CHAPTER 103DEVON'S POVI was restless throughout the flight to Russia. I knew I had to be calm in this situation but it was difficult to be level headed when I knew what was at stake. I'd blamed myself a lot for agreeing to Leonora's plan. What did I let her get herself involved in something so risky?We were now in our base in Russia. A few trusted Russian detectives had already prepared a place where we could meet and strategize. It was hard, this mission, especially because Diego Santos was very well connected and he was able to hide his tracks because he had powerful people covering for him."Relax Devon." Keith said, tapping me on my shoulder. Leonora is going to be just fine. You knew she'd want you to get it together and focus. We need to see this through, for her sake."I nodded. He was right. I had to be in the right frame of mind so as not to mess everything up."Okay, gather around everyone." Detective Shawn said. "Let's get a final briefing of how it's going to go down to
CHAPTER 104EVA'S POVThe board of directors had called a meeting at the Railings Corp. There was obviously something of importance to be discussed and it would be none other than officially signing over the company to my own Lorena Railings.I hummed to myself excitedly as I got ready. Of course I had to remind myself that I'd have to start a little drama at the meeting, talking about how unfair it would be for my son to be left out of his inheritance. But deep down, I knew it didn't matter to me wether Liam got it or not. He couldn't run a company even if his life depended on it and letting him be at the forefront would have been disastrous. It was better that I had someone with a sensible head on her neck even if I'd have to teach her from scratch. At least that way, I would be able to fashion her into the kind of woman I should have been if my father had given me the chance to run his company.My father had told me once that I lacked compassion. He said it didn't just take an iron
CHAPTER 105TWO YEARS LATERARIANA'S POVThe air smelt amazing. We were having barbecue in the garden and everyone was up and about trying to set things up. I sat down and stared at the beautiful view in front of me, and no, it wasn't just the garden but the people present there, here, with me.A smile formed on my lips as I watched Alex and Avery, Lorena's and Andrew's twins playing with each other and running around with their tiny feet. They each held a ball and tossed it around."Be careful kids, don't run too fast or you'll fall." I screamed."Like they'd listen." Leonora said, sitting next to me.I chuckled and planted a kiss on her head. "How's the baby doing?" I asked, rubbing my hand on her protruding stomach."Ah he's kicking every minute and messing with my bladder." She replied with a laugh."I'm sure he'll be just as restless as his father." Lorena said, placing a plate on the table."Hey, who says I'm restless?!" Devon asked, laughing. "That should be Nora." He replied,
Chapter oneLORENA'S POV A loud thud and an even louder crash sounded above me. Hoarse, threatening voices yelled at maximum volume, their vibrating timbre echoing though the house.I placed a trembling hand over my mouth and shut my eyes tight. Maybe they would go away if I ignored them or pretended they weren't up there, tearing through our shabby little house. But the noises grew louder.I squinted and focused my senses to decipher what they were saying, it was difficult to hear through the clanging of metals and breaking of ceramic plates and vases. But with a little more focus, I heard them."Where's the money Tanner? Are you taking me for a fool? I gave you more time than you asked for but you still haven't paid what you owe. Bring me the fucking money."Goodness! It was another one of my father's creditors. How much had he gambled away this time? It was uncomfortable in my underground room where I'd spent my whole life, all twenty- two years of it. But I couldn't leave. My pa
CHAPTER TWO LORENA'S POV It couldn't possibly be him! But I couldn't deny what was right in front of me. It had been six years since I last saw him but his face was forever etched in my mind.He never told me his name, so I had no idea who he was, only that I needed to help him. I had to save his life or he would die.Six years ago, I had snuck out of the house when my mother had gone to the bakery and my father had been out gambling as usual. I was left alone in the house with no one to talk to and nothing to do.For years, the only contact I had with the outside world was what I watched through the window in the living room, peeking through closed curtains. I knew the neighbors and their kids but had never even spoken to them. I would watch Celine and her little brother Conner accompany their parents to their small farm just a few metres from their house. They looked happy and contented.I didn't even have a brother, or a sister, and no friends either. I was sixteen years old and
CHAPTER THREEANDREW'S POV.The house was really small and shabby, it looked more like a shack than a house where people could live, at least compared to the mansion I grew up in.I got a whiff of bread, warm and fresh out of the oven. Or was it pancake? Whatever it was, it smelled really good. But I wasn't there for the pastries, I was there for business.Serious business.I had to prove to my father that I was a worthy son, that he could trust me with the business, especially since he was incapacitated from the accident. I may not be a Don like he was, at least not yet, but I could handle the business as efficiently as he could.This was just a test, to see if I could take over from him when he retired, and the task was simple."Let's go." I said to the guys when we got out of the Chevrolet suburban SUV.I heard a slight scrambling sound from within.Good. They were home, and scared.I nodded towards my boys and one of them stepped forward and kicked the door open. The old hinges br
CHAPTER FOURSARAH'S POVTWENTY-TWO YEARS AGOLoneliness. Silence. Chaos. Pain.All of these described my life as vividly as you can imagine. My life was a mess and the fact that I was helpless and could do nothing to fix it exacerbated my worries. My husband was sweet. He tried to distract me from my painful reality and succeeded once in a while to make me smile. But as soon as he was gone for the day's work, I was left with the emptiness and silence that had become my companion.Marcus and I had been married for seven years and had been trying to have a baby but couldn't. I had had several miscarriages already and was exhausted from trying. We both were. But we wanted children desperately.Things got worse.I had gotten pregnant again and hoped that it would stay this time, but it didn't. I lost the baby at sixteen weeks and this time, the doctor told me I couldn't have a child. Ever.The news broke me and I fell into depression. It was hard to get out of bed, to even bake,which w
Chapter fiveLORENA'S POVI could hardly breathe. Fear had paralyzed my entire being. Was I really not going to see my parents ever again? Would I really have to live with this evil stranger who wanted nothing but to make my life miserable? How could he forcefully separate a woman from her family? How could he be so heartless?The men sitting beside me weren't making things any better. They looked scary with their black, well tailored suit and bulky build. They had dark shades on which aided their stern look and I felt so small in the midst of them.I had been screaming and kicking since the drive to an unknown destination started but they paid me no mind. I was exhausted now, too weak to continue my tantrums. It wasn't working anyway. Instead, I sat still, studying their faces and occasionally, the scenery outside the car window. The glass was tinted so I knew no one could see through from the outside. I could look freely.It was beautiful outside. I thought so the first time I left
CHAPTER 105TWO YEARS LATERARIANA'S POVThe air smelt amazing. We were having barbecue in the garden and everyone was up and about trying to set things up. I sat down and stared at the beautiful view in front of me, and no, it wasn't just the garden but the people present there, here, with me.A smile formed on my lips as I watched Alex and Avery, Lorena's and Andrew's twins playing with each other and running around with their tiny feet. They each held a ball and tossed it around."Be careful kids, don't run too fast or you'll fall." I screamed."Like they'd listen." Leonora said, sitting next to me.I chuckled and planted a kiss on her head. "How's the baby doing?" I asked, rubbing my hand on her protruding stomach."Ah he's kicking every minute and messing with my bladder." She replied with a laugh."I'm sure he'll be just as restless as his father." Lorena said, placing a plate on the table."Hey, who says I'm restless?!" Devon asked, laughing. "That should be Nora." He replied,
CHAPTER 104EVA'S POVThe board of directors had called a meeting at the Railings Corp. There was obviously something of importance to be discussed and it would be none other than officially signing over the company to my own Lorena Railings.I hummed to myself excitedly as I got ready. Of course I had to remind myself that I'd have to start a little drama at the meeting, talking about how unfair it would be for my son to be left out of his inheritance. But deep down, I knew it didn't matter to me wether Liam got it or not. He couldn't run a company even if his life depended on it and letting him be at the forefront would have been disastrous. It was better that I had someone with a sensible head on her neck even if I'd have to teach her from scratch. At least that way, I would be able to fashion her into the kind of woman I should have been if my father had given me the chance to run his company.My father had told me once that I lacked compassion. He said it didn't just take an iron
CHAPTER 103DEVON'S POVI was restless throughout the flight to Russia. I knew I had to be calm in this situation but it was difficult to be level headed when I knew what was at stake. I'd blamed myself a lot for agreeing to Leonora's plan. What did I let her get herself involved in something so risky?We were now in our base in Russia. A few trusted Russian detectives had already prepared a place where we could meet and strategize. It was hard, this mission, especially because Diego Santos was very well connected and he was able to hide his tracks because he had powerful people covering for him."Relax Devon." Keith said, tapping me on my shoulder. Leonora is going to be just fine. You knew she'd want you to get it together and focus. We need to see this through, for her sake."I nodded. He was right. I had to be in the right frame of mind so as not to mess everything up."Okay, gather around everyone." Detective Shawn said. "Let's get a final briefing of how it's going to go down to
CHAPTER 102DIEGO'S POV"They're here." I heard Ignacio say and I knew he was referring to the new recruits I had gotten to work for me. I pulled out of my toy's dripping pussy and kissed her sweetly on her lips before signalling for them to leave. I wasn't one to mix business with pleasure. Never have been.The women looked like frightened chickens. They always did at first until they started working. In no time, I knew they would get used to their new life and would even enjoy getting fucked really good every other day.I looked from one face to the other and smiled. They looked really beautiful. I walked closer to one I had spotted with tears on her face. She looked really scared and was not even trying to hide her tears."What's your name sweetheart?" I asked her."D--debbie." She said, fighting back the tears so she could speak."Debbie? Oh you have no idea how much I love that name. I had a girlfriend named Debbie once but she cheated on me and tried to run away with her lover.
CHAPTER 101LEONORA'S POVIt was dark. Pitch black with no single streak of light in sight. It was impossible to see anything or anyone around me but I could sense that I wasn't alone. I felt dizzy and felt the need to throw up. I felt lost too, not knowing where I was or for how long I had been in this place. The concept of time was lost to me. Was it day or night?Voices came from outside and I stumbled to my feet, feeling for the wall to steady myself. My palms touched metal or aluminum, and I recoiled from the coldness of it. Where my feet stood seemed to move. I wasn't standing on the ground. It was solid but metallic also. I guessed I was inside a container of some sort.We had definitely been moving because my insides were churning and with how hungry I was, I knew I'd been here for hours."Is anyone here?" I whispered in the darkness. No one said anything but I knew I wasn't alone. I could hear faint, laboured breathing."Say something if you can. Are you alright?""Who's aski
CHAPTER 100LORENA'S POV.I didn't want to be here. The mere thought of it sent shivers through me and created a bile in my throat. It has been twenty four hours since my sister risked her life and let herself be captured by Diego's men and we've heard nothing from her.I knew Devon and his men had gotten her location and were trying to locate the hideout but it proved difficult. It seemed the women were in a container still and hadn't been taken to Diego's club yet. This meant that they could move anytime if they suspected they were being followed.It hurt me physically and emotionally to sit down and do nothing so I decided to go visit Eva and Liam. I would pretend to be my sister and make them confess everything they had done but this time, I would record everything to make sure they paid for their crimes.I pulled up in front of the mansion and got out of the car. I hadn't informed anyone I would be coming over here because I knew for a fact they would freak out. I had to stop by
CHAPTER 99DEVON'S POVI hadn't taken my eyes off of the tracker for even a minute. My heartbeat was off the chart and I had to remind myself severally to breathe. It was very difficult to go through the wedding ceremony without having a breakdown when my girlfriend was being shipped off to God knows where. I never did like the plan from the beginning but Leonora was bent on pushing through with it. There really was no other way, and trust me, we had tried everything we could but it didn't work out.When this opportunity presented itself, there was no way she would pass it up despite how dangerous it was. The commissioner and everyone at headquarters also agreed to it.Leonora would be the bait.I remembered when she came to me and told me Eva had visited her and asked that they work together to stop Lorena from taking over the company. She told me that it gave her an idea and that she would use that alliance to find out where Diego was. It sounded crazy at first but it soon began to
CHAPTER 98LEONORA'S POVThe Grand Hall was a beautiful sight to behold, breathtaking would be the perfect way to describe it. My family went all out for this wedding. It really would be the wedding of the century.I wasn't supposed to be here but there was no way I would sit back and have my sister relegate me to the background. She had no right to deny my presence here. Eva's words were beginning to make sense to me now. She had to go or I would be stuck in her shadow forever.I knew the Grand Hall like the back of my hand, so sneaking in was no difficult task especially with how hectic things were at the background. Lorena was still in her room dressing up and couldn't be bothered with anything else. I overheard her asking for her hair pin that wasn't where she had left it and Bella, her maid of honor volunteered to go get it. I made sure to hide the hairpin so I would have time alone with her. Now was my chance.I waited until I heard her footsteps fade and entered her room, locki
CHAPTER 97EVA'S POVAs I sat in front of the mirror and applied some powder on my face, I pondered on the reason Lorena would decide to pay me a visit. She definitely knows that her father had stopped living here ever since the truth about our past came out. Was she really here to see me?I checked my watch and realized that it had been three minutes since the maid announced that a visitor was waiting for me downstairs. She specifically said that miss Lorena was here and she wanted to see me. It was shocking but I checked the camera monitor and saw her seating pretty on the couch waiting for me to come out. Liam was out with his friends so it was just me.I walked down the stairs and she looked up when she heard my footsteps. I dismissed the maid with a nod and she bowed and left the living room."Lorena, it's a surprise to have you visit me. To what do I owe this pleasure?" I asked, taking a seat on the couch.She smiled back and looked around to make sure we were alone."I guess it