Thank you all so much for reading to this point. You can let me know about your view of the book so far. P.S Don't forget to leave your comments and likes. Thank you all so much😇😇
ALEXEIRestlessness clawed at me all day. The search for Zoey remained unproductive, and a growing sense of panic enveloped everyone. Yet, I couldn't allow myself to succumb to fear. I had to find her, no matter what it took—even if it meant searching every corner of the earth.In the midst of the anxious atmosphere, Yelena barged into my office, her face etched with panic. "Alexei..."I shot up from my chair, concern flooding my senses. "What's wrong?"She sniffled, visibly shaken. "You should come and see this."Confusion furrowed my brow. "What is it?"Without answering, Yelena grabbed my hand and pulled me with urgency. I followed her, my heart pounding as we made our way to the garden. At the foot of the garden, she pointed at something, and my heart skipped a beat.Blood.Dread settled over me like a heavy shroud. The once serene garden now bore the threatening mark of violence. I knelt down, scruti
ZOEY My head throbbed with pain, a relentless ache that accompanied the incessant banging. As I gradually opened my eyes, the world swayed in a disorienting dance. I tried to make sense of my surroundings, but the dull ache in my head clouded my thoughts. Confused and disoriented, I forced my eyes open, squinting against the dim light. The surroundings slowly came into focus, revealing I was in a dimly lit building of unknown origin. Blinking away the haze, I realized I was confined to a chair, tightly bound as if I were a captive in some twisted game. Panic surged as I tested the restraints, the cold bite of fear settling in the pit of my stomach. Why was I here? Where was here? My mouth felt oddly restricted, and I attempted to call for help, but the realization hit me hard—my mouth was taped shut. Fear tightened its grip as I struggled against the restraints, the room closing in on me with each passing second. The sound of
ALEXEIThree days had dragged on like an eternity since I last laid eyes on Zoey. My stoic exterior, the façade of strength I always wore, crumbled beneath the weight of missing her. Even though I'd convinced myself not to show any weakness, the truth was, I fucking missed Zoey, and it seeped through my every action.In her room, surrounded by the echo of her absence, I found myself rifling through her closet like a man possessed. The idea of losing her had shaken me more than I cared to admit. When I got her back, I swore to myself I wouldn't let her out of my sight.Yaz and Viktor were starting to feel the frustration emanating from my every move. Even Ivan, who had been noticeably absent, added a layer of suspicion to the mounting tension.Yelena, observant as ever, caught me in the act of what could only be described as obsessive behavior. Her voice sliced through the room as she stood in the doorway."You miss her, don'
ZOEYThree days. Three agonizing days in this dimly lit room that seemed to close in on me with every passing moment. Fear crept into the edges of my mind.For the first two days, Mikhail, the man claiming to be my grandfather, reveled in tormenting me. He circled like a predator, taunting and sneering. If these damn restraints weren't holding me back, I would have gladly kicked him where it hurt the most.In the midst of my fear, one thing dominated my thoughts—I missed Alexei. I longed for Alexei, missed him in a way I couldn't quite put into words. I longed to see him, to apologize for the pain Mikhail had inflicted upon him. It wasn't fair that he had to bear the brunt of this madness.I wanted to tell Alexei that I was sorry, that Mikhail's actions weren't a reflection of who I am. I wanted to apologize for the turmoil my presence had brought into his life. Mikhail's twisted games had scarred him, and it tore at my soul.I wanted to say sorry for any part of Mikhail's actions tha
ALEXEI I sat in my office, the weight of the revelation about Ivan heavy on my shoulders. How could someone I considered a brother, a trusted member of our tight-knit circle, turn out to be a mole? I needed someone to confide in, someone whose judgment I trusted implicitly. Yaz was that person. I took a moment to collect my thoughts, the weight of this newfound knowledge pressing heavily on me. How had I missed the signs? How deep did Ivan's betrayal run? These questions circled in my mind as I dialed Yaz's number and asked him to come to my office. Yaz entered, a quizzical look on his face. "What's going on, Alexei? You look like you've seen a ghost." "Yaz, we've got a problem," I began as he entered my office, concern etched on his face. "What's going on, Alexei?" Yaz asked, taking a seat across from me. "Ivan," I uttered his name, my voice carrying the disbelief I still felt. "He's the mole." Yaz's e
ALEXEIMaria returned with a mischievous glint in her eyes, gesturing for Yaz and me to follow her. As we moved across the lively club, she led us to an modest door that, when opened, revealed a stairwell leading underground.The bass of the music above gradually faded as we descended into the underground realm. The dimly lit space opened up into an hidden safe place of technology. Computers lined the room, their screens casting a soft glow on the faces of those hunched over them.Maria gestured towards the array of machines. "Welcome to Dominic's playground."She excused herself with a sly smile, leaving Yaz and me alone in this underground techno haven. Soon, Dominic looked up from his station, his eyes lighting up as he recognized me."Alexei, my man!" Dominic greeted with a grin, extending a fist for a casual bump.I reciprocated the gesture. "Dominic, how's life in the digital frontier?""Same old chaos," he chuc
ZOEYThe first two days after Ivan dropped me off in this dimly lit room, I haven't seen or heard from him. The air was stale, and the silence was deafening. Two different ladies, guards I guessed, brought me tasteless meals at odd intervals, and occasionally, they'd leave a bottle of water.At least I was no longer bound to that damn chair. I could move around freely in this small, windowless space, but freedom felt like an illusion. The walls seemed to close in on me, suffocating me with their cold, unyielding presence.I paced the room, tracing every inch of its confines. I knocked on the walls, hoping for a hollow sound that might indicate a hidden door. I even checked under the rickety bed, half-expecting to find a secret passage. But, as luck would have it, this wasn't some escape room game. There was no way out that I could see.The food they provided tasted like cardboard, and the water had a metallic tang. Still, I forced myself
ZOEYThe room echoed with the woman's laughter, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. I watched, bewildered, as she continued to chuckle, as if my plight was nothing more than a dark comedy."What the hell is so funny?" I muttered to myself, wondering what fresh hell I had stumbled into.She scoffed at my reference to being a guest. "Guest?" she exclaimed, as if the term was absurd. Another bout of laughter escaped her lips before she could compose herself enough to speak. "You're not a guest, darling. You're merchandise, and you're about to be sold."My eyes widened in disbelief. Sold? What the hell did she mean? I had a sinking feeling that this nightmare was about to take an even darker turn."What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice laced with a mix of confusion and trepidation.She leaned in, her expression cold and calculating. "The big boss," she said with a mockingly sweet smile, "has no use for you anymore.