CHAPTER 103Wilson’s eyes fluttered open and he moaned out slowly. The world seemed to swirl around him. He turned his head slowly to the direction where a faint glow was coming from. His brain felt fuzzy and he felt exhausted as though all the energy had been drained from him.The room was silent. Too silent.The only sound was the soft creaking of the chair as he shifted, his wrists burning where the metal cuffs dug into his skin.“Hi sunshine.”The voice seemed to twitch something in him and his heart leapt for joy. “R?”Across from him, R sat leisurely with legs crossed. She looked completely at ease. A cigarette danced in between her fingers which she slowly dragged on like they weren’t both trapped in the belly of a monster.“Sorry, I forgot to thank you for the weed,” she murmured, smirking.Wilson swallowed, his voice rough. “R… Are you okay?”R smirked, tilting her head.Wilson’s gut twisted as he scanned her for any sign of injury. “Did they touch you? We need to get out h
CHAPTER 104Pain still pulsed from Wilson’s cheek, but he barely felt it anymore.Not with that box in the room.Not with Giovanni’s smirk growing wider by every passing moment.Not with the way R leaned against the desk, silent, watching.The man holding the box placed it carefully on the table. It was sleek, black, and compact. Not large. Not meant to carry a body.But Wilson knew better.It wasn’t about size.It was about the message.Giovanni turned back to Wilson, dragging a chair closer. Slowly. Casually. Like they were old friends catching up.He sat down, crossing his legs. “Cassius’ little dog,” he repeated, “Tell me… do you bite?”Wilson flashed his teeth.“What can I say? I like pissing off old men.”“You don’t look afraid,” Giovqnnin observed, his tone etched with disappointment.Wilson forced himself to hold the stare. He wouldn’t give this bastard the satisfaction.“How disappointing. I expected him to beg.”R looked him over with the look he detested the most—pity. “Give
CHAPTER 105 Katherine wiped her hands on her apron, exhaling softly as she leaned against the kitchen counter. The late afternoon sun filtered through the curtains, casting warm golden light over the polished wooden floors.She was exhausted and with every passing day, she felt more irritable than the last. She had accepted her fate but she felt she was going to suffocate and die soon.The Landans let her walk around the garden but she was fed up with seeing the same people everyday. She wanted to breathe a different air.She missed her maid, she missed Lucifer, sadly. She hated to admit it but she missed those rubs he gave her to soothe her. But he had hurt her. He only saw her as a tool.A spoon dropped and she stared at it for a long time, suddenly aware of how quiet the house was. It was the kind of quiet that made her feel like she was being watched.She had been feeling it for days now. That unsettling, creeping sensation that someone’s eyes were on her. It was the same way she
CHAPTER 106Pain.That was all Wilson could process.His hand was useless, his fingers were twitching at odd angles. His wrist was swollen, the skin stretched taut and red. Every small movement sent sharp, nauseating pain shooting through his arm.Two guards dragged him through a long hallway, his feet stumbling over the marble floor. The house was even better up close—tall arched ceilings, thick rugs embroidered with rare designs, swords and artifacts were displayed like trophies.Wilson gritted his teeth, forcing his focus away from the agony.He had to think. He had to get out.The guards didn’t say a word as they shoved him into a small, dimly lit room. His shoulder slammed into the wall, but the pain in his hand overpowered everything else.“Please,” he said. “I'm thirsty.”“Make do with your piss,” they spat and stormed out, the door locking behind them.Wilson exhaled through clenched teeth, resting his forehead against the cool wall. His whole body ached. His mind was clouded,
CHAPTER 107Katherine sat at the dining table, her fingers curled around a cup of green tea. The warmth seeped into her palms, but it did nothing to ease the discomfort in her body.“You look pale dear,” Amanda said and then her eyes flickered to Katherine’s stomach. “Is it the baby?”Katherine’s gaze darted across the room where Ethan was reading a newspaper. Or pretending to.She could feel his gaze flicking toward her every so often. It wasn’t her imagination anymore. It was him and he didn't hide it. It was readable.“Perhaps,” she spoke silently.Every time she walked past him, his eyes followed.Every time she spoke, his attention lingered just a second too long.“How many months gone are you now, Marilyn?”“Six months,” she said, finally breaking the contact.“That's great,” Ethan said suddenly, looking up from his newspaper and giving her a sly smile that made her heart pound. In fear.“Soon you would be without a baby,” he said softly as he eyed her. “We would love to see wha
CHAPTER 108Katherine smoothed the soft fabric of the sundress Amanda had given her. It was light, floral, and felt like a second skin. It was the first time in a long while she felt... beautiful.The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the house as she stepped into the living room.Adelaide’s face lit up. “Wow, Kat! You look like a princess!”Katherine chuckled. “You think so?”“Yes! So pretty!”But then, there was a sudden shriek.Madeleine's tiny face twisted in anger. Her little fists clenched.“Take it off!”Katherine blinked. “What?”Madelaine lunged violently.“Take it off! That’s Mommy’s dress!”The child yanked at the fabric, her small hands gripping and pulling.Katherine’s heart dropped.“I—I didn’t know—”“Take it off now!” Madeleine's voice broke.Before Katherine could react, Ethan stepped into the room.“What's going on?” He asked, looking from eye to eye. “It's nothing,” Katherine said quickly. “I think I should take it off.”Amanda shook her head. “It looks amazing on
CHAPTER 109Cassius paced his sitting room with his jaw tight and fingers drumming against the desk.It had been too long. Two days with no trace of his son. It wasn't the first time he was doing it. Wilson had been disappearing frequently, always vague about where he was going, always brushing off his concern.But now…Now he was gone. There wasn't a call or text from him. No nothing. He had reached out to a few friends of his and they claimed to have not seen him since the afternoon of the supposed day he disappeared. Cassius wasn’t a man who panicked easily. But worry sat heavy in his gut, especially because he knew the stuff his son had been putting his hands in.Definitely, something had happened and it wasn't a good kind. He couldn't reach out to the police because then, that would be toying with dangerous men. And they wouldn't waste a second before snuffing life out of him.He was still contemplating on what to do when a sharp knock came on his door. He quickly dropped his ph
CHAPTER 110Katherine couldn't sleep. The events of the past night kept haunting her. She fixed her eyes on her door as though at any moment he would force it down and try to have his way with her.Panic wasn't good for her health and her baby and now she had forgotten what peace was like. Her mind raced. Could this be one of the reasons why Amanda had told her to always have her door locked? Regardless of what she hears? Did she know her husband took advantage of random women and had a fetish for pregnant ones?Last night, she had felt terribly hungry because she had skipped dinner. Any moment she didn’t have to share a table with Ethan and bear his glares was where she felt the most peace. The house had been quiet. Too quiet she didn't see the monster that slipped into the kitchen with her. She was about to reach into the fridge for a carton of milk when his hand clamped over her mouth and her scream was muffled. He shoved her back against the wall. She had kicked and struggled b
CHAPTER 129Katherine took a step back, her voice soft. “I’m not playing games, Asher. I just… couldn’t sleep. That’s why I’m here. But it’s fine. I’ll leave. I’m sorry.”Before she could turn, Asher grabbed her arm, firm but not rough. “Stay. I… want you to stay. And I want you to be comfortable.”She hesitated, searching his face. “Does… comfortable mean you’re okay with being vulnerable too?”He scoffed, dropping back onto the bed. “I’ve got snacks. Could get something for you if you’re hungry.”“I’m fine,” Katherine whispered, then quietly lowered herself beside him. Asher glanced at her. “So… what is it?”Katherine rubbed her palms together, her heart pounding. She could already feel sweat on her neck. This could either save her… or end her right here.What if he was one of them? What if he smiled, stood up, and went straight to Amanda?But she couldn’t hold it in anymore.Her voice dropped to a shaky whisper, barely there. “ Before I start, I need your help and I need you to p
CHAPTER 128R circled Giovanni’s table with a frown. “We've got nothing. There's no thrill. None of what we did could bring him down. What do you want the underworld to say? That he's tougher than you?”Giovanni shrugged and leaned back against his chair, with his tobacco in the corner of his lips. “He's stubborn headed. That's the problem with Lucifer.”R scoffed, with her arms crossed on her chest. “And stubborn headed people always win.”“He settled his debts.”“So what?” R chimed In coldly. “Anyone can do that. Listen. We need something more fascinating. Very thrilling.”“And what do you think?”She grinned as she leaned in closely. “I've got something. I wasn't going to say because it didn't matter to us but oufff…a girl can't stay so long without being busy.”Giovanni turned to look at her with amusement and confusion swirling in his eyes. “What do you mean?”R leaned forward and dropped her voice to a whisper. Her lips moved silently against his ears and by the time she had pul
CHAPTER 127Katherine’s legs wobbled like jelly. Every part of her trembled like her bones had dismantled beneath her skin. Her hand flew to the wall, looking for support. She was supposed to leave, to go far but her body betrayed her. Her mind blanked as the new truth hit her. Everything suddenly made sense, so much sense it felt like she had been adorned in stupidity all the while.She pulled herself back from the door, her chest rising fast, just as it flung open.She froze as the couple appeared. Ethan stood there, glaring at her with that cruel eyes and smug face. And Amanda, she looked like shit. Tears streaked her face and her eyeliner was ruined. Her lips trembled like she wanted to speak but was scared to do so.Katherine smiled. So bright it reached her eyes and lifted her face.“Hi!” she said in a chirpy voice.Her eyes flicked to Amanda again and dimmed for half a second but she looked away. “Oh dear,” she said.Ethan narrowed his eyes. “What are you doing here?”She tilt
CHAPTER 126Lucifer had waited for days. He knew someday the couples were going to use his card again. And they did. Every damn day after that.Almost every day after that day. They kept making purchases, payments and withdrawals like they had all the money in the world. His money.Lucifer clenched his jaw, his fingers tightening around the phone as he checked the latest transactions. These two were comfortable. Too comfortable.And that pissed him off.Two things nagged at him; one, where the hell was Katherine? Two, how did those nobodies get their hands on her card? Did they kidnap Katherine? That seems impossible. They don't seem like people that would pull a job like that. He had considered bringing the police into this but that was a waste of time. This wasn’t their problem.It was his.And he wouldn't want to scare them, they were his only lead to Katherine and he had to follow it up with kid's gloves. He dialed a contacts number. “Hello. Now is time, Find everything on them
CHAPTER 125“Okay I think I'm a bit jealous of your newfound relationship,” Katherine muttered as she sauntered in with the warm milk bottle.Asher was seated by the bean bag, cooing at the baby in his arms. Noah giggled, showing off his newly attained milk teeth. “I always knew I was going to be one of his favourite person's,” Asher bragged.Katherine sulked. “That's not fair. I carried him in my stomach for nine months and this is how he pays me back.”Asher took the milk bottle from Katherine’s hands and placed the nipple into the boy's mouth. Katherine watched in joy and silent pride.“You see,” he started, gazing down at the boy lovingly. “Boys can't help but be really close to the male gender. Someone they see as their dad.”“Now, that's a very untrue theory,” Katherine pointed out. “They tend to be close to their mothers. The girls always chose their dads.”“Or, that is how you convince yourself?” He teased.Katherine sulked. “It's a very popular discourse.”“And it's not exac
CHAPTER 124(Six months later)Lucifer sat in the corner of his office with a pipe in his mouth and shade on his face. He skimmed through the document before him before picking up his pen to sign.Antonio stood across from him, his arms folded as he watched. “You really want to do this? That’s a hell of a lot of money, even for you.”Lucifer didn’t look up, rather he turned his head to the side and puffed, tapping the pen against the paper before pressing it to the page. “It’s just money,” he muttered, signing with a slow stroke. “I can always make more.”“But—”“No buts,” Lucifer murmured. “He already kept his end of his bargain. I have to keep mine.”Antonio sighed and watched as his master closed the document. “All done. I'll need you to send a Copy to him as soon as you can.”“How about the Cassius?”Lucifer shrugged, smoking hard from his pipe. “They are in foster care and getting good treatment. I guess we're done with that phase.”Antonio nodded and took the document with a bow.
CHAPTER 123“Enough!” Amanda said when she finally tore them apart. “Can't you see She's in pain? Have you both lost your sanity?”Asher panted as he wiped his blood stained mouth on his arm. “Yes I can see. What she needs is a hospital.”“We can't take her to the hospital,” Ethan countered. “Yes I agree,” Amanda said as fear crept into her voice. “Because of what you all did, yeah? Now you're letting your mistake rub off on someone else,” Asher mocked. “Nothing better happens to her.”“We can't expose her to the public,” Ethan said, rubbing his hands together. “They'll ask questions at the hospital and we haven't got that kind of money on us.”“You're just scared you'll get caught and get arrested by the cops.”“Shut up!” Amanda screamed. “I'll do it. I've seen a lot of videos online.”“You're not about to experiment with someone's baby are you?” “I'm going to push,” Katherine screamed. “God…”Ethan held Amanda by the shoulder. “Babe, you can't do it.”“I can,” she said, slipping
CHAPTER 122Amanda stepped out of Katherine’s room, shutting the door behind her quietly. She barely moved before the muffled cries from inside reached her ears. Katherine’s ragged, pain-laced sobs echoed through the hallway.Her stomach twisted.“We've got a problem,” she announced, her voice heavy with worry. The two men rushed to her. They could still hear Katherine’s muffled cries.“What's going on?” Asher demanded, his chest rising and falling with anger, with his fists clenched tightly at his sides. His eyes flickered to the door where the wail was coming from. “And why the hell did you leave her alone? You know she's in pain don't you?”Amanda sighed, lifting her hands in utmost exasperation. “Shut up for goodness’ sake, Asher! I said we have a problem.”“What kind of problem?” Ethan asked.“She's—” Amanda swallowed, forcing the words out. “She's having a baby.”Asher’s mouth parted slightly. “What?”“That's not possible,” Ethan muttered, breaking into cold sweat. He shook his
CHAPTER 121Something was wrong with Katherine. It wasn't just the dull cramps that had been plaguing her all day, nor the strange, twisting discomfort that made her insides feel like they were being scraped raw with a thousand scalpels. It was like a bad omen and it sent a feeling of dread down her spine. She ached everywhere— her shoulders, her backs, her legs. It was like she wanted to tell and sit and cry and lay down at the same time.She had forced herself to sit at the dining table, her fingers trembling as she lifted the fork to her mouth. The moment she chewed, nausea engulfed her and her stomach clenched in protest. The potato tasted like paste on her tongue, and for a second, she thought she might choke.She swallowed hard as she struggled to keep her breathing even. She pushed her fork into the potato on her plate, lifting it for a second bite.Across the table, Asher’s gaze flickered to her again. He had been watching her for the past ten minutes with concern in his eye