Claimed ruthlessly

Chapter - 6 Rhys

"You're really getting married to THE Maeve Armani!?" Aaron asked me for the millionth time.

"Yes!" I growled, strangling the wheel of my car.

"How does she look?" He asks skeptically.

"I don't know" I responded coldly, wishing he would end this stupid conversation about my soon-to-be future wife.

"You haven't met her before!?" He yelled, while he leaned forward.

"No" I said and added "How many times are you going to make me repeat?" I asked, annoyed.

"I need to know about my sister-in-law" he said playfully.

I know what he's trying to do. He's trying to tip me over the edge. I can't believe I am saying this, but it's working.

"What did dad say though?" He asked in a more serious tone.

I glared at him and went over my conversation with dad to him for who knows how many times. He nodded, while taking in the information intently.

"If he ordered that I marry someone I don't know, I would have killed him." He said, his voice grave.

That made me grip the steering wheel more tightly that my knuckles had gone white.

"He didn't have to. You fell in love with his business partner's daughter." I reminded him.

He grinned like a child who had got a lollipop.

It's kind of strange. That woman, my sister-in-law, has never been bothered about his short temper or his maniacal personality.

She loves him deeply, that is clear. He loves her too. I wonder what it feels like to be loved by someone, someone who doesn't care about any of our flaws.

It's hard finding love in our world. But my twin did. And I'm happy for that motherfucker.

His voice broke the connection to my thoughts.

"Isn't it strange though?" He asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"What is?" I questioned.

"That nobody has seen her before. Maeve Armani" He said, throwing a curious glance my way.

I hadn't thought of that before. I've seen all the Armani brothers before, but never her. Their sister. I can't remember a single event that she has attended. Hell, I've never even seen her face. No woman with this much popularity would hide herself behind the scenes. Even if it is very dangerous for her.

"It is," I agreed with him.

"You've never seen her before". It was more of a statement than a question.

I shook my head.

"Mysterious and smart" he commented, more to himself than me.

Smart was an understatement. Her father told us that she was the one who was handling all the finances and stocks for them. At age 20. It was a f*****g accomplishment. She was a genius.

Still, I am not going to marry her willingly.

"I don't want this" I admitted, shocked about my confession.

"Want what?" He asked, pretending to be clueless.

"The marriage." I stated, my voice filled with disgust.

"Hmmm..." He trailed off, thinking.

Wonder what he's thinking about....Fuck, I've seen this look on his face. His lips tugged into an evil smirk. His eyes glinted mischievously, as he glanced at me.

"What now?" I asked, irritated.

"What if you fall in love with her? What if she's the only one who could get you in control? The only one to actually tolerate your temper." He said with a big smirk on his face, which I wanted to punch it off his face.

"I've never even seen her before" I pointed out.

"Still.." He started, but before he could finish, my phone started ringing.

It was dad.

"Yes, dad" I said, putting him on speaker.

"Where are you, son?" He asked, calmly.

His tone made my twin glance at me with total confusion. I just shrugged it off.

"Driving." I answered, without any emotions in my tone.

"Doesn't answer my question" he barked from the other line.

I clenched my fist around the steering wheel and answered,

"Finished a mission with Ron. Driving him home" I said through clenched teeth.

"Put me on speaker." He ordered.

"You are on speaker" Aaron responded.

"We're meeting the Armani family today. I want you to accompany us" Dad informed him.

"Sure, where?" he asked.

"Crimson" he told him.

"I'll drive there directly with Zenith" he said to our father.

He's f*****g whipped. I do like my sister-in-law, but how does she handle him? Twenty-four-f*****g-seven. He's very clingy. That's what I discovered about their relationship and he's overprotective.

"Alright, be here soon, Rhys" he said and hung up, without waiting for me to reply.

"Looks like you're getting married" Aaron whistled.

"Oh, It won't last long" I promised him.

He narrowed his eyes at me. I ignored it and dropped him off.

Few minutes later.

I took the car keys in my hand and exited. I made my way to the front door. I opened it to find my father, relaxing on the couch. He's on his phone and looked up when I entered. He scanned me up and down and said

"Get ready"

That's when I realized I was still covered in blood. I am going to need a shower. I nodded and strode to my bedroom.

Suddenly feeling filthy as f**k, I stripped and adjusted the temperature of the shower.

Hot water feels like heaven.

I scrubbed the blood off my arms and neck. The sight of blood brings me a feeling that is not normal to any other person who does not live in our world. It makes me feel peaceful and safe in its own twisted way.

Suddenly the engagement makes its way to my thoughts, making me clench my teeth. I drove my fist into the bathroom wall. I narrowed my eyes at the blood that was making its way to the sink.

Maeve Armani. The thought of her makes me scoff.

I'll make her regret marrying me.

I'll make her life a living hell.

I'll show her what happens when you make a deal with the devil.

I'll make her suffer for her decisions.

Every. f*****g. Day.

Every. f*****g. Hour.

Every. f*****g. Second.

These sickening thoughts make me smile with delight.

It's not going to be easy to be bound by a devil.

I hope you're ready for the game....Maeve Armani.

An Hour Later.

I strode downstairs with my left hand inside my pocket and the other holding my phone. My mind occupied with so many things, I could feel a terrible headache making its way in. I need to call and talk with Cole about finding more ways to launder all this money. I should talk to Aaron about this Laeve Vittale. Since, he is good at finding information.

What the f**k kind of name was Laeve?

Too many f*****g things.

I found my father waiting for me in the garage. He was on his phone, again. Which is queer because he rarely uses it.

He looked up at me when I entered the garage.

His eyes swept over me and he gave a pleased nod. Which made me grit my teeth.

"I'll get Antonio to drive us" he informed me.

The last thing I want now is to let someone take over the other half of my freedom.

"It's fine, I'll drive," I informed him. Informed him. Anger flashed in his eyes. Yeah, no one informed him of something he said otherwise.

The anger in his eyes made my lips twitch in a smirk.

Before he could respond, I climbed inside my mustangs and started the engine with a loud roar. He said a string of Italian curses and climbed in.

I instantly turned the radio on to drown out his voice. I could tell he was holding his tongue by the way he was looking out the car window.

We reached Crimson in twenty minutes. By the time we reached there, Aaron was already waiting for us in the booth with his wife.

"There's the soon-to-be groom", Aaron chuckled.

I just rolled my eyes as my father greeted my sister-in-law. I couldn't ignore the way he was holding Zenith like he was holding on to his dear life.

I averted my eyes and focused on my brother's conversation.

"Brother-in-law" Zenith gave a nod.

"Sister-in-law," I nodded back. My brother's hand tightened around her waist in a territorial way.

It was my turn to smirk.

Just then, Derek Armani made his way to the booth. He gave us a forced smile.

"Mr Luciano" he greeted my father.

My father smiled and they shook hands with each other.

He greeted my twin and his wife with a polite nod and turned my way.

"Rhys Luciano. It is a pleasure to finally meet you" he said with a smile.

"Mine too" I said, as his eyebrows arched.

I hate speaking to people. I hate touch. The thought of red nails trailing over my skin makes me want to throw up.

His sons made their way to the booth. I recognized Zack Armani right of the bat. The heir to the Armani family. The quiet yet dangerous beast. Zade Armani - The silent assassin. Zane Armani - the smiling snake. Xen - The notorious beast. And Rylan - The sweet torturer.

Aaron came to stand beside me. The action couldn't be more intimidating. But the Armani brothers smiled and stood beside each other.

Aaron exchanged pleasantries with them, while Zack and I made eye contact.

After a while, he nodded and I nodded back. It was a game of power. One I was determined to win.

Mrs Armani made her way to the booth with a young woman on her tail.

She smiled at each other and exchanged pleasantries. But my eyes were fixed on the woman behind her.

Long black hair. Pale milky skin. Ocean blue eyes.

Eyes that were made to hypnotize. Blue blue eyes.

"This is my daughter, Maeve" Derek announced proudly.

My eyes were transfixed on her.

Her eyes found mine and they widened.

Fuck. If that didn't make my chest roar with a feeling I've never felt before.

Her lips parted as she finally locked eyes with mine.

That made something tighten in my chest.

I strode towards her as she was checking me out.

I towered her and took her hand in mine. It was perfect. Her soft skin under my rough ones.

Her eyebrows hit her hairline.

I kissed her hand, while locking my eyes with hers.

She blushed. f*****g blushed.

She has this innocent yet dangerous look on her face which makes me want to ruin it.

Ruin her.

As soon as I laid my eyes on her, she was mine.

Mine to protect.

Mine to break.

Mine to love.

She broke our eye contact and looked around at the stunned silence.

I looked at my twin's shocked expression, hidden yet visible.

I touched her....

I looked down at our hands, so f*****g perfect.

Mine...