Chapter 003

Two weeks later

Arie's POV

Our wedding was done in a blur. For others, it was meant to be a memorable day that seemed to stretch for eternity. I had believed in the wisdom I saw in the deep blue eyes of Axle, trusted his calm demeanor when I saw him in his mansion, almost believed he was a gentleman whom I could persuade into waging war against Michael. That hope was quick to die the day after we got married.

Prior to the event, I never saw Axle again save for the first time I did see him. Whenever I tried to make inquiries from anyone around, they remained mute or responded with a gruff. Ian had been the only reason calm was restored to me when he told me Axle had been dealing with lots of businesses; hence his absence in the mansion.

We only saw each other the day of the wedding. Ian had ordered the guards to let me pace the mansion freely, offering to give me a tour if I wanted. Of course I had declined, choosing to wander off on my own. I was tired of remaining in the same room only to have food trays brought to me, endlessly streaming through series on Netflix and trying out some dresses Axle thought 'will look nice' on me. I was surprised by how much had changed in me since I first saw him. How wrong the stories people told about him were filled with so many holes. I had seen the reserved side of him, and if only I just tried a bit harder to be on his good books …

Just then, I spotted him walking in with Ian. Whatever it was they were talking about, they seemed really carried away. Ian had a stern look on, and that was a different mask from the ever smiling Ian I knew. A part of me knew better not to approach Axle; it was obvious they were dealing with something serious. Plus, I had been sold to him. I shouldn't mistake his generosity for a kind of friendship. But still, the urge in me to ask him questions about where he had been ever since that day, propelled me to trot down the stairs. How dare he be kind and sweet to me if he was going to avoid me all up until our wedding?

I felt a strong grip on my arm, stopping me from descending the stairs any further. "Ma'am, I suggest you return to your room now." The grumpy voice warned, and I traced it to a pockmarked face. He had a stern look on, but in it, there was a trace of fear. His eyes weren't on me even while he kept a firm grip on my hand; his gaze was fixated on Axle and Ian as they walked further down the grand living room.

I swallowed my rage and thought to save it for later. There was always tomorrow. I could ask him all I wanted. What I didn't prepare for, however, was how much Axle was going to change.

***

"Strip off," he purred as soon as he slammed the door shut. I could sense something was off; from the stern looks he and Ian shared the previous day to how unbelievably silent he was throughout the ceremony today; despite my many attempts to get him to talk, smile or answer any of my questions.

"You've been avoiding me ever since I saw you that day," I tried to mask the disappointment threatening to break my voice, "you shouldn't have acted so nice to me when all I am to you is a slave. My brother has sold me off to you, so maybe if you treated me like one, I'll be clear what I saw the other day was a fluke."

He didn't turn back to look at me. His eyes roamed the makeup desk I had been sitting on minutes earlier, his hands proceeding to unbutton his robe. "Well, you asked for it."

I raised my brows in frustration, "What do you mean?"

"You have no right to know. Your brother is quite the audacious type, isn't he? Stealing from my men? He hurts my ego even after your clan … " he seemed to hesitate for a moment. "Strip off. I am not repeating those words again."

"My clan did what?" I inquired, but Axle had gone back to being mute. I noticed the brass knuckles he slipped on, and I knew his orders weren't a joke. With tears rolling down my eyes, I stripped each hope of getting a life — my life — as each piece of dressing fell off my body. There was no way I was going to save Nani, get a hold on my grandfather's property or the reign of power of the Burnlow clan.

I was confined to the walls of this prison. Forever. Axle's words kept responding in my head with every thrust he made into me,

"Michael thought he could get away just like your miserable father, but now, you both will pay."

Axle's POV

I couldn't get Ian's words to settle in my head. I was having a hard time focusing on doing the one job I had for the whole of today: listening. Apparently, a problem with the law had erupted somewhere in France; one of our many underground bunkers had been discovered, and they weren't planning on letting my boys off the hook. Thankfully, they weren't planning on betraying the clan either; they've all kept their mouths sealed ever since they were detained.

"Hello? Newly married man?" Ian called me back to reality, thankfully distracting me from thinking about the night before.

"Yeah?"

"I will be flying down there tomorrow. I have a guy somewhere planted in the CIA. He should be able to get our boys out. I'll draft a plan and let him take it from there."

"Thank you, Ian. We don't want them trying to track down other locations. It might just be a few bunkers in France, but it sure fetches us a reasonable amount of money."

"Leave it all to me. Enjoy your honeymoon, okay?"

Just when I was trying to get her out of my head, "Can you stop spewing rubbish? We both know why she's here, and what this facade is all about."

"Right," Ian mocked and ended the call.

Emerald green eyes. Dark bone straight hair. A sun tattoo on her ankle. I was surprised I paid attention to everything about her. I had seen enough boobs and pussies to be fascinated by it. But I hated the fact that the hurt in her eyes tried to break the walls I kept around my heart. A ruler has to lead with a mind of stone. I had sacrificed every bit of humanity in me the moment I saw my mother die. I was seeking revenge, so whatever this feeling was that caused pits in my stomach has to be trashed.