Astrella's point of view After Dax left, I chose to look around a bit. I asked a staff member if Dax has a private room here. I was surprised that they gave directions right away without any hesitation. I was thinking Dax had already told them to help me with anything I needed. They were all nice, professional, and unexpectedly friendly, not at all the unfriendly type I thought I would find here. One of them escorted me to his room, stopping at the door before giving me a small nod and walking away. I murmured a quick thank you before stepping inside, curiosity getting the best of me. As soon as I walked in, I was enveloped by the prominent fragrance of Dax, which was full of variety clean, and intoxicating. His room looked just how I pictured it: sleek, tidy, and effortlessly masculine. The color scheme was made up of mostly gray and black, which gave it a subtle but powerful vibe. A black rug was on the floor close to his bed, and a dark hardwood table was nearby with a laptop
Astrella's point of view The only noise in the room was the constant sound of water pouring down from the shower. Dax was still inside, cleaning the blood and sweat off of himself after the horrible experience he had just gone through. However, I was unable to concentrate on that because my phone lit up again, sending a new surge of panic through my body. With trembling fingers, I unlocked the screen and opened the message. An image. My heart sank. It was my sister. The image was taken only a little while ago when we were FaceTiming. I could still picture her in my head, smiling and mocking, fully oblivious to the fact that someone had been watching her. Was close enough to take this picture. I rechecked the image, searching for any sign that it was fake, that this was some kind of sick trick. But no. It was real. I started to panic, and my breathing became shallow and my chest felt tight. They had her in their sights. I made my fists into tight balls and tried to think.
Third person's point of view Astrella Honey Salcedo was seated at her desk, gazing closely at the pages of her most recent novel without shifting her gaze. She had a deep appreciation for each and every word, completely submerging herself in the passion and mystery of her characters. However, at this point, she deserved a break, a time to put her thoughts in order and relax. She yawned and ignored her phone's constant buzzing; she knew that it was her best friend, Gaia. Tonight, she would leave her apartment's peace and quiet and dive right into the city's busy nightlife. The ritual of their nights out had become a cherished escape. For Astrella, it wasn’t just about taking a break from writing; the chaotic nightlife of the city served as an escape from the weight of her father's enemies. Years spent entangled in the mafia underground had left her family scarred and constantly on edge. Even though Astrella's father tried to put his history in the mafia underground behind him,
Third person's point of view Astrella Honey Salcedo’s heart pounded in her chest as the auctioneer’s voice echoed in the vast, dimly lit hall. The room, filled with wealthy bidders and dangerous criminals, had become a tense battlefield. She had been expecting the usual roster of ruthless men and women, all eager to claim the night's prize. Her. After all, the debt her father owed to the underworld is now being repaid in flesh and blood. But what she hadn’t expected, what she could never have prepared for, was the familiar, deep voice that echoed through the crowd as the bidding reached its peak. “one hundred million,” Dax Donomie Martinelli’s voice rang out, calm and cold, unmistakable despite the years. A knot formed in Astrella's throat. It was that voice that she was familiar with. No matter how pleasant or horrible her dreams were, this voice would follow her. Yet this was no dream. The room seemed to fall silent as every head turned toward the man who had just
Third person's point of view In the dimly lit limo, Astrella stared out the window, the city lights blurring like the chaotic thoughts racing through her mind. Each flicker seemed to echo the shadows deep within her. She was back in the clutches of Dax Donomie Martinelli, a man who now seemed more a ghost than the person she once knew. The oppressive silence in the car gnawed at her. Dax sat across from her, his posture rigid, eyes fixed ahead. At last, Astrella couldn't bear the quiet any longer. “You manipulated everything,” she said, her voice cutting through the stillness. “The auction, the debts—you pulled the strings to drag me back.” Dax didn’t flinch. His gaze remained on the road, his tone cool. “Not everything,” he replied. “You were always within reach. I didn’t need to manipulate; I just needed to wait.” Astrella's fury ignited. She lunged for the door handle, yanking it in vain as the lock clicked securely. Her nostrils flared as she slammed her fist into the seat
Third person's point of view Dax led Astrella to a large set of double doors, and with a swift motion, he pushed them open, revealing an expansive, dimly lit room. It was an office, but it looked like something out of a nightmare. A large desk sat in the center of the room, and behind it, a figure stood. The man was tall, broad-shouldered, with dark, greasy hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. Dax stepped into the room without a word, his presence commanding. The other man didn’t turn to greet them immediately. Instead, he lingered by the window, watching the night, his hands clasped behind his back. “Keyu,” Dax uttered, his voice deep. “This is the woman I told you about. Astrella Honey.” Keyu turned around slowly, and when his eyes locked with Astrella, she felt the weight of his gaze like a physical blow. He didn’t smile. He didn’t speak. He just studied her as though she were some new object to be appraised. Astrella felt her skin crawl under his scrutiny, b
Astrella's point of view I'm in a room now. I don't know if someone already used this room but I don't care. It's dark, but I like it still. Honestly, it feels like heaven, well, my version of it. The kind where you can hide from everything and everyone. No loud noises, no Dax looming over me with his dramatic speeches about "justice." But seriously, how do people live like this? What’s next? Will I get a manual on how to endure this endless circus? Or, better yet, do they have an escape route hidden in the walls, like in those fancy spy movies? A loud noise suddenly shatters my thoughts. "What in the actual hell are they doing?" It sounds like, I don’t know, a broken chair? Is someone getting beat up? Is there a boombayah happening in the background? What kind of messed-up shenanigan is this? I freeze, my heart doing a shitty sprint in my chest. "Okay, Astrella, breathe. It's just a really bad game of musical chairs, right? Yeah, totally normal. Totally. Oh my god, who's
Astrella's point of view Before opening the door, I took a deep breath to calm myself. When I finally pulled it open, there he was. It looked like Keyu had just won the lottery of anger because he was standing there with that annoying, smug grin on his face. A girl stood next to him. This must be Ciejill, the one he mentioned. But, wow, she looks so unreal. I mean, she was the type of perfection that made you doubt everything you knew about the world. Her porcelain skin, flawless features, and doll-like eyes made her look like a living, breathing Barbie. Or maybe one of those AI models that people argue over online. Either way, it was unsettling. "Well, there’s our princess," Keyu drawled, his grin widening. "Meet Ciejill. She’s dying to play with you." I glanced at Ciejill before turning my attention back to Keyu, delivering a fierce glare. "I don’t play well with strangers, especially ones delivered by you." Ciejill’s smile didn’t falter, but something about her prese
Astrella's point of view The only noise in the room was the constant sound of water pouring down from the shower. Dax was still inside, cleaning the blood and sweat off of himself after the horrible experience he had just gone through. However, I was unable to concentrate on that because my phone lit up again, sending a new surge of panic through my body. With trembling fingers, I unlocked the screen and opened the message. An image. My heart sank. It was my sister. The image was taken only a little while ago when we were FaceTiming. I could still picture her in my head, smiling and mocking, fully oblivious to the fact that someone had been watching her. Was close enough to take this picture. I rechecked the image, searching for any sign that it was fake, that this was some kind of sick trick. But no. It was real. I started to panic, and my breathing became shallow and my chest felt tight. They had her in their sights. I made my fists into tight balls and tried to think.
Astrella's point of view After Dax left, I chose to look around a bit. I asked a staff member if Dax has a private room here. I was surprised that they gave directions right away without any hesitation. I was thinking Dax had already told them to help me with anything I needed. They were all nice, professional, and unexpectedly friendly, not at all the unfriendly type I thought I would find here. One of them escorted me to his room, stopping at the door before giving me a small nod and walking away. I murmured a quick thank you before stepping inside, curiosity getting the best of me. As soon as I walked in, I was enveloped by the prominent fragrance of Dax, which was full of variety clean, and intoxicating. His room looked just how I pictured it: sleek, tidy, and effortlessly masculine. The color scheme was made up of mostly gray and black, which gave it a subtle but powerful vibe. A black rug was on the floor close to his bed, and a dark hardwood table was nearby with a laptop
Dax Donomie's point of view If looks could kill, we would already be drowning in our own blood. Every action was planned, and and every step was taken carefully. We had put a lot of thought into an arrangement that would allow us to move important items across borders without being detected, but somehow, this motherfucker Jasper had discovered it. In what way? "What now? We could just talk about this, you know," Jasper shouted out, his voice filled with excitement. I snorted, not impressed at all. I gave one of my men a slight nod to let him know that they should be prepared. We were both aware that this conversation was not going to be fair. Jasper and I were quite similar; we were both manipulative, crafty, and always looking for ways to get an advantage in the long run. The only thing that set me apart was that I played to win. "Fvcking dickhead, get down here," I growled, my jaw tightening. "Don't be so damn proud of yourself." Jasper chuckled. "Sure. Give me a minute."
Dax Donomie's point of view "Any progress with Astrella's parents?" I asked Silvio over the phone, pinching the bridge of my nose as frustration coiled through my veins. "Oh, yeah. We found them. Actually, Fabio and I are already heading to their location," Silvio snapped and pause for a moment. "But there's a problem. The shipment arrives today. Fabio and I can't be in two places at once, hmmm. You just got back to the city, right? You can head straight to the south port and take care of the shipment." I shut my eyes, inhaling deeply to keep from cursing him out. "Are you fvcking kidding me? Damn. That shipment is important." I spat at him. I just got back, and he conveniently forgot to inform me about this in advance? And worse. I was with Astrella. This was one of the things I hadn’t told her yet. Yes, she knew about the Martinelli Security Firm, but this? This was beyond dangerous. More dangerous than running a high-end security business. She wasn’t stupid. She probably
Astrella's point of view Another week flew by so fast, and now we’re got ready to return to the city. Dax and I have spent a lot of time getting to know each other, but there is still something about him that I have not been able to grasp. However, that is not a problem. At the very least, I have been able to see a different side of him, the side that he allows me to see. I will not ask for anything else. The most important thing is that we are finally getting along.I have truly enjoyed my time here, especially the time I spent with Grandma. The countryside is calm, which is a sharp contrast to the chaos that awaits us when we return to the city. Yet, Dax's world is meant to remain there, with all of the responsibilities weighing down on him.I inhale deeply, bracing myself for what’s to come. Before we left, he told me he’d give me a gun, one I could hide on my thigh for protection. I smirked at the thought. He’s not worried I might use it on him. Then again, even if I did, I doubt
Astrella's point of view We were now walking through a peaceful national park. After exploring some trails, we came across a beautiful farm full of life, with horses grazing lazily in the fields, chickens clucking away, and ducks waddling near a small pond. Fresh hay and dirt smelled in the air, which made me feel strangely at ease. Watching a group of ducklings follow their mother, Dax's phone buzzed. I looked at him right away as he casually took the phone out of his pocket. While he read the message, his face was blank; his brow didn't pucker or lift in response. "Who's that?" I asked, tilting my head curiously. It wasn’t like I was trying to pry into his personal matters. I was just mildly intrigued. He slipped his phone back into the pocket of his leather jacket with a nonchalant shrug. “Grace.” My brows went up, and I became very interested. “What did she say?” He didn’t answer. Instead, he reached out and ruffled my hair like I was some mischievous child. “He
Astrella's point of view After a few weeks, something in Dax changed in a way that I couldn't ignore, no matter how hard I tried. Now, the way he looked at me and the way he spoke to me was different. His voice was kinder to the environment, almost gentler, and he wasn't trying to figure out every word I said to see if it was a lie. My parents were still on the run, but my sister was safe and hidden in a place that Dax had set up. At least some of the time, it looked like he believed what I said about not being on my parent's side. Well, when I told him what happened, I could see doubt in his eyes. It was like he was on the edge of trust but not quite ready to jump. I don't blame him; if I were him, I wouldn't trust me either. For now, though, it was enough that he wasn't treating me like a threat. And honestly, the biggest relief of all? Grace. She was finally out of the picture. After that overnight visit, she hadn’t made any more excuses to come back. No more chirping about Dax
Astrella's point of view His punishment is unbearable. It’s not physical, but it’s far worse, mental torture. It feels like my very flesh is grinding itself to dust. I hate being like this, so transparent and vulnerable. My emotions are all over the place, slipping through my grasp, and he knows it. And what truth is he talking about? What does he want me to say? If I tell him what I know, there’s no guarantee of what will happen next or to whom. Dax’s intense gaze burned into me as he leaned forward. “Do you think I don’t know anything? That I’m some kind of fool?” His voice was low and controlled but sharp enough to cut through my defenses. Before I could respond, he was suddenly right in front of me. In one swift motion, he grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me onto the table. My pulse raced as he caged me in, his hands planted firmly on either side of me. His jaw clenched, his face so close that I could feel his breath brushing against my skin. “Look me in the eyes,
Astrella's point of view The clanking of utensils was the only sound breaking the silence at the dining table. For once, no awkward chatter or drama was unfolding during the meal—a small blessing I wasn’t about to overlook. We were almost done eating, and all I could think about was retreating to my room and hoping that Dax’s so-called punishment would magically slip his mind. Wishful thinking? Probably. “Oh, Dax,” Grace suddenly chirped, breaking the peace. “I just remembered, I have something in the basement that I really need help with. Can you come with me and get it?” Dax glanced at her for a fleeting second, his expression jumbled. Then, turning to me instead of Grace, he said, “Sure, after this.” And just like that, his gaze locked on me again. “Astrella,” he said, his voice carrying a warning, “I’m telling you one last time if you’re still not in my room after this, I swear I’ll drag you out, no matter where you’re hiding.” I swallowed hard, trying not to choke on my