MATTI sat on the edge of the old, creaky bed in the basement waiting for Tristan to come back. He had gone to the prison yard to work out with the other inmates. That was his routine, and I admired him for sticking to it. I, on the other hand, stayed inside. There was something about the prison yard that didn't sit right with me like a heavy feeling in my gut every time I thought about going out there. His guys weren't the kind of people to be comfortable around and from the way they looked at me and from the snide remarks I heard from them, I knew the better thing to do would be to just leave them alone. I didn't want to get into any trouble with them, especially since they'd started to show signs that I wasn't welcome. That was the moment the door creaked open, and Tristan stepped inside. He was drenched in sweat and his shirt clung to his body as he reached for a bottle of water on the small table by the wall. "Man, it's brutal out there today." He said before wiping his forehe
MATT’S POVGetting outside was very seamless, more seamless than I had imagined. It seemed as if every single guard had their palms greased and that was why I was a bit confused about what was happening. It wasn't long before I was transported to the small boat just on the shore. I sat there and heard the motor him softly beneath me as it started. It wasn't long before it started cutting through the dark, still waters. The sound of the waves slapping on the side was the only thing that momentarily got my mind off what was happening. I was trying so hard to push off the troubling thoughts about Tristan and the fearful possibilities. The boar rocked gently and I gripped the edge, I could feel my knuckles turning white from pressure and I could feel my face turning blue from fear. I was supposed to be happy, I was supposed to smile because this would mark the end of being under captivity but...I just didn't feel any bit of happiness inside me. Even the cool breeze that came by every no
TRISTAN’S POVThe world felt heavy and blurry when I woke up and my body ached like I'd been hit by a truck. I would have given it a thought if I didn't remember what happened. But that wasn't all. My mouth, in addition, was dry and my head was pounding in a worryingly rhythmic ebb. I blinked hard, trying to focus on where I was. The light above me flickered and it took a moment before I remembered. The prison. The plan. A very bad feeling slithered its way down my stomach and snaked its way up my spine before bursting out at my back. Fuck! I shot up too fast, groaning in pain as my muscles screamed in protest. I had fainted. Poisoned water. Yes, the bottled water... it was poisoned. They had poisoned me, Matt had poisoned me. Matt. Where the fuck was he? A million thoughts ran through my mind as I thought about it all. I stumbled out of bed immediately even though my legs were shaky. I had to grab onto the walls for support. Every part of me ached and every step seemed to intensify
TRISTAN’S POVI could barely differentiate between sophistry and reality on the third day. I saw things that weren't there, and heard things that were never said. I felt like I was dying and my body agreed. It was in the evening of that day that the tiny, dark cell creaked open and the light from the hallway hit my face. It was so sharp and unprecedented that it nearly floored me. But I put out my hands, shielding my face from the blazing light. It felt like I'd come in close contact with the sun. My body, meanwhile, felt weak from the lack of food and water, but I pushed myself from the cold, damp floor. The guard stepped inside, looking at me with a mix of pity and caution. There was a scar running down his face, and the cautious but dangerous glint in his eyes told me he wasn't the type to mess with. I couldn't mess with him, even if he didn't have that dangerous feeling to him because I wouldn't survive another day in here. "You're being released." His gruff voice echoed off the
TRISTAN’S POVThat night, I felt a strange sense of calmness because I trusted the man if spoken to so much, so much that I knew it was only a matter of time before this place was history. I knew I was getting out of here. There wasn't a doubt in my mind. When you call a man like Killian, you don't don't about things going wrong. Kilian was the craziest person I knew- ruthless, cunning and always one step ahead. He was the type of person to call when ugly things like this presented themselves, when you wanted a clean to be done without leaving any traces behind, even if it involved violence. That was exactly why I had phoned. Besides, I couldn't leave Matt out there to do whatever the wanted. I had to get out of here and teach him a lesson, let him know that there was no way he was just going to get out of here and leave me alone to suffer. That wasn't the way things were supposed to be. Kilian's reputation was something people who knew him whispered about. They said he could kill w
XANDER’S POVI was already irritated before the day even began. Every time I had to go home, I felt that same heaviness settle in my chest. My mom had called, saying I needed to come over to the house and I knew it wasn't optional. Still, It didn't mean I had to like it. "I just bet why she insists I come back," I grumbled to Adeline as I drove her to the airport. "It's the same thing every time. That girl is there, always causing trouble." Adeline sighed beside me, giving me a side glance that said she had heard this all before. "Xander, she's your sister. I'm sure your mum just wants you to get along. It can't be that bad." She was only speaking this way because she hadn't experienced first-hand a situation like this. If she had, I doubted she would be this optimistic about what was going on in my family even after I had told her yesterday. She seemed like she had understood what I had said to her but if clear from the foregoing that she hadn't. I gripped the steering wheel tigh
TRISTAN’S POVI felt the cold night air whip and hit me as we stepped out of the small tunnel, the same one that had been dug under the prison for God knows how long. My heart was pounding, really damn fast. But I made sure to keep my face neutral. I wasn't about to show any weakness now. I looked behind me, and to my surprise, the guy who was supposed to be leading me out was gone. I felt a sharp sensation make its way up my belly before shattering at my spine. Bit Bit face remained neutral. Despite that the questions had the gears in my head turning. Where the fuck was he? He had vanished. It was just me now standing there in the dark. Was this some kind of joke? I asked even though I wasn't expecting an answer until, or if he would ever show up. Because from the look of things, he was gone for good.Almost as if he had just disappeared. I couldn't couldn't wrap my head around it. There had been no traces, nothing suspicious about his movements that would have given me a clue that
TRISTAN I couldn't believe I was finally out. The no matter stepped into my house, it felt like a dream-like I had just crawled out of hell. I had dreamed of this moment for a very long time and seeing it come to fruition was more satisfying than anything. Eyes stood there in the entryway, looking around the familiar walls, the expensive paintings and the quiet air. Everything was exactly as I left it but it was too quiet. As I stood there, going over everything that I had just been through, my skin curled with irritation and pure anger. Things could have been a lot easier, things could have been a lot better if the people I had trusted actually did something to help. And even those I trusted betrayed me, thinking that I would never come after them. I clenched my fists. Everyone. I hated everyone. First, it was my father. That old fart, sitting comfortably in his mansion, acting like everything was fine. He didn't even know I was out yet. And I had no intention of telling him. Why
ADELINE’S POV***I woke up slowly, feeling so groggy and disoriented. My body was so heavy and there was a dull pain in my side. I did not know why but the pain had my head hammering. I blinked against the bright light in the room and that was when I realised that I was not alone. A lot of questions ran through my mind as I wondered what had happened and why I was here. Someone was sitting next to me and there seemed to be a shocked look on their face when our eyes met. "Adeline?" The familiar voice came through. It was soft, like silk. I turned my head and sock Xander sitting right by my side. I felt an instant wave of relief and my heart swelled. I was so scared before this happened, so scared that something bad had happened to him but seeing him right here with me did a very good job with pushing off the pain for a little while. He was here with me, alive and okay. I blinked back the tears that were already starting to form. And that was the moment everything slowly started to c
FLORAL.I could barely breathe as I gripped the steering wheel, my knuckles were already white. I knew what Tristan was planning and I couldn't let it happen because it opposed everything that we worked for. Yes, I knew he wanted to take revenge on those who put him in prison but if he was going to do that, he should go face Adeline's old man, not Adeline. She was innocent and did nothing to him. I was not going to let him hurt her, not after I'd met her. Of course she was going to be a problem if I wanted to get to Xander but she was innocent and she was a good woman. I had to stop Tristan no matter what it was going to take. The streets blurred past me as I sped down the road. My heart was pounding so loud in my ears that I drowned out everything else. Tristan couldn't kill Adeline. Not like this. Not over some twisted sense of revenge. I didn't know how I ended up in this mess. It wasn't supposed to be my fight. But here I was driving, driving madly towards the one person who cou
ADELINE'S POV***My hands wouldn’t stop shaking as I dialed my grandfather's number. I could barely think straight now as my thoughts were all over the place. It felt like my mind was running a hundred miles per hour but I wasn't going anywhere. What was I going to do now that it was clear Xander was in danger. I didn't even know where I was going to start from. How the hell was I going to find him? And it was clear from the foregoing that Matt had had the one behind this whole thing. He had abducted Xander and his phone was enough proof for that. He had also put on a mask to make me think that was Xander. That son of a bitch really did all this only to die a very disgraceful death. That was exactly what he deserved. But what if he'd killed Xander? The thought brought back the fear that was already building up. I needed to do something, and I hoped my grandfather would be able to step in with his connections. If it didn't work then I had no idea what else would. All I could think ab
FLORAL’S POV***I didn't know Adeline was in the house when I stepped out of my room. The moment I saw her standing there, my heart dropped. I should have been more careful. What was I thinking, walking out like that? But it was too late-- she had already seen me so there was no need to do anything suspicious now. But maybe there was still time, I thought to myself, glancing at her before I tried to duck back into the shadows. However, Xander’s mother, ever the gracious host, was quick to introduce me once she noticed I was behind her. "Adeline, this is my daughter, Floral," she said, gesturing to me with a proud smile. "Floral doesn't come around often." Adeline turned to me, scanning my face for a second and I held my breath. This was very bad because if she ever got to remember who I was, that was if she didn't know already, I was doomed. My palms were starting to sweat as I braced myself for her reaction. Would she recognise me? Would she say something? But instead, she smiled
ADELINE’S POV***I couldn't stop thinking about Xander. He hadn't come back since the day he told me he was going to stay at his mom’s house and I was disturbed because it could be the place where all his problems had started. Him acting weird must have been from there. He had been complaining about his sister before he came back and then everything had changed. He rarely talked to me and now he no longer complained about her. A lot of things were going on that I should be told about. But nobody was saying anything and it worried me so much. I wished someone could just let me know what was happening. But Xander was the only person I could talk to. He was the only one who knew what his problem was. It wasn't like him to just disappear like this, especially now that there was nothing bothering him, well, nothing that I knew of. He should have checked in lately but I'd heard nothing. My heart felt heavy as I paced around the living room. If I hadn't called him yesterday to know if he
FLORAL’S POV***I watched from a distance as Matt got out of his car and entered the pub. My heart raced but I had to keep my composure because this was going to work. It was either this night or never. This was the moment I'd been waiting for. I needed to find out who he really was. I had suspected for a while that something was off about him, and now I was going to prove it. I quickly made my way to his car, careful not to draw attention. The street was quiet, and only the occasional sound of passing cars in the distance was the only thing I heard. I approached his car and glanced around to make sure no one was watching. Then, I reached into my bag and pulled out the small hidden camera I had planted earlier. I couldn't risk leaving it there for too long, just in case he checked his car for anything suspicious. My hands shook slightly as I retrieved the camera, but I was careful to keep my movements steady. Once I had it, I slipped it back in my bag and quickly walked away, blend
XANDER’S POV***I tried to move but my body would not cooperate because every inch of me was hurting and it was starting to make me feel very dizzy. I was very worried because I did not want to pass out here because nobody would see me if I needed medical attention so I had to fight off every form of hazy feeling until I was sure that I was ok. My arms, my legs, my ribs- they were all on fire. I could not remember the last time I had eaten because my stomach was already growling and I was too weak to care. But do you think that terrified me the most was the fact that the room was very dark and there was nobody around. I could only help but picture that I had been left alone in some kind of Warehouse to die. My heart pounded very fast when I thought of that and as much as I told myself that his Men could be outside, there was still a possibility that they had left me alone here to die. I didn't even know if it was day or night because time had lost its meaning. I had tried to escape
TRISTAN’S POV***The weight of everything that had happened finally stayed to lift lift from shoulders. Sasha was dead. The hit man had done his job perfectly as there was no trace or evidence of who had done it. I felt so relieved because with her gone, there was no one left to testify against me, no one who could point fingers if things went wrong. That was the hardest mission so I guessed the rest would be very easy from here onwards. Now, I just had to take care of Adeline and Xander, before I could disappear. My time was coming, and I couldn't wait for it. I smiled to myself as I thought of my plan. Once they are gone, I'd be free to leave this place. But in the meantime I had to control everything from the shadows. I was happy that I had the capable hands. Sometimes I wished that this was the last mission, but then I was reminded that it was time to put my head down and do the rest. There was no promise of a better future if the rest were still alive. Thankfully, I had it all
SASHA’S POV***I sat on the cold, hard bed in my cell, staring at the ceiling. It had been a long day, just like every other day in this place. The routine, the noise and the walls closing in on me felt unbearable but that morning, something changed. My mother called. I was surprised when the guard came to inform me that I had a call. I thought they had abandoned me, that she had left me here to rot and die just like my father had abandoned us. And I wouldn't blame her for what happened because she was just as miserable as I was. The guard escorted me out of myself and walked me to the phone stand. My heart was drumming when I picked it up. Has something bad happened? Or was she going to just tell me that the divorce had been finalised? If it was the latter, I didn't want to hear anything about it. Since my father had decided to give up on me, I didn't want anything to do with him again. I listened in on the phone and her voice came through. "Sasha, honey." Her voice was so sweet,