~~~ THE SUNRAYS SHONE brightly on Sophia's face as it peeked through the curtains, and her eyes opened slowly because of the heat it was providing. Her head was pounding and she could feel her eyes swollen She didn't understand or remember how she had slept off while bawling her eyes out to her pillow after having a very long painful shower. With a small whimper when she felt the headache kicking in, she sat up slowly and looked round the room. She froze when a knock came on the door. When the knocking didn't stop, she placed one of her palms on her racing heart and closed her eyes. “I hope it isn't him, “She wasn't ready to meet Chase after whatever happened between them the previous night. Slowly opening her eyes, Sophia got down from the bed, her small feet touching the cold tiles as she unlocked the door and opened it. She breathed out in relief when she saw Valerie standing there with a wide grin on her face. "Hey", Valerie passed her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorr
~~~ SOPHIA WATCHED IN sheer horror as the nineteen-year-old familiar-looking stranger plunged the knife out of her mum's abdomen while she just stood at the bottom of the stairs watching everything. To say she was scared was an understatement. They were just done having dinner-their small family; Her dad, mum, and herself she'd just gone upstairs to her room to get a broken doll that she could show her dad when she heard the sound of glass breaking. Clutching her broken doll, she rushed downstairs only to see her mum being stabbed by an unknown stranger and lying dead on the floor. Her eyes searched for her dad but he was nowhere to be found. Had he been killed too? "You rascal!", Sophia heard her dad's voice before he finally came into view. He gripped the stranger's collar and glared at him. “What did you do to my security team? What did you do to my wife?", "I did what should have been done a long time ago", The killer replied without any hint of remorse in his voice. “
~~~ "Okay then, sir. Goodnight", Sophia smiled at her boss "My regards to your Nana", The burly man smiled back at her and he left the coffee shop. It was a long day and finally, she was about to close the shop since she was the one given the responsibility to do so. All she needed to do was clean up the tables and she'd go back home to her grandma. And her nightmares. Just as Sophia began to clean the first table, she heard the chime sound of the door, indicating that a customer had arrived. Couldn't the person see the board outside which read 'closed'? Sophia turned abruptly, ready to snap at the person but her words died on her lips as her eyes landed on the people by the door side. A lady of about twenty-four or so and two young men of about the same age-maybe twenty-six stood there all clad in black by the door, looking deadly. Who were they? "Three cups of coffee, please" " the lady said and they sat on a table at a secluded corner close to the door side. So
~~~ CHASE WALKED UP the stairs towards his room with both his hands in his pants pocket. "Don," Chase stopped in his tracks and without turning, he waved his fingers at the person who just called him to walk up to him. Clearly understanding what his cousin meant, Luciano walked up the stairs till he was standing in front of Chase. Chase brought out a cigar and a lighter from his pocket before lighting it."Parlare." He took a long drag from the cigar and blew out the smoke from his lips. {"Speak"} "The task was completed, but there was a witness at the scene. Valerie requested to bring her over here," Chase stared at Luciano, his calm composure still on. "E voi, branco di sciocchi, avete fatto questo?", {"And you bunch of fools did that?"} "She was insisting that the girl shouldn't be killed. She said she didn't deserve to die," Luciano defended. He knew his little sister was likely to receive an earful from Chase. "And other witnesses? Did they deserve to die? “Ch
Sophia glared at him as he moved away from the wall. She wanted to push her hair that was sticking all over her face but it was completely impossible. Her hands were tied and there was no way she'd let that laptop guy do it for her. Immediately, the door opened and she squinted her eyes as the light from outside the room shone on her face. She looked at the huge body standing by the door and glared at him even though she couldn't see his face. For all she knew, he was the so-called Don the three murderers and kidnappers were talking about. He was the man who imposed the rule of killing witnesses. She inwardly scoffed at the thought. Sophia felt the sweat trickling down her forehead as his large, intimidating body walked closer to her. The room suddenly had a chilling silence as only the slow sounds of his shoes were heard and it had her shivering. Once the tall man was towering over her, she craned her neck to see his face but couldn't as she heard the soft click of the door
FEAR WAS THE only thing Sophia felt once The man she recognized as her parents' murderers left the room she was in. There was nothing she could do to escape him. He was going to kill her just like he had done to her parents and her Nana. What would be of the old lady? Would he kill her too just to wipe off their family from the face of the earth? Uncontrollable and unstoppable tears kissed her cheeks while her sobs were muffled by the tape on her lips. She couldn't even struggle against the tight ropes that had been used to tie her. The wooden door opened with a bang against the wall, making her flinch and she watched as Lucas walked in with his fists balled at his sides, jaw hardened, and a glare right on her. Angrily, he stormed towards her and began to untie the ropes on both her hands and legs before pulling off the tape with a harsh tug. She yelped out, and he glared at her again, making her squirm in her place." I--," another yelp left her lips when he grabbed one of he
~~~ Sophia clutched the tray where the plate of her barely-eaten food sat. She didn't have any appetite to eat, and she was grateful Valerie listened to her and didn't stay back with her in her room after dropping her dinner and helping her apply ointment to the bruises on her wrists and ankles. She stared at her legs which were barely covered by the mid-thigh pajama shorts Valerie left for her with a pajama shirt. Valerie didn't know what clothes to give her to wear, so she gave her one of hers' before the next day when she'd go shopping for some clothes for Sophia. With a huge sigh, she opened her room door and looked around the silent and empty hallway as the cold wind blew past her bare legs. She then walked towards the same way she remembered passing through with Valerie earlier and admired the paintings and photo frames across the walls. Once she got to the staircase, she stared at the large living room. The walls were painted white, which offered a clean, therapeutic,
~~~LUST WAS ALL Chase felt when he'd seen her on her knees, unknowingly showing him the outline of the beautiful shape of her round perky ass in that shorts, packing those plates from the ground. For the fucking first time after so many years, he remembered how to feel. Like, he felt something, and it had to be lust; something he never for once felt for his fiancée Saige even after all her sexual advances towards him; the same feeling he buried years ago for the same girl. Sophia Bennett. As absurd as it may sound, he had been lusting over her since he knew her as a fucking child. He never failed to secretly admire her every time he was sent on an errand to her dad's place. She loved wearing all those knee-length, floral dresses and leaving her hair in a pigtail style. The main thing that always attracted him to her was the way innocence radiated off her in waves with those beautiful freckles on her tanned skin. Anytime looked into her eyes, he felt himself drown in them and it
~~~ THE SUNRAYS SHONE brightly on Sophia's face as it peeked through the curtains, and her eyes opened slowly because of the heat it was providing. Her head was pounding and she could feel her eyes swollen She didn't understand or remember how she had slept off while bawling her eyes out to her pillow after having a very long painful shower. With a small whimper when she felt the headache kicking in, she sat up slowly and looked round the room. She froze when a knock came on the door. When the knocking didn't stop, she placed one of her palms on her racing heart and closed her eyes. “I hope it isn't him, “She wasn't ready to meet Chase after whatever happened between them the previous night. Slowly opening her eyes, Sophia got down from the bed, her small feet touching the cold tiles as she unlocked the door and opened it. She breathed out in relief when she saw Valerie standing there with a wide grin on her face. "Hey", Valerie passed her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorr
~~~~~~She looked at the table clock on the bedside table. 02:35 am. Oh God, how much she missed her, Nana. If the poor old lady was with her, she’d have been there to comfort her, rub her hair, and if possible, tell her stories. Sophia wore her flip flops and tightened the sash on the robe around her small frame before opening the door softly. She quietly walked down the stairs till she reached the kitchen and switched on the lights. She opened the refrigerator and brought out a carton of milk, then warmed it up as quickly and quietly as she could in order not to wake anyone up as she normally did for the past week but luck wasn't on her side that night. However, the glass of milk in her hands fell down on the floor and shattered into pieces when her eyes landed on Chase-dressed in a black cargo pants and shirt-leaning against the doorframe setback at her. "Y-" She trembled, remembering her nightmare. Except from when he'd appear in her nightmares, she didn't see Chase ag
~~~ SOPHIA WAS DUMBSTRUCK at Chase's announcement. She just stayed there glued to his side without moving with her head bowed down just like his men even though she wasn't asked to do souse was scared. She didn't know what he meant when he said she was his' and what to make out of it. Everything around her was numb except the wild thumping of her heart. Jesus. Her heart. She couldn't even count how many times her heart started behaving like that since she arrived at that place. She didn't even know what they did for a living, but one thing she was certain about was the fact that it wasn't a good business else why would there be guns and murder all around them? "Gattina, “She heard Chase's voice, and his Italian accent didn't hide itself. But she was too lost in her thoughts to even move or answer whatever that name meant. "Gattina, “It came out harsher than the first time, and Sophia snapped her head up. {"Kitten"} No one was in there with them. Not even Luciano. She was trapped
Luciano scrunched up his nose when he knelt down in front of her. “Open those cute eyes, it’s time for Don to take your life, finally”, Immediately he said it, her eyes snapped open and his expression was replaced with a victorious grin that his little trick worked. “I just knew it!", "What do you want? “She fake glared at him with a pout and sat up, folding her arms across her chest. "Is that you trying to glare at me, sweet cheeks? “Luciano raised a teasing brow, and then he playfully pinched her small nose. “You’re so cute and innocent”, He smiled. "Anyways, I came to tell you to go and have your bath." He used his palms to cover his nose. “I can literally smell the odor from outside there, so if you don't want me to die whilst watching over you, go and have a bath”, He joked. "Oh please, stop exaggerating it. It's not as if I smell on a normal basis”, She pouted again. "So you talk back? “He chuckled. “I thought you were just a stutte
~~~ SOPHIA SHUT HER eyes tighter than it already was and waited for the impact as her heartbeat accelerated. She waited for Chase to grab her arm and pull her away from her hiding spot but felt nothing. Slowly, she opened her eyes bracing herself for whatever Chase was going to do to her but she frowned when she didn't see anyone where she was. "So now you're playing games with me, Gattina? "Chase called out, and her eyes fell on him. His back was facing her, and he didn't look like he had been standing where she was. “I was glad I thought I found you, but it turns out I was wrong," {"Kitten"} Sophia placed her palms against her chest and breathed out in relief when she realized that he'd only thought he saw her, but little did she know that he was only playing games with her and knew very well where she was hiding. He just wanted to give her a little hope that she was free, only to crush it by himself.
Chase bent down in front of her and took the cup to her lips. “Drink," Sophia nodded, opened her mouth, and gulped down the whole glass of water. When the whole glass of water was emptied down her throat and he pulled the cup away, she gave him a small smile. “Thanks," Chase resisted the urge to scoff at her. What was there to smile at for given water? He ignored her and passed the cup to the man behind him who bowed again and left them alone. “Are you ready for our game?" Sophia hesitated before nodding her head. When she remembered how he'd reacted towards her when she only nodded, she opened her mouth to speak. "Y-yes," "Good," He began to untie the ropes on her wrist, then moved to the ones on her legs before standing up. “Stand up," Sophia obeyed him without any word. “Thank you," Chase passed his hand towards the man standing by the door side, who dropped a small wristwatch and a listening devic
~~~ A CHUCKLE THREATENED to break out of Chase's mouth immediately he saw the confusion contorted all over Sophia's pretty and innocent face but he masked it off quickly by straightening up. He wasn't someone to show such emotions. Sophia locked eyes with Chase and he could swear his breath hitched in his throat. "W-What do you mean? What do-what do you mean I'm going to be yours?" "Così dannatamente innocente", He muttered under his breath and then ruffled her hair that was already scattered around and flying all over her face. “You’re meant to wait for tomorrow night to understand what I mean. For now, I'll love to keep you on your toes." He then turned and walked out of the room, leaving her alone with her jumbled thoughts. {"So fucking innocent"} Sophia sighed and closed her eyes, trying to endure the throbbing pain in her body. Her whole body ached from her head, down to her wrist and ankle. “Oh lord, please help
Once Sophia felt the man's tight grip on her arm, she trashed, until she unknowingly kicked him between the legs, and he let out a groan, clutching the place she kicked. Sophia panicked once the sounds of gunshots rang through the air and quickly placed one of her legs over the fence. The man on the floor bellowed at his fellow bodyguards. “Follow her! She's the girl the underboss brought in!", She panicked the more as realization dawned on her that he had seen her face. In a few torturing minutes, she had already scaled over the fence and landed on her butt. “Ouch," She stood up immediately, and her eyes landed on a truck parked a few feet away from her. She ran towards it and ignored the truck driver who was peeing by the roadside and swung the front door open, rushing inside it to settle behind the steering wheel. Once she did so, she closed the door shut and that was when the owner of the truck noticed. He ra
~~~LUST WAS ALL Chase felt when he'd seen her on her knees, unknowingly showing him the outline of the beautiful shape of her round perky ass in that shorts, packing those plates from the ground. For the fucking first time after so many years, he remembered how to feel. Like, he felt something, and it had to be lust; something he never for once felt for his fiancée Saige even after all her sexual advances towards him; the same feeling he buried years ago for the same girl. Sophia Bennett. As absurd as it may sound, he had been lusting over her since he knew her as a fucking child. He never failed to secretly admire her every time he was sent on an errand to her dad's place. She loved wearing all those knee-length, floral dresses and leaving her hair in a pigtail style. The main thing that always attracted him to her was the way innocence radiated off her in waves with those beautiful freckles on her tanned skin. Anytime looked into her eyes, he felt himself drown in them and it