"I'm no second-in-command, Short Legs. I'm nobody. Not even a member of the real Black Roses. I'm a rookie.""But they don't treat you differently at all.""My family considers me a full-fledged Black Roses gang member, but her father? Guest chief?" Andy shook his head while making a grimace on his face."He'll kill her..."Fanny pulled her knees towards her chest and rested her chin on them while she remained silent.She feels so bad for Andy but simply doesn't know how to comfort him.However, before she could think of anything to say, he decided to change the subject."Enough about me for now. So, you and Michel? What happened?"Fanny gulped as she bit her lower lip.She thought about keeping quiet, but she knew that the blush on her face would say it all."We kiss." She confessed.As if in slow motion, Andy turned to look at her as if he'd just seen a ghost and then carefully sat up, his eyes never leaving hers as he tried to pull himself together."Sorry?"Fanny blushed more and
Fanny often thinks about what it would be like if they let her go home.And even if she still chooses her old house, job, and old family over this, she knows she will miss Andy dearly.And then there's Michel.She really doesn't want to think about whether she would lust after him if she could come home.The affection she has for him with her understanding of who he is, who they all are, we just contradict her, Fanny simply can't cope."You keep reading the same book. Why?"She looked up in surprise when she suddenly heard his voice, not because he was on the phone with someone.Michel is actually talking to her.Clearing her throat, she tried not to look at what he was doing but instead focused her eyes on the book in her lap."Actually, I'm not much of a reader. It's not because I don't like books. It's just that I never have time, work keeps me very busy...""You still haven't answered my question. Why are you reading the same book?"She bit her lower lip for a few seconds before f
"Why are you buying apples?"Fanny shrugged."I like them.""You can buy apples at home.""Yes, but I prefer to buy them myself."Michel didn't answer for a moment, just stared at her without blinking."Are you telling me you spent an hour buying apples?"Blushing at the comment, Fanny didn't reply, but instead just bowed her head and took a few steps to the car.With her back to Michel, she didn't notice that he was actually trying to suppress a small smile.Out of all the things she could buy and do, she went to a supermarket to pick apples... What a freak.His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when he heard a car screeching to stop right next to him and Fanny.Michel immediately realized what it was and reacted."Boarding." He yelled at Fanny as bullets began to fly past him while he was getting inside the Mercedes.Fanny screamed as she jumped in, covering her ears while Michel pulled out his gun and started shooting back."Damn it."He fumbled with the keys as he put the gun dow
However, he still decided not to answer the question, only to leave it unanswered between them.Accepting Michel's silence, Charles finally pulled out a chair and sat down, arms crossed on the table."Okay. Let's go down to the essentials. How many?" He goes straight to business, branching out into topics that, to him, are far more important than some little girl's feelings."Three. I had two in my chest before she woke up and one right when she was coming.""Are you sure they're Phoenix?""Who else.""Michel."Michel raised his head and immediately saw Charles, unable to move his gaze.He gapes at Charles, eyes wide."What?""I was going to talk to you.""Talk to me? Talk to me about what? What the hell is going on?" Michel cursed as he watched his mafia brother get up again, reaching for the whiskey bottle to refill his glass once more."I want to gather a little more information before...""Before what? Fuck, spit it out, Charles!"Charles sighed as he placed his drink in front of
This Michel just assassinated his target in seconds.He strangled someone's life as if it had no meaning.Oh, she wished she could just forget what happened and move on.But she could never get rid of the images burning in her head.Eventually, Fanny's cries turned into gasps as exhaustion overtook her.Opening her burning eyes, she suddenly realized that she wasn't really alone in the room. Andy was right there, sitting on the sofa, eyes closed as he seemed to be sleeping.Without thinking, she crawled over to the sofa and grabbed his arm.With a start, Andy turned her head to find Fanny burying her face in the fabric of his shirt while she cried silently."Fanny! When do you wake up? How are you?"But she didn't answer.As if she suddenly remembered who he was, not only a friend but also a killer - like Michel - she pulled away and started crying as she shook her head back and forth as if she were trying to comfort herself.Carefully, Andy reached out and wrapped his arms around her
Fanny doesn't leave her room at all and while she's busy taking online classes and reading the books Andy has brought her, her mind always ends up in the same place: think about Michel and what happened.She half-suspected he wouldn't come to check on her, but somehow she still felt frustrated when he actually didn't show up.And that's even though she's not even sure if she wants to see him or not.All she knew was that she hadn't been fine since that day, feeling as if a large hole had been punched through her chest, leaving her empty and numb.Trying to give her mind, which was a messy mess, a rest, Fanny decided to leave her room.She didn't know where she was going, but it was quite late so she hoped that everyone was asleep.Slowly getting out of bed, Fanny put her hand on the door and quietly opened it, looking left and right to make sure no one was in the hallway before stepping out.As she gently tiptoed down the stairs, she hopes that being able to stroll through the gardens
"This isn't the place for you. I'll make arrangements and talk to Vengo. As long as...""What if I don't want to go anywhere else?" Fanny blurted out, staring at him intently.She doesn't know what's going on with her.Doesn't she want this? Hasn't she been waiting for this for a long time? To go home and finally see her father again?However, now that she had this opportunity, all she could feel was the hole in her chest, getting bigger and bigger.Fanny wants to lie to herself. Give some reasons. Come up with a crap excuse to tell yourself she can't come home.But in reality, she knows it's not because she can't.That's because she doesn't want to.With their eyes still connected, anger suddenly obscured Michel's blank expression."I'd say you're suicidal. This life chose us, but that's not the case for you. You've fallen into this pile of rubbish and you can choose to leave it.""I didn't choose either, remember? I'm part of this now. What if someone finds me? At least while I'm he
"He killed all three of them? All three?" Mr. Aiden asked incredulously as he sat in his large leather chair, swirling the dark liquid in a highball glass in his hand while looking at his daughter sitting directly across from him on the couch.Gwen nodded, tucking her hair over her shoulders.She had told Carlos that she missed her cousins Nefertari and Ernesta when it was true that she needed an excuse to meet her father for a much-needed insider exchange.However, when she arrived at the mansion, she was annoyed because Mr. Aiden seems to be on a rampage, immediately leading her to his private office to vent about their failures to get rid of Michel."I can't believe it, damn it. He's a god-forsaken man. It's hard to kill this guy.""Maybe we don't need to kill him." She sighed, leaning back on the sofa.The frown on Mr. Aiden only deepens."What do you mean?"Gwen rolled her eyes as she got up and walked over to her father, standing right in front of him, leaving only the desk be
"What makes you think we're going to have sex here?"Eyes wide, Rosabella reached forward and patted his chest, earning a mischievous laugh from him."Damn it."He laughs again but rests his head on her leg in his hands again to continue sucking."Like I could stop now..."Looking at her, all mischievous eyes then disappeared."But before we do... I want you to do something for me."Rosabella licked her lips as she watched him run his tongue over her pedicure-red toes."What."Charles' fingers massaged her legs a little harder."Touch yourself, Rosabella." He whispered.Rosabella inhaled sharply at his words.This isn't the first time he's asked this of her because Charles loves foreplay as much as she does. However, each time he utters any wish, it just makes her that much more interested.Slowly, Rosabella reached under her skirt and pulled her legs apart further as she let her hands move up to her inner thighs.She could see that he was looking down, watching her fingers trace her
Shrugging, Charles drank his wine before answering. "I don't mind the handcuffs I put on you a few days ago, so I assume you won't mind the ball and the leash." He joked.The two spent the next few minutes watching Michel and Fanny cut the cake before they resumed their conversation."So what if we make a deal?" Charles hands her a plate of cake."Oh, no way.""Why?""Really, Charles? We're terrible at making deals. We were supposed to just screw around and now we're talking wedding plans. I don't follow their arrangement. I'll go the way we want."She stuck a cake fork between his lips."Oh my, you're right." He gaped in response.Rosabella nodded firmly. "I'm always right and getting...""And you get what you want." He gulped, quickly kissing her lips."You know you always get what you want. Except in bed. Because that's where I'm king." He frowned at her as if challenging her.However, Rosabella just shrugged coldly, eating some cake herself."I have no problem with that, Charles."
"It wasn't a diamond ring but when a member of the Black Roses proposed, his future wife wore his Black Roses ring. You've seen it on Audrey, Farrah, and Fanny."She looked up from the box and looked him in the eye."Propose?" Her voice was soothing immediately, her heart pounding in her chest.Charles gently stroked her cheek. "You hate big gestures, Rosabella. But you're getting a ring. It's non-negotiable."Speechless, Rosabella held out her hand as Charles took out the ring and stuffed the box into one of his pockets.He was about to slide it in when she stopped him."Wait..." She quickly withdrew her hand, seeing the confusion on his face."I need you to promise me one thing before we're officially engaged.""Star?" He looked at her with concern."There's really two things..." She licked her lips as she tried to find the right words.Charles stood in front of her, patiently waiting for her explanation."If we have kids, I want them to have the option to get out of this life if th
Looking around them quickly, she wanted to make sure no one heard their conversation before she leaned over and whispered in his ear."Let's go upstairs...""Rosabella," He chuckles."I'm the best man, you're the bridesmaid, how do you think we can work on such a disappearance?"She knew he was right, but Rosabella simply couldn't help her.Instead, she continued to whisper more in his ear. "I want you to show me how much you own me, Charles. How much you don't like another man's hand in mine..."Charles put both of their drinks down on a nearby table and immediately wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her into his body."Are you trying to kill me?"Rosabella giggled, feeling him fix his mouth on her pulse point that he began to suck lightly.Unable to resist her body's reaction, she arched into him, making him smirk against her skin. She smells flowers and her very own delicious scent."God... so you need a reminder, Rosabella? How to behave? Do I need to keep you up all night?
"Come here..." He pulled her forward, so he could bring her body closer to his.Rosabella let him kiss her, enjoying his warm lips gently brushing hers as he let out a satisfied moan.Taking a step back, she locked eyes with him as she knotted her fingers through his hair."Did I ever tell you that you're a good kisser?" She whispered low, seductive voice.Charles bit her lower lip lightly. "No, but I won't stop you..." He chuckled as he bent down to her again and kissed her again.He locked his lips deeper, letting his tongue gently touch hers as his fingers continued to pull her shape to mold into him.Panting and heart pounding, Rosabella parted again, her eyes sparkling in satisfaction."Uh, sure you're a good kisser." She giggled.---Four months later."Congratulations." Everyone joins in, sipping champagne as they stand, all gathered together in the downstairs living space that has been decorated in a T with elegant floral arrangements and lighting.They invited key businessmen
"I did, but it's because you surprised me with it. I didn't think I could have this choice again and suddenly I was offered something that I thought I wanted. I didn't even really think before I said yes."He nodded but said nothing.Charles was tired of making the first move, always chasing Rosabella.This time he wants to hear something from her.She sighed, her brown eyes tired."You think I'd leave anyway if you weren't shot? That's what everyone thinks, maybe even Fanny."He kept his face neutral."Isn't that the truth?""No, that's not true." She frowned at the window, her cheeks flushed with emotion."You know that moment we were in that hotel room, when Archibald was about to kill you, that I didn't want to lose you. I know that, but I still don't want to admit it to anyone. I was stupid and I'm the same wretched Rosabella as ever. And once I've agreed to your offer, I'm too proud to tell you that I don't even want my stupid freedom, I don't want to leave you, don't want my ol
Michel nodded. "You should do the same."Rushing out of the room, the nurse bowed to them, quickly taking the opportunity to disappear.Surprised at the rapid turn of events, Rosabella turned to look at the leader."And you can't start with that?"He shrugs slightly. "Not as much as I give you a chance. You flew off the handle there."Rosabella let out another growl. "That damn nurse did a half job and I don't have it. So if she makes a fuss, I want you to threaten that bitch to shut up and let me do the job or have to deal with it. face the barrel of your gun."He frowned at her. Even so, Michel knew better than to argue with her. Because for the first time, he understood how much she cared about his second-in-command.And as he watched her act that way, unable to control the process she held, Michel finds himself speechless, acknowledging the fact that she is somehow a good fit for his family.That woman was a lunatic - just like the rest.---A soft hand grasped his.Charles opened
Unable to form any kind of reaction, feeling completely frozen, Michel continued."You did enough damage. So you might have five minutes with him, but after that, we're done. Is that clear?"She did not answer."I ask you a question.""Are not.""Sorry?"Rosabella stood up and crossed her arms."You heard me. I stayed."Michel took a step forward and towered over her."You listen to me. This has turned sour enough already, so I hope you go so far that you won't find your way back. I'm his boss and if I say you're not good enough for him, that's what it is. Charles will do his duty to his family and move on.""You may be his boss, but I'm his woman so we'll take a look at that."The two stared at each other without blinking.Standing there, it all suddenly made sense to Rosabella.She feels freer than before. She has been fighting her feelings for so long and has suppressed herself for no good reason.Now that she had said all that needed to be said, she felt relieved.Perhaps all of t
Finally losing the battle to keep calm, Kaylin pushed Carlos who was on the way to go to Rosabella, slapping her in the face.Fanny screamed and ran over, grabbing Rosabella to pull her aside."How dare you?""You two need to shut up. Get out of our faces or you'll be next, Fanny."Knowing that emotions were running high and that grief for Bellamy and Kieran was most likely weighing heavily on female member Black Roses, Fanny dropped her shoulder and decided not to push it any further.No, she will wait for Michel to come home and, in the meantime, get to the bottom of her own question.Specifically, facts that everyone but her seemed to already know.---"Why don't you tell me? All this time you've led me to believe that you hate Charles when in fact there are clearly emotions involved." Fanny asked Rosabella gently as they were both in one of the smaller living rooms, waiting for someone to come and give them any news after that night's incident.Rosabella used her sleeve to wipe th