TOB 57ROSE AMARA'S POVMy spine has been stiff since I stepped inside.Even though I told Hades to leave, I'm not entirely in control of the situation. He, Zeth, and Eya are waiting outside, and I can call them back in, but that would defy why I came inside in the first place.I try not to stare at Ethan’s beaten-up state for too long, but his bloodied lips, eyelids, and nose are hard not to notice. Hades has beaten him to a pulp, which isn’t a surprise considering Hades’s merciless personality when he sets out to punish someone. He made Ethan’s handsome face unrecognizable. It should feel better this way. He deserves every bit of pain he’s now going through. In fact, he deserves more.That's what I tell myself anyway because as I stare at him, that stupid part who had my heart broken when I listened to his phone conversation is also in pain.That fucking part feels as if I’m the one who’s been beaten and has swollen eyes and bleeding lips.But why should it? Ethan’s injuries might
TOB 58ROSE AMARA POVI don't feel so good.That’s an understatement. I’m the worst I’ve been since Dedushka’s death.A heavy weight perches on my chest, confiscating my air supply and replacing it with a harsh, merciless gloom. It’s draining me, asphyxiating me. All I want to do is just... scream. But at the same time, I don’t have the luxury of losing myself to that feeling. It’s over. Everything is... done.It's been exactly two hours since I freed Ethan. Just two hours, and it feels like years already.I was never good at letting things go. I never get used to the feeling with time like most people. Instead, I hold on to it and replay it in my head every waking moment. I didn’t let go when Mom died, or when I was separated from Dad and Marie and I definitely didn’t let go when I left me alone with this pack of wolves.I’ve lost too many things and become horrible at moving on. So it's unsurprising that I keep replaying Ethan's words, repeatedly seeing his bloodied face. At this ra
TOB 59 ROSE AMARA POVThe door opens, and I grit my teeth. The only people who would barge in like that are either one of the elite group or Uncle Raven. My options are narrowed down since my granduncle has an appointment with a doctor today.Sure enough, Hades saunters in, eyes flaming and face tightened in a permanent scowl. Of course. It was only a matter of time before he followed.Keith smiles at him. “Hades, long time no see.”“Keith.” Hades greets back, barely tipping his head in the Japanese's direction. He looks like a man on a mission and in no mood for small talk. Not that he ever is.Keith's smile remains as he stands up, buttons his jacket, and then shakes my hand. "I'll be in touch."“Looking forward to it.”His hand remains in mine for a second too long. “Before I go, may I give you a piece of advice?”“Yes, of course.”“History does repeat itself, so you might want to look closely at that.”And with that, Keith releases my hand and steps out of the office.When the do
TOB 60ROSE AMARA POVI rub my eyes, convinced I’m seeing things. It must be a trick of my mind, a remnant of a dream that refuses to fade.But when our eyes meet in the dimness of the room, reality crashes in with brutal force. A jolt of recognition shatters through me, stark and undeniable. It’s him. Ethan. The same Ethan I left behind in that warehouse, his presence commanding the space despite the shadows obscuring his features.His hand clamps over my mouth before I can react, stifling any protest that might have escaped my lips. Words dissolve in my throat; fear and confusion mingle in a tumultuous whirl. It’s like an out-of-body experience, detached yet achingly present.In the scant light filtering through the balcony, I discern bruises marrying his face, a cut etched across his lip, traces of blood smudged in the creases of his skin. Despite the injuries, the contours of his face are achingly familiar—the sharp jawline, the stormy eyes that once both infuriated and captiv
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONEROSE AMARA'S POVEthan flips me, so I'm lying underneath him, and I squeal, clutching his shoulders. The sound slowly fades as he slides his fingers under my eyes, wiping away the tears.“Why are you crying when I was the one beaten up?”"You think I liked that? Do I enjoy seeing you like this? You asshole. Jerk—" My words are cut off when his lips capture mine with a raw hunger that steals my breath away.I taste the metal on his cut lip and attempt to push it away so I don't aggravate it, but Ethan thrusts his tongue between my teeth, swirling it with mine as if he's been starving for my taste.The pungent smell of lust and something more potent permeates the air as he robs me not only of my breath but also of my sanity. He smashes every brick I carefully placed around my heart to the ground and walks all over it. Each kiss, each touch feels like a declaration, a claim on my very soul.He nibbles down on my tongue, and the sharp sting of pain quickly heightens my a
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWOETHAN'S POVRose is fast asleep, her lips parted slightly, and her golden locks splayed all over the pillow. I've spent the last hour watching her; the slight flutter of her thick lashes, the steady rise and fall of her chest under the blanket, and how peaceful she looks—safe almost.Her fair complexion appears bluish in the darkness, ethereal, and so fvcking appetizing I want to take her all over again. But at the same time, I love how she clings to me even in her sleep, wrapping her hand around my torso and intertwining her legs with mine.She's so beautiful; it's maddening.My obsession with this woman runs deeper and darker than I initially calculated. Putting distance between us felt like ripping my heart from between my ribs.It started when I first met her. When Elliot introduced her to me with a gleam in his usually cold eyes, I wondered what could have made the merciless leader of the New York is so proud.At the time, I thought she looked normal, like all A
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREEETHAN'S POVRose's concentration is unwavering as she meticulously cleans my face. Her fingers are gentle yet firm, and when she reaches the cuts near my eyes, she pauses. "It might hurt a little."“It’s nothing.”“Have you been hurt like this before?”“Of course. Being shot makes this look like a child’s game.”She strokes the pads of her fingers over the scar on my chest. “How did this happen?”“That was because of Godfather—Gotham.”“Was Gotham part of your group?”"He trained us. Godfather is one of The Underground’s first generation. They're called Team Zero, and all have weird names. My group is considered part of the second generation."She continues to carefully clean my wound. “What’s the difference between the first and the second generation?”“The first generation are now old men—and women. We’re younger and prettier, I guess?”She shakes her head. “Is that the only difference?”“Well, that and the fact that they were drugged. Their loyalty was ensured b
CHAPTER SIXTY - FOUR ETHAN’S POVMaybe she knows me better than I thought possible. At this moment, the only thing that can stop me is her. I even came back here, risking being shot to death by that fvcker Hades if it meant seeing her one last time.Godfather and all the fvckers from The Pit—especially Flame—would be so unimpressed with how I chose to die. By a Russian. For a woman.I would laugh if I could. They would tell their children tales about how pathetic I’ve become, how the mighty have fallen.And yet, I’d still come back here in a heartbeat.“Instead…” Rose tRosels off. “I will take revenge against Rolan on your behalf.”I Rosese a brow. “You will?”“You have my word.”“What to do? My revenge might start with Rolan, but it doesn’t end with him.”“Then how does it end?”"A Russian was there that night—the one who betrayed my mother. Unless he dies, my revenge won't end."“Is he one of us?”“I believe so, but I’m not sure if he’s one of the existing ones or if he went back t
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