Ellen's POV I stood beside my father on the presidential floor, our eyes glued to the TV screen showing the live feed from the room where Kamille was with the kidnapper we had hired. I was delighted by how miserable Kamille looked. We just needed her damned signature on the documents. Was that so hard for her to do and get her pathetic self out of my face?Instead, she chose to stay in the room, her eyes red and swollen from crying and ceaselessly demanding to see her kids first. I felt a twisted satisfaction seeing her like that. She deserved this, every bit of it. We could not give her kids first because they were still unconscious and miserable just like their mother. But then, out of nowhere, Zeke appeared on the screen. My heart sank, and an overwhelming sense of rage bubbled up inside me. “Why can he not just stay away from Kamille?” I yelled, unable to contain my frustration. “What is it about her that makes him love her so much, to neglect me?” My father placed a calming
Zeke's POV As the masked man fell down dead, Kamille's expression felt as if her hopes of finding out kids were thrown into a raving sea.Her gaze at me also held unspoken fright for me and it caused my heart to ache. I could not bear for her to look at me like that. But almost immediately, she tore her gaze away from me and looked at the man lying in his own pool of blood.Her cries gradually turned into frantic whispers. “No, no, no!” she scrambled out of my arms and fell to her knees beside the masked man. “Wake up! Tell me where my kids are!”“Kamille, we have to go,” I urged her.She clung to me. “But my children, Zeke. We have to get them back.”“Our Children,” I corrected. “We will. I promise.”Her desperation was heartbreaking, and I felt a surge of anger towards Ellen for orchestrating this nightmare. As I pulled Kamille away from the lifeless body, I noticed a small camera in the corner of the room. Ellen was watching us. I cursed her inwardly, my anger boiling over.The d
Chris's POV I sat in my clubhouse feeling angry at the state of things. The air was thick with the scent of cigar smoke, the rich aroma mingling with the faint tang of fear that always seemed to linger in these walls. "Boss," My second in command, Paul began hesitantly, breaking the heavy silence, "Should we launch a raid and search for the kids?"I exhaled a plume of smoke, the tendrils curling and dissipating into the dimly lit room. "And when I take the kids to her," I replied, my voice edged with frustration, "How will I tell her I found them? What am I supposed to say?"Hey Kamille, your kids got dropped off at my school and I brought them back to you. I scoffed at the absurdity of it.It was already enough grip at my neck that the kids were taken from right beneath my fucking nose and they have stayed missing for the past two weeks. Finding them and not having an explanation to how I found them, would only let loose whatever demon is left in Ezekiel Reid.If he makes it alive
Ellen's POV I tossed comfortably in bed, allowing the softness of the silk sheets to caress my skin with its smoothened and fine exterior. I flickered my eyes open as the early morning sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains of my room back in the Manor mansion, where I was treated like the queen I was. I rose up from the bed and walked up to the window, then I spread the curtains properly, to allow the sunlight filter in properly.I decided to bask a little while in the warm glow of the sunlight, enjoying the effect of its golden rays on my skin.Way better than that pothole Zeke put me in. I walked back into the bathroom and had a warm bath. After freshening up, I descended the grand staircase to the dining room, where breakfast was being served. I had missed all the good things at Zeke's mansion because I wasn't welcome, but I will make sure that all those little lowlifes pay for all they did to me. Listening to Zeke and paying little attention to me.My father was notabl
Chris's POV I woke up in my luxurious apartment, the soft glow of dawn filtering through the heavy curtains. It was a Monday morning, but unlike every other Monday where I usually woke up early, eager to get to school so I wouldn't miss Kamille's arrival with the kids, but today was different. I knew there wasn't going to be any Kamille anywhere. I lay in bed for a few moments, staring at the ceiling, her absence pressing heavily on my chest. With a sigh, I threw off the covers and made my way to the bathroom. The water was hot as it cascaded over me, but it did little to wash away the frustration gnawing at my insides. As I dried myself off, memories of Kamille flooded my mind—her laugh, her touch, the way her lips tasted pressed against mine.“Fuck,” I muttered to myself, gripping the edge of the sink. “What the hell have you done to me, Kamille?”That night in the car when I kissed her felt like the earth had met the sun. It was a simple brush of our lips, but that kiss had hun
Kamille's POV “Reon?” I called out as I heard his voice echo in the wind.“Mummy,” I turned at the sound of Tyris’s voice, but I did not see any of them.“Tyris baby, come on out to mama,” I pleaded, but my pleas fell on deaf ears .The same went on for Royer and Torin and no matter how much I pleaded, they were unresponsive.Then I sat down and began to cry on the floor and all four of them began running in my direction, but as they got closer to me, they were intercepted by a giant thrice as tall as I was.“Be gone, if you want to see them alive!” The voice roared.*****************************************************************************I jerked awake from bed to meet the beautiful morning light that filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over my room. I lay in bed, my body heavy with the weight of worry and despair. It had been two weeks since my children were taken, and I felt like I was living in a nightmare.So many freaking nightmares! The days blurred toge
Zeke's POV The day had been long, filled with worry and exhaustion. Kamille had barely slept the previous night, and today had been no better. Her friends and I stayed with her, trying to provide comfort and support. I could see the strain on her face, the deep circles under her eyes, and the constant worry etched in every line.As the evening approached, I stepped out onto the balcony, needing a moment to clear my head. I pulled out my phone and dialed Mr. Rogers. He picked up on the second ring.“Mr. Reid,” he greeted, his voice steady as always.“Rogers, I need an update on the situation at the office,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm.“The office is running smoothly, sir. We’ve made significant progress on the Williams deal, and the new marketing campaign has been well-received,” Rogers reported.“That’s good,” I replied, though my mind was barely in the office.I had good faith in Mr Roger’s capabilities. “There’s one more thing,” Rogers continued. “We’ve noticed a rise in
Zeke's POV Quietly I looked around for a weapon, something I could use to defend myself. I found lots of car repairs, tools and parts alike. I picked an iron rod, then I tiptoed towards the door. From my analysis, there were about a dozen men and I was surrounded. They had guns and well, I had an iron rod.I walked out of the door and snuck in on one of the men, I took him out and hurried to my car. “We've got sight of him,” Damn it.They began firing and I had to hurry away since I had not brought out my shotgun. I threw the rod at one of them and ran ahead into my car, took out my gun and shot at a few of them before zooming off.The van screeched around the corner, hot on my tail as I swerved through the city streets. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline surging through my veins. I sped up, my eyes scanning the road ahead for any opportunity to lose them. Up ahead, I saw an alleyway. I took a sharp turn, tires screeching as I barreled into the alley. The van hesitated for
Belle's POV The sun was warm on my skin, the breeze gentle and soothing as it drifted through the open patio where we all sat, the laughter of our loved ones filling the air. It was a picture-perfect moment—the kind of moment I used to dream about but never truly believed would come. We were all gathered around the long, sun-dappled table, the warmth of the day reflecting the joy that radiated from everyone’s faces. Zane was sitting beside me, his hand resting comfortably on my leg, our twins, Sean and Clara, gurgling happily in their bassinet close by. The twins were the center of attention today, as they were most days. Kamille’s kids, Reon, Torin, Tyris, Royer, and little Phoebe, were running around the patio, shrieking in delight as they chased each other. I glanced at Kamille and Zeke, who were sitting across from us, laughing and chatting while keeping a watchful eye on their children. Amanda, was helping prepare the meal, occasionally smiling in our direction as the kids d
Zane's POVI stood there, fists clenched, staring Dave Scott down. Every fiber of my being wanted to lunge at him, to make him pay for everything he’d done. But I couldn’t—at least, not yet. The recorder in my pocket was still running, capturing every damning word that fell from his mouth. I could feel it, a tiny weight pressing against my ribs, reminding me that I had to play this smart. For Belle. For Kelly. For justice.Dave, on the other hand, was as smug as ever, leaning back with that infuriating smirk plastered across his face. He had no idea that his time was running out.“You think you can just waltz in here and act like you own the place?” Dave sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. “You’re nothing, Zane. A nobody playing hero in a game that’s way beyond your league.”I bit back my anger, forcing myself to remain calm. His words didn’t matter. Not when I had the truth on my side. I took a deep breath, my fingers brushing against the stop button on the recorder hidden
Belle's POVWalking into the living room wasn’t easy. My legs felt heavy, like I was dragging weights with each step. The air in the mansion was suffocating, thick with tension and unspoken fears. My heart raced, a wild, chaotic rhythm that matched the pounding of my thoughts. I could still hear my mother’s frantic voice behind me, begging, pleading for me to stay with them, to hide, to escape into the secret bunker.“Belle, you don’t have to do this!” she cried, reaching out as if she could physically hold me back. Her eyes were wide with fear, her voice trembling. “Come with us. We can hide. We can survive this.”I stopped, my hand resting on the doorframe, my back to her. I couldn’t turn around. I couldn’t let her see the turmoil etched on my face, the way my hands trembled from the weight of what I was about to do. My family was scared—terrified, really—but the idea of running, of leaving Zane behind to face this monster alone, felt like a betrayal I wasn’t willing to commit.“W
Dave's POVI had been waiting for over an hour, sitting there, staring at the doors leading to the rooms, expecting Belle and Zane to finally step out. It wasn’t like them to hide this long, especially Zane. But instead of the two people I was dying to confront, what I got was the Perri family, practically groveling before me. Pathetic.The Perri patriarch, Mr. Perri, stood in front of me with a forced smile, his hands clasped in front of him as though in prayer. His wife hovered behind him, wringing her hands nervously. “Please, David,” her father began, his voice trembling. “We don’t want any trouble. Just… drop the lawsuit. We’ll leave quietly, I swear. We won’t cause any problems.”I couldn’t help the smirk that stretched across my face. They were so desperate, so weak. This was the kind of power I craved, watching them squirm, knowing I held all the cards. “You won’t cause any trouble?” I repeated, mocking his words as if they were a joke. “Oh, trust me, you wouldn’t be able
Zane's POVBelle’s tears were too much for me to handle. The way her shoulders shook, the soft sniffles she tried to hide—it broke something inside me. I couldn’t stand seeing her like this. Without thinking, I reached out, pulling her into my arms once more, holding her as tightly as I dared.“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered, my lips brushing against her hair. “I swear to you, Belle, this will all end today. I’ll make sure of it.”She pulled back slightly, her wide, tear-filled eyes meeting mine. There was a small, hopeful smile on her lips, but I could see the doubt lingering beneath it. It killed me to know that she still didn’t fully believe everything would be fine, that she didn’t fully believe in me. But I didn’t blame her. After everything that had happened, after all the lies, how could she?God! I needed her to trust me.I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips again, my hand cupping her cheek gently. When I pulled away, her eyes fluttered open, and I saw a leve
Belle's POV“I’m scared, Zane,” I confessed. My voice trembled, and my arms tightened instinctively around my belly. I felt so vulnerable, standing there in front of him, exposed and raw. How was I supposed to face Dave? What would he say? What would he do?Zane hugged me tighter. His warmth, his strength—it was like a lifeline, grounding me in the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. He pressed a soft kiss to my hair, his lips lingering there for a moment before he spoke.“You don’t have to be scared,” he murmured into my hair, his voice gentle yet filled with quiet resolve. “I’m here. No one is going to hurt you. Not Dave. Not anyone.”I closed my eyes, leaning into his chest, letting his heartbeat steady mine. His words were soothing, like a balm to my frayed nerves. Dave had always had a way of getting under my skin, and now… with everything that had happened…“Go get refreshed,” Zane said, pulling back slightly to look into my eyes. His fingers brushed a loose strand o
Zane's POVI cursed under my breath as we broke the kiss. I let her take a while to arrange her silk gown. I moved a bit from her as my mind played over what happened the night before.Belle couldn’t sleep all night; I could tell from the way she kept shifting in bed, her body tense beneath the silk sheets. I lay beside her, watching her.I thought back to earlier that night when I walked into the Perri mansion, my mind filled with chaos, only to be confronted by an entirely different reality. I remember the way Belle’s mother was yelling, her voice shrill with rage, but none of that mattered the second I saw Belle. She stood there, so fragile and strong all at once, and without thinking, I crossed the room and pulled her into my arms. Her soft, warm body pressed against mine, grounding me in the middle of the madness. She was everything. The only thing that made sense. The world could be burning down around us, and I wouldn’t care, as long as I had her.Belle’s mother, however, didn
Belle's POVI hadn’t moved from my spot on the bed. Not an inch. I sat there, staring blankly at the wall across from me, my mind heavy with thoughts, swirling memories of last night that I couldn’t quite shake. Everything felt so distant yet so vivid, playing over and over again in my mind. The weight of it all bore down on me, rendering me numb.Opposite me, Zane sat with his back against the headboard, his eyes wide open, just watching. He had been watching me all night. He hadn’t said much, but I could feel his presence, steady and unwavering, like a tether keeping me from completely unraveling. His gaze hadn’t left me, and for some reason, I found comfort in that. My thoughts drifted back to the moment it all came crashing down. The nausea that hit me like a brick after the shouting match with my mother, the way she had followed me into the bathroom after I threw up, concern etched across her face despite the earlier anger.“Belle, are you alright?” she’d asked, her voice surp
Dave's POVThe sun was barely up, casting a dull, gray light over the city, but the weight on my chest was already heavier than the day before. The shipment I had been waiting for was just a few hours away. The timing couldn’t have been worse, not with Belle out there and Zane still breathing. I needed to tie up loose ends, and fast.I sat on the brown leather swivel chair in my study, my hands running over my face as I tried to think. I needed to find a way to get the attention of the drug enforcement agency off my back before the shipment arrived. Every second counted, and I knew that one wrong move could bring it all crashing down.I reached for my phone, my fingers tapping rapidly as I sent out a message to my men. It was time to surround the Perri mansion. We need to bring Belle's family to their limit. Once that was done, they would bring out Belle. Or rather, she would bring forth herself. Then that nosy Zane Caruso will come for her and I get to silence him forever."Surrou