ProserpinaI settled into a routine of sorts. It was difficult to return to the old way of life; I had undergone too much of pain and suffering. Nothing could turn the clock back and make me the happy young mother of three I had been before I had fallen into Dmitri Rudenko's hands.*I had little trouble blanking out my dreadful experience when I was awake. My babies and my older children kept me awake. My friends called from all parts of the world; Alex Wu from Japan, and Brian from Paris where he was on a lecture tour of Europe. And of course, Rachel. She had promised to come and meet me when she was returning from Scandinavia.Grace came to spend time too; she had given up her job because she was taking up a new one at a school closer to her home. She spend hours with us. And yes, my staff, the nannies who had been with us since Ria and Piers had first arrived here with me, Beatrice, dear Bea and now Camille as well. She had also been easily and effortlessly merged into our unwield
LucienHe stood under the cold spray of water willing himself to control his raging hormones. Placing his large hands on the tiled walls of the bathroom, he flexed his powerful arms and shoulders fiercely and tilting his head to take the brunt of the water, he swore again and again.*That he could barely control his desire to take his wife into his arms and f*ck her mercilessly was driving him crazy. He did not want any other woman, only the soft, beautiful little one who had been snuggling up to him trustingly all night after he had picked her up and forced her to lie beside him in the master bedroom they had shared all this while. She had been trembling with fear but he had held her to his body and soon, she had relaxed and drifted off into a deep, exhausted sleep.What unmentionable harassment she must have suffered, he thought as he lay beside her, his naked body wanting to possess her again. But his love for her, for love it was, made him severe with himself. Brutally crushing h
LucienSchwartz was in his room in the house in a few minutes. He explained briefly that he had been on the way there when he had received the message from Beston.Lucien filled him in on what had just happened.*Schwartz listened thoughtfully, his sharp green eyes flitting over the large screen on Lucien’s study wall. Like Lucien, he knew that if they lost this chance, finding Dmitri Rudenko would prove to be very difficult. Once he entered the vast wastelands of Afghanistan, he could hide anywhere he wished. Al he would need was money. Thereafter, he could move any which way he pleased. But he would have escaped from Lucien Delano.They quickly began to formulate a plan. Both men were kept busy, calling up contacts, arranging places to stay, and making sure all the small details were taken care of. It was dusk when they were done. Lucien stretched and strode over to the window to gaze outside. In the gathering gloom, he could make out the figure of his wife. She was sitting on a de
Proserpina I looked up into his face, trembling. It felt as though my world had opened up and I was falling into a large, black hole. Lucien’s hands on my waist kept me steady as I looked into his eyes, that grey, pale laser-like eyes that were skimming over my face now, reading my expression clearly.‘ Wh…why…?’ I stammered.he pulled me into his arms and we stood for a while like that, my arms around his neck as I waited for the pounding of my heart to slow down.Lucien was my rock, my strength. I could not go on without him. And he was leaving me ,NOW?Why?Taking a deep breath, I looked up into his eyes and said fiercely, ‘Why?’He looked deeply into my eyes and then traced a thumb over my full, parted lips.‘I need to, little one.’ His gravelly voice was hoarse with emotion.The phone in his pocket rang and with an oath, he lifted it up. The sight of the caller‘s id made him stiffen.“I need to take this.’ he growled and moved away, walking towards the house. He indicated with h
SchwartzHe looked up to meet Aiayana’s cool gaze in the mirror. She was in her black pants and jacket, a pale pink shirt the only note that showed she was off work. Her long black hair was in a bun at the nape of her neck.She asked in her throaty voice,‘Sure you do not want me to come? My contacts in the FBI are still around.’He smiled slightly and shook his head. Crossing over to her, he said,“No, baby. You stay here.’ he made to kiss her but she moved her head at the last moment and he ended up kissing her cheek.*Stepping out of his embrace, she said in her cool way,“Well then, best leave. Cannot afford to keep the Boss waiting.’Her face was guileless, but he knew she was piqued. She had never taken to Lucien. the feeling was reciprocated.He smiled and said, ‘See you soon, baby. I shall text you...’ She nodded brusquely; he did not say it but he knew she had understood. It all hinged upon a number of “Ifs’If he had the chance to. If he remained in a safe place long eno
LucienHe had seen the small, battered car that had trundled past his cavalcade as he left. This was a private road. The only house at the end of the road was his mansion. Who could that be?He immediately called Beston. It had to be someone who had known he was leaving; who had waited on the side roads, engine idling, till the person saw him leaving.Not the sign of a good visitor.*When he was informed that it was Sophia, his lips tightened in rage. Clenching his fists, he controlled the urge to turn around and return to throttle the woman who had caused so much unhappiness, so much pain and suffering for his woman…Instead, knowing that an even greater evil awaited him, he spoke in a clipped voice, issuing instructions.‘Under no circumstances is that wh*re to meet my wife. ‘he growled, keeping his temper under control with a superhuman effort..” Do not let my woman know that the c*nt is at the gates.’He knew Proserpina and her soft heart. How she could tolerate seeing Paddy, th
LucienThe moment the identity of the person driving the battered little car dawned on him, Lucien was on the phone, bellowing at Beston, who sounded alarmed.‘Boss…’ he began and then there was a scream and the call ended abruptly.Lucien did not think twice.“Turn around!” he roared, “We need to get back to the house. NOW!!!”The driver did not hesitate.When the Boss said Jump, you jumped. It was as simple as that. he brought the car to a screeching halt and then took a sharp turn, tyres screaming in protest and they shot back the way they had come.*SophiaEarlier that week.When she opened the door to her miserable little apartment in the area she lived, she almost jumped out of her skin. Two men lounged around in her house, one was at the window, and the other was sitting comfortably on the only chair available.“Wh…What..Who are you?’ she squeaked.She was roughly propelled into the room and she realised that there was a third man who had been hiding behind the door.All of th
LucienHe was out of his car and running almost before the vehicle had slid to a stop.The sight that met his eyes made him holler in rage and frustration. He was still far away from the inner gate that led to his home.His men had bounded up behind him and stood, panting and sweating. StaringThe outer gate of his mansion was gone. He could make out the smouldering ruin of what had been a vehicleThe smell of burning rubber and flesh…*ProserpinaWe had fallen onto the ground, all three of us, Beston, Paddy and I. I cried out in pain. My body was still recovering from all the suffering I had endured but we were a distance away.We were alive; we were safe.Shrapnel had flown any which way in the air and landed around us, striking us too as we were the closest. I had shielded Paddy with my body and I was aware of Beston groaning. He had a deep cut on his arm and I felt something warm and wet on my cheek. Looking down at Paddy who was shivering so hard, I feared for him, I cuddled him