CHAPTER TWENTY THREELILYI do not know what to think as I continue looking up at the entrance into the park.“What are we doing here?” I finally ask in a small voice“To loosen you up a little. You are too uptight.” he says, grinning at meBefore I can figure out a sharp enough retort at his accusations, he grabs my hand and we walk in. He pays the toll at the gate and we go into the park.Walking in front of him now, my mind can not stop wondering about what was going on back there. This is not the first time he made that move. Coming so close to me that I can smell his cologne and feel his breath on me.What game is he playing here? He did a similar thing on the boat last night and just at the last second he pulled away. He is definitely doing it to spite me at this point or maybe because he knows I still have the stupid hots for him. I was no longer a child, I wanted to tell him and whatever he had planned was not going to work.Questions are racing through my mind at this point a
CHAPTER TWENTY FOURNICKOLAS“That was not fair. You cheated.” I hear her say as she takes a spoon of the ice cream.“You are the one that ran before I was even ready. I think that disqualifies you from calling me a cheat.” She gives me a mean glare as I laugh.“No it doesn’t, you are faster than me so I had to even things out.”“Yes it does. You cheated and yet you still did not win. What else could I have expected from a Blake.”As soon as I say it, I see the change in her countenance. I definitely struck a nerve with that one.“I am sorry.” I blurt out.Why was I even apologizing? I was not wrong about it. That was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw her start running before I was even ready. “It is fine.” she says.I keep on watching her face from the corner of my eye as we stroll back to the yacht. I am not supposed to even care what she thinks, I should not have apologized for speaking the truth.“Why do you do that?” she asks me.“Do what?” “Well one minute you a
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVELILYI hear the fireworks explode in the background behind us but then again I am not sure if I am imagining it or if it Is actually this magical.The world seems to stand still, narrowing to a singular point of connection. The world around us melts away, leaving only the two of us, suspended in a realm that I do not quite understand.His lips are softly placed on mine as we are involved in this dance of longing and surrender. I feel myself leaning in closer, my body is yearning for more of his.What am I doing? I keep letting these words echo in my thoughts but for some reason I can not pull away from him. It feels like a gentle exploration, a delicate mingling of souls. Our mouths move in synchronization, a harmonious duet composed of emotion and desire. I can taste the sweetness of anticipation on his lips, a mixture of vulnerability and ardor. 
CHAPTER TWENTY SIXNICKOLASAs I walk back to my room I replay all the events of the day in my head, from the moment we left the boat to the shopping, the visit to Ingrid, the park visit and of course the kiss.With every passing moment I feel myself becoming more and more vulnerable with her. This girl is playing a game here, am I really stupid enough to be falling for it? Maybe she actually does wish to make amends I can never be fully sure.I get into my room and head straight to the mini bar in the room to pour myself a glass of whiskey. At this moment I need something to calm my nerves because I know if I keep on thinking of this for long I will lose my mind.I see what Ingrid was talking about now, taking a sip of the whiskey I realize. I never stopped loving her.I had successfully bottled up all those feelings all this time just for the sake of my revenge and now that she is right here in my grasp, I hesitate.The multiple parts of my mind are engaged in a deep battle, all of
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVENLILYI do not think I have ever seen him so angry as I did last night. I knew he hated me but I had no idea it ran this deep.As I pack my things into my bag and prepare to leave I can not help but think about what might have caused this switch. I mean one minute we are having the most beautiful time with each other, sharing the most intimate moment I think I have ever had with a person.All through the night I could not sleep for fear of him barging in again and this time doing something else. I feel the fear coursing through my body even now as I sit waiting for the cab that I ordered.So this was his plan all along. Get me all comfortable with him and then explode with no form of explanation? No this can not just be it. There must be more to it.I get the call from the driver and I head out of the room, leaving everything that we got the previous day behind and going with only what I came with.I get outside and the morning sky is still dark but I certainly am
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHTNICKOLAS“You are welcome and it is a pleasure doing business with you too.” i say, as I get off the phone. That was the confirmation I have been waiting for since yesterday night. I can feel a huge smile growing on my face as I imagine the turmoil the Blake’s household will be in when they find out what has happened.Since Robert wants to play dirty, It is time to show him that two can play that game and I can roll in the mud as much as he wanted to.I pick up my phone and I dial Scot’s number and he picks up.“Do you know what time it is? Scot says. He is still sleepy eyed and I can hear it in his voice.“I couldn’t sleep last night, I was so mad about what you told me.”“Yeah I figured immediately you ended the call. I had to force myself to sleep though because I have to be at work this morning.”“I could not just let him take a huge swing at us like that and go free Scot.”“What did you do?” he asks. I can see from the tone in his voice that he is wide awake
CHAPTER TWENTY NINELILYI can not believe my ears. What did Nickolas just say? My dad? Kill someone? It is not possible. I know he can come off as a horrible person but that bit is not just possible. What is all this talk about the drugs and all of this hatred between them?My mind is spinning at this point, nothing makes sense anymore. Why would he kill Nickolas' father? I thought they were friends, business partners. Oh dear God. There is something going on here that I do not quite understand.“Dad. What the hell is he talking about?”“I have no idea either.”“You stand here and still deny it. Why am I even surprised?” Nick says. The anger I see in his eyes now is similar to what I saw last night. Deep hatred runs through his body and I am still here left wondering who to trust and who not to.Everything seems upside down at the moment.“Edward has gone to draft the papers.” I say out loud to no one in particular. “That means the warehouse attack is true. Does that mean the drugs a
CHAPTER THIRTYNICKOLASI pull up at my house still grinning. I can not seem to erase the look on Robert’s face when I walked in. The mixture of shock and eventual anger was epic. I should have done it sooner. I get out of the car, lock the door and get into my house, taking off my shirt immediately. I can not still be distracted by this happiness I now feel, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. This is just one battle that has been won in this long war of ours and I need to always be on my toes. Lily’s face pops into my head as I step into the shower. She appeared extremely shocked to see me, it looked like she honestly didn’t know a single thing about what was going on. I shake the thought out of my head as I continue bathing. She is still one of them after all and when push comes to shove she will always choose them, just like she did all those years ago. I can not allow her pretty face to distract me like it had done on the boat cruise. All feelings for her defi
EPILOGUE SCOT SIX MONTHS LATER I could feel the wind in my face and the harsh glare of the sun on my skin. I inhaled, sighing at how content and fulfilled I felt with the woman in my arms. It has been six months since everything went down… six months since my life changed for the better and since I realized I would live and die for the woman I held in my arms. We had gone on this holiday after cutting all her ties with the clan and bidding them farewell. She was no longer with that life and the danger it entailed. She had no idea of course about everything I had planned for today and I could not wait to see the look on her face when she realizes that I am going to ask her today to complete me for as long as the world and our lives continue. I turned to the left, to the man holding the signal and he winked in my direction to let me know that everything was in place and it was time for the commotion. “Hey baby” I whispered in her ear, feeling her stir and open her eyes. “I think
ONE HUNDRED AND FIVECATALINADespite all the air flowing all around in the open yard I can feel myself struggling to get air into my system, the whole atmosphere around is so tense as both Dante and Scot face off in the middle of the square.This looks extremely familiar to me, I have watched so many fights take place in this same yard during my training but none of them held as high a stake as this. Everything is hanging on this showdown, whatever happens here is definitely going to change a lot of things drastically.“You came,” Dante says to Scot, “I see you are not a coward after all. Just a man with a death wish.”“Yes I have a death wish, but not mine.” Scot says laughing,I can tell Dante is furious by the blank look he has on his face as he turns to me, he still has the same expressions from when we were younger.“So this is it, your plan is to challenge me with this lowlife.” he says, addressing me.“He is not a lowlife.” I reply,“And now you defend him. What went wrong, Ca
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURSCOT“You should get dressed.” I tell her as I get up from the bed and begin to search for my clothes which are strewn across the floor.I can see the fear in her eyes as she clutches tightly onto the sheets and speaks,“No, please, you can’t go. This will be suicide.”Looking at her as I grab my shoes from the corner of the room and begin to put it on“I do not think we have a choice anymore, you heard what they said.”“There’s always a choice,” she says, getting up and rushing to kneel right in front of me as I put on my shoes. “We can run, go anywhere else but here, that’s a choice.”Her eyes tell me that she means everything that she says as they reflect the deep pain and worry which she feels right now.“Are you willing to elope with me?” I ask,“Yes.” She says without hesitation, cupping my face in her hands. “I will go with you wherever and we will be able to get away from them.”For the first time in a long time I understand what this feeling is no
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND THREECATALINAHe sleeps so soundly.I have a smile on my face as I look at Scot’s face as he lay there with his eyes closed. Last night was extremely draining for the both of us as I recall the nasty things we did to each other all through. Some of the best sex I have ever had in this life is definitely with this man who is laying here clutching on to my naked body. He had not let me go all night, the memory of me disappearing on him like the last time definitely still haunts him but this time is different though, I have no plans of doing such. I love it here, snuggling closer to him.“Is that how you always stare or am I just that special?” he asks, with his eyes still closed.“You are awake.”“Yes, I could feel you looking.”“Sorry I woke you,”“It’s fine, you could have been more creative about it though.” he says,“Oh really.” I reply, gliding my hands into the bedspread that covered our bodies and tracing his abs till I reach his lower region.The gasp escape
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND TWOSCOT“Do you want to get out of here?” she asks, out of the blues.The question takes me by surprise as I stand there still looking at her. Before I can say anything she grabs my hand and begins walking really fast towards the exit. Watching her from behind, it is a surprise she is moving as fast as she is in that dress and those heels she has on. She looks extremely hot.We get out of the club and turn right, continuing our little stroll in silence as the music blasting from the club gets more and more distant, eventually fading away completely. A brief look behind us reveals to me that we are being followed by the men who had thrown out the madman at the club earlier.“Friends of yours?” I ask, as we continue walking.“More like CCTV.” she replies, without bothering to turn around.“I count three of them, don’t you think that’s too much for your security? I mean you did say you can take care of yourself after all.” I say, shooting the snide remark in her dire
CHAPTER HUNDRED AND ONECATALINAThe room is spinning right now in my mind as I struggle to get my thoughts together. It’s harder to do thanks to the mixture of alcohol coursing through my veins and the shock that I can still feel reverberating through my entire system as I see him standing in front of me.This all feels like a dream, a trance that I am not sure what to make of. Is he really here? I am tempted to reach out and touch him in order to confirm but I try my best to hold myself. Scot in Italy? What the fuck could he possibly be doing here? Especially now that I am trying to let go of the past, trying to forget the one man that has consistently ruled my thoughts for the past week and now here he is standing before me once again.Short of words right now as my brain is still processing all of what is happening, trying to make sense of it. All I can do now is stare at this gorgeous hunk of a man standing before me. In the sim light of the club, all his features seem more prono
CHAPTER ONE HUNDREDSCOTA week…Seven days I have spent here and still I haven’t been able to get in contact with her. I know where she is but then I also know if I show up over there I am going to be dead before I will have the opportunity to even get to see her face. Javier is definitely not going to stand for it.Making enquiries about them had all led to the same thing.Stay away from the Vega’sEveryone I had asked turned out to be scared of them, even all of Nickolas’s contacts that I had reached out to when I first landed hung on me when they heard the name I was asking about. I knew they were a big deal in Italy but I never thought it would be up to this.What was I expecting though? Javier runs the biggest crime syndicate in the country, Of course they were feared.Recalling what Pascal; the man I had spoke to yesterday said,“If you keep on asking about the Vega’s you will end up dead, besides how good could the pussy have been for you to want to fly over from the states fo
CHAPTER NINETY NINECATALINA“I don’t think I should give you more drinks, anymore and you will be puking your guts out by the side of the road.” the bartender says to me,“Oh come on, I deserve it.” I say in between giggles, “After what I have gone through in the past couple of days, I most definitely need it.”He gives me a look and I reply with a pleading look of my own.“Pleaseee” I say, mustering the biggest baby eyes I can manage to pull in the state that I am in.“Fine,” he says, “two more and then no more. I will have the men take you home.”“You are no fun, let loose a little. I know that’s why I am here.” I say,“Well I am on duty, this isn’t as fun for me as it appears to be for you.” he says, chuckling.“How about me and you having a little fun?” I say, winking at him and putting on my best flirtatious smile.He looks back at me as he gets what I am hinting at.and a smile breaks across his face. Even in the dim light of the bar, I can tell how handsome of a man he is with
CHAPTER NINETY EIGHTSCOTWe all stand around in a circle with Javier’s man in the center of the room and the bag by his side. I do not want to let him out of my sight as we wait for the arrival of Javier. He had already made a phone call earlier and had indicated that he was already on his way. I told a couple of men to keep an eye on the entrance of the building so we would know exactly when they were coming.Finally he will be here soon and we will be able to settle all of this nasty business once and for all. My top priority is Catalina but in the event that the opportunity to take both her and Javier in safely arrives then I will take it as well. It will be a very big arrest for the department and I am sure the chief will be willing to look past the stealing of drugs and some of the other things I have done to achieve the goal. Catalina is the first priority though, all other things are secondary. Once I have her then we can figure the others out.Here I am risking my entire exis