ARTEMIS AKA WOLF
From the foot of the stairs, I tilt my head back and fix my gaze on the enormous cross that rises, dominating atop the Catholic Church's rooftop.
I do not regard myself as a religious man.
If I'm being completely sincere, I believe that God forgot about me many, many years ago.
But then, I could be terribly wrong as I bear the hideous scar of his presence that is smeared across my damn throat.
I usually get a bad vibe when I walk into a church. My shoes tend to feel like bricks, weighing me down with every step I take.
A sinner like me shouldn't be welcomed here, but the priest somehow manages to make me feel comfortable.
I have come here to seek forgiveness for my sins, only to commit them again.
I sit in the first pew of the church, my eyes concentrating on the crucifix with Jesus nailed to it, while the priest to my right spins the rosary beads in his hand. I prefer to confess my sins in the open, refusing to enter the confessional because I am unable to look the priest in the eye as I speak.
"Forgive me father for I have sinned. My last confession was three days ago and I have killed four men and taken a bride whom I do not love." I hold my head high, refusing to hang it in shame.
The priest sucks in a sharp breath, "What compelled you to take the lives of these four men?" He asks sternly with his metal gun irises gazing into mine with no judgement gleaming in them at all.
"Two men double-crossed me,"
I think back to two nights ago when I was caught in a crossfire between two low profile gangs.
Unfortunately, they were promised a shipment of high classified military guns.
One of my men decided to arrange a deal behind my back. Completely unaware that we had rescheduled our meeting with the private purchaser.
"I see,"
"Then I killed a man today because he decided to take something by force that did not belong to him." I snarl as I think about Kai touching Red in that shithole bar.
The priest raises his rosary to his lips and kisses it as he mutters a silent prayer.
When he is done, I continue. "The fourth man I killed not long ago. His blood still flows freely through the cracks of my driveway as we speak. I lost my temper when I shoved my wife into the boot of my SUV. She refused to obey my orders and I was unaware that she suffered from Claustrophobia."
"And your men suffered as a result of your lack of interest in learning about your wife's medical condition?" He asks firmly with his brows raised.
"I pay my men very handsomely to carry out the duties I set aside for them. Going over her file was one of them."
"Hmmm, and this wife of yours?"
"Our status is not exclusive just yet. I require your signature in order to process our marriage certificate."
"You have not exchanged your vows yet?"
[No,] "Net, and I don't intend to. This marriage is for business purposes only. I've married once and that was enough."
My heart constricts leaving a foul taste behind in my mouth when I think of marrying another woman in a church.
I am a widow and I will remain one under the gaze of the lord.
"It is not a sin for a man to have a second lover after his first has died. You will always discover that a man can only perform at his peak with a strong woman standing behind him."
"The love of my life was Anastazia. She adored me for who I was and all I had endured ascending to the Volkov throne. I cannot love someone who is thirteen years younger than me. Period."
"I see. It is unorthodox for me to perpetrate something like this, Mr Volkov. But I can only imagine the path of destruction you will leave in your wake if I refuse to oblige."
[Yes,] "Da, I always get what I want. Even if I have to take it by force."
"Yes..." He hums in agreement, bowing his head, "Let us pray," he begins to recite the prayer of absolution.
*
Sitting behind my desk, I pour myself a hefty dose of Whiskey. After the day I'm having, I think it's safe to say that I deserve it. I take a sip from the cool tumbler and notice a brown folder laying in the centre of the oak slab of my desk.
As I swirl the golden liquid in my tumbler and examine the folder over the rim of my crystal tumbler. I wonder what possessed me to shoot one of my men and seek her medical records as if I genuinely care.
I run my thick tongue over my top teeth taking another sip. Leaning forward, I make the mistake of letting my curiosity get the better of me once again. I place my tumbler on the coaster and open the folder.
ARIA ROSE CREED.
Date Of Birth: 7 December 2000
Marital Status: Single
Language Spoken: English
Guardian: Braxton Creed
Provider: Ashton Medical Centre
Doctor: Brent Bryant
HEALTH HISTORY:
Diabetes: [Nil]
High Blood Pressure: [Nil]
High Cholesterol: [Nil]
Broken Bones: Left arm, right middle finger, right large toe, and cheekbone. [Dating back from 2009 to 2018]
Other Health Conditions:
*The patient believes she suffers from claustrophobia. A diagnosis has not been made.
*Allergic to bees: Severely.
*Asthmatic: Moderate.
SOCIAL HISTORY:
Smoke: Occasionally.
Drinks Alcohol: Yes. 3-6 times a month.
Recreational Drugs: [Nil]
Sexually Active: [Nil]
Contraception: [Nil]
Children: [Nil]
[Shit!] "Dermo!"
I slam the folder shut, my lips snarling as my brows pinch together.
She is yet to be diagnosed with claustrophobia?
From what I witnessed with my own eyes, it's very evident that she suffers from the irrational dread of being trapped in confined settings.
You can not fake the symptoms she stimulated with sweat beading her pale skin. The way her body shook in my arms was very real, and she made a muffled choking sound as if she were struggling for oxygen.
The kid has shattered more bones in nine years than I have in my whole life.
Which says a lot as I grew up with a heavy-handed father who only knew how to demonstrate his love with his brutal hands.
Disgust. Vengeance. Fury.
All of these sensations lick my feverish skin, tattooing their impressions upon my dormant fucking soul.
I will determine whether her father also showed her affection with his fists too. And if he did, I hope he can still manage his insufferable organisation while having eight fingers shattered.
It stirs the turmoil that churns in my gut, and I'm quickly easing into my trigger happy mood.
As Aria will be his lone surviving heir if I eliminate him. I am confident that the families will continue to be lenient with our arrangement.
Red belongs to me, and she is now under my full protection until the ink runs dry on our divorce papers.
I will be loyal to her.
Committed to running our empires smoothly as I gradually take everything she owns before I send her on her merry way, with a generous cheque in her hand.
ARIA AKA REDThe sound of birds singing gradually awakens me from my slumber. As I pry open my eyelids, I observe the dust particles dancing in the beam of sunlight that fills my room.The exact same room which is not mine. Similar to this bed, these clothes, and the four walls that enclose me. Fortunately, there are two glass doors that open to a terrace that overlooks a stunning rose garden.My heart drops into the pit of my stomach when I remember why I'm here and who I'm herewith. I lift my hand, touching the gold chain around my neck feeding off the subtle strength it provides me with when I desperately need it.I sigh while sitting straight, and my stomach thinks that now is the ideal time to remind me that..."You skipped dinner last night." His baritone voice which feels like little feet drumming on my flesh reverberates across the room.I yelp, placing a trembling hand over my heart as it begins to race. My breath hitches as I search the room and our eyes meet, colliding. I
ARTEMIS AKA WOLF I stand at our appointed table, conversing with Deniz Avci who is the kingpin of the Turkish family. They reside in the upper east end of Linkin and he specialises in trafficking and selling narcotics. He has come to the gala tonight in honour of my late father. The entire galas focus is to honour the late and prestigious Kingpins before our generation. "Wolf, I had no idea your wife was this young and beautiful," Zeynep gushes over Red. "The gold sequin gown accentuates your hips and your hair." She gasps. "Is that your real colour?" I cast a sidelong glance at Red admiring the way her cheeks flush from Zeyneps compliments. "Yes, this is my natural hair colour. My father believes it is a throwback gene from his side." "It's such an exotic colour and I love it," One of the venue waiters approaches our table with a silver tray filled with flutes of white wine. Zeynep leans over the table and snatches two from the tray, passing one to Red. "Bottoms up, askim
ARIA AKA REDI swallow back the tears of humiliation watching Wolf, my husband, shamelessly kiss another stunning woman in front of everyone.Gods! I'm being ridiculous! I don't even know why I feel this upset. It's not like I'm in some fairy tale story where I've grown feelings for him in less than twenty-four hours. Or maybe it's because he's paraded me around on his arm introducing me as Mrs Volkov, and now I have multiple eyes staring at me with pity or laughter glazing in them.I turn away, "Fucking jerk!" I mumble, swiping another two flutes from the silver tray that swings by our table. I drink the first flute in one fluid motion, placing it down on the table while I face Zeynep. A look of utter shock mars her face before her chocolate brown irises meet my gaze with a sense of understanding masking her features. Blowing air out of her nose, she shakes her head, "Mobsters always think they are invincible to the naked eye." She hisses as her gaze leaves mine and she stares at
ARTEMIS AKA WOLF "Your father was a rational man of tremendous importance to the organization. You have big shoes to fill, but I'm more than certain you will follow in his footsteps too." Augusto from the Cartel preaches. I shake his hand, "I'm sure-" Without any warning, the shrilling sound of women screaming reverberates off the walls as gunshots discharge through the air. I turn around to look back at the table where I left Red, and she isn't there. Neither is Zeynep. "BLYAD! [Fuck!]" I bellow, retrieving my gun from the back of my pants and I take off running toward the ballroom. A swarm of people pushing and shoving each other rush toward me, and I brace myself as I run straight toward them. "The girls," Deniz snarls, reaching my side. "Where the fuck did they go?" A gut-wrenching scream pierces my ears and my heart instantly stills. "Red!!" I growl and shove people out of my way, stepping on bodies that fall to the ground. I don't care what I have to do to get to
ARIA AKA RED"You know you have to do this Aria. After the death of your mother, I had to do things I didn't want to do just so I could put food on the table and keep a roof over your head. Now the time has come for me to pay the consequences and it's only fair that you bear the burden too." My father scolded me as he paced the living room with his head nestled in his hands."You know I would do anything for you father, but please, please don't make me do this," I beg, rising from the sofa as I approach him. "I don't love him let alone know him."My father stops pacing, he lifts his head with a look of disgust written all over his tired face."LOVE?! Gods child! Do you think I loved your mother when I married her? No. And look what kind of life I had to endure with her before she took her own life." He grabs me by the shoulders and shoves me against the door panel, knocking my head against the cold cruel timber as he gets in my face. "If you don't do this, Artemis will kill me, then he
ARTEMIS AKA WOLF My world lights up with a brilliant shade of red. Viktor... She said she fucked Viktor against the wall behind her. I will deal with his deceitful ass the second I leave this fucking room. I'll either use him as target practice or see how long he can hold his breath underwater before he finally gives up and just.. dies. She tilts her head to the side with a small smirk and it drives me fucking wild. She is tainted by Viktor's scent and it's suffocating me just thinking about it. I take a deep breath, close my eyes and roll my neck, clicking my bones into place. Sucking on my upper teeth, I open my eyes and rub the side of my jaw. Deep down I know Viktor wouldn't touch her, none of my men will unless they have a death wish that they yearn to share with the rest of their bloodline. So, I do what any rational, hot-blooded man would do. I call her fucking bluff... Twisting my wedding band around my finger with my thumb, I meet her gaze. "It's funny that you ment
ARIA AKA REDI run out of the room, taking the stairs two at a time as I descend the stairwell and run out into the rose garden.A small breeze blows past me, and I quickly become aware that I'm only in a long t-shirt that sits mid-thigh. I pull the hem lower, walking past the guards that stand by the large iron gates that are fit for a kingdom. One of the guards lifts his wrist to his mouth, his other hand touches his ear, and he nods his head removing his suit jacket.He walks toward me, coming to a halt as he blocks my path, and holds out his Jacket. "Mr Volkov wants you to put this on." He says in a nonchalant tone.I look up at the mansion to where my room is, and I see Wolf standing on the terrace looking down at us, his phone is pressed to his ear. I lift my hand and flip him the bird with a snarky smile on my face. I look back at the guard, "Keep the jacket, Romeo." I contest and storm off with my arms folded across my chest and my head bowed. What was I thinking when I le
ARTEMIS AKA WOLF The taste of her sherbet kisses still dances upon my tastebuds, driving me wild. The way she had spontaneously moaned in my arms, wrapping her limbs around my body felt so right and forbidden at the same time. Desire. Lust. Excitement. It's all still there swirling around in my stomach, igniting my heart, like I'm about to combust for her. She's got me looking crazy, hoping that she will save me from the depths of my misery. I roll my shoulders back, do the last button up on my pristine white shirt and roll the sleeves up. Exhaling, I close my eyes and tilt my head back, letting my thoughts wander through the misty atmosphere. Last night is mentally fucking with me. Sandro Venturi... The name still doesn't ring a bell. His father Giovanni never mentioned him, and I'm starting to question what other secrets Don Gio was keeping from the rest of the elite families. Zeynep is dead. And there is no coming back from that. The Venturi's had the balls to go thro