2024-04-26 06:47:21The sole purpose of the veil was to avoid drawing attention to herself and keep her identity a secret. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the front door.
Aiden was surprised when he heard the knock, he wasn’t expecting anyone and he doubted if anyone knew him. Leaving Zia in the living room, he was in the bathroom to check his injuries. His sides were black and bruised as a result of the broken ribs. “Zia, check who’s at the door!”Zia stood up obediently upon hearing her father’s words. When she approached the door, she realized something. “Daddy, I can’t reach it.”Outside the door, the woman chuckled upon hearing Zia’s soft voice that sounded aggrieved. Aiden, left with no other option, wore a shirt and stepped out to meet his daughter. “Come here sweetie. Up.” He lifted Zia in his arms, softly hissing in pain.“Are you okay, Daddy?” Zia placed a finger in her mouth and pouted, a rare look of maturity on her face. “Yes, Daddy is fine.” Aiden reassured her before opening the door. To say he was stunned would be an understatement, he was shocked to see a strange woman, who was no doubt beautiful despite her disguise. “Can I help you?”“Pretty!” Zia’s eyes sparkled in excitement.The woman chuckled, but she doesn’t respond. Aiden’s guard against her dropped a little at the sound of her laughter. She raised the bags she was holding and pushed it towards him.“For me?” Aiden inquired. He was very confused but still accepted the bags. While collecting it, his hand grazed the woman’s hand lightly, he was surprised at how soft it was but unfortunately, that feeling was gone as soon as it came, giving him no other chance to bask in it.The woman smiled as she nodded once, as she turned around to leave, light wind blew, lifting the sides of her veil, revealing a part of her small nose and pink lips to Aiden. He was rooted to the spot until she got into her car and drove off. “Daddy?” Zia had to call her father a few more times to snap him back to reality.“Yes sweetie.” “She left.” Zia pointed out.“Oh, I can see that.” Aiden coughed lightly to hide his embarrassment. “Come on, let’s go in.”Curiosity got the better part of Aiden as he unsealed one of the bags, revealing it’s content. They were children medications, most of which were very expensive that even if Aiden took out all of his savings, he won’t be able afford the smallest size. ‘Who is she? How does she know-?’ He glanced at Zia a few more times. ‘I didn’t even get her name.’Opening the second bag, he saw that it was filled with grocery items. Another important details Aiden had forgotten. He didn’t have time to wonder about the woman’s identity or why she had helped him, the most important thing at that moment was preparing breakfast and getting Zia to take the required medications to suppress her fever. Meanwhile, a woman drove into a mansion, suddenly pulling to a stop when she sees an old man walk in front of her car. “Grandfather! I didn’t see you, I’m so sorry.”The man sneered. “I didn’t know when I became invincible. This old one is affable, amicable, accomplished, straightforward and upright but yet my grandchild chose to go out to play without inviting me.” Silvana has seen a lot of narcissist people, but not one who had narcissism like her grandfather, to think that he would dare compliment himself with so many positive characters. “Grandfather, I came looking for you but dad told me that you were busy-” Silvana stepped out of the car, approaching her grandfather in a bid to coerce him. Before she could finish speaking, the old man was already clamoring in dissatisfaction. “What! That brat dare stop you from coming to see me? What does he take me for? He is such an ungrateful and unreliable person! I’m not dead yet but he’s trying to prevent me from spending time with my favorite granddaughter .Ungrateful bastard!” The old man’s spittle flew in all direction as words shot out of his mouth, seemingly endless, rendering Silvana and the bodyguards stationed around the house flabbergasted. This is not the first time Silvana had witnessed her grandfather throwing in a fit like a child but every time it happened, she is stunned silly. She started to regret mentioning her father, knowing that the old man would give his son a earful once her return. “Grandfather-” Silvana called out in an aggrieved tone. “What is wrong? Did anyone hurt you?” The old man quickly forgot about his son who he was cursing and pinched his granddaughter’s cheek.“No Grandfather, I am worried.”“About what?” The old man looked confused. “Did any of those other family’s young brats try to take advantage of you? You should tell me so I can go spank their butts! How dare they try to take my granddaughter from me? They don’t even have the right to look at my family’s princess, I’m going to hit them so hard that their fathers won’t recognize them.” Once again, the old man’s unending rants started over again. “You!” The old man pointed at one of the bodyguards stationed nearby. “You have to make sure that you protect the princess with your life, if as much as a scratch appear on her, you can forget about being alive and if any of those young brats try to touch her, cut their hands and shove it down their throats. Understood?”“Yes patriarch!” The man responded.Silvana face palmed before shaking her head. “Grandfather, why don’t we go in so I can tell you all about what happened today?” She took one of the old man’s hand and led him into the mansion. The old man’s face soon had a grin on it as he followed her.
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The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter nine
Hours passed and Zia no longer had a fever by the time it was afternoon. She was sleeping peacefully so Aiden was finally relieved, he began to wonder about the woman’s identity and how she was aware of Zia’s illness. After making a lot of guesses, none of them seemed correct so he pushed the matter to the back of his mind. Opening his phone and checking his bank balance, there was just a measly three figure sum left which was only enough to get him and his daughter through one more day. “What do I do?” He placed his hands over his face in contemplation.There was a lot of things he hadn’t put into consideration. He couldn’t get a job without having someone look after Zia and even if he got one, Aiden wasn’t comfortable leaving Zia in the care of others. He had learnt the hard easy from the past and wasn’t willing to repeat the same mistake. He had to find a means to work from home.Like a light bulb brightened in his mind, Aiden grabbed his phone to check the stock market and starte
The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter ten
The detective would cough blood in anger if he heard how the old man referred to him. “Aiden Romanov. That’s my name” Aiden smiled, for years he had been searching for his true identity, even though he had limited means. “I’m Lorenzo Romanov, the CEO and chairman of Romanov conglomerate.” Aiden was stunned, he blinked his eyes a few times. Even though he didn’t watch the news, Aiden had heard a few things about the prestigious families in New York, with Romanov as the number one. “Cool right?” The old man laughed in happiness, seeing the stunned expression on his grandson’s face. “I guess that’s why he needs a lot of bodyguards.” Aiden thought out loud, seeing the darkened expression on Lorenzo’s face, he gasped. “Oops. I didn’t mean-”“You brat!” Lorenzo was fuming as he got to his feet. “Since I’ve found you, I can now retire to my private island and leave all the responsibilities to you.” The way Lorenzo’s expression could change in seconds amused Aiden. One minute he could be
The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter Eleven
Walking through the exquisite halls of the mall, Aiden trailed behind the attendant, who led him to the private room where he would be selecting a jade bracelet for Zia. His heart pounded with a mix of pride and defiance. Amelia and her aunt had humiliated him just moments ago, their eyes gleaming with the cruel certainty that he couldn’t afford anything from these high-end stores. They weren't wrong, of course. Aiden couldn't actually afford anything there; in fact, he was still in awe of everything himself. He replayed the scene in his mind. Amelia's condescending smirk and her aunt’s derisive laughter vanished the moment he held out the platinum gold card. For once, he felt a surge of pride. It wasn't just about the money; it was about proving them wrong, about showing them that he wasn't as worthless as they had believed. He could almost hear the echo of Amelia's gasp, see the disbelief etched into her face. She hadn’t expected this. She never did. But now, at least this once,
The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter twelve
The lady who had admired Aiden earlier spoke again, her voice filled with admiration. “I think I’m already in love with him.” Aiden said nothing, letting their whispers wash over him as he followed Lorenzo. For the first time, he felt special, seen in a way he never had before. It was a stark contrast to the closest thing to feeling special he had known—serving drinks at the bar, where customers looked up to him to be served. But this, this was different. It was powerful, being defended and valued by someone like Lorenzo. They turned the corner and headed back towards the private room where Amelia and her aunt were waiting. Lorenzo’s presence was like a force of nature, commanding attention and respect. Aiden could feel the weight of every eye on them as they walked, a mixture of curiosity and fear for what he was capable of doing next. As they approached the room, Lorenzo’s pace quickened. He pushed the door open with a force that made it swing back on its hinges and stormed ins
The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter thirteen
"No, son, just gather whatever you have and join us in the car. We're going home, where you belong," Lorenzo said firmly. Aiden wanted to insist on staying in the apartment with Zia, not wanting to subject them to a life they had just escaped. But with all the guards around and Zia in Lorenzo's care, any attempt to resist would be futile. He didn’t want to do anything stupid. He turned towards the apartment and grabbed the luggage he had brought in a few days ago, gathered Zia’s medications, and some snacks from the grocery bag they had received. On his way out, he dropped the fresh perishable supplies at the doorstep of one of his old neighbors who doubled as their gardener. The guards took the luggage from him to the car, and one hurried to open the car door for him to step in. It all looked like a dream too good to be true. As it was getting late, Aiden asked that they stop somewhere for dinner so Zia could eat and take her medication, anticipating that she would already be as
The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter fourteen
"It's fine, I had only just arrived," Aiden replied. "We have been assigned to take care of Zia from now on relax and give orders we are always at your service. Her room has already been prepared, and I hope it meets your approval," the chief maid continued, her face bowed to the ground. "Oh no, there would be no need for that. I would rather stay close to my daughter here," Aiden responded. Before he realized what was happening, she went on her knees, and the others followed suit. "The Grand Patriarch will not let us off if he realizes that his efforts to make his granddaughter comfortable were in vain. Please, at least come and see the room. Anything you need changed or repositioned will be done right away so that she can comfortably rest for the night," she pleaded. Aiden helped her to her feet. "Lead the way," he said. He could see the excitement in her as she hurried to another door some distance away from his, demarcated by a corridor lined with beautiful indoor plants an
The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter fifteen
Aiden sighed, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. “I had tried so hard to make it work, for Zia’s sake, but it only made it worse.” Lorenzo reached across the desk, taking Aiden's hand. “I can only imagine what you went through all those years. I will make sure they pay in my own way. You don’t have to worry about caring for Zia alone anymore, Aiden. Here you have me to help you protect Zia and give her the life she deserves.” Aiden nodded, feeling a sense of relief. “Thank you, g-grandfather,” he stammered, still getting used to calling him Grandfather. Lorenzo smiled, a warmth in his eyes that Aiden hadn’t seen before. “We’re family, Aiden. And family sticks together. Now let me answer some of your questions.” Patriarch Lorenzo's study was filled with the ambient glow of a warm evening, the golden light spilling through the tall windows. Lorenzo leaned back in his chair, reached into a drawer, and pulled out a worn leather-bound photo album, its edges frayed with age. He
The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter sixteen
Aiden began, "To be very honest, personally, I do not know anything about running a business, let alone a business as large as the ones you have built. The closest I have come to running a business is the bar. So if Zain and Bryden can handle it, I think you should let them do it." "Everything can be learned," Lorenzo countered. "Besides, this is your birthright. You cannot just toss it away over some lame excuse. There are systems in place already; all you need to do is follow my directives when you need assistance while you enroll in business school. You'll see that it's not that difficult." "I hope I can be all that you hope for me to be without letting you down," Aiden said. "I am convinced you will be," Lorenzo replied. "We also need to identify the traitor in our midst. Whoever orchestrated this has been hiding in the shadows for too long, and I need them brought to light." Aiden nodded. "How do we start?" "We begin by looking at who had the most to gain from their deaths,"
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chapter 119
Aiden leaned over the table in the safehouse, his fingers tracing the map spread out before him. The docks, the industrial warehouses, and the surrounding areas were marked with pins and annotations. The intel about the upcoming shipment was either a trap or an opportunity. Either way, Aiden couldn’t ignore it. "Here’s the play," he began, his voice low but commanding. His team—James, Katarina, and the rest of the crew—listened intently. "We’ll let Orlov think we’re taking the bait. If it’s a real shipment, we hit it hard and cripple his supply chain. If it’s a trap, we spring it on our terms." Katarina crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "And how do we ensure it doesn’t blow up in our faces? Orlov’s not stupid—he knows you’ll come for this." Aiden met her gaze, his voice steady. "That’s why we don’t go for the shipment directly. We use decoys. James, you and a small team will run a fake assault on the main route. Make it loud enough to draw their attention." James nod
Chapter 118
The command center hummed with quiet efficiency. Monitors displayed live feeds from across the city: surveillance cameras, drone footage, and intercepted communications. Orlov paced in front of the largest screen, his mind whirring with strategy. The explosion at the docks had sent a clear message, but it wasn’t enough. Aiden Romanov had survived worse, and Orlov knew his opponent well enough to anticipate retaliation. He turned to Viktor, who was reviewing the list of assets and potential targets. "We need to force Romanov into a position where he can’t think clearly. Fear, Viktor, is the greatest weapon. And Romanov’s greatest fear lies not in losing a fight but in losing the people he loves." Viktor hesitated. "You mean Silvana and the child?" Orlov’s smirk was cold. "Precisely. They are his Achilles’ heel. Romanov thrives on control, and nothing shatters control like the threat of harm to those he holds dear."He motioned for one of his tech operatives to step forward. The
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The docks loomed ahead, shrouded in fog and silence. Aiden led his team through the maze of shipping containers, his senses heightened by the tension in the air. Every creak of the metal structures, every distant clang of a crane, felt amplified as if the night itself were holding its breath. “Comms check,” Aiden whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the distant waves. “All clear,” James responded, perched on a container with his laptop, hacking into the dock’s security feeds. “Moving into position,” Katarina added, her tone calm yet charged with anticipation. She was leading the diversion team to draw Orlov’s men away from the cargo ship. Aiden’s team consisted of himself, James, and Nikolai—though Aiden still harbored doubts about Nikolai’s loyalty. His gut told him to keep a close eye on the man, but for now, he needed every hand he could get. They reached the edge of the dock, where the cargo ship loomed like a dark behemoth. Its lights were dim, the shad
Chapter 116
Aiden stood in the war room, a somber expression on his face as he traced his finger over a map of Orlov’s known operations. The team gathered around him, their wounds still fresh from the recent ambush. The air was thick with tension, but it was laced with determination. “We’ve been on the back foot for too long,” Aiden began, his voice steady but laced with anger. “Orlov thinks he’s outplayed us, but this time, we’re going to be the ones setting the trap.” James leaned forward, his laptop open. “We’ve mapped out his network,” he said, pulling up a web of interconnected nodes. “This command center he lured us to—it’s not his primary base. He has a second, more fortified location near the docks.” Katarina crossed her arms, her sharp eyes scanning the map. “So, we hit the docks? Or is that another trap?” Aiden shook his head. “If Orlov is there, we can’t wait for confirmation. We’ll need to move with precision, but not without a plan to cover every possibility. We’re done walki
chapter 115
Orlov paced the dimly lit chamber of his backup command center, the faint hum of machinery filling the air. His failure to trap Aiden at the warehouse had stung more than he was willing to admit. The man had always been resourceful, but this level of persistence, this sharpness, felt almost personal. His top lieutenant, Viktor, stood nearby, reviewing the aftermath reports. "They hit us hard, sir," Viktor said, his voice carefully measured. "We lost critical supplies and several high-ranking men. The team was swift and precise, like they knew our movements beforehand." Orlov's jaw tightened. "Of course, they knew," he muttered, his voice like venom. "Romanov has someone feeding him information. It's the only explanation." He slammed his fist onto the table, rattling the nearby monitors. "This ends now," he hissed. "Enough of these games. If Romanov wants to hunt me, I’ll make him regret it. We’ll hit him where it hurts most." Viktor hesitated. "What are you suggesting, sir?"
Chapter 114
Orlov was silent as he stared at the monitors in his command center. The live footage of the chaos caused by Aiden and his team flickered on the screens before him. His guards lay incapacitated, his carefully constructed defenses breached, and his lower-level systems compromised. The calm exterior he maintained belied the storm brewing beneath the surface.His lieutenant, Viktor, stood beside him, rigid and uneasy. “They’ve crippled our lockdown protocols,” Viktor said cautiously. “Our communications are exposed, and our tactical advantage has been diminished.”Orlov turned slowly, his cold eyes locking onto Viktor. “Diminished, but not lost,” he said, his voice icy yet calm. “Aiden Romanov and his merry band of fools have underestimated what happens when you provoke a wounded animal.”He leaned against the edge of the table, his fingers steepled in thought. The tension in the room was palpable as he calculated his next move. Then, with chilling resolve, he issued his commands.“Activ
Chapter 113
The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the glowing screens of laptops and tablets spread across the table. Aiden leaned forward, studying the holographic blueprint of Orlov’s command center. The building was a fortress, surrounded by high walls, multiple guard posts, and an advanced surveillance system. “This is insane,” Silvana said, her voice heavy with concern. “There’s no way we can get in without setting off every alarm in the city.” “We’re not going in through the front door,” Aiden replied, his tone resolute. “Orlov’s security is focused on keeping threats out, but every system has a weak point. We just have to find it.” Katarina, seated to his left, pointed to the blueprint. “What about the ventilation shafts? They’re narrow, but they could provide a way in.” “Too risky,” James said, his voice crackling through the comms. “Orlov’s likely installed motion sensors and heat detectors in the vents. You’d be caught before you made it ten feet.” Aiden
Chapter 112
The warehouse exploded in a fiery cascade, sending shockwaves through the surrounding industrial district. Aiden and his team were already several blocks away, hidden in the shadows of an abandoned alley. The force of the blast lit up the night sky, and the sound of sirens in the distance signaled the authorities were on their way. Aiden crouched behind a rusted dumpster, catching his breath. His heart pounded against his chest as he glanced at Silvana, who was busy wiping soot from her face. Katarina leaned against the wall, her expression grim, while Nikolai kept a wary eye on the road. “That was... louder than expected,” Silvana muttered, adjusting her comms. “It had to be,” Aiden replied, his voice steady but low. “We needed to send Orlov a message—and buy ourselves time.” Katarina let out a sharp breath, tossing her empty pistol magazine to the ground. “We sent a message, alright. But now Orlov knows we’re targeting his supply lines. He’ll retaliate, and it won’t be subtl
Chapter 111
Aiden paced back and forth in the dimly lit warehouse where Nikolai had parked the decoy truck. The air smelled of rust and oil, and the flickering fluorescent lights above cast long, restless shadows across the room. Silvana and Katarina stood nearby, sifting through the contents of the crates with grim determination. “This doesn’t add up,” Aiden muttered, running a hand through his hair. “Why would Orlov risk exposing these weapons just to throw us off? There has to be something we’re missing.” “He’s stalling us,” Katarina said, her voice sharp. She tapped the lid of one crate with the butt of her gun. “This whole thing is too clean. There’s no tracking, no additional intel—nothing that ties these weapons back to his bigger operations.” Silvana nodded, holding up what looked like a blueprint for the weapon designs. “These are prototypes. High-tech, yes, but not functional. Orlov’s pulling a bait-and-switch.” Nikolai, leaning against the truck, crossed his arms defensively. “
