Aria. I had no time to hide. My body tensed, my eyes locked on the door as it creaked open. I was like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car, frozen in place, fear and adrenaline coursing through my veins.The door opened, and for a split second, I hoped against all odds that it wasn't Axel. But my hope was dashed. There he was. And even though I was scared witless, it was hard not to stare at him standing in the doorway.Holy shit!He was completely naked, his toned body covered in tattoos and scars, exuding raw sexuality.Why is he walking around naked?"What in the hell…?" Axel's voice was tinged with amusement and disbelief, his eyes flicking between me and the room around us. I remained rooted to the spot, my mouth dry and my heart racing a hundred miles an hour. I couldn't even muster up the courage to apologize or attempt an explanation.The silence stretched between us, punctuated only by the sound of our breathing. I could feel the weight of his gaze, the intens
Axel.Aria's moans and whimpers filled the room, fueling me to thrust harder and deeper as I held off my release until she climaxed. I followed shortly after, the sensation pure ecstasy. My heart pounded in my ribcage and my vision blurred slightly.The release left me a little breathless, but Aria was panting heavily, despite my having done most of the work."Tired, krasotka?" I asked, my voice hoarse and slightly shaky. The veins on my muscles throbbed, especially those on my most sensitive areas.She hummed in response, adjusted her clothing, and turned to face me. Her chest rose and fell in sync with mine as she caught her breath."Learned your lesson, naughty girl, or do you need more spanking?" I teased, my gaze fixed on her breasts. They were round and full, neither too large nor too small. They'd be a perfect fit for my large hands."I... uh..." she cleared her throat, struggling to speak. She shook her head and blinked several times, trying to clear her thoughts.While she ga
Axel. "Ax-elll! Wake up, sleepyhead!" Mila's high-pitched voice pierced through my dreams, and I groaned. I didn't want to wake up, not after the night I had with Aria. The way her body had felt against mine, her wild moans echoing in my ears... Uh... fuck! I was roused from my memories of Aria as something wet assaulted my face. Opening my eyes, I found myself face-to-face with a pair of guileless eyes staring back at me. A fluffy puppy perched on my chest, its tongue dangling as it licked me enthusiastically. What the hell? When it barked in my face, it only added insult to injury. "Surprise, Axel! Meet Max!" Mila announced, her face alight with glee. "Nikolai got him for me as a present! Isn't he the cutest thing you've ever seen?" The puppy cocked its head, eyeing me with a mixture of curiosity and bemusement. He was cute, no doubt of it. Not that I gave a fuck. Max batted at my chest with his tiny paws, wagging his tail as if demanding attention. Suppressing a frown, I add
Aria. Balancing a tray of steaming cups in one hand, I weaved through the busy cafe, feeling like a fraud in my waitress uniform. It was hard to believe that just last night, I had been tangled in Axel Yakov's arms, lost in a haze of pleasure I never thought possible."Here's your cappuccino, sir," I said, placing the cup in front of a middle-aged man engrossed in his newspaper. He didn't even glance up, just grunted his thanks. Sighing, I made my way back to the counter, where another cup of coffee awaited me – my third that morning.I downed the bitter liquid, hoping it would banish the memories of last night from my mind, but they refused to fade. Axel's touch still lingered on my skin, as if he had branded me with his possession."Hey, Aria, can you take these orders to table six?" my coworker, Emily, called out, snapping me out of my thoughts."Sure thing," I replied, forcing a smile and taking the plates from her.Delivering the food to the customers, my thoughts wandered back
AriaGreg smirked, taking pleasure in my discomfort. "Now, don't you think it's time you show me some gratitude for all the chances I've given you?The moment his grip tightened, something inside me snapped. A red-hot surge of anger welled up, and without thinking, my hand flew up, connecting with Greg's face in a sharp slap. We both stared at each other, shocked at my sudden outburst.My anger didn't subside, though; it festered and grew, feeding on my resentment of a life that had been nothing but a shitstorm. I was furious at my brother for falling into the pit of addiction, at my parents for leaving us too damn early, and at myself for being so damn helpless. The fury swelled within me as I thought about my own weakness – my inability to resist the magnetic pull of Axel and the fact that I had forgotten to press the fucking button on the device.The weight of it all became too much to bear, and hot tears of frustration and shame pricked at the corners of my eyes. My chest tightene
AxelThe air in the room was thick with tension, the stench of sweat and fear transporting me back to the first time I was exposed to the true meaning of Bratva business. I was just sixteen years old when my father led me down to his interrogation chamber for the first time."Son, this is your birthright," he'd said, his voice cold and steady as he secured the trembling man to a chair. "One day, you'll take over the business. Violence is an unavoidable part of our world."I watched, wide-eyed and silent, as the man's pleas for mercy filled the room. My father didn't waver; his face expressionless, his movements methodical. I couldn't tear my gaze away from the grisly scene unfolding before me."Dad, please," I remember whispering. "Isn't there another way?"My father had turned to me, his eyes glinting with a hardness I'd never seen before. "This is how we maintain order, son," he replied, his tone firm but not unkind. "This is how we protect our family and our business."Now, as I st
AxelRoman's rage seeped through as he worked in the chamber. Among us, he was the most unhinged and unpredictable, but that's why I trusted him. He let his actions do the talking when it came to dealing with enemies.As I stood outside the door, listening to the muffled sounds from within, I felt a sense of satisfaction. This was what happened when you crossed us. When you betrayed the trust we'd placed in you.You paid with your life."Boss," Maria, Mila's nanny, stood before me, her expression one of fear and concern as she took in the blood on my shirt. Her face was as white as a ghost."Boss... Mr. Yakov," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.I turned to face her, my eyes narrowing. Maria might have been Mila's nanny, but she was also a woman in the wrong place at the wrong time. The fact that she'd seen me in this state, covered in blood and with a killer's look in my eyes, was not something I took lightly.But as I looked at her closely, I saw fear not just towards me, bu
Aria"One more, please," I gulped down the burning alcohol, the sharp sting offering a momentary reprieve from my torment. As I scanned the room, I took in the dimly lit, seedy environment. Drunken men leer at the scantily clad dancers writhing on stage, their hands wandering over their own bodies, stroking their cocks in anticipation. Some licked their lips lasciviously, eyes filled with depravity as they fixated on the exposed flesh of the dancers. The room was suffocating, a den of lust and debauchery, and I hated that my best friend had to work in a place like this."You look like the weight of the world is crushing you," the bartender said softly. Zara was my best friend, and her concern was etched across her face. She was a bombshell, with her thick black hair cut into a bob, framing her delicate features. Her deep brown eyes were filled with warmth and understanding, and she carried herself with confidence and poise. Her outfit, though, was another story.Zara was clad in a ski
Aria.I walked into the maid's quarters – a palace in its own right. It was larger than the house I grew up in, decorated with Russian luxury. Gold accents, ornate fixtures, the works. The room was abuzz with quiet whispers. Svetlana's meeting was about to start.Holy hell. I eyed the horde of maids gathered in the room. Did the Yakovs employ the entire female population of Russia?I kept my gaze low, avoiding the intensity of the curious stares boring into me. It felt like walking onto a stage in the middle of a performance – all spotlights and hushed anticipation. I kept my face blank, trying to exude a calm I didn't feel. My heart thudded in my chest, a wild drumbeat against the quiet whispers around me.I headed toward a corner where the least number of gossipy hens were huddl
Axel."Blyat," I cursed, holding the remains of the spyware we had found scattered throughout the house. "Fucking six of them."Nikolai snorted, tossing another piece onto the table. "Make it seven."Fucking rats."Spy shit in our house, Axel. Stabbed in the back in our own damn home."My hand tightened around the piece of spyware, the metal edges biting into my flesh. The pain was a welcome distraction from the blinding rage simmering beneath the surface. If I could get my hands on Viktor and his rats, I would tear them apart with my bare hands. No mercy."I don't fucking believe this," I snarled, grinding my teeth together so hard I could taste iron on my tongue.A guttural scream tore through the silence, coming from the depths of the compound. It barely made me flinch; I was too wrapped up in the fucking spyware that had invaded my home."They're not holding up well," Nikolai observed, a dark amusement dancing in his eyes as another scream ripped through the air. The sound, though
Aria.Two damn days.It was like Axel had fallen off the face of the Earth since that weird phone call at the lake house. That night, we had connected. There was something real between us. He was more than just a mob boss; he was a man. And I was falling for him... hard. But spilling my guts to him? Hell, that would have been like painting a target on my back.Shit, I was about to confess everything to him.I'm fucking insane!After the call, it was like someone had flipped a switch in him. The warmth, the openness... all gone. He was cold, distant. We packed up and left the lake house like we were running from a damn ghost.I chewed on my lower lip. But then I pasted on a bright smile.Gotta keep up the act for Mila."Miss Maria, is Ms. Yakov ready for her lesson?" called a man from the stables, his voice rich and deep.I spun around, coming face to face with a pair of smoky eyes set in a ruggedly handsome face. Dark hair. Dark eyes. A killer smile. Great, the horseback riding coach.
ZaraA glimmer of hope ignited within me as I eyed the old, rusting doorknob. I'd seen enough action movies to know a thing or two about breaking locks. All I needed was one good swing, one good fucking hit, and that damn knob would fly right off. Picture the cool rush of freedom, right?But then, fucking typical, I heard the murmur of voices outside. My heart plummeted, ice-cold dread pooling in my gut."Cock-blocking bastards," I grumbled, my gaze darting to the locked door. I shoved the pipe back under the old cloth, concealing it as best as I could. Couldn't risk those fuckers finding my ticket out of this shithole. Not when Nilo's life hung by a thread.Crossing the room, I knelt next to Nilo, his face as pale as a ghost's. Each breath he took was shaky and labored. He needed the drugs. Now.Then the door creaked open, revealing two of Viktor's goons, their smug faces setting my teeth on edge. I forced a false smile, my heart hammering an erratic tattoo in my chest."Hey, asshole
Zara."A fucking week in this fucking shithole," I snarled, feeling the cold seep into my bones from the damp floor.The rat-infested room was a desolate pit of despair, and the sounds of revelry from the floor above made the gnawing ache in my stomach more potent.Beside me, Nilo, poor bastard, was barely hanging on. He was shivering, sweat-soaked, his face deathly pale. They'd been denying him his fix, and the withdrawal was kicking his ass. He needed his fucking drugs, and I needed a goddamn miracle.Nilo heaved again, and the foul smell of vomit filled the small space. My heart clenched, but I kept my face hard. I wasn't going to let them see me break."Get a grip, Nilo," I said, but it was gentler than I intended. He couldn't help it; the withdrawal was a bitch. "Fuck this!" I stormed over to the heavy iron door, slamming my fists against it. "Hey! Assholes! You gonna let him die in here?"The footsteps thudded closer, sounding like a damn drumbeat in my skull. The door groaned o
Axel.I watched as Aria trotted away with Mila, my sister urgently whispering something about needing to pee. It left me alone with Ekaterina. There was a pause as we watched them disappear into the house."You do good with Mila," Ekaterina finally broke the silence, and I was sure I heard pride in the words.Switching to our native Russian, I confessed to Ekaterina, "Mila's an easy kid. She's really warmed up to Aria, too. She thinks... well, she thinks Aria is like Belle from Beauty and the Beast." I shrugged. What did I know about kids' fairy tales?Ekaterina chuckled at that, a sound that took me back to simpler times. Then she looked at me warmly. "You seem happy, Axel," she remarked. "Truly happy. It's good to see you like this."I could feel the truth of her words, the lightness in my heart, the calmness that wasn't there before. She was right. I was happy.Her gaze moved to where Aria had just disappeared with my sister. "I like that one. Keep her. She might be young," she beg
Aria"Hungy time," Mila announced, slapping her tiny belly. The seriousness on her face, the sheer gravity of her statement, yanked a surprised laugh from both Axel and me."Again?" Axel looked surprised. She nodded, then giggled as her belly rumbled."Wait, that's not a thunderclap?" I mocked, a feeble attempt to wash away the red searing my cheeks. "Here I was, thinking we're due for a storm, but it's just Mila's stomach playing tricks!""No, silly!" Mila giggled, her laughter a soothing balm to the tension knotting in my chest.I sneaked a peek at Axel, catching him mid-stare. Our eyes met, and there it was – a gentle smile playing on his lips. Melting my heart.Oh God, please don't do that."See that?" He gestured toward the vast, open sky, hues of pinks and oranges bleeding into each other. The sunset. Gorgeous, yet an unwanted reminder of time flying.A swift check of my wristwatch confirmed it – we'd been there for hours, tangled in our problems, our fears. My fears."Let's hea
Aria.The name crashed into my mind, a vicious reminder of the web I was tangled in.Viktor.The man who had my brother.The man who had my best friend.The man who sent me into the lion's den to spy.The man who murdered his own brother-in-law, Axel's father.My stomach churned at the revelation, and for a moment, I feared I might lose my lunch right there, on top of that serene hill, in front of those majestic tombstones.The same fear snaked up my spine, coiling tightly around my heart.What was I to do now?The air felt heavy around me, pressing down on my chest.I needed to breathe. I needed to think.I needed to run!But right then, all I could do was freeze, my hand still resting on Axel's shoulder. His hand came up, gently clasping mine. The warmth, the spark that leaped at the contact... it was undeniable.He slowly stood up and turned to face me.Just when I thought things couldn't get more complicated, the universe proved me wrong. And for the first time since stepping into
Axel."I- I didn't know. I'm sorry," Aria stammered, her gaze lingering on the distant gravestones.Suddenly Mila rushed past, breaking the moment. I was grateful for the distraction. "Axel, Max is being silly!""Slowly, Mila!" Aria called, but her eyes stayed locked with mine. They were wide pools, sucking me in. There was more of that goddamned silence, and now I was really regretting bringing her here. Too many questions. Too much to explain.Mila returned, tugging on my sleeve. "Look at what I picked, Axel!"I crouched down to her level and took a moment to admire the bunch of flowers she thrust in my direction. "Mama would have loved these, Mila. She loved wildflowers.""Did she?" Mila looked at me, her innocent eyes wide with curiosity. "I was too small when she went to heaven.""Da, you were just a baby, malyška," I confirmed, scooping her up and hoisting her onto my shoulders. From her perch atop my six-foot-three frame, she must have felt like she was on top of the world."Le