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SIXTEEN.
Last Updated:
2023-09-04 09:16:07
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Little Bird SEVENTEEN.
I allow this Ana woman to lead me out of the restroom as I swallow past the hint of pain between my thighs. I follow her not because Ace demanded it. But because she has a gentle aura encircling her. And I can seriously feed off that right about now before I allow everything that’s transpired to register.Placing the ice pack on my cheek, I sense Holden hot on my heels, and I discreetly turn my head to glance at him. His features are as passive as always and when our eyes collide, he curtly nods his head before he returns his focus to the people in the room.“Here, take a seat,” Ana says softly, gesturing to a single chair facing the dance floor. “Can I have a look at your cheek?”Lowering the ice pack, her gaze scans my cheek, which doesn't sting as much as it did moments ago.Her face contorts into a frown and she reaches into the front pocket of her bartender's apron, extracting a small jar. “This is tiger balm. I’m going to rub some on your cheek to help with the inflammation u
Last Updated : 2023-09-05Little Bird EIGHTEEN.
As the limo leaves through the back alley behind the hotel, Ace shifts in his seat to look at me. He adjusts his perfectly knotted tie, his arm brushes against mine as he does so, causing me to suck in a deep breath.I try to ignore my acute awareness of him being so close to me as it sparks a hint of desire to drill into my bones, knowing what kind of pleasure his hands can produce.He doesn’t utter a single word while he intently watches me, and the longer he stares at me, the more uncomfortable I become under his gaze.There is so much I want to say to him. But I have no idea where to begin or if he will give me answers to the questions that are currently charring the tip of my tongue.But I do know this. Tonight’s events will forever be scorched into the back of my mind, and part of me just wants to curl up in bed with the hopes that this is all some crazy nightmare.Blakes’ last statement to me about my father risking his life to get me, my blood is precious and my rightful bir
Last Updated : 2023-09-07Little Bird NINETEEN.
As Holden closes the door behind me after I enter the room that I share with Ace. An icy chill surfs the fine line of my spine.The room is quiet and empty.I’m not a huge fan of being left alone during the night.The thought of being claimed by the darkness is pure torment.It’s usually the time when my anxiety wants to make a surprise appearance, leaving me to feel isolated, and totally worthless.I suppose that’s to be expected when you can almost count how many times you left the villa on your fingers and toes after celebrating your sixteenth birthday.Granted, I was no princess locked up in a tower waiting for her prince charming to come and rescue her.There is no Prince Charming in my world.Only beasts who claw and fight their way through the masses to get to the top.I was always told that I was a prize. A treasure to be cherished.But I know the truth. I’m just an object to be used and abused as one sees fit to.And now, I’ve been sold to the highest bidder.A titter is tor
Last Updated : 2023-09-09Little Bird TWENTY.
ACE. Sucking on my upper teeth, I loosen my fists and settle back into the chair I occupied upon his arrival. Placing my left foot over my right knee as I lean back, “tell me more about this drug.” I demand through gritted teeth, knowing that I’m about to break my vow. “I can do one better. I can show you.” Pulling out a small vial from the inside of his jacket, Ismail holds it between his fingers. “This beauty right here is called Delilah. The high is out of this world and the come down… there’s no cotton mouth, dizziness, or shakes.” Removing the cap, he sprinkles some of the black powder on the back of his hand and uses the pad of his finger to smear it across his skin. I lean forward with my eyes growing wide when the powder begins to turn candy apple red, glowing under the laser lights. “It sure is pretty,” I admit, playing with my zippo, impressed. “The quality?” “Pure.” “And it can’t be cut?” “No, it’s been carefully crafted, and I heard the sources' pharmacist spent a
Last Updated : 2023-09-10Little Bird TWENTY-ONE.
I jolt wide awake, sitting upright in the bed, clutching the base of my throat as I try to catch my escaping breath. My chest rises and falls with every shallow breath I take. Tears burn my eyes as they dart around the room that is still dark with a hint of moonlight peeking through the curtains, illuminating part of the room. Dipping my head, I let the tears of despondency fall from my eyes, leaving a trail of emptiness behind in its wake. My heart feels like it’s turned to lead, and my chest is struggling to hold it in place – threatening to plummet into the pit of my stomach. A touch of hollowness invades every logical sense in my body when I think back to what Blake said about my father. I guess his words struck a nerve in my heart without me realising it at the time, and a large part of me can’t help but feel like his accusation was genuine. It makes sense as to why I’ve never felt like I belonged anywhere, even when I was surrounded by my classmates in high school. Usi
Last Updated : 2023-09-11Little Bird TWENTY-TWO.
After my shower, I walk downstairs, entering the kitchen with my belly rumbling. “Good morning, Ms. Black. Would you like a coffee with your breakfast?” Alana asks me as she looks up. “Umm, no, thanks, I’m not a fan of coffee. It seems to just go right through me.” I explain as I sit down on the barstool in front of her. “Has Ace already left for the day?” As she places my plate of food down in front of me with a large glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, she nods her head, flipping the tea towel over her shoulder. “Yes, he left about an hour ago.” My brows knit together, “oh, okay. I thought after last night, he would have stayed home and caught up on some sleep.” Tucking my hair behind my ears, I try to mask my heating cheeks from her. That didn’t come out the way I wanted it to. “Mr. Ripley has also requested that we go to the clinic and get you on birth control this morning.” Twisting my lips as I eye my food, “did he say what kind of birth control?” “No, he has left
Last Updated : 2023-09-12Little Bird TWENTY-THREE.
“Please, please, please…” I whimper, violently pressing the button on my seatbelt as I try to release the clip from the buckle.But it’s not working. No matter how hard I push down on it, it just won’t budge, and I begin to panic, yanking on the belt across my chest instead. But that’s jammed too, and I’m… stuck.The rotting sensation of death knocking on my door drills deep into my bones.This can't be the end for me. There is so much I want to see and do with my life. “I’m stuck. I can’t get out,” my voice trembles as my gaze locks on Volkovs’ once again.His eyes soften with a hint of doom swirling inside them, “please, Ms. Black, don’t panic.” He says calmly like he’s trying to convince himself more than me that everything is going to be okay.A wince is torn from his throat when he shifts, lifting his injured arm to his chest with his other hand and instantly, I can tell it is broken.His head suddenly jerks to the side when the sound of crunching glass echoes across the atmos
Last Updated : 2023-10-01Little Bird TWENTY-FOUR.
ACE. As I swiftly grasp the compact bundle of papers that Ismail had dispatched, a resounding knock on my office door at Club Infinity demands immediate attention. I've been diligently tracking every single minute, fixating on the relentless movement of the hands on the grandfather clock as if I possessed the skill to manipulate time itself. I yearn to uncover the depths of Ismails' knowledge regarding Birdenes' adoption. I will exploit it ruthlessly against the Black family to secure the pipeline from Flynn without hesitation. I wanna be the lord of this whole damn city. But to make that happen, I have to get my hands on the Black family's turf, along with the Serbs, and the Kade family's turf. The Drakos' and Lopez family can keep their turf due to the blood contract my grandfather signed with the heads of their families twenty-two years ago. Besides, their dealings bring more foot traffic to my side of town, which means more bodies are filling my clubs during the weekend
Last Updated : 2023-10-02
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
