Mafia Billionaire’s Forlorn Wife
Chapter 64

Arabella

A g***n escapes my lips as I open my eyes and find myself lying on the ground as red lights blare above me along with an annoying siren is still blaring.

That means it has only been a few minutes since I lost consciousness.

Just long enough for them to handcuff me behind my back.

Jerks.

I look up and find three armed men standing nearby before my eyes travel to Franco who is also knocked out.

Great.

Just great.

The taller one between the three speaks up after he removes the phone from his ear, “they’re coming in soon.”

Yeah, well, Kian and my team will be in sooner.

“Reigna, we’re about to enter.” Kian’s voice comes through my earpiece but I am unable to respond as I lay there on my front, trying to find a way to free myself.

“Reigna?”

“Nyx, tell him to hurry.” I whisper under my breath so that only my AI can make out my words and follow through on my command. With the men talking among themselves and the siren blaring, I get away with it without being detected.

“Alright boss,” Nyx affirms and I turn my attention back towards the three Bratva soldiers.

Just staring at them, I am reminded of the men that Rhys had guarding the house.

I am currently in his territory.

So close and yet so far.

They are probably planning on shipping Franco to the States so that Rhys can do whatever the f**k he wants.

Not on my watch though.

A distant memory of a time when I was handcuffed all those years ago flashes through my mind and I feel my anger doubling up as I clench my teeth and take in a deep breath.

I was unable to free myself back then.

But now I know how to.

And holding my breath, I dislocate my thumb in a way that will help me slide my hand out.

Sharp pain spreads through my hand as I lay still on the ground pretending to be unconscious in case one of the three assholes heard the sound of my thumb popping out of place.

When minutes pass and they remain talking to each other without bothering to check on me and I slowly slide my hand out from the cuff, freeing myself.

And right when I find one of them approaching Franco with a gun pulled in his direction, I act quickly and fiercely as I unsheathe the knife hidden in my bra before throwing it in that man’s direction.

“We’re inside the building.” I hear Kian’s voice just when the knife embeds itself in the Bratva soldier’s throat and he gurgles on his own b***d, choking as his mates turn to swiftly look at me.

I hold my breath and relocate my thumb in the same way that I have done endless times and without any effort, I take out another gas grenade and throw it in the direction of the remaining two.

One of them shoots in my direction but I duck out of the line of fire and the bullet lodges itself in the wall behind me.

Once I am all alone— with an unconscious Franco and fallen Bratva soldiers, I finally take in a breath of relief as I realise that I have finally succeeded in rescuing my half brother.

Kian has probably already neutralised the threats and I am assuming that it is now safe to take Franco out of here.

Shaking my head, wringing out my hand a few times, I get to removing the restraints around Franco’s wrists and ankles.

Shaking my head, I stand back up once I am done and place my finger on my ear piece, “how long till you get here?” I ask Kian hoping that I would not have to carry Franco out all by myself.

“One second.” Kian’s strained voice comes through like he is engaged in some sort of a hand to hand combat with someone.

And just when I am about to start gathering Franco in my hands, the door of the room bursts open and Kian’s grinning face appears on the other side.

“Missed me, my Reigna?” He asks with a s**t eating grin on his lips and I chuckle at his antics, shaking my head slightly.

“I will if I have to kill you for being too slow, Ki.” I say with a roll of my eyes as I smile at him.

He chuckles, “well, what can I say, I—”

His words are shortened in the middle as someone attacks him from behind and even though I cannot see the person, I can see midnight black hair towering just slightly over Kian’s height.

And before I can approach Kian to help him, his body starts falling forward and in the hurry to save him, I lose sight of the person in front of me and instead focus on ensuring that Kian’s face doesn’t break because of the impact.

However, before Kian is fully resting unconscious on the ground, I am being hauled up by a hand around my throat and my entire body freezes over when my eyes clash with familiar midnight blue ones.

No…

No no no no…

This can’t be happening.

Not after five years.

“Who the hell are you?” He growls at me and just the sound of his voice makes my b***d roar in my veins.

Rhys…

My mask is still on my face but I know that it won’t take him long to figure out what I look like underneath it.

I want to fight him.

I want to run away.

I want to save Franco and Kian.

But I can’t.

I’m frozen in my spot.

My ex husband is standing in front of me. My daughter’s father. The man I was ready to give my life for. The only man who can ever have my heart.

After five whole years of dreaming about him and wondering how he has been, he is standing in front of me and I am terrified.

That is when he really focuses on my eyes and I swear that I hear his breathing hitching in his throat as his grip on my throat loosens.

Note: This chapter is a part of a double update. Please check to ensure that you have not missed chapter 063-Rhys & Arabella that was posted before this. Happy reading!

His entire body seems to freeze too and in this moment, I don’t even remember how to breathe.

My heart…the one I tried so hard to heal, the one I tried so hard to mend…it starts bleeding in the exact same way that it did when I was leaving that mansion all those years ago. My soul feels wounded and bruised just like the day Rhys brought me back home after being kidnapped by Amelia and Christopher.

All my wounds become fresh and new the longer I stare at the devilishly handsome face of the man I love with everything I have.

And he still looks the same…like it all happened just yesterday and not half a decade ago.

His stubble is slightly darker and fuller than usual, almost forming a well groomed beard on the lower half of his face. His hair is perfectly styled with a single strand falling to his forehead. His high cheekbones and the strong jaw give him the same godly appearance that I fell for. And his eyes…oh his eyes.

His eyes are the deep oceans that I always had the urge to explore. His eyes are the crystal blues of kyanite lined with gold and black glass. I could spend hours staring into his eyes and not getting bored.

And right now, as I am looking into his eyes, all I can think about is the fact that after five years, my body is finally feeling his touch again.

And here I thought that I would never have to see him again.

My senses dawn back on me the moment his free hand comes into view and the thumb on my throat gently strokes downwards and my entire body shivers in response just when he pulls my mask down and a gasp escapes his lips.

“Moya solnyshka…”

My heart thunders inside my chest as I listen to those words and right then to my horror and my surprise, his eyes fill up with tears.

Actual tears.

“Moya solnyshka…” he repeats, almost at a complete loss for words and looking like someone has just given him a new heartbeat.

One of his tears falls down his cheek and onto my own as I instinctively close my eyes to keep my own emotions at bay.

His hand comes up to cup my cheek but instead of touching my skin it hovers over it, almost as if Rhys is too afraid to touch me.

My heart shudders in my chest and I wonder what I am supposed to do right now, unable to even gauge my own feelings and thoughts as I continue to stare at Rhys.

He’s here.

He’s found me.

After five years.

⚜️⚜️⚜️

Rhys |10 Minutes Ago|

“Boss, there is some woman who has come to save Franco.” Dimitri’s voice comes through the speakers of the car as Jordan drives through the roads of Valencia to take us to the outskirts where Franco is being kept.

“Do you identify her?” I question, “what organisation does she work with?”

“No idea, boss, she’s got no identification on her except for an insignia ring with a coiled serpent on it. She’s trained. Killed about two dozen of our men. She’s down at the moment but she’s dangerous.”

I think about his words for a moment, wondering how big of a risk this mystery woman can be.

I need to kill Franco for Dominico to give me information on Arabella.

Franco needs to die no matter the method.

And so, making a quick decision, I say, “kill him and the girl. I’m reaching in five.”

And with that, I end the call.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Vernon’s voice comes from the passenger seat beside Jordan and I roll my eyes.

“What’s not a good idea is you babysitting me everywhere.” I grumble distastefully.

Jordan and Vernon start talking about things that I don’t have the least interest in and my thoughts once again travel back to Arabella.

I wonder where she is right now.

Sighing, I shake my head just as the car takes a greener route and we slow down as we enter the woods.

After a few minutes the warehouse finally comes into view and I wait for Jordan to bring down the car to a stop.

“What the hell?” Jordan mumbles and I look to the front and my eyes widen when I see the fallen bodies of my Bratva men and women.

“Probably the girl Dimitri was talking about,” I mutter. “Take the car around the back.”

And following my commands, Jordan parks the car in a discreet location as I get out and keep my gun handy.

“Stay here and wait. And do not get caught in a crossfire.” I say to my chauffeur and my butler— both of whom have become overbearing pains in my a*s in the last few years. “Protect him.” I tell Jordan, jerking my chin towards Vernon who rolls his eyes.

Ignoring them both, I quickly make my way through the woods and reach the backdoor that opens with only my thumb print.

Once I am inside the facility, I scale through the walls, listening for footsteps or any sounds and making sure to evade the corners where I find unfamiliar men and women, I choose those where I find a trail of bodies of the men and women I chose for the Bratva.

This woman has created a mural of my fallen soldiers and I feel nothing but anger towards her as I finally reach the room where Franco was being kept.

And that is when I come in proximity of the devil herself.

⚜️⚜️⚜️

Arabella

“I was looking everywhere for you.” He whispers and his voice cracks as he stares down at me.

And right at that instant, a g***n echoes through the room and Rhys instantly steps away from me just when I look down at Kian who is waking up.

Still in a daze, I reach out to help him gather his bearings but my entire body is vibrating under Rhys’ gaze that is still fixed on me.

Kian looks me over as he stands up and places his hands on my shoulders, “what the hell happened? Are you alright?” He asks in the same manner of concern and care that he always uses when he’s around me as he strokes my upper arm.

Kian looks me over as he stands up and places his hands on my shoulders, “what the hell happened? Are you alright?” He asks in the same manner of concern and care that he always uses when he’s around me as he strokes my upper arm.

But even then, all I can feel is the touch that Rhys’ fingers have left on my skin.

“Arabella?” Kian presses on, still not having registered Rhys’ presence and before I can open my mouth to even find the words, Rhys clears his throat and announces himself.

Kian’s eyes shoot towards him and as an instinct he positions himself in front of me whereas Rhys stares harshly at the point where Kian’s hand is on my arm and when our eyes meet again, I find his face filled with longing and pain.

Kian’s eyes widen in surprise when he seems to realise who the person in front of us is and he immediately looks down at me, almost like he is asking—

What the f**k is he doing here?

I shake my head.

Remembering everything that my darling ex did to me and instantly, all my love and affection is pushed to the back burner as I let my anger rule my actions.

“Take Franco out of here. I’m right behind you.” My voice comes out sharp and clear so as to make sure that Kian knows better than to argue.

My eyes are still focused on Rhys’ as I glare at him with all the anger that I can muster while Kian follows my commands and hoists Franco up on his feet.

“Call if you need help.” He mumbles in a manner so that I know that he is not going to move an inch from outside this room until I am still inside here.

I huff and nod my head as I watch him walk out, knowing well enough that he will wait for me by the doorway.

“Franco is an asset of mine.” I say to Rhys, “think before coming after my stuff again. I’m not as meek and docile as you might remember.”

The taunt flies out of my lips before I can stop it and Rhys’ eyes shine in recognition and then I watch instant regret dissolving into his orbs.

I scoff seeing that, and shaking my head, I start walking out of the room.

That is when Rhys’ hand wraps around my wrist and my breathing gets caught up in my throat because of it.

“Ivy…” he whispers, his voice almost cracking towards the end, “please…I’ve looked for you everywhere…”

I know.

I’ve done my best to evade you.

“I’ve been waiting for you. Please, baby, I’m so sorry for everything that I did. I wish I could take it all back, I really do—”

You can’t.

My body reacts by pulling my hand out from his grip as I meet his gaze with nothing but my own ferocity and rage, “get away from me!” I scream at him.

Rhys looks like a kicked puppy as his hand remains hanging in the space between us and I make a show of wiping away his touch from my wrist while scowling at him.

“I want nothing to do with you.” And growling that, I turn around and start to walk away, “don’t follow me.”

I am unable to even reach the door as Rhys’s hand wraps around my waist and this time, he pulls me flush against himself.

“Arabella…” his voice calls my name like he is in prayer and he looks down at me like I am his god. My heart races in my chest and I wonder what the f**k is wrong with me. “Please don’t go away again. It was destined that we shall meet again. That is why our paths have crossed today. Please don’t walk away.”

He is pleading me.

The same way once I pleaded him to love me. To look after me. To care for me.

His own wife.

Feeling nothing but anger and hatred at myself for still loving this man, I let out a small grunt before jabbing my knee straight into his groin.

The reaction is instant as he leaves my waist altogether and doubles over in pain as I step out from his vicinity.

“Don’t f*****g touch me!” I snap at him.

And just as I am beginning to walk away again, he tries to reach out for my hand one more time even though he is bent over and trying to push through the pain.

“Ivy, please, no—”

“I SAID LEAVE ME!”

My scream and the sound of a gunshot resound through the room at the same time and my eyes widen as horror seeps into me as I look down at Rhys and find a bullet lodging itself into his thigh and he falls to his knees.

My head snaps back towards Kian and I stare at him in horror as he stands at the doorway, holding his gun out in Rhys’ direction with absolutely no remorse present on his face.

“KIAN WHAT THE f**k?” I scream, looking between the two men who are currently driving me insane at the same bloody time.

“Do you want to stay?” Kian asks pointedly, shaking his head as he glares down at Rhys like he is what is wrong with this world.

Rhys is currently cursing under his breath but his eyes do not waver from my face even as he tries his best to breathe through his pain.

“I was handling it!” I snap at Kian, angry that he deigned it perfectly alright to take the matters in his own hand.

Kian scoffs, and looking between me and Rhys again, he walks away, muttering something under his breath that I cannot hear.

Shaking my head, I look down at Rhys, finding him giving me a soft smile as more tears fall from his eyes and I know that they are not because of the gunshot.

“Who are you here with?” I question, feeling my heart clenching inside my chest because of his pain.

He smiles, “go.” He whispers, “I’ll find a way to see you again.”

Anger surfaces inside me as I glare down at him, “I’d rather you don’t. Or I will be the one shooting the next bullet.”

And with that, I walk away from him, hoping that I never see him again.