Robert P.O.VI stood in the washroom, my hands braced on the sink’s edge as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My face was tired, the weight of the day clinging to me like a fog I could not shake. I splashed cold water onto my face one more time, letting the shock of it momentarily clear my thoughts.The lights in my room were dim when I stepped out, casting long shadows across the walls. A faint glow came from the streetlights outside, filtering through the curtains. I moved quietly, not wanting to disturb the quiet that had settled in. In solitude, it was easier to think or at least, try not to.I opened my closet, reached into it and grabbed a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, quickly changing out of my clothes. There was something about the silence that wrapped around me, making the usual tension in my body settle, if only for a moment. Once dressed, I walked to my nightstand and checked my phone. No messages, no missed calls. Just the blank screen staring back at me.I set
Nora P.O.VI walked down the long hallway of the DiFronzo estate, the sound of my boots echoing off the marble floor. Today was my first official assignment as Lilian DiFronzo’s new bodyguard, and it was already starting to be a headache. I stopped in front of her door and knocked once, then stood at attention. The wait seemed to stretch on forever, and with each passing second, my patience wore thin. Still, there was no answer.I lifted my hand and knocked again, a little harder this time. That’s when I heard her voice from the other side of the door.“Tell my brother I am not coming out. I would not have his goon following me around like some shadow! I would not leave this room until he fires his new lapdog!” Her voice was muffled but filled with indignation.I sighed, running a hand through my hair. This was not exactly what I signed up for. “I am not paid enough to handle this in the morning,” I muttered under my breath before replying in a louder voice, “Well, unfortunately, ma’a
Lily P.O.VI walked up to my usual spot in the classroom, third row from the front. The gallery-style seats gave a clear view of everyone around.Emily, my best friend, followed me behind .We had this class together. Most of the students were already settling down in their seats. The class was just about to begin. I leaned back in my chair, opening my notebook and setting up my laptop, mentally preparing for another gruelling lecture from Professor Hudson.Just as I was settling in, I felt a poke on my shoulder. I turned to Emily, raising an eyebrow. “What’s up?” I whispered, noticing the uneasy look on her face.She leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper. “Look at the girl at the back,” she murmured. “She has been staring at you.”My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What?” I glanced over my shoulder, trying to figure out who Emily was talking about. My eyes scanned the last row, and sure enough, my new bodyguard,Patricia Walker, stared directly at me with the same intense e
Lily P.O.V I walked through the corridors of the college, Patricia trailing close behind. We stopped outside the library, where I paused to face her."I need to grab some books from inside," I said, keeping my voice casual. "You can wait here. It would not take long."Patricia’s brows furrowed, her eyes scanning the surrounding area as if a threat might emerge at any moment. She clearly was not thrilled with the idea of leaving me alone, even for a few minutes. "I should come with you," she said, her voice low but firm.I sighed. "I am just grabbing some textbooks, Patricia. It will take five minutes."She hesitated, her jaw clenching slightly, but eventually nodded. "Fine. Five minutes. I will be right here."Relieved, I gave her a small smile and entered the library. The atmosphere inside was quiet. The smell of old books and polished wood filled the air, and the soft sound of students murmuring or flipping pages was comforting. I headed straight for the section where my course tex
Nora P.O.VWe stepped out of the college gates, my eyes sweeping the surroundings, making sure everything was in place. The black sedan waiting for us was being driven by one of DiFronzo’s men. Another car, stationed a few metres back, was packed with more of DiFronzo's bodyguards. They were positioned at the corner, keeping a watchful eye from a distance. I do not know why they have to hire more trained bodyguards. They looked like they could go against big grizzly bears but one thing our field of work taught us, muscle strength is not everything. It is very important to use your brain .I opened the door for Lily, my current charge to get in. She slid into the backseat without a word but I could not blame her. She had gone through a lot today. Anyone who has been sexually assaulted will be behaving like that. She was completely frozen in fear when I found her in the library. The prick was assaulting her. As her bodyguard, it was my job to save her and I failed. I should never have l
Robert’s POVI was in the middle of a critical meeting in my office’s conference room, listening as Riccardo walked the foreign client through the details of our upcoming project. But my attention wavered when my phone vibrated against the polished table. Glancing down at the screen, I saw one of my men calling.One who was assigned to guard Lily.I stiffened. The last time something like this happened, Lily had been kidnapped. I could not let anything happen to her again. Not on my watch.“Excuse me, gentlemen,” I said, standing abruptly. I nodded at Riccardo to continue without me and walked out of the room, closing the door behind me. My gut churned as I answered the call.“DiFronzo,” I barked.There was a slight pause before the man spoke. “Boss, we have a situation. Miss DiFronzo’s car... it’s disappeared.”The blood drained from my face. A bolt of fear sliced through me before anger bubbled up from within.“What the hell do you mean her car’s disappeared?” My voice was a low gro
Robert POVWe were sitting in the home office of the mansion. Patricia stood in front of my desk, her posture perfectly still. I watched her carefully, every slight movement, every blink. There was something different. Something deeper behind her calm façade. "So, what exactly happened there, Miss Walker?" My voice was low, almost a growl, as I leaned forward. My fingers interlaced as I placed my hands on the desk in front of me. I could feel the tension building in the room, a palpable weight.Patricia stood with her hands behind her back, her expression neutral, not betraying any emotion. She was a master at keeping her emotions hidden. Then, in that same level tone, she began to narrate what had happened after they left the college campus."We were in the car. I was a little distracted and did not notice the driver had turned onto a different road until I saw the neighbourhood. I recognized the area ,it was not on the way to the mansion. By the time I realised we were on the wrong
Nora P.O.V.I was typing out the latest update for the operation on my laptop when my phone began ringing. The sharp sound cut through the stillness of the room, drawing my eyes to the digital clock on the nightstand. It was close to midnight. The phone buzzed again. Who would be calling me this time? I glanced down at the phone again as it buzzed on my bed. I picked it up and turned to see the screen, who was calling me before picking it up. I squinted slightly, then sighed in relief when I saw the name flash across the screen."Cyber," I muttered, rubbing my tired eyes. I removed my reading glasses, placing them beside the laptop. Then, I answered the call, wedging the phone between my ear and shoulder as I resumed typing on my laptop."Hey, Cyber, did you find anything about what I asked you to find?" I could hear the faint clicking of keys in the background on his end. This guy and his laptop are like two peas in one pod. Whenever I called him I would hear him typing away on his l
Nora P.O.V I ran my fingers down the fabric of my dress, smoothing out the silk as I gazed at my reflection in the full-length mirror. The black and red gown hugged my figure perfectly, the intricate floral lace carving delicate patterns over the sheer black overlay, while the royal red silk underneath added a touch of richness. The detachable black skirt trailed behind me like a shadow, enhancing my every step with an air of mystery. My dark waves cascaded over my shoulders, shining under the dim glow of the vanity lights like a river kissed by moonlight. I had returned to the DiFronzo estate this morning after completing the case, though formalities had dragged the process out longer than expected. I hadn’t spoken to Robert properly since I left a few days ago. Our last interaction had been brief, filled with unspoken words and unreadable expressions. Lily had barely given me a moment to settle in before dragging me off for dress shopping, her excitement contagious despite my exh
Nora P.O.V The room was steeped in darkness, the kind that felt suffocating, pressing in from all sides. The only source of illumination was a weak, flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling, its light barely reaching the corners of the space. The bulb swung slightly, creaking on its loose fixture, casting long, shifting shadows over the stacks of cardboard boxes piled against the walls. The air inside was thick with dust and the stale scent of sweat and old wood. Each breath I took felt heavy, tainted by something metallic smell. The distant echoes of gunfire and chaos outside barely reached this place, but even with all of that, nothing in this room disturbed me more than the sight before me. Layson’s arms and legs were tightly restrained with thick ropes, the fibers biting into his skin. His face was a mess of bruises, his right eye swollen, his lip split open, and a deep gash above his brow left a jagged streak of blood trailing down the side of his face. The blood had begun to d
Nora P.O.V The warehouse loomed ahead, its steel exterior bathed in the pale glow of the distant streetlights. A thick, eerie silence blanketed the area, broken only by the occasional rustle of the wind against the stacked shipping containers. The air was tense, charged with the weight of the mission ahead. Inside, Layson and his son were being held captive by the Cutlers, and there was no telling what condition they were in. Our van was parked a few yards away, tucked into the shadows, where Cyber and his team monitored the interior movements. The dim glow of their screens illuminated their faces, their fingers flying over keyboards as they fed us real-time updates through our Bluetooth devices. “Heat signatures confirm at least two dozen men inside,” Cyber’s voice crackled in my ear. “More might be deeper in. No sign of Layson or the child yet, but we are tracking.” I nodded, my grip tightening around my firearm as I surveyed the agents standing with me. I had already distribut
Nora P.O.VThe conference room was silent except for the quiet hum of the projector as the video began playing. The large screen flickered to life, casting a dim glow across the dimly lit room. My seniors sat at the long table, their expressions grim, while Cyber stood near the laptop, ready to control the playback. A few other agents were scattered throughout the room, watching with keen eyes.The video was grainy, likely recorded from a hidden camera. It showed a weak, sickly child strapped to a chair inside a dark room. The only source of light was a dim bulb hanging overhead, casting eerie shadows across his frail body. The boy’s head drooped forward, exhaustion visible in the way his shoulders sagged. He barely moved, except for the occasional twitch, as if he lacked the strength to even lift his head properly.I clenched my jaw. This had to be Ryan, Layson’s son.Several figures stood around him, just beyond the reach of the weak light. Their faces were obscured, but their voice
Nora’s POV I adjusted my dress, smoothing out the wrinkles as Robert fixed his tie. The air inside his office was thick with the remnants of what just happened between us, but I refused to dwell on it. Instead, I reached for my blazer, but before I could slide it on, Robert pulled out his black credit card and handed it to me. "Get a dress and whatever else you need for next weekend’s ball." His tone was firm, almost dismissive, as if this was a mundane transaction."And whatever else you need for next weekend’s ball.” I took the card between my fingers, my brows furrowing. "Why?" I asked, looking up at him. "I can buy my own clothes. Working at DiFonzo's pays me well, and the party is next weekend. I have time." Robert straightened his cuffs, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Because you’re mine," he said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "And I take care of what’s mine." His words were effortless, like he was not aware of the weight they carried. I s
Nora P.O.VThe ride to DiFronzo Enterprises was tense, the air in the car thick with unspoken frustration. Robert had taken a call the moment we left the mansion, his voice low but sharp, each clipped word laced with irritation. I sat quietly beside him, watching through the side of my eye as his grip on the phone tightened, his jaw clenching harder with every passing second. Whatever was being discussed on the other end, it was clearly not good. When the call finally ended, he tossed his phone onto the seat beside him, exhaling through his nose in a way that told me he was barely holding onto his temper. His knuckles were white against his knee, his fingers twitching as if itching to break something. I did not say a word. I knew better than to try to pry when he was in this state. Instead, I simply observed, letting him simmer in silence. By the time we arrived, Robert did not wait for the driver to open his door ,he shoved it open himself and stepped out with a force that se
Nora P.O.V The sun cast a golden hue over the dining room, filtering through the sheer curtains that framed the tall windows. The table, grand and ornate, stretched the length of the room, covered with an array of breakfast dishes that screamed wealth, freshly baked croissants, glistening fruit platters, cured meats, and steaming pots of coffee. The clinking of cutlery against fine china was the only sound filling the room as the DiFronzo family began their morning ritual. I sat between one of DiFronzo’s men and Riccardo, an awkward position considering the unspoken tension that always hung over these gatherings. To my left, Riccardo leaned back in his chair, a picture of casual arrogance, his dark hair slicked back and his suit impeccably tailored even for breakfast. His tattoos were peering out from under his sleeves.He whispered something to Robert, who was seated beside him, just to the right of his father, Robert DiFronzo Sr., who occupied the head of the table like a king sur
Aldo P.O.V The heavy oak door to the DiFronzo mansion’s east wing creaked open, and I stepped into the lavish bedroom that was now mine. A slow smile spread across my face as my gaze swept the room. Gold-framed mirrors, antique furniture, and deep burgundy curtains. It was everything I expected from the family I despised,opulent, arrogant, and far too secure in their false sense of power. I ran a finger along the edge of the polished mahogany dresser, feigning admiration for the craftsmanship. In truth, I hated everything about this house. It was not the grandeur or the wealth that disgusted me; it was the memories tied to it. Memories of being cast out, belittled, and treated like I was nothing. Elinor DiFronzo did not bring me into the family out of kindness. She brought me to pay for my mother's sin. While his son was treated like a prince I was treated worse than a servant. No one came to save me when she beat me behind closed doors, not even my deadbeat father. For the world E
Nora P.O.V I moved carefully, each step light and deliberate as I made my way toward the living room. The tension was palpable even from the hallway. I did not want anyone to know I was there; the last thing I needed was to be dragged into whatever family chaos was unfolding. I pressed my back against the wall near the doorway, craning my neck just enough to get a glimpse of the room. Aldo Bianchi stood in the center, his posture as smug and self-assured as ever, surrounded by his men.The sight of them in the DiFronzo mansion was jarring, like seeing a fox in a henhouse. Robert was there, standing at the forefront with Dant and Riccardo flanking him. The other members of the family formed a tense semi-circle, their expressions ranging from anger to confusion. I edged closer, careful not to let the wooden floorboards creak underfoot. I did not need to see Robert’s face to know he was seething, his shoulders were rigid, his hands clasped behind his back in an effort to maintain contr