~ I'm bigger than my body
I'm colder than this home
I'm meaner than my demons
I'm bigger than these bones

DIYA

As I drove fast on my bike, it did help a little to blow away the tension—Arzane Yilmaz, it's good to be safe and away then be with him. The way from Zaran bhai's house is very quiet and isolated, and I have noticed that none of them, Zaran and Arzane have their house anywhere near the populated place, there are no neighbors even at a long distance.

I don't know where I am going, but now it had turned into a chasing game as I see that gangster Arzane’s car following me, and no I don't no what car he has because every time it's different, but doesn't take a genius to know, his car has personal licence plate.
Inferno.

This shit is messing with me. I need to search about what Inferno means, Inferno Club, Uniform with the logo which has a skull in flames with a snake on the skull. I noticed it today on the guard's vest.

I speed up more as the path ahead is empty, it's an isolated place. I will stop as soon as the mad man turns away but he seems too interested in chasing me— I hate this handsome bastard. I don't know how and why I am so calm after what I witnessed yesterday.

I squint my eyes to see a car coming from the front.. It's one way, is the driver mad? From behind Arzane started honking and turned to move slightly left quickly to avoid crashing.

In a matter of seconds, I find myself on the ground with my bike fallen beside me. Arzane’s car has stopped in front of me, while the car that seemed poised to crash into me has swerved away—only after colliding from Arzane's vehicle.

Arzane did it deliberately. Of course.

I try to get up and hiss, my right foot is injured and it's kind of painful. Before I attempted again, someone lifted me by my waist.

Arzane.

His one hand firmly held my waist and pulled me up like I weigh nothing—which is wrong because I ain't thin. A shriek left my mouth, “Hey! Leave me.”
“As long as you want another foot injured.” He said.Okay, how did he figure that out so soon? Turning me to face him, his eyes looking at me like he wants to kill me for annoying him, “Now leave, I don't need your help.”

I say trying to bend and lift my fallen bike putting all the pressure on my left foot.
“I have no pleasure in helping you, but at the same time I am not interested in taking you to the hospital so shut up and hold on.”

He said and held my wrist, and his men took away my bike, “You like being a hero or what? Just cannot storm away like—”

“Correction, heroine if so, I am female.” He rolled his eyes as I continued, “And don't you dare call me names, I don't even want to see your face, will you kill me too huh?” I say and immediately regret it—

His eyes bored into me, the coldness in them could freeze, I actually felt a little fear—and nothing else. How is it possible for a person to show no emotions? I believe eyes speak,but in his case? No,not at all.
“Yes I will, if you won't shut up.”

"Your brother’s waiting. Let’s leave before I lose the last ounce of patience I have for your mouthy presence."

I sneered, “Oh hello! If anything I should—” A sharp pain ignited in my foot making me yelp a little.

He picked me up in bridal style, his jaw clenching while I gasped.
“Put me down! Asshole.”

“Shut the fuck up for once.”

He carried me to his car, opened the passenger seat, and made me sit facing the door before kneeling down in front.
“Kya kar raha hai yeh?” I muttered to myself, finding this side of him... weirdly nice?

A guard approached with a first-aid kit and handed it to him.
“What?” he snapped, catching me as I stared.
.

He started cleaning the wound on my foot, trying to be a little gentle with his rough hands and not-so-gentle way.

★

AUTHOR

As Arzane slightly lifted the hem of her jeans and started cleaning the wound, which is also swelling, he groaned in annoyance hearing her again.  “Didn’t know you knew how to use a first-aid kit. Or that you had something resembling a heart.”

“It’s not a heart. It’s a habit of fixing broken things before they become useless.”

She flinches internally—maybe it’s just the sting of the antiseptic—or  his words.

Suddenly, his phone buzzes. He glances at the screen, and his jaw tightens. “What? Don’t tell me your little gangster club is calling in for backup?”
He doesn’t respond—just stands up and mutters,
“We need to leave. Now.”

“I’m injured, not deaf. You don’t need to bark orders.” she napped at him.

“You were never the target. Until now.” he spoke, making her face scrunch in confusion, “what kind of target? Is this some game? Excuse me! Tell me!”

She turned to sit properly in the car as he slammed the door closed and got in to drive,
“Ya Allah! What's going on? Tell me!” She yelled, “Stop shouting.” He said calmly. And turned to look at her as she sat facing him, demanding answers. His eyes roamed on her face a little longer— particularly on her brown orbs and a small little dark mole on her left cheek, which would be invisible from far.

Clearing his throat he said “Someone saw you while you witnessed the murder yesterday.” He answered, of course not fully, he just said what is meant for her to know.

She scoffs, her sarcasm kicking back in as a shield.
“Well sorry for accidentally witnessing your murder mystery party.”

He narrowed his eyes dangerously, “This isn't a game.”

“Then tell me what you really are—” She spoke—waiting to hear whatever he throws at her.

He didn't respond, and accelerated the car on the way to Zaran’s place again. “I asked something. Or is it that you have finished your agenda of speaking today?”

Arzane has no reason to hide anything from her, he didn't care— but he kept shut not wanting to say what he is, though knowing how sharp she is and can be, he figured where her mind could be wandering.  He doesn't care if she is Zaran's cousin who randomly showed up.

But what he did care about is to find out and clear the one big doubt which has been lingering in his mind ever since their first encounter. No matter what.

“Either you'll go dead from here or you'll never go.” Just that and again he went quiet.

Her heartbeat spikes. “That’s not funny.”

“I don’t joke about death.”

She turns to the window instinctively. Nothing. Just the same quiet, empty road.
“But… Why me? I didn’t do anything.”

“That wasn’t meant for your eyes.”

A beat of silence.

She glances at him—his knuckles are white on the wheel, jaw tight, but his face? Calm like always,  like nothing happened. And before she could speak again he glared at her to shut up, and as much as she didn’t want to back off, Diya stayed quite, possibly tired.

★

ARZANE

After dropping that mouthy cat  to Zaran’s place I drove to the main block of my office, where every week the syndicate meeting is held with other mafia families, who are slowly losing their power or have already lost. Why? Because of my syndicate, leaving them no option but to do as I say.

I tolerate their presence despite the fact that half of the people there want me   dead as I took over. The very first person must be my father because instead of following him like a dog, I made my own path from the age of sixteen and the result?

Immense power.

Though no meetings were held without the presence of Zaran and Rayan with me, Zaran couldn’t attend and that is very obvious due to the presence of one woman who has disrupted our lives into chaos in a short amount of time. Entering the big hall with grey interiors, I see the people settled already, their heart’s darker than the hall’s interiors. Including mine.

I sit on the head chair adjusting my tie and removing the coat and placing it behind me on the chair. “I want to take care of the deal with the Russian’s.” Said Ayaz Mirza, I don’t like or trust this man, his own son doesn’t.

I could hear Emir who stood behind me scoff, being my senior guard he accompanies me to all the dealings. “How about you take care of your own people first? “  I say referring to the once big organization formed by five families which doesn’t stand a chance against me and my people now.

“Arzane! If you don't remember, we handled them once and we will continue to..” I cut my father off “Your organization itself is incomplete, where are the other two leaders?” There should be three but one is dead, and the other two? Ran away, like cowards years back.
“That being said, make it stronger for us to pass you the deals.” Rayan spoke, “You are our legacy and instead of making us stronger how dare you three–”

We both glare in their direction, “If nothing else, then Burak and Sinclair will continue.” And we both stood up to leave for other work, cutting the meeting awfully short making them scowl, I tell Emir to stay back till the meeting ends and leave.

"What happened after I went?" Rayan asks referring to Diya, "Someone found out about her staying with Zaran and then they saw us both while deliberately trying to hit her." I said.

He sighed, "She shouldn't have been there yesterday and now she is tangled." Why does it concern him? Zaran's cousin his fucking responsibility. "They'll possibly think of her as a weakness." He said.

"Then she should leave, I don't want any of you having any weakness. If that happens— then you know the aftermath." His eyes darken knowing what I am referring to, but just like always he composes himself quickly, and the pain is gone in them as he puts on his facade.

I sit in my car and instead of driving his own he sits beside on the passenger seat,
"Is it that you love annoying people?" I say, "You love my presence bastard, I know it. So drive."

Fucker. But then again tolerable, far tolerable than that woman.

As I drive, he puts on some music, but then switches off again. "I can't be the only one who is suspicious of certain someone, Am I?" He said.

I know this was coming, pretty much expected from him, Arhaan and Zehra.
"Tell me, Arzane."

"Let's not talk about it now. She's dead. For good." He cursed hearing me, but I let it slide, not the topic I want to discuss now. Especially with him.

I park the car and we both get off leading to the entrance but my ears vibrate with the loud pitched voice coming from inside and as we both enter we see the scene in front of us, Zaran sitting calmly while the mouthy cat stands shouting.

"Why the hell did you allow me to come here when you don't fucking care!"

The maid closes the door behind and then she turns sensing our presence, and rolls her eyes.

"Wow! Look your buddies are also here. Should I expect a massacre?" She said,
I don't know what patience Zaran had gained that he hasn't thrown her out or sent her back yet.

"Diya." Zaran got up, all the while shooting us a look, specifically me, of course she filled him what happened. Not that I care, "What are you both doing here?" He asks.

"I heard what happened so I came to check." Rayan said and went to Diya, wow one fucking week and she has already made everyone her fan—except me, of course.

Then he shoots me a look, "I came to simply enjoy the drama." I say and sit on the couch. "Oh hello! What do you mean drama? And your presence isn't needed here, get out." She says, oh how I wish to strangle her, but I won't for my own reasons this time.

"You saw me kill without hesitation, I can do the same to you." I say and lean back on the couch. While she glared at Zaran, "TELL.ME.WILL.YOU?"

I see the hesitation and wearyness in Zaran, and now all the clouds in mind are clearing one by one.

"Diya,....I am in the mafia."

Silence.

Silence.

Silence.

She stood there staring at him, while I expected an outburst like others, she spoke, "And I am the queen of England." Placing a hand on her curvy hip.

Again, silence.

"You... This isn't possibly real right?" She looked at all three of us, "Tell me!"
"Oh my God, so you're telling me that 'Mafia' exists?... And you are in it?"
Her voice filled with confusion, dread and some what thrill? What the fuck?

None of us speak, giving her time to absorb, one thing Zaran and this ferocious lioness should know,  is now that she knows, she either stays here forever keeping her mouth closed to other with this specific knowledge or dies.

I fucking cannot let her go back to the other part of the world with this truth.

So now she stays here forever, no matter the hell what.

Diya Sayeed is officially trapped.

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If you find something confusing then it will be over as we go on because the book is also about mystery.

Also it's a part of a series now, "Veiled Vows Series" You'll find other couples soon enough, one of which you may already have an idea of.

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