Zoey p.o.v
Marco stood in all his dark glory, he was fuming. His facial expression right now is enough to have someone running. Well, good thing I don't entertain angry people. I made a move to close the door on him, but he pushed the door open, startling me.I gaped at him speechless as he made his way confidently to the living room. I went after him, immediately blocking him from going further."What are you doing here?" I glared at him. If only looks could kill, I thought within me. "Does here look like an office?" I know my tone isn't welcoming, but hey! The guy isn't welcome either.He didn't respond immediately, he took his time seizing me in his stare. His stare was extremely uncomfortable. I felt small and vulnerable under his stare.I don't know I was foolish to go up against someone like Marco, because the second he took a step forward, I fearfully tZoey p.o.vThe driver drove into an underground parking lot, a private garage built for Marco. One I didn't know existed until now. I guess most of the other workers here have no idea of the place either. The garage is considerably big. It is large enough to accommodate more than ten cars. And when I looked around out of the car window, there were several cars. Several expensive cars that I know are worth millions of dollars, but, of course, this Marco. A filthy rich billionaire. The car rode to a stop, parking beside a sports car. I was quick to unlock the door and alighted the car, eager to see it more. And they are all raven black, typical. I shook my head, but I loved it. I have this thing for dark colored cars, like brown, grey and black. But a special something for red cars. I sighed, fascinated by the sight. I would love to ride in one of those black beauties. Marco came to my side, he was scowling. He pinched the tip of his nose in what I assume was irritation. "Next t
Zoey p.o.v"So what about you? How have you been these past couple of years?" Camilla inquired, she sipped her wine, staring at me with interest. It's been two hours since I practically dragged her out of Marco's office and have been sitting in this very expensive restaurant. Where the food and drinks here are ridiculously expensive. I know I used her to get out of that hellhole, but why not? "I've been alright..." I dragged out not really knowing what to say. "I mean the struggles were there but I'm here now, so it's worth it." I concluded, not talking much about my life because seriously there was nothing much to say. I shrugged internally. "Hmmm, no boyfriend issue or just a bad hair day?" She probed, and I was even curious about my own life. Strange, right? "Yeah? Boyfriend issue.... There is none since
Author p.o.v Like a volcanic eruption, all their hidden emotions burst into flames and poured into the kiss. Marco couldn't contain the burning heat anymore, he just wanted her and more than anything in the world. Marco couldn't contain the burning heat anymore, he just wanted her. His lips moved across Zoey's plush soft ones fast with desperation, they felt and tasted even better than what he had fantasied of. He slipped his tongue into her mouth, tasting every inch of her like he'd never tasted anything sweet before. He felt drugged. His movement on her mouth became roughened, biting her lip and gripping the base of her head. Marco pulled away for a moment to look into her eyes, that same fervent erotic desire swirled in her honey-brown hues. Marco claimed her lips again, pushing his large body into her small body. She grinded her hips into his aching dick. He could feel his member throbbing
Zoey p.o.v I sat behind my desk scrolling through my social media account mindlessly, bore out of my mind. Ignoring Marco's constant stare, he was openly staring at me and didn't bother hiding it when I caught him. The few times I've caught him, I was the one to look away because his stare was hot and intense. I almost felt suffocated by it. I don't know how I would be able to endure sitting and doing nothing, because I'm seconds away from going crazy. I stared at the time on the screen of my phone in anticipation, waiting for the time to stroke 6pm for office to close. I took a deep breath that I didn't know I was holding before. "Let's go." Marco said, breaking the silence. I closed my laptop that I wasn't actually using. Pick up my bag and stood up. We went through his apartment again to the elevator that leads to his private garage. The driver was already waiting for us beside the car.
Zoey p.o.vI woke up this morning feeling lazy, sleepy and exhausted. I didn't sleep until 2am. I wasn't familiar with this place, so it will take some getting used to. I asked to have my own room and, surprisingly, agreed without a fight. I found my way to the bathroom, did my business and brushed my teeth. I went back to bed, I still want to sleep so badly. Just as I got settled in bed, a knock sounded from the door, startling me. "It's so early and I want some sleep." I hissed in irritation. I wanted to ignore whoever was on the other side, but the knock came again. And this time louder. I mumbled under my breath as I furiously made my way to the door. "This had better be valid," I muttered to myself. I swung the door open, coming face to face with my least favorite person as of now. Marco stood in front of me, and staring at me as if I should star
Zoey p.o.vAfter a few hours of sitting with these women, I begin to warm up and get comfortable with them again. They are always the chattering type, with them around you can't get bored. They were talking none stop about anything and everything, and I was really enjoying their company. I didn't feel like the outsider that I was. "He couldn't sleep that night, he kept phoning all night crying about you. I had to go over to him the very next day." Marco's mom said. Marco crying? Well that's news, because the Marco I'm seeing now doesn't look like someone who cried over a breakup he created. They are talking about the day Marco broke up with me. It was a sensitive topic for me, but I can't always hide from it. We still have to confront it one way or the other. I sighed, I really don't want to talk about that day, but this part of the story is truly intriguing.
Zoey p.o.v I took my time in the closet, and didn't come out until I heard the door to the bedroom slammed shut. I peeked out the closet, and confirmed Marco's absence before totally coming. I have a sigh, I am getting tired of these mind games Marco is playing with me. We can't continue like this. I need to stop myself from any distractions. And for that, I need space away from Marco and have a clearer judgment. I need to think straight and clearly without any influence from his side. What he did to me back then, whether intentionally or not, it's uncalled for and I'm not going to just let it slide. My stomach rumbled, reminding me to feed it. "Let's go get you fed." I rubbed my stomach slightly before going out of my room. The walk to the kitchen was quick, everywhere was silent except for my footsteps. "Did they leave?" I asked no one in
Zoey p.o.vI woke up this morning feeling energetic. I couldn't sleep all night. I was anxious and restless thinking if Marco would find out my plan to leave. Or if his mother had told him. As much as I'd love to stay here with him, and reconcile our past. I have my dignity to keep intact, I won't allow myself to be a push over. I've had enough of that during my teen days, but now I am an adult and I should be responsible for my actions. It is around nine in the morning, Marco must have gone to the office by now. So I'm just waiting for Aunt Ava. I am ready to go. Dress in my clothes, the ones I wore when I was forcefully brought here. A knock came on the door. "Zoey, are you there?" Aunt Ava's voice sounded from the other side. "Yes, coming," I yelled back, picking up my bag and making my way to the door. "Good morning ma." I greeted her the moment we came face to face. "Good morning dear, how was your night?" She replied with her contagious smile. "It was good." I nodded at
Adriano’s POVSix months later…“Now that we’re done with the ceremony, can we go on a proper tour of New York like I was promised?” Danny asked.Roselyn hit him upside the head and said, “Don’t be insensitive. Today is your sister’s day.”“Ouch, Mom! That hurt,” he complained.“And you deserve it,” Melanie’s voice cut into the conversation.“There’s my favorite nurse!” Sam yelled.“Dad, tone it down,” she said.“Nonsense. I would shout it at the top of my lungs if I had to so you can know how proud I am of you,” he replied.She smiled at her father and went to hug him then she did the same with her mom and brother who all congratulated her before she stopped in front of me.“I always knew you were something else, little nurse,” I told her. “From the first day I set my eyes on you, I knew you were better than the rest of us.”“Stop it you’re going to make me cry,” she said.I opened my arms and she stepped into me for a hug.My girl was finally a registered nurse and today was her gra
Melanie’s POVThe ride back to the house was very quiet.Throughout the ride home, I couldn’t help but think that none of this would have happened if I just had a conversation with Adriano.He was the man I fell in love with and even though I left him, he didn’t hesitate before coming for me.I know he was very relieved in the heat of the moment but I couldn’t help but wonder what was going to happen once the adrenaline wore off and he could think a bit more clearly.One thing I knew was that I was going to spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to him.Adriano was more honorable than people knew. I never thought I would be one of those women who would be pleased because her man killed people for her but as it turned out, I was one of those women.He pulled up to the house, which seemed to have more security guards on duty than normal and I knew it was all because of me.A few hours away, we were celebrating Christmas in bliss but I just had to go and ruin everything for every
Adriano’s POVThe warehouse was a hive of chaos, but I didn’t hear the shouting or the echoing footsteps behind me. All I saw was Melanie. She sat bound to a chair, her face pale, and her lip split, a streak of blood trailing down her chin. Alex Pushkin had a gun pressed to her temple. My blood ran cold. I raised my weapon, keeping my voice steady. “Let her go.” Behind me, my men spread out, weapons aimed and ready. They waited for my signal, but I couldn’t give it—not yet. One wrong move, one miscalculation, and Melanie could die. Pushkin laughed, a guttural sound that grated on my nerves. “You think you scare me? I’ve killed better men than you.” His hand twitched, and I saw the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. Good. He was scared, even if he didn’t want to admit it. Fear made people sloppy. I needed to buy time, distract him long enough for my men to position themselves. “Erica,” I said, shifting my focus to the woman who stood off to the side, smug and self-satisfie
Melanie’s POVI woke up to the biting chill of a dark, unfamiliar room, my head pounding as if it had been split in two. My wrists ached from the tight ropes binding them, and my ankles felt just as constricted."You’re awake," Erica drawled, her tone laced with mock concern. She folded her arms and leaned against the rusted frame of the door, watching me like a predator eyeing its prey. "How are you feeling, darling?" I didn't respond. My throat was dry, and my words caught somewhere between anger and fear. God, how could I have been foolish enough to let, Erica manipulate me? I should have known that she was up to no good when Alice told me that Adriano left her at the altar.I guess now I was paying the price for my foolishness."Cat, got your tongue?" she asked, smirking. "Or maybe it’s the shock of realizing you’ve been so incredibly stupid." Her words stung more than I cared to admit. I should have known better. Adriano had always been honest with me in his own way, even w
Adriano’s POVSomething was off.I didn’t know what but the moment I ended the call with Nik and sat down to work, something in my head kept nagging at me.At first, I thought it was the unusual silence in the house but I figured that was because everyone was probably asleep.I had expected Melanie to come find and chastize me for taking too long but since she didn’t, that meant that the day finally got to her and she succumbed to sleep.My girl was a rockstar tonight, and like I expected, she had my entire family eating from the palm of her hands throughout the dinner. I was sure they saw exactly what I did from the moment I set my eyes on her.By now Nik should be mobilizing the guys to infiltrate the last warehouse. He got intel that Pushkin finally moved all the girls to one place and he just got the location. I trusted Nik could handle this without me, after all, he had just singlehandedly negotiated a new deal with the Irish.Tonight I was going to end it sleeping next to the wo
Melanie’s POVThe cool night air felt like needles against my skin as I hurried down the street, my duffel bag slung over my shoulder. My legs felt like lead, but I pushed forward, every step putting more distance between me and the house that was once my prison but later became my home. The streets were quiet, the kind of silence that normally would have scared me, but tonight I welcomed it. I avoided the well-lit areas, sticking to the shadows, hoping none of Adriano's guards would see me. My pulse raced with every second, and my breath was uneven.I had no idea where I was going, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was getting away and I was lucky enough to have been able to avoid the guards. I guess the weeks of walking the grounds and studying their routine paid off.Luckily, a cab finally came into view at the corner of the street, its headlights a beacon of hope. I flagged it down, my arm trembling as I waved. The driver, an older man with kind eyes, rolled down the window.
Melanie’s POVThe first image made my heart stop.It was of a young girl who was barely a teenager. She was sitting on a dingy mattress in what looked like a warehouse, her eyes hollow, her body too thin. Behind her, a shadowy figure loomed a man I didn't recognize but I could bet my life on it that it was her oppressor.My throat tightened as I flipped to the next photograph and the next. Each one was worse than the last. Girls, so young they could barely be called women, trapped in squalor, their faces etched with fear.I couldn't breathe.At first, I thought, no, and hoped that this was evidence Adriano had gathered to shut down a trafficking ring. It had to be. He couldn't possibly be involved in this. He could kill a man but there was no way he was responsible for harming innocent girls.But then I saw it, rather I saw him. And there was no mistaking the fact that he was the one because I recognized Nik beside him.They were both holding onto girls and leading them to God knows w
Melanie’s POVWe rode home in comfortable silence. I was too full and happy from the good food and great company to say anything further.Plus, I couldn’t take my hands off the bracelet. It was just too beautiful. I’ve never owned anything as expensive as this and I was so scared to ask him how much it cost.We already exchanged gifts in the morning so I wasn’t expecting anything more from him.In a not-so-surprising turn of events, Alice was still awake by the time we got home.“For a moment I thought you both were going to spend the night there,” Alice said when we got into the living room."It's really late, Alice, and I'm sure you've had a long day. You should be sleeping," Adriano said.“I couldn’t sleep when I knew how important today was to Melanie. I was too anxious to know how it went,” she replied.“Well, you can rest easy now because it went very well,” I told her.Her face lit up with a smile and she gave me a quick hug, making me laugh.“I told you, you had nothing to wor
Melanie’s POVThe soft glow of candlelight and the twinkle of garlands wrapped around the staircase banister made the dining room feel almost magical. The air was thick with the aromas of roasted meats, spiced wine, and fresh-baked rolls, making my stomach grumble in anticipation. Platters of steaming food filled every inch of space. Roast beef surrounded by caramelized vegetables, golden potatoes dusted with rosemary, bowls of vibrant salads, and an assortment of bread rolls that looked fresh out of the oven. When we heard no movement on the steps, Zoey gave a sharp clap of her hands and called out to the men, her voice cutting through the hum of conversation. “Dinner is ready! Boys, come join us!” she said.I heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs as Adriano and the rest of the men made their way over. Adriano entered first, his presence commanding as always, but his warm smile was reserved for me alone. My heart gave a tiny flutter, and I smoothed my dress nervously. As