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FORTY-THREE.
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2023-10-26 14:56:27Related chapters
Little Bird FORTY-FOUR.
A rush of hot air leaves my body in one quick breath, and my knees almost give out beneath me. My eyes dart from Andrea to Ace as my mind tries to digest what the fuck is going on. “Ace?” I say his name in a hushed tone. “Get your hands off me!” Ace bellows, shrugging Nathanials’ men off him. “Wh… what the fuck is going on?” I cry out, needing answers like... Now. Striding towards me, Andrea steps forward, blocking him from approaching me with Nathanials’ arms still wrapped around me. “It’s true, Little Bird. Nathanial and Andrea are your birth parents. The Black family stole you from the hospital the night you were born.” “You are lying?” I whimper. He has to be. “I will have the documents that Ismail sent me brought to you so you can read them yourself. I didn’t want to believe it myself, but the evidence was staring me in the face and I couldn’t ignore it.” The sound of flesh slapping flesh fills my ear canals as Andrea… my mother slaps Ace across the face. “You had proof,
Last Updated : 2023-10-26Little Bird FORTY-FIVE.
ACE.I turn away from Amelia with my hands curling into fists, and I shove them deep into my pockets as I walk towards the door.All I want to do is bend her over Nathanials’ desk and fuck her until all that she remembers is my name. I don’t want to leave her here.Damn it, I’m kicking myself for bringing her here.What the fuck was I expecting?I knew Nathanial would never let me leave his empire with Amelia once he found out who she was.As a father myself, I can respect that.But fuck me, it doesn’t mean I have to like his decision.“Ace…” Her soft voice strikes me across the chest, slicing away at my heart.I press my head against the cracked door, feeding off the cool timber to soothe the ache growing in my chest. When I said I didn’t love her, I meant it. But now that I am being forced to leave her behind and pretend that the little amount of time we spent together meant nothing to me, I was wrong and I realise I love her.And even though I am leaving without her today, I will
Last Updated : 2023-10-28Little Bird FORTY-SIX.
ACE.“I asked you a fucking question. Have you thought about fucking my baby girl from the night you fuckers stole her from us?” Nathanial bellows.His emotions of rage, torment and disgust are valid. Flynn claws at my calf, gasping to fill his lungs with air, his eyes ready to burst out of their sockets.I release the pressure of my combat boot from his neck. He spits a mouthful of blood on the leg of my Armani pants, and I let out an irritated groan, pressing my foot down on his throat with my body weight behind it.Nathanial runs the tip of his tongue across his upper teeth and rubs his hands together. “I will ask you one more time. Did you think about fuck-” His voice trails off as gunshots ring out to our right.Holden is firing some asshole’s brains out, splattering the concrete with blood. He tosses me a menacing smirk as he wipes the droplets of blood from his forehead and nose.“These clowns don’t deserve to see the light of day,” Holden grunts.Nathanial and I look at one a
Last Updated : 2023-10-29Little Bird FORTY-SEVEN.
My mother takes my hand and leads me down the stairs to what appears to be their basement. When we reach the bottom step, my jaw drops as my eyes take in the scenery of the room. My heart will be the death of me if it doesn’t learn how to slow down. The walls are covered in black foam. In the corner of the room is a trolley with surgical tools neatly laid out on top; in the other corner, there is a makeshift cell with iron rods embedded into the ceiling and floor. Unable to take it all in before bile rises from my stomach, I turn and look at my mother, who is staring back at me. “Is this the Taurine Family’s torture room?” I ask her with apprehension lining my voice. “Yes.” My mother replies without hesitation, turning her head to look in front of her. “I don’t want to be here. I’m not a killer.” I blurt out, willing my feet to turn and run up the stairs. Unfortunately, I find myself rooted to the spot when one of my father's men drags a very flustered-looking Olivia through a h
Last Updated : 2023-10-30Little Bird FORTY-EIGHT.
TWO DAYS LATER: ACE. “So, it is true? The Taurine princess has returned home?” Wicked asks as he enters my office with a glass of bourbon in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Hiding the stunned expression on my face, I rub my hand over my brow, “When did you get in?” I wasn’t expecting him to arrive until the end of the week and now that he is here in the flesh, I will have to put my plan in motion by getting him in a room with Eleni Drakos. I’ve considered Holdens’ suggestion and with the little amount of time I have before the wedding is to take place, I need Juan Lopez gone; out of the picture. Closing my laptop, I lean back in my chair as I remove my reading glasses and place them next to the laptop. I drum my fingers against the desktop as I watch him take a seat in the chair in front of me, looking like he hasn't had any sleep for the past couple of days. “It’s true. Amelia Taurine has returned, and she is with your Aunt Andrea and Uncle Taurine, settling in.” I reply
Last Updated : 2023-10-31Little Bird FORTY-NINE.
I look at my reflection in the mirror and I don’t like what I see.I can’t believe I allowed my mother to drag me to the bridal boutique, three hours out of the city.Everything is starting to feel a little too real, and on the inside, I am silently dying from a panic attack.Tonight is the night that I am to meet my future groom. My mother keeps telling me how handsome Wicked is and how much he resembles Ace. Even if my mother is speaking the truth, Wicked isn’t Ace.And my soul will continuously mourn for him every day that we are apart.I have thought about running away many times when the opportunity has shown itself, but every time I look into my mother’s kind eyes, I just can’t.If I willingly run away, I know it will break her. I have heard the house staff chattering in the kitchen about my mother being bedridden for many years because she used pain medication to pass the time.Today marks eight years of sobriety for her, and I don’t want to be the reason for her relapsing. I’v
Last Updated : 2023-10-31Little Bird FIFTY.
ACE. I’m unable to tear my gaze away from Amelia. She is standing there, looking like a perfect little doll, missing my touch but looking like a scared little lamb at the same time. When I received Andreas’ call, it was like a punch in the gut. I have never dropped anything I was dealing with so fucking fast as I did during my meeting with Ismail. Business is business and Amelia… She is like my lifeline that I didn’t know I needed. Ismail will have to wait. I pat my hand on top of my thigh once again, “come here, Little Bird.” I say in a more authoritative tone that has her obeying me. As she lowers her ass onto my thigh, I tilt my head to the side and take a look at her back. The wounds are healing nicely. Leaning forward, I close my eyes and press my lips against her heated flesh. I hear her gasp as her spine straightens upon contact, and I smile as my lips linger over her bareback. If I could take away the pain and the ugly that comes with her past, I would in a heartbeat.
Last Updated : 2023-10-31Little Bird FIFTY-ONE.
My mother rushes over to me the second Ace leaves the store with a small roll of cash in her hand. “He wants you to buy this one.” My mother sighs as she tilts her head to the side as her eyes devour the gown. “Who knew he had good taste.” She mumbles with her brows pinching together. “Mum…” “Yes, darling?” Her gaze snaps up to meet mine with a smile that shows no true emotion she has learned to master across her face. “Did you know he was going to tell me that I was going to marry him and not Wicked?” “Yes. When I asked Ace if he felt the same for you after his brawl with your father, I already knew the answer, but he didn’t”. “How?” “Ace and I, we…” “You dated?” “Hmm, I wouldn’t call it dating because I was with your father at the time. Ace and I weren’t physical, and I was never unfaithful to your father. I guess our lines and emotions got blurred throughout us spending too much time together. He looks at you the same way he used to stare at me. It’s intense as his eyes dra
Last Updated : 2023-10-31
Latest chapter
Little Bird SEVENTY-EIGHT.
EPILOGUE.(Three years later…)While Kayla plays on the kitchen floor with her favourite doll that Holden had bought her for her third birthday just yesterday, I put the finishing touches on her birthday cake.My parents, Wicked and Ele have driven out here for the weekend with their kids. I’ve been looking forward to this day for months. Though living here in the middle of nowhere is nice, sometimes the silence can be just as deafening and lonely. For our safety, Knox and I rarely make the trip out to the city, and I’ve come to learn that I’m more of an introvert, and I’m fine with that. But the company of my mother and best friend is like nothing else. I suppose you could say that I like to live through them. I look forward to hearing their stories and seeing the kids. I know Kayla enjoys seeing the kids just as much as I do, and I can tell that she will make the perfect older sister when her sibling arrives. That’s right…I found out this morning that Knox and I are expectin
Little Bird SEVENTY-SEVEN.
I slowly stand up from the ground, wiping my hands down the front of my clothes, tucking the loose strands from my top knot behind my ears, and I finish placing the rest of my roses into the crystal vase.Every fibre in my body is screaming at me to ask Wicked where Ace is. But I also don’t want to take this moment away from Ele. She believed for many weeks that Wicked had forgotten about us; about her.She believed that she was an absolute menace, wreaking havoc wherever she went, leaving a trail of destruction in her wake. Lives were ruthlessly snuffed out, sacrificed in the trail of her existence. The toll of her actions was immeasurable, a dark cloud of tragedy hanging heavy over her every step.And now that Wicked is here, clearing the air between them and openly claiming Ele with his mouth, I would rather not ruin the moment for her.Hell… I’d be fucking furious if someone interrupted Ace staking his claim upon me.Ele needs this.She needs him, and I’m happy for her.I look u
Little Bird SEVENTY-SIX.
I tilt my head to the side and gaze at my reflection in the full-length mirror, affectionately caressing my belly.Today is a significant day for me as it marks my twenty-first birthday.Coincidentally, it is also the ninetieth day since Ele and I arrived at our second safe house. This safe house became our refuge after Holden failed to return to the cabin. However, we received the relieving news a week later that he was alive and well. The SUV he was driving swerved off the road and crashed into a tree after one of its back tyres popped.He claims that he just missed us and believed it would be safer to observe us from a distance instead. Our new safe house is a penthouse located in the heart of the city, which also happens to be within Ismails' territory.A contract was drafted between him and Ace, stipulating that if either of us needs protection within Ismails' territory, Ismail will receive ownership of Ace's clubs as compensation.We are slowly starting to see some normalcy r
Little Bird SEVENTY-FIVE.
“Theodore.” She groans as if she is physically in pain, choking on her words. “I know I said that I wanted him dead, but now that he is, I feel like a large chunk of my soul is missing. He was my twin, and I killed him to save Wicked. What have I done...”A gusty breath filled with relief leaves my body almost instantly, and I close my eyes, needing to take a second for myself as I regain control of my emotions once again. Upon opening my eyes, I sigh as my gaze falls on Ele.She looks so torn up about her actions that I can’t help but feel sorry for her. Yeah, I know she had plans to kill Theodore; to end her bloodline. But I guess she didn’t consider that it would emotionally hurt like a bitch for her too because they share a special connection that only twins have.“I’m so sorry, Ele. I can’t even begin to comprehend what you are going through.” I reply, finding it challenging to find the right words to comfort her without upsetting her further. “If you killed Theo to save Wicked
Little Bird SEVENTY-FOUR.
I held my breath, doing my best to try to pick up on any unusual sounds coming from the front of the cabin. My eyes dart around the closet in the dark, looking for any signs of shadows beneath the door and in between the double doors.I feel like I’m about to pass out. This is all too much and I just want it to be over with.Standing up, I slowly open the closet doors, being mindful of the slight squeaking sound it makes when it gets halfway. I turn to my side and slowly squeeze myself between the doors, then tiptoe down the hallway.The cabin is still. Not a sound penetrates the air, and I begin to panic even more, wondering if Holden has been shot or taken hostage by our intruder. As I get to the living room, I hesitantly peek my head around the corner and I am met with the front door being left ajar.I descend the three stairs and look around the living room, noticing that there aren’t any bullet holes in the walls or the kitchen. I lower my gaze to the floor in front of the door
Little Bird SEVENTY-THREE.
It’s been three days since my world turned upside down.Three days since I got married and watched my husband get stabbed shortly after.Three days that I was brought to this cabin that is in the middle of nowhere.After witnessing Theo stab Ace, I lost consciousness before Holden exited my parent’s mansion. Everything was spiralling out of control so quickly that I couldn’t quite process how much danger we were in until it was too late.I pace the small living room, biting my nails as I hold on to the fragile thread of hope dangling in front of me.There has been no contact or news about Ace, my parents or Wicked and Eleni.I don’t know if they are alive, injured, or dead. And it’s not like I can leave the cabin because I don’t know the pin to deactivate the security system from notifying Holden that the front door has opened without his knowledge.I feel like I am losing my mind.Seconds feel like minutes. Minutes feel like hours, and hours feel like days.“If you don’t stop pacing
Little Bird SEVENTY-TWO.
The rapid bang of gunshots sends people racing towards the mansion. A man falls dead on the grass and I have to jump over his still body. Or risk tripping over his limbs that are splayed out beside him, loose and bent where he lies in a puddle of his own blood. My father and Aces’ henchmen all dressed in black suits, yank their concealed guns from inside their jackets free and take aim at the gunmen who are dressed as servers. Someone did a shitty job screening everyone who entered the mansion only hours ago. And because of their delinquency, people are dying right, left and centre. More people plummet to the ground. Some of them are screaming in terror, anger, and pain and others just lay there motionless with blood pooling on their clothes. “Come on, Mrs. Ripley. We need to take cover.” Holden yells over the gunshots ringing in the air. I gulp, doing my best to keep up with him in my heels and the wedding gown that clings to me like a second layer of skin. Unable to mutte
Little Bird SEVENTY-ONE.
ACE. “By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” The priest states in a quivering tone right before a bullet finds a gap in our human defence wall and drills into his skull – instantly killing him. It all seems to play out in slow motion in front of me, blood squirts through the air and I crush my lips against Amelias’, turning our bodies, so her back is facing the now-dead priest. The beat of my heart is drumming against my chest frantically, filling my ears with blood. I didn't think they would attack us this early into our wedding. I close my eyes, pouring my love and soul into our first kiss as husband and wife, praying that this won’t be the last one, either. A small moan departs her lips as a low growl leaves mine and clings to it, entwining our pleasure as one. “We have to move.” Holden bellows with a grunt. “We won’t be able to hold our position much longer, and whoever these cunts are, they have a sniper with them too.”
Little Bird SEVENTY.
My body is almost vibrating with anticipation as the whole morning has flown by in a haze. After I had asked my mother and Eleni to give me a moment alone, I looked at my reflection in the floor-length mirror.My fingers brush over the layers of lace and silk, toying with a few pearls that have been hand-stitched onto the bodice of the gown.I can’t prevent the girly smile from spreading across my face like wildfire as I admire the gown that Ace had chosen for me.Today’s the day that I start my new life and become Mrs. Ace Ripley, leaving my past behind like smoke drifting through my fingers – elusive, transparent. I turn around when the sound of the door softly creeks open again. This time, it’s my father who enters the room with a large grin adorning his handsome face. He places both of his hands over his mouth as his gaze lingers over my gown, then rises to my face.“You look… beautiful, baby girl.” He says in a strained voice like he is doing his best to hold back his unshed t
