It took an hour for me to arrive at the casino. Ricardo was waiting for me outside, pacing along the brightly lit entrance of the casino. I stopped the car in front of him before I stepped out. Ricardo opened his mouth to say something, probably to request to throw out the cops himself. But I cut him off. "Go park the car." I ordered as I walked past him. "Yes, sir." He replied before I heard him jog over to the car I left open. I walked into the casino, eyeing the men of the web standing around, keeping a close eye on the customers. I glanced around myself, looking for any suspicious person waltzing around the casino. "They moved to the slots, sir." One of the security men spoke to my right, and I moved my attention to where he said the cops were. It took me a few more seconds to pinpoint them out as they were newer cops I had never seen around here or pocking around my family's company. I walked over, my steps slow and calculated. The two cops, a man and a woma
Ezabell Viper...Boredom and hunger settled in after a few hours when the sun hung low in the sky and the cold from my body finally left.It took me about ten minutes to convince myself to take the damn shower, ten minutes to stop my brain from making my body think that I was back in that horrible cage, being woken up with splashes of cold water. After ten minutes of just staring at the cold water run, I stepped in and shivered my way through a quick shower that lasted half the time it took me to get in.By the time I stepped out of the shower and was drying myself, I thought about letting Jacopo Nicolo know that either there was something wrong with his shower, or I didn't know how to operate it.I wore the warmest clothes I could find in my suitcase, a black sweatshirt and leggings, and braided my hair into two sides before I settled in the living room.I had nothing else to do after that. I wasn't willing to return to the suitcases and venture deep in them, looking at the pho
I found myself in front of the window behind the long couch, standing in the thick drapes so I would be able to fully look out into the real world.My phone was in my hands, and for the past ten minutes, I've been rejecting Ella Smith's calls. She'd called about six times before she stopped, and I assumed she had given up.I looked down, my eyes following the small figures of cars and barely visible peoples walking around. I envied their normality, how they were able to wake up this morning and walk out of their homes so freely.I'd finally understood that I had taken the last years or so for granted, sticking to my father's house and my room only, without venturing out and trying to heal myself. I could have healed my body and soul, could have gained some confidence, and become unbothered by the heavy limp I have with each step. Instead, I continued to limit myself and carry out the emotional and mental punishment my captor had started for me. And now, I was back to that horrible l
It took me ten minutes to get ready. I didn't want to make Ella Smith wait too long, and I also had no desire to have a longer shower with the ice-cold water.A simple black dress was chosen for the occasion, one that flutterly fell down below my knees. My feet were covered with the same white flats I had worn for the past two days.I tied my hair up to the top of my hair, trying to hide how tangles the strands actually were from the lack of brushing for the last two and a half days.Ella Smith was right where I left her, looking down at her phone with a soft smile on her face."I'm ready." I called out, drawing her attention towards me.She shot me another smile, and the enthusiasm and positivity within her surprised me. It was practically radiating off of her in waves, forcing it upon myself. She didn't even need to speak to show some sort of affection. It was all so easily written all over her face."Great. Connor is waiting for us downstairs." She commented before she tucked her
It took me some time to stop the tears from flowing down my cheeks. By the time I came down, my eyes were red and swollen, my nose stuffy, and my hands, along with the phone in it, wet from tears.Ella offered me a red handkerchief, along with a soft, sad smile.I took the handkerchief and wiped my tears, taking deep breaths through the slight hiccups. I tried my best to calm myself down and thank her without stuttering. However, her phone rang before I could speak, disturbing the silent gallery.She reached into her bag and pulled her phone out, answering it within the next second.I returned my eyes to the painting, sniffling a bit, while she replied to the caller."No, Cilvia. We're not that close, but we'll get there on time." She said."Alright. See you soon."She hung up the phone and tucked it back into her red handbag.Ella Smith returned her eyes to me."Would you like to look around before we hit the road again?" She asked.That would be nice, looking at the colorful paint
The food came about fifteen minutes later, and while the ones who were forced to order a salad even though they wanted something else didn't look pleased, I was more than happy to be served with a good-sized steak.My mouth immediately watered at the sight of the food in front of me, my stomach growling at the memory of not eating anything good for the last two days.I didn't hesitate to reach for the knife and fork, ready to dig in. The table full of stranger women melted away as I started cutting into my perfectly cooked steak, the sight of how well done it was making me satisfied.I took a big bite that filled my entire mouth, slightly struggling to chew the meat as I scooped up some mashed potatoes from the side and shoved it into my already full mouth.The sigh of relief that escaped my throat was audible, and for once, the twisting hunger I was feeling deep in my gut was not letting me feel the shame of being round people I didn't know. I dug in like my life depended on it, and
Jacopo Nicolo...I paced in my study, cracking my knuckles as apprehension filled my gut.I glanced at the screen of my laptop, the focus made on only a single camera, which showed the real-time view of the street outside the front entrance of the apartment building.I glanced at the clock hung on the wall, scowling at how much time they had taken. It's already been about three hours since that woman came to the house and took the other woman I have been trying to get rid of.I needed to keep my eyes on the Viper Princess. I needed to watch all of her moves, but damn it, she just had to meddle in my life again.How was I supposed to gather dirt on the woman I married if I didn't have eyes on her the entire time?Pressure was starting to build at the back of my neck, vexation twisting my insides into a single giant ball.I was still irritated about the fact that Ella Smith called her husband so he could call and give me an ear full. Whatever happened to minding their
Ezabella Viper...I hid in the bathroom, slightly upset with myself for not properly thanking Ella Smith before I stepped out of the elevator. I made sure to lock the door before I ventured further into the bathroom, standing in front of the sink to look at myself in the mirror above it.I cringed at the sight of my hair, knowing it was going to be extra tangled once I freed it from the bun. I dropped my eyes to my face.Despite sleeping the entire late afternoon and night the previous day, I looked extremely exhausted, as if I had not slept for 48 hours straight.I sighed, dropping the phone on the edge of the sink and dragging both of my hands down my face, stopping at my eyes to give them a quick rub before I reached down for the sink.Turning the water on, I leaned down and splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would chase away the exhaustion from my body.The gathering with the other women truly felt like I had walked myself into a battlefield and came out on the other s
I stood in front of the window, looking out at the starless night sky. I had one hand pressed against my lower abdomen and the other hand supporting my waist. I was exhausted, but I couldn't force my eyes away from the beautiful view just yet.The past eight weeks had not been easy, but they were certainly a working progress.The first few days, I was unable to make him eat much. He would nibbled on something and drained a water bottole before he would go back to sleep. He was losing a lot of weight in those times, and I was getting more and more concerned about him.He refused to let Doctor Morgan into the house so he can check his wound for him, and he refused to listen to my pleas for him to eat, to get up and stretch him muscles a bit. He refused to leave the bedroom we used to share, and he refused to speak to me as well. I had decided to sleep in his previous bedroom at night to give him the space he needed and kept being around him during the day.But I wasn't the only one J
I started by drawing the thick drapes and letting sun shower the living room, instantly making it much better than it was when I first arrived. I then went into the kitchen to first check if there was anything around that would result in a proper meal.The boiled eggs were at the same spot as I had left them when I decided to leave for the Viper city, and the remaining fruits looked a bit off considering the amount of time they were left in there. And from the clean trash can, I could tell that Jacopo had not been eating.I pulled my phone out, exiting out of the list of contact numbers from when I gave my father a call just minutes ago, and looked into the restaurants Jacopo and I used to order from.I knew he had a few favorites, so I decided to order from a few of them in case he was feeling of having a variety.Until I food arrived, I bussied myself by cleaning the fridge and them pacing around when I had nothing else to do.All of the food arrived maybe about thirty minutes later
The drive to Jacopo's apartment was silent. There was a car following after my father and I as he was planning on staying in the web city to make sure that I was safe. My stomach was fluttering with a lot of emotions, the most dominant once being fear and doubt."I want you to keep your phone on you every single second of the day and night. Understood?" My father commented as he stopped the car in front of the tall apartment building."Undrestood." I nodded my head."I also need you to keep me updated. I want your morning texts to be morning, noon, and night. Okay?""Okay?""Oh, and one more thing. Do not forget what you promised me. You sense any danger, then I was you out of there. Okay.""I'll keep my promise, Dad." I said, taking my seatbelt off and twisting in my seat to give him a hug."I'll be okay, Dad." I whispered.He let out a tired sigh as he patted me on the head."I'll trust that you'll be." He replied when I pulled away."I'm going to go now." I announced before I grab
I was discharged a few hours later, and it took me a great deal of convincing my father to let me see Jacopo one more time before we left."You'll see him at the funeral." My father had argued when I asked him to let me see my husband first, but he let me go to Jacopo's room first before we left, and disappointment hit me when I saw that Jacopo was no longer there, only Dante, who was sitting on the chair by the bedside, the same one that was turned over when Jacopo attacked him."Where did he go?" I asked, looking at the empty bed."He's gone." He replied."Where?""Probably to his apartment." I heard my father sigh."And you just let him go?" I questioned, looking at my husband's boss with a frown on my face.Dante didn't give me a reply, which gave my father space to butt in."There you have it, Bella. Now let's go. You'll see him at the funeral anyway." He commented as he turned around to leave.I had no other choice but to follow him, knowing that I couldn't get myself to the ap
Ezabella Viper...I woke up with a blinding headache, my eyes barely able to see around me. It took me some time to register that I was in a hospital room, sleeping in a hospital bed."Bella?" A familiar voice called out, forcing my eyes to shirt towards the bedside chair.My father's bruised face came into view."Bella," he called out again, hovering over my, his hands reaching for mine.Within the next seconds, he was running out of the hospital room to get someone and back with whoever he had gone searching for.The next few minutes went on as a woman examined me, shining light into my eyes, asking me how I felt, specifically how my head felt, and then proceeding to tell my father and I that I had a mild concussion and should be fine.My biggest worry was the health of my baby, as I recall being tossed around after those men dragged me out of the flipped car and into the trunk of their own. The most the doctor could tell me was that I needed rest and continuous supervision j
My car stopped just outside of town, and from the previous location of where my mother was being kept, I could tell that I had about thirty more minutes of driving left to get there. And if I chose to go on foot, then it was guaranteed that it would significantly decrease the chances of my mother's survival.But I wasn't going to do anything by sitting around and waiting for something to happen. I needed to be moving, so, retrieving the phone from the floor of the car, I hopped out of the car and slammed it shut as hard as I could, venting some of my frustration out.I started speed walking no matter how exhausted my body was. I've already lost a good amount of blood, and I had enough in my body to barely move around.But my mother.I need to get to my mother.I could feel chill creeping up in me. I could feel the blood draining from my face, most probably leaving me as pale as a ghost.But I couldn't stop.The sliver of hope in my heart was forcing me to keep going.I knew I would die
The bark of the gunshot nearly deafened me. Blood splattered on the floor as a loud gasp echoed in the warehouse, filling in the silence left after the gunshot. Blood made my face wet. I watched as attiwood crashed on the ground, her knees almost cracking at the empact.Blood bubbled up her throat and slid down her chin. She lost her grip on the revolver, the small gun falling to the ground in front of her.She looked in shock as she looked down at her chest, her clothes wet from her own blood.I looked past her shoulder as footsteps echoed through the warehouse, a few masked gun men rushing in and pointing their guns at every dark corner.Victor was with the men, his bruised and cut-up face unmasked unlike the rest of them, smoke flowing out of the barrel of his glock.He'd shot Attiwood. He rushed forwards, heavily limping as he pushed past the struggling old witch in her knees. He pushed me aside to look at Eza, scooping her up in his arms as he called out her name."Bella? Bella
Jacopo Nicolo...Elizabeth had sent me two texts which contained the locations of where my mother and wife were, two very separate locations that would each take about five hours to drive to if the starting location is my apartment building.I was already four hours into the drive back to the Vipers city, having to take a few minutes to stop at the gas station to fill up my tank.I kept calling anyone whose phone numbers I could remember, but it felt like the entire world was against me, completely shut off, cutting contact from me.I knew there was no use in calling Elijah again to ask for help, but I did call him to tell him that Dante was not answering his phone and that I needed him to make the call until he picks up so he can let the boss know of our situation.I expected to hear from Dante after that, but apparently, he wasn't answering for Elijah either, and neither was his shadow Harvey.I realized that I was pretty much alone in this. It made me wonder through the long dr
Ezabella Viper...I didn't want to stay home hiding in my room, which was a new behavior in this house. Staying at home meant that I was going to draw in my thoughts that I was going to think about everything that went wrong in my life. I would think about how Jacopo's car is no longer parked in my driveway. I would think about the way he reacted when my father let slip about the pregnancy, trying to figure out what every tik of his facial muscle meant.I had lunch with my father, and I returned to my room to pull comfortable shoes on so I could go on a walk, or even drop by the places I wanted to revisit since I returned to this city.I had the three sonogram tucked in my bag, along with my phone and the library card I have from over a year ago, in case it still works, making my way down the stairs to quietly leave."Where are you going?" My father's voice stopped me mid hall.I turned around and glanced at him."I'm going out for a walk." I replied."By yourself?" He shot back,