Dimitri nods to me, a smile spreading deeply on his lips as he seemingly looks at me speechless."I see you've had a lot of time to think about this, Emma; I see now why my son wishes for you to take the lead.""I—.""Save it, Emma. I think we both know it's easier if we get along. I wouldn't want to be just as disappointed in you as I am, my son.""Luca's done nothing wrong," I tell Dimitri firmly."Shall we agree it's a matter of opinion? He's my only son. I had wished to pass along my title to him as any father would," he tells me."Matter of opinion, father. I do not wish this life on my child," Luca rumbles beside me.I look around the table to note everyone has fled. Did I miss something? When did they go?How did I get so lost in this conversation that I missed them, leaving us in privacy?"This life has been tough on Luca. It's only fair for him to be able to feel the emotions the toll of killing people and selling women creates. But despite that fact, he has worked tirelessly
Six months later LucaAs I stare at Emma sitting in our garden with her stomach round and protruding, one hand rubbing it absently, I think over the events that led up to this moment.Things haven't always been easy for us, far from.Falling in love with her at such a young age gave my father the weakness he needed to exploit to keep me in check. He had his gun trained on her one too many times with only our knowledge to make me do as he wished. Taking her away from me made me thicken my skin; that was the most suitable decision he ever made and probably will ever make regarding me and my future. Without that singular choice, I don't know if I would ever have become the man everyone fears. The loss of Emma was monumental in creating the drive I lacked beforehand. I suppose I should be thankful to my father; without his input, Emma's and my child's safety would be at risk more than it is.The sun shines down on her as if telling me to watch my beautiful wife as she walks alongside t
The petite blonde, blue-eyed, screaming doll had me hooked. She held my finger and soon babbled up at me as if her world had already revolved around me. Christ, I hope our daughter looks like her mother and equally looks up to me like that. What I'm trying to describe is how fate had me fall for her even then when she was a newborn baby, and my love has lasted this long.Emma turns to me, looking up as she has on so many occasions before. She seeks my gaze on the balcony, and I hold hers for a long moment. A smile spreads on her face, and she summons me, taking my breath away.She's forgiven me yet again, not that I deserve her forgiveness after treating her so demeaningly. Holding one finger up, I back away, turning into the bedroom before floating toward her. And then through the house and down the hall. I walk through the open patio doors and down the steps into the garden and stalk towards her fervently. Her hand is outstretched at the very moment I grab her waist, pulling her
EmmaAs I look down into my baby's eyes, I forget all the hardship her labour created only moments ago. She has the deepest shade of mahogany brown hair that covers her head and curls by her ears, yet her eyes seem somewhat light—perhaps they'll be a shade of blue like mine or a deep shade of marbled grey.Her looks remarkably resemble both of ours, yet it seems she favours her father more. It's in her straight nose, sharp jawline, and chin that resembles his. I know this might change; in fact, there's a sure certainty that my daughter will evolve rapidly, but right now, I couldn't be happier to meet her, especially to have her resemble her father in such ways. My world re-centres around her, making everything else seem dim in comparison to her. I've never felt love like this. It pulls my insides as something imaginary envelopes the pair of us. It feels like a bubble, one that's missing one person—the very man waiting to meet his daughter properly. "Hello, my darling," I hum quietly
"Take your T-shirt off?" I request with a beaming smile that sends tingles through my veins at the thought of gifting this invaluable gift of life to Luca after so long."O—Kay," he replies with confusion but does it anyway. His shirt goes over his head, and he dumps it with his shoes on the floor. I lay our daughter, who is just as naked as his chest, on him. The doctor raved about skin-to-skin, so surely that extends to her father, too? I gently press her head sideways so she can breathe, and I watch with amusement as Luca holds his hands out as if he thinks he might harm her if he moves. "Here," I smile, moving his hands to cradle her before I cover the pair of them with the blanket around my legs.It's an instant connection for him, his eyes close as he presses his back into the lifted mattress, and he leans down to smell our little girl's head. A sound somewhere between a moan and a groan exits his mouth, and tears fall through his closed eyes."Congratulations, Papa," I whisper
EmmaIntroducing Aria to our men—our family was exhausting, but at least we could keep her birth a secret from the outside world with them.Luca and I have been in this quiet, subdued, and fabulous bubble, but just as with everything, Dimitri is not out of the know. The plan was to call him the day after the birth, but we put it off and then again the next day and the one after that. It turns out he made the first move. He called just this morning, six days after her birth, to ask why we were keeping his grandchild away from him and Lucia and if we knew there were protocols in place to pass over the information. The call was scary; I watched the version of Luca, who had been around me for days, turn into the man I came home to over a year ago. Honestly, we didn't call to prevent the rest of the world from knowing. There's this deep-rooted need to protect my little girl; no, that's not right. It's not a need; it's a must. In answer to his question, we knew we would only need to mak
I watch as he grabs Aria's blanket, the little changing bag and a small teddy Anna gifted Aria."Let's get comfortable in the lounge before they come?" He asks, holding a hand out to lead me from the bed.I nod, cradling Aria closer before I stand and let Luca walk us down to the lounge we never use. The sofa isn't as comfortable as the bed; it's cold and far too firm, but I make myself as comfortable as I can while Aria continues to feed. She soon falls asleep, so I move her to lay over my shoulder to burp her. That's when Luca leaves, obviously having word that his parents are here.Anxiety rolls through me, and I start to wonder if anyone would have followed them. If our impenetrable home will fail us. I started spiralling; I swore I might begin hyperventilating before Luca reentered with his parents.Dimitri and Lucia are dressed down in casual clothes that scream normal people. Luca looks far too overdressed compared to the three of us, but his father appraises him with a grin b
EmmaIntroducing Aria to our men—our family was exhausting, but at least we could keep her birth a secret from the outside world with them.Luca and I have been in this quiet, subdued, and fabulous bubble, but just as with everything, Dimitri is not out of the know. The plan was to call him the day after the birth, but we put it off and then again the next day and the one after that. It turns out he made the first move. He called just this morning, six days after her birth, to ask why we were keeping his grandchild away from him and Lucia and if we knew there were protocols in place to pass over the information. The call was scary; I watched the version of Luca, who had been around me for days, turn into the man I came home to over a year ago. Honestly, we didn't call to prevent the rest of the world from knowing. There's this deep-rooted need to protect my little girl; no, that's not right. It's not a need; it's a must. In answer to his question, we knew we would only need to mak
Continued:Sven turns back to rejoin Bianca and me by the bed, and as I stand, I peep out the small window to my right. My heart races as my eyes dart across the street below, searching frantically for a way to get Bianca down and into another building safely, away from the danger lurking just beyond that door. Each hotel looks inviting, but just as with this one, its buildings are tall and overtly open."Not going to answer the door, Niko?" Densel's voice booms, dripping with mockery. I can almost envision the twisted grin on his face as he twirls his gun, the metallic glint reflecting the darkness of his intentions. The threat is unmistakable, hanging in the air like a storm cloud, and I brace myself for what comes next.Laying on the floor, hoping to crawl out of sight to the balcony door, I move precariously. Climbing the wall, with my back flat against it, I extend my hand toward the door, carefully unlatching it to avoid making a sound that might alert anyone nearby. As the door
Niko A profound sense of connection envelops us, and a look of mutual respect passes between our eyes. We've worked together long enough to know how each other thinks, which can only be helpful for the pair of us.In the background, I hear Bianca let out a soft sigh, drawing my attention back to her. She remains frozen in place, her expression a mix of tension and confusion. What is troubling her so profoundly that she feels compelled to stay anchored there, motionless?"I need a favour," I whisper."What is it?""I need you to go down to the Western to collect whatever Luca has just sent over." I showed him the phone, and a one-word message from Luca remarked, 'Done.'"You owe me," Sven chuckles dryly before picking his weapons out of the bag, ensuring they are full before he turns to the door, his hands on the chain, it hanging open between him and the door when suddenly, a sharp knock echoes through the room, jolting Bianca out of her reverie. She springs up, darting to my s
Continued: "Do you have money?" Sven barrages me with questions. "Yes," I nod, but in the same instance, I frown. It's all fucking digital, every last penny. "What?" they both mirror my horror. "Applepay, it's traceable," I mumble. "May I?" Bianca asks for my main phone, and I pass it to her without question. Only a second later, she turns it back to my face. She's downloading a banking app, and I'm not sure where she's going with this. "Use that," she stipulates with indifference as I glance down at the phone, reading her father's name on the card now residing in my wallet. I nod, but I'm not sure I will use it. There has to be another way; I think to myself as we walk in unison to the counter, Sven standing on our six until I ask him to step closer. "Do you have any cash at all?" I request eagerly. "No," he shakes his head. Swearing softly to myself, a profound sense of unease settles in as I contemplate the idea of using Bianca's father's money. The truth is, it feels li
NikoThis morning, an unsettling instinct crept into my mind—a gut feeling or perhaps a sixth sense—that today was poised to take a dark turn. With this foreboding hovering over me, I pulled Sven aside before Bianca even woke up. The weight of unpreparedness settled heavily on my shoulders. I had nothing that I usually had at my fingertips, and I couldn't shake the echo of Alexandra's words: living without permission but forever at the forefront of my thoughts.When I arrived on this isolated island, I came armed with the weapons that had adorned me on my wedding day—two knives and two guns with only one round in each, reminders of a day when I was meant to be the groom, not the protector. It wasn't until just a few days ago that I finally reclaimed my phone, another lifeline to reality.A wave of unease washed over me as I stepped off the boat. It felt as if I was walking into my impending fate. I turned to Sven, my voice low and steady, asking him to gather everything we needed to e
Continued: As I sat there, my mind wandered to Alexandra. Would she be joining us on the flight home? The mere idea of enduring her incessant chatter for an entire journey left me feeling uneasy. I could already imagine her animated and unrelenting voice filling the cabin as we soared through the clouds, unable to escape one another.My thoughts then drifted to Niko and how the familiarity of home might alter our dynamic. Would the ease we shared during this honeymoon transform back into the more complex opposition we had previously experienced? It would be disingenuous to say these questions didn't preoccupy me. However, Niko kept his silence, and I found myself caught in the web of my own musings, choosing not to voice my uncertainties. The air around us was thick with unspoken words, and I remained wrapped in quiet contemplation as we readied ourselves with Sven on his boat.The journey to the mainland was tumultuous, with the ocean raging against the boat's sides as we travelled
BiancaI hate to admit the days pass with blinding speed, but we fit as much sex and physical touch into them as we possibly can, and in the times between, we do a lot of talking, exploring one another and our future and how that might look upon leaving this island. We fuck in the hot tub, on the kitchen counter, with hushed giggles at the thrill of potentially being caught, fucking against the window I can't help but stare out of when I'm standing in the bedroom. Soft sensual sex in bed, hard fucking from behind when I tease him about something, and he just can't keep his hands off of me. That has got to be my favourite, but I've not voiced that to him.My sexual appetite has doubled, if not tripled, in such little time that I wonder where my need has arisen from. But similarly, our need to explore what one another wants to uncover itself.As our conversations flowed seamlessly from one topic to the next, we found ourselves wrapped in a captivating exchange that lasted two days. It
Continued:My previous thoughts of not forcing this on her and making her happy in our forced marriage chose this exact time to crop up, my teeth grinding in annoyance as I looked at her thoughtfully."Niko," she breathes my name, making me move to sit up further. Our chests come together as I reach to kiss her neck.I reach around her waist and pluck the bottoms bows just as she had the tops so they float off in the water as the bubbling swirl that's them under their wings."You're beautiful," I murmur against the skin of her neck."Please," she begs. Fuck the beg is almost my undoing; in fact, my cock pulsates at that one word, and yet I find myself exercising complete control to elongate this as far as I can.Instead, I kiss along her collarbone before moving down her breast, sucking her nipple into my mouth to pebble it. I rhythmically lavish it with attention before I release it with a pop so I can move on to its twin."Bianca." I grin when I pop the second one from my mouth. Her
NikoThe morning unfolds with unexpected tranquillity, the sun streaming through the windows and casting warm golden rays across the room that was yesterday shrouded in intense darkness. This ease, however, only amplifies my thoughts, drawing me into a spiral of self-doubt and guilt, haunted by the reality that Bianca faced danger because of my actions.As evening descends, the sky blushes with hues of pink and orange, and we find ourselves ensconced in the soothing embrace of the hot tub. The gentle warmth of the water contrasts with the cool air, wrapping us in a cocoon of serenity while Sven eagerly busies himself, constructing a makeshift bedroom for his stay. The humid air carries the faint scent of cedar and the distant sounds of nature, creating a false sense of security.Our trio had engaged in deep discussions about Sven's plans as we ate breakfast, each idea shared like a lifeline, reinforcing the belief that having another person around would heighten our chances of safety.
Contained: "Sure," Niko nods, touching his mug on the counter with a soft clink. "We'll try," I agree, though the truth looms heavily in my mind: a bond can only deepen with time, and it feels like we've had too little of it. I keep this to myself, reluctant to acknowledge that a part of me senses a wedge still exists between us. However, once we're back home with Luca and Emma, I'm confident we won't get close enough to others for them to attempt to pull us apart anytime soon. "I'll walk you out," Niko offers, trailing after Lucia as she strides towards the front door. The moment she reaches it, her men snap to attention, bowing their heads in unison—an unspoken testament to the respect she commands. Stepping outside onto the already warm, sun-kissed sand, I cast my gaze toward the water and see her boats bobbing gently in the surf. A few small vessels equipped with retractable engines lurk close to shore, while a larger yacht lies further out, seemingly calling for Lucia to ret