My chest defied something uncertain as I stared at the building before me. Nicholas's casino. The only one that looked so classic in the middle of the small town of Albany.Something was clawing at my spine slowly, crawling and surrounding me with fear. The bright light was so hot that it burned away painfully. My falseness formed with a calmness on my face as Nicholas' eyes tracked me. Searching to see if he'd managed to make me falter again with all the things he'd shown me.He did because they were all things that were far from what I could have guessed. Last but not least was my family's close ties to the Bratva; although he didn't want to explain it, I could tell it was true.But I wouldn't let him know that he succeeded; it would make him even more arrogant, even more able to play me at his fingertips.We walked into a large casino, one of the flashier ones in the small town of Albany. Didn't think even he could poison this small town with all his darkness, but that's business,
This was entirely new for me. I never knew that they knew each other, and something struck my nerves. And seeing them talking seriously and sitting in a corner made me suspicious.I learned so well that Tristan Volkov hated my family and me. Well aware that he would do everything he could to make us pay for the lives of his brother and his cousin. I was perfectly aware that he was planning something for Pascha, my father, and me. But I didn't know that he could bring Louis Jamesson, who was already officially my fiancé. Even though I didn't want Louis, I didn't like the idea of Tristan dragging Louis into our problems, which he was far from. I didn't want anyone to hurt a completely innocent man.But maybe it was just my mind. It could just be a coincidence that they knew each other because of business and came here for business. It's not what I'm afraid of now.My eyes tracked them; I was still standing in the shadows while squeezing the mineral water bottle in my right hand. I didn
Gretta did not move. She wasn't breathing well either, seeing the blue hue that flared beneath her skin. Her eyes were fixed on the scene before us, but they were looking straight through it.Body-to-body slaps overlapping with brutal fucking and necks choking wildly. One of Louis' two kinks.Yes, I could have told her about this, but she had to witness the scene herself. She had to see that her so-called prince was nothing but a hedonistic asshole who fucked more women than Satan. Louis was insatiable, over the top, and above all, the man could not possibly have ever cared about Gretta the way he appeared to.Everyone was a fool for holding him in such high esteem, how honour was always inherent in him.I had planned to show her this part of Louis since she preferred to stay close to him rather than away, but I followed her instead. But I knew better that Mikhaelovich would rather keep Gretta with Louis Jamesson than to break their bond despite knowing the man's disgusting habits. I
I was in the middle of the party, the crowd of people who were on the bright side of the world with their luxuries and all the shiny, classy things that came with them. I never liked how it went on. How it could blind everyone's eyes to the point of being unable to see their true faces. What things they had taken to use those shiny things, what masks they carried, and how they could act so innocently even though they had a million masks to use as weapons.Ironically, I couldn't leave the world that raised me. Couldn't run away from it until I turned into them slowly.I found myself on the other side; the corner of the hall always had an interesting side to me. It was at least comfortable for someone who wanted quiet, although it was impossible to find in the middle of the party, but at least I wouldn't attract anyone's attention."I'll find another place. I'm sick of it here." I whispered to Baron sitting next to me.He looked at me with a frown on his forehead before scanning the par
Earlier, I woke up with Nicholas' very hard cock nestled between my thighs. He must have intended to shove into me. When I told him I was still sick and probably couldn't move today, he said, "That's one more reason to stay in bed all day." "Nicholas, no. What do you do if my cousin comes into my room because I spend too much time in the room?" "Buzzkill." "Does that mean you won't fuck me?" "Depends. Will you put my cock in your mouth and suck me like a dirty little whore?" I swear my wet parts throb at the easy way he says such rude things, but I clear my throat anyway. "What will I get in return?" "I didn't fuck you." "No, I want something else." “Look at you learning how to negotiate. Let's hear it. What do you want?""Let me think about it." "Do it on your knees, baby." I finally blew on him until my jaw ached, then he made me swallow every last bit of cum as he looked down on me with that dark lust and seemed calm. He put two of his fingers in my mou
"I'm smart enough to distinguish this thing, so don't lie."A never-ending curse came out of my head, messing with my mentality brutally. Nicholas looked at me with a question mark on his features and a dark emotion ruling there.This is so fucking bad. It's so fucking bad.I couldn't say that the thing was Gallena's, which she had carelessly left behind when she showed me the proof of her pregnancy, but I couldn't say that it was mine either. Bad luck had been haunting my life lately, and it had gotten me so wrapped up that I could forget to throw away Gallena's testpack."Answer me, Gretta, because this will not end well for you.""You don't have to worry about your mini Nicholas because it's not mine," I replied, dodging out of his grasp.He growled lowly, retaking my face. His grip wasn't hard or painful, but the intimidation that emanated from every part of him made me tremble. It paralyzed my nerves until I went limp. "Be honest with me, Gretta.""I already told you the truth."
I stared into the corner of the room one last time. Staring into something that didn't exist, into the void that had always been there. Something that had been in the darkness for the four years I had been trying to move on from it. It was a frozen past, waiting for something to burn it so that it melted and sought to become water, flowing and eventually free of the cold temperature that forced it to endure. I was the cold temperature, the existence that couldn't let my past go. I was still holding onto it all this time, and perhaps it was what had always been my obstacle to moving forward. I had believed that my heartbeat was dead along with my dead body, but now I found something feeding it and making it live again. It was ironic because whatever was keeping it alive was a fragile hope that could not keep it beating forever. Time... it will end as soon as possible. >>> My eyes opened, staring at the morning breeze hitting the trees outside my bedroom window. I sat on the bed
I stared into Nicholas's blue eyes, with panic thundering through my body. It throbbed like the pulse of death.I already knew that he could do anything, but was it that great?All I knew was that Gallena had hidden her pregnancy so well she hadn't left any traces. She even used a fake identity when she went to the doctor to check her pregnancy. Thanks to Darren, I don't know where he came up with it all. The point was that everything was fine. Nothing raised suspicion until...I messed up.My breath caught as Nicholas stood up and left me. I immediately stood up from my chair, following Nicholas, who exited Demonio with quick steps. A gust of cold wind nearly knocked me over with a jolt of surprise. I rebalanced my footing and took another quick step toward Nicholas, who walked into the abandoned church.I tugged on his arm as he started to open the door of his car parked in front of the church.My breath caught in my throat when I saw his casual gaze. He raised an eyebrow, but I kne
Nicholas really took me away. It was a long trip because we were on a plane, and I only found out when the pilot told me where we were going."Spain?" I asked, looking at Nicholas sitting beside me with so much surprise.He nodded. "Put your seatbelt on, baby."I shook my head. "I don't want to go anywhere. I want to go back."Nicholas shook his head with a frown on his forehead. "I'm sure you'll regret it.""Then tell me where you're taking me!" my voice rose an octave.He only raised an eyebrow and let out a long sigh. "Gallena."My eyes widened."I'll take you to Gallena's place."My heart was beating so fast with emotion that I almost fell forward as the plane began to take off. He clucked, wrapping one arm around my waist. "Put your seatbelt on." He growled.I put it on quickly. Leaning against the seat as the plane began to take off. I turned to him with a twinkle in my heart. "Do you mean it?"Nicholas nodded."Is she in Barcelona?""She's in Ibiza, I think it's a safe place f
Flashback :The hollow emptiness going on inside me didn't fix anything. It was empty and frozen. I've had many losses, and I don't know what could break me more than this one. It consumed me more than any previous loss.My baby...I haven't even had a chance to see what my baby looked like before it left me.And...Why my baby?Why wasn't it just me who died?I huddled under the thick blanket that was not familiar to my nose. A hospital bed, pillow and blanket. Which was unfamiliar because I had never experienced a hospital stay. It was excruciating, and I didn't want to come back here again. But this was still better than Mikhaelovich's death house if I could choose. It was a good thing I'd been expelled, strange because the relief seeped through me like water in a dam that was never released.I stroked my stomach, something I always did these days, even though the pain seemed to split me in two.A click came from the door behind me. I didn't need to turn around to see who had just
Two Months Later Time seemed to fly by until the church doors finally opened wide, the warning of the bride's arrival making everyone look impatiently toward the entrance. I stared at the beautiful woman in a bone-white wedding dress with a high bust. After my challenging debate with her, I finally won. Of course, with a very effective tactic: making her unable to walk with our long sex and making her surrender. And I have absolutely no regrets. She was so beautiful, gorgeous, and fabulous. My heart swelled stupidly. Like the mellow atmosphere of those cheesy romance movies she always liked, but different from those stupid movies, I liked what I felt now. Enjoying everything in every part of her. I love her. Loved her so much that I thought I would kill myself when she was in pain. That agony was behind us, and I learned my lesson. We both did. Learned to be better and accept each other. My mom said it's love and doesn't always go smoothly. All we can do is stay together and go
I looked at Gretta, who was lying on the bed.In a quiet corner of the room, the serene atmosphere inside the hospital room was only interrupted by the regular hissing of breath from the bedridden Gretta. Her face reflected profound exhaustion and sadness as if a disaster had rolled over her like an endless storm. I sat beside her with a blank look. The miscarriage had robbed us both of the glimmer of happiness they had just begun to achieve.Everything that surrounded us was messing her up, messing me up. Us.The pain split me in two. Realizing what we had lost, the cause of my own carelessness. If only I hadn't come and thrown a bomb at her, if only I hadn't brought her to my apartment, if only I hadn't abandoned her.. that fetus would still be between us. That baby.. whether a boy or a girl, would have been a testament to our feelings. I loved her, damn it. I loved her so much that jealousy about her leaving me ruled me more than my trust in her. I should have known better than
My heartbeats shattered one by one, making my chest ache.My vision blurred behind the tears and the glare of the sun on the marble floor. Once the crying started, my tears flowed like I had just opened a dam that had been closed for years. I stood in the middle of a beautiful apartment and felt nothing but cold and empty. The emptiness expanded until it threatened to eat me alive.How accurate was my belief that Nico was an addiction because this felt like the worst kind? I began to realize that it was more than that-it was love and it was heartbreak.I went to the master bathroom, turned on the shower, went inside, and cried some more. My mind was spinning with desperate thoughts of how to fix it, but it all ended on a desperate note when I thought of her cold demeanor today.Nausea rolled around in my stomach.I've been trying not to fall for him, and I've fallen so hard that I'm physically sick from his rejection. I could have laughed if I still had the energy left to cry.I got o
"What are you going to do?" Baron's hoarse voice came into my ears."Keep it." I took a breath and let it out softly. Calming the chaos inside me. "I will tell Nicholas about this, but I will wait for the right time.""If he doesn't accept it..." Baron stroked my arm. " ... you know I will always be here for you, right?"I nodded, hugging Baron tightly."He's crazy about you, Gretta. I know that. He'll accept it. He won't dump you or do anything bad to you." He said as we broke the hug. "Everyone can see it. He's just too stupid to admit his feelings."Well, I hope that's true. I nodded. "I'm waiting for him." I looked down at the bracelet on my right hand, which I never took off. "I have to do something first to give my heart to him, Baron."Because I will never let go of the past if I don't let go of it myself."Are you sure that you've disappeared from his shadow?" asked Baron.I nodded. "I'm sure," I replied. My whole heart had flown away, and I was about to move back into my froz
I saw the news and couldn't imagine what was going on in my family. I was sure my parents were cursing me and Gallena, planning what would happen to their two rebellious daughters.I was the one who ran away from my fiancé's house and was with my affair. While Gallena ran away from home pregnant. They thought we should return the favor about all that they had given us, the luxuries and stuff, the limited freedom, and the damn convenience of staying in our rooms. Ironically, that's not the same as what most parents give their kids.So, now, what do I do? Do I stay here and hassle Nicholas until I can stand on my own, which... I don't know when that will be? Because I can't possibly depend on him entirely.What are we? We were nothing other than me having sold my body for my own gain and falling in love with him while he didn't love me back. I sighed.Or could I go back to my parents' house-because it had never been my home-take my things, and then go to Baron's place? They couldn't d
My control was hanging by a thread as I listened to my men. Lorenzo also seemed intent on easing our uncle's burden.Uncle Benito and Gerald seemed to be quarreling secretly, but I was sure they were planning to overthrow me behind closed doors. Benito is a coward, and Gerald is only slightly better, but eventually, they will act. Perhaps Gerald would send his remaining legitimate son to kill me."War is inevitable," I growled. "You know that as well as I do. Don't pretend you haven't been waiting for an opportunity to spill Outfit blood again." My Underbosses nodded, and so did most of my Captains. But not Benito and Gerald.My eyes were fixed on the high ceiling of the power plant. I had chosen it at every meeting of my Captains and Underbosses over the past three years to remind them of my bloody declaration. I felt their memories needed to be refreshed.Gerald banged his fist on the table, returned my gaze to him, and swatted away Uncle Torre's calming hand. "Enough," he muttered.
Being stuck with Nicholas felt different from being stuck with Louis. I realized this a long time ago.I couldn't even spend five seconds next to Louis; a strange and uncomfortable feeling always surrounded me when I was with him, even before he was forced to become my fiancé or before I knew all his secrets.But now, when I was with Nicholas, I had a different, disturbing feeling. It was as if all the storms were coming together, and I wanted nothing more than to be with him as long as possible, even though I knew he was in darkness and danger. His name is a disaster; you must escape him if you do not want to be destroyed.But here I am, and so is he. Instead of a disaster, he became one of the people who saved me from the real disaster. He's the one by my side, caring for me more than everyone who should do it for me. For the first time, I know what it feels like to be truly loved, although I don't know if he feels the same way about me.I found him in the kitchen after I'd had enou