A mere seven days had passed since the tumultuous saga that had left our lives in disarray. Amidst the chaos, Antonio, always the thoughtful one, proposed a change of scenery. He suggested a brief respite in the picturesque paradise of Fiji, a mere three-day escape from our troubled world. As I reclined on a comfortable chaise lounge, the ethereal spectacle of the sun setting over the horizon unfolded before me. Its golden hues cast dancing reflections upon the tranquil waters, offering a soothing balm to my troubled soul. After the storm, a modicum of serenity was what we all craved, and Antonio, in his infinite wisdom, provided just that.In the quietude of that moment, my mind wandered to Guila. How had she managed to orchestrate her enigmatic partnership with the enigmatic Triad at such a tender age? It was a riddle that confounded not only me but also Dima. The intricacies of her dealings with Dima, a man shrouded in mystery himself, left me in a perpetual state of bewilderment. C
“сократить его!” My father's voice rumbled with a menacing tone, his right hand coiled behind him, a cigarette precariously clinging to his parched lips.I winced as I looked on, watching Andrei—also known as the "six"—utilize a pair of pliers to extract the teeth of the captured Mexican spy. The sheer sound of his agonizing scream reverberated in my ears, causing me to press myself against the wall, almost melding into its surface. My entire body quivered with a mixture of fear and revulsion, yet the idea of leaving didn't even cross my mind. The memory of my previous attempt to escape a scene like this was all too vivid, marked by the thirty lashes Father delivered to my bare back with a whip. The pain lingered for over a week, a constant reminder of my disobedience.As blood spurted from the Mexican spy's mouth, mingling with his whimpers, he tilted his head in anguish, momentarily bowing it down. The room was charged with tension, heavy with the palpable agony that permeated every
"Why!?" I collapsed onto the floor, tears streaming down my cheeks, mercilessly smearing my makeup. The weight of the announcement crushed me, leaving me broken and vulnerable. I hurriedly rushed up to my room, the door quaking as I slammed it shut, a feeble attempt to shield myself from the world's harsh reality. Even amidst the solitude of my room, the pain seemed to seep through every pore.Dima's persistent knocks echoed through the door, each one a reminder of the tangled emotions I was trying to navigate. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to answer. I lowered myself onto the cool floor, my dress fanned out around me like a shattered dream. How could a father barter his own flesh and blood in such a manner? My mind was a whirlwind of confusion, a maelstrom of questions with answers seemingly lost in the abyss."Olga! Open the door," my mother's voice called out from the other side, imploring me to relent. Although my instinct screamed to remain hidden, I knew that denying her would onl
The brilliant, luminous beams of the sun cascaded relentlessly onto my face, casting an unusual radiance that felt almost foreign in the context of Moscow, Russia. Typically enveloped in a blanket of snow, the city rarely witnessed such intense sunlight. The cold, though not biting, clung to the air as I groaned, compelled to awaken from my slumber. With a languid stretch, I hoisted myself from the comfort of the bed, my knuckles cracking in a satisfying rhythm, and a yawn escaping my mouth in an almost exaggerated display of morning awakening.Seated on the edge of the bed, I reached out to retrieve my phone, which rested atop the bed head. The device yielded to my touch as I pressed the button to bring it to life. Instantly, my gaze gravitated toward the digital calendar, and there it was, April 12th, 2020, etched onto the screen. My heart fluttered, for this date marked not only the calendar's progression but also signified a mere two months remaining until the inevitable culminatio
Alas, it was a special day. When I mean special day, I don’t mean my special day, I mean the special day for Father because he was the one very enthusiastic for today. Yes, you are right, it was my wedding and also my birthday. It was the 12th of June. Though my birthdays weren’t really celebratory, at least I never had a grimace on my face like I did now. “You look so gorgeous” Anya, my favorite aunt, exhilarated into my ears. Anya is Fathers sister but then she's nothing like father. She is cheerful and one of the people that understood my feelings. She flew all the way from Switzerland to attend my wedding. At least she was fortunate enough to leave the Bratva and marry a normals. He was a businessman and trust me, I envy her. “She sure does. She is so fortunate” Alina, one of my distant aunts also complimented. Explaining how we both are connected would take forever because I too don’t know completely but all I know was that she was from fathers side. “Fortunate you say!?” I sn
Ironically, it was the Mexicans as I thought. It was Father. The Lucas were on their feet with their guns pulled out from their holsters. Hearts racing and peace shattered. I was in awe and befuddled as well and pondered on what it was Father wanted to achieve by causing a fight at my wedding. “Calm down people, it’s only our tradition to shoot a gun to the sky and indicate celebration” he chuckled as he walked straight back on the aisle, directed at the altar. I didn’t even notice when he left his seat. Antonio’s eyes were cold and the same was that of the others. This time around, I couldn’t help but be tense. Antonio had no emotions on his face. He stood stoic and unperturbed. There was silence amongst all. Sir Luca advanced Father with coldness. There was something about the way he walked that cringed me. I only hoped this didn’t end in a blood bath. I knew of weddings that ended up in a bloodbath and most certainly I didn’t want mine to end that way. Hating Antonio and the all
Silence, silence was all I got. I lay on the bed and watched him take a few seconds at the door. His height was magnificent and well noticeable as he started coming deeper into the room. I lowered my eyes instantly and pretended to be busy with my dress while I sat on the bed. Minutes passed and the silence still lingered. I found it hard to stare at him nor had I changed from my wedding gown. For minutes he came in, he was busy on his iPad. I clicked my fingers together firmly and tried to control my breath which was razz and unsteady. I felt very uneasy and uncomfortable in the wedding dress. I needed to change my dress but standing up was the problem. I breathed hard and shut my eyes. Abruptly, I flipped them open and I shot myself off the bed. Antonio and I spontaneously stood up at the same time. Our eyes locked and my lipsShook but not a word came out.“Go first” he growled. I waited so long to hear his voice. It was weird but I still wanted to hear it. I shook my head in dis
“Oh my gosh! What did you just do? Why did you hurt yourself?” I couldn’t control how I felt. My legs were very weak and my heart pummeled like never before. The cut was large and blood continued dropping on the white bedsheet.There was one thing I couldn’t u see stand and that is the fact that Antonio remained calm and collected even while his hand was dripping with blood. It was more like he felt no pain at all. His eyes darted at me still with an overwhelming scowl.“Stop screaming!” He growled under a low tone his eyes carrying no emotion. He seemed stoic and I moved by the pain that came with the cut or probably felt no pain at all. My body urged me to move close to him to have a clearer view of the cut which was steadily filled with blood. “How do you expect me to stop screaming!? Where is your first aid kit?” I quizzed and acted uneasy. He looked at me and gave me the look of “You are overreacting”. I didn’t understand what was going on.I moved and was about to head to the