"I was actually just starting my sophomore year of college when my parents passed away." Kaylin began to speak, keeping her voice impassive."I'm so sorry...""It had nothing to do with the mafia. It was a hit and run and they literally died in the car right after." She interrupts Fanny, making it clear that this is not really the heart of the story."Anyway, my sister was only ten at the time. So I had to drop out of college to support her. And I did. I worked as a waiter and cleaned the house, but I didn't. could never make enough money. My parents were simple people so they didn't leave us anything but the house we lived in. Not long after that, I started working at a house.""The Cabarets?""No, that's another one." Kaylin interrupted her words again."That's the hole you might mean. And I didn't know it was on the Phoenix turf.""You are a member of Phoenix...""No, I just work there."Since this was Kaylin's third time interrupting her, Fanny decided to let her speak, allowing h
"So Michel taught you how to...""Shoot? Yes, he did. But just the basics, I trained myself to be this good."Fanny was silent for a moment, replaying not just a story but Kaylin's real life, suddenly feeling overcome by a deep sense of guilt.While she focused on her own difficult life, Fanny acted completely insensitive to those around her. She's clearly not the only one dealing with the gruesome loss of a loved one and the reality is Kaylin - a woman she finds very tough on and unaffected by anything - having been through such things, really opened her eyes.Licking her lips, Fanny stared. "I'm sorry about your sister, Kaylin." She honestly said.Kaylin nodded curtly, clearly uncomfortable dealing with these many emotions. Even as she shared this with Fanny, she still didn't want to go down this pit of pity and disgust."Can I ask you something else?"Kaylin frowned at Fanny as she let out another chuckle. "You certainly have a lot of questions." She shook her head, a smile still o
After their fight, Michel did not see Fanny again that night.Instead, he focused on an emergency meeting he held at the office, filling out all the Black Roses members about the situation and planning to use Archibald's phone to contact Mr. Aiden.When everyone had left, he went to the large living room and sat at the piano, running his fingers over the keys in the dark before hitting the opening notes of the gentle melody he had composed many years ago.He needed to lose himself for a moment, just let go of all the emotions that had tortured him for the past few hours.It's not obvious to most people, but as the leader of the Black Roses gang, the responsibility falls heavily on his shoulders and he sometimes has trouble dealing with the realities of his situation. Michel played for a few minutes, the soothing sound swallowing him whole until a floorboard creaked behind him.Cutting off the middle note, he turned to find Fanny standing there, her uncertain eyes on him.Her long hai
Fanny's eyes remained on him, unmoving as she looked at him."There's something you didn't tell me, right?" She asked softly.Her tone was not accusing at all. Instead, it brings with it more anxiety. Unable to keep up with the charade, Michel sighed and let his shoulders drop, nodding."Can't you tell me?"He shook his head.Fanny continued to watch him for a few more seconds before she reached out and caressed the side of his face affectionately. "Do I need to know?"Michel gulped, wondering how Fanny would react if she knew that Rosabella had killed one of their greatest enemies. But that's not where he told her this.And technically, there isn't any urgency that she really needs to know this. So he shook his head, allowing her to step closer and look deeper into his eyes."Okay. I believe you, Michel."Leaning down, he pressed his lips gently against hers as his hands wrapped around her body."Let's go have breakfast."---Rosabella seems to have changed.At least she's not acting
Fanny inhaled sharply, immediately feeling nauseous.Rosabella did not feel calm about the situation, quickly apologized, and left the couple alone.As soon as it was just the two of them, Michel pulled Fanny into his arms and hugged her tightly."Are you ok?"Fanny's gaze moved over her worried expression. She doesn't know exactly how to put her feelings into words as they constantly flood her system, causing her to suddenly feel fear."I guess it just feels so unreal, you know?"Michel withdrew his gaze, one hand stroking her face gently while the other stroked her small back."Fanny, you don't have to do anything. I just want to give you the choice, if you want to face him. But we can also forget about it. It's always your call. We can forget I ever mentioned it. It'll be over soon anyway, beautiful."When Fanny didn't answer but instead just rested her forehead against his chest, hiding her face, he understood that she couldn't do it.And Michel wasn't surprised. Fanny is not like
From the corner of her eye, she saw Charles moving forward, but Michel stopped him with a raised hand.Fanny's hand trembled around the gun, but her hand never slipped away. She just pulls the trigger. She wants to hurt him, just like he broke her.Her gaze shifted to Michel for a second. His eyes were on hers, looking shocked but also proud.And when she saw him smiling, she immediately relaxed. It was not a sweet smile. No, it was a promising smile about the dark. A cruel smile."You want to shoot him?" Michel asked, walking towards her.His footsteps were deliberately slow. He looks strong and ruthless. Michel looks like his real leader.He looks like the very monster he is described. The monster that everyone is afraid of.Fanny nodded, keeping an eye on Mr. Aiden. Michel stopped beside her."You really want to do that?"She nodded again. Yes, she really wanted to shoot him.But now that the gun was in her hand, somehow she couldn't move.Instead, Fanny suddenly froze, throat cons
Michel felt his bones crunch under the force of the punch. It was so loud it vibrated through his ears.He heard the screams of Mr. Aiden, but it only added to his anger. It just motivates him more.Grabbing his hair, Michel patted his face over and over again.Six hours.Six hours since the damn bastard was caught and mercilessly tortured at their hands. But Michel's bloodlust was still not satisfied.The rage he felt was still boiling inside, threatening to break him.Michel isn't done yet. He's not even nearly done yet. In fact, he's just getting started. He will make Mr. Aiden bleeds.Mr. Aiden will pay the price in the most terrible way. Pushing his head back, he felt it hit the back of the chair.Michel let go of his hand and hugged Mr. Aiden, head bowed forward. He groaned in pain, blood dripping all over his body.Twisting his fingers in his hair, he jerked his head back until he looked at Michel. His eyes were so swollen that he could barely keep them open.There was a long c
As he thought about Fanny, Michel's mind drifted back to the scene where she shot Mr. Aiden. He is very proud of her.Smiling, he recalled her words earlier. Yeah, he's about to do his worst.After all, his woman spoke, and her desire was his command.Out of his thoughts, Michel saw Charles approaching Mr. Aiden. Punch, kick, hit, and cut.Mr. Aiden was already a mess, but now he can't figure it out. The smell of blood was heavy in the air, but they were used to it.Michel raised his hand, signaling Charles to stop his attack. He gasped, his eyes glaring at Michel."Vengo, get me the gun, will you?" He calmly ordered.Sometimes, calmness is just as deadly.Charles grabbed Mr. Aiden and pulled his head back. He whimpered in pain as Michel gasped.He shivered and twisted, trying to run away, but he knew what was coming. No way out. Not this time.Charles pushed him back as Michel gripped his jaw tightly in his hand, Michel's finger biting his cheek.Mr. Aiden pounded his fist on the cha
"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