Bella's POV:Daniel's silence since our fight yesterday cuts deeper than I care to admit. I half-expected him to show up today, maybe to retrieve his car, but instead, he sent one of his men. It's not our first spat, yet this time, the void between us feels heavier, more ominous. It's one thing when I'm the one shutting him out, but when he's the one doing it, I fear I might be losing him.In an attempt to distract myself, I find myself seated in a coffee shop across from Noah, a stranger I hired impulsively. Sometimes, the company of a complete stranger can be the best distraction.The bitter aroma of coffee surrounded us, filling the space with a comforting scent that contrasted sharply with the turmoil in my heart."What exactly do you do, Bell?" Noah asked, his eyes filled with curiosity and something else, something warm that made me feel momentarily at ease."Anything really, but my most treasured job is working at a library," I said, my voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. Pouri
Bella POV: Intrigued by Noah's strange request, I couldn't help but ask, "Prove what exactly?" He scanned the room before turning back to me, his expression unusually serious."I need to prove I have self-control," he said, and I had to bite back a chuckle. My mind raced, wondering what could have led to this bizarre challenge. Deciding to indulge in the unexpected twist of events, I thought, *You know what, let me actually have fun tonight, because it looks like I'm single anyway, so why not be single?*"You know what, fuck it. What do you need me to do?" I asked nonchalantly as he ordered us some drinks. I knew I shouldn't be drinking, but I reasoned that one wouldn't hurt."Just flirt with me, practically, and do whatever is necessary. I just need to prove to them and myself that I have self-control," he explained, downing his forest fire shot. I eyed mine warily, realizing I'd have to take the shot too. Downing it quickly, I smacked the glass back down with determination."Okay,
Bella POV: I walked back to the bar, where I found Noah engaged in what appeared to be a tense conversation with Clyde. The atmosphere crackled with tension, their proximity almost palpable as they stood toe-to-toe. Clyde, slightly taller than Noah, had the advantage, staring down at him with an intensity that matched the gravity of their discussion."If she's watching, then she'll sit in between us," Noah said, his voice laced with a growl."Bella," Clyde called, turning his attention away from Noah to look at me, his eyes conveying a mixture of anticipation and mystery."The show has started," he announced, and I nodded, feeling a blend of confusion and curiosity. I took Clyde's offered arm, and he led me away from the bar. Noah, on my other side, took my hand, and the two men walked me up a grand staircase I hadn't noticed before. We turned left, entering a room that appeared almost full, with at least 30 people seated. The chairs were arranged facing a stage in the middle of the
Bella's POV: As we stood outside the room, reality hit me hard. My cheeks were flushed, and I felt a mix of confusion, embarrassment, and a strange sort of exhilaration. I adjusted my dress, blaming the shots, the women in front of me, and the two men I was sandwiched between for my disheveled state. "Uhm," I managed to say, feeling the need to break the awkward silence that hung between us. Clyde chuckled, glancing at Noah. "Still no self-control," Clyde teased. My eyes widened in realization. This was the person Noah had been talking about. "I don't know what the fuck you're talking about. You're the one that touched her," Noah growled defensively. Clyde chuckled again, seemingly unperturbed. "Self-control has to deal with you being able to watch your partner find their release without you touching yourself and just being content with them finding their release even when you haven't," Clyde explained to Noah, his words laden with a deeper meaning. Something significant passed b
Daniel's POV:"Hey, Daniel, it's me. Please answer my calls. I'm sorry. Can we please talk? Okay, bye."Her voicemail ended. Xavier chuckled, and I rolled my eyes."Is that Bella?" he asked, and I sighed, pocketing my phone. Putting on my boxing gloves, I grabbed the punching bag in front of me.I hadn't cheated; it just looked like I did. I had actually gone to a meeting with Xavier, and some guy was there. There were strippers, and Xavier asked me to just go with the flow, so I did. Now Bella had jumped to conclusions and ruined the perfect thing that we had."Yeah, she's been sending these all week," I said, swinging at the bag. Xavier swung at his bag, and when it swung back, he held it."Shit, what did she do?" he asked, fixing his stance."Remember the new guy I hired, Noah? He quit, and now he's working for her. Last week, they went out on a date. She even came back to her apartment stumbling about," I said, swinging hard. The hinges of the bag squeaked, and I shook my hands.I
Bella POV:"From Daniel," Noah said, handing me the flowers and the slice of cake. He must have seen the confused look on my face."Oh," I said, taking the items. He wasn't here, but at least he remembered. Climbing into the car, Noah closed the door once I was settled in. So, Daniel was capable of sending things to me, but he couldn't answer a simple phone call. And I had left him more than a dozen messages, begging him to call me back."Are you doing anything tonight?" I asked Noah. He started the car and turned to me."Nothing, why?" he asked, and I smiled, opening the window. Taking the card off the bouquet, I saw that it was a pathetic, generic 'well done' card. Feeling a surge of frustration, I threw the card and the bouquet out the window. I dusted my hands and turned to Noah."Stay with me tonight," I said, and he cleared his throat."Oh, um, okay," he said, a small smile spreading on his face."But we need to get some things first from Pyaterochka," I added, and he nodded, sp
Bella POV:"Anyways, what's your deal, Noah? Why are you here in Russia?" I said, resting my arm on the couch frame."I'll tell you if you tell me why you go to group," he replied, popping another chip into his mouth. Okay, this took a turn. Grabbing my empty mug and the bottle of champagne, I poured some into the cup. I took a sip before I started."Fuck, okay, fair enough. Well, I started taking Xanax when I was 14, and then it escalated to Percocet, Molly, and then Coke, so when my teachers started doing a follow-up on why my eyes were always somewhat red, they found drugs in my system. Then I got sent to rehab, and then I got out, and I just started doing them again. So I'm just struggling to get clean," I said, taking another sip, and he looked at me as if I had just killed his dog."Jeez, Bell, are you even supposed to be drinking?" he asked with a frown. He reached for the mug in my hand, but I slapped his hand away."I'm not going to relapse, don't worry. I have no reason to.
Daniel POV: Fuck, I'm stupid. I need to figure out something to get Bella to talk to me because ignoring her has pushed her into another man's arms, and I don't fucking want that. I don't know if I can give Bella more than friends with benefits, but if there's one thing for sure, I don't want her to move on to him or anyone, for that matter. Bella is mine; she always will be. I just need to remind her. Noah doesn't know the ugly side of Bella, but I do, and I know what she needs. I am what she needs. Walking out of her apartment building after 10 minutes of standing there, wondering if I should break down the door and confront Noah for even thinking of touching Bella (because I know he has, no man would be stupid enough to not want Bella), I decide to leave. Walking towards my car, I climb inside. Taking my phone out of my pocket, I dial the one person that will make Bella want to talk to me. It took forever trying to find her since Bella has only told me that she was the woman who p
Nina POV:This is the part in the movie where the bride stands in front of a full-body mirror staring at herself in a dress that she likes, getting married to the love of her life. Happy tears brimmed in her eyes at the thought that she'd finally made it to the day her little herself always dreamed ofInstead, all I see is the dread of knowing this isn't the wedding of my dreams instead it's someone else's. A truce between mafias for my unborn child to take over one dayI don't think I'll ever get over the fact my father killed my mother because I wasn't a boy. I spent most of the night crying about it until the need for revenge roused upI'm still going to go through with this wedding and if the opportunity reveals itself I might just kill my fatherNone of this is how I dreamed my wedding to go but at least I have Daniel. At that, a smile makes it to my face.I guess I have one thing to thank my dad for even though I hate thinking about it but he's the reason Daniel and I's paths cr
Daniel POV:Sitting in Nina's dad's office I try my best to remain calm and not get involved as they speak but the more they speak the more I see how he doesn't even hide his distaste for Nina. It was one thing for him to tell me he wanted a son and was disappointed to get a daughter but to show her to her face is starting to piss me off"But dad this is my wedding I want Mom to be here," Nina says pleading her case and he just stares at her while smoking his cigar. Noticing her squirming in his gaze I squeeze her thigh to remind her to stand her ground"Mr. Takahashi if my wife wants her mother at this shitshow of a wedding that we both can't even have a say in the least you could do is allow her one wish, "I say meeting his glare with one of my own. He stares for about 3 seconds and then chuckles"I heard my daughter Mr. Peters but considering we both know why her mother can't be here is rather funny isn't it," he says and then it clicks. Nina turns to me and I know she noticed me s
Nina POV:Having the best sleep of my life I get stirred awake by murmurs and snickering"Nina" I hear someone say but I brush them off snuggling into the warm body next to me but it moves irritating me"Daniel stop moving" I mumble but someone says my name again. Opening my one eye I start seeing a bunch of old ladies I haven't seen since I was 18. Startled I sit up to find Daniel equally as shocked as me"Nina what's going on," Daniel says and I quickly grab the sheets to cover myself and him"No worry we see the bites on your neck know that hubby fuck good," one of my Aunties says and I turn bright red"Uhm Daniel these are my Aunties, Sakura, Aya, Ema, Himari, and Eiko, " I say pointing at each of them earning each to wave at him"Nice to meet you all," he says and I smile wishing for the world to swallow me whole right now"I never know you're into a white boy, Nina" Auntie Ema says and I groan hiding my face with the sheet"Of course she does. She ran to America and white boys l
Daniel POV:Grabbing the sheets on either side of me I try to keep from rubbing against the wet patch Nina gave me just to feel something wet right now as she sits up. She takes off her night dress leaving her in her little lace thong. She smiles at me but I'm busy focusing on her tits and every curve of her bodyShe grabs my sweatpants tugging them down until they bunch at my ankles. She crawls to me and then straddles me again this time her crotch area against me. I have to fight the urge to create friction but lucky for me she starts creating itShe grinds herself on me making it possible for me to feel her delicate-able wetness coat me through the fabric of her thong that I have to clench my jaw to calm myself down. She starts moaning and I can't tell whether the throbbing sensation I'm feeling is my dick or her pussy but fuck I'm about to lose it"Nina please," I say finally begging and she bites her lip looking at me. She continues to grind on me increasing the friction. We both
Daniel POV:Sliding a sleeping Nina off of me I step out of bed and sneak out of the bedroom and into the hallway.I head toward Dario's room and I open the door without knocking. He sits up abruptly covering himself and I quickly turn away not wanting to see something I don't want to see. I hear a moan and then a quiet snicker by the laptop in front of him and he quickly says bye to whoever it is before shutting it"What the hell I was just-"he growls but I cut him off"I don't need to know," I say trying to not visualize what could have happened if I arrived 2 minutes later"Knock for fuck sake man," he says angrily and I ignore him as I pace up and downI told Nina she could sleep even though she was reluctant about it but she needed to so I let her. As for me well I can't fucking sleep there too much going through my head right nowTo keep the soldiers who survived the fight as well as keep peace with all three mafia's Nina's father pushed for the wedding to be in two days. Don't
Nina POV: "Nice of you to arrive after the honeymoon suite," Dario says as we climb out of the water and walk toward him. Taking off our wet suits I grab my hair squeezing out excess water "I'm starting to think you fucking called him to begin with," I say to Dario as I walk closer to him. He scoffs then acknowledges Daniel with a nod "If there's one thing I'm not is a snitch. I saw Amigo climb on board and I just kept the information to myself" Dario says making Daniel chuckle. Well look at them being friends at my expense "Back to the situation at hand. 35 men are patrolling the grounds and 12 inside the house" Dario says and I grin "We have 60 so we got this in the bag," I say and he nods. We quietly make our way into the island with our guns drawn up. Dario signals for our soldiers to spread out and move forward. Inches into the thick Forrest the hairs on my arms and neck stand up. Then I hear something that makes my blood run cold "Nina what's wrong," Daniel whispers next t
Nina POV:We finally arrive at a port by the East China Sea. The men crack open the box crates and take out weapons loading them into the submarine"Are you sure the Chinese won't notify my dad?" I ask Dario and he chuckles"You know very well your dad hates them," he says and I sigh as if I could forget"Yeah, I guess well I' 'll be back I'm going to change let me know if anything pops up, "I say and he nods. He starts barking some orders at some guys and that's when I turn the corner into a hallway. When I reach my room I switch on the lights and I head into the bathroom. Peeling off my clothes I step into the shower and I close the shower door. Turning on the spray I instantly get sprayed with cold water before it slowly turns into my desired heatRinsing my hair and then my body I squeeze excess water out of my hair and I shut the spray. Stepping out I grab my towel and when I walk towards the door I realize my clothes aren't on the floor anymore. Drying my hair I reach under the
Nina POV:Making breakfast for Daniel I place the last batch of pancakes on a plate in front of him. His rambling on about something and all I can think about is the mission for tonight. So I nod where I feel is important and hum every time I need to agree with what he is saying"Chickens are blue," he says behind his newspaper and I hum taking the greasy pan to the sink. He drops the newspaper and he looks at me"You're not listening," he says and I hum once more. Why hasn't Dario texted me? Just at that exact time my phone dings and I rush towards it but Daniel beats me to it."Wait Daniel" I start to say when his face falls practically glaring at the text message"Why is Dario texting you that his ready for tonight? What the fuck is happening tonight" he hisses gripping my phone so hard that I'm pretty sure his meaning for it to break"Daniel nothing," I say taking off my apron and scrunching it up. Placing it on the counter I round the island and go to grab my phone from him."Now
Daniel POV:"Nina what's wrong," I ask and she shakes her head in denial. I don't know what's going on but she looks like she's on the verge of tears. Oh fuck what did I do now?"Where were you" she whispers wrapping her arms around herself like it's the only thing keeping her up right now. I rub my neck and I curse myself fuck. I step towards her and she stops me"No" she yells with her hand in front of her pointing at me accusingly"Nina calm down" I state and tears start to fall down her cheeks"No, Daniel where were you" she yells even louder now. I look upstairs making sure that Thalia isn't up there to hear her parents fight"I was getting you something if you just let me go to the car I'll –"Who is she Daniel" she screams and now I go towards her. Grabbing her face I pull her towards me and I kiss her. She's pushing and shoving away from me but I continue to kiss her with every ounce of love I have for her hoping she can feel it.Her punches start to weaken and she kisses me b