DELIA HERRERA POV Someone was touching and pulling on my arm. My eyes fluttered open as light filtered through my lid letting me know that the blindfold had been taken. I trembled all over, my body strung so tight, that I felt like I was going to get snapped in half. "Delia, open your mouth" Jason's voice reached my ear. His image was blurry. Was this another dream? My brain felt like it wasn't mine. Even blinking felt like a herculean task."Open your mouth, Delia" he ordered, his tone more insistent.I wanted to weep in relief to know that he hadn't left me to die after all, but I couldn't. I couldn't do anything but try to breathe and even that was difficult.Water splashed against my lips, and I gasped, opening my mouth to lap it in. The water hit my dry throat and I choked, but I didn't dare stop. If I did and Jason decided not to give me any more, I was really going to die. The water was like life flowing into me, and with every gulp, my heart rate started to return to nor
DELIA HERRERA POV "Were you that angry that I left you all by yourself, is that why you did this the first chance you got?" he said, pointing to his head. Blood dripped all over his face and down his chest while I gazed up at him in fear. He'd used a fucking taser and my head was still spinning from the bolt of electricity that had coursed through my veins. He moved closer, then leaned over me where I lay on the floor. I flinched as his blood dripped onto my face. "You begged me not to leave you alone and the first chance you get, you run away... Next time if you really want to go, then make sure there's nothing left of my head," he said and raised his hand. I clenched my eyes shut. His hand landed against my neck. I blacked out. ******"You need to feed her more. She appears to be malnourished Jason" An unfamiliar voice spoke and my eyes fluttered but I stopped them from opening. "She tried to kill me while looking like that.. imagine if she was well fed, she'd have probably b
DELIA HERRERA POV The cuff was back on my ankles and judging by the bag Zane had bought, I was sure there would be more. Didn't Jason say we were going to start all over so why I was still being restrained? Zane was not going to help me and judging from our conversation earlier, I would have a lot more chance of survival with Jason than him. 'You killed your grandfather' I jumped, my gaze moving around the room. "Who said that" I got out, then grabbed at my ears so that I didn't have to hear it again. Images of my grandfather's face as I gave him the drugs flashed in my head... But he'd looked so peaceful as he slept... Hadn't I been merciful? I did what I did to save him. I did what I did because I didn't want to hurt his feelings. 'no, you did what you did because you didn't want your feelings to get hurt. He was the only one who liked you and you hated for his love to change to disgust just like everyone else'"And is that so wrong to want just one person on my side until t
CELINE HERRERA POV SEVEN MONTHS LATER. "Thank you for visiting me. I thought you'd be done with me once the trial was over. It gets pretty lonely in here" Julie said and I waved her words off, shaking my head."You cooperated with the lawyers and made sure to tell the whole truth just as you promised, you also apologized to me after the sentencing, so, of course, I would be here" Julie nodded then sighed. "Do you know what I realized after spending time in here?" She paused, her gaze fixed on the holes in the glass between us. "Everything Delia said about me was the truth. I really was a bad person" Her gaze jerked to mine, and she smiled tightly. "Telling you sorry will never be enough Celine. When I get out of here, I'm going to do better. I'm going to make it up to you""And I'll keep you to that promise." She nodded quickly, her smile easier. "What about your cellmates, do they treat you well" Julie let out a sigh and then pressed her lips together tightly. "Is it that bad""
CELINE HERRERA POV I was brimming with anticipation when I got to the mansion. Belshar wasn't back but I knew he would be home in an hour or two. His message on my phone was burned in my head, and no matter how much I tried to calm myself down I couldn't.Dropping my bag on the table, I glanced at the message once again. It was eight simple words, 'Do you want to play hide and seek' to which I had replied 'Game' at a point during my meeting with Zane."Ugh, this is going to be a hell of a night" I got out then blushed as I recalled the last time we'd played hide and seek. "I should probably freshen up" I got out. I also needed to relieve some of the stress from work. I rushed to the bathroom, prepared a bath, and immersed myself in the sweet scenting tub of soapy water. It was refreshing and I relaxed fully into it with a satisfied smile on my face. Just fantasizing about what Belshar was going to do to me had me giggling to myself and splashing at the water to create more bubble
CELINE HERRERA POV "Come out come out, wherever you are" Belshar's voice bounced off the wall as he walked around in search of me. It was filled with dark intent, but instead of scaring me, it just made my heart beat faster and for delicious tremors to spread through my overheated skin. His voice had come from the lower part of the house, so I knew I was quite safe where I was in the meantime. It was when he came to the top floor that I needed to worry.It went quiet for a while and I waited with bated breath, my lungs burning when I forgot to breathe for the stretches of time I thought he was getting nearer to where I was. I was hiding under the desk in his home office. It was the same spot I'd hidden in, the last time we played the game. He'd caught me of course, which was why I chose to repeat hiding out here.Belshar wouldn't think I'd hide in the same place twice, would he? Was he upstairs already? I couldn't hear anything from the drumming of my heartbeat in my ears. I clut
CELINE HERRERA POV I woke up wrapped around Belshar, his warmth the right amount of perfect. I pressed a soft kiss on his throat, my body aching deliciously in the best of ways. Belshar eyes flickered open, The little move I made waking him up. Our eyes met and I watched mesmerized as his lips lifted in a smile. "Kiss me again. Right here" he pointed to the center of his chest where I knew his heart was. "I quite like the feel of your lips against my skin," he said and I glanced down at his chest, then leaned my head down. Pursing my lips, I pressed a kiss to his skin, then laid my palm against his chest, my eyes widening when his heart started to beat faster.I glanced up at him to see that his gaze was fixed on mine."That's what you do to me, Celine. You make me feel alive" I smiled, my face heating up. Belshar's palm cupped my cheek, his thumb rubbing back and forth against my face."I'm sorry about last night. I was too rough with you. You passed out" he said with a smirk tha
CELINE HERRERA POV "Do you know what I think?" I said, my finger steepled beneath my chin. "I think Mr. Stakov does not really want to invest in our company" "You are right, but we also don't really need his investment at this time so... ""We don't, but it would help us with the expansion project for next year. Having extra money is always good" I got out with a sigh and then sat back. "So what is his complaint this time"Karen glanced down at her tab. "He said he went over the agreement with his team and they want to add a few more things to the contract" My brows dipped. "What the hell does he think this is? A game. How can he agree to our terms and conditions one minute and In the next, he wants to add new conditions" "If you want my honest opinion, I don't think we should work with them at all" Karen got out and I met her gaze. "Why" I asked, wondering if Zane Stakov had also rubbed her off the wrong way. "I just don't like the vibes I get from him, Celine. Mr Stakov makes
CELINE HERRERA POV Belshar still wasn't saying anything. Anytime I got a picture, I asked him about his day, hoping that he was going to tell me about the girl and why he was meeting up with her but each time I asked, he just told me how work went and how boring everything was while skipping out the most important thing I wanted to know about.There were six pictures so far, and I was starting to get angry. It all came with messages too. Messages that ruined my day every time I thought of them.Was it a reporter sending the images? Are they going to call soon to demand money or threaten to release the picture?They probably wouldn't, especially since the photos were not that incriminating.The most intimate one was the first picture I got and that was because the lady had been in a bathing suit.I dragged my finger through my hair and then sighed. "Should I just ask Belshar about it?" We had real enemies to worry about, so why was I allowing this to chip away at me? What was I so af
VICTOR STAKOV "I don't think our plan is going to work out, "Gabby got out as she strode toward my desk. "No, I know it is not going to," she said, stopping in front of me. She leaned toward me, her hands slamming down hard to get my attention. "Belshar is being very difficult"I glanced up from the laptop in front of me and then flipped it close when she arched a brow. Exhaling roughly, I inched close to her. "How many times are we going to go over this, Gabby""As many times I meet up with him and he ignores my very existence"I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Give it time, it's going to work. You're just too impatient for your own good""No, that's not the case this time. It's been two weeks. Two weeks of trying my damned best to get his attention. We've met a total of six times and I am still not close to getting his attention as at the start""You told me he spoke with you the last time you pretended to run into him at a conference""He also spoke to other women there," Gabby s
CELINE HERRERA POV "What's wrong. You look pale" Victoria noticed, her eyes flaring in concern.I shook my head and dropped my phone. "Nothing, I just got a message from Belshar that's all. I think he will be home late today""You don't have to look so sad just because he's staying out, I am here to keep you company am I not"I forced a smile. "Yeah, but you're not Belshar"She rolled her eyes. "I don't know what I do at this job of mine. I'm just getting paid for doing nothing""Isn't that the dream job?"She grinned. "It is, but sometimes I need to feel the adrenaline from working hard at something"I shook my head. "You are so weird," I said, then reached for the fruit and popped one into my mouth. It didn't taste good, not with the image I'd seen replaying in my head over and over again.Why had he gone to the beach? What was he doing with her?Did they know each other from before? He hadn't even looked at her at the restaurant. Was that all a facade?God, my brain hurts just thi
CELINE HERRERA POV "I think Kail is stalking me," Karen said and I glanced up at her. "What?""I don't know Celine... I feel like I've been running into him a lot lately""Define a lot""Like every day of this past week. He runs a cafe so how is that even possible? Just how much time does he have to be going around like that, and that too everywhere I go? We don't have the same bloody schedule." She turned to face me, her back resting against the railings. "Do you think I am being paranoid""No, I don't think so," I said since it was Kail we were talking about. Just because he turned a new leave and was acting like a saint now didn't mean that he hadn't once been the epitome of all things evil. Also, I'd noticed the way his gaze had been on Karen the last time we were at his cafe. He'd stared at her as if he was trying to see into her soul.Karen pushed away from the railing. "Should I be worried? I can't imagine what he could want from me""I think he likes you," Victoria chipped i
BELSHAR NESSAR ABED POV"Do you have anything to report?" I asked Christian. The words that Victor had said to me a week ago rang in my head, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. It had been a threat. Was he going to target my wife? My fist clenched. "There is nothing so far. All Victor does is work and attend conference meetings. He's been creating a network for his business that has started to work from how much progress he made this week, but rest assured, all eyes are on him"Was that what he was hoping for? For all of my attention to be on him while he worked in the shadows to strike those closest to me."I want you to plant a mole in his mansion. I need to know what goes on when he's alone in his house.""Already working on that. We'll have inside information soon.""Celine has been home for a while now, but she's going to get bored as time goes on, so assign more bodyguards to her whenever she gets the urge to go out""Yes boss"I let out a rough exhale, then glanced up at Chri
CELINE HERRERA POV I was out with Belshar, and the Sky looked so blue that I couldn't help but feel a little thrill as I gazed up at it."Nice weather, huh?" he asked as he took my hand in his.I nodded. "It's really nice""We just have to walk for a few minutes and we'll be at the restaurant. The doctor said you need to walk more than you already do""Do we have to do everything he says"He grinned. "We don't want to give that man a heart attack, so let's just follow his advice, okay? He worries over you more than I do"I chuckled. "True. Off we go then," I said, and we started to walk.The street was a lot quieter than usual, and all of a sudden, I couldn't help but think if a hitman was lurking in the shadow, waiting to get a perfect angle and take us out.It was all because of Victor Stakov. That was the name of the man who was threatening to destroy the peaceful happiness that I and Belshar currently shared. It was unfair. Belshar said he had eyes on him and that the man only s
CELINE HERRERA POV "You look exhausted," I said as I hugged Belshar. His scent was intoxicating, and I inhaled it greedily. His arms tightened around me."I missed you so much" he murmured against my hair, the sound of his voice resonating deep within me."Is that why you're back so early" I grinned. "I was sure you'd be another four hours""I couldn't breathe for that long without you," he said, his strong hands gliding down my back and sending delicious waves of pleasure through my skin."Oh yeah," I moaned, enjoying the feeling, but there was something off. I pulled back to examine his face.Belshar looked down at me and as I stared at him, he leaned close and tried to press his lips against mine. I moved my head back, evading his kiss as I noticed the worry in his eyes. He looked anxious too, as if there was something heavy weighing on his mind."What's wrong" I asked when he made no more move to kiss me. "Did something happen at work"He shook his head, then let go of me. "It wa
BELSHAR NESSAR ABED POV "It was hard to meet with you Belshar. Your secretary was rather strict" Victor smiled, his lips stretching unnaturally. "She kept me waiting for hours. If I hadn't met you at the lobby, I might have not seen you at all"I watched him, wondering why he was here. "She was strict because you didn't book an appointment. You do understand that I am a very busy man""Of course. I know you are very busy Belshar, but so am I." His beedy eyes moved around my office, his head nodding in appreciation. "You have a beautiful office. The view from up here is quite spectacular," he said, pointing to the floor-to-ceiling window."Yes, it is," I said then held his gaze when he turned to face me. "I am afraid If this is a friendly visit, then I'll have to reschedule you as I have other important things to attend to"His gaze dropped to his pants. He tried to hide it but I could see his fist clenching ever so slightly before he forced himself to release them. A short, nervous l
VICTOR STAKOV "I was utterly humiliated. Do you have any idea what the hell I went through? I bet they were all laughing at me as soon I stepped out of that cafe. No, I definitely heard them cackling" Gabby screamed as she stormed past me and headed straight for the mini bar. Two bottles crashed against the wall as she tossed them with rage, then she picked a third.I watched as she panted, her eyes flickering at the contents of the table. I could tell she was contemplating tossing them too, but then her eyes crossed, and she let out a guttural scream instead. I was certain that she had torn a bit of the lining in her throat with how brutal it had been.Having had enough of her tantrums, I got out of my seat and stalked toward her, taking careful steps because she still looked like a feral animal and I knew any sudden movement was just going to reset her rage and make her act out."You should drink something," I advised, and the look she gave me was one of a person contemplating murd