EMILIOIn a tumult of rage and anxiety, I sped towards my casino, SinfulGrove Casino, Sarah's face still haunting my thoughts. I had abandoned her, fleeing without a second glance, leaving her to face another lonely night, the fifth in a row. My frequent disappearances had fractured our relationship, leaving Sarah to wallow in loneliness. Heaven knows I just want to be by her side right now, she must be feeling extremely hurt. She must think I put my work above every other thing including my relationship with her.But that's far from the truth. I love Sarah so deeply, more than any thing in the world. She just won't understand that my hands are tied. If I don't act swiftly and get The Ghost, I am frightened that he would come for Sarah.No.Never. No one touches my woman and goes scot free. I'd burn this fucking city to ashes before that ever happens.I felt my anger exacerbate as I accelerated the speed of the car. This was past 2am right now.These days my anger was always so qui
SARAHTHE NEXT DAY My eyes slowly fluttered open, a mild yawn escaping my lips. I slowly raised my head up as tendrils of my hair were stuck to my sleeping features. The soft hues of dusk cast a golden glow through the parted curtains, gently illuminating my room. As consciousness slowly returned, a groan escaped my lips, accompanied by a jolt of panic. I sat up abruptly, feeling disoriented."Oh shit" I groaned again. I instinctively glanced at the digital clock on my bedside table, and my heart skipped a beat. It was well past six o'clock.Quickly, I snatched my phone as it laid next to me on the bed and turned it on in expectation of any signs of a missed call or text from Emilio.But sadly, all my hopes were shattered as there was none. I flung my phone aside in frustration, the weight of worry pressing down on me as I buried my face in my hands, emitting a deep groan of frustration."Where the hell is Emilio?!" The question hung heavy in the air as I voiced my concern alou
The sound of feminine moans echoed through the house, intertwining with masculine grunts, creating an uncomfortable symphony that reverberated through the air.Amanda furrowed her brows in confusion, wondering if she had arrived at a wrong hour. The living room door was unusually unlocked as she ventured inside, a strange departure from Daniel's habits. He never left his door unlocked. With ponderous steps, Amanda made her way forward, the sharp click of her heels against the tiled floor. The growing volume of shrill moans only served to deepen the lines of irritation etched upon her face."Why would Daniel ask me to come over when he knows he'd be entertaining a woman in his bed? Did he call me to listen to their love making?" Amanda scoffed incredulously.As she weighed her options, contemplating whether to leave or not, Amanda grew increasingly annoyed. The unmistakable cries emanating from Daniel's bedroom made it clear that he might not be available anytime soon.Driven by ir
DAYS LATERThe bar was boisterous, alive with energy with scarlet red lights casting an intense, almost angry atmosphere within. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol and lingering cigarette smoke, swirling around the room in a haze. Music pulsed through the air, reverberating off the walls and adding to the lively ambiance.Stepping out into the warm embrace of the summer evening were two men. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a golden glow across the landscape. The sky above painted in hues of orange and pink, created a breathtaking scenery."Hey, buddy, didn't I warn you about that fiery lady in there? I've been with better women than her, and none of them dared to dish out that much attitude from the get-go," one of them remarked to his friend, his words punctuated by fits of laughter.With coffee-brown locks cascading across his face, his friend's frustration was palpable as he pushed the unruly strands behind his ear, crossing his arms in annoyance."Did you see h
The men were led towards an eerie looking warehouse. There were black faint paintings, shattered windows and dusty layered walls.It was shadowy and gothic.The interior had an awful scent of blood, dirt and death. It was poorly lit, only a faintly fluorescent bulb hung from the ceiling, swinging slowly and not doing justice to illuminating it.The two injured men were pushed to the ground, their bodies causing a painful thud as it hit with the dirt of the cold ground.Emilio stood in the centre, his men forming a flank around him.He walked towards the horror stricken men and he could easily tell from their body language that they were dead ass scared.Their body shook and they shivered, their brows raised so high that it was almost touching their hairlines. He could sense the pleas in their teary eyes and he hadn't even begun yet.Crouching down to Dan, he fisted his hands into his hair and roughly gripped onto it causing the man to cry out."Why did you betray me?"Both of them we
SARAHTWO WEEKS LATERLoneliness has become the sole flavor in my mouth, and it's nothing but bitter. Emilio's prolonged absence from my life is exacting a heavy toll on me. I ache for him desperately; I don't just want him, I need him.What could be driving him to treat me like this? For two weeks now, we've coexisted as strangers under this roof. He seems to recoil from my very presence, not uttering a single word to me in this grand mansion. At times, I wish I could convince myself that this is all just a bad dream, but the tear-stained sheets in my room serve as a stark reminder that this nightmare is, in fact, my reality.Each night, I find myself weeping into my pillow, grappling with the question of what I might have done to deserve Emilio's coldness. I believed he loved me, that he genuinely cared for me deep down. I had hoped for a happy, somewhat normal relationship, and I was ready to stand by his side and face the world together. But its clear where his priorities lie, a
SARAH My head throbbed incessantly as I gradually peeled open my heavy eyelids. A resounding thud against the unforgiving cement floor, accompanied by a pained hiss, echoed in the walls of my ears.As my vision slowly adjusted to the dim surroundings, I took stock of my unfamiliar environment. I found myself sprawled on the floor, having tumbled from the solitary sofa in the room—where on earth was I?The space was cramped, coated in a palette of monochromatic whites and blacks. A metallic door occupied the far corner, while a lone sofa dominated the center of the room.Struggling to piece together my fragmented memories, I recalled my brief interaction with the garbage man, discussing his scheduled collection time. And then, as if plunged into darkness, everything faded to black.With sudden clarity, the memories came flooding back like a deluge. I gasped as I relived the harrowing events—the drugging, the suffocating pressure of the handkerchief pressed against my nostrils.Fuck.
EMILIO "What do you mean you've got nothing!? She can't just vanish into thin air!" I slammed my fist down on the sturdy mahogany table that stood between me and my trusted capos.It's been two agonizing days since Sarah vanished, and honestly, I've never felt more exposed in my life. The thought of her out there, potentially suffering at the hands of some twisted lunatic, and I'm utterly clueless about her whereabouts was driving me insane.I could barely focus on work or anything that didn't concern finding Sarah. With each passing second that flew by, I felt myself drifting more and more into this dark abyss.My intense gaze bore into the faces of my capos—Alessio, Marcello, and Luca—as they exchanged uneasy glances among themselves. Their failure to locate Sarah or deliver that damn Grace to me was chipping away at my sanity."Fucking talk!" I roared, hitting my already balled fist on the table which sliced through the awkward silence."Emilio you have to relax and think with a c