Chapter 5

I glanced at my phone screen to find Antonio's name glowing on it and I picked it up to see I had so many missed calls from him, Sophia and Esmeralda's school?

I accepted his call and was attacked by his worried voice. "Riccardo where the fuck did you keep your phone? We've been trying to reach you for hours" he gritted out angrily and I rolled my eyes.

"You know my phone is always in silent when I have a hearing in court and after the hearing I returned to the office to work on my next case, why, what's wrong?" He breathed out and though I couldn't see him I could guess he just ran his fingers in his hair.

"It's Esmeralda" my whole body tensed up and I stood up from my chair. "What happened to her?" I asked in a low tone while fear creeped its way to my heart at the thought of what could have possibly happened to her.

"There was a fire accident... "WHAT?" I yelled in terror and grabbed my car key from the table with a shaky hand.

"Riccardo relax, she's fine but the problem is that we can't find who rescued her" his explanation didn't seem to ease my worry instead it made me more anxious at the images of what may had happened to my gem.

"Send me your location I'm on my way" I shut my laptop down and left all my works to go find my daughter.

I ignored putting the seatbelt on and started my ride driving on the highest speed. I got a text message from Antonio to see he was at the police station so i made a u-turn to change my route in order to avoid the traffic.

I arrived in less than no time and found them waiting outside the building. "Antonio" i called and they turned to look at me with a look of worry on their faces.

"Where's she?" He took in a deep breath and rested his arm on my shoulder to calm me down but no one could calm the storm raging in me right now and until I set my eyes on my angel I would not be calm.

"Riccardo be calm" I glared at him and shoved his hand away from my body. "My daughter's life was in and is still in danger and you're asking me to be calm?" I vented my anger on him and as usual he remained calm while my heart rumbled in rage and fear.

"Rick please relax, Esmeralda is safe with the woman who rescued her. She asked the school to get her contact and address from the police station but before that could happen the chief had gone home a..and we couldn't get any information about her" something about her stutter made me feel uneasy and I felt they were both hiding something.

"So what's next? I should feel relaxed and go home to my bed while my daughter is somewhere at risk?" I snarled angrily and began making my way inside when they both stopped me.

"Riccardo wait! There's nothing that can be done at this hour so we'd have to wait until dawn but believe me when i say she is alright. Do you think it's normal for a stranger to risk her life for a child she doesn't know? I'm pretty sure that's enough reason to believe that wherever Esmeralda is as long she is with her savior she is doing alright, don't you think?" His reasoning made absolute sense but it still didn't lessen my worry.

For starters I have a lot of enemies and my financial status wasn't so infamous.

I tried putting all anxiety behind me but it was impossible cause of the horrible scenes playing in my head.

I managed to get home and got freshened up, when I was done i went to her room and was welcome by the mild scent of coconut and flowers. I looked around and picked up a picture of the both of us and a ghosted smile made its way up to my face.

"Please be okay for daddy princess" I whispered at the inanimate image and ran my fingers along her beautiful face.

I always knew I'd lose my shit if I lost my angel but staying away from her for more than hours made me realize i can't survive with her.

I didn't even want to think about the 'ifs' on what would have happened if the woman that saved her didn't do it.

Whoever she is I do owe my life cause she saved me from losing my most precious stone. I'm sure going to reward her heavily for this.

~~~~

I couldn't get any sleep so I decided to go to a nearby bar to have a few drinks that will help relax my perturbed mind that was clogged up with the image of my daughter.

Not long after I got in, my peaceful moment was disrupted by roaring protests of people and crashing sounds of glasses and my legs involuntarily made a move to go have a look on what the commotion was all about.

I stood behind the little crowd that had gathered already and i cleared my throat to get their attention. Everyone turned their eyes to look at me and immediately I was recognized by some people.

"Mr Riccardo?" A man with a thick Irish accent called with surprise and i let my eyes scan their faces while my mind tried fixing the puzzles.

"We're glad you're here Sir, you need to call the cops and throw this delinquent woman behind bars and ensure she doesn't come out cause she needs to be taught a lesson" The Irish man spat out spitefully. I needed to see the person they were all against so I drifted my eyes from him to find a very familiar lady but I couldn't place where I had seen her.

Despite the dark aura that steamed out from her presence she was breath taking. Her oceanic orbits was what held me spell bound cause they held a lot of emotions but none could be figured out and they seem to have a hidden tsunami ready to destroy everyone.

What captivated me most was the iciness behind it. Plain and dark yet filled with so many unsaid words and hidden feelings. I kept my eyes steadied on her radiant eyes trying to phantom how perfect it matched with her silky brown skin.

My eyes captured every details on her flawless face and when it got to her perfect plump glossed lips i realized it was curved up in a smirk which only meant i had been staring for quite a while and was caught.

I broke out from the world in my head and glanced around to find the angry people and their looks made me wonder what she may had done to earn their harsh words and spiteful stares.

"I think y'all can return to your business and I'll take it up from here" they all gave her a last glare before scattering around to dissolve the little circle that was formed.

"Be careful with her sir, that woman is crazy" the bartender warned with fright in his eyes and left leaving just the both of us.

"From the way you were addressed I can tell that you hold a lot of power and authority in the country, so are you going to call the cops now" her gothic yet smooth and sweet voice dripped with sarcasm and my lips curved into a smirk at her attitude.

"Arrogant I see but enlighten me regina, what's your crime?" She rolled her eyes and ran her fingers into her smooth looking curls. "And what are you going to do with the information?" She raised a brow up with irritation clogged in her blue irises. I loved her daring attitude and arrogant aura, it's quite rare I must say and for some unknown reasons I'm fascinated by her so I decided to push her buttons further.

"I'm just curious" I answered her question with a shrug and her lips lifted up in a half smile.

"Curiosity kills a cat Mr.... "Riccardo" she nodded and folded her hands while her manicured dark acrylics tapped on her arm.

"And satisfaction brought it back" I completed the proverb and she remained silent while staring at me with her calculative orbs.

"How am I sure you wouldn't send me to jail if I tell you my crime" my lips curved into a half smile and I shook my head.

"Cause I'm a trustworthy man" I gave the most unconvincing reason which made her chuckle. "Trust isn't something i give so easily Mr Riccardo" although her face appeared like she was smiling I could still detect the hidden darkness behind her words and eyes.

I smirked and tucked my hands into my pocket. I noticed her eyes finally left my face and I followed them to the direction they were focused on to find her shamelessly staring at my bulging arms.

"Look who's staring now" she blinked her eyes and cleared her throat to cover up the awkward moment. She still didn't say a word cause she kept staring and I was wondering what was running through her mysterious head then her eyes locked with mine and it seemed she was hit with cognizance.

Have we met before or maybe she is mistaken me for someone else but her next words made me settle for the former.

"Esmeralda" she whispered and my body became alarmed at the mention of my angel. "What did you just say?" She ran her fingers in her hair with a smirk playing on her lips.

"That was a lucky guess. So you're the father of the girl huh?" Without thinking I pulled her arm roughly while glaring into her cocky eyes.

"What do you know about my daughter and I fucking swear if you had laid a hand on her I'll ensure I feed your carcass to the wild birds" I threatened and she chuckled.

"Relax miel(honey) your daughter is safe with me. I took her to my home from school cause she was unconscious and no one could get through to your phone and you didn't expect me to leave her at the police station" she scoffed at the mention of the police making me wonder why she hated them so much.

So she was the one who rescued her? But she doesn't look the type who would risk their life to save another instead she appeared like one who would take someone else's life without a bit of remorse.

Her flawless beauty looks innocent at first glance but when you look deep into her eyes you can detect the danger and darkness behind its ice.

"Take me to her" she scoffed and shook her head in disbelief. "For someone who seem to be a legal personnel you sure lack manners" I rolled my eyes and folded my arms and once again her eyes trailed to my arms making me smirk.

"Manners? You're unbelievable Regina, I'm surprised you know the meaning of that" she glared at me but I didn't back down from her murderous stare.

"Do you really want to see your daughter?" She tried threatening me and I took a step forward and watched her turn defensive getting ready to pounce on me at any wrong move I would make.

"Are you trying to threaten me with my daughter? Cause trust me tesoro you'll be dead before you get a chance to blink again" i whispered into her ears and I loved the way her body stiffened at our close body proximity. She placed her palm on my chest and I took in a sharp breath at the long lost body contact.

"Threats do not work on everyone Mr Riccardo" she peered her blank gaze into mine and I offered her an emotionless smile.

"When it comes to my daughter I do not threaten Regina, i warn" she stared at me for a while before leading the way out and I used the opportunity to analyze her perfectly carved out body.

The shiny leather accentuated her thick rounded ass and hips. Her curvaceous waist moved in alignment with her confident and stylish steps and I felt blood rush to the organ that had been forgotten by my body for years now and I didn't think it was functioning sexually until this very moment

I tore my gaze away from her sultry body but the image had been inscribed in my head already. "My car is that way" my voice came out strained and I was glad it was night time cause I didn't want her to see the beads of sweat that had formed on my forehead and the visible bulge in my pants.

"That's fine Mr Riccardo, I came with mine so you can just follow me closely" she told me and went towards the direction of a gray Tesla car parked beside mine. Once she was successfully in hers I got into mine but waited a bit for the hormones in my body to get settled.

Fuck! I'm not a damn virgin but it feels like I'm one. Not wanting to miss her car i began my ride.