LEO’S POV “She may have just wanted to start a new life and decided a change of identity would work well.” I crossed my leg and stoked my chin. “If that's the case, a new name would not be enough to give her a different life.” Montolo gasped, his lips parted and his eyes lit up like chrismas lights. He turned to his computer immediately. “What did you realize?” I asked him. “Plastic surgery. It's the perfect way to change your identity. Surgeries follow no specific restructure guideline but merely changes different proportions of the face, usually leave their patients with an appearance similar to a thousand different persons.” He stopped. “She did have surgery.” I glanced into the screen. He has sized up her face with several types of computer tools and it isolated portions that are artificial. There are a good number of them. “Your girl had surgery more than once to get that pretty face.” I was silent all the while. Just staring at the screen. A thought gnawing at my he
GINA'S POV I frowned when Quinn laughed at what I just told him. He could see the dark look in my eyes but he still thought it was amusing.“It's not funny Quinn" My son thinks he is a hero because he saved his teacher from an imaginary bad guy with a gun.”He chuckled again, cutting his bacon. “Let the boy dream. Its nice to know he is already thinking alot about what he wants to be in the future.”I rolled my eyes. “I haven't decided I want he to be a cop so let's drop that.” He grinned. “I wonder what you are worried about. At least he is not thinking about girls.” He eyed me, taking a tender bit out of the bacon. He licked his lips.I threw the napkin at him. “Fucker.” He chuckled, devilishly. But when he saw that I wasn't wearing my smiling face again, he had to stop.“Look Gina. His passion is taking form. You should be happy. If you don't like it, now is not the time to trample on it. The boy already missing you enough. You should be there first before you start
GINA'S POV“Sofia, I don't want to hurt you.” his voice was low, melancholic.“I don't care what you want. Stop calling me that name. It's not mine.”“If it's revenge yiu want. You have it. Six years if living without you has been a nightmare. Living with you… its killed me.”“No it hasn't.” I pulled close, holding his gaze. A glare in my eyes. “I want you to wish see you wish you were burnt alive.”“Sofia-”“Leonardo. You think a heartbreak will cut it. Will make me stop. Look at me!” I yelled into his face. “I had to cut my face off just to come back and you really think your petty wounded heart will fix things!”He was silent, just staring at me. For some reason that only made my anger worsen.I clenched down on my teeth so much it would crack. I suppressed the anger. Taking deep breaths and long exhales. A thousand bad things were tugging at me. Begging me to act but I tightened my grip and held it back.“You know what, never mind. You shouldn't have bothered digging all this up
TWO DAYS LATER I opened my eyes slowly. Pianos tunes woke me. I tried to open my eyes wider but the sun rays stung my eyes. I made a almost inaudible sound of pain. The pain ceased and then I Heard footsteps. Someone stood over me. His face is blur. I couldn't tell who it is even when I tried to remember. Everything is woozy up in my head. The figure leaned knelt beside my bed and kissed my forehead. “Gina. I am so glad you are awake. You scared me.” I recognized his voice immediately. There is this warm feeling of peace that light up inside me immediately. “Quinn.” “Mhmm.” He hummed a reply, holding my hand gently. The memories of that night are coming back to me slowly. I remember telling Quin where I was going. He told me to stay pit. I didn't listen. I tried to smile but I couldn't twitch my lips so much. My face felt heavy and squeeze up. . “Quinn, I can't feel my face.” “It's okay. Don't worry.” He kissed my hand. “Are you sure? I can't feel my face.”
“I met him after Leonard and I broke up our brotherhood. Before Georgie, I lived in a thorn down neighborhood in Chicago. White kids didn't get the best attention there until proved themselves though so I was bullied often… no, a lot.”I giggled unintentionally. Quinn looked at me. I didn't hide it. I couldn't imagine Quinn getting builed. He was 6’3 and he bulked up everywhere. I had to have his suits custom made but whenever he got into a gang fight or something intense, his muscles would rip it apart.“I wasn't all this huge back then you know.”“I know.” I said, holding back my laugh. He kissed my lips and then his eyes trailed back to the woods before us.“Leonardo was a transfer student. He was Italian. A squish looking one. His look was literally begging for bullies so they diverted to him. Leaving everyone else alone. All the nerds in school loved it. They didn't dare interfere when Leonardo was taking the heat because their safety was assured-”“Except you.”“Yeah. I confron
LEO’S POV I slammed the car door and stumped on the cigarette butt. My Don driving the car, hopped down immediately and went on his knees.“Boss please calm down. I will not make this mistake again. I promise.”I puffed steam, pulling out a 48 caliber. “One! Rule! One fucking rule! Is it that hard to obey?!” I yelled. He cringed back, shuddering like a wet rat.“Boss it will never happen again I promise. I promise.”I glared at him, my smoldering gaze might have burned through that disgusting skin of him. I bit down hard on my teeth and clenched the gun. Fumming with the desire to burst that empty brain of his.“How could you be so stupid?” He quivered, saying nothing.“It was a simple instruction. Don't let me hear you breathing.”“I’m…. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.”I stared down at the filth of a Don, my gun pointed at his head. My face quirked into a disgusted grin.“Your sorry mean nothing to me.” I squeezed the trigger. The blast of a revolver hit the ground, the sounded j
“What?”I ignored her. Allowing the news to sink in. Somehow I found myself eager to know what stunt she is planning to pull next.“Impossible. Leo you are losing it. Oh god, I don't understand? What's so special about that bitch that you are so willing to go mad for her.”I chuckled. A little disappointed. I expected a better show from her “Save me the petty talk Samantha. Honestly, it's really starting to get annoying.” I growled.From here, I could hear her heart beat faster and faster. Her composure selling her out.“Leo, don't do this. We just got back together. She is dead. She burned in that car. Please just let it go. You are hurting our love.” Her voice quivered and she sniffled.I glanced back at her, tears streaming down from her eyes. Any stranger who just walked in would think I am the monster and she is a love-deprived damsel in distress. The thought of it twisted my gut and fueld my anger.I made a full turn, and began to stride slowly towards her. Sam stepped back, h
Alduro hopped down the tinted SUV he had parted a while back. He put his shades up and majestically walked up to my car. He knocked on the windows.“It's a hundred plus degrees out here now. How can you not be stewing in that car?” I popped the door open. “Get in.”Alduro feigned a chilling sign mocking me as usual before climbing into passenger seat. I swerved, hitting the road the next moment.“Did you station the surveillance like I asked you? Yeah. There was a glitch though with one of my own but it's been fixed.” He answered, his tone had that unchanging hoarseness.“Good.”“Where to now?” “I'm going to see my son.”“Yeah he will definitely jump for joy once a total stranger grabs him in front of his school.” He chuckled. I glanced at him from the corner of my eyes. He didn't even try to hide the sarcastic look on his face.“Sometimes I wonder where you find the creativity of yours to piss me off like this.”“It's god’s gift.” He best his chest, and laughed.“The boy
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