"Who are you?"My eyes widened and my pulse quicken hearing the calm yet authoritative tone of Sain Czar behind me. I gritted my teeth when I felt the sudden tension between us although I am not looking at him. I tighten my grip on the umbrella I am holding while roaming my eyes around checking the surrounding without moving on my spot.What is he doing here? I thought he's busy fixing the problem about Averrius? Why is he here in this place? Don't tell me he personally investigate the disappearance of Celeste Astraea Cortezi? But why this day? Is he aware what does this day means? "I'm asking you woman, who are you? What are you doing here?" He hissed in a low dangerous tone, hinting warning.My eyes sharpen as I look straight in front of me attentively listening to his next move. I didn't speak because he might recognize my voice. Once I turn around and see my face, although I'm wearing my shade he could still recognize me. Is he with someone? "Who are you?" He growl like a mad m
"Hera, it's time to go" I check my wrist watch when I heard Enzo's voice behind me. I am standing in the balcony looking at the green hills in front of this vacation house that I bought three years ago. This is just between the city and the country side which is suits my liking. I am not a city girl because I never experience to have a normal life, I think that's the reason why I prefer living a simple life in a place like this where nature feels so close to me.Tall trees are planted around this two storey modern house. Fences are not tall enough because the lot in front was also mine including on the both side of this house. It took ten minutes ride before you saw another house which I consider my neighbor. Funny isn't it? But I like it that way, the less people the less noise. When I don't have a mission I stay here because most of my things are here. My father doesn't know that I buy a property in this place so I consider it as my safe space. Only Enzo knows this place.The cold
Third Person's Point of ViewIt was currently an hour before midnight when Sain Czar came back to Ilde Famiglia main headquarter. This was the so called hideout that other organizations trying to infiltrate but they didn't know the exact location. As he enter the main hall, everyone who was there greeted him with respect but no one dare to approach him despite seeing the flowing fresh blood coming from the wound on the corner of his forehead.He strode in the main hall with heavy footsteps dress the same two piece suit that wears during the memorial ceremony of his father's friend. His black mullet hair is messy as if he just got into trouble. The menacing and dangerous aura clings into him as he walk with arrogance. He look so dangerous, really dangerous that's why everyone didn't dare to meet his gaze nor follow his every move. He went upstairs and barge in on his private room but before he could settle on his favorite chair the door open again revealing Helena and his two brothers
Herravie's Point of ViewMORNINGStanding in the open space balcony of my room, I saw Nicolai having a conversation to our lady helpers. He was having a coffee which I assume because of the white cup he's holding. They were laughing and by the look on their faces, they seem enjoying each other's company. But despite his approachable smile and the casual conversation I had with him, I must remind myself that he is a Licciardi. That clan master the art of lying and pretending. They have a lot of identities. They intend to live like a normal people who pretend that they excel on one career that made them known in the public. They expose their lives in public but despite those eyes that monitor their every moves and the lights that follows them. In the corner, in the shadow of their smile hidden a dangerous identity. Their real identity. I can't trust him, I shouldn't trust him.I press my lips together and I walk back inside my room. I woke up early because I couldn't sleep the whole ni
Most days of my life revolve with the idea of revenge. Everything that I did was for the sake of vengeance I needed and that made my life miserable. The pain I've been carrying for the past fifteen years was so heavy. It was so painful and there were times that I just wanted to let it go, throw it away, and then I will run somewhere, in a place that is far from here. A place where no one knows me and I know no one as well. But every time I think of that, it made me feel guilty. It made me feel as if I was the worst person in this world. It feels like I am betraying my parents just like how Ildefonso betrayed them. My everyday life is just a reminiscent of yesterday. Just like what I always said, I am stuck in the past. Everyone are already walking on the path of present towards the future but I am still in the past, I am still walking in the path of yesterday. Even my thoughts, they are all a revolve from my tragic past that never stop haunting me.I once ask myself what is this veng
"What's your name?" I ask the lady helper with a smile on my face.I am known for being uninhibited and straightforward to everyone except to my family and the people I am close with. I don't intentionally do it but they were easily get intimidated. Just like this woman in front of me right now.The smile on her face a while ago disappear on the thin air which I don't know why. I just told her that I just need to ask a few questions but looking at her right now makes me feel like I am putting a lot of pressure on her when in fact, I didn't."Are you nervous?" I query when she didn't utter a word. She's holding the hem of her clothes which made me feel like I'm a bad guy. She look so scared for Pete's sake! Oh come on, I'm not gonna smack her head or punch her face. I just wanted to talk to her. I wanted to know if she saw me use the secret door. "S-Sorry Miss Selena" she stuttered.Her eyes remain on the floor that made me sigh in disbelief. I shake my head and cross my legs. "You
"Come here, mi hija" I blink my eyes when I saw the man who stood as my father calling me. My innocent mind is trying to figure out what he is trying to say. Although he I am comfortable to him, I could still feel the hesitation especially after I saw his three sons. The two seems doesn't care about me, but the other one's reaction was the opposite. The anger on his eyes is like trying to swallow me whole. Somehow, I felt scared that he might hurt me.Hesitant, I take a little step to come closer to him. He made me sit on the couch before he slightly kneeled down on the floor and show a picture to me. I saw a man who has a stern expression on his face that made me look at Luscio Costello."Who is he?" I ask in small voice."You don't remember him? He was the person who killed your parents, he was the one who burned your house" he told me.I confusingly look at him and then I return my gaze on the picture. As if on cue a series of vague images flash inside my head. I saw unfamiliar fa
"See you tomorrow, wife. Make sure to greet me nicely" he playfully mutter under his breath."See you tomorrow..." I whisper and end the call.I flash a small casual smile when I saw Nicolai heading straight to me. I wave his phone in the air earning a formal yet friendly smile from him. I cross my arms over my chest and roam my eyes around. The heat of the sun is starting to burn my skin and the cold morning breeze was replace with warmth wind. I think it's time for me to go back inside. It would be better if I spent the rest of the day resting because tomorrow is surely a big day not just for Sain Czar but also for me. Laurent's death was a big deal because she is Alcatraz, she is not just someone who came from the unknown mobster. Her family is a known assassins. They were the protector of Ildefonso family. Her role in the organization is huge. I should expect a lot of people. People from Ilde Famiglia."Are you done?" I flinch when I heard Nicolai's voice that drags me back to m
"Where is Sain? Please let me see him" I pleaded as I look at the stern expression of Sixto who's standing at the door not wanting me go inside the room."Celeste enough, you haven't fully recover yet. Let's go back to your room" Zachary said who's standing beside me while holding my arm, giving me support.It's been almost three weeks since what happen. Everything are still fresh in my memory, how I escape the Ildefonso's Residence, how Antonio help me, how I killed Teofilo, how Jaxer try to kill me and how Sain was getting shot by Apollo. It's been almost three weeks and yet I haven't saw Sain even just once. They won't let me, Sixto is always stopping me as well as Zachary who disappointingly siding at Sixto. They doesn't want me to see Sain, they are even updating me about his condition. I am dying with so much anxiousness, I am worried sick how he is doing. "Just a glance. I just have to know how he is" I insist not wanting to go back.I know it was my fault but I never wanted
The car halted in a familiar place. I took a deep breath and rolled down the car window scanning my eyes around the place. It's been a while since the last time I visit here and nothing change despite how my heart change. "Are you sure that you're doing this?" Antonio break the silence that made me look at him."What do you mean by that?" I ask in return."If Enzo is the one sitting here, for sure he will ask the same Hera. This is your enemy's place, you cannot do the first move. You just have to defend" he explain.I mentally shake my head, he almost sound like Enzo. I didn't know that he's coming to me. His loyalty is only for Enzo and I didn't know he will give it to me since he was under Sintti's training. "Have I mention to you that I have a brother? A real one and I just recently find out about him" I said."And what does it has to do with this?""He will save me together with my husband. You know how powerful my husband right? So nothing will happen to me," I confidently sai
"Hera..."I stilled on my spot when I heard the familiar voice of Apollo on the other line. Unconsciously, I turn my head to look at the direction of Sain and his brothers who's occupying the living room while discussing something that I didn't know.The trio doesn't seem to notice that I am no longer on my spot because their attentions are all on the table while Sixto is talking things that I cannot understand and follow. Perhaps it was about his organization and not Ilde Famiglia. "Please Hera, spare me a minute to talk with you" I blink my eyes and took a deep breath before living the trio. I went out and head straight to the gazebo doesn't want anyone to hear me talking to someone from Costello. "What do you want Apollo?" I ask, controlling the tone of my voice.Knowing that Teofilo Romani is the person who killed my parents, there is a sudden anger rooted inside me towards my brother. They all knew and yet they didn't say anything. They all make me look like a fool. They are a
The wind is blowing softly and it gives me a shivering sensation every time it touches my bare skin. I lifted my gaze and breath calmly. I am here in the gazebo hugging myself because of the morning breeze. I did stay but I couldn't find myself to sleep after what I find out. And now that the morning came, I still don't know what to do. I don't know where to start because I couldn't believe that I was been fooled for fifteen years and I am oblivious about it.I took a deep breath and gaze down shutting my eyes close. I am not sure if making a deal with Sain Czar is the smartest thing to do, but then I already did it. I already gave him my word in exchange of a very important information. I am not interested how did he finds out, my whole focus is on Sintti Organization and Mafia Romano. Both of them made fun of me, they made me believe a made up stories and I was such an idiot. I couldn't believe that I work for the man who killed my parents. I already meet him but I didn't recogni
"That's enough!" Sixto's voice filled the whole room, breaking the dark inclement mood that is about to explode. "Celeste is no longer the child we've been searching. She become the woman we never expected, she will not be pleased once she hears this" Zacharias agree. Well, he's right. Everything that is happening right now is not pleasing and here they are fighting as if I can't make decision on my own. Maybe my driven force to live is the vengeance inside my heart, but I stop living as Celeste. I already forgotten how does it feels like to live in the shoes of that innocent girl. "I will discuss this with Father. This is very complicated and I hope we are all expect the consequences..." Sixto added, sounding like a mature brother. "I don't want to see you two fighting about it."That make sense because he is the oldest among them. He has the authority to make the two follow him even the hardheaded Sain Czar. I immediately close my eyes and pretend that I'm still sleeping when Za
My eyes widen."What the hell are you doing?!" I blurt out and pulled my wrist from his grasp.Sain look at me with those serious and tantalizing eyes that never failed to drown me but I keep my distance with him, flaunting the anger that plastered on my face right now. "I am telling them the truth. You're Celeste Astraea Cortezi, and they should know that fact" My lips parted as I look at him disbelief. "What the hell are you saying Czar?" Zacharias suddenly intervene that made me fisted my hand.I stare at Sain Czar sharply hoping that he will stop this nonsense. There is no point even if he informed everyone about my real identity. I was molded and live as a Costello for fifteen years. I killed people, numerous lives die in my hands. That won't change and the fact that I am Celeste Astraea Cortezi will not cover the bloody life I'm living. But Sain ignore my warning gaze instead he turn to look at Zacharias."You heard me. She's Celeste Astraea Cortezi, the woman we've been fin
"What do you really want from me?" I ask before he take his step inside.We're already here, I was not able to stop him because his persistent to bring me back to Ildefonso's Residence is hard to break. But I need to know what does he really want from me. I want to know why he's doing this. If this is part of his revenge then he should stop it because I don't like playing this kind of game. Sain Czar didn't speak nor turn around to face me but he didn't walk away either. I am patiently waiting for his response because I need it. I don't know what he's up to because as I said, Sain Czar is difficult to read. He's hard to predict. I don't know what's on his mind, I cannot conclude any idea. He is that mysterious and I don't want to fall with his mystery."You're not my husband no matter how much you insist. You don't have the right to my life" I added.I step back when he suddenly face me. Standing six feet tall looking so handsome yet dangerous, Sain took a step closer to me causing m
"I am still here,Little. I am still here where you left me and I am just waiting for you to come back"An unknown warmth covers my heart, I didn't know this kind of assurance is what I needed right now. But then, I know that I am not supposed to ask for it. That would be unfair for him and everything will be mess up even more. I fisted hand giving him a void expression despite his pleading eyes. For the first time, I saw a weak side of him. Another part of him that he will never let anyone figure out. I don't want to be his weakness, he should not be swayed just because of me."You don't know what you're saying""I do" he firmly replied. "I am your husband and it will stay that way until my last breath. I warned you didn't I? When you insist to marry me, I told you there will be no turning back. You cannot turn your back at me, I won't let you" he hissed in a controlled tone. He looks determine, more serious than before. I look straight into his eyes, and just like for the first tim
A loud explosion made me cover my ears as I hide myself in the corner, hoping that a piece of wood I am leaning right now could save me from those sharp bullets that trying to kill me. "I should have killed them all" I hissed to myself, frowning while holding my gun tightly.I am now on the run. Sintti Crime Organization is chasing me just like what Luscio Costello told me. They were aware about the tragic death of my parents, they are aware that Luscio is part of the assassination happens fifteen years ago and now that I am aware about it they are hunting me. Things that I don't understand before is now make sense. The council anger is not about me being a woman, it was because I am a Cortezi the little girl who supposed to be dead years ago. They are trying to kill me now after I obey all their rules and commands for fifteen years. My hands are stained with blood because I stand before them, kill those people who tried to ruined the organization because I thought it was my family