Jacopo Nicolo...The investigation was not kind to us. Cane and I had an interesting talk with the Fimbars. Before entering the mansion, Cane and I discussed that we would have a conversation with the mother and father separately in different rooms before we would pay Helena Fimabr a visit.I spoke to the mother, Piper Fimabr, and every cell in my body was annoyed with her to the point that I almost reached for my gun.I'd asked her a simple and straight forward question that required a simple and straightforward answer. But she would take her sweet time fabricating stories I didn't need or even asked for.I'd asked her when was the last time she had seen her son Alex Fimbar, and the old woman would start ger answer by blaming her daughter-in-law."My son has been quite stressed lately. That worthless wife of his has been sucking the life out of him. Ever since he married her a few weeks ago, he has been miserable. I know he barely sleeps at night with her in his bed. She doesn't
I drove around the nearby places as slowly as I could, casting looks towards the streets to see if I could find her walking around.Throughout the entire search, I was wondering as to why that woman would run away. If her main purpose was to build a trap on the web, then why did she need to run away?I wondered if maybe it was because she needed time to meet up with someone, but that didn't make much sense, since I surprised her by taking her out of the apartment when she least expected it.I tried to make sense of it, but nothing seemed to come to mind.The search lasted about an hour before I received a call from Cane.I answered the phone, feeling unease, and hoped that he would find her, since I obviously couldn't."Tell me you found her." I called out the second I pressed the phone against my scarred ear."Worried about your wife, I see..." He commented, the mockery ringing in his voice."Cane!" I hissed, moving my car to the side to park."Yes..." He finally replied. "I found h
Ezabella Viper...My ears were ringing, my guts twisting, and my entire body shivering. I was having a hard time comprehending what happened in the last few hours. From waking up to Ella Smith's phone call to Jacopo Nicolo taking me out of his apartment, from witnessing a thief sneaking into the Fimbar's mansion to almost getting sold... Everything was too much.All I wanted was a warm... no, a scorching hot shower, and then get a long sleep. All I wanted to do was forget that everything happened, but I still couldn't stop myself from remembering.I recalled hiding behind the dumpster, the little shadow it cast, hiding me from the outside world. I remember watching the people walking by without noticing me. I remember how low need felt and how scared I was.I recalled watching the time go by and the day darken. It truly terrified me. I thought I was lost forever. It might have been a silly thought for an adult, but it still didn't stop me from feeling a gut twisting nerve.I
I ended up dragging myself to the deserted living room to have some rest, and the second I'd slid under the warm covers and my head rested against the fluffy pillow, I was immediately lights out.Despite getting the long sleep I was desperate for, I did not get the rest that my body and mind needed.I'd slept through a horrible nightmare, my mind forcing me to see a fusion of what happened over a year ago and what could have happened the previous day.I'd startled away three times throughout the night, desperate to run away from the nightmare. But then, I would fall right back on my pillow and sleep, only to continue the nightmare I had stopped.I knew the sun had risen when I heard movements in the apartment, mostly in the open kitchen. I gave the elevator doors my back, pretending to still be asleep so I wouldn't be interrogated by him again.Tucking my hands under my head, I closed my eyes and followed the sound of his soft footsteps as he walked about.I heard the door of the frid
I stood in front of the open fridge, looking at the items as I did the day before. Except, the eggs were double the numbers they were the previous day.It made me wonder when Jacopo had restocked. There were a lot more fruit than there were before as well, including avocados, oranges, grapes, and more watermelon, strawberries, and apples.I didn't want to eat strawberries again, craving actual food that wasn't sweet. I wondered if he would be mad if I took an egg or two... or maybe three.I reached in, deciding to heck with it. I was having some eggs.I took three eggs out, along with a bottom of sparkling water, and closed the fridge.I walked back to the counter where I had left my phone. I tapped the screen with the tip of my pinky finger, checking if there was any notification I had not noticed. It was about thirty minutes since I called Ella to tell her about what I had seen, and I was hoping she would call me right away after she found out what happened to Helena Fimbar. But the
I stood behind the drapes, once again looking down at the outside world. I was trying my best to pass the time, boredom once again, making me feel low.I'd venture deeper into my suitcases, but I was not strong enough to remember my past.I was in the midst of trying to talk myself into sleeping when I heard my phone ring.I pulled the drapes away and entered the living room, darkness instantly swallowing it whole when the drapes fell back in place.I slowly made my way to the open kitchen and reached for my phone. I grew wary at the sight of Ella's name and phone number flashing on the screen of my phone.I answered the call before I pressed the phone to my left ear."Hello?" I called out."Ezabella, hi. I'm sorry I didn't call earlier..." Ella Smith commented."It's okay. Did you hear anything about the Fimabrs?" I asked, too eager to know if Helena Fimbar was okay and if my stupidity hadn't cost her her life."I did. Helena is fine, and so are the rest of the Fimbars." She replied.
I say awkwardly in the passenger seat of the car, my shoulder firmly pressed against the door, my eyes planted on the window.It came to me as a surprise when Jacopo told me that he would drive me to the Smith Mansion himself. Although I was surprised, I was not about to look at a gift horse in the mouth. It didn't take me a full five minutes to change out of my clothes and tie my knotted hair into a messy bun. I slipped my white flats on and left the walk-in closet with a final cast on the only sock I had that was torn when I ran on them with no shoes on.Jacopo was waiting for me in front of the elevator, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes looking into the distance, calculating whatever equations he had in his head. Despite looking like he was deep in thoughts, he noticed me limping over to him out of the corner of his right eye, and put the codes into the panel to call the elevator up.My initial plan was to sit in the back seat of the car, as far away from Jacopo as poss
If I thought the inside of the mansion was beautiful, then the outside was ten times more magnificent.I threw my eyes around the garden at the back of the large house, eagerly taking in the different colored flowers, breathing in the fresh air mixed with their scents. It would be an understatement to say that the place was peaceful. It made me want to kick back and relax right there and then, refuse to leave the comforts of the garden and stay there for as long as I could. I'd asked Ella to adopt me the second I'd laid eyes on the garden and the freshness it provided, causing the other women to laugh at my words, or at me.I looked around and was envious of the butterflies who were allowed to freely flap their wings around the garden, to choose whichever flower they were mostly attracted to and do their things, to come and go as they wished without anyone assessing every single move they made.Cilvia Smith had first led me to the kitchen, assuming that Ella and her kids were there.
Ezabella Viper...I watched as Ella lovingly looked down at her two daughters, her fingers gently brushing their thick hairs off of their faces.I look at her, and I see a loving mother looking at her children. It was a beautiful sight, and I wondered if I could ever be the mother that she is.My hand was pressed against my lower abdomen as I stared at her."Is it hard?" I whispered, trying to keep my voice high enough just for Ella to hear me, and low enough not to disturb the sleeping twins."What is?" Ella asked, tearing her eyes away from daughters to look at me."Being a mother... being a mother in a place like this. Being the wife of a dangerous man working for a dangerous organization. Is it hard?"Ella let out a soft sigh, looking away from me as she thought through her answer. "I wouldn't say it is easy. What I can tell you is that I wake up every single day next to the man I am madly in love with. I have two amazing daughters who I would give my life for. I have a fami
Jacopo Nicolo...Elijah, Dante, Victor, and I sat in a circle, our focus on Victor as he restarted his explanation on how he was looking into Elizabeth while he stayed here to keep Eza safeEza and Ella were in our bedroom with the twins as Elijah had refused to talk about killing a bunch of people in front of his two daughters, and while both Eza and Ella wanted to stay and listen to our plans, they didn't protest against Elijah's request."As I was saying before, I was rudely interrupted by your unwanted appearance..." Victore said as he pointed at Dante and Elijah at the same time with two of his left fingers. "I've found out that Elizabeth is staying two towns over with a small mafia wannabe, boys. All we have to do is march ourselves there and wipe them off the face of the earth.""We need to be careful." Elijah commented."Of course, we need to be careful. That doesn't mean we should waste any more time than we already had." Victor countered. "It's been two whole months sin
A short silence fell in the home office as Dante and Jacopo stared each other down.Jacopo crossed his arms over his chest, refusing to make a single comment and forcing Dante to continue."Like Elijah said, I am sorry for what happened that night, but I, too, had someone I needed to save. And as much as it pains me to sat this, your mother was not my priority that night."My goodness... I get what Dante was saying, but damn it, he didn't have to say it like that."And what? I'm supposed to just believe you and be happy with your decision? I'm supposed to clap my hands for you and just move on?" Jacopo asked, hurt still evident in his voice."That is not what I am saying. What I'm saying is that the night was not easy for any one of us. We were all isolated and were forced to choose to save those we loved the most. Elijah had to choose his family and you had to choose your wife..." "Then what about you?" My father jumped in. "Who were you forced to choose?" He asked.All eyes turned
Ezabella Viper...I sat tense in Jacopo's home office, my back to the window, and my face turned towards the unexpected guests sitting in front of my husband.Dante, Elijah, Ella, and their twins. One look at Jacopo and I could tell that he was trying his best to control his anger, to stay come and hear them out before he can kick them out without Dante threatening to burn us all down along with the apartment building."This is very awkward." My father leaned in to whisper to me, shaking his head in disappointment for getting caught up in between the affairs of the people of the web."It sure is." I replied, keeping my voice hushed enough only for my father to hear."Are you sure you want to say with this man, Bella? Because if I were you, I would not handle this well." He added."Well, it's a very good thing that you are not me, then." I replied, glancing at him and seeing the face he was making at me."Are we going to sit here and stare at each other all day... or are you going
I was in the middle of preparing breakfast for Eza when the panel lit up with a notification. I pulled my phone out of my pocket to look at what had set it off.Victor was standing in the elevator, aggressively punching the button that would take him to my floor.Goodness.I pushed the pass code in through my phone and watched as he shoved his hands in his pocket and looked up at the camera.I returned my attention back to the breakfast I was preparing for Eza, which did not need the stove to be turned on. Thank goodness.I ignored the noise of the elevator door opening as I started plating the fruits and cookies."Is that why you eat? Or is that what you feed my daughter?" He asked as he stopped in front of the kitchen counter."Mind your own business." I mumbled."My daughter is my business." He replied."Dad?"My eyes are drawn to the hall at the sound of my wife's soft voice."What are you doing here this early?" She asked. "Did we make plans for today?""Good morning to you too,
I stood in front of the mirror, pulling a black t-shirt over my head, wincing as I felt the slowly healing gunshot wound on my shoulder.Eza was still asleep in bed when I got up to get ready. The previous night, after Eza and I had spent the day together forgetting the horror we were living, we'd returned home and spent a few more hours in each other's arms, talking about this and that until she fell asleep.After tucking her in bed, I'd returned to the living room to retrieve my phone, charge it, and make a phone call even though I knew it was past midnight.I knew I wouldn't be able to fall asleep if I didn't call Victor right that second and make plans. I just couldn't wait a few more hours until the sun went up.I was sitting at my desk in my home office, one I have not been in since the day I lost my mother, and almost lost my wife for the rest of my life.I expected to call Victor a few times before he picked up, but to my surprise, the phone didn't even ring three times befor
Jacopo Nicolo...If there is one thing going right in my life, it's having Eza next to me.These past eight weeks had been brutal, and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get out of my shell as fast as I could to start fixing our marriage. I was the one who messed up, yet Eza was still by my side, cooking my every meals and trying to get me out of my shell every single day.I didn't deserve her kindness. I still don't. But I recognize how blessed I am to have her.She was probably the only reason why I was back on my feet, walking around and not letting myself west away. As of now, she is also the biggest reason why I decided to go through with the visit to see my mother.I was not even close to being ready to fall at her grave, to say the things I wanted to say to her. But I also knew that the longer I took to get to the cemetery, the harder it was going to be for me to start healing, and that will only make it even harder to fix my marriage with Eza.I glanced at her
"Okay." Jacopo said once more, and I felt enough relief to reach for his hand again and lock our fingers.I turned to face the cemetery and started leading him forward to the place I knew where his mother's resting place was.Jacopo followed silently, his fingers tightening around my hands as he kept his eyes on the ground, refusing to look up.I stopped in front of a new grave."Vanessa Nicolo, a mother and a best friend." Was written on the head stone."Here it is, Jacopo." I commented, glancing to see that he was staring at the words. His hand fell away from mine, and I watched as he crumbled. His knees buckled, forcing him to fall to the ground right in front of his mothers grave."Mom..." He whispered, hus voice barely audible.I took a few steps back to give him some space and to let him be with her on his own, but I didn't move too far away just in case he needed me."I'm sorry." I heard him whisper."I'm sorry I didn't get to you fast enough. I'm sorry I let them do that to y
Jacopo and I took our time to enjoy our breakfast, sitting next to each other at the dining table for the first time in a while. After that, we went straight for our bedroom. I took a quick shower in the bathroom with the hot water, and Jacopo took his in the other bedroom with the bathroom with cold water.I slipped a black dress on, one that made my baby bumb more visible than usual, and when I men Jacopo in the living room, I saw that he was dresses in a full black suit, his hair messy, and his expression looking like ge was already regretting his decision to go visit Vanessa."You told me to drag you by the collar if you end up changing your mind, Jacopo. I plan on doing that." I playfully commented, limping closer to him and offering him my hand.He slid his hand into mind, his fingers firmly wrapped around my own, holding on to me as if I was his one and only life line."Are you ready to go?" I asked.Jacopo shook his head."Not even close." He replied as he took a step closer