PROLOGUE
"Red is always symbolizing love. But for Rose it had never been love. It was blood. Even her name has red on it. Blood that she hates. If she has the time to turn things back on, she will never ever tie herself to the man that she once loved. "
A King… Her king that rules the kingdom. The blood that she doesn’t need is the one that can keep her alive. She doesn’t know that love is going to make its way to getting in the way of the love she throws at her. She doesn’t know that once in her life…
Red will always be love and Rose will always be red.
ROSE AMARA AMBER
In the world I am living. Women don’t reign. I’m the exception to that rule. I didn’t choose this life, it chose me. I have a legacy to protect, a power to snatch, and no one will stop me. If an arranged marriage is what it’ll take to lead, then so be it. I am even marrying the man I am supposed to be loving. But that throne changed us all.
Even me and him. He was once my guard, my protector. Now, he’s after my kingdom. The path to the throne is paved with thorns, pain and blood. To win, I’ll risk it all. I should risk all of that I have even if my heart is included.
---
ETHAN ASH PENDLETON
I am the ruler. I am the next in line, but before I do it. I need to get married. And that woman is Rose Amber. The woman I want to spend my life with. But seeing myself marrying someone makes me a fool. Hurting her is not part of the plan.
Loving her. That is my plan, but this throne makes me tough and brave. I have to. For her safety and not mine. The family is after her family. Amber is one of the richest in the Eastern land. And we will have a great army and connections with them. Will give me the throne that I love.
I am choosing and, since I was once born, I have decided that the throne is more important to me and not the love that once perished.
CHAPTER ONE: THE YOUNG LADY RUINED THE MEETINGROSE AMARA'S POVKingdom, throne, blood, gold, and power. You have nothing if you don't have any of these. It involves more than just being at the top. No one can touch you or others nearby if you are high enough. Nobody looks at you because they are afraid of being blinded by the non-negotiability you reflect back at them when they do.That’s why I don’t and will never stop.They respect me more as I rise through the ranks, and one day they will all submit to Grandpa's family name.The Amber of the West“We’re Amber, especially you… You’re The Rose Amara…We don’t bend knees. Everyone else does.”With my mother's words engraved deep in my heart, I took the stairs.To be anticipated from the East Fortress, the mansion is enormous. The great hallway features light marble flooring and is reached by sweeping marble staircases. The central Chesterfield sofa, the pillars, and even the carpet are all rimmed in gold. There is a picture depicting
CHAPTER 2: THE MARRIAGE I NEVER EXPECTEDROSE AMARA’S POVAfter the passing of my mom seven years ago. My parents have made a commitment. I have to be married down south. My mother and father met there. However, I have nothing to offer him, because I had had a romantic relationship with Ethan, the West Chamber's heir.Working covertly and setting up meetings with the security group, the support group, and the four clans, the operational wing of the East fortress—I endured the worst of times. Even hiring the prominent leaders whom they trusted more than their own families was something I did.My grandpa passed to me the black book, which details the contacts the royals have with powerful individuals. Whoever holds that book, he claimed, is destined to reign. It goes without saying that no one in the brotherhood would have tolerated a woman ruling over them without first killing me.Although I didn't want to, my father has now given me the family name. To preserve the honor of my family
CHAPTER 3: MEET THE KINGS AND HEIRS ROSE AMARA’S POVAs my father had instructed, I pushed open the dining room door and entered with my head held high.The leaders of an elite group may easily intimidate someone. Uncle is one of the majority of those who have been to jail. While it is shameful to the outside world, it is a badge of honor for any clan member.King of the West Nathan is seated at the head of the table. In his fifties, he is elderly. His once-blonde hair has totally turned white over time and is now recognizable. Because of his denial of rejecting treatment, the cancer did not result in the loss of his hair, which has made him appear older.I try not to glare at him now that I know he’s trying to ship Bella off to one of those ruthless men who will eat her alive.In his role as the sovereign, Hades moves from my side to his right. Ryen, the general, is seated to his left. Hades is on a par with him in terms of power, but Ryen plays a more important function that invol
CHAPTER FOUR: HE'S BACK ETHAN’S POV I'm here in front of the people I used to be a part of, who welcomed me into their homes at age 26 because River, my previous boss Leonard, liked me a lot. It's different now. The strain feels like a whip waiting to rip open my back. I used to be popular with most of these men because I was the City's strongest hitman. I was the only one of their soldiers who could match my abilities. I carried out all of their dirty work and killed those they needed to be killed. They used to like me, but now that I've been gone for so long, they are unhappy. The fraternity forbids anyone from leaving, at least not alive. A person can only quit by dying. My attention drifts from Raven, River's younger brother, seated at the head of the table, to his elite circle. Everyone is looking at me oddly except Nathan, my loving daddy, who knows the situation. And she, too. To see my little mafia princess better, I cock my head to the side. In actuality, she is seate
CHAPTER FIVE: TO BE WED ROSE AMARA 'S POV I nod as guards go before me after promising to make the car ready. I remind myself to say hello to the workers again whenever I pass them so I don't come out as a bitch. I'm marching down the hall, feeling like my heart will burst into consuming flame. I don't mind behaving that way with the brothers in the brotherhood, but with the staff, it's a different thing. I learned from my father and Mother to respect those who are beneath me and to hate those who are against me. To catch my anxious breath, I pause at the corner. It nearly feels like I'm finishing a run because of how quickly my chest rises and lowers. The scene I saw inside, though, was worse than escaping. It was a long-lasting, terrifying race. No matter how hard I try, my legs can't help but tremble. They have finished supporting me for the day. As the pillar with the gold rim blurs, I hastily remove the signs of annoyance from my eyes. That's it. It is done. Being a membe
CHAPTER SIX: PLAN OF HIMETHAN POVUnderneath the ice-cold exterior, she burned and crushed the feminine side of her before it could emerge. I gaze at Rose's back as she leaves the house. I have no doubt that she is not conscious of the slight sway in her hips because of how she walks, with assurance and broad steps.But it's not entirely gone.The idea of breaking into her life and exploiting those hidden, secret features of hers makes my lips tremble. My gaze follows her to the entrance even though Eya, one of her most faithful warriors, meets and follows her outside.Yes, only Rose would choose a woman as one of her closest guards. She always did things differently and flipped the world on its finger.She thinks she can fight beside me but doesn't know that the fight has been going on for a long time. She can only complete the task she was given because she cannot change the hand dealt to her.Watching her tear up would be painful, but winning without sacrificing anything is useles
CHAPTER SEVEN: PLAN OF HERROSE AMARA POVDespite my best efforts, I can't seem to focus my attention. Even taking breaks to meditate doesn't help, though I do that.I have trouble focusing for the rest of the workday.So, when I sit in my office and look across the library, my head rests on my leather chair. I had the worst college experience, having to take the majority of my coursework online. However, I still managed to earn a degree in business management.To do it, I didn't need my family's last name. I worked hard and independently to complete it.I struggled so hard to get here, and yet I'm still expected to marry someone that has a considerable part of pride. Belle will suffer the price if she doesn't switch to being the woman that Ethan would marry.I'm not naive. I know that my position is primarily due to my father's influence. I'll be fired or demoted as soon as he's gone, and I have no control over it since I'm a damn woman.When my phone vibrates, I pick it up. As soon
CHAPTER EIGHT: He left, AgainCHAPTER 8: He left, AgainOn this wedding day, I feel as if I'm attending my own funeral. As if a key part of my being is slowly fading, an emptiness grips me. Perhaps this part of me died a long time ago, but I'm only now feeling its absence.I never imagined happily ever after or romantic weddings. Instead, I was drawn to stories of hideous beasts and demons. Such memoirs, I believed, carried more truth than fairytale ending.Maria clung to her conviction in her white knight and the fairy tale she had created for herself, in the words of a great author. Her feelings for her husband had grown stronger as they grew older. Despite the obstacles in her path, Maria persevered till her fairy tale ended happily.Such a life seemed unattainable to me. My personal path to marriage, on the other hand, was not what I had anticipated. I was sold like cattle to the highest bidder. As I look in the mirror, I see myself dressed in a modest white dress with lace that c
CHAPTER NINETYETHAN’S POVHe really didn’t follow.I stand on the balcony for several minutes in case he shows up, but there’s no trace of him.None at all. No call. No text.I stare at the letter he left me that I tucked in my bag. Is that the last I’ll see of him? Really?I ought to kick his ass for everything he made me go through. I gave him all the reasons to come back and at least talk to me. I went to him. I didn’t remove the wedding ring. I didn’t tell him he was an idiot for thinking that leaving is the solution.I did it all, but he didn’t even follow.Fvck him.I’m about to go take a shower when commotion comes from outside my room.My heartbeat skyrockets and I nearly trip over my feet as I swing the door open.It’s not Ethan ’s face that greets me. Instead, it’s Zeth and Eya arguing with Lia, telling her she can’t go inside.“What’s going on?” I try to hide the disappointment in my tone.“You said not to disturb you, miss,” Zeth says, “but Mrs. Volkov insists on seeing y
CHAPTER EIGHTY- NINEETHAN’S POV“Fvck!”I kick Rolan’s lifeless body. Even the arsehole’s death doesn’t feel as victorious as I thought it would.Rose disappeared down the hall with that fvcker Vladimir. He’ll have even more of an opening to be beside her now that I’m not there, which has been his purpose all along.Motherfvcker.“She has you by the balls. I’m disappointed.” Fire leans against the doorframe and places a cigarette in his mouth, but instead of lighting it, he keeps flipping his lighter on and off. His Beware of Fire Hazard tattoo peeks out from underneath his sleeve with the movement.“Shut the fvck up, Fire. He almost clipped my nails from my sniper hand, Godfather!”“It didn’t happen.” Fire pauses flipping his lighter.I narrow my eyes. “You wanted to do it.”“But I didn’t. And stop moaning to Ghost like a little kid.”“I’m going to—”“Enough.” Godfather sighs, staring down at me. “Do you have the time to bicker with Fire right now? Shouldn’t you go after your wife?”
CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT ROSE AMARA ’S POVI did it.I’m in the Irish’s club, which Rolan has a back office in.It hasn’t been an individual effort. Thanks to Julian and his acquaintance with Ethan ’s insider with the Irish, we were able to figure out the location.While River was completely against handing over territories, he said he’d turn a blind eye if I took his men and came here.I had to beg Vlad to help, and it wasn’t easy since he doesn’t like Ethan . The growly mountain of a man only softened when I mentioned the baby and that I don’t want him to grow up fatherless.Damien agreed to help because, in his words, “It should be fun.”I asked Kirill for his intel help because he has the best spies. He was the hardest to crack, and only agreed when I gave him an oath in front of Sasha that no one except for the three of us will know of her true gender. Well, Ethan already knows somehow, but I’m not the one who told him.Igor sent men, too, but Adrian has been MIA today. Even his clo
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN ETHAN’S POVMum’s words from the nightmare slam back to me. Could it be a warning about the truth?“Who is he?” I ask Rolan. “Who’s my father?”He releases a long laugh that echoes in the space around us. “Ah. Isn’t this grand? Ye lived with the Russians for years and still didn’t recognize yer father? A bastard is a bastard, after all.”“Who the fvck is he?”“Don’t ye worry, my lad. I already called him and gave him evidence that ye’re his boy, so if he does want ye, he’ll show up. Though, I doubt anyone wants a filthy bastard whose only use is killing from the shadows.”“Was he the one from that night? The one who came when my mother tried to escape?”“Probably. Yer mother was smart, but not fast enough. My idiot brother promised to protect her and ye, but she knew I’d kill ye both the first chance I got, so she decided to leave. But that didn’t turn out grand for her, did it?”“I’m going to kill you,” I mutter through clenched teeth. “I don’t care how or when,
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIXETHAN’S POV“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m so sorry.”Mam? Where are you?The place is pitch-black like a cave. It smells rotten too, as if a dead animal is decomposing inside it. My legs get lost in something sticky underneath, but I can’t see it.I can’t see anything except for darkness.The sound of weeping gets louder the more I walk. It’s my mother. I’d recognize the sound anywhere, even though it’s been thirty years.“Mam? Where are ye?” I don’t know why I’m speaking in a Northern Irish accent, but all of a sudden, it feels as if I’m back to being that small boy. The only difference is that I’m trapped in a grown-up’s body. “Mam!”The only answer is the sound of weeping. It’s long and wretched as if her grief is clawing out from the grave.“Mam, come out. I can protect ye now. No one will hurt ye.”The weeping ceases and a rustle comes from right in front of me. I halt, the sound of the sticky mud under my feet stopping too.The darkness slowly dissipates like fo
CHAPTER EIGHTY - FIVEROSE AMARA'S POVAfter knocking on the office’s door, I open it and step inside. I pause when I find an unknown man sitting across from my granduncle.“Rose. Come in.” Uncle River motions at me to join him, so I close the door and do just that, bluntly watching the new man.He appears to be in his mid to late forties. His large frame dwarfs his dark suit. His brown hair is styled back, and he's sitting nonchalantly. It's not so threatening as to attract attention, but it's not slack either, like he's ready to jump up any second. It's so similar to… Ethan's.Tattoos cover the backs of his hands, and they don’t appear like the ones I recognize from the Bratva, the Triads, or the Yakuza.He's watching me as intently as I'm watching him, like we're two predators before a fight over who owns a territory.“This is Rose.” Uncle River introduced me.“So she’s the one Ethan married.” the stranger observes quietly. British accent. Wait, could he be…“Are you…Ethan’s…”“God
CHAPTER EIGHTY - FOURETHAN'S POVMiss Amber,I know you hate it when I call you that, but I need the distance right now to write this.The first time I met you, I thought you were just another spoilt mafia princess, but I found you to be a strict bean. You didn't let anyone tell you what to do and stood up for yourself. You didn't stop there and made it your mission to help those weaker than you, even if it meant going against people with more influence than you.Here's the thing—I didn't plan to get close or to learn about you as much as I have. My sole mission then was to use Nikolai's intel to watch my uncle's movements from afar.At one point, that mission started to blur. At one point, the only reason I looked forward to new days wasn't my grand revenge plan but you.The more time I spent with you, the harder you tore at my armor and engraved yourself deeper. The more I saw, the blurrier my purpose became, the more insignificant I felt. Watching you go after your goals without h
CHAPTER EIGHTY - THREEETHAN'S POVthe splitting headache is the least of my problems when I stare at the woman lying on her stomach on the bed.A galaxy of bruises covers her hips, arms, thighs, arse, and even around the snake tattoo on her spine.Fvck.I spring awake as memories of last night trickle back in. What the fvck have I done? If it weren't for her back's steady rise and fall, I would think I'd killed her or something.Bloody hell.I shouldn't have touched her when I was drunk. The reason I don't get drunk isn't only because I lose my inhibitions but also because I can't control myself. There's no stop or even pause button in that state.Not that I've ever had those buttons when it comes to Rose. Whenever I recalled my decision, I fvcked her more, owned her more, and was nothing short of a madman.I can’t believe I took her on the floor over and over like a fvcking animal. She’s already too fragile and easily bruises by a simple touch. How could I let my beast side take com
CHAPTER EIGHTY - TWOROSE AMARA’S POVI'm lying completely flat on the carpet with my back to him. I stare back at him as he yanks open his drawer. He'll bring out a toy, but I should've known better. Ethan might like to torture me with them, but he doesn't want them involved during sex. I prefer him to them, anyway.He retrieves a bottle of lube and a condom and doesn't bother to close the drawer. Wait. A condom? Ethan never used them, so I didn't even know he had one.Besides, what’s the use of a condom when he’s already gotten me pregnant?He removes his shirt, revealing his stiff muscles and the tattoos rippling on his abs. I don't dare look away or move. I'll be missing something crucial if I do.Ethan throws his shirt away and stalks behind me like a hungry predator about to devour his prey. I follow him with my gaze until he kneels between my parted legs.He places a hand under my stomach and lifts me up so I'm slightly bent over on my knees. The position differs from anything