DAVINAI blinked several times, looking for the joke in his eyes.“Huh?”“You have something to tell me, Davina. I can see it in your face. And considering the time of day and how nervous you are, I'm going to guess it's something serious.” He tilted his head, analyzing me closely.I sighed and bit into my sandwich, more to avoid talking than out of hunger.“Come on, Davina. You didn't come here just to stare at my decorations or admire my beauty.” He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing with an amused glint. “Do you want to talk? Or is this just some new game I haven't figured out yet?”“Maybe it is a game.” I tried to sound casual, but my voice came out more hesitant than I would have liked.Aaron leaned his elbows on the worktop and watched me, as if he expected me to continue. But the intensity in his gaze made me want to look at something else. I turned away, letting my eyes wander around the kitchen. The elegance of the place seemed to contrast with Aaron's uncomplicated tone. Wh
DAVINA"I don't." His voice came out harsher than he probably intended. "My parents blocked my account. They don't trust me with money, not until I..." He paused, his eyes avoiding mine."Until you what?" My brow furrowed.Aaron shrugged, as if it wasn't important. But I could smell it—it was important, at least to him."It's too long and twisted a story for now."He walked back into the kitchen, and I watched him, feeling the desperation growing inside me. I knew I was asking for something big, but I also knew that Aaron was one of the few people who could help me."I need your help, Aaron. Please." My voice almost broke at the end.He stopped and stared at me, the anger gradually softening, replaced by something that seemed closer to pain."I'll manage, Davina," he finally said, his tone serious and definitive. "But I'm not going to let you face this alone."I wanted to believe him, but doubt still lingered in my heart.My father could die in a few hours if I didn't get the money.Th
DAVINAI rolled my eyes, a mixture of frustration and exasperation, trying to ignore the way he seemed to be amused by my reaction. Silly muscles."Hurry up and get dressed, Aaron," I replied, trying to stay focused and play the indifferent one. No woman needs to boost a man's ego. "We don't have much time."He patted my shoulder, more as a gesture of mockery than comfort. I ignored him and turned away, trying to stay calm, but I knew he was doing something. When I turned back, he was ready.What I didn't expect was the impact his appearance would have on me. Aaron was dressed completely in black. Black top, black pants, black sneakers. The outfit highlighted everything I tried not to notice. What really caught my eye was how the black highlighted his gray hair, making him look darker and more handsome, almost as if he wasn't from this world. I found myself staring longer than I should have, an uncomfortable but undeniable sensation sprea
AARON MILLERThe music in the nightclub vibrated like a deaf drum in my ears, but the only thing I could feel clearly was Davina. My hand rested on her waist, and the warmth of her skin felt like an instant addiction. Every curve fit perfectly in the palm of my hand, an overwhelming, suffocating sensation that told me she should be there, with me.We started walking towards the entrance and she shivered. I squeezed her waist and leaned in, pressing my lips against her shoulder."It's okay,” I whispered, my voice low enough not to be heard by anyone else, even though there was no one close enough.Davina turned her face to me, her eyes burning with that fire that only she had, and even without a word, I knew she believed me. I smiled at her, as if everything was under control, even though inside me the adrenaline was rushing like lightning.When I got to the door, the security guard stared at me. He was bald, with a thick red beard. A tattoo of scratches covered the left side of his fa
AARON MILLERKJ left us at a table with a calculated smile before disappearing into the VIP wing. The heavy door closed behind him with a slam, isolating us from whatever was going on inside. I knew that the game had hidden layers. It always had. But that didn't matter. That night, I couldn't lose.The first game was easy. Chips slid towards me while the other players gave me suspicious looks. A second quick win turned the stares into something more aggressive. When I won the third round in a row, the atmosphere became as tense as a steel wire about to snap."There's something wrong here," one of the guys muttered, throwing his cards on the table. He had broad shoulders and a scar that cut across his eyebrow. "You're stealing, kid.""Stealing?" I raised my hands, trying to sound calm, but feeling the adrenaline rise. "I didn't know luck was a crime."Davina, next to me, gasped softly, her expression vacillating between concern and fear. I could feel the panic starting to take hold of
GUTEMBERGMy fingers skimmed across the page in a hurry, a habit I picked up as soon as I started reading physical books - that's another thing about me, I prefer real books to e-books. I was sitting on the edge of the bed, a book resting in my hands. The low light from the lamp highlighted the shadows on the walls, creating an atmosphere of calm. The novel I was reading was one full of twists and turns and tragedy, my favorite kind, especially if the main character is the hero and the villain at the same time. I was at an important moment in the story, Carl Pickett has just discovered that he has a brain tumor and only a few months to live, so he catches his girlfriend and his best friend in bed and decides he's going to do whatever he wants. His first act, to take his friend's wife. I keep my passion for romance a secret for one reason: vulnerability.The high-pitched sound of the phone vibrating on the side table interrupted the silence. I blinked, letting my finger mark the page,
GUTEMBERGI passed the bouncers without hesitation, but the weight of the stares on my back was palpable. Inside the nightclub, the bass music pulsed, almost drowned out by the walls. The air was thick with smoke and tension. Whatever was waiting for me, it didn't look good.I walked through the nightclub with firm but unhurried steps. My gaze went from one side to the other, registering every face, every action, every detail that might be useful to me later. The men in suits stood out, scattered strategically between the gaming tables and the bar. Most of them were accompanied by women in minimal clothing, some without tops. They circulated around the room carrying trays of filled glasses. The smell of booze, cigarettes and a slight hint of metal hung in the air, making the atmosphere stifling.Poker tables and casino machines glittered in one corner, attracting groups of patrons looking for luck or distraction. It was obvious that the money kept flowing in. Everything was calculated
GUTEMBERGStill holding the photo album, I felt a tremor run through my body. Each page turned was a punch in the gut, a raw and revolting demonstration of the monstrosity that surrounded me. The faces of the girls, some so young they could have been in high school, stared at me with empty expressions, as if every spark of hope had already been ripped out of them.It was unbearable.“The best on the market, Gutemberg. We hand-picked them,” said KJ, with a disgusting smile and eyes shining with an enthusiasm that made my blood boil.The words hit me like a slap. I clutched the album so hard that my knuckles turned white. Every inch of me was screaming to explode, but I remained seated, forcing myself to keep a neutral expression. Morgana. My mind went back to my younger sister. She's the age of most of these girls; it could be her there, portrayed so brutally, reduced to a worthless piece of meat.“Premium product, you see. Nothing less. And that's the fun of it: customers pay a fortun
GUTEMBERGGUTEMBERGThe motorcycle is lying in the middle of the street, engine still hot, smoke rising. The streetlights flicker, casting restless shadows across the asphalt. My chest rises and falls, blood rushing hot through my veins, but none of that compares to the rage pulsing inside me. My eyes lock onto Timmy’s figure, fists clenched, standing just a few feet away.I throw my helmet to the ground hard, the sound echoing through the empty street, and I charge like a starving animal finding a scrap of meat."What the hell is wrong with you!?" I yell, shoving him with all my strength. "You rammed your car into my bike? Were you trying to kill me?"He doesn’t move an inch. That mocking smirk on his face only fuels the fire in my chest."And you’re trying to ruin Davina, aren’t you, Ghost?" The nickname rolls off his tongue like a slap. "Did you tell her about Pryia? Dropped that bomb on her lap? Who the hell do you think you are?""She deserved to know!" I snap, my voice ripping t
DAVINAI narrowed my eyes.“So? What are you hiding?”“Nothing,” Timmy replied too quickly, looking away.Hmm.Liar.“Don’t lie.” My voice was heavy with hurt, but also with determination. “I can feel it. You’re hiding something.”Gutemberg sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, while Timmy looked like he was about to explode.“We’re not hiding anything,” Gutemberg said, but his tone wasn’t convincing.“You’re a terrible liar,” I shot back, staring at them both. “Just say it. What else do you know?”Timmy huffed, kicking the floor hard before turning to face me.“You’re not going to like it, Davina.”“I already don’t!” I yelled, throwing my arms in the air. “Now talk.”He clenched his fists like he was fighting with himself, then muttered a curse under his breath.“It’s KJ,” he finally said, spitting out the name like poison.I blinked, confused.“KJ?”“Yes, KJ.” Timmy was furious, his eyes locked on mine like he wanted to strangle me for making him say it. “He’s behind all of this.”T
DAVINA"You've got to be kidding me!"Timmy's voice echoed through the room like thunder, making me spin on my heels. He stormed in, his hair still wet, even though he had showered before me. In the blink of an eye, he grabbed Gutemberg by the collar."What do you think you're doing?" he snarled, his eyes blazing with anger.Gutemberg stared at him in surprise, taking a second to understand where Timmy had come from."How the hell did you get in here?" Gutemberg asked, incredulous.Timmy let out a dry laugh, full of irony."I should ask you the same question. But that doesn't matter now. What matters is that you broke our agreement.""Agreement?" I repeated, confused, looking from one to the other.Timmy ignored my question and tightened his grip on Gutemberg's collar, who maintained his posture, although his eyes gave away a slight discomfort."We agreed not to talk about this shit with Davina!" Timmy roared, bringing his face closer to his.My stomach knotted up."What are you talki
DAVINAI left the bathroom with my towel slung over my shoulder, drying my wet hair. I was still processing Timmy's words when I suddenly stopped in the hallway. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to figure out if I was imagining things. Maybe it was my mother, or my grandmother. But it wasn't.I stopped at the living room door, and there he was. Gutemberg.He was sitting comfortably on the sofa, as if he owned the house. One leg crossed casually over his knee, his hands resting on the arms of the furniture. He wore a black shirt that highlighted his broad shoulders, dark jeans and boots. There was something new on him, a thin gold chain with a crystal pendant hanging from it. It looked old, but intriguing. His fingers, covered in rings, tapped gently on the sofa as if he were waiting for something or someone.He looked up and smiled slightly when he saw me standing there, completely frozen, with a probably ridiculous expression."Are you going to stare at me like a little fan? It's a bi
DAVINAThe sound of the cutlery clinking against the expensive plates made me want to scream. My parents' mansion had never been a home; it had always been a museum, a stage where happiness was just a cheap act. And today was no different.My mother, sitting at the head of the table with a forced smile, was talking about a charity dinner that Jimmy, my father, was planning to hold soon."They'll love the idea, dear. Who wouldn't want to help children in need?" Her voice was sweet, but soulless. Just an echo of who she used to be.I pretended to be interested, cutting the piece of meat on my plate without really thinking about eating it. I knew she didn't believe a word she said. The donations, the parties, everything was to feed Jimmy's ego and keep up appearances.I looked at her and felt that familiar tightness in my chest. Her platinum blonde hair was perfectly groomed, cut elegantly just above her shoulders. She looked like a princess from a fairytale, but the sparkle in her eyes
DAVINAI was trying to keep my composure, but the way Gutemberg was looking at me was getting on my nerves. It was that look that said he knew something I didn’t. Something he was keeping from me, and that irritated me even more. So when he finally opened his mouth, I already knew something bad was coming.“What?” he asked, with that mocking tone that made my patience evaporate. “Do you think Midnight is going to invite you for afternoon tea if you keep bringing him cake?”My eyebrows shot up, and I stared at him like he had lost his mind.“What are you talking about?” I spat, crossing my arms.He shrugged, that crooked smile playing on his lips, but his eyes seemed… upset? No. That was impossible. Gutemberg didn’t get u
DAVINAThe clock seemed to mock my lack of patience. The last lesson of the day always dragged on, but today, every second seemed like an eternity. It wasn't the teacher's fault, he did his best to keep us interested, but the persistent feeling of being watched took my focus away.Especially as I knew where the stares were coming from.Tom.I pretended not to notice, but his stares were obvious, even if he tried to be discreet. Every time he thought I wasn't looking, there he was, staring. Before, it would have made me blush. Today, it just made the blood boil in my veins.He had the audacity to stare at me like that while still reposting happy photos with his pregnant fiancée on social media. “Our family is growing,” read the caption on her latest post.I breathed a sigh of relief when the bell rang, ending the lesson. Finally. I gathered my things in a hurry, sensing that he would try to talk to me again. He's been trying all week. Two weeks ago, when he came with his mask of sympat
DAVINA"You shouldn't be here!" Gutemberg spoke, his jaw locked and his voice deadly, the kind of tone that makes the back of your neck shiver.I blinked, completely bewildered. I hadn't seen him for a month, and now he was standing there, on Midnight's doorstep, looking more sullen and menacing than ever."I...," the words just disappeared from my mouth. "I just... brought a cake."Great, Davina. That'll definitely make things less awkward.Gutemberg arched an eyebrow, but before he could say anything, Midnight appeared behind him, as if to summon him with a thought."You brought it," he said, pushing Gutemberg aside nonchalantly. His half-lidded eyes ran over me, from the cake in my hands to my face. It was almost as if he was too lazy to deal with me but still curious enough not to dismiss me."Is that strawberry in there?" Midnight asked, pointing with his chin at the cake.I shook my head quickly, holding the cake tighter."No. It's chocolate with nuts."But I should have added s
DAVINAThe smell of forgotten clothes and a light, aged floral perfume hung in the air. My mother was in bed, motionless, as if time had stopped for her. Her eyes were open but empty, fixed on the ceiling. The room was plunged into darkness. The thick curtains blocked out the sunlight that insistently tried to come through the windows."Mom..." My voice sounded softer than I had intended, almost like a plea. I entered the room carefully, like someone invading a broken shrine. It's been a month. Thirty long, suffocating days since we lost Dad.She didn't answer. She didn't even blink.I approached the bed, leaning over to meet her gaze."I know it hurts, but... I'm here too, Mom. I need you." My eyes began to sting, but I held back the tears. Someone had to be strong.Again, silence.I sighed, running my hand over my face. Every day, the hope of bringing her back seemed to diminish. It was as if Dad's death had taken her soul with it, leaving only her body behind. I turned to the small