“Gina. What are you doing?”I shut my eyes and bit my lip. Breathing slowly. I was scared, my hands gripped the handle but I didn't want him to see it. To know what was happening.I put up a plastic smile and turned to him“I’m trying to go outside. To go home. I feel suffocated in here.”Quinn took one step forward, I grit my teeth, suppressing the urge to step back “It's midnight, Gina. Where would you go?”My lips quivered a little, I tried to keep it unnoticed.“I… I… I didn't know it was that late.” I breathed, my whole body shivering a bit. It felt so much like fictional characters standing in front of a killer who they knew was going to end their lives by morning. I guess it was because somehow, the exact same thing is happening now.“Gina. Are you sure you are alright?”“Yes.” I beamed.Quinn’s eyes were dead black and staring right at me. Half believing my charade obviously. His midnight hair slicked back gave him a 90’s devil mafian look.“Alright. let's go upstairs.” He r
I literally iced.Quinn stopped. Slowly we disentangled, his tongue crawling out of my mouth. He had a lascivious grin on his cheek. Then he averted his attention, to the intruder standing with their jaw dropped, by the door.“Can't you knock?”Hailey frowned.“It's not my fault an exhibitionist like you thinks PDA is cool.”Quinn chuckled, looking at his watch and getting off the bed. “I will punish you later.” He said to Hailey who stuck her tongue out at him. He looked at me, winked and left the room.I let out a sharp exhale, as tension drained from my shoulders . ‘Oh God, I had been holding my breath the entire time’.Hailey rushed me, grabbing my hands, almost startling me.“Start talking missy.” She held up an apprehensive and yet curious gaze.I made a nervous laugh.Unconsciously, I slipped a hand out and fanned my face. I was flushed so much I looked like a tomato.“Want to get some air?”“Yes.. please.”Hailey cracked, laughing. I joined her, allowing the euphoria to en
Hailey made another turn, pacing back the way she came and repeating it again.I sat down by the cradle, my face pale and wet with my oulen tears. Sobs escaping my lips every 30 seconds. It all didn't seem to make any sense. I just couldn't accept it.He can't be gone. He was right there, sleeping with his fits folded and his angelic little figure. He is still so fragile and so little, how could someone take him. I gripped my night gown, right where my chest was, bending over, my body quivering as the pain and the tears came rushing back.“Ah!” I yelled, hitting my chest. Scattering my hair in a frenzy. I wanted to beat my self up. To go crazy. They took him. Which kind of mother am I? I can't even protect my own son?Hailey went on her knees immediately, pulling me into her warm embrace, my face buried in her chest. I just wept. I couldn't do anything but that and I hated myself more because of it.While we just stayed that way, Quinn walked in. He had his plain expression again bu
- QUINN -I swirled the Lamborghini into the roadside garage, parking recklessly on the empty sidewalk. I hopped out, slamming the door and half running the rest of the way.Black Cars rolled in after me. Men in suits and daring aura, jumped down. Guns unhidden on the holsters strapped to their waists.I reared up to the last vehicle. The sources were right, she really did park a SUV here. The car door was unlocked. I jacked it open. It was empty. The necklace I had gifted her was on the car seat next to her phone. She knew I was tracking her so she left them.“F*uck!!” I jammed the car door.‘That smart son of a…’ I knew from the day she returned from the hospital that she had activated a heightened level of stealth and defense. She was married to a Mafia afterall. The moment spies told me she left the house, I already had a good guess of what she wanted to do but i didn't know where so i decided I would lay low and find out but now i wish I didn't.I let out a exasperation, ironic
- GINA -The cold winds whooshed and whirled around me, fluttering the end of my coat and playing with my hair. I stood like I had been frozen, in the middle of the rooftop of this dilapidated building, so frail, It seemed as through it might come falling over if I take a step.I could see people, three men, one rested nicely on a wooden chair while the others stood around him. There was a baby basket in the arms of one of them. I could hear a child crying. I wanted to rush over, to madly rip my baby out of their filthy grip and put a bullet through their skulls but I knew better. Looking Unphased was key in any negotiation.So the silence dragged on between us. They seemed to be waiting for something and I didn't know what it was. It was driving me crazy not knowing that.I hated every bit of me, with each passing second. The memories of life since I met Leo played like a CD tape before my eyes. How vulnerable I had always been. How I never really acted until my death was near. I w
A WEEK LATERMy guess is, something like this had never happened before in this house or this city to be frank because in the passing days after the incident, everyone hovered around like ghosts. I was confined to the room, me and Derek. Quinn never came by and Hailey hopped in just to see the baby. She exchanged no words with me. I adjusted the best I could, to the change. Making it all seem like routine but deep down it was eating me up inside.And the fact that I was incapable of conceiving any plan to make amends, brought back the helpless feeling.On the seventh day after the kidnapping, I decided… I would get things back the way they were even if I had to beg.It was evening, the roses on the left axis of the garden had freshly bloomed and it looked like the eve of spring. The scent enveloped the atmosphere, as if soothing both of us for the conversation I was about to have with Hailey, who sat next to me, tangling her hair in her finger.I took a deep breath and started. “Hail
It has been a week since that night. Quinn had only asked for me once after that day. He was more savage the second time. He didn't even wait for me to come to him. He came into my room, bolt the door and stripped.“Come to me. I need you.” Was all he said. I reminded him we were not going all the way, he didn't seem to want to at all. He just wanted to play. And that's what I did. Pleasuring him, anyway I could until he was groaning and begging.A while ago, I learnt from Hailey that Quinn was having a hard time although he didn't say why. It made sense why he came by. He wanted me to help with his heavy heart.I saw this as a chance to make my move. I had been meaning to make some demands from him however I couldn't find the right time. But now, in this lovely afternoon, while he lay in my arms with only his pants on and I played with his hair; It felt just right to say it now.“Quinn.”“Mhmm.” His eyes were closed.“I have something I need to tell you.”“What?” He sounded slightly
I didn't go out with Quinn for a while after that, partly because he got busy. He was trying to recover a port that he lost to someone. I took the time to heal my mind from the fear that the training had stuffed into me. I still wanted to do it but It was freaking me out. I couldn't lie to myself about that.After some weeks, his schedule freed up. Hailey traveled for a while. She didn't tell me where but Quinn knew and he didn't complain. I was in the house alone with Quinn and Derek.Derek had grown a tooth so the visiting doctor told me I had to start getting him to eat other food other than just breast milk. The day I decided to shop, Quinn was out and he assigned Georgie to me.We visited the baby stalls first. Georgie had his orders, so he hung around me everywhere I went. “Mam, which one do you prefer?” the sweet Burnette asked me. She was standing beside the breast milk pumpers. “I am not quite sure.” I said, a bit nervous about Georgie listening in. I wished again that
GINA'S POVMy plan touched down on East side, Orlands Airport. I took the rental car and drove into town. It is going to be a long drive to my destination so I called home. I talked with Derek than I called an old friend.“Hello, Guss.”I heard a chuckle at the other end of the phone.“What's funny?”“Oh, nothing. I'm still surprised you asked me for help. I mean. The first time we met ended you making one of those Hispanic girls slap the nuts of me.”I smiled. That was funny. “I'm glad you don't hold grudges.”“Grudges don't suit a black brother like me plus, the lady is hot by the way.”I let out a small laugh. “Take care of her.”“I will.” The line cut. I dropped the phone and stepped on the gears. The retried nurse told me that Aura was not adopted. She was taken by her family. Going on this hunt, made me realize why Quinn and Leonardo may have never found this if they looked. Hailey’s husband has access to filed that no one else can. Rock Creek hospital was a military hospital b
GINA'S POV“Hello, Quinn, finally. I've been calling.”“I'm sorry baby. Its really messed up over here.” I can hear a hint of frustration in his voice.“Is she really Aura.” He was silent for a moment. “Yeah.”“Oh my god.”“Mhmm. It really sucks. I didn't think I will ever have to meet her again under these circumstances.”“What are You gonna do?”“Leonardo and I have agreed, we will stay. If we left her alone back then she wouldn't have ended up the way she did. We have to make it up to her. Anyway we can.”“Quinn, are you growing a soft spot for her?” I wish so bad that he can understand how disgusted that made me feel.“I know this is so out of place but she is Aura.”“I don't care. Your Aura has become a bitch. Who she was in the past past doesn't validate or save her from any of the harm she did in the Future.” I was almost yelling, veins popping from my head. “Gina, please. I understand what this is like but I don't think you understand that we owe this girl. We have a lot to
SAMANTHA’S POVIts been a month since I fell off that base building. I still had fractures in places where fractures shouldn't be. But that wasn't the scary thing, it is that once again I had to sit in the same room with the men who put me here.Quinn is standing behind Leo. His massive figure pressing too hard against his suite. His face is ice cold and he wore no smile. Like the executioner on a visit with Hades. Leo was comfortable settled in the third cushion chair in the room. His legs crossed and his eyes fixed on me without blinking.I held my breath and squeezed my palms together. Trying to remind myself to calm down that I was here welcome. “Samantha Honey, it's alright. This men are your friends. That have been looking for you. Tell them how you found us.” The old lady said. I smiled brightly and then returned my gaze to the two men. I gulped. If only she knew what we all meant to each other now she wouldn't have cramped us up in the same room.“I remember two weeks ago, L
LEONARDO’S POV“Its Samantha’s father. All of a sudden, he has grown a soft spot for the girl he once abused. Now he is hunting my men down and tearing my syndicates apart and I can't do anything about it.”Gina’s eyes are locked with mine. The light in the room made them glimmer. She has tears in her eyes too, that's why. Her face held an expression of pity. She is worried about me and knowing that made my heart melt. The kiss on my lips made me realize how much I'm still in love with her.“Matteo will squash you. You don't have what it takes to hold him down, Leo.” I flashed her a big smile. “I won't go down without a fight either. You don't need to bother about all this. Its my business.”“And you saved our… Derek, I can't just standby and watch you suffer. Plus, Matteo should pay for raising a kid like Samantha.” She turned around to stare at Quinn who has been fuming with anger since they walked into the room. He exchanged glances with Gina. Hie frown deeper instantly.“Forge
GINA’S POV The telephone rang. I sprang up from the chair immediately. My face has paled out, I'm covered in cold sweat and half asleep. I staggered to the phone. My head weighed a thousand pounds and there was this throbbing ache gnawing at the back of my head. I could feel the pain, I could notice how blurry everything is but I couldn't care less. Its been two days. No one has called. No one is replying to my texts, no one is reaching out. My hair is haggard, pulled out strands littered the floor. My eyes are sullen and my body felt like it came out of a washing machine. Broken and beaten up. I picked up the phone. “Hello. Quinn, is that you?”“This is Daisy from Hudson Pizza calling to ask if you…” I hung up, sighed and crumbled to the floor, hugging my knees. Oh, God what happened to them. Please.. someone should call please. Tears soaked the knees of my pajamas. I covered my mouth and muffled a sob by pressing my lips into my palm. I don't want to wake Hailey. She has been
QUINN'S POV We took the Jet. Leonardo had informed us he ks coming to meet us so we met him at the Delgado train station. There was a small eatery just off the station, across the road. We booked a private space and ordered burgers. The only means on their menu that allowed us to keep our food on our laps while we covered the table with maps. Leonardo brought the most advanced map of them all. He brought guns too but he came alone. His own way of warding off suspicion from himself. Now we are all standing, looking over the draft on the map and trying to figure out where exactly Samantha is going. She was last spotted taking route that intersected several other roads including a mountain path, a valley and a ranch. She could be anywhere. I sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. My eyes returned to the cell I was holding. There are markers of different landscapes and infrastructures in all directions. It still didn't make it easier where she is going. Leonardo stroked his chin an
GINA’S POV “Are you sure?” Quinn asked, pulling the picture closer to him. He peered at it, trying to see what I saw.“Yes. I remember when she had that cut. I don't know if there is any way she could have come to know that my son is here but I do know that if there is anyone mad enough to track you guys down, it's her.”“I thought Leonardo said she had a miscarriage?” Quinn reminds me.“I know which is why I feel it in my gut that she wants to kill my baby because she lost hers. I know it's a hunch but…”“I will check it out. We have nothing right now. This is the best we have been able to make out in hours, we will work with it.” Hailey’s husband took the lead immediately. He had Samantha's image printed out and he left with some of his own to have her face run through any database there is and see if she may have come anywhere near Australia.Meanwhile, I suggested to Quinn that we call Leonardo. He didn't buy it. He wouldn't even entertain it but I insisted. If anyone could find
GINA'S POV “How did you figure it out?” Quinn asked, his legs crossed and his back resting on the plush seat in his office. I sat on the table. He was wheeled so close that his face could touch my lap.“Reggie once told me that that girl, Aura, was slaughtered like an animal. And I found his description strange because he never said anything that would make me that he was close to you guys enough to have tagged along when the two of you went to find Aura. So I wondered how he knew. He didn't say something which I expected to hear and I found it rather strange.”“Why was that?”“He didn't talk about who the guy that killed her was. The way he spoke of the guy, it was obvious he knew him well but he avoided giving any details about him. Not even his skin color. Why else would someone do that if not that they unconsciously wanted to make sure the person was never known.”There was a small smile tugging on Quinn's lips when I was through. I could tell he was impressed.“Aren't you a sma
QUINN’S POVWhen I saw the pained look on her face, I regretted every advising her to do this. Even though she finally settled back and looked comfortable again, the feeling still did not go away.‘I adjusted the headphone and continued to listen to their conversation. I seemed to have missed a word or two while I was lost in thought.“I guessed that would be his question. Quinn still hasn’t stopped thinking about that girl.” I frowned. It was like I could see him making that small grin like he knew everything about me.“Honestly, I don’t care” Gina said, indifferently. “just answer the question.”“I will but Gina, arent’t you curous to know how all this began. I will gladly tell you along with what Quinn wants to hear.”I squeezed the car seat. Even now he stills jumps at any chance to soil my name. There was an uncomfortable silence of Gina’s lips before she finally spoke.“Since you like telling stories, go ahead.”‘Damn it.’ I smashed my fist on the steering wheel. This fucking s