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2024-10-29 19:42:56I glide my hands over the beautiful wedding gown that clings to my body perfectly.
"You look absolutely stunning!" The designer of my gown coos.
I smile in silence.
She has to say that if she wants me to buy it, right?
She lowers herself and begins to fluff around with the train of the skirt, "Whoever he is, he is a lucky man and I hope you'll be happy together." A dreamy sigh departs her lips.
Lifting my left hand, I look at my naked ring finger that will soon adorn a wedding ring. A gold band to legally state that I am officially off the market and that I exclusively belong to one of the cruellest men alive.
A Bratva Kingpin.
Artemis Volkov.
Did you know that Volkov means Wolf in the English language?
Pretty ironic if you ask me since he prefers to be addressed as, Wolf.
A tattooed, raven-haired, sapphire blue-eyed wolf with an insatiable hunger for dominance. A seductive ruthless maniac who leaves a path of destruction in his wake and a mark of devastation upon his victims.
"You are so young, my child." The designer's voice breaks my train of thought.
"Not in my daddy's eyes," I mutter under my breath.
My father is the leader of a low profile gang. His organization specialises in transporting weapons and drugs. Childs play shenanigans compared to the shit Mr Volkov does and my father is making me marry the big bad Wolf to keep the peace between the two warring empires.
"There!" She claps with a shrill of her voice. "What do you think?"
Raising my gaze I look her in the eyes as I stare at her reflection in the mirror. "It's beautiful, thank you."
The front doors to the little boutique fly open with force and they crash against the walls. I watch as four men dressed all in black with serious looks on their faces walk in and they make a beeline straight toward me.
The designer of my dress screams and I cringe as her high pitched voice violently penetrates my delicate eardrums. One of the men covers an ear with his hand and raises his arm with his gun pointing at her head. She stops screaming and takes off running behind the counter.
"Affirmative, it is her boss." One of the men says as he speaks into the cufflink on the sleeve of his suit jacket.
I swivel around to face the four men, gathering the skirt of the gown in my hands and swallowing heavily to stifle the panic that coaxes my throat. My stomach churns and my legs threaten to give out from beneath me.
I close my eyes, shutting myself out of my reality.
The smell of expensive cologne wafts through the air. It's woody, with a hint of citrus and it's intoxicating. I can sense his presence and I don't have to open my eyes to know that Artemis is standing before me.
"Open your eyes and look at me," His deep voice that resembles the sound of thunder demands.
I pry one eye open, then the other. His silhouette fills my line of vision. I have to use my hand to shield the sun that beams brightly behind him masking his features. I can't see his eyes... I can only feast upon his dark hair, combed back by a brutal hand that brooked with no measure.
My breath catches.
Thick black hair, lined with silver at his temples. He wears his age like a fucking cadet badge and I can ponder that his years have been unkind to him. That he has seen the world for what it is, indulging in unspeakable things, relishing in the glorious consequences of his actions, however paramount they have been.
He takes a step forward out of the sun revealing himself. His face possesses a hooked nose, a thin upper lip and a buxom lower lip. One that hints at secret desires, Lust. Heat. The captivating chiselled jaw that is sprinkled with dark stubble compels me to reach out and touch him.
But I dont...
I take a step back needing to create some distance between us. I tear my gaze away from his and they fall upon the cruel scar that tarnishes his throat. A cold sensation thrums through my veins as my heart ceases.
What or who could hurt him in a vicious, savage manner?
He takes another step toward me and I take one back until his large hands land on my shoulders preventing me from moving.
"Do you know who I am?" His voice is cold and his gaze calculating.
"M-Mr Volkov," I answer lowering my gaze as my voice trembles.
A snarl departs his lips. "Wrong, look at me." He orders and I snap my head up to meet his blue eyes.
"You are my wife." He cocks a brow daring me to protest.
Again, I don't.
I already knew that my fate had been sealed before he waltzed in. I also like to think of myself as an opportunist, meaning...
I will take the lemons that life gives me, and I will make lemonade with them. I just need to find myself a big bottle of Vodka to go with it.
I continue to stare at him with a blank expression on my face."Remove the dress. Whatever fairytale wedding your father promised you isn't happening." He says sternly as his eyes narrow into thin lines.
"As you wish, Mr Volkov," I answer and wait for him to release me.
Blowing air out of his nose, he takes two steps back, raises his arm and looks at the expensive gold watch that adorns his wrist. "You have two minutes."
"Two minutes?" I snort. "It took me thirty minutes to get into the gown."
"Turn around."
My eyes grow wide and I shake my head.
"Don't make me repeat myself, Red." He growls stepping forward.
I close my eyes, bowing my head and I turn around.
The sound of the expensive material being torn and the zip snapping sweeps through the room. A draft creeps up my back as his cruel hands tear the gown flush from my body until I am left standing in front of him with nothing but a pair of stiletto heels and a thong.
Tears prick my eyes. I have never felt so humiliated in my life, nor has anybody had the pleasure of seeing me this bare before. Lifting my arms, I cover my naked breasts when I see his eyes staring at my reflection in the mirror.
Not an ounce of gratitude glazes in his eyes, just a look of utter disappointment.
He leans forward, "You have two minutes starting now, Red. Don't force me to come and get you." He snarls into the hard shell of my ear.
A sob breaks free from my trembling lips and I flee for the dressing room with tears gliding down my cheeks.
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ARIA AKA RED It's been a week since I returned home from the hospital with Zeynep. I guess everyone forgets to tell you how sleep-deprived you will become. Not because Zeynep doesn't sleep or the fact that I need to wake up every three hours at night to change her diaper, feed her, and burp her. No, that isn't the case at all because we have mastered our routine. I cannot stop glancing at her and thinking, 'Wow, I made her... she came out of me'. It is so bizarre, but also the greatest experience ever. I genuinely believed I would have difficulty coping and fall into a pit of depression, but I have not. I suppose it is because I have the best support group imaginable. What's even more out of it, is that every time I see Wolf changing Zeyneps diaper, or falling asleep on the rocking chair with her little body pressed against his chest. It makes me want to jump his bones. Seeing him in father mode seriously does something crazy to my libido, and I can not wait till I am
The Kingpins Angel |56
ARTEMIS AKA WOLFI continuously swallow the lump that has embedded itself in the column of my throat, as I lean against the doorjamb watching Red breastfeed our daughter. A sense of pride licks my feverish skin, I feel like my life is now complete, and I try to think back as to how I got here. I sigh, shaking my head with a grin on my face as I pinch the bridge of my nose. I seriously don't know how I'm going to cope trying to keep them both safe without driving myself entirely insane. For once, I feel like my life has a purpose like I have accomplished the impossible where my heart is concerned. If only my father could see me now, blyad [fuck], I truly do hope he is rolling in the fucking grotty soil he was laid to rest in.A heavy hand lands on my shoulder, jerking me back to the present and I snap my head to the side to see a very chump-looking Deniz standing beside me."Congratulations on the birth of your daughter, my friend." He sighs with a dip of his head.I push off the do
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ARIA AKA RED Icy needles of cold water attack my searing flesh, and the sting claws at the clinging shadows of my nightmares as they continue to haunt me. Closing my eyes, I step further into the spray, willing the lingering fear and nauseousness to circle the drain around my swelling feet. A shiver consumes me, and my thoughts drift to my unborn baby and husband. The guilt, repulsion, and terror still cling to my body like a second layer of skin. I hate that Roar still bombards my conscience. "Goddamn it!" I place my open palms flat against the cool tiles and absorb the coolness of the punishing surge into my bones; my core. Every time I am ripped from reality and thrown into my night terrors, I can still feel, hear and sense Roar's presence as if he is still somehow clinging to me. A metallic taste coats my tongue, and it causes me to shudder. I won't give in to the facade of him still tormenting me when he is six feet under. I touch my belly. I won't let him ruin th
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ARTEMIS AKA WOLF As soon as I see Red enter the cafe, I stand, move to the opposite side of the table, and pull her chair. "Moy angel. [My angel.]" I hum, pressing a gentle kiss on her lips as she reaches my side. She smiles, inhaling deeply, "You smell so good, Wolf." She coos as she uncomfortably settles into her chair, although her swelling bump makes it rather difficult. I raise my hand before resuming my seat and requesting service. A young female with blonde hair and blue tips approaches our table."Hello, my name is Cammy, welcome to the Break-Away cafe. Are you ready to order?" She says in a polite, inviting tone as she presses the ball tip of her pen to her notebook. "I'll have a black coffee with a salmon and cream cheese bagel," I reply, ordering something simple as I need to get back to the office. "Just a chocolate thick shake for me with extra syrup please." Red orders, rubbing her belly with an uncomfortable expression smeared across her glowing face. A low grow
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ARIA AKA RED"Will we be taking the elevator today, Mrs Volkov?" Ivan asks me as he holds the door to the penthouse wide open.I give him a serious look as I rub my swelling belly, "You know I don't do elevators." I sigh, sliding my handbag over my shoulder. "Da [yes], my apologies." He utters with a frown on his face, "I just thought that since you are now heavily pregnant you might want to use the elevator."As I step through the door, "I am claustrophobic, me getting stuck inside an elevator is my worse dream come true." I reply while we walk to the staircase entrance."Understood," He holds the door open to the staircase. "Mr Volkov has also confirmed that he will meet you for lunch at the Break-Away cafe at one, after his meeting.""That's fine. Have you seen Ana this week?" I enquire as I begin to descend the steps utilising the handrails as my saviour.The last thing I need is to miss a damn step and plummet to the bottom of the stairs; causing me to go into labour early.It's
