LACHLAN The air still smelled of gunpowder and blood. The Yakuza’s signature chaos had left its mark— burned cars, bodies littering the streets outside, and the metallic scent of violence hanging thick in the night. The attack had been precise, but not devastating. It was more like a warning. A message. They wanted to shake the very foundation of Sokolov’s reign, but all they managed to do was piss us off and made our men bloodthirsty for revenge for the death of their comrades and the general display of disrespect the Yakuza showed. They attacked us when their were women of the families present, something we take pride in by not stooping so low.I left Jeremiah and Kayne talking to our men, as they gave orders to clear out the building, make sure everyone was safe and back in their homes while Xavier had already ran off to capture whoever was left behind from the Yakuzas to take them for interrogation. I made my way back inside the room where the chairs lay upended, the floor was
Flashback #3JEREMIAH I stepped into her room without a sound, the room was cloaked in darkness, the heavy curtains drawn shut, but a sliver of moonlight spilled through the gaps, casting silvery bars across the carpet.She didn’t look up at first. Just sat there- small and still, like she was trying to disappear. She was lost in her pain, not caring about the world around her. But she proved me wrong when I took a step in her direction and her head jerked up, her shoulders stiffened. “Who is it?” she asked, voice hollow, frayed at the edges.When I didn’t answer, she pushed herself up on her unsteady legs. “Is that you?”Not who are you?Not what do you want?Just… is that you?Like she already knew. Like she was waiting for me.I almost smiled.She pushed forward, almost staggering toward the window, where I stood half shrouded in shadow. When she saw me, she didn’t flinch. She didn’t scream or back away like a scared little girl, oppressed by her father and the world she lived in
JEREMIAH She. Fucking. Ran.My deceitful little wife thought she could leave me. That she could slip away into the night like a whisper and disappear. Like I wouldn’t find her. Like I wouldn’t drag her back. Like I wouldn’t make her pay.I gripped the steering wheel so hard it creaked beneath my fingers. The world outside was a blur, but my mind was crystal fucking clear with everything I needed to do. I was going fucking easy on her. But now… I am going to show her what a real monster looks like.I looked at my phone. She wasn’t far. She was moving near the tree line, apparently thinking she’ll be safe in those trees. She should’ve learned her lesson by now. She will never be safe from me, and especially in the trees that felt more like a home to a predator like me, where I have hunted her not once but so many times now I could find her with my eyes closed. A notification on my screen had rage flooding my system a
NINA “J-Jeremiah…”He took a step closer and even though there were still at least eight to ten feet between us, fear slithered down my spine like icy fingers. Every cell in my body screamed at me to run and when I took a step back, he paused. His head tilting in a way that seemed too familiar. I swallowed.He didn’t speak. He didn’t need to. The cold fury radiating off his body was enough to choke me. I had felt anger before, I had seen rage… but nothing compared to the storm in his eyes as they burned into mine.“You want to run, wife?” He said, his silver eyes dropping to my feet and his lips curled in a snarl. “Run. Run like hell, and when I catch you I will make you regret you ever tried.”Then he moved.And I didn’t think. I didn’t wait. It was like a primal urge, an instinct telling me to run from him, to let him chase me even when a very logical, sane part of me knew that he’ll catch me and there was no other option for me except to be captured by him.But still I ran.The
NINAAs soon as we cleared the tree line and Jeremiah stepped on the cold asphalt, I saw cars lined up on the road. I wanted to bury my face in his chest and hide, feeling ashamed for reasons that weren’t right as I saw the men standing in a line, making a passage for their king to walk. It made me guilty that there was a teeny tiny part of me that was ashamed for running away. I understood my regret and guilt over being caught and for being responsible for everything that seemed to be unraveling now, but I didn’t understand why there was a spark of guilt inside me for making my escape in the first place. And why in the hell, did I wanted to hide myself in the man who was the reason I was this mess.Jeremiah didn’t stop to put me down as he stalked toward the waiting car in which we’d gone to the party- the same party that felt like it was days or weeks ago instead of just mere hours.Before we reached it, Lachlan stepped out. His green eyes taking me in and then looked at Jeremiah
NINA Lachlan disappeared into the adjoining bathroom without a word, and I heard the distant sound of water running. After a few seconds I realised he was filling up the bathtub for me.I’d have walked there instead of waiting on the bed but the pain in the soles of my feet made me reluctant to do so. And as I finally took a look at my feet, I realised what a mess I had made of them in my attempt to escape. The adrenaline and fear had made me ignore the pain but at the sight of my bruised, scratched and wounded feet with debris and whatnot sticking and cuts on my feet that had dried blood around, the pain slammed into me like a force that brought tears to my eyes. No wonder the monster had taken pity on me, if he was even capable of that, and instead of making me walk to the car, he had actually lifted me in his arms.And somehow those arms had felt like a comfort in my state. Thankfully, Lachlan came out just then
NINA“Can you touch me?”He stopped, his hand stopping just on the inside of my knee. “Where do you want me to touch you, kotyonok?” When I remained quiet, now nervous more than ever, he said, “Say it. Ask me anything and I’ll give it to you.”“T-touch me… between my legs.” I could feel my cheeks flushing pink at my own words. What was I doing? I have no idea.“What am I touching between your legs, Nina? Be specific.”I wanted to glare at him but it felt like it’d take too much of my energy. Instead I answered him, “My pussy.”There was a soft smile on his lips before he stood up and tugged his shoes off, he must’ve gotten rid of his suit jacket during my escape or afterwards. And as I thought about my escape, my mind wandered off to the attack that had happened. My eyes on their own accord looked all over him, wondering if he had gotten hurt but I didn't see anything. And something inside me, that had clenched in what seemed like worry began to settle.And then, there was nothing to
NINA It had been nearly a week since I ran barefoot into the forest, since my husband looked at me like he wanted to choke the life out of me. And if Lachlan was to be believed, since Jeremiah stared at me in the bathroom like he wanted to fuck me until I screamed his name and begged for mercy. A week of dread. A week of me dreading what my monster of a husband planned to do, how he will punish me for trying to run away from him and the life he had dragged me into. Every morning for the last week I’d woken up with dread pooling in my stomach, thick and heavy like lead. And every day, he said nothing. Just watched me with those steely grey eyes that promised punishment. A silent warning of what was to come. A vow to make me pay. The only relief I found came at night. Not peace. Not sleep. Just Lachlan. When the estate grew silent and sky darkened outside, I found myself waiting for him. The man with green eyes and gentle touches, and his beautiful soft murmurs that coax me to u
JEREMIAH “Was she in an accident?” I stared at the doctor as his question hung between us. The problem with his question was the same as the one that had occurred to me while I was going through the file that Chen brought. I didn’t know the answer. I didn’t know what kind of life my wife was living before we brought her here. When I remained silent, Lachlan responded, “We don’t know.” And I hated that we don’t know. Maybe it was time I started digging up in her life and what she was up to all these years while I was fighting for mine. The doctor nodded. “It is possible she was in one and then when she woke up, her mind decided to bury those memories that were too dangerous for her sanity. Most of the amnesiac patients have this in common. It's most commonly known as a Dissociative state. The mind protects however it can to ensure survival. It mostly is common in the victims of abuse or someone who've survived a fatal accident. Sometimes, it’s also the reason of selectiv
LACHLAN I was waylaid by a phone call from Kayne telling me that Vasili Baranov was itching and throwing hands for a meeting at the High table, to settle the disrespect he had suffered. The old fucking bastard surely wanted a trip to my black room and I'd happily oblige if given the chance. I had hated him since the moment he had suggested the marriage between his granddaughter and my Jeremiah. Something that had amused Jeremiah at that time, but now even he was annoyed by the old bustard's continuous pestering since the party. And so he had been ignoring all his calls and demands to meet him in person.But now Vasili was throwing a fit with Kayne and Xavier to make Jeremiah listen to him. I informed Kayne that I'll let him know when Jeremiah will be available for the High table, if ever.And then by the time I made my way upstairs to her room, Jeremiah was already there. Instead of entering, I paused on the threshold as I saw Jeremiah crouching beside her prone figure on the floor.
JEREMIAH Chen left the office without another word, what he had said now echoing in the silence of my office while Lachlan and I stared at each other, processing the information.The men who had attacked her were Russians.Lachlan took a seat and asked, "Did anyone know about her before we brought her here?"My jaw clenched, and I forced my hand to stay still on the desk, not ball into a fist like it wanted to, as I shook my head. Instead of pushing the curiosity aside I pulled the file open in front of me.The pictures of the men were there. All dead. Because my little shadow had been unable to curb on his violence. I might be known for my cold heart and merciless attitude, but Lachlan was the one who had a temper of a volcano. When it erupted it doesn’t stop until it destroys everything in his path. I focused back on the file with all the details of this men. Names. Their backgrounds everything was there.“Black Hive.” I pulled out a sheaf of paper and a black and white picture wi
ROSE My body was frozen from the fear of my own desire. His gravely words, his fury was making me want him more. It was almost ridiculous that I could feel the flutters in my lower belly. I knew he was going to spànk me like the other day, but unlike that day now I knew what was going to happen and as much as I feared it, the buzz of anticipation in my body couldn’t be ignored. You've really gone mad, Rose! Ryan pushed me on the desk, still maintaining the grip on my tied wrists. As far as I knew he pulled something from his pocket, something silk and cool to the touch with which he tied my hands together. I startled as he swept the hair off the back of my neck which he had unravelled and then surprising me he placed a gentle kiss between my shoulder blades. He followed my spine all the way down to my ass where he traced the waistband of my panties with his fingertips. I sucked in a breath as without any warning he dragged my pantîes down to my knees. I could feel his hot b
LACHLAN I flung the office door open as I entered, my pulse still thrumming with the aftermath of witnessing her break down and looking at me with disgusted eyes, shoving me away like I was filth. Like she couldn’t look at me for one more moment, like she couldn’t bear my touch. She hated me. And god, it hurt.Jeremiah looked up from his desk, a half empty glass of bourbon in his hand even though it wasn’t even noon yet. His grey eyes travelled down me and I saw the possessive gleam he didn’t hide. Any other time I’d have enjoyed his gaze on me. But now. I slammed the door shut behind me and marched to the desk behind which he sat.Her arched a blond brow. “I thought you’d have a better disposition after last night.” I glared at him. He said, “You did sleep like a baby, but I see something have upset you again. What is it?”“Nina.”In a blink, his expression changed. His jaw tightened and his eyes turned cold. “What about her?”“You should’ve seen her,” My voice was low. Tight. “She
NINA It was ten in the morning when Lachlan entered my room, bearing a breakfast tray in his hands. The scent of buttery toast and coffee curled around me. If he thought it would fix things, like food could erase the way I was dragged, punished, humiliated under strangers’ eyes, while the one person who promised to stay and be there for me... vanished, then he was hugely mistaken.Because his presence now, the warm food, it didn’t bring me comfort. It was a slap, a mockery. And all it did was remind me what a fucking liar he was. A deceitful fucking man. A manipulative bastard.Worse than the monster himself.He walked in like he had a right to. Like nothing had happened, like he hadn’t fractured something that was already delicate between us. Like I hadn’t been left alone and stripped bare in front of the wolves, and he hadn’t walked out afterwards instead of holding me. Instead of giving me a safe blanket he had left me in the care of the monster.He put the tray on the table near
NINA My eyes fluttered open and I looked at the bed beside me, at the empty space, and felt a heavy weight in my chest. Like the presence I had felt wasn’t here in the reality but deep somewhere buried in my heart. It was a dream. I told myself it could only be a dream, but its echo was wrapped around me like a comfortable blanket. Like a blanket I had adored in childhood and lost somewhere along the way, but now I could see it peeking through the clutter of forgotten things, shining and beckoning me, as it looked down at me from the top shelf that I couldn’t reach.He was there in my dreams. Once again my husband was in my dreams and he wasn’t the monster he was today. I had willingly crawled into his lap, I had felt safe with him. He was the man who’d brought me my favourite food and gave me a relief from my horrible life.I sat up slowly and let out a breath when I felt my whole body tensing up in discomfort. And then my present, my reality, rushed back to the forefront of my min
Flashback continues...NINA “You need to eat more, lisichka. How will I hunt you next time if you fainted in the middle of the chase.”I sucked in a breath, he made it sound like there was more to our little game of chase. I licked my lips and despite myself I obeyed him. Somehow it felt good to obey him, to make him see that I could do whatever he wanted from me.As I ate, I watched him. And watching him, made my body relax. It always did when I am around him, except that initial nervous energy that takes hold of me. But being close to him, my muscles would relax, no longer coiled up to fight or run from danger. Even though I knew he was dangerous, he felt less so with every other threatening presence around me.And it was all because of the last few days. Because something had changed without me knowing it. The quiet between us wasn’t threatening anymore. It had morphed into something else. Slowly, subtly, it had become a respite from the nightmare that was my life. I used to be s
Flashback #4 NINAThe house was quiet. And it was way past midnight. But I was still waiting… He hadn’t come yet.I didn’t even know when it had started, this habit of waiting for him. Of glancing at the balcony doors every night, my breath catching at the slightest shift of shadows, thinking that he had finally come.But he wasn’t there.For the past ten days, he had come at midnight like clockwork. But even though he had been at the dinner table last night because my father had invited him, he hadn’t come to my room afterward like he usually did. And it seemed he wasn’t going to come tonight either.With a disappointed sigh, I slid down on the bed and pulled the covers over my head. I was just about to let out a frustrated breath when I heard the balcony door creak open, and the air in my bedroom shifted with his presence.Jeremiah Sokolov.The Russian. Enemy of my father.And my only chance at freedom.The small lamp at my bedside table barely illuminated him, but I knew exactly w