too quickly to hear me. Instead of stopping, she barreled over my words. "I really am sorry, Aleks
RHEA'S POV One whirlwind after another. One blow after another. Each time dragging me deeper and deeper into the arms of despair. Falling, sinking until the darkness swarmed over my head and I saw no light, no inkling of how to pull myself back up from the depths.My night started in pitch-blackness and blood. It ended in tears as the dawn crested in golden light over the horizon. A despondent ache carved a hole in my chest with pointed claws, wicked and sharp. Each slash cut deeper until no heart remained within me.We arrived at the Makalov mansion as the brilliant globe of the sun peeked over the city-line. Streaks of crimson cut through the rich blue morning sky. It mimicked whatever madness I felt inside of me.There was blood in the water, and I'd find no rest among these sharks.Aleksander left me in the room of his childhood. A room where he fucked me on the bed before dinner with his family. Now where he intended for me to stay for God knows how long.During a heart-wrenchin
Curled up on the bed, an empty shell of myself, sleep found me. A fitful sleep, riddled with nightmares and dreams swelling with doubt. Even in slumber, tears stained my face, and every other breath came as a sob.It must have been close to noon when a soft rapping on the door startled me awake. Bolting upright, my eyes frantically scanned my unfamiliar surroundings. The knocking on the door continued throbbing through my aching head as I woke up to reality.The door cracked open before I could part my dry lips."Rhea?" Annika's low, crooning voice filtered into the bedroom. Garbed in a vibrant red dress, she swept into the room without an answer. Her hands fluttered to her immaculately made-up face when she found me disheveled in the center of the bed with puffy eyes. "O, moya khoroshen'kaya devochka."In the long months since meeting Annika, we'd grown close. When I'd suffered an injury after Aleksander's last assistant pushed me down a flight of marble stairs, Annika had come nearl
Once upon a time, the Makalov family prospered in Russia. My father, Ivano Makalov, and his younger brother Nikolai worked for the Bratva throughout their childhoods and teenage years. Their hard work paid off with each dirty task or gruesome job they completed.Stella knew of my father's and mother's failures in raising me and the squalid conditions we landed in after my father's fall from grace. It was horrifying enough that when Nikolai returned from a business venture in America; he whisked me away from my parents. Most of that time turned dark in my mind and I couldn't remember the severity of the situation.That's all my dancer needed to know. That my father peddled drugs in Russia and impregnated one of his clients. I couldn't stand the thought of telling her about my father, high on his own supply, skimming off the top, and stealing money from the Bratva. All those things put a target on Ivano Makalov's head.Nikolai successfully started up a business after ten years in Americ
Only the city lights fought back the darkness of midnight. The humming neon light over the noisy club reflected a sickly green in the oily layer of water on the streets. Nikolai and I left through a backdoor to avoid the clamoring crowd around the corner.I had the car ride across the city to ponder the churning thoughts in my head. One swelling, thought stirring notion whipped up and heaved into the next with as much force as a seething tsunami. Each wave slammed against the inside of my skull, threatening to spill out past the emotionless mask I tried to maintain."You're already a better father than yours was.' That cut deeper than I'd like to admit. Even to myself.Most of my adult life, I told myself that I didn't want to have children. The trauma of my upbringing in Russia left a bitterness in my soul. Never mind Annika and Nikolai taking me away from that shithole. I couldn't get over the idea that I'd be no better than Ivan Makalov.In moments with her, I'd noticed the sneakin
RHEA'S POV Aleksander stood before me, shoulders slack and mouth pressed into a thin line. The guilt rose to the surface of his eyes, darkening the rich brown pools. In his gaze, I saw the truth-his silent admission."Even now, you can't bring yourself to open your mouth and admit the truth with your own words?", I spoke in a low voice."You know the truth. I don't know what else you want me to say.""I want to hear it from you, Aleksander! I want you to be the one to tell me these things. Every fucked-up thing you've ever done. You should have been the one to tell me. Your lies have stolen my agency from me." I found myself shouting at the end."I'm sorry that I didn't tell you the truth, Rhea. But I knew you'd react poorly if you learned about the things I'd done. However, I fail to see how that takes your agency away. It's always been my goal to ensure your freedom."I snorted when i heard his words."Of course you fail to see it. Your self-righteous head is so far up your superio
Aleksander roared as he whirled around. A deranged fury filled his eyes that I'd never seen before. "Perhaps that's how I felt in the beginning. I won't deny that. It's the reason I wanted an exclusive contract to have you!""A live-in fuck-toy. That's all I've ever been.""No," he shot forward. Aleksander reached for my hands, yet I swayed enough to dodge his grasp. In response to my reaction, he groaned, a sound so full of despair I wanted to cave. To give in to my buried desire to slip into his arms and forgive his atrocities but my heart was still rejecting him."I fell in love with you, Rhea. I'd never had this feeling before. This yearning to hold and protect someone else. I would have done anything to keep you safe. Fuck, I'd kill God just to see you smile.""Really?" I balked at him, eyes growing larger. "Is that really the most appropriate thing to say right now? Not only have you killed people and lied to me about it this whole time, you open your stupid mouth and say someth