My heart feels like it is shattering into a million pieces for the last and final time as I intently gaze at Dmitri. The look of unwavering disbelief tainting his features makes my stomach churn. Gods, I feel sick. I’m so torn between doing what is right and disregarding everything just to be with the one person who makes my heart whole. Both Dmitri and Leo have one thing in common. They never let anyone get close enough to see the real them. No one aside from me anyway. I jolt the second he takes one step toward me, his eyes blazing with rage. “If he is forcing you to make this oath with him, decline it now, and we will get the hell out of here.” He whispers roughly as he turns his head to the side to mask his words from Leo. Sighing, I shake my head, trying to rein in my runaway heartbeat. “He isn't D. When he presented me with the proposal, at first, I laughed, then I became enraged, and finally, I realised where he was coming from. Marrying Leo ensures our safety. Marrying Leo
As I continue to helplessly stare after Dmitris’ fading figure, I collapse to my knees-my right knee hitting the wet concrete ground first, then, my left. Pain disperses across the hard balls of my kneecaps, but the foreboding pain of heartbreak that continues to seep into the roots of my heart outweighs any other pain my body is slowly trying to register.He left me.In the rain.Crying.Heartbroken.Alone.I hate him!I fucking hate him with everything I have and I hope he crashes on his stupid bike that makes him look smoking hot!Covering my face with my hands, I burst into tears.I don’t hate him.I could never hate him.I love him so fucking much that I would die for him.I’d kill for him.Why does loving someone hurt so much?Is this what men mean when they say that love is the greatest weakness one can possess?It can be one’s downfall until there is no return.“Time will heal your broken heart, cara mia. But first, you need to push through the pain and accept Dmitris’ decisi
TWO MONTHS LATER:Three weeks have passed since I arrived in Sicily, accompanied by Leo, my husband. It has been four weeks since we exchanged our vows and became one. Fortunately, Leo had kept his promise and ensured that our wedding was a small and intimate affair, just as I had requested.The sole attendees of our union consisted exclusively of the distinguished members of the Elite Family's leadership. The only witnesses and approvers of our holy matrimony were the ones we deemed necessary; those of the inner circle that influenced a wider spectrum. As we sat across the table, I knew that our reputation was on the line. Our coming together was questioned.The rumours of a feud between Leo and myself had spread like wildfire, threatening to tarnish our image as a united front. But I was determined to set the record straight. With a confident smile, I spoke of our shared vision and unwavering commitment to success. As I looked over at Leo, I knew that we were more than just a co
FORTY-EIGHT HOURS LATER: Lifting my hand with my heart hammering in my chest and butterflies fluttering in the pit of my stomach, I knock on Leos’ office door. I wait a few breaths before the door is pulled open by one of his men. As his gaze falls on me, he steps to the side to allow me to enter, and when Leo sees me, he rises to his feet from behind his desk, buttoning the front of his charcoal suit jacket. He clears his throat, “Leave us.” Without any hesitations or questionable expressions marring their features, all fifteen of his men exit the room in utter silence. “Bella, what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” He smiles as he walks around his desk, cupping my face in his hands, and places a gentle kiss on the top of my head. Since we have been married, Leo has not made any attempt to pressure me into filling my duties as his wife or so much as tried to kiss me on the lips. He has been very patient with me, giving me all the space I need, as well as sleeping in the room
The world is very good at inflicting pain on me.An agony that is so intense that there is nothing else.Darkness engulfs me, blinding me.I’m dying. I just know it.I’ve fought a good fight in my life, and everything I have been subjected to; forced to endure is nothing like this. Only death can feel like this.No matter how much I will myself to keep on fighting, there just isn’t anything left in me to keep going.I ache all over. Every muscle in my body has been robbed of its strength, and I can feel myself sinking deeper into the endless sea of darkness.Dmitris’ face flickers before me.His voice fills my ear canals, stroking my feverish flesh like velvet.Then I think of Leo, how he did right by me, and how my heart slowly began to open up and let him in. He loves me fiercely, and I know if I give up, he will have Wolf by his side.Wolf, looks like Amani. He has a gentle soul and the day Ivan brought him home, he has thrived beyond our wildest dreams. Proving himself to everyon
His relentless fingers continue to assault the most sensitive region of my body, eliciting a faint, panting whimper from my lips. My blood is pulsating with sensual ecstasy; pleasure as I have never experienced before.I want to tell him that I'm coming, but I can't with his hand clamped over my mouth, silencing our forbidden activities. My eyes start to roll in the back of my head, while the delicious sensation of pressure building in the pit of my stomach consumes me.Against my better judgement, I start to ride his fingers, desperately seeking my release. "So hot, and wet for me, printsessa..." He growls into my hair as his hot lips graze the hard shell of my ear. "Happy birthday." My chest rises and falls vigorously as his velvet-like voice licks my pulsating flesh that burns with love for him, and him alone. He is the only male that has the power to consume me entirely without even knowing it.Dmitri Orlov is the adopted son of Aunt Ana and Uncle Viktor. He is three years ol
SIX YEARS LATER.I stare at my reflection in the mirror, admiring the strong young woman who stares back at me. Today is my twenty-first birthday, and my parents have decided they want to celebrate it with all their corporate friends and close confidants. I usually feel like an outcast at large gatherings or in crowded places. I am the awkward girl in the corner of the room who has been sipping the same drink for three hours while watching everyone else enjoy themselves.I turn to the side, drinking in my reflection as I take note of how well the gown fits my body.It savagely clings to every generous curve the Gods have blessed me with. The silver gown that sparkles under the light heightens the sapphire blue irises in my eyes. I have my mother's red hair and my father's eyes, but somehow I have inherited my Aunt Ana's spitfire tongue.FOR ONCE, my mother has picked something for me that doesn't make me feel like I am too overly dressed; something that will draw too much attention
My eyes grow wide as fear forbids me to move. With fear-stricken eyes, I watch as Dmitri rushes to the bedroom window, pulling a ribbed black top over his shoulders.He stands in the shadows where the sun doesn't kiss the room, and he gazes out the window. Whatever is happening on the other side of the window, causes his hands to curl into tight balls of fury at his sides. The instant he looks back at me, I know it's bad. I immediately turn around, attempting to unlock the door so I can rush down the stairs and find my parents. "Net... [No...]" Dmitri growls in a hushed tone, yanking me away from the door, and he pulls me to the far corner of the room. "Get down, and don't let anyone see you through the window." He states sternly, leaving no room for me to disregard his orders. He moves along the wall, opens the closet door, and pulls out his duffle bag. He extracts two guns, twists the silencers on the barrels, and removes two clips; stuffing the clips into the back pockets of h