In the dimly lit basement, Sunny slowly regained consciousness, her head throbbing with pain. Blinking against the harsh light, she realized her hands were bound tightly to a wooden chair. Panic surged through her as memories of the accident flashed back–the screeching tires, the blinding impact. Sunny’s eyes searched the room, trying to make sense of what the hell was going on“Sunny?” a familiar voice echoed from the shadows. She turned her head, squinting to see through the darkness. There, standing just beyond the reach of the light, was Rosa–the person she had considered her friend, the person who she had created a bond with, and the person who threw her friendship back at her, the person whom she had always trusted.Sunny’s heart sank as she saw Rosa’s conflicted expression, a mixture of guilt and hesitation, sunny wanted to scream, ask Rosa why she was standing there, why she did this, why she not only betrayed her but santo and Rico as well., what could have been a long time f
As Santo slowly regained consciousness, the world around him was a haze of blurred shapes and distant echoes. Pain pulsed through his head, a reminder of the violent impact that had thrown him into unconsciousness. As his senses sharpened, he became aware of the cold, damp air and the rough texture of rope biting into his wrists and ankles.Blinking to clear his vision, Santo looked around and realized he was in an abandoned warehouse. The air was thick with dust, and the low light of the moon filtered in through broken windows high above. Shadows danced ominously along the walls, adding to the eerie atmosphere. His heart pounded as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.Then, his gaze landed on a figure nearby. Rico, his younger brother, lay unconscious just a few feet away. Panic surged through Santo as he struggled against his bonds, his mind racing with questions. What had happened? How had they ended up here?“Santo,” a weak voice called out from behind him. He twisted his b
As Henry drove Judy home from the hospital, the city lights blurred into streaks of color against the darkening sky. Judy stared out the window, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. The encounter with Marcus at the hospital had stirred up memories she thought she’d buried deep.As they turned a corner, Judy’s thoughts drifted back to the early days with Marcus. She remembered their first date, the nervous laughter over too much wine, and how Marcus had held her hand as they walked through the park under a starlit sky. They had been so in love, so hopeful about the future.But then the flashbacks turned darker. Judy recalled the fights, the misunderstandings that slowly chipped away at their trust. And then, that one bitter moment when Marcus had walked in on her with another man. The pain in his eyes was etched in her memory forever.She hadn’t meant to cheat. Judy knew deep down it was her fear of commitment that had driven her to seek solace elsewhere. Marcus had wanted more—a future t
Rosa stood outside the door, the heavy silence pressing in around her like a suffocating embrace. She knew Sunny was just beyond that door, frightened and alone because of her family’s vendetta.“How did it come to this?” she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible in the stillness. “How can I face Mom and convince her to stop?”Her hand rested on the cold wood of the door, feeling the faint vibrations of Sunny’s fear emanating from within. Guilt gnawed at her insides like a relentless predator.“Santo trusted me,” she whispered, her breath hitching with unshed tears. “I promised to protect Sunny, not to put her in danger.”The memory of Sunny’s tearful eyes when they met flashed before her, a stark reminder of the innocent life caught in the crossfire of her family’s vendetta. She had never wanted this for Sunny, yet here she stood, responsible for her captivity.“I have to make Mom see reason,” she resolved quietly, her determination rising amidst the overwhelming sense of gui
“Well, since I’m starting to like you more, I choose to take you instead of Mr negative over here,” avac said pointing to Rico as he walked towards them.Avac knelt beside Santo, his hands deftly working on the handcuffs that bound Santo’s wrists. Rico, Santo’s younger brother, sat nearby, his own wrists still tightly bound, his eyes blazing with anger and disbelief.“You’re betraying Dad for this girl, Santo? This is insane!” Rico’s voice cracked with emotion, his frustration palpable as he struggled against his restraints.Santo met Rico’s furious gaze with a mixture of determination and sorrow. “Rico, Sunny didn’t ask for any of this. Dad’s choices put her in danger. I have to do this.”Avac glanced up at the heated exchange, his expression unreadable in the low light. He worked swiftly, finally releasing Santo’s hands from the cuffs. Santo rubbed his wrists briefly, the metal cuffs clinking softly as they fell to the floor.Avac spoke quietly, his voice steady despite the tension
Rico and Santo hurried through the dimly lit streets, their footsteps echoing in the silence of the night. Avac’s unconscious body slung between them was a burden, but they pressed on, driven by their urgent need to find Sunny before it was too late. Finally, they reached the spot where Avac had parked his car, a sleek black sedan blending into the shadows.Santo gently lowered Avac to the ground, his patience wearing thin. “Wake up, Avac,” he growled, shaking him roughly, tapping his cheeks as he did Avac groaned and blinked his eyes open, disoriented for a moment before the reality of his predicament settled in. He tried to struggle against the brothers, but Rico’s firm grip on his collar prevented any escape.“Where is Sunny?” Santo demanded, his voice low and dangerous.Avac glared defiantly, a smirk playing on his lips despite the banging headache he felt. “You think I’ll just tell you?”Rico tightened his hold, his patience wearing thin. “You have two choices, Avac. You either
Avac swallowed softly as he approached the gate, the car wheeling to a halt in front of two armed men. Both glanced at each other before walking towards the car Meanwhile, in the back seat were Santo and Rico, both eyes closed but their ears and senses on attention. Santo hated this plan, the fact that avac could easily turn the situation against them bugged him more than he could express "You're supposed to be back with three men," one of the more beefy guards spoke "And you're supposed to be on diet" avac said, laughing dryly at his own joke, while the two guards stared at him with a dead-end expression, avac cleared his throat "there's been a change of plans, and I was asked to bring just the two of them" avac said pointing to the back seat.The guards circled the car to the back, thier eyes glancing to the windows as they surveyed the sleeping men. The beefy guard walked back to the front seat."We'll just have to check in with boss then," he said, pulling out a cellphone from
Rosa could hardly breathe, her hands wavered slightly from sunny’s head but she stood her ground. She glanced at her mother, then at Santo and Rico, both sending glares her way, but none of that affected her until she heard sunny whimpers. Rosa took a deep breath, forcing herself to grow a heart of stone. She hated this; she hated putting sunny in danger like this; she hated betraying the trust of the two people she learnt to love even when she was supposed to hate; she hated the way they looked at her right now, like she was the worst person in the entire world at the moment. She hated being the villain, especially to them.“Don’t hurt her Rosa, please” she heard santo plead. His eyes were already tearful. She can’t remember the last time she saw santo shed a tear. The last time was when his mother died.“You should have thought of that before coming empty-handed. Where’s enzo?” Silvio said, her eyes scanning Rico and Santo.“You’re supposed to be dead,” Santo said, his eyes flashing
Well, that's a wrap of the first of the series; fated with the mafia.Writing this book has been taxing and quite a rollercoaster of many, many and so many writers block, but at last it comes to an end, but it's definitely not the end for the characters, hold your breath for more of Rosa and the life that follows after she leaves everything behind.Thanks for reading, it meant a lot to get your support.
The sun had just begun its descent, casting a warm, golden hue over the sprawling estate. The gardens were in full bloom, a vibrant tapestry of colors and life that seemed to stand in stark contrast to the turmoil that had unfolded just days before. But now, there was a calmness in the air, a sense of finality that had settled over everything. It was as if the earth itself was sighing in relief, ready to move on from the chaos that had threatened to tear everything apart.Sunny stood on the balcony of the master bedroom, her hands resting on the cool marble railing as she gazed out at the horizon. The events of the past week played through her mind like a fragmented dream, each memory sharp and vivid, yet tinged with an almost surreal quality. The ballroom, the gunfire, the confrontation between Rosa and her mother—it all seemed like something out of a nightmare, a world she never imagined she would be a part of. But here she was, standing on the other side of it, alive and whole. Th
dawn was just beginning to break over the horizon, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and gold. The forest, once a place of darkness and danger, was now bathed in the gentle light of a new day. But for Rosa, there was no solace in the beauty around her. She stood at the edge of the clearing, her back to the forest, her gaze fixed on the distant mountains as if searching for something—anything—that could guide her next steps.Santo approached her cautiously, his footsteps almost silent on the dew-covered grass. He had given her space after what had happened, after she had held her mother’s lifeless body in her arms. He had watched her grieve, knowing there were no words that could comfort her, no actions that could undo what had been done. But now, as the first rays of sunlight touched the earth, he knew he couldn’t let her slip away—not without a fight.“Rosa,” he called softly, his voice tender yet firm.She didn’t turn to face him, but he could see the way her shoulders tensed, t
Rosa's breath came in ragged gasps as she tore through the underbrush, her feet pounding against the uneven ground. The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the dark woods that surrounded her. She could barely make out Silvio’s figure ahead, a shadow slipping through the trees like a ghost, always just out of reach.“Stop!” Rosa shouted, but her voice was swallowed by the night. She knew her mother had heard her—Silvio always heard everything—but she didn’t slow down. Rosa pushed harder, branches clawing at her face and arms as she ran, but the pain barely registered. All she could think about was catching up, forcing a confrontation that had been years in the making. The trees thinned out as they reached a clearing, bathed in pale moonlight. Silvio stopped, her back to Rosa, her figure still as a statue. Rosa skidded to a halt, her breath heaving as she aimed her gun at her mother, trying to steady her trembling hands.“Turn around!” Rosa’s voice cracked with a mix
The atmosphere in the grand ballroom shifted in an instant. One moment, the air was filled with the soft hum of conversation and the gentle strains of music, and the next, it was thick with tension so palpable that it seemed to pulse like a living thing.Sunny felt it before she saw it—an almost imperceptible change in the energy of the room. Her eyes darted around, searching for Santo, but he had already disappeared into the hallway after the mysterious man. Her heart pounded in her chest, a growing sense of dread tightening its grip around her.She glanced at Rico, who had subtly positioned himself closer to his father, his easy smile gone, replaced by a look of cold determination. Rosa, too, had become a quiet sentinel, her eyes scanning the crowd, her posture rigid with anticipation. They both seemed to sense the danger lurking beneath the surface, as if the entire room was holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable.And then, all hell broke loose.It started with the sharp cr
The grand ballroom of the De Rosario estate was a sight to behold. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm, golden glow over the marble floors, reflecting off the polished surfaces of gold-trimmed columns. Ornate tapestries lined the walls, depicting scenes of power and prestige, a nod to the family's long and storied history. The room was filled with the elite—men in sharp suits and women draped in luxurious gowns, their laughter and chatter mingling with the soft strains of classical music played by a live orchestra.Santo stood near the entrance, his eyes scanning the crowd with the practiced vigilance of a man who had seen too much in his life to ever truly relax. He was dressed in his finest, a midnight black suit that fit him like a glove, but his expression was anything but at ease. There was a tension in his jaw, a sharpness in his gaze that hinted at the unease brewing beneath the surface. Silvio. The name had been on his mind all night, a dark cloud over an otherwise glittering even
“30th annual ball” Rico said, dropping an envelope on the table, drawing everyone’s eyes to it. His eyes flickered from Santo to Aldo and then to me.“From who?” Santo asked, picking up the envelope. He peeled it open and read the contents “From father..” Rico said making Santo halt, Santos looked at him, “yes, surprised me too” Rico said taking a sit opposite his brother, Rico took a little glance at Aldo, one that didn’t miss Sunny’s eyes, it only made her narrow her eyes at Rico, she could only wonder what’s going on with those two.“Are we gonna go?” Rico asked.. “dad rarely ever..” Rico halted, his eyes focused on somewhere else rather than Santo, who he was speaking toSunny’s eyes followed his Rosa stood by the corner, her eyes glancing at everyone. Ever since the whole incident with her mum, Rosa decided to conceal herself in her room. She let the guilt she felt eat her up silently.“Rosa..” sunny called, a brief smile appearing on her face as she heard sunny call her name.
The night sky was a blanket of deep indigo, punctuated by the dim twinkle of distant stars. The ocean, stretching endlessly before Sunny, mirrored the heavens above, with the occasional ripple of waves shimmering under the moonlight. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of salt and the distant sound of waves crashing softly against the shore.Sunny stood on the edge of a rocky cliff, staring out at the dark expanse of the sea. Her heart was heavy, a throbbing pain that resonated with every beat. The ocean, so vast and seemingly endless, felt like a perfect reflection of the turmoil inside her. She had left Judy, her best friend, in a way that felt so cruel, so final. The memory of Judy’s shocked heartbroken face haunted her, the hurt in her eyes as she walked away still burning in her mind.She had told herself it was for Judy’s safety, for the safety of the Santos family, Rico, Rosa and everyone in the mansion and perhaps, in a way, for her own as well. But that reasoning felt
Judy sat on the edge of the bed, her trembling hands clutching an old photograph. It was one of her and Sunny, taken years ago when their smiles were genuine and their bond unbreakable—or so she had thought. Now, tears streamed down her face, blurring the image of their once-happy faces. Her chest felt tight, each breath a struggle as the weight of Sunny’s rejection pressed down on her. She couldn’t believe it. After everything she’d gone through to find her, to reunite with the person she once considered her closest friend, it all ended in this. A cold dismissal. A door slammed shut.Judy’s heart throbbed with anger and hurt. “Why did I even bother?” she whispered to herself, her voice raw and thick with emotion. She threw the photograph aside, watching it flutter to the floor like a fallen leaf. She buried her face in her hands, the sobs wracking her body as she struggled to contain the storm of emotions brewing inside her. How could Sunny do this to her? After everything? What was