CHAPTER THIRTY – SIX: TASTE IT WHILE IT LASTETHAN’S POVI was raised among monsters as a child and was taught never to crave anything. Everything is messy, used, and thrown away.Why then do I feel the desire to lick her cheek till I claim those parted lips when I look at the woman leaning up against the wall?Why is she the first thought I have when I get up and the last thing I want to see before I go to sleep?Because one taste is insufficient, Rose Amara is the forbidden fruit that I shouldn't have ever tried. The second, third, or tenth are not either.Despite being in the most exposed position possible, she lifts her chin up. Her underwear is collected around her ankles, and her dress is pulled up to her waist. Even the flimsy elastic leaves red marks on her flawless, light skin.She sputters, "I don't need your hand," and then continues. "Leave now,"I cross my legs at the ankles as I lean against the door to the supply room. "Forget about me. I'll just wait and observe. What d
CHAPTER THIRTY – SEVEN: IS IT HAPPENINGETHAN’S POVShe parts her lips as her climax breaks out, but I continue to gorge myself on her even as she chokes my dick with her interior walls. Along with continuing to nibble on the flesh and suck her bottom lip into my mouth, I continue to devour her parted lips.Rose's knees give way and fail her, but I'm supporting her by the hip."Wife, I'm not through with you yet."She shuts her eyes when the word "wife" is said. She tries standing up on her legs, but she doesn't know if it's out of pleasure or disgust.I keep going, pushing into her in a rhythmic manner akin to that of a guy on the verge of insanity, or perhaps just a man yearning for his sanity. In light of this, she enjoys it when I fully commit? Rose was created only for me because of this.Was she built for me?When my balls tighten and my spine snaps into a straight line, I don't have the mental room to concentrate on that strange thought. She is in my hands as I shoot my sperm w
CHAPTER THIRTY – EIGHT: WAKE UPROSE AMARA'S POVI rushed up to him and knelt down next to his lifeless body, my heart thumping so loud I could feel the pulse in my ears. Blood soaks the man's shirt and then startlessly flows out of him, leaving him with the impression that life is fleeing him.I put my trembling fingers on the hole and push as firmly as I can.The commotion around, the gunfire, the whimpering noises, the people's shouts, all of it vanishes into the background. I can only concentrate on the man who is lying on the ground.My voice chokes as I say, "Don't go...don't you dare go," but I sniffle nevertheless, keeping my eyes on the task at hand.He is promised... He would never leave me again. I scream at the top of my voice to everyone who can hear."Get Dr Halili! Now!"I lack the motivation to stop thinking about Ethan. He will disappear into thin air if I even blink once while keeping my eyes on him. Eya yanks herself away from the action, nods, and dashes towards th
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: WHAT HAPPENED?ETHAN'S POVI open my eyes gradually as my ears start to buzz. The first thing I saw was a beautiful woman. Her expression is hidden by the way her golden hair cascades down either side of her face.Was it really the angel who visited me in my final moments and saw me for the last time? With her face serious and her brows furrowed as if she were attending to the most important subject in her life, she was washing my chest. All I want to do is stare at her intently so that I will always remember this panorama and her for the rest of my life, but I’m terrified of disturbing her.I didn't think of my purpose or the people whose hearts I couldn't rip out with my bare hands at that time, when I thought everything would be finished. The only thing that could have possibly crossed my thoughts was this stunning spitfire of a lady finally opening up to me after hating me for years, or maybe I just convinced myself that she was.I saw her living by herself, b
CHAPTER FORTY: WILL NEVER BE THE SAME ETHAN'S POV "I was with my friends a long time ago." I can at least show her a side of me she has never seen, because I can't give her the truth without revealing who I am. I'm so firm to keep her close when I know how she feels about what I want. “Friends?” They were my colleagues from the assassination organization, not really my friends. They resemble my family in some ways. Similar to the family but with far less fidelity on our part. All we did was coexist. I felt as though my godfather was slipping away from me: the family patriarch. “Is he a mafia member? ” Kind of. Although I wouldn't classify him as a mafia member, the idea is near enough. "So what happened next” "Some opponents in the realm we ruled in London desired the death of my family. Of course, I couldn't let it happen, so I decided to find the offender on my own. "So, how did you get shot?” That's how I got shot, or quite close to it. She doesn't have to be aware of t
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE: MY HUSBANDROSE’S POVEven though two weeks have passed, it doesn't seem like it has been that long. It's because, despite the fact that not much has transpired, it feels like a lot has.Uncle Raven ordered his men to begin his assault on the British as promised. It was vicious and callous, just like a person. Only two of our men died, whereas more of their men did.Triads are still hesitant about a war they do not have a place in, even though the Italians are currently on our side. Min Hao appears to be amenable to bargaining, so Hades requested me to speak with him. Ethan was more intrigued by the concept, though. He objected to the idea of me talking to Min Hao alone.Since he is still recovering, I will only agree with him for the time being, but I am aware that in the long term, we cannot exist independently. If the Irish send in
CHAPTER FORTY – TWO: US TOGETHERROSE’S POVMy husband is now my guard. I doubt that it will ever return to normal. We're not your typical married pair after all. Our world is not a fairy tale, and we did not begin in the typical way. However, once he said that he left me because he believed I was unkind to him, something inside of me began to change. It has something to do with that, his pledge to never visit me again, or the fact that he risked his life twice for me.He was willing to accept death in my place.A part of me, the one that Dedushka conditioned to always have a healthy dose of skepticism, tells me I shouldn't put this much faith in Ethan. I shouldn't trust him with my life the way I previously did. The other, more deranged part, though, the one that falls into his arms each night, wants to be with him always. When I don't see him for a few hours, that pa
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE: I'M READY ETHAN’S POVI never imagined the day would come when Rose would rest quietly in my arms. She is too independent and brash to submit to my grip in this way. I came to the conclusion at one time that she would eventually leave me and never look back. However, that was before I made the decision to keep her.When I told her to accompany me, I wasn't kidding. Although it was uttered in the heat of the moment, I couldn't have made a wiser choice.Rose will accompany me.She will be by my side when we move somewhere far from here once this is finished. I will transport her to the spot she adores, far from the horror. In comparison to the injury she will sustain after I'm finished, my chest wound is nothing. While she is changing my bandage, she is also updating me on my most recent misstep. She has been doing that for the previous few weeks. I make an effort to concentrate on what she is saying rather than the impulse to flip her over and f*ck her.Despite th
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