ISABELLA Thoughts of Natalia, Damien's ex-fiancée, loomed large in my mind, casting a shadow of uncertainty over my every thought and action. I knew all too well the depths of Natalia's wealth and influence, the power she wielded like a weapon against anyone who dared to stand in her way.Natalia was a force to be reckoned with, a woman accustomed to getting what she wanted, when she wanted it. Her family's wealth and connections afforded her a level of influence that was unrivaled, her every whim catered to by an army of loyal servants and sycophants.I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at the thought of crossing paths with Natalia once again, knowing full well the danger she posed to me and those I held dear. She was a master manipulator, skilled at weaving webs of deception and intrigue to ensnare her prey, and I knew that I stood no chance against her formidable arsenal of weapons.But even as fear gnawed at the edges of my consciousness, I refused to let it consume me. I
Damien I was getting impatient with the way this man was baiting me. I was feeling a little self-conscious because I did not like being baited."What exactly is the problem?" I demanded."You are my problem, Damien. Ever since you walked into that police station, everything I built right from scratch is gone!" He said."So you sent me a secret rendezvous just to bitch to me," I let out maliciously before I turned to leave."I know where Robert is," He called after me and I stopped abruptly in my track. I sighed. I wondered why him of all people could was playing such an expensive joke."Michael Stryker. Are you shitting me?" I firmly asked.He walked over to where I stood and stopped. It was a little bit dramatic the way he did but I was too pissed to care."Damien Moretti, I shit you not," Michael said in a low tone. I could tell that he was serious."I am guessing that you do not want to tell me without a price," I said."You know me so well," He spat maliciously.I scoffed at him.
Damien As I sat behind the wheel of my car, the phone call from Natalia sent a shiver down my spine, a chill that lingered despite the warmth of the afternoon sun filtering through the windshield. I hesitated for a moment, my thumb hovering over the accept button, torn between the desire to confront her and the instinct to ignore her call altogether.Against my better judgment, I finally answered, the familiar sound of her voice sending a wave of apprehension washing over me. "What do you want, Natalia?" I asked, my tone laced with a mixture of irritation and resignation."I need to see you, Damien," she replied, her voice smooth and persuasive, like honey dripping from her lips. "There are things we need to discuss, things that can't wait any longer."I scoffed, the bitterness of our past encounters still fresh in my mind. "I have nothing to say to you, Natalia," I retorted, my voice tinged with frustration. "You made your choice when you decided to betray Isabella and me. There's n
Isabella The weight of unease settled heavily upon my shoulders, pressing down with an oppressive force that seemed to suffocate me. My thoughts swirled in a tumultuous whirlwind of fear and uncertainty, as I grappled with the harsh reality of the danger that lurked just beyond the safety of our home.I couldn't shake the nagging feeling of dread that gnawed at the edges of my consciousness, a relentless reminder of the precariousness of our situation. Damien's recent encounters with adversaries from his past had left me feeling more vulnerable than ever, as if the walls of our sanctuary were closing in around me, trapping me in a prison of fear and apprehension.With each passing day, I found myself growing more and more uneasy, haunted by the specter of danger that seemed to loom over us like a dark cloud on the horizon. I knew that Damien's unwavering determination to protect me often put him in harm's way, risking his safety for the sake of mine. And while I admired his courage
Damien "I am guessing you two are a thing now," I said as I watched my dad and Camilla step into the elevator."Jealous?" Vito asked."Disgusted," I gruffly replied. Vito chuckled.The silence that followed after was so loud and uneasy but I was not going to bend to the pressure of breaking first. I fixed my eyes to the numbers counting up to reach my floor.I braced myself for the confrontation that I knew was inevitable, steeling my resolve as the doors slid shut behind us."Damien," Vito's voice was like ice, cutting through the silence with a chilling precision. "We need to talk."I glanced at him warily, the resentment that simmered between us bubbling to the surface once more. "What do you want, Vito?" I asked, my tone tinged with a hint of defiance.Vito's gaze bore into mine, his expression unreadable as he squared his shoulders and took a step closer to me. "I want you to understand the gravity of the situation, Damien," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Your position a
Isabella Ava had been reluctant to go home but I assured her that I would be fine with Emilio. "I do not trust that man, Isabella," Ava cautiously said and looked around to see if my Dad heard her."It is alright, Ava, he means well," I assured her with a smile."You know that you can always come back and stay with me, us girls got to stick together," She said."I would love to stay with you more than anything in the world, but I just can't stay with you knowing that Vito can pay you a visit anytime he likes," I told her.Ava nodded a little bit sadly. I hoped that she did not think I was avoiding her because that was far from the reason. Flashbacks of Vito's large hands around my neck played over and over again in my head as I dreadfully recalled the attack.As Ava gently urged me to come back home with her, I felt a wave of apprehension wash over me, my heart pounding with fear at the mere thought of facing Vito again. "I appreciate your concern, Ava," I said, my voice trembling
Damien I was fool. I knew that now. I had been too lenient with my stance on Natalia moving on. I was in no mood to exchange words with her. I hardened my gaze as I laid eyes on her."This better be about work, Natalia," I said as I perched on my work desk, waiting. There was no reason we did not have to be civilized. Besides, whether we liked it or not, we were business partners and she played a huge role in bringing Renaissance to where it was today.Natalia sat down on the office couch that faced the large windows which displayed a nice view of the city landscape. "By all means, make yourself, comfortable," I said gruffly. Natalia said nothing for a while as she looked outside."I always forgot how beautiful the view from here was," She said looking, looking wistfully at the city from where she sat.I said nothing. She finally turned to me and looked at me for a while. I meant she really gazed deep into my soul and it got me a bit uneasy."You need someone at your side, Damien,"
Damien I was glad he was not yet dead. The mission I had assigned to him was a very dangerous one and I had half heartedly believe that he would not make it.The Burger joint at the dock was situated at the southern part of the city. It was a long drive and on the way, I had enough time to think. I made a mental note of the people that were coming for me. The first was Monroe from my army days, the second was Robert, my wife's ex, the third was Michael, a captain from the military who joined the police to become the head of a precinct. The most personal was my father, Vito Moretti.I made sure that I was not being followed as I drove. I knew that things were only going to get more and more difficult. I did not want to admit it but they were all going six feet if they did not desist from coming after me. It would not be the first time I had blood on my hands and with the way things were going, It was not going to be my last.My back was against the wall and I was running out of option
Isabella As I lay on the floor, bound and helpless, a whirlwind of emotions swirled within me – fear, uncertainty, and a desperate longing for safety and freedom. But just when it felt like all hope was lost, the door burst open, and there he was – Damien, my husband, my savior.Relief flooded through me as I saw him stride into the room, his presence a beacon of strength and determination amidst the chaos. With him was Jackson, his trusted ally, who had helped orchestrate our rescue. I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude towards both of them as they quickly moved to untie me and Ava, their movements swift and efficient.As the ropes fell away and I rose to my feet, I couldn't suppress the overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude that washed over me. Damien enveloped me in his arms, holding me close and whispering words of reassurance and comfort as tears of relief streamed down my cheeks.Together, we made our way out of the room, leaving behind the nightmare that had thre
Damien My gaze never wavered from Vito's face as I listened to my arch nemesis. The gravity of the situation got more and more deadlier as the night wore on. The papers were still in Vito's hand as I kept the phone to my hear.My father had an inquisitive look on his face as he watched me closely. The line went dead and I put the phone back into my pocket. I collected the the contract and without breaking eye contact, slowly tore it up right in front of him.Vito's eyes widened in shock and utter disbelief. "What the fuck are you doing?" He yelled maniacally as he knelt on the floor trying in vain to join the piece of paper together in a futile attempt.For the first time in my life, I saw him for what he was. An empty barrel of a man, a pathetic and sorry excuse for a husband to my mother and a fucking dead beat piece of shit of a father. I felt nothing but contempt and disgust as I watched him scrambled across the whole floor."Do you know what you have done?!" He yelled at me as h
Isabella As Ava was pushed into the room, I felt a rush of relief flood through me at the sight of her, mingled with a fresh wave of fear for our uncertain future. She stumbled slightly, her eyes wide with shock and confusion, but when she saw me, her expression softened with a mixture of relief and concern."Isabella, darling, are you alright?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion as she hurried to my side.I reached out to her, my hands shaking as I clutched hers tightly, drawing strength from her presence despite the terror that still gripped me. "I'm scared, Ava," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what's going to happen to us."Ava's eyes filled with tears as she wrapped her arms around me, holding me close in a comforting embrace. "We'll get through this together, sweetheart," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."But before we could say another word, the door swung open once again, and Camilla e
Damien As I waited anxiously for Camilla's instructions, every second felt like an eternity. My mind raced with a thousand thoughts, each one more frantic than the last. Where was she keeping Isabella and Ava? What did she want from me? And most importantly, how could I save them from whatever danger they were in?The minutes ticked by agonizingly slow, the silence of the room weighing heavily on my shoulders. I felt a surge of frustration building within me, the urge to take action and do something, anything, to rescue my wife and mother from the clutches of their captors.Finally, the sound of my phone buzzing broke the silence, and I quickly grabbed it, my heart pounding in my chest. It was Camilla, her name flashing on the screen, and I answered it without hesitation."Damien," her voice came through the line, smooth and composed as ever. "I trust you've had some time to think about our situation."I clenched my jaw, my grip on the phone tightening with barely contained anger. "W
Isabella As consciousness slowly seeped back into my mind, I found myself engulfed in darkness. Panic surged through me as I struggled to make sense of my surroundings, the weight of my own fear pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket.My heart thundered in my chest as I became aware of the rough bindings cutting into my wrists and ankles, the coarse fibers digging painfully into my skin. Panic tightened its grip around my throat as I realized the full extent of my helplessness, the stark reality of my captivity crashing down on me with brutal force.Frantic thoughts raced through my mind as I struggled against my restraints, the panic threatening to consume me whole. Where was I? How had I ended up here? And most importantly, where was Ava?A wave of despair washed over me as I realized that I was completely at the mercy of my captors, whoever they were. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I imagined the worst, my mind conjuring up horrifying scenarios of what fate awa
Damien As I strode through the familiar corridors of the office building, my mind raced with thoughts and plans. Natalia's brazen attempts to undermine me only fueled my determination. I had come too far to let her or anyone else stand in my way.But it wasn't just about me anymore. My family – Isabella, Ava, our unborn child – they were my driving force. I would do whatever it took to protect them, to ensure their safety and security. And that meant taking down anyone who dared to threaten what was mine.And now, as I sat there, surrounded by the trappings of power, I couldn't help but feel a surge of determination. I wouldn't rest until the Founder's Association was dismantled until my family was safe until Renaissance was secure.With a steely resolve, I reached for my phone and began to formulate my next move. There was no turning back now. The game was on, and I intended to win. Immersed in the intricate details of my plan, my phone suddenly rang, jolting me out of my focused s
Isabella Chopping vegetables for the lasagna, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort wash over me. Cooking had always been a soothing activity for me, a way to channel my thoughts and focus on something tangible amidst the chaos of life.Ava, my ever-supportive mother-in-law, stood beside me, offering gentle guidance as we prepared dinner for Damien. "Now, Isabella, remember to slice the vegetables thinly for the lasagna layers," she instructed, her voice warm and reassuring.I nodded, taking her advice to heart as I carefully wielded the knife. "Like this?" I asked, holding up a perfectly sliced zucchini for her inspection.Ava smiled approvingly. "Just like that, dear. You're a natural," she praised, her encouragement filling me with a sense of pride.As we worked side by side, Ava shared her secrets for creating the perfect steak marinade, imparting her culinary wisdom with the patience of a seasoned chef. "The key is to let the meat marinate for at least an hour," she expla
Damien I was watchful during the conference meeting. I took my time to really look at the board members sitting at the table to see if I could see a member of the Founder's Association but none were seated at this conference. Even Rose St Dumas was not present. Maybe she was preparing her cronies of corrupt businessmen and women for the final show down.Camilla Valdez was also not present but Natalia was. I could not tell what was going on in her head as she gazed at me. If her mother was one of them, did that not make her automatically part of tht fold? Was I over reaching? If the plan with the detective worked, it meant that a lot of people will inevitably get hurt. "What is the profit margin for today?" I asked as I got down to business. "Eight percent since last year," Natalia said in a professional manner. "That's lower than last two years," I said with a frown. "That was due to the Al Vegas controversy," One of the board members said. "You mean the embezzlement," I replied
Damien Returning to the office after the recent turmoil felt like stepping into a minefield, each step fraught with the risk of detonating hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface. As I walked through the familiar halls of Renaissance, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gripped me like a vice, a constant reminder of the precarious balancing act I was now forced to perform.Every interaction, every word spoken, had to be carefully calculated and measured, lest I inadvertently reveal the truth lurking beneath the facade of normalcy I presented to the world. I couldn't afford to let slip even the slightest hint of my alliance with Michael, for fear of the consequences it could bring crashing down upon us both.My colleagues greeted me with smiles and nods as I made my way to my office, their cheerful demeanor a stark contrast to the turmoil raging within me. Behind their friendly facades, I couldn't help but wonder who among them could be trusted, and who might be secretly wo