Katie shakes her head in denial. "You can't say that for all, you don't know all other men."He inclines his head at an angle and resumes gazing down at her collectively before speaking, "For example, consider a bag of single-type confections." He orates patiently. "And In that bag is a poisonous confection..or several for that matter disguised amongst the harmless now would you risk tasting out of that bag?"She contemplates this for a couple of seconds and then shakes her head in decline. "No."He nods once solemnly. "Which is why you're not permitted to roam about and find yourself a partner on your own, and therefore it is my utmost duty to find you a suitable husband.""But how would you know the men you've selected for me don't have any harmful ones amongst them?" She queries a valid point."Men know other men best. Believe me, they are well sifted through." He replies temperately. "Unfortunately, since the father isn't present over you, it is my duty as your older brother to s
Anew I try thrashing and struggling out of his over-bearing grip. My heart wildly thundering against my rib cage.But he lets out a fervent deep groan. Settling his head at the crook of my hijab-covered neck and takes a heavy inhale. His silky hair brushed against my nose. The exhilarating scent of him makes me shiver."You keep struggling like that," He speaks with a restrained rough voice. "Isn't helping fūck keep that up, Kashani and I'll drag you back to my room."Drag me back to his room?!My face flushes crimson as I realize my movements only cause friction against his lower region. Repleted shame percolates over me as I hold still. That unusual feeling returning, that I so desperately tried to rid of, tried to forget from that kiss."Do you think of me late at night? The kiss?" He nuzzles his nose at my covered neck before asking slyly. "Does it arouse you? I get so fūcking delirious thinking of you aroused for me."What the hell is he doing?Doesn't he hate me?Please let me g
Vladimir's POV in 3rd person."Avtoritet Vladimir please, we're both parts of a close-knit Bratva, which I would never betray, you know me!" The bald man beseeches, shirtless body suppressing the tremors under coils of ropes bounding him to a chair.He's striving to keep his fear hidden from the formidable eyes of the avtoritet.He leisurely paces back and forth in front of the trembling man under harsh fluorescent lighting.The soft clicking of boots echoes sinisterly throughout the vast storage area of the closed cargo port. The avtoritet finally arrives to a disquieting halt, inches away from the bald man.The bounded man's eyes nervously flit towards the trademark silver gun holstered at the belt of the notorious avtoritet, the one in authority. The one imminently feared by many amongst the ranks of the Molotov Russkaya Mafiya."Nikita, Nikita, Nikita... To think you would have abjured by now." Ensures the sleek velvety reply, as black leather gloves are slowly peeled off, reveal
"Huxley, make sure to have a good night's rest." He states with a sedative tone as Huxley exits his Lamborghini.."We board an early morning long flight back."Raising a brow in puzzlement, Huxley peers at him through the open windows of the vehicle. "Where you are headed, Vladimir? You should have a good rest tonight considering the time it took to capture Nikita, you must be exhausted!"The detainment of Nikita was ordained by his uncle Dimitri Molotov and Vladimir as per usual was given the task to accomplish within a week.Nikita had been on the run all over Europe and here in Britain two days ago, Vladimir had finally cornered him. And finished him, thereafter reporting to his uncle over the phone before embarking towards Scotland for a day.Mission Accomplished.now, where were we Kashani?Temporarily managing to flick her thought away, he lets out a yearning exhale. Then he aims his steady gaze on his trusted partner and bailiff in crime, who was once his father's close valet an
"You want us to take the entire day off to spend in a spa?" Mrs. Agnelli looks at him with complete bewilderment. Both Anya and Lorna share similar expressions."You've heard me the first time, Mrs. Agnelli." Vladimir solemnly confirms, voice nearing the edge of irritability. "All three of you are free of your duties for the day. An entire morning till late afternoon is scheduled at a spa for you, followed by a shopping spree and a five-star restaurant. I've also booked for the day, the grand suite rooms for each of you in one of my hotel chains."The three women, exchange with each other puzzled glances before Mrs. Agnelli asks. "But why are you doing this for us?"He nearly suppresses himself from glaring at her in vexation as he tightly answers. "You three labor so much for us, you deserve a day off today. Now go on and prepare, do not waste my time any further. I expect you gone within half an hour along with Duffield. He's also to receive treatment of likewise manner."The women
The sight before him was like a celestial meal set upon a silver platter. Her shiny dark tresses cascaded around her in a disarray. Her petite figure was garbed in a long loose sleeved white nightgown. Her doe eyes shone brightly with unshed tears, and oh how he longed to taste them as he had days ago in the corridor.He had tasted the years of heartache in her tears.perhaps we have something in common, we're both broken individuals.He shook his head at such thoughts, warning thoughts of unease. Telling him to stop what he was doing.No! I'll have what I want, I always do and always will."W-What are y-you doing here?" Her soft voice lets out in quiet shock.He enjoys that dulcet melody of her feminine voice, as he closed the door behind him, bolting it without looking away from her. Fearfully, her gaze trails behind him at the door before connecting with his again.She grows rapidly angered. "Get out of my room! How dare you?! Get out!!"He suppresses the urge to chuckle at what h
Hazel -You're much more enduring than this Hazel!Don't allow despair to chew you up, swallow you in and spit you out as misery. Prevent repeating such a vicious cycle all over again.Just another week and you'll make it out of here, away from that psycho.Yet my reflection in the mirror remains cloaked by tragedy. I wondered if anyone else saw the debris of shame and guilt cemented all over my countenance. I pondered if it was only the mirror reflection bearing such abject secrets. An immense part of me was concerned over the revelation of my shameless behavior three days ago. I viewed myself as a complete tragedy for the past three days."Are you ready yet?" Katie's voice emanates through the closed bathroom door, obstructing me from my vague scrutiny."Just a sec!" I call out, as I finish pinning the rest of my hijab. I cast my eyes down at the basin while tucking in the last pin, so I wouldn't get carried away by my guilty reflection again.After three days spent self-mourning, I
What the heck are these people doing here?I peer over the chair and see them headed toward Freddie Cortes's Muslimah apparel line. I briefly wondered how they managed to afford tickets to such an expensive fashion event. They must have driven baba nuts over it.The unknown woman begins to discuss with mister Cortes and I overhear some o f it."young lady, Najma Kashani has won a trip here from her school as a 3rd runner up of their beauty pageant."To my horror, an employee is gesturing towards the area where I hid, for Nimra to take a seat. Dreading my revelation, I hastily crawl behind the snack trolley and then manage to clamber behind one of the tables stands holding folded hoodies. I resume peering over at them while the long tablecloth hid me from their view."Pssst! who are you hiding from?" Asks a low female voice right next to me. "You'll get that dress dirty like this!"Completely startled I come face to face with Rachael, crouching low next to me. Except she's missing her
Six Years LaterHazel POV:In a vast Santorini sky, the sun's rays beam down upon a joyful occasion. The balmy breeze was laden with the scent of wildflowers. A gentle melody of an orchestra intermingles with sophisticated murmurs of the stylishly garbed guests, seated at tables adorned by sumptuous feasts.It is the wedding day of Serge and Katie.On a raised platform, the well-dressed groom eagerly awaits his bride to walk down the aisle. Next to him stood Bilal and the ever-reserved appearing Grigori and Huxley.As bridesmaids, Rachael, Rebecca, Bev, Arielle, and I, stood on the right of the altar's platform. The five of us, assembled in similarly lavish magenta-hued bridesmaid gowns. Except for the hijab on my head."I had always thought Aunt Katie and uncle Serge would make a great couple." Arielle's remark's fond to the rest of us. "Finally today they are getting married!""It took them long enough!" Bev snorts next to me, shaking her head. "Katie really shįt tested Serge every s
Sheer dread grips my heart in a strangling hold. Gradually, I raise my head from Vladimir's chest. His garments were soaked with my tears.My eyes meet with none other than Ivan Molotov's.He merely emits a sinister cackle, halting his applause. Eyes full of undiluted malice, regard me from across the room.In his gloved hands, he holds a closed syringe. Ever so slowly, he approaches ne arer. From his other hand, he drops a pile of slashed cords that were attached to Vladimir's body. My eyes trace them back toward the hospital machinery, now nonfunctional."Wh-What are you doing?!" Immediately, I vault from my seat. I nearly stumble, my footsteps retreating backward. My voice lets out in fearful disbelief. "Wh-What do you mean?"He sighs, shaking his head in seemingly mock guilt. "I'm afraid I have no choice but to also end you along Vladimir.""What?!" My eyes widen in terror as I look from his face to the syringe gripped in his palm. "Why?! What are you talking about?!""Shhh." He
My heartbeat thundered within my ears while my eyes brimmed with scathing moisture. The air around me continuously grew thin as my lungs burned with each breath I took. My legs refused to falter, I ran through the winding corridors of the hospital along with Rachael and Katie. The hijab on my head nearly slipped off. Yet my mind was only preoccupied with him."Doctor!!!" Rachael cries out as she grabs ahold of a man in a lab coat, strolling out of the Intensive Care Unit. "Please! We can't wait anymore, we demand to see Vladimir!!""Ma'am, neither you nor your sister's blood test is a correct match for your brother. We can not allow you to see him as of yet." The doctor's expression embittered as he shuffles through the papers on his clipboard. "We've discovered he's a rare blood type.""He's lost a great amount of blood!" One other doctor rushes out in front of us. "Whoever else is related to him, must get tested for the transfusion! RHnull type blood is rare and we don't have it in
After such a forbidden deed, would events always unravel in contrition like this? Can guilt be any more bitter than before? Will I ever learn from past mistakes?No, since when did you develop into such a weak mess?My head had been bowed under the clouds of shame drifting around the atmosphere of the jeep ride back. Five minutes had passed since Dimitri Molotov's intrusive phone call, disrupting the forbidden tryst I was involved with Vladimir in the back seat.Awkwardness never felt so constricting before to me as it did now. Yet Vladimir appears unaffected by it as if there is nothing awkward in regard to the physical exchange between us.Instead, his visage indicates a serenity that I don't remember witnessing ever before. As if he's repleted of a satisfied contentment that he lacked previously. It was increasingly evident, that he is very pleased with no regrets.His eyes had intensely remained locked on my face while he helped me get dressed in the back seat. Suffusing my blush
His brows crease in apparent concern as they caught the glimmer of tears swimming within my stare. I wasn't resilient enough to suppress the heartache of the past seven days. It took over me tenfold in his presence.He inches forward. "Hazel, wh-"Suddenly all of the lights switch on, impeding him mid-sentence. The entirety of the kitchen and connected lounge is illuminated."What's going on here?" I recognize none other than Rachael's miffed voice.She stands in her sleeping robes on the stairwell of the kitchen lounge. Confounded, her eyes flit between Vladimir and me.But she's not the only other presence besides the two of us here. My alarmed eyes catch sight of Katie and Bev. The lights had exposed them hiding behind one of the couches in the lounge. Guilt-ridden, they were smiling sheepishly at me.Within those awkward seconds, it dawns on me that this setup was construed by the two of them. With Rachael and I being unaware, they knew all along when Vladimir would be returning h
Dear Hazel Asalaam Alaikum, I hope you are safe and well. I'm writing to inform you that I'm admitted to a private cancer treatment hospital. I've discovered from one of my lawyers, that the wealth I've allocated to you has still not been touched. I had expected you'd find it beneficial once you had turned 19, but you haven't utilized any amount of it. Please no need to remain humble regarding the sustenance that Allah has rendered halal for you.The doctors say I've got an additional month left to live. I find it amusing, that these doctors can utter such words with firm conviction. After all, life and death are in Allah's hands.However, my condition is deteriorating. I'd like to see you and Rachael before I depart this world.Enclosed within this envelope are details and directions to the hospital center. I'm expecting you both soon, and if you choose not to visit me then it's alright, I would understand.Once I've completed reading, my eyes lock with Rachaels. Hers are just as gl
"What is it?!" I shriek in repleted panic. Besides me, Bilal is just as frightened. The overpowering stench of smoke engulfs us quickly as the helicopter malfunctions."There is good news and bad news," Vladimir responds jaw clenched in apparent ire. He pours all of his strength and effort into veering the helicopter off-course away from the villa. "Which do you want to hear first?""This isn't time for such games!" I shriek again as the helicopter continues impairing."Are we crashing?!" Bilal questions with eyes wide as saucers."Not we. The helicopter will crash, that's the bad news. We've been targeted by an enemy RPG." Vladimir replies eyes narrowed in focus as he ascends the helicopter to higher heights. "It seems someone within our circles has tipped the enemy off in regard to our whereabouts.""RPG?!" Bilal gapes horrified. "Enemy?!""What the hell is RPG?!" I snap in ensuing terror."Military weapon!" Bilal promptly answers before desperately asking Vladimir. "What's the good
I awake from a slight jostling, it's dark and I hear the soft continuous humming of some sort of engine. Then I instantly remember that I was on a plane.I groggily shift my body but freeze when I realize someone else lay beside me. The weight of their arm is firmly yet gently draped over my waist and I feel their minty breath shallowly caressing my neck. It seemed like they were asleep.I turn my face in their direction and lift my hand to touch their face in the dark. My fingers splay over chiseled angular features, and my heart hammers in recognition.But before I can shove at him, he murmurs in his sleep. "Hazel... hmm...so pure..."My eyes widen in alarm and I attempt to lift his heavy arm away from my waist, yet this proves as a failure. He draws me closer to his hard chest while murmuring again in his sleep."Hazel... I need you..."My face flushes with heat as my mind processes his sleep talk. I wondered what kind of dream he had about me.I try pulling away from him, yet tha
As soon as the vehicle approaches Bilal's private boarding school, my eyes distend in alarm. "You-How did you know?! Only Rachael knew about Bilal's school!""Don't worry about details, princess. Wait here, remember I've locked the doors and windows, so stay put." He provides lightly and exits the jeep without further word.The vehicle was parked a few blocks away from the school, in a vacant lot. No one would be able to catch a glimpse of me reclining in it since the windows were tainted dark from the exterior. I wait with my hands fiddling the hem of my sleeves as I continue glancing around nervously.Several minutes later, I spot the demon approaching along with my little brother, who is happily licking an ice cream cone. In one hand he's dragging along a small suitcase. My heart swells with so much emotion as I eagerly await Bilal's arrival.As soon as the demon tugs open my door, I fling my arms around Bilal, crushing his boyish frame against me. "Billy!! Oh my God!""Hazel!" Bil