Chapter 42🎵Ring-a-ring-a -rosies.A pocket full of posies, A tissue, A tissue, we all fall down. 🎵Joy swells in my heart as we come to a stop, mother's hands tightly encircling mine. Her eyes twinkle as she looks at me."Martha, stop filling Batista's head with girl stuff, that boy is going to become the mafia boss when he grows up."Dad's voice wafts over to where we're still hunched over on the ground, trying to regain our breaths. Mum tenses as she turns to see dad, who is already advancing towards us, his countenance dark and forboding."Oh, Marco, please don't say such things, he's just a boy, let him grow up the way he should, with joy, our love, and guidance."Dad prowls closer to us, his hands coiled by his side in fists. "Are you going against my authority?"Mum's hands drop from mine as she stands on unsteady legs. Her bottom lip is slightly open and trembling. She bends and whispers for me to
Chapter 43"Ash! Ash, please open your eyes, you're safe now."From far away I hear my name being called.This is it.Judgment day has come for me.I already know it. I'm going to hell."Ash! Open your eyes now, please. Come back to me."Those words smack of female desperation.Would an angel tell me to open my eyes and come back to her?"So. . . .maybe I'm not dead.Maybe.It takes grave determination and grit before I'm finally able to pry my eyes open, although they feel like bricks are weighing them down.That's not the only hurdle I have to face.My vision is blurred, but after blinking like it's going out of fashion, I make out a form standing over me."Ash!"That same voice calls out my name once more. A woman's voice.I blink once again and a face comes into view. Long blonde hair and blue eyes are the first things I take in. Recognition sweeps through me and I rear back, shock making my body tense."Bell?"
Chapter 44All through the ride to my place, I urge the driver to speed up. I've been dispossessed of my phone by, probably Guilang's men, so I'm running blind here. Maybelline's words about Alicia, play on repeat in my mind."Fucking hurry up, man." I growl at him for what seems like the umpteenth time.The man ignores me altogether, but I feel his watchful eyes on me through the rear view mirror. In all fairness to him, he speeds up, and in no time, he's swinging into the familiar residence of my street. Even before he stops in front of my gate, I'm opening the door and vaulting out."Hey, man, you haven't paid me!" The Uber guy's voice is like a whip crack stopping me in my tracks.I dig into my pocket but come up empty. Reluctantly, I turn to look at him. "Hold on, I'll send someone to you."As I step through the gate, two of my guards slink out from the grove of trees. The joy and relief on their faces make
Chapter 45Something is wrong.I can feel it.My body can testify to it.Bile rises to my throat and I know a second round of vomit is on its way. I won't allow it take me by surprise this time around.I vault up and rush to the bathroom, and just in time too, because the moment my head is bent over the toilet bowl, it all comes gushing out. The remains of my dinner last night, or whatever the first round of vomit didn't bring out. After a few minutes, when it's obvious my stomach is a bit settled, I stagger to the tap and splash some water on my face. The coolness of it helps to reduce the quiziness I'm feeling. After splashing a little more onto my face, I feel a shade better, and even manage to walk without stumbling back into the bedroom.What did I eat last night?I close my eyes as I try to recall. Ash took me to Parched for the night, to celebrate Chucho's passing.Actually, his murder.When Ash told m
Chapter 46Sixteen years ago.Bonde hair cascades onto her neck and falls across her graceful shoulders. I look into blue eyes that are heavy with passion and want. Her lips are already swollen from my ministrations, and her body is naked and wantonly displayed under me. Seeing all this ignites the sensual lust in me. She wraps her hand around my neck and draws me even closer to take another sip from her lips. I can't get enough as I bend forward and drink to my heart's content.My hands pave a hot pathway down her body and land in between her laps where I know she's already wet and ready to be taken. She stiffens against my hand inching into her wet folds and I look into her eyes questioningly."I need to tell you something."She knows talking is the last thing on my mind, but I remove my hand from in between her laps, anyway, and lie on my back. I put a bit of space in between us so I can concentrate on what
Chapter 47I dip hazel eyes in a low arc and watch as her eyes flutter close and her long lashes rest on her cheeks. It takes only a second and I'm lifting her back up and into my arms. A flush settles on her cheeks and a smile coils her lips as her gaze settles on me."Where did you learn to dance this way?" She's watching me like I'm an interesting specimen.I chuckle before answering. "I go to a lot of these stuffy parties, unfortunately."She throws her head back and lets out a tinkling laugh, affording me a view of her long slender neck. "Stuffy?" She shakes her head. "This party is delightful, I've never been around so many important people before."My eyes stray to the senators chatting amongst themselves before my gaze once more settles on her. "Well, then, I'll make sure to bring you to more of them."My words must really affect her because her eyes glimmer with excitement, and her hands tighten around
Chapter 48With Hazel eyes hand tightly ensconced in mine, we head straight to my office where the recording machine has already been laid out on the table. Koldis and Moro who set it all up are already there waiting for me."Any news yet?" I take a seat behind my desk and drag hazel eyes onto my laps.Koldis shakes his head and puts his hand on his lips, a signal for me to keep quiet as he increases the volume. Igor's voice fills my office, making me marvel at technology and it's uses.My eyes become glued to the recording machine on the table. Raunchy noises escape through the speakers and I don't need a crystal ball to know Igor is having a damn orgy. The voices of other men I recognize as his brothers, fill the room. Disappointment spears me when I realize they're speaking in Russian.I let out a growl. "Get a damn interpreter now!""He's on his way." Koldis informs me.Anger sizzles through me. I know they're o
Chapter 49I stare at my most-trusted men.Now, five of them.They're standing and watching me warily, probably wondering why I had them assembled here on such short notice. I practically pulled them out from important tasks they were working on.I don't regret it.Around the wariness on their faces are hints of excitement brimming at the edges. I know they'll give their lives for me in a heart beat but that's not why they're working for me. These men live for the excitement, they live on the edge of danger. They live for the danger of the chase, because that's what my business is all about. Chasing people who present a threat to me, and by extension, to them as well."Something the matter, Ash?" Night eyes, asks.Hazel eyes chooses to walk in at that moment, and her mouth immediately rounds into an o. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were having a meeting, I'll just-""Please, come inside, you are part of the reason I cal