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SIXTY-SIX.
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Little Bird SIXTY-SEVEN.
As I walk into the villa, I remove my shoes and carry them up the staircase with me. I free my hair from the clutches of my hair tie and make it halfway up the stairs before I hear my mother calling my name.“Amelia, darling…” Her voice is gentle, filled to the brim with unsaid emotions that I can somehow sense.I slowly pivot, dropping my shoes the moment our gazes collide, I run down the stairs and throw my arms around her neck when I reach the bottom.“Mama…” I whisper, gulping back the tears threatening to stain my cheeks with grief.My mother wraps her arms around my body, crushing me to her as she runs her fingers through my hair. “It’s okay, my beautiful darling girl. You are safe… you are safe…”It takes everything in me not to break down into a blubbering mess in her embrace. We survived, managing to escape unscathed, physically. So why do I feel like an emotional wreck?“Are you okay?”The sound of my father's voice has me pulling back from my mother, and I stare at him be
Little Bird SIXTY-EIGHT.
ACE.“Tell me who sent you, or I will see to it that everyone you love and care about becomes fish food, buried at the bottom of the ocean with rocks bound to their feet.” Nathanial roars, driving his fist into the face of our captive.Leaning against the wall, I suck on the brown filter of my cigarette, giving my hands something else to do rather than taking the life of the bastard who already looks like death.“Fuck you.” The man hisses, his head dangles to the side.“Fuck me?” Nathanial snarls, unbuckling his belt and the top button of his slacks. “With pleasure.” He scoffs. “Untie him and hold him face down.” He orders.Three of my men rush forward, they untie the poor guy, who is now desperately putting up a fight and screaming in protest.“No, No…” He yells at the top of his lungs, his voice raspy and strained.Raising the cigarette to my lips, I take another long drag from it, chuckling as I exhale and call Nathanials’ bluff.“Don’t forget to lube, my friend.” I couldn’t help m
Little Bird SIXTY-NINE.
ACE.The silver bullet strikes the glass covered in gasoline on the ground, igniting a ring of fire to encompass our naked captive.The kid swiftly steps away from the iron rods, his eyes larger than saucers drift to the ring of fire, and he shakes his head with disbelief – shock evident in his eyes.I don’t know what he was expecting.Did he seriously think that I was bluffing?That this was all a set-up to make them talk?I mean, yeah, I didn’t shoot his brother like I stated, but I did shoot my weapon.The kid is more naïve than I could have guessed, and not a sliver of pity nips at my twisted, cold heart for him. Not like it did when his father and mother had passed away.I can faintly hear our captive screaming in the background as my focus bores into Alanas’ son, who has a big mouth.Redirecting my gun to the front of me, I aim it at the dark-haired kid cowering in the corner with his hands covering his ears and his body rocking back and forth.“Looks like you just skipped the
Little Bird SEVENTY.
My body is almost vibrating with anticipation as the whole morning has flown by in a haze. After I had asked my mother and Eleni to give me a moment alone, I looked at my reflection in the floor-length mirror.My fingers brush over the layers of lace and silk, toying with a few pearls that have been hand-stitched onto the bodice of the gown.I can’t prevent the girly smile from spreading across my face like wildfire as I admire the gown that Ace had chosen for me.Today’s the day that I start my new life and become Mrs. Ace Ripley, leaving my past behind like smoke drifting through my fingers – elusive, transparent. I turn around when the sound of the door softly creeks open again. This time, it’s my father who enters the room with a large grin adorning his handsome face. He places both of his hands over his mouth as his gaze lingers over my gown, then rises to my face.“You look… beautiful, baby girl.” He says in a strained voice like he is doing his best to hold back his unshed t
Little Bird SEVENTY-ONE.
ACE. “By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” The priest states in a quivering tone right before a bullet finds a gap in our human defence wall and drills into his skull – instantly killing him. It all seems to play out in slow motion in front of me, blood squirts through the air and I crush my lips against Amelias’, turning our bodies, so her back is facing the now-dead priest. The beat of my heart is drumming against my chest frantically, filling my ears with blood. I didn't think they would attack us this early into our wedding. I close my eyes, pouring my love and soul into our first kiss as husband and wife, praying that this won’t be the last one, either. A small moan departs her lips as a low growl leaves mine and clings to it, entwining our pleasure as one. “We have to move.” Holden bellows with a grunt. “We won’t be able to hold our position much longer, and whoever these cunts are, they have a sniper with them too.”
Little Bird SEVENTY-TWO.
The rapid bang of gunshots sends people racing towards the mansion. A man falls dead on the grass and I have to jump over his still body. Or risk tripping over his limbs that are splayed out beside him, loose and bent where he lies in a puddle of his own blood. My father and Aces’ henchmen all dressed in black suits, yank their concealed guns from inside their jackets free and take aim at the gunmen who are dressed as servers. Someone did a shitty job screening everyone who entered the mansion only hours ago. And because of their delinquency, people are dying right, left and centre. More people plummet to the ground. Some of them are screaming in terror, anger, and pain and others just lay there motionless with blood pooling on their clothes. “Come on, Mrs. Ripley. We need to take cover.” Holden yells over the gunshots ringing in the air. I gulp, doing my best to keep up with him in my heels and the wedding gown that clings to me like a second layer of skin. Unable to mutte
Little Bird SEVENTY-THREE.
It’s been three days since my world turned upside down.Three days since I got married and watched my husband get stabbed shortly after.Three days that I was brought to this cabin that is in the middle of nowhere.After witnessing Theo stab Ace, I lost consciousness before Holden exited my parent’s mansion. Everything was spiralling out of control so quickly that I couldn’t quite process how much danger we were in until it was too late.I pace the small living room, biting my nails as I hold on to the fragile thread of hope dangling in front of me.There has been no contact or news about Ace, my parents or Wicked and Eleni.I don’t know if they are alive, injured, or dead. And it’s not like I can leave the cabin because I don’t know the pin to deactivate the security system from notifying Holden that the front door has opened without his knowledge.I feel like I am losing my mind.Seconds feel like minutes. Minutes feel like hours, and hours feel like days.“If you don’t stop pacing
Little Bird SEVENTY-FOUR.
I held my breath, doing my best to try to pick up on any unusual sounds coming from the front of the cabin. My eyes dart around the closet in the dark, looking for any signs of shadows beneath the door and in between the double doors.I feel like I’m about to pass out. This is all too much and I just want it to be over with.Standing up, I slowly open the closet doors, being mindful of the slight squeaking sound it makes when it gets halfway. I turn to my side and slowly squeeze myself between the doors, then tiptoe down the hallway.The cabin is still. Not a sound penetrates the air, and I begin to panic even more, wondering if Holden has been shot or taken hostage by our intruder. As I get to the living room, I hesitantly peek my head around the corner and I am met with the front door being left ajar.I descend the three stairs and look around the living room, noticing that there aren’t any bullet holes in the walls or the kitchen. I lower my gaze to the floor in front of the door
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