Andrew laughed out loud, drawing the attention of passers-by. He didn't know why but Amelia's statement sounded funny. Help him get Lorenzo? Who did she think she was? “What's funny?” Her brows furrowed as she glanced angrily at the laughing man. She was in a pickle and all he could do was laugh. “Do you think I'm bluffing?” He stopped laughing and cleared his throat. “Yes, I think you are.” He closed the door of his car and leaned on it. He couldn't help but smile as he stared at her red face. “What do you know about Lorenzo? He's not someone you can just find.” “I know you're looking for him.” She spewed. “And?” “I know he had a hand in killing your wife.” Andrew froze and Amelia smirked, she had him now. “He fled to Ecuador but you still can't get to him.” She continued, making sure to give him enough reasons to help her. “Plus someone keeps killing your men and you think it's him.” She said the final sentence with pride. Her information was sure enough to
“Andrew.” He grunted as the men pressed him to the floor. “It's nice to see you, you haven't aged a bit.” He joked, and one of the men punched him in the face. “Seems like luck isn't on your side today.” He stood in front of Jason and bent to his level, “What are you doing here?” “Do you know him?” He asked, facing Amelia, she vigorously shook her head and looked at Jason pleadingly to cooperate. She needed Andrew's help and if he knew she was in any way associated with Jason, all her effort would all go to waste. “Come on Amy, don't deny me now.” Amelia sneered at him and she looked at Andrew with pity eyes. “I don't know, I just see him around sometimes. I don't even know his name.” She lied and when Jason called her name for the second time, she felt like she was about to explode. “How come he knows your name then?” “I'm pretty popular around here.” She flipped her but when she noticed Andrew's serious expression, she calmed herself. “I work as a stripper at one
Amelia heard a knock and she answered, “Come on in.” She heard the lock of the door click shut and she sat up. “You!” She yelled as she charged towards Sebastian but he caught her with little to no effort. “Calm down or you'll get caught.” “Do I look like I care?” She snarled at him. “What was that yesterday? Why did you behave like that?” “Amelia it's not—” “You denied me, how could you? And how did you know Andrew? How come you've never mentioned him before?” He cuts him off, unwilling to give him any chance to speak. “Will you let me explain first!” He shouted but his voice drowned in her million questions. “I thought you were captured? How did you get out?” She eyes him suspiciously, he doesn't look like someone who had been beaten. He had wounds, but they were already healing. “How I escaped isn't important. Just hear me out.” He pleaded. Still, Amelia was hellbent on getting her questions answered. Her hand flew to her mouth as she gasped. “You did it didn
Amelia's small screams were heard by only Andrew as she watched Javier put a bullet through his head just as Sebastian fired at him. Blood pooled on the white carpet as the two men collapsed on the floor. It was over, though a few minutes. Sebastian didn't count it as a successful mission because the one person they had to save, was now dead. “Alejandro.” Amelia whispered and then she passed out. ______________________________ The next few days, Amelia spent it in the hospital grieving and Andrew was right by her side. She had lost everyone in her life. She lost her love, her friend, and her mother. Now she had one more person to add to the list, why was life so cruel to her? “You should eat.” “I'm not hungry.” She said under her breath, facing the wall. “You're on drugs. You need to—” “I said I'm not hungry.” She tossed the plate to the floor, causing it to shatter into pieces. “He's gone, like the rest of them. He said he loved me but he left.” Amelia folde
“What?” “Come with me to Australia. I can take care of you better.” Andrew said, hoping that she'd accept his offer because there was no way he was leaving her here. “I have no one there, my family is here. I can't just pack my things and leave.” She argued and turned away from him. She was grateful that he had offered to take care of her and it was also tempting. But how could she return to her old life knowing that she could no longer do the things that she used to do? She couldn't leave with Andrew and hide a huge secret from him. She couldn't do that to him. He deserved an explanation and she wasn't ready to give one just yet. “My family will accept you, you need to be around people. There's no one here.” He wasn't taking no for an answer. He wasn’t going to leave without her. But she was adamant. What about Sebastian? She couldn't just leave him, he was the only one she had left. “I'm not sure Andrew. I don't think they'll accept me and Tristan doesn't loo
Tears streamed down Amelia's face as she watched her mother's legacy burn to the ground. Who would do such a thing? And what was with the world and fire? Did everything in her life have to be destroyed with fire? Her cries were starting to get audible as Andrew called the fire service. He looked at the building again and this time, he felt anger bubbling inside him. Anger at the person who had such audacity to take such action and anger towards himself for being late. He should have arrived the second he got the phone call from Tristan. He failed her, everywhere. “I see you're back.” A voice said from behind and both Andrew and Amelia turned to Andrew's father there. A sinister look on his face. “And you got my present too.” “You did this?” “You don't look too surprised, son. It's almost like you expected it.” Amelia looked at Andrew confused. Did he know something like this would happen? Andrew's fist clenched as his father stood there smirking. He sho
Manny whimpered as the two people she had put her trust in emptied the third can of petrol around her. Was this how she was going to die? Why wasn't Andrew saving her? He had promised to protect her. “Pl…please…” Manny mumbled she had no strength at all now. She had lost too much blood. “Your life is in the hands of your husband.” Kate sneered as she lit a cigarette. Manny coughed weakly as she inhaled the smoke from the cigarette. “I'll do anything…please.” She cried, weakened by blood loss from her injuries. Her once vibrant dress is now stained with crimson, and her pallid face is etched with fear and desperation. “Let's call Andrew one more time. You need to say your goodbyes.” Kate said and dialed Andrew's number. “Andrew…” "Manny? Hold on. I'm coming to get you.” “Hurry, they're going to burn the place down." She wept. “Hurry…please…" Desperation and gloom weigh heavily in her voice. She heard them cackle as they waited for Andrew to come. She felt
“Did I do something wrong?” Amelia asked, noticing Andrew's weird behavior toward her in the past week She had thought he was stressed and the work was getting to him. But she was starting to think it was something more than that. “No. Why would you think that?” “You've been distant lately. I wanted to know if everything was okay.” “Everything's fine.” He assured her and kissed her forehead as they went to the dining room. He had told her everything was fine, but that was far from it. He felt different emotions inside him. If she was really Manny, why didn't she tell him? Why lie to him? It did bring him a little relief, now she knew he wasn't crazy when he saw her at the club. But why couldn't he figure that it was her right away? “Andrew!” Amelia nudged him, releasing him from his train of thought. “Yes?” He answered, a little dazed. “Josie was asking if I'll be staying here for a long time and I told her it was up to you.” She smiled, expecting him to answer
In a bright, sunlit kitchen, the aroma of freshly baked cookies fills the air. Amelia sat at the kitchen table, her hands gently resting on her pregnant belly. Her long, brunette hair cascades over her shoulders, and her eyes, filled with a blend of excitement and nostalgia, look lovingly at her two children. Aiden and Adelaide, four, sat eagerly beside her, their wide eyes full of curiosity. “Woah!” The little boy exclaimed with so much excitement. “Was that how you gave birth to us?” Amelia nodded, her smile wide. The children were waiting for their father when they pushed her to tell them a story about how she fell in love with their dad. Now that she was done, they looked at her, more curious than before. "You know, when I was a little girl, not much older than you two, I used to dream about the day I'd have my own family," she began. “And now I do.” She beamed at them. “But why was Daddy so mean to you? He even threatened to take away Angel?!” Adelaide asked,
The night was eerily quiet when Amelia's labor began. She had felt sporadic contractions throughout the day, but they were manageable. Now, though, as the pain intensified and the contractions came closer together, she knew it was time. But her husband seemed to be lost on what to do. "Hang in there Manny. I'm calling Josie and Tristan to come over." Andrew said, trying to keep his voice steady. “Call the fucking driver Andrew. I need to go to the hospital." Amelia yelled as the pain intensified. “Right, the driver." Andrew scurried out of the house and later came back in to get his wife. "Get the bags!” Amelia commanded and he complied, afraid she would tear him off with her eyes. On their way to the hospital, Andrew informed Tristan what was happening and he promised to show up at the hospital with Josie. Amelia's mind was a whirlwind of emotions—excitement, fear, and pain intertwined. She had done thousands of checkups and only ate the food Andrew cooked for h
The grand cathedral was adorned with cascading white roses, shimmering crystals, and soft candlelight, casting a warm, ethereal glow over the gathering. The air buzzed with the murmur of anticipation and the gentle strains of a string quartet playing in the background. Down the hallway where she was getting set, Amelia felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness as she prepared to walk down the aisle. Her dress was a masterpiece of silk and lace, custom-designed to fit her perfectly. She had designed the dress herself, she might have wielded a gun for ten years but her hands could still hold a needle. Tristan wore a proud smile as he stretched his hands out for her. She took his arm, feeling the weight of the moment settle in her chest, her heart pounding with each step. The doors swung open, and a collective gasp echoed through the hall. Amelia took in deep breaths, and with joy, she took her first step onto the rose-petal-strewn aisle. Her eyes locked with Andrew’s wh
Amelia spent a month and some days in the hospital getting better but mostly cuddling up with Andrew. Their love continued like she never left. There were times that she would cry while explaining everything she had been through and Andrew would console her, promising to do everything in his power to protect her. Andrew had come to pick her up from the hospital that morning and Josie insisted that Amelia come to her place first. It was her house regardless. “I can't believe this." Josie squealed, unable to contain her joy. All this while, her friend was alive and was right under her nose. She knew the first time she set her eyes on Amelia that there was something familiar about her. “You're alive." She spread her arms wide and Amelia wasted no time in jumping into her embrace. She had missed her so much. "I'm so happy.” "Me too Josie…me too.” The two women cried till they could cry no more. Their cheeks were red, their eyes puffy and their clothes were stained wi
The sound of something shattering jerked Amelia back into consciousness. She tried getting up and groaned as she fell back down. She looked at what was happening around her, her swollen eyes making it almost impossible to see who was who. She was kept hidden in a corner, away from the disaster that was happening. “Fuck.” She heard Sebastian's voice and quickly turned in his direction. She saw him tangled up with the man she had seen so many times. Her captor. “Sebastian.” She croaked, but he couldn't hear. Just then he received a bullet to the end. Amelia froze but then breathed out in relief as he saw Sebastian get up. She looked up to see who had shot the gun and saw Tristan helping him up. ‘Andrew.’ a voice screamed at her. Her eyes scanned the room, her heart pounding, praying something hadn't happened to Andrew as she searched for him. The firing of a gun caught her attention. Tilting her head out of curiosity, she found Andrew, firing his father's both legs. “
Andrew and his men moved out. The roaring engines of the cars filled the air as they drove deep into the outskirts of town. Andrew drove Tristan and Sebastian with him as he continued running the plan over in his mind. ‘nothing could go wrong.’ He thought, gripping the steering wheel tightly. “Dude, slow down. You're going to get us killed before we even get there." Tristan cautioned, feeling the increasing speed of the car. This was his first ever mission and his anxiety got the better of him. "I should have just stayed behind the scenes like always.” He muttered, regretting his decision the closer they got to their destination. “I didn't force you." Andrew reminded and Sebastian chuckled at the back. "Whatever. I just want to come back alive.” The car became quiet again and after a while, they got to the place. Allen and Lorenzo had done a good job hiding the place. At first, it was pretty hard to locate. Andrew stepped out of his car, the cool air sweeping
“I kept her under your care.” Andrew bellowed, his eyes blazed with anger as he punched Tristan. Tristan staggered back and massaged his jaw. Andrew had just arrived from Mexico and the first thing on his mind was to punch him. “How the fuck did she get kidnapped!” He roared, hitting him again before he could regain his stance. Couldn't something go right in his absence for once? “I tried to warn her, it's not my fault. She's a grown woman!” Tristan argued, dodging the next punch that Andrew threw at him. Andrew kept charging at him, and Tristan constantly missed it. He tried his best not to hit back, he knew Andrew wasn't himself at the moment. “Andrew!” Josie snapped, her sharp voice pierced through the hallway as her eyes blazed with fury and her lips curled up in anger. “She left on her own. Don't hold my husband responsible.” She hissed coming forward to stand between them. “You should have tried to talk sense into her.” “Who said we didn't?” Josie took a step
“What do you mean kidnapped?” Andrew barked, his teeth gritting. He left her right there for protection. How was it possible to get kidnapped? “She went out for a walk and never came back. We've been searching for her.” Tristan explained he could tell Andrew wasn't having any of it. “And then?” He hissed. “We got a note yesterday, saying if you want to see your wife, you have to bring the cash.” Andrew fumed at his statement, his hand clenched in a fist. Would his father go this far? Or was it someone else? “Did it say who it's from?” “Lorenzo.” He paled. His blood ran cold at what he would have done to Amelia. Then he felt immersed in Anger. He wasn't going to win this time. Without allowing Tristan to continue, he ended the call, picked up the documents from the table, and headed toward the door. He wasn't losing her for the second time. Getting closer to the exit, he saw Sebastian by the door, a duffel bag in his hand. “I'm going with you.” He said, h
“Why can't you just listen? Don't go out at night, it's a very simple instruction.” Tristan complained as he drove Amelia back to the house. She had gone out of the house again for her ‘evening walks.’ “You can't tell me what to do.” She whined, folding her hands like a child that had been scolded. “Andrew isn't here at the moment so as of right now, I get to tell you what to do.” Amelia just scoffed as she looked out her window, the night cool air, hitting her as Tristan drove. They got home to see Josie by the entrance, pacing. “Amelia.” She rushed over to her and hugged her. “You got me so worried, don't just leave the house like that ever again.” “Andrew said your life might be in danger, that's why you have to stay with us.” “I'm sorry for making you worry but I'm here now. Why don't we go inside?” Josie nodded and Amelia led her into the house by the hand. Everyone had retired to bed and was now sleeping, except her. So she decided to go again. Making su