Code name: Athena [18+]

Code name: Faccia a faccia

The car stopped in front of the tower at 4:23 am; I immediately got off the car and stood under it looking around...this is where Arabella took a picture of us kissing, the one above our bed back at home in New York. This place holds too many memories for me to stand here and not feel like crying...it's been so long since I kissed my wife, my lips throb at night waiting for her to kiss me goodnight.

My cars drove away. Mariano was standing behind me along with Andrea and other bodyguards "Where's my gun?" I asked.

"Home," Mariano replied "you're not fucking this up. Ilya has been taking care of her so be respectful and thankful you little bitch," he has never been this mad at me which I understand.

Six minutes later I saw an army of men approaching us which opened up about ten feet away from us letting Ilya through. It's really hard not to punch him right now.

"How are you?" The Russian asked standing two feet away from me; he was wearing all black.

"Where's my wife?" Straight to the point; I'm not here to play any games.

Ilya smirked which I didn't like "She's asleep at my place."

My jaw muscles hurt from how hard I was clenching them "What about my son?"

"The kidnapping was masterminded by a woman named Emma and various other people from your past," he told "this Emma wants a meeting with Arabella, that was the sole purpose of kidnapping Napoleon. He is not hurt."

It felt like my heart started beating again; I felt extremely dizzy which was the adrenaline rush "And what does Arabella plan on doing? Take her girls? That's what got us into—"

"Those girls are like a family to her!" He argued.

"I am her family!" I yelled back.

"You sure didn't act like it," he told calmly looking into my eyes; challenging me "you will never deserve her."

"I know!" I shouted out of breath and tried to calm down as tears filled my eyes "I know..."

Ilya sighed deeply "I would give everything I have to be with someone like Arabella. She's trying to Captain so many ships at the same time and doesn't complain or brag about it; let her have something that's her own. Don't be like her father and try to discretely shame her into being the perfect little wife."

"I don't want her to get hurt," I stated wiping my tears away.

"You're hurting her even more by holding her back; she has so much to give and teach just let her do it."

"Just take me to her," I sniffled "please," never in my life did I think I would be begging to Ilya Zharkov for anything.

•Arabella DiStefano•

My head was throbbing when my eyes fluttered open and Ilya wasn't in bed; we've been sleeping in the same bed because my nightmares aren't great.

He told me last night he was going on an early run just to get his mind ready.

Today I get my baby back after days that have felt like millenniums. And this girl, Emma and Valentina; I'm going to surgically remove their nipples and sew them to their eyelids then I will cauterize their breasts with a hot rusty piece of metal, after that will cut off their tongues and shove it down their throat before sticking hot needles into the bottom of their feet.

It's 4:43 am. First thing I have to do is call Angela to make sure everything is in place "How's everyone?" I asked turning on the shower.

"They're ready," she replied "we will be there in 27 minutes."

"Tell them I'm proud of them and that after this is over I will send them on a long vacation to Mexico," I said with a soft chuckle.

Angela sighed "I don't think they want to leave your side."

"We'll discuss it later. See you in a bit, love you," I hung up and stripped out of my clothes carefully. Just as my feet touched the white tiles, my stomach turned; I leaped to the toilet and with that my dinner from last night filled the toilet "Hold on, baby," I whispered looking at my stomach "we are getting your brother toda—" vomit, again.

Then I heard the front door close "Arabella," Ilya said "I'm back, could you come help me stretch?"

"I'm taking a shower!" I shouted back.

"Please! I think I pulled my hamstring!" The man insisted.

"Fine! I'll be there in a second!" When the water was closed, I threw on Ilya's bath robe and made my way to the living room tying the knot "You better be in agony—" my eyes went wide once I saw the people in front of me: Ilya and Apollo standing side by side. "What are you doing here?"

"I'll be out—" Ilya started.

"No," I said "you know more than my husband at this point." Apollo looks like he hasn't done anything but drink and smoke the past couple of days; his eyes are red and swollen, his lips chapped and I've never seen him look this tired.

"But I don't want to be an intruder," my friend stated.

I sniffled looking into my husband's sad eyes "Maybe you should leave because if you haven't heard, everyone who loves me ends up dead."

Apollo frowned "Princess, I am so sorry," he took a step closer.

My response was to take a step back and put up my hand "Don't come near me."

"What do I have to do? Get down on my knees and beg?" He knelt down in front of me; my eyes welled up at the sight and overwhelming amount of feelings "I'll do whatever is necessary for you to forgive me princess but please—"

"I'm pregnant."

This is 47 minutes (where I am) after icycouture 's birthday but happy birthday! 🖤