Stanley"Don't play games with me," Alejandro says, his voice low and dangerous. "I know you're not really here to sell cars. So, what do you want from me?"I hesitate for a moment, gathering my courage. "I want to know what happened to Molly," I say firmly. "She was kidnapped by your gang members."Alejandro narrows his eyes. "Molly? I don't know anything about that," he says.I take her picture out and throw it at him. "This is her. Look at her closely."Alejandro stares at the picture for a moment, then shakes his head. "Do you know how many men and women become casualties of gang wars? How am I supposed to remember this girl?" he says. I can feel my anger boiling inside me, but I hold it back. I know I need to stay calm if I want to get any information from him. "I know you're lying, Alejandro. I know your gang took her, and I want to know why."Alejandro raises an eyebrow. "Even if I knew something, why would I tell you? Who are you to me?"I take a deep breath, trying to come up
FridaI am waiting for Stanley anxiously.Part of me is wondering if he meant everything he said to me the other day and if he actually has feelings for me. What if he only says those things to seduce me?No, I don't really believe that. Stanley is a good person, no matter what I thought of him in the past.He asked me to wait for him, so I did. As I wait for Stanley, I fidget with my hair, trying to calm myself down. My mind races with thoughts of what could happen between us. The way he looked at me that day made me feel something different, something that I had never felt before. But what if it's all just in my head?Suddenly, I hear a knock at the door and my heart races. I take a deep breath before opening it, and there he is, standing in front of me, looking as handsome as ever."Hey," he says, a small smile on his lips. "Hi. Did you find out anything?" I ask eagerly.His face turns dark. "Yes, I did. And I am willing to do anything to take down the bastards for what they did t
StanleyThe day of the party has arrived.Today is the day Frida, and I plan to go to Ben's house party and take him down. He is one of the men responsible for Molly's death, so it's time he pays the price for it. Maybe I will be lucky, and the other three men will be at the party too.I anxiously wait for Frida in the living room as she gets ready. And after a few minutes, she comes out looking stunning as always.She's wearing a deep red dress that hugs her body perfectly, accentuating all her curves that every man in the room won't help but admire, I'm sure. It has thin straps with a low neckline, and it reaches down just before her knees. "Wow, you look great," I say, eyeing her up and down in admiration.Frida smiles at me darkly and walks over to the couch where I am sitting. "Thank you, Stan." She takes my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. "Are you ready for this?" she asks, the glint of determination in her eyes matching my own.I nod, my heart racing with anticipation. "I'
Frida"Are you okay?" Stanley asks me.Am I okay? I am not sure anymore. I just watched a man die, but I feel nothing but contempt for him. If anything, I feel at peace."Are you?" I ask Stanley, whose face is grimmer than usual. "I haven't done this in years because I wanted to leave my past behind, so I am a bit shaken up," he admits."Do you regret doing it?" I ask.Stanley shakes his head. "No. I don't. I did it for Molly."I smile and wrap my arms around him."Let's go home. I will stay with you tonight," I tell him. He nods, his eyes still dark. As soon as we get in the car, I feel my body relax somewhat. All the emotions that had been coursing through me start to dissipate, and I can finally breathe again. Stanley starts driving, and we make our way back to his apartment. Once we reach home, Stanley informs me that he needs to take care of some business while I go take a shower. The thought of a hot, steamy shower sounds like heaven right now. I head upstairs to our bathro
FridaStan and I are off to Nevada. Victor used his sources to track him down and it turns out Marcel has a bit of a gambling addiction, so we will most likely find him in a casino somewhere in Las Vegas.Stanley and I take our time driving there, enjoying the scenery along the way. It feels like a real vacation, except we know we are not here just to enjoy ourselves. This was a mission.We arrive in Las Vegas at noon the next day. The bright lights and flashing signs greet us, promising a good time, but I try to put that thought out of my mind. Stanley and I try to track down Marcel, but after two days of searching, we have no clue where he is. We are even staying at the hotel where Marcel frequents."Are you sure Victor got it right?" I say, frustrated.Stanley nods. "Pretty sure.""What do we do now?" I ask.He stares at me intently. "We go downstairs to the casino again."I look down at my phone. I had Marcel's picture saved in it, so there's no confusion when I do see him. "Okay.
StanleyI am at Madison's house, having lunch, and she is looking at me suspiciously. I told Victor not to tell her anything about the mission I was on.I know Maddie wouldn't like her big brother to be involved in murders. Victor looked at me with surprise when I told him not to tell her."Me, her husband is operating a whole criminal organization, and you think she will get mad at you for this?" he asked me.I sighed. "Look, I took care of Madison since she was a little girl. She looked up to me, and to her, I am a saint. I don't want to ruin that image for her.""But not telling her would be deceitful. She will be mad if she finds out," Victor argued.We had argued back and forth before Victor finally agreed not to say anything, Madison.And now, I am at her house, and I feel guilty for not telling her.I finish my lunch, pushing my plate away from me and leaning back in my seat. Madison eyes me curiously, her expression telling me that she knew something was up with me. "What's
Stanley"So you want to know where this guy is now? But why? What do you need with him?" David asks."You know where he is?" I reply with another question.David leans back on his couch. "Yes, I do, and he is not someone you need to get involved with.""I have my reasons," I reply, trying to keep my voice steady.David narrows his eyes at me. "What are you involved in, exactly?"I hesitate for a moment, unsure of how much I can reveal without putting myself in danger. But then, I realize that I have no choice but to trust him. "It's because of Molly," I confess.David nods, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Okay, I can help you. But you need to promise me that you won't do anything stupid," he says firmly."I promise," I say, even though I would be lying.David pulls out his laptop and starts typing on it. "Luckily, I still have access to the police database. But you cannot, under any circumstance, tell anyone about this. I could get into a lot of trouble," he says."No on
StanleyVictor's plan seems pretty solid, so in the coming days, Victor and I work tirelessly to finalize our plan to take down William and Theodore. We gather some gang members from Victor's Mafia and set up surveillance around the pizza joints.Meanwhile, both Victor and I keep Madison in the dark about the dangerous mission I'm involved in. I continue to act as normally as possible.One evening, as Victor and I are reviewing our plans again, Frida enters the room. She has that look on her face. A look that tells me that she won't back down from being a part of this mission, no matter how dangerous it may be."Frida, I thought we agreed," I say, my voice filled with concern.Frida's eyes meet mine, her gaze unwavering. "I can't just sit around while you risk your life. We're in this together, remember?"I sigh, realizing how stubborn she is. "Stay back, Frida. We don't need you to become a liability," Victor says harshly.She turns to look at him, her eyes pleading with him. "Molly
SheilaI freeze, my heart racing as I look around the room, trying to spot any signs of danger. Ethan notices my distress and places a comforting hand on my arm."Is everything okay?" he asks, concern etched on his face."I don't know," I say, showing him the message from my dad. "He's telling me to leave."Ethan's expression darkens. "We should go, then. Henrik!" he calls out to my brother, who's standing at the punch bowl, chatting up one of the teachers. "We need to leave. Now."Henrik nods, his eyes scanning the room. "I'll go get the car."We rush out of the venue, and Henrik pulls the car around to the front. We jump in, and he speeds off into the night."What's going on?" I ask, my heart pounding in my chest."I don't know. But I got the same message from Dad, telling us to leave," Henrik says, scanning the parking lot.Ethan's phone buzzes, and he checks it. "My dad is telling me the same thing.""Someone is following us," Henrik says urgently as he looks into the rearview mir
Prom night.I stand in front of the mirror, admiring my dress. It's a strapless, navy blue gown that hugs my curves in all the right places. My friend Leslie helped me pick it out, and I couldn't be happier.I hear a tapping at my door, and I grin, knowing it's Henrik. I quickly open it."Ready to go?" Henrik asks.I nod, excitement bubbling inside of me. "Thanks for helping me with this, Henrik. I really appreciate it."He chuckles. "Of course, sis. Anything for you. Now, let's go before Dad starts to suspect something."We make our way outside, and I see Ethan's car waiting for us. Henrik opens the door for me, and I climb in. Ethan greets me with a smile. My heart skips a beat as I take in his handsome appearance. He's in a black tuxedo, and he looks like he just stepped out of a magazine."You look beautiful," he says, taking my hand.I blush, feeling flattered. "You don't look too bad yourself, Ethan."He smirks. "Glad to hear it. Shall we get going, then?""Ahem..."We both turn
Sheila Damien almost looks nervous at the woman, which is kind of funny to me. Isn't he supposed to be some tough Mafia boss?"Hey, Addie. This is Sheila," Damien says. "Sheila, this is my wife, Adeline."Hi," I say shyly.Adeline's eyes light up. "Sheila? Ethan told me about you!"Ethan talked about me? My cheeks warm at the thought."What are you doing here? Where is Ethan?" she asks.I look at Damien, trying to give him a chance to explain the situation, but when he says nothing, I decide to tell her myself."Mr. Damien kidnapped me from my school."Adeline's face twists into a frown. "He did what!?" she exclaimed.Damien raises his hand. "Now, hold on, I wouldn't call it kidnapping."I keep my smile intact. "It was definitely kidnapping. Some guy just pulled over next to me and told me to get inside the car."Adeline glared at him. "And why did you do such a thing?""Mr. Damien found out I am the daughter of his enemy, so he wanted to have a chat with me," I answer for him.Adeli
SheilaI don't care what Dad says. I want to see Ethan again. Last time we had so much fun together, and we connected so well!I catch him by his locker, so I stride toward him. "Ethan, hi!" I chirp.He looks at me and smiles. "Hey, Sheila. I thought you were forbidden from seeing me.""I am, but I don't care," I say determinedly.Ethan chuckles. "Being a rebel, are we?"I turn serious. "Look, Ethan. I don't care what kind of rivalry your dad and my dad have going on, but I want us to keep being friends. What do you have to say about that?"Ethan smirks and leans toward me. "Friends? I was hoping we could be more than friends."My heart does a little flip inside my ribcage. "Really?"Ethan nods, his smirk fading into a gentle smile. "Yeah, really. I've enjoyed getting to know you, Sheila. You're smart, funny, and we have a lot in common. I'd like to explore the possibility of something more than just friendship if you're interested."I bite my lower lip. "I would like that.""I wanted
HenrikI lean back in my chair as the waitress approaches us."Here's your whiskey on the rock. Let me know if you need anything else," she says with a smile.I smile back. "You know what, there is something else I need.""What's that?" she asks."I was wondering if you would spend some time with me tonight," I say.Her smile falters a bit. "What do you mean?""I mean, why don't we go to one of those private rooms and...talk? Maybe you could give me a lap dance?" I say and wink at her.Her cheeks flush. "I am not one of the dancers. I am just a server."I shrug. "What if I pay extra?"She sucks in a breath and her eyes narrow. "Are you serious? That's highly inappropriate." She takes a step back, clearly offended.But I'm not one to be deterred so easily. I lean in closer and give her a smirk. "Come on, it will be fun. I promise you won't regret it."She shakes her head and takes a step back. "I am not interested in being paid to dance for you."I shrug again. "That's too bad. But may
HenrikDang, family dramas, am I right?After causing that big scene at dinner, Dad got us all together for a private meeting."I need you all to keep an eye on your sister," he says in a hushed tone. "Don't we do that anyway?" Jonas rolls his eyes."I am serious!" Dad growls at him. "Pay extra attention to her. Make sure she doesn't see Ethan again.""You do realize they go to the same school, right? And they plan on going to the Prom together," I remind him."I will pull her out of school if I have to," Dad says gruffly.All four of us shake our heads disapprovingly. "That's a terrible idea," Oliver says. "She is about to graduate soon. You can't pull her out of school now. She will never forgive you.""Yup. Oli is right. Let her graduate at least," Aleks agrees.Dad's expression softens. He takes a deep breath, his voice reflecting a mixture of concern and resignation. "Fine. But you all need to promise me that you'll keep a close eye on her. And if anything feels off or suspicious
Sheila"Out! Get out of my house, NOW!" Dad roars, pointing at Ethan."Dad! What the hell!?" I stand up too. What is he doing and why? "Why are you saying this to Ethan?"Ethan looks as confused as me. "Sir?""I need you to leave. And make sure you and my daughter never see each other again," Dad says."I don't understand," Ethan says."Me neither," I say as I stare at my dad, completely embarrassed and horrified."Yeah, Dad. What's going on?" Henrik remarks."Hold on, everyone. Let's take a moment to understand what's happening here," Mom says, her voice steady and composed. "Victor, why are you suddenly asking Ethan to leave and demanding that they never see each other again?"Dad takes a deep breath, his anger subsiding slightly as he tries to explain himself. "It's for their own good. I can't have Damien Sky's son date my daughter."Mom looks at him curiously. "Damien Sky? Victor, why is that name significant? Why are you freaking out about him?""Damien and I go way back. And not
Sheila I changed my clothes at least three times in less than an hour. I am nervous. No, not just nervous. I am absolutely terrified of the dinner tonight. When Oliver told me he was planning on inviting Ethan over for dinner, my heart plunged to my throat. I tried to say no because I knew what my brothers were up to. They just want to invite Ethan so they can scare him in the comfort of their own home. But for some reason, I couldn't say no. Maybe because seeing Ethan in my house is much more tempting. I make a mental note to myself: I must protect Ethan from the quadruplets' wrath. And so I am standing in front of my wardrobe, looking for the perfect outfit. Nothing screams "I'm not interested" more than a casual T-shirt and jeans, but I don't want to seem too eager either. I try on a white summer dress with delicate lace details that fall perfectly around my curves. But then again, it's too girly and Ethan might think I'm trying too hard. So I put on a pair of slim-fitting j
OliverSheila is charging towards me. Her face is flushed red. She must be pissed at me and I know exactly why."How could you!?" she snarls at me."What do you mean? How could I what?" I feign ignorance which seems to piss her off even more."HOW COULD YOU RUIN MY DATE?" she roars.Jeez...so angry. I swear she has anger issues like Dad. "Don't scream at me, Sheila. I am older than you.""I don't give a hoot how old you are," she growls."What's all this commotion here?" Our father, Victor walks in and asks."Sheila is screaming at me because I scared her little date at the museum," I say gruffly.Dad scowls. "Date? What date?"Sheila's face turns pale. I can tell she is caught off guard as she didn't want to tell our father about her dating boys already. Hmm...I feel bad for her now. "She is trying to get a date for the Prom, Dad, that's all," I say in her defense."Okay...so what's the issue here?" Dad asks. "Ethan is new and he hasn't heard all the dumb rumors about me and my fam