ALAMEA

THREE YEARS LATER...

Twenty-five was the age in our family when you are supposed to assume the position of the leader.

Kian was twenty-two when Armano took the decision to step down, so, it was decided that Armano would continue to be the leader for another three years alongside Kian, until Kian turned twenty-five and then step down, handing the reigns to him fully.

Meanwhile, everyone also hoped that maybe Armano might change his mind but he didn't.

And I don't care. As long as he is happy, I am too.

Kian didn't want any lavish party so Dad and Uncles decided to throw him a simple party in our garden.

It consisted of all the family members and some of the important members of our organisation.

Kian looked bored as fuck as he stood in the center, wearing an all black suit, a glass of champagne in his hand as some man tried to make small talks with him.

He was seconds away from killing that man when Armano intervened and dragged him away from there to a corner.

Armano was enjoying seeing his best friend suffer.

I was going to go to my husband when I noticed a girl, a teenager standing at a distance innocently, her eyes fixed on Kian intently, filled with admiration as she watched him.

Ooh.

Most of the women I have seen have been too intimidated by Kian to even look at him.

Curious, I walked over to her and stood beside her. She was so busy staring at Kian that she didn't notice my presence until I tapped her shoulder.

Startled, she looked at me. "Um..."

"Hi." I smiled at her and held out my hand. "I'm Alamea."

She seemed nervous as she shook my hand. "Irene."

"That's a pretty name. How old are you?"

"Seventeen."

Oh. There goes my plan to play matchmaker. Had she been eighteen or nineteen I would have urged her to ask Kian out.

But nevermind.

"Who are you with?" I asked her.

"I'm here with my Dad." She pointed to a man standing in a corner, talking with another man.

I recognised him immediately. "You are Ralph's daughter?!"

"You know him?"

"He saved my life." I told her, smiling widely. "Of course I know him."

"Oh." She smiled softly. "He's not my real dad but he loves me like his own daughter. He saved me too."

I didn't pry and ask her how he saved her. "It seems like Ralph has a habit of being an angel."

She chuckled, finally getting comfortable with me. "Yes."

Her eyes once again went to Kian and she sighed.

"You like him?" I questioned.

"What? No." She blushed. "He...he just..."

"It's okay if you have a crush on him." I assured her. "Do you want to talk to him? I can introduce you."

She shook her head. "No thanks. He just...saved me once, he's the reason I got to have such an amazing Dad. I wanted to see him once and maybe thank him, but it's okay."

Kian saved her? I was curious but I didn't ask her further. "You can meet him and say thank you. Come on."

She shook her head. "No. I am scared."

"Come on. You don't have to be. Kian's not that bad."

She shrugged and just then Ralph approached us, telling Irene that it was time to go home.

I greeted him and Irene said goodbye before leaving with him.

.
.
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ARMANO

"How are you feeling?" I asked Kian.

He shrugged. "Same."

I rolled my eyes. "You are stupid."

He glanced ahead and frowned, cocking his head.

I followed his line of vision and found my wife talking with a girl.

"What did the poor girl do?" I muttered when I saw Kian narrow his eyes at her.

"She seems vaguely familiar."

"She came with Ralph, he said she is his daughter. That's all I know."

His face relaxed and he nodded as if everything made sense.

A little body slammed against my legs and I glanced down to find two-years old Ivelle grinning at me. "Uncle!"

Evren, her twin brother followed after her.

I picked her up in my arms and Evren turned to Kian, asking him to pick him up.

Seeing Kian being whipped by his nephews and niece was a cute sight. He picked him up and gazed at him softly.

Zaire approached us soon looking angry. "Ivelle and Evren, you both are so dead."

They both shrieked and hugged us tightly.

"Come back and apologize to your mother."

"What did they do?" I asked him.

"They threw juice on Ada's face. Purposely."

Kian's lips twitched with amusement and I chuckled. "No wonder they are your kids."

"It was an accident!" Evren shouted.

"Oh?" Zaire cocked his head. "Then come here." He held out his arms.

"Sorry, Daddy." Ivelle pouted, giving him his puppy eyes.

Zaire's features softened and he took her from my arms, kissing her head. "Just don't do it again, okay?"

She nodded and seeing that coast was clear, Evren went to his arms too and Zaire carried them away.

"I can't wait to be a dad." I smiled.

Kian gave me a weird look as if I said the most ridiculous thing ever.

"You will understand one day." I patted his shoulder and went in the direction of my wife.

Mea had her back to me and was going through her phone when I wrapped an arm around her from the back and kissed her neck. "Shouldn't you be resting?"

"Mano, I am only three months pregnant, not nine."

"You should be resting all the time, no matter which month."

She turned around in my arms and I placed a palm over her belly where our baby grew.

"I am not tired...but horny..." She whispered huskily, brushing her lips on mine.

"Yeah? You are always horny."

"Are you complaining?"

"No. I just hope my balls don't fall off--"

I chuckled when she smacked my chest and pulled her into a kiss.

Three years back, I was allergic to marriage and kids but now, I couldn't have imagined a better life.

We did make a bunch of rules when starting our odd relationship but we forgot about one unwritten rule that it was inevitable to fall in love.

THE END.

Everything aside, Zaire stole the freaking show! God, I love him so much.

I don't know when exactly but while writing the first book (Celestine's) I had the most random thought of making Zaire and Ada a couple for some reason but then I was like yeah no, they are cousins, I might be okay with it but others won't, so I discarded that idea.

In a parallel universe, they were a couple for me until I was like let others think whatever they want but I am going to make it a reality and so I did.

I could have written a book on them but I honestly feel that it would have ruined the essence of their story.

These short tension filled scenes were much better according to me.

Okay enough about them. Armano and Alamea are cuties too. I was kinda worried that their book might not be that good but then I loved how it turned out to be.

To everyone who wanted Armano to be the leader, just trust me. You are going to love Kian as the leader. I know what I am doing.

Next up is Kian's book of course 😩😩

Here's the blurb for it:

My parents are hell bent on getting me married, convinced that a wife will magically "fix" me.

As a mafia leader, idle talks and constant affection makes no sense to me. Never had and never will.

Thanks to some dumb rule and my parents' constant nagging, I settle down with the girl of their choice.

Irene's the type of girl I would never give a second glance to, the type I would deem average looking.

And that's just not it. She's a chatter box who can't survive without physical affection. A complete opposite of me.

I never had a need for a wife but with every innocent touch, every stupid smile, every word of her my walls break down until I am left yearning for her with an intensity I can't even comprehend.

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See you all there! ❤️

~Ahlam