The party is disturbing and I need air.Too loud and too many eyes on me speculating my involvement with Raymond.He had invited me to be his plus one to the annual Mafia cartel gala, not like he gave me a chance to reject.This place was full of dangerous men and women who had strong connections to the underground world and I would be damned if I got on anyone's nerves tonight.I was dolled up in an expensive black sequin dress and Louboutins, and I have to say, I look really good.Raymond had barely let me move all night, but I needed a drink. Just one. A moment alone.I slipped away. Just for a second.I reached for a glass of champagne.A rough hand touched my backside.Hard.I gasped, my body tensing.Laughter.I turned around.He looked around the same age as Raymond with a haunting scar dragging from his left eye to his lip.He had a psychotic grin. His dark eyes flashing with delight."Couldn't resist." Heat flooded my cheeks.My breath became unsteady. "Why did you do that?"
The car ride was peaceful.Not the awkward kind of quiet; it was a comfortable silence that allowed for reflection.I sat beside Raymond, sneaking glances at him when I thought he wouldn't catch me.His jaw was tense, and his hands were tightly clenched in his lap.Finally, he spoke up."Are you okay?"His voice was softer than usual, calm yet deliberate.I hesitated for a moment.To be honest, I wasn't quite sure how I felt.But I managed to respond. "I'm fine."Raymond didn't seem to believe me.His gaze flicked to me then back to the road."You sure?"I sighed. "Yeah. Just... processing."Processing the reality that this formidable man had just punched a mafia boss on my behalf.I still couldn't wrap my head around it.I wasn't his girlfriend, and I wasn't supposed to matter.Yet, here he was, acting like I did.I noticed his knuckles were still red from the impact.I thought about his reaction-no hesitation, no second second-guessing instinctive, reckless need to protect.A man li
My hands trembled as I stared at the message on my phone.Unknown Number: You want your father back or you want him dead? Help us take down Raymond Silver. "Gracie, Gracie, save me, please..... Please" Her father screened in the phone. The men in black shut him upAnd the call ended. My throat dried, my heartbeat beating relentlessly.This wasn't real. It couldn't be.And about my Dad.Seeing him has been a distant dream. I had called every contact and searched every possible lead, but all to no avail, even till now.Another buzz on my phone. Unknown Number: Talk to us as soon as possible, we're waiting, If you want to save him, we need an answer.I was vibrating.I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to breathe.This was exactly what I had feared.Ever since Carter entered the pictureI knew he was so pained that Raymond punched himAnd he's looking for ways to pay him backNow, it was clear-Carter had never just been a rival for my attention. He was playing a much bigger gam
Midnight.My fate stood before me, leaving me with no option other than fulfilling betrayal.The air blew, sending my hair whipping across my face. My stomach twisted so tightly that I thought I might be sick.And I said, "My eyes have seen my ears" This was the night I betrayed Raymond Silver.The headlights of his black car erase the dark. My heart won't stop beating nonstop.It was too late to turn back.Ah! Too late. The car stopped at last.The door opened.Raymond walked out.The wind greeted his coat, and his keen grey eyes ran onto mine. He scanned the area, then me.He knew something was off."Gracie," he said, voice low, controlled. "What's going on?"I swallowed hard. My palms were dried.Lie."I just... needed to see you. Yes, I wanted to see you"His eyes glimpsed at the environment. "At the docks? At this hour?"I nodded. "Yeah."But the wind won't stop blowing, filling the heavy solitude between us.I needed to keep him here.Just a few more minutes."Do you ever thi
The sound of the gunshot resonated vividly in my mind. Blood flowed from my father's body, saturating the concrete's foundation. His eyes-shadowy, vacant-gazed into emptiness, unfocused. I was unable to move. I was unable to breathe. It seems I have ceased to breathe. Carter's chuckle pierced the silence like a keen knife. "You truly believed you were rescuing Dad, didn't you?" His remarks struck me like a slap, both severe and amusing. Negative. No, no, no. This is not occurring, not at this time, not in this place. I completed all their requests. I deceived Raymond, my abductor; I truly disclosed everything they sought. And yet, my father is gone? I felt like yelling. I desired to rip Carter to shreds with my own hands. Yet my body wouldn't budge; I sense the inertia. "Get this sorted," Carter commanded, waving his hand as if my father's life held no value to him or to this world. His crew moved ahead, prepared to haul the body off. I feel shattered. An unrefined, pr
The hours rolled like shackles, each one slapping against the next under the burden of doubt.I sat in the corner of the storage unit, my back against the cold concrete wall. Every few minutes, I glanced at the door as though I could command it to open with my mind. As though something out there would shift, and I'd have a way out.Nonetheless, it didn't. I was stuck in this miserable place with nothing but my reflections, reflections that just gave me more questions and anxiety.What's Raymond doing now? Was he looking for me?The thought twisted in my stomach and I swore angry and hurt. He looked away, after all. He left me to die.And I couldn't blame him. I had played him. I picked Carter over him, even though it wasn't what I meant. But now it was too late to say I'm sorry.I wasn't even sure why it mattered to me so much. I shouldn't have cared.Raymond Silver wasn't some prince charming. He was a monster, someone who would kill anyone in his way without a second thought. But f
I wished to. Yet the uncertainty was sufficient. Time spent in this underworld, gliding like a ghost through the criminal empire, had shown me one truth: hesitation frequently leads to death. A rush of action sprang at me, pushing the gun aside. I hardly had a moment to respond before his fist struck my abdomen. Air surged out of my lungs as searing pain erupted in my ribs. I fell to the ground, struggling for breath like a chicken. Carter hovered above me. "Feeble little creature," he objected, wiping blood from his mouth. "You don't have a place to go, right?" I hold on the concrete, pushing myself upward. I will not perish in this place. I wouldn't allow him to succeed. Flashes of light appeared from afar. Motors roared. Carter looked back and then swore. His troops had departed. However, his reinforcements had at last shown up. My chance to flee-diminishing. Consider it, Gracie. Reflect. I snatched the closest object I could see, a sharp fragment of metal wreckage,
Lorenzo walked as if he had performed this countless times in time. His moves were deliberate, every direction selected with care. He always acted smartly, never doubting himself. I, in contrast, could hardly maintain my breathing beat. Carter's men stayed close. Very close. I could hear their boots on the ground and their quiet voices as they searched for me. For the first time in my life, I truly felt hunted.We moved into another alley, the darkness covering us. The city around me was big and cold. The streets were empty, except for a small movement in a far window. For everyone else, this was just another night.However, to me, this was a matter of life or death. Lorenzo pulled me toward a corroded door, his hold was strong around my wrist. "Get inside," he ordered harshly. I was unsure. Every instinct of mine urged me to continue running. To always keep going. Meanwhile, my body felt broken, and my mind was a wind of anxiety and exhaustion. I was left with no option. The door
Evading Raymond is akin to attempting to restrain the ocean's waves. Regardless of my efforts, he always manages to invade my existence, dragging me down before I'm aware that I'm sinking. And the most disappointing aspect? I'm unsure whether I wish to be rescued. Another Unsuccessful Try I rise up resolved. Today, I will not focus on him. I will avoid looking at him. I won't allow my heart to deceive me with its foolish, racing beats whenever he is close. I remain in my room for the majority of the morning, not daring to look out the window in case I spot him. Yet by afternoon, the walls seem to be closing in on me, overwhelming me with thoughts I wish to avoid. I require oxygen. I enter the garden, the cool breeze refreshing my warm skin. The sun shines brightly, the sky is infinite, and for a fleeting instant, I sense freedom. And afterward- "Escaping once more?" I stop moving. Certainly. Certainly, he is here. I inhale slowly before I turn. Raymond is positioned at th
I awaken with a startled breath, my chest heaving up and down swiftly. My heart races within my chest as I rise from bed, clutching the blankets. My body feels heated, my hands sweaty, and for a brief moment, I find it hard to distinguish reality from the dream I just experienced. A vision. No, it seemed too genuine. I shut my eyes tightly, attempting to remember every detail. The gentle light of golden chandeliers, the sound of voices gradually disappearing as I remained in the center of an elegant ballroom. My gown was white, lengthy, and draped softly like silk on my skin. And afterward- Raymond. He stood before me, his tailored suit fitting his form impeccably. His gaze-deep, powerful, fixed solely on me. His face contained an emotion I had never encountered before. Weakness. He then knelt down on one knee. "Gracie," his voice resonated in my thoughts. "I'm unsure how this occurred, but I can't imagine a future without you." "Wed me." The recollection causes my breath to c
As soon as I hear her voice, a chill runs through my entire body. I can tell who it is without needing to face them. That piercing, authoritative voice. That presence that causes the atmosphere in the room to change. Georgia Silver. Raymond's mom. My breath halts in my throat as I turn gradually, my heart racing. And there she stands, in the middle of the living room as if she controls the universe. Her sleek, dark dress clings to her tall figure, and her striking blue eyes-resembling Raymond's-examine the room with a look of hardly masked disdain. Next to her is a man I have encountered only once before-Raymond's father, a silent but similarly imposing figure. However, it's she who frightens me the most. My abdomen contorts in agony. I recognize that expression in her gaze. She doesn't have to vocalize it-I can already perceive it in my mind. What on earth is she still doing here? "Raymond," Georgia says, her tone cutting like a knife. "We arrived to talk business, but instead
I walk back and forth in my room, my heart thumping against my chest. My hands shake, and I'm not sure why. It's merely breakfast. It's merely Raymond facing me, urging me to eat. That shouldn't evoke any feelings in me. Yet it does. I glide my hands along my arms, attempting to dispel the discomfort creeping across my skin. My mind is weighed down by thoughts, and regardless of my efforts to dismiss them, they continually return. "What is the matter with me?" I murmur, gazing at my image in the mirror. The girl gazing at me appears to be unfamiliar. Her hair is untidy, her lips are a bit puffy from yesterday's kiss, and her eyes-oh, her eyes-carry an overwhelming mix of feelings. I tightly shut my eyes, taking a deep breath. This is not love. It isn't possible. How could I be attracted to a killer? Raymond is perilous, merciless. I have witnessed him inflict pain on men without flinching. I have listened to their cries resonating within the mansion, pleading for compassion th
The atmosphere surrounding us is dense, filled with a sensation I can't quite grasp. I remain stuck in position, my back against the wall. Raymond is in front of me, his shirt drenched with the blood of another man. The metallic aroma hangs in the air, potent and overwhelming. His deep-set eyes remain fixed on mine. He is anticipating something. Perhaps he's anticipating that I will flee, shout, or plead. However, I engage in none of those activities. I cannot. I can't figure out what's the matter with me. Raymond raises his hand, the one still smeared with blood, and holds it near my face. I recoil, my breath catching. However, rather than making contact with me, he grins and wipes it on his shirt. "You're not sprinting," he states, his tone subdued, nearly playful. I gulp, my throat parched. "Am I supposed to?" He inclines slightly, his eyes darting to my lips for a brief moment before going back to my gaze. "Indeed." I sense my heart pounding in my chest, urging me to go,
The mansion is quiet at this time, with only the sporadic noise of guards walking outside. I sit with my legs crossed on my bed, gazing at the ceiling, my mind a battlefield of opposing thoughts. I ought to dislike this place. I ought to dislike Raymond Silver. However, I do not. Not completely. I released an exasperated sigh, falling onto my back. I was meant to be a captive, right? A prisoner in her reality, a girl taken from all she understood. Here I stand, clad in silk pajamas, surrounded by a wardrobe of designer gowns and an abundance of opulence beyond my wildest dreams. Raymond purchases items for me. He ensures I eat, that I rest properly, and that I'm never at risk. He never puts his hands on me in rage. It feels as though I am- I suddenly sit up, my heart racing. No. That's absurd. That's crazy. However, my deceitful mind refuses to release it. What if... what if I were his spouse? I snicker, shaking my head in disbelief at my own actions. "You're losing it, G
Raymond undergoes a transformation following that evening. At first, it's understated-small details that I nearly overlook. He begins to place small presents outside my door-items I never request but somehow require. A cozy sweater for those chilly nights. A book I briefly referred to before. A fragile bracelet, the sort I would have adorned when my life was truly my own. I can't comprehend why he does it. I don't inquire. However, every time I awaken to discover another present, my heart constricts with an emotion I hesitate to label. Raymond Silver lacks love. He is indifferent. And still... I notice it in how he observes me when he believes I'm unaware. The manner in which his hands hover when he gives me something. How his expression gently softens, just a little, whenever I talk. He does not utter the words. However, I sense them. The Issue with Love One night, Lorenzo brings a parcel to my room. In contrast to the rest, this one is covered in silver paper and securely
Time goes by, yet a change occurs between Raymond and me. At first, it's subtle-a prolonged gaze, a gentler voice when he addresses me, the manner in which he observes me when he believes I'm not watching. However, I observe. I'm always aware. Initially, I convince myself it's trivial. Perhaps he's simply being more cautious with me, handling me in another way due to what nearly occurred when I attempted to end my life. Perhaps this is his way of ensuring my stability, preventing me from drifting away once more. Yet, at my core, I understand it goes beyond that. I notice it in how his eyes deepen in color when I enter the space. The way his fingers lightly touch mine when he gives me something. The manner in which he remains too near when it isn't necessary. And what frightens me the most? I don't withdraw. One evening, I find myself in the magnificent library, a place I've never had the bravery to explore previously. The shelves rise up, packed with books that likely cost more
Raymond starts to devote more time to me. Initially, I believe it's merely a coincidence-him discovering me in the library, joining me for meals, or walking by when I'm in the garden. However, I quickly understand that it's deliberate. He's trying to be near me, to communicate with me, to ensure I feel like... I fit in here. I'm unsure of the reason. Perhaps he feels remorse for all that has occurred. Perhaps he's simply uninterested. Or perhaps, beneath the surface, he genuinely appreciates having me around. One evening, following dinner, he trails me to the lounge. I settle on the couch, tucking my legs beneath me, while he occupies the chair opposite me. "You never inquire about anything," he suddenly remarks. I look up, bewildered. "What are you trying to say?" "Many individuals are interested in learning about me." He reclines, supporting his arm on the chair's side. "They seek to understand my identity, my origins, and my activities." "Yet you... you never inquire." I rais