Novels by Julia Davis

Gerrard drove us to a place far from town. The silence in the car felt heavy, like he was carrying a weight too big to share. His eyes were fixed on the road, and his hands were steady on the wheel, but I could see a glimpse of sadness in his face.We passed through tall iron gates into a private estate. The guards greeted Gerrard with respect. This must be one of the Bellarico properties. The car stopped, and I looked around, confused. It was just a quiet stretch of land, with nothing but the sound of wind and the rustling trees. Gerrard didn’t move right away. He just sat there, lost in thought, and then he finally turned to me.“We’re here,” he said quietly. He reached into the back seat and brought out a bouquet of flowers I hadn’t noticed before. Whoever we were here to see, they clearly meant a lot to him. I stepped out of the car and followed him.We walked in silence until it hit me. “This is a graveyard,” I whispered.“Yes,” he replied, his voice calm but serious. "My family'

The next day was calm and lovely. The sun was shining, birds were singing, and the weather was just right. I was enjoying the peaceful morning until my phone rang. Thaddeus. The moment his name appeared, my heart sank.“I hear Gerrard is back from his trip. It's time you start getting us the information we need,” he ordered coldly.“I’m working on it,” I replied, trying to sound confident.“You’d better be, or your father will pay the price,” he warned before ending the call.Tears filled my eyes as I thought about my father. I cried into my pillow, feeling overwhelmed. But after a while, I told myself to stay strong. I got up, took a shower, and headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. With the kitchen staff helping me, I decided to prepare one of Gerrard’s favorite dishes; Chilaquiles Verdes.“This looks smells and looks delicious, Miss Lily. Sir Gerrard will love it,” said Luke, the sweetest of the staff, said with a warm smile. He was the first to warm up to me, always eager to le

When I returned to the syndicate’s hotel lodge, Sir Bruno was very agitated waiting for me, his face dark with anger. “Where the hell have you been? I thought you’d gotten yourself killed?” he barked, his voice booming. “I’m sorry, Sir,” I said quickly, trying to steady my trembling voice. “I was locked up in the Bellarico’s cell for two days. Gerrard thought I let an intruder in.” Sir Bruno’s eyes narrowed as he studied me. “Locked up?” he repeated. “And you’re standing here now?” “Yes, Sir. He realized I had nothing to do with it, and let me go,” I explained. Bruno’s expression didn’t soften. Instead, he leaned closer, his sharp gaze piercing. “And how exactly did you convince him to give you your freedom?” I chose my words carefully. “I didn’t have to, Sir. He said he trusted me and even offered me a position as their household chef.” At that, Bruno’s eyebrows shot up. “He gave you the job?” “Yes, Sir,” I replied, trying to sound calm. Bruno stared at me for a long moment,

"What are you talking about?" I tried to feign ignorance. "If you don't talk now, and I find out by myself, I would make you regret the day you set eyes on me." He threatened me, and I could feel goosebumps on my flesh. What have I gotten myself into?"Come in!" He yell, but he still kept his gaze on me. Two bodyguards rushed in."Take her to the basement." He instructed. They grabbed me and drag me along with them.-----It’s been two days since they locked me in a cold, dark cell in the basement of the Bellarico mansion. No food. No water. My body felt weak, but fear kept me awake. What would happen to me? Was this how my life would end? I felt very sorry for myself, and also my father. If there’s a next life, I hope it will be better than this one.I heard footsteps coming closer. My heart started pounding. Was this it? Were they coming to kill me?The metal door creaked open. A man in a neat suit walked in. I knew him. He was the one from the cooking test, the one who told me t

I staggered at his words. "What?" was all I could manage. Gerrard Bellarico leaned back in his chair looking very confident and arrogant, as he watched my reaction. The usual me would have slapped him hard across the face, but I wasn’t the usual me anymore. What did he take me for? My throat tightened, my fists clenched, I wanted to walk out, but in my circumstances, it wasn’t an option. He stood up, adjusting his suit. "Meet me here at 8 p.m." He dropped a card on the table and walked past me without sparing me another glance. I had never felt so insulted in my life. --- When I returned to the syndicate's hotel lodge, my heart was heavy, I was angry and frustrated. Sir Bruno was waiting for me, he was pacing about the room impatiently. “Well? How did it go?” he yell at me the moment I entered the room. I swallowed hard. There was no point lying. “I... I didn’t get it,” I confessed. His face darkened instantly. He growled in anger and grabbed my arm roughly. “You failed me?

Did I hear right? Did he just say I would take out a man that is proving to be even a greater evil than he himself? I am not a trained assassin, this is an impossible mission.As if reading my thoughts, Sir Bruno continued."My usual methods have failed, I want to try something different with you Annabelle. You are very beautiful, I don’t think any man would be able to resist your beauty, not even Gerrard. I'll get you into his empire, I need you to get close to Gerrard and take him down from within." He explained.A suicide mission. That is what this was. Even if I somehow succeeded, there was no way I’d come out alive."I… I know I said I would do anything to save my father,’ I stammered. “But not this, I can do any other thing you want. I am an excellent cook, I could work in your kitchen, an unpaid labour until I repay my father’s debt. But not this. There’s no way I can take out this man. This is suicide.”He smiled, as he continue eating his food. He seemed oddly intrigued. “An