Chapter 2
Jane's POV
The next morning, I was facing the mirror. I was wearing a simple white sequin dress. Fernando's sister had done my make-up herself and all I could think of was how I was about to sell myself to save my mother.
The driver walks in.
"It's time." He called from behind his dark shades and I hurried into my shoes. It was going to be just simple wedding. Fernando and I and the bishop and his parents maybe.
For now I just wanted to get it over with.
The car started off slowly and my mind was totally void.
"You must be thirsty." The driver called tapping the bottled water in the center console.
"As usual." I exhale and pull the bottle.
I had drank up to half of the water when my phone started ringing.
"What's taking you so long?" Fernando demanded.
"We're on our way." I replied calmly, ending the call before he could say anything else.
"Could you go faster?" I asked the driver sitting in front of me but he gave me no response.
I shake my head and arrange my headdress with the screen of my phone as a mirror.
Just as I was staring at my reflection, Tim's name popped up on the screen and I sighed.
"I thought you wouldn't call." I whispered. But just as I was about to answer the call, the car took a sharp swerve off the main road that got my phone flying out of my hand.
I struggled to hold myself back to the back seat before casting a look at the driver.
"What's going on?"
But again, he doesn't give me a response. I was seized by panic when I looked to see that he had taken a different rout entirely off the road that led to the church.
"Where are you taking me?" I demanded.
"To your husband to be."
"This isn't the way!"
"Not Fernando." He replied coldly and my eyes dilated in shock. My phone stared ringing again and I grabbed it from the floor.
"Tim, help! I'm being kidnapped!" I cried into the phone.
"Jane?" As soon as he spoke, the driver reached back and seized the phone from my hand before bringing the car to a halt.
We were now parked under the bridge and the road was deserted.
Intense fear crept into my heart and I froze in the backseat as the driver opened the door and pulled me out. He led me to the front seat and as soon as he sat me down, the phone started ringing again.
"You're going to pick the call now and tell him that you're fine and were just joking."
"What?"
"Do it now." He raises his had and I see a gun in his grip.
I scream aloud and covered my mouth almost immediately. "Do what I ask now." He points the gun next to my head.
"Hi, Tim."
"Jane, what's going on?"
"Nothing."
"What do you mean nothing."
"I was just pulling your legs. I'm absolutely fine."
"Jane."
I let out a shrieking laughter. "I'm fine."
"Where are you now?"
My gaze rolls to the driver but the moment I feel the gun's snout touching my temple, I avert my gaze. "On my way to the wedding hall."
"Alright..."
The driver rolls him finger in a circle for me to wrap it up.
"Alright I gotta go, Tim. We'll talk later." I said before Tim could speak and the driver seizes the phone from me, switching it off right in front of me.
I have pulled the same prank on Tim more than twice. How would he know that this time around I was really in trouble.
"Please... What do you want?"
He takes the gun from my head and tucks it in. "I'm sorry I had to do that. El jefe would be furious with me if he found out I put a gun to huge head."
"What? Who's El jefe?"
"Your husband as I stated earlier. I'm taking you to him now."
"No! There's been a mistake. I'm not engaged to anyone else."
I reach for the door and try opening it but it was already locked.
I press my back to the seat in full panic. I had soaked my dress with perspiration now.
"Hello!" He spoke to the cell phone in his hand. "Yes, El jefe... I have her."
I could recall El jefe meant 'the boss' in spanish. Who was he and why did he want me?
When he ended the call, I drew near. "Look! Trust me, you have got the wrong person!" I tried to explain but my words started collapsing as they reach my lips. My eyes were getting heavy to keep up and I felt my head spinning.
What was happening to me?
My back dropped drastically against the seat, my entire body going numb while he just kept driving into the dark.
The water bottle beside me was the last thing my eyes captured before they closed completely.
By the time I woke up, I found myself lying in a small bed. The room I was in was dark except for a small bedside lamp that illuminated the space around me.
I rubbed my eyes before my brain slowly started a replay of the last incidence.
Where am I?
"You're finally awake Lucia." A masculine voice sends me jolting against the bedframe.
I quickly rise to a sitting position, folding my legs to the side. In the dark room, I traced the lines to a figure seated at the far end of the bed opposite me.
From the figure I was certain it was a man, in a suit, sitting with his right leg crossed over the left. He was relaxed on the seat so that I could see a portion of his bare bulky chest peering out between his lapels. I could not see his face clearly but I could trace the line of his hair dropping over one side of his face.
What did he just call me? Lucia?
He gets up and I am impressed by how tall and broad he was. As he walked towards me, I found myself drawing nearer to the bed board. My vision was still a bit blurry and the room's partial darkness wasn't helping.
"Who are you?" I asked in a shaky voice.
"It's really good to hear your voice again." He whispered as he reached the side of my bed.
Chapter 3Jane's POV I still found it hard to believe any of this. This strange man before me claimed to know me yet I was very certain that I had never seen him in my life."I am not Lucia! You're mistaking me for someone else!" I told him but he insisted otherwise. I lost my calm as well as my fear and started throwing a tantrum. I told him I wouldn't let him keep me here. He aught to let me go if he knew what was best for him he still insisted I needed to rest from my journey and that he would see me later. As he stepped out of the room, I hear him locking the door.I didn't know what to do. I was so frustrated and couldn't believe any of it. I had thought my day was going bad enough when I was going to marry Fernando. But now I was kidnapped by someone who thinks I'm his girl?... wife?After wasting all of my energy on hitting the door and yelling for my freedom, I got tired and returned to my bed, sitting with my head in my hands when suddenly the door creaks open.I spring up
Jane's p o v.I hold my breath as his fingers spread over my small waist and he pulls me to himself until I feel my abdomen pressing against his bulge between the front of his thighs.My hand comes to rest on his chest in order to push him away but his grip is tight and stronger. I feel the sweat spreading over my skin as my body shivers, my skin prickling to his touch.The surprising part is how I lost my ability to fight back. I had been so eager to fight him off but now I was powerless to his sick charms in the shadows.When he lifts is face from me, I feel his breathing over my lips and nose. " I missed you, my darling Lucia... " He bites my chin softly and I'm telling myself to break free of his grip but my body doesn't allow it. " I have missed you so fucking much! " His head is now bent under my chin and I am forced to throw my head backwards as he runs kisses over my neck. " Wait... " I finally find my voice but I almost can't hear myself. I am so glued to him that th
Jane's POV"What?" I called out in disbelief. "You can't do that."But he had gone deaf as he gets off the bed slowly and heads for the door."Come back here!" I screamed but he is already out of the room leaving the door unclosed.This had to be a dream. It felt too unreal. How everything had changed all in one second. I got down the bed slowly. The room was different for what it had looked like last night.Last night it was a dangerous den full of shadows and my captor. Now it was a bright well furnished room that was warm and fully giving off vibes of Billionaire luxury. I couldn't ignore how clean it was. It was amazing."Ma'am." I hear a voice by the door and I turn to see Emily standing with folded hands on her skirt."I'm here to get you ready before breakfast. Please come with me."I allowed my eyes to sink backwards into their sockets in frustration. The fact that she was acting so cool like nothing was unusual about all of this made me even sicker.I followed her back to my
Jane's p o vI listened to the ticking of the clock as I knelt beside my bed. It was already late into the night. This was my only chance as Quinn Enricho wasn't home. The door didn't make a sound as I opened it quietly. I had been moved from the small room I was before into this one by Emily.As I stepped out, I was faced with a long spacious corridor. I was now wearing a gray coloured night dress which was brought to me by Emily. She told me to make sure I wear the night dress or jefe would be angry. I fled through the corridor looking at every corner of the walls to be sure there were no cameras. Luckily, I saw none.I kept on staring back at the door to the room I came from. I didn't know Quinn and I wasn't sure what he was up to. He had paid my bills fine and he was very hot but there was no way I could agree to spend the rest of my life with him because of that. If I didn't know better I would say he was really more dangerous than Fernando. A picture frame hanging on the
Jane's p o vWhen the guard says this, Quinn Enricho rises up to face him. " No! " I screamed with my eyes on the screen. " Please, don't. " I look up at him, his broad back turned to me but he doesn't even show the slightest sign that he heard my voice. " I wasn't running away because of him. He's not even my boyfriend. He's just my friend. I wasn't running away because of him. You have to believe me please! He's just my friend. We've been friends since we were kids. " My head hangs and tears rush down my cheeks as I grip the system in front of me and peer into the screen again. Tim was still there about to be shot. " Please don't hurt him. " My tears knew no end as I pleaded. Quinn turns around finally and although my vision is blurred by my tears, I can tell he was staring at me. " Please. " Quinn turns slightly as he waves his hand at the guard and calls. " Stand down. " I was relieved but my tears continue to flow when one of the men snatches the system from my grip.I co
Quinn's p o v" Goddddddamnit! Please, stop! "Ear cracking groans of agony and frustration from Mario resonated through the walls of the halfway stalked warehouse as Bruno held the pocket knife, firmly embedded in Mario's left breast.I sip my Tennessee whiskey from the square shaped glass while I listen to his screams, my right hand is tightened around the gun in my pocket.As his cries continue, I shake what's left in the glass and pour it in my mouth, pushing it down my throat in one gulp.I had walked in to meet my suited guards trashing poor Mario. Now that I had watched enough, I had his time.My guards make way for me and I eye Mario, covered in his own blood. One of my guards stretches his hand forward and collects my empty glass before I bend over to stare at Mario's bloody face. He had only one eye slightly opened while the other was completely swollen and bruised.He had several knife cuts over his body and a few bruises from heavy punches all over his arms which were tigh
Jane's p o v Perhaps the earlier I accepted this new life as my fate the better. Could that be so hard to do? Hadn't I always wanted a luxurious kind of life, attending classy parties and going on expensive vacations? Sitting and lying on comfortable and lush furniture and big soft beds?What if Enrico is going to give me all of that? What if I could endure his hostility just for a little while and hope to get comfortable with him. What if I respected him? He would be nice to me and not so authoritative and frightening.The standing question was could I do that? A lot went through my mind as I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror while Emily arranged my head dress. I had never worn a wedding gown in my life and hadn't dreamed of wearing one so soon in life. Of course not until Fernando. But what he had made me weer last week's Saturday was an insult to wedding dresses. This was the real deal. I thought as I stay down at the stone laced skirt of my dress.But as I star
Jane's p o v" Who's he? "" Hmm? " Emily mumbled and turned to me. Then she followed my gaze as it went up the stairs at the man that had disappeared over the landing tread and his footsteps sounded over the next stairs above now invisible." I don't know. " She says dryly and we continue along the hall." You mean to say you had not seen that young man which we just walked by? " I would never believe it even if she answered in the affirmative." Oh. . . " She whispers and faces the front door which we were headed to. " Yeah. . . I think I saw him. "Why was she acting all kind of weird? There was no way she could have passed by a person along the stairs so close and claim not to remember or be conscious of her meeting with the same person." He's El jefe's younger brother. "" Oh. . . " I look back to the step which was now far behind us as if I could still see him there. " I see. " I mumbled when I turned back to the floor in front of me which I walked through shakily. As we reach
Jane's p o v My eyes fluttered open, to Emily's footsteps. I turned my head to the side to see her pulling the windows open before she walked back out through the door.I close my eyes back and shake my head, my mind still foggy from the intense dream I had just experienced. As I regained my bearings, I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. Somehow, I could still hear the sounds of the gunshot. It rippled once in my ear and I shook my head to repel it off.With those sounds and images so vivid in my mind, I was now beginning to wonder if it had really been just a dream or I had been a part of the experience.Feeling slightly disoriented, I pull the scattered tendrils of my rough hair out of my face and swung my legs over the side of the bed till my feet sink into the soft carpet. My face comes in line with the sun and I block it off with my hand before turning my head to the side only to see a man sitting by the reading table.I paused as my eyes narrowed but still fixated on the man wh
Quinn's p o v As their voices echoed, from the floor, I started firing shots down at the guys and their groans and shoot back filled the air.These ones were quick to sight me despite the wall and they took instant covers as they came up the stairs shooting so that I hardly had the chance to shoot back."The fuckers!" I groaned, only to hear Lucia's voice. "Someone's here!" She called and I turned to my side only to see one of them coming through the end of the corridor. Immediately I threw a shot."Lucia, get down!" I commanded and she held her ears as she slid down the wall so that I continued shooting the man until he was down.But as I turned back, the ones climbing up were already at the banister, heading for the corridor where we were.I held Lucia to my side holding her head tightly against my chest and shifting her slightly to my side so that I'm covering her while I shoot at the men climbing up. While doing so, I begin to retreat towards the arch.They were now fully in vi
Quinn's p o v The sound of gunshots echoed through the casino, causing the place to convert to land of panic. I could hear the footsteps of people running in every direction, knocking over chairs and tables in their haste to escape from the straying bullets. Screams intensified at every instance which they were met with shots to their heads. I pulled down my hand which had been acting as a shield over my head and planted it to the floor for support bring my palm down to the piercing of the shattered glass on the floor. The pain hit my nerves in a wave but I did not have the attention to pay to it right now. I could hear Lucia's shivering breath beneath him. I knew she was scared, and it got me dazed. I pull her up, and leave the both of us bent on our knees as I raised my head over the shielding table to see the men with guns skittering and shooting around the place against Benny's guards. As soon as they backed us, I dashed across the floor in order to reach for the bar. But
Quinn's p o v While I gazed at her in amusement, her eyes were only on the table.I tried to surpress my laughter. "Are you serious.""I can play in your stead can't I?" As she asked that, she was facing the men instead of me. What gave her the sudden audacity to seek permission from someone else other than me?"Sure!" One of the men responded with his teeth bared. He was clearly happy he was about to win more money."Very well!" Benny stepped in. "Let my sweetheart join in the table and show us what she has got." The others cheered in agreement and I frowned. Of course he would agree to this. It was more to his advantage here if she lost.After all, she was a woman, and in their minds, that automatically meant she couldn't possibly know what she was doing.I watched keenly as Lucia threw her cash to the table and Benny count, before forwarding her chips to the table. I drew back anticipating her loss.I knew this was only going to get worse. These men were prone cheats and trickste
Quinn's p o v Rachel didn't dare to look up at me but I could see her face stiffen. I pull away from her. "It would be a shame if I meet him here again ..." I am walking towards Lucia who is standing frozen. "Meet him here again? Of course not, El jefe." Rachel chuckles from behind me. "He's going to get sacked right away." I give her a satisfied smile and grab Lucia's cold hand in mine before leading her out of the section. "See you soonest my dear Lucia!" Rachel sang out from behind us and I heard Lucia give out a hushed reply. The sun was already getting down when we got back in the car and started back home. I rested my back on the seat and closed my eyes. "If there's something you're dying to say ... Just say it." I whispered with my eyes still closed and Lucia's grunted breath beside me comes to a pause. "Was it really necessary to have that guy fired?" I actually thought it was the clothes that she wanted to make a complain about. "You think it wasn't?" I asked with
Chapter 40Jane's p o vMy face was strained in a frown as I climbed the back of the car where Quinn was waiting for me. When I got in, he was on the phone with his legs spread as wide as the tight pants of the navy blue suits would let him. I am not sure why he suddenly changed his mind and decided to let me get what I wanted but I wanted to act as nonchalant as possible.As the car pulled away from the curb, I placed my arm on the window and supported my chin with my fist. With Quinn resting behind me, I could feel his eyes, studying my every move of course. I tried to ignore his gaze, focusing instead on the scenery outside the window. But my airiness was short- lived as Quinn's voice broke the silence."You know, you could show a little gratitude, Lucia," he said, his tone laced with irritation. "After all, I'm doing you a favor by taking you shopping."I turned to face him, my expression hard and unyielding. "It's not a favor, " I shrugged. "You would not have agreed to my wi
Jane's p o v I gazed towards the door and could only see one of his shoulders as he leaned against the door frame.I watched Emily dropping the phone back to the bed and heading for the door.As Quinn shifts from the entrance, I see nothing but an empty space between the door then his light steps followed.I folded my arms and waited for him to appear before me."From now on, you have to knock before walking into my room." I say with my voice calm."Knocking on a door that was wide open?" He squeezes his brows."Well ... You could take permission first.""From where I come from an open door is a pragmatic invitation. And" He makes his slim taller figure stop opposite me. "... It's my room."I swallow and unfold my arms. "Well! I'm using it now so it's mine. So stop addressing it like that!""No, Lucia." He starts walking away from me. "I was just giving you time to settle in and when I am done with my 'from- night- till -day -break' work in my study room, ..." He walks passed the war
Jane's p o v My face was cold as I scrolled passed the pictures with Emily by my side. I was trying hard to hide the amazement I felt as I gazed at a person I almost couldn't believe was myself. I almost could not believe my own eyes. As I stared at each picture that had been taken of me out of my knowledge, I couldn''t believe how beautiful I looked in them, and was amazed at the skill of the photographer who had captured them. I mean I really had not payed much heed to the camera lights that were flashing continuously at that party hall.The photos showed me in various poses. In one of the pictures, I was standing alone amidst the aisle created by the crowd. I was under he spotlight and slightly gazing towards my left side. I clutched the ourse slightly behind my hip and my lips sparkled work the make up.In another photo, I was standing with one hand on my hip, my head tilted slightly to the side. Seems to me like I had been trying real hard to avoid direct eye contact.The ligh
Quinn's p o v THROWBACK."We're always going to be together forever, right?" Lucia Gael asked with her fingers deepened into her ebony hair with the lines of the evening sun and shadows across her face.I sigh before grumpily saying. "Sure!"Only to see her artificial nails covering the letters of my book from untop before she pulls it down from my reach so that I can now see her face, distorted with worry.The lines formed by the sun and roof shadows was also on her face. "Look at me and tell me that, Quinn. Don't just go mumbling sure!""You know I mean it don't you?""I don't know. I am worried and scared."The only time I was ever scared was when she said she was scared of something cause she was never scared of anything."Everything is fine. Relax! I am not going anywhere. And neither are you, right?" "I know about me but I can't say about you!" She throws an angry glance at me and leans back on the wagon. I sigh before looking back to my page."I don't know why you suddenly do