Kiera’s POV
My eyes grew wide like saucers,
“You’re the homeless guy from the grocery store!”
My mind instantly swallowed itself, struggling to understand how that could be possible.
I rapidly blinked my eyes and shook my head, wondering if I was hallucinating due to the immense stress that I'd been through today.
He took a few steps closer but I retreated.
“I know it all seems impossible to you right now, I know you have lots of questions but I need you to calm down. I’ll explain everything to you once you’re settled and in a good frame of mind,” he said.
“No, I need an explanation now,” I insisted.
The ringing tone from his phone interrupted, and he excused himself to answer it.
A couple of minutes went by and there was no sign of him. I tried opening the door only to realize that it was locked.
“F*ck!”
I cussed, kicking the bedside drawer, causing the lamp to fall and shatter. However, something caught my attention. There was a small booth picture lying on the drawer, it was beneath the lamp.
Taking the picture, my eyes swelled in their sockets when I saw Elise and the man together in the photograph. Suddenly I threw the picture on the floor.
“No… I’m imagining things. How are they connected? Is Elise behind all these? Has she not tortured me enough? What else does she want from me?”
My heart pulsated with fear as I hastily searched for a way to escape.
As I peered through the window, I didn’t miss the chance to catch a glimpse of Gabriel hastily entering his car and exiting the mansion. If I had any chance of escaping, this seemed like the best moment. I noticed that the mansion was heavily guarded as I spent 30 minutes at the window, closely watching the guards, and observing that they swapped positions every 10 minutes—a pattern I was able to track using the wall clock in the room.
Without wasting a split second, I grabbed every piece of material I could find. Bedspreads, pillowcases, towels, I even had to take off my dress to incorporate into a rope, leaving me with just the lingerie on. Once I had assembled a long enough rope, I waited until about five minutes before the guards were set to swap positions, then I secured the end of the rope to the window rail and cautiously began climbing down, taking care to avoid being seen by anyone.
As my feet met the ground, the wound on my thigh caused a sharp, painful sensation, and I couldn't help but whimper.
Hiding behind the grass, I waited until the guards were about to swap places. Seizing the opportunity, I made a run for it without thinking twice. As I was heading towards the gate, a guard spotted me and triggered the siren.
All too sudden, he and one other guard came after me. Hindered by the pain from my injury, sprinting proved challenging, and it wasn't long before they caught up with me.
“LET GO OF ME, YOU MORONS!” I shouted as they gripped my hands, hoisting me off the floor.
Suddenly, I saw another man walking towards us, his expression all too scary.
“We caught her trying to escape, Sir,” one of the guards said.
He nodded, and without uttering a word, he took out his phone and placed a call.
“We have a situation. You need to come home now,” he said, ending the call.
*****
Gabriel’s POV
As I answered the call, my informant’s voice came through.
“I have news on Miguel. Meet me in an hour at our base.”
Immediately, I stormed out of the room heading straight to my quarters. Swiftly, I changed into another outfit before heading out.
“Start the car, Marco. We have no time to waste.”
As I settled in the car, all my thoughts were consumed by Kiera. I knew she needed answers to her questions, but I couldn’t risk providing her with answers if she’s not in a good state of mind, because there’s a huge possibility she would not trust me, given the traumatic experiences she had endured.
My phone suddenly chimed, disrupting my thoughts.
Retrieving it from my pocket, I read the message from a secure number.
[Time’s running out]
[I'll be there in 20 mins] I typed and sent it quickly, deleting the message at once.
My contact with my informant was limited for security precautions. He would never call, unless it was a matter of utmost urgency, and all our messages are deleted immediately after sending or receiving.
“Drive faster Marco, and stop being a f*cking girl!” I yelled at him.
I kept looking at my watch to keep track of the time, and my jaw ticked as I shoved the phone back into my pocket tapping my feet anxiously.
A few moments after, my phone started ringing, and I abruptly reached for it, hoping that it would be my informant. However, when I checked the caller ID, it was from Lewis, my right-hand man.
“We have a situation. You need to come home now,” he said, ending the call.
I knew immediately it had to do with Kiera.
“Turn the car around now! We are going back home,” I instructed Marco.
***
In less than 30 minutes we were back at the mansion.
I had texted my informant that something came up and I wouldn’t be able to make it and requested for a reschedule.
As I stepped into the mansion, I saw two of my guards, forcibly holding Kiera by the elbows, and I couldn’t determine what was more upsetting—whether it was the fact that I had canceled on my informant or that these two nincompoops had the audacity to lay their hands on her. And what the f*ck happened to her dress? Why was she in the lingerie she wore back at Lair of Pleasure?
“Take your bloody hands off her,” my voice rained thunder, as I walked towards them, and they suddenly freed her.
Suddenly, Kiera clung to herself, the shame in her eyes was crawling at me, and I instantly took off my jacket to shield her.
Did these bastards have no regard for a woman?
“But she tried to escape, Boss,” one of them countered.
The intense gaze in my eyes was enough to zip his mouth shut, and he instinctively swallowed hard.
“They're telling the truth Gabe, the young lady was caught escaping,” Lewis defended.
“I didn’t remember asking for your input Lewis,” I snarled.
“Why did you try to escape?” I questioned, curiosity lingering in my voice.
She was quiet for a while and without warning, she burst into laughter. My gaze narrowed at her, as I tried to place my finger on what was going on in her head.
“Why did I try to esc…. escape?” She said in between her fits of laughter.
“Did you really expect me to stay under the same roof with you, a con artist, a liar? I don’t even know who you are…Who the heck are you? I am no guest of yours, I'm here as your plaything, your prisoner. You even went as far as locking me inside the room, and let me ask, don’t prisoners try to escape?” She asked, maintaining a serious tone.
I scoffed, admiring her fiery spirit, yet I didn’t have the zeal to speak to her in the presence of anyone.
In a flash, I lifted her off the floor and placed her on my shoulders.
“Drop me down…. Drop me down,” she shrieked, throwing her fists at my back.
I didn’t care as much to listen to her. Carrying her upstairs, I headed for her room, and when I got to the door, I dismissed the guard stationed there.
She persisted in her screams as I entered the room, but her voice faltered in her throat when I tossed her onto the bed and positioned myself over her.
"What happened to your voice?" I asked tauntingly, yet she remained silent, her eyes shifting trying to avoid my gaze.I moved myself closer to her, our lips almost touching. I felt her breath hitch, and her shifting eyes finally fluttered shut.
“You should count yourself lucky that I have a soft spot for you. If you so much as contemplate escaping again, I won't just barricade every exit in this room. I will shutdown every source of oxygen, and even Rapunzel would be a more privileged princess than you,” I said, lifting myself.
I noticed her cautiously opening one eye, and quickly shutting it again.
“I've dismissed the guard at your door, so you're free to do whatever you wish but do not force my hand,” I added, walking towards the exit.
“How do you know Elise?” Her voice suddenly pierced through the silence.
My jaw clenched at the mention of that name. I was silent for a few seconds before speaking,
“Get some rest. Tomorrow's gonna be a really long day,” I walked away, without casting another look at her.
KIERA’S POVThere’s no way I’m gonna just stay put and watch anyone take advantage of me again.Lifting myself from the bed, I walked to the door and opened it gently, glancing around and making sure there were no guards around.I tiptoed to the opposite side of the first floor, only to find a door moderately opened. My curiosity shamelessly dropped its pants, and I intentionally peeped into the room.What I saw, triggered a surge of goosebumps all over my skin, causing my heart to go offbeat.My eyes got stuck on a strange man’s shirtless body as he stood in front of the mirror, examining his features.Goodness me!My lips unconsciously folded in, as my fingers trailed around my chest.Who is he? I wondered.Like a runaway train, my heart hurtled forward, unstoppable and untamed as his hands tugged into his pants, in an attempt to take them off, and my eyes didn’t even twitch.At that moment, my body made contact with the door, causing it to emit a squeaking sound that sent a jolt of
KIERA’S POVThe rays of sunlight pierced through my eyelids, and I instinctively shielded my eyes with my hand. I let out a big yawn and rolled to the other side of the bed.“Do you always sleep so deeply?” A voice sounded behind me, instantly throwing me out of dreamland.“Jesus Christ!” I screamed, instantly grabbing the covers and wrapping them around me. I was fully clothed, so why was I being dramatic?Gabriel stood at the window, his body blocking the harsh rays from hitting me, and I propped myself up, squinting as I stared at his shadowy figure.“I’ll have one of the house staff get you a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Get dressed and meet me outside in 15 minutes,” he said, taking his leave before I could even open my mouth.I was ready and out in 15 minutes.“Get into the car,” he commanded.“Where are we going?” I asked, but he remained silent, striding over to open the front door for me.“Please get in,” he said politely.As I sat in the car, my eyes traveled to Damien’s wi
KIERA’S POVLike a flurry of arrows, his words pierced my heart, hitting every nerve connected to it. If there’s anything I dreaded more than my life back home, it was the haunting memories of the horrors I endured in that hellhole. It was a nightmare.He released a heavy sigh before entering the car and waited as I walked cautiously to the car, my legs trembling.As I settled into the car, beads of tears formed in my eyes, however, the deep measured breath he took was enough to relay the magnitude of his simmering anger.After a few seconds of regaining his composure, he started the engine and drove off. The oppressive silence and tension in the car were almost unbearable, and I silently prayed we’d arrive at our destination quickly.At last, we pulled up at an estate, and he swiftly hopped out of the car and opened the door for me. He stretched out his hand and I placed mine in his, my gaze pinned on the floor.“Hey,” he said gently, lifting my chin with his finger.“I’m sorry I la
MIGUEL’S POVI sat in the dimly lit room, smoke curling around me as I took a long drag from my cigarette. I gulped down a glass of whiskey relishing the fiery sensation as it coursed down my throat. Just as I flicked the ash from my cigarette, the door swung open, and Joe walked in. The look on his face was evident enough for me to know that he had something to say.“Speak up, before I lose my patience,” I said.Clearing his throat, his voice came forth, “Kiera showed up at the wedding venue.”Her name pulled a string in my heart, and I simply nodded and poured myself another round of whiskey.If I’ve ever felt any form of affection towards any woman, it would be Kiera. Cold as my heart may be, she fascinated me. Her beauty, innocence, her perception of the world, and everything about her made her special. But the affection I had for her was no match compared to the hatred I have for Gabriel. Despite the fact that our families have been sworn rivals for ages, the bastard was also res
GABRIEL’S POV“What?”She withdrew from my grasp, her eyes blazing with disbelief.I had certainly taken her by surprise. I realized that she would never feel comfortable unless I opened up to her. I needed her for so many reasons, and I didn’t want her escaping again—she had a knack for that. So, what better way to keep her than to ask her to marry me?“Are you out of your mind? I just told you I don’t want any part in this, and you’re asking me to marry you?” Her gaze narrowed, disbelief etched on her face.I let out a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure. “I need you to be calm.”“How can I be calm? You just dropped a bomb on me!” She protested, her feet tapping anxiously against the floor.“Do you find me so unattractive? Don’t I possess the qualities you seek in a man?”She shot me a glare, her voice sharp.“It has nothing to do with that. I don’t know anything about you. I don’t trust you, let alone love you.”“No one’s talking about love here,” I replied, frustration bu
GABRIEL’S POVMy gun was still pointed at him as he took a step forward.“One more step, and I’ll put a bullet between your f*cking eyes.”Staring narrowly, I read every twitch his body made.“Who the hell are you?” I roared, my voice echoing in the building.He hesitated. Next, I saw his hand creeping towards his pocket and I clicked the gun as a warning, my gaze unwavering on him.All at once, he pulled out a small pouch and flung it towards me, and it landed at my feet.“That’s just a fraction of Miguel’s diamonds,” he said, his voice trembling slightly.What? How did he get his hands on Miguel’s diamonds? Unless he…I exchanged glances with my informant, skepticism etched across his face as his brows knitted together.I lowered myself to pick up the pouch, the gun still trained on the stranger. With a flick of my wrist, I opened it, and I couldn’t suppress my shock as I caught a glimmer of the diamonds.I raised my eyes to meet his gaze, “How did you find me?” I questioned eagerly
KIERA’S POV“Wow… I didn’t realize it was free-the-body day!!”He said, sarcasm dripping in his tone.I froze, my heart doing dangerous flip-backs in my chest. Why the heck was he still staring?Frantically, I reached for the bed covers, wrapping them around my body, as embarrassment gnawed at my insides.“Have some decency and look away!” I shouted, my cheeks burning.“Decency? From someone who sneaks into my room uninvited?” He shot back.“This is my space. You can’t just barge in without knocking.”“Please, don’t flatter yourself because I'm not moved by you at all. You’re more like a piece of log to me,” he said, his casual arrogance igniting a fire in my chest.“I hate to break it to you, but the feeling is mutual,” I served him, crossing my arms defiantly.He scoffed, shaking his head in a manner that made me want to smack him in the head.“What do you want?” I queried, my tone icy.“Gabriel asked me to take you shopping.”My face twisted into a frown, “Why would he ask you when
My heart pounded frantically as the car screeched to an abrupt halt.“What happened?” I asked, gripping the seatbelt tightly as if it was my lifeline.“Checking the tire pressure,” Damien muttered, his brow furrowed. “Looks like we’ve got a flat tire.”Before I could respond, he flung open the door and hopped out. I watched him inspect the rear tire, his hands moving with anxious precision.When he finally returned, his expression was grave. He pulled out his phone and dialed. “Lewis, we’ve got a flat tire on Oak Street. We need another car, ASAP.”He ended the call abruptly and dialed again.“We’ve got a problem!”He said, glancing at me, and from his tone, I could tell it was Gabriel on the line. “We’ll be on our way once Lewis brings another car. I just wanted to keep you in the loop about the setback.”Their conversation dragged on for a while with bantering in between, and he finally ended the call.I leaned back against my seat, letting out a long, exasperated sigh.“This day j
KIERA’S POVThe water was warm as it surrounded me, but it barely registered. My thoughts roared louder than the two mega speakers together, consuming me in a whirlpool of emotions I couldn’t escape. My fingers brushed against my lips as if they still held the ghost of his kiss.Gabriel.The way he kissed me... it was searing, intense, and damn it—undeniably perfect. I hated that I loved it. I hated that it left me craving more, that it lingered in my chest like an ember refusing to die. Would I be crazy to say I had missed it so much? It was everything I had longed for and yet, every time I thought about it, guilt stabbed through me, sharp and unrelenting.Damien. His face flashed in my mind, his grin, the way he looks at me like I was his entire world. What would he think? How would he feel if he finds out what had happened between Gabriel and me?I let out a shaky breath, brushing my face. Two brothers were in love with me, and I was hopelessly drawn to both. I was torn between two
GABRIEL’S POVThe morning light streamed through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the bed. My eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the soft golden glow. The first thing I saw was her—Kiera, lying beside me, her face serene in sleep. In that moment, I was struck by her beauty. She was stunning in a way that made my chest tighten. Her hair tumbled in soft waves around her face, and her lips, slightly parted, looked so inviting. Watching the rise and fall of her chest was hypnotic, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away.For so long, I had held back my feelings for her, but the incident with Linda had pushed me over the edge. I had confessed my feelings without thinking, and ever since, Kiera had been acting a bit awkward around me.I knew she wouldn’t be thrilled about sharing a room, but I craved the closeness, the intimacy of just being in the same space. When Abuela suggested it, I felt like I had hit the jackpot. I pretended to argue against the idea, but deep down, I knew there was
DAMIEN’S POVI tossed and turned, the sheets twisting around me like a noose. Kiera’s face haunted me—her laughter, her touch, the way her eyes sparkled, her smile. But that wasn’t what kept me awake all night. No, it was the thought of her with Gabriel.I couldn’t shake the image of them together. The way he looks at her makes it seem like she is the last drop of whiskey in a dry bar. What if something happened between them last night? Did she look at him the way she looks at me? Did she touch him? The mere thought made my stomach burn.I flung the covers off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. Do I trust Kiera? The two of them in the same room felt like dangling cheese in front of a mouse—an invitation to disaster, too tempting, too dangerous. Even if Kiera held her ground, I knew that smooth-talking bastard Gabriel could charm the skin off an apple.Just as I was about to drown in my thoughts, a knock echoed through the room.I barely had time to collect my thoughts when Be
KIERA’S POVAfter dinner, the room felt like a chamber in hell, simmering with unspoken words. Gabriel and I barely spoke to each other, and I could tell she sensed the tension in the air, but she said nothing, her silence almost deafening.Gabriel eventually retreated to his room, leaving me across from Abuela, who was diligently knitting a scarf, her needles clicking like a clock.“Mrs. Vanessa?” I finally ventured, my voice almost swallowed by the silence.“Oh, come on, dear. We’re past the formalities, aren’t we? You’ll soon be my daughter-in-law, so you might as well start calling me Abuela,” she replied, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips.I forced a smile back, the warmth barely reaching my eyes, “Okay, Abuela. Thank you for the amazing meal. It’s been a long day, so I think I’ll call it a night.”Her gaze lifted, eyes sparkling with mischief that sent a shiver down my spine, “Rest well, my dear.”As I nodded, my heart raced with a flutter of anxiety.Upon our ar
ELISE’S POVI blinked rapidly, trying to process Hannah's words, “What did you just say?” I leaned in closer, my brows knitting together like two angry caterpillars.“Umm… Miss… Miss Freya is here,” Hannah stuttered, her confidence crumbling under my glare.“Are you stupid?” I bit out, my voice climbing an octave as I raised my hand, nearly striking her across the face. She flinched, stepping back as if I were a live wire and I halted mid-motion, catching myself just in time.I took a deep breath, my lips tightening into a thin line as I let my hand drop, “Where is she?” I demanded.“She’s, um… she…” Hannah cleared her throat, her finger awkwardly pointing toward the stairs as she scratched her neck, a nervous gesture that made my irritation flare.“Speak up already, you moron!” I snapped, my impatience palpable.Her eyes widened in fear, and she blurted, “She’s in the living room!”I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, my nails digging into my skin as I fought to keep my composure
ELISE’S POVI lay sprawled across the bed, feeling like a marionette whose strings had been cut, my body still throbbing from the wild, brutal passion of the previous night.The clock on the nightstand read 10 a.m., but the weight of my exhaustion kept me anchored to the sheets. Miguel had transformed me into his sex toy, exploring his dirtiest darkest fantasies. I knew I desperately wanted to be fucked, and touched by him, but I never signed up for this.Last night, he had bound all my limbs to the bedposts. The ball gag he used stifled my cries, rendering my protests useless. He fucked me till I almost passed out.When he was done, I tried to voice my discomfort, but he simply asked, “Are you tired of being in this marriage?” I didn’t need an encyclopedia to decipher what he meant. I realized then that I had only two choices: accept this new reality or contemplate the unthinkable—leaving him. But escape wasn’t an option I could entertain; I had too much to lose. So, I buried my feel
ABUELA’S POV“Catherine, would you be kind as to fetch my phone?” I called out from the backyard, the relentless ringing grating against my peaceful mid-morning.I took a deep breath and sipped my mango juice, feeling its coolness wash over me while I waited for her to arrive.“Here you go, ma’am,” she said, her voice warm as she handed me the phone.To my surprise, it wasn’t Gabriel’s name lighting up the screen but Rafael’s.A smile blossomed on my face, genuine and bright. I glanced at Catherine, a conspiratorial grin breaking free as I mouthed, “It’s Rafael,” followed by a soft giggle.“Hi, Mom,” he said, his voice like a soothing melody that instantly warmed my heart.“If I didn’t know you better, I’d swear you’ve forgotten all about your mother,” I teased, though my heart ached a bit as I said it.“Mom, that’s not fair! I’ve been swamped!” He replied, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his tone.“Swamped, indeed, but surely not too busy to give your mother a call? It’s been o
KIERA’S POVThe next thing that followed was a chortle of laughter, uncontainable until I was practically doubled over.Gabriel squinted in confusion, clearly thrown off as I continued to laugh maniacally, clutching my stomach.“O… OmG… that..” I gasped, still pointing at him as if he were the punch line to a joke.“That’s the most… the most hilarious thing I’ve ever heard.”But as my laughter began to fade, I noticed the serious look on his face, and suddenly my giggles felt inappropriate like I was laughing at a funeral. An awkward silence settled between us, and I was left fidgeting with my hair, my lips pressing together as I cleared my throat, avoiding his piercing gaze.“You.. umm.. you’re not joking?” I finally managed to ask, my eyes flitting around like a trapped bird looking for a way out.“Why would I want to joke with something as delicate as this?” He replied, his voice steady, almost too steady.My heart tumbled into my stomach, it was as if he’d thrown a grenade into my
KIERA’S POVI sat in the car scrolling absentmindedly through my phone yet my, fingers drummed nervously against my thigh, each tap a countdown to my rising anxiety.Every few moments, I shot a glance at the entrance, hoping to catch sight of Gabriel, but time seemed to stretch endlessly. What could possibly be taking so long? Was Linda okay? Or worse, was Gabriel in trouble? My stomach twisted, and I shifted restlessly in my seat, feeling like a lion trapped in a cage.Just then, my phone buzzed, jolting me from my spiraling thoughts. I looked down to see a message from Damien.[Hey]I replied almost instantly, my heart racing.[Hey][Are you okay?]His concern dripped through the screen, and I typed back rapidly, desperate for the connection.[Kinda][If it’s about what I said earlier, I’m sorry for catching you off guard, but I’m not sorry for telling you how I feel about you.]A smile broke through my worry, warming my heart. I could almost picture him, those charming eyes glintin