Ava p.o.v What's the worse that could happen, I shudder at that. It's obvious something isn't right.The urgent movement in the kitchen made me pause for a brief moment, my gaze sweep the kitchen then stop on paled Tricia trying to hide behind the counter.I rose a questioning brow at her when she realized it was just me, she place her right palm on her chest to calm her racing heart."Why were you hiding?" I alright I shouldn't have asked mainly because I already know why, she roll her big doe eyes coming out of her hideout. Funny to say it was the big counter that sat in the middle of the kitchen, which was stupid because anyone would easily see her."Don't tell me you didn't see Dario." She scoff, silently telling me she didn't need to be reminded of Dario's presence.I sighed softly, that's one of the many reasons I don't appreciate the thought of having a boyfriend, having to tell him everything and wanting permission and all. Especially one that is Rich, Tricia's state
Vincenzo p.o.v He woke up each morning with the desire to do right, to be a good and meaningful person, to be, as simple as it sounds and as impossible as it actually was, Happy.And during the course of each day his heart would descend from his chest into his stomach. By early afternoon he was overcome by the feeling that nothing was right or nothing was right for him, by the desire to be alone. By evening he was fulfilled, alone in the magnitude of his grief, alone in his aimless guilt. Alone even in his loneliness. I am not sad, He would repeat to himself over and over.I am not sad.As if he might one day convince himself or fool himself, or convince others. The only thing worse than being sad is for others to know that you are sad. Because his life had unlimited potential for happiness, insofar as it was an empty white room.He would fall asleep with his heart at the foot of his bed, like some domesticated animal that was no part of him at all. And each morning he wou
Ava p.o.vI didn't realize how much I've missed my Mom and siblings until now, the day passed by painfully slow, I've been waiting anxiously for this day. Now I'm sitting in the taxi my feet bouncing off the floor eagerly as we move down the familiar street I've spent all my life in.The three hours ride from the University located in the main city of Seattle is already killing me, and this short ride from the bus stop to our house just seems to be taking forever. This is the time I regret ever deciding to school so far away from home, well in my defense. I have to be far away because of a particular person.You know him, no need for a reminder.If I had my ways, I wouldn't be coming back to this place, but I'm missing the people that means the world to me.Finally the taxi pulled up in front of my home, the single story white building that stood proudly before me. Hurriedly paid the driver, I raced up the small stairs of the front yard of the house.The door swung open before I could
Ava p.o.v Waking up at 6am on a Saturday morning, with Tricia swearing and ranting on the phone is not how I've planned my morning. I whine from every cursed word she utter, if she isn't scary when angered, I would have hang up on her but I don't wanna get myself strangled to death at my early age.I don't know how I land myself with such a talkative friend, I don't like loud people and I most definitely do not like noise. But at some point in life, I need to interact with all characteristic of people. Although I appreciate having her as a friend, she stood up for me many a times but let's face it, she could talk a dead person to life."Are you even listening." Tricia grunt from the other side of the phone.I've block her out since she wasn't saying anything I would understand."No." I answered meekly, there's no need to lie. What if she ask me to repeat what she had said, then I wouldn't know how to answer to that. I hear her growl and I bet she's glaring at the phone s
Ava p.o.v The door to the kitchen slammed shot shaking the walls, startled, I spin around too quickly I felt dizzy. Gripping the spatula I was using to mix the ingredients for pancakes, ready to strike at the intruder if need be. But came face to face with an angry Alex, he looks really pissed and ready to kill, ok I exaggerated. But if I hadn't know him, I would have been scared, the screeching sound of a chair broke me from my daze."You scare me to death Alex." I grunt still panting slightly from the dizziness, returning to my cooking, but turned back to him when I didn't receive a reply.That's when I noticed the dark circles under his eyes and how unkept his hair is, it like he's been running his hands through it. I wanted to ask what happened but decide against it, it seems like he could use some quiet and alone time.Quietly, I finished preparing breakfast and set the dinning table."What's for breakfast." Grace high pitched voice rang through the silence just as I was
Ava p.o.vit's unusual to see four expensive cars packed in front of our house, it's not like we always have visitors. And with cars. Not that we didn't have relatives that are rich and have cars but they don't necessarily come visiting us, I personally think it's because dad isn't who he was before.He's partially normal now, not that ambitious and carefree man they benefit from anymore, that makes him useless to them. I mean he already lost his sanity, they couldn't get anything from him, so why stress themselves visiting.I don't particularly hate them, I just hate how ungrateful they are. After everything he did for them, he lost everything he works so hard for just because he was building their lives. But look how they pay him back, turning their backs at him when he needed them the most.All this thinking about their betrayal adds to all the furstration and heartbreak he's having.I want to make them pay for what they did, to feel the pain of the person they trust turned their b
Ava p.o.vFive fucking million shitty dollars? what on Earth did he use it for. Why did he need to borrow such huge amount of money, for what, gambling? or drinking? maybe both.Why, I want to yell in his face. Such amount of money could have change our lives for good, but what did he use it for, unprofitable things."What the hell! Dad." Alex snarl loudly, nobody should blame him for been rude and snappy to dad, He's just plain angry.I tore my glaring gaze from dad to the scary man sitting on Dad's chair as he made an irritated sound but still not looking away from his phone."Bring your voices down." He command, dad visible tense at his command, he glare at Alex for be so nosy.If I wasn't scared out of my mind, I would have given dad a piece of my mind. He have no right to get angry at Alex, if he didn't borrowed money from these people, we wouldn't be in this situation in the first place.First, you have to state your name and your reason for being here before been granted access
Ava p.o.vLife, it is full of surprises, but not all surprises that are being thrown at you are pleasant. A bell went off in my head, I find it hard to breathe, I choke on my air when I tried to breath.Surprise gasp were heard around me, he managed to take everyone by surprise even his friend or whatever that came with him seems to be taken aback. But he was quick to replace the surprise look to the one of amusement.If I wasn't so shock plus I know he's not one to just around, I would have laugh at the expensive joke but then I will only be deceiving myself. I stare at the man in front of me like he has just suddenly grown two horns on his head, which he returns with a challenging one.challenging me to say anything to object."That or I will kill all these people and still marry you" He sigh, tiredly, I guess he's already bored with the situation.Now of all times I need a miracle to happen and get us out of this situation.Marry him? like who the hell is he to just order me to mar
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