CELINE HERRERA POV "Let go of me!" I yelled as he dragged me from the room, but just like before, when he'd carried me to the car, there was no stopping him, and my heart began to pound in my chest. "I said to let go," I screamed, and he glanced at me with a warning in his eye as if he was telling a tantrum-throwing toddler to shush and then proceeded to drag me along. The room he was heading for loomed ahead in front of me and just the door had me renewing my struggles in earnest. What the hell was he going to do, was he going to lock me up or keep me in the dark until I broke down and told him the whole truth? Was this some sort of white room torture? There was no way he could be that cruel.He fucking killed a man just some hours ago, so what the hell was I saying. He could kill me and no one would even know it. No one cared about me anyway so who was going to report me missing?I started struggling again, and I was almost tempted to start screaming for help, but I knew there wo
DELIA HERRERA POV "What do you mean she told you nothing? I thought you both were already cool with each other. Didn't you apologize and attend her wedding? What more could she want" "I did apologize, and I thought that would be enough to pacify her, but apparently, she's still very mad at me. I went to her office today and she asked me to leave. She said she wanted some space and she refused to tell me anything about Belshar""Why are you so freaking useless huh! You can't even get her to talk to you and you're her best friend. Do you know how much I am spending just to keep your mother alive?" I shouted, and she flinched and took a step back as if she thought I was going to hit her. "It's not my fault she won't talk to me, Delia. I've tried everything to make her forgive me for what I did, but she just won't budge""Maybe you are just not doing enough!" I said in exasperation and then took in a deep breath to calm myself. "You told me before that she said she had lied that she an
CELINE HERRERA POV The cuffs didn't give no matter how much I struggled, and the longer that Belshar stared down at me the more hot and bothered I got. I was breathing too loud and my heart felt as if it was going to leap out of my chest the longer the staring contest went. Belshar smirked, turned around, and then walked away from me. He stopped at a section of the wall that was bare, and then he pushed, and I stared in shock as it opened. It had been so well camouflaged that no one would have been able to tell it was even there, especially with the lightening in the room. He stepped into the secret room and I watched as the door closed.I lay on the bed waiting, trying to get my breathing under control as the realization sunk in that no matter how hard I pulled at the cuff, it wasn't going to come off, and it was either I told Belshar the truth or keep quiet and face his wrath. The creek of the door opening made my gaze jerked at the door and then I let out a loud yelp when the ro
CELINE HERRERA POV The car was waiting at the end of the tunnel just like he said it would, and I rushed toward it before forcing myself to stop and think. I was running away, and disobeying his orders so it would be unwise to take his car. Knowing him, he probably had a tracking device installed, and once I got into it and turned on the ignition, he would know that I was running away.And I was running away because I knew if I stayed put and waited for him to come back, he was just going to pick up from where he left off, and I didn't want that to happen. I'd been so close to telling him everything even though I'd told myself that I wouldn't. Even though I hated Crystal for lying, I couldn't become the reason for Belshar finding out the truth and hating her. I already felt guilty for still liking Belshar and marrying him when I knew he'd been her whole world.Crystal had married him and died because of him, and Belshar was trying to get revenge for her death by destroying me, and
DELIA HERRERA POV "I want a spot at the company. Make me the new CEO." I got out, and Grandfather glanced up from the book he was reading, a frown on his face that screamed just how exasperated he was, but I didn't care. This was the only way I could keep an eye on Celine and make sure that my plan went accordingly. Besides, it felt as if I was already losing. It was hard to meet with Belshar, and I still haven't figured out what Bella's deal was. I already had a private investigator look into her but I was sure she was one of those girls who were very good at covering up their tracks. It didn't matter, something had to turn up no matter how good she was.Grandfather folded the book and slammed it down on the table in front of him then stared at me pointedly."You can not leave your matrimonial home in the middle of the night and come here to make such ridiculous demands Delia. Couldn't this wait till you were done with your honeymoon" I scoffed. "Honeymoon? Oh please, like I'd eve
BELSHAR NESSAR ABED POV The fumes from the burning car that had gone up in flame due to the bomb that had been installed in it roared behind me as I strode toward Mother, who stood between two of her bodyguards. Blood dripped from my hand and the shirt that I wore. Séda grimaced as I reached her."Are you alright, Séda?" I asked and she nodded, her gaze taking in my appearance. I'd gone after the men who had dared to attack my Mom, and because the information came on time, I was able to find them before they could get away, and I didn't spare in my wrath. I'd killed a dozen of the men that had been sent and had captured two of their leaders who were already being questioned at the slaughterhouse.It was only a matter of time before I found out who it was that had sent them, and when I did, there would be no mercy; I was going to wipe them out. Every last one of them. "You should let the doctor look at you," I said as I noticed the blood dripping down her hand from a bullet graze on h
DELIA HERRERA POV Celine was missing, and apparently, she had been gone for more than two days. The reason that we even got to know about it was because Belshar's search for her had turned up empty, and the company had reported that she hadn't shown up for work.A perpetual frown lingered on my face as I listened to the cops that Belshar had gotten involved on grandfather's request- despite Belshar's assurance that his family had it under control- relay to us how much progress they were making, which was zero progress if you asked me especially since they didn't know where she was and was waiting for the men who took her to call and demand what they wanted.I let out a tired sigh, and the man talking to my grandfather glanced at me, but I just gave him a dead stare, and that had him looking away from me to continue his monotonous speech.I glanced at Enoch who stood at the corner of the room, his eyes firing daggers in Belshar's direction. The whole show was amusing, and I couldn't h
DELIA HERRERA POV PAST"You shouldn't be up here," I said like I hadn't spent weeks stalking her and finding out that the roof of G&H Corporations was one of her favorite spots to frequent and as she turned to face me, the wind blowing through her hair and her eyes reflecting the waning sun as the clouds gathered above, I couldn't help but wonder how someone like her managed to make Belshar fall for her.I also didn't know why she kept coming back to this particular place, but I wasn't too keen to dig up and find out what she was up to. What mattered was she was here, and there was no one around, just like I knew it would be. Selene's brow arched a bit, a confused look in her eyes that were red and puffy. Had she been crying? Maybe she kept coming here because she was contemplating suicide. It didn't matter tho, I was going to make it easy for her. I'd tried to convince myself over the weeks leading up to this that killing her was going to get me in a lot of trouble but then I figur
KAIL NESSAR ABED POV "Victor stakov" the man gasped, blood spurting from his mouth. "It was Victor Stakov," he shouted, then screamed when I pressed the branding rod against his skin.The sizzling sound and the smell of burning flesh filled the room, everything mingling to create an atmosphere charged with an intensity that made my blood surge through my veins as if I were riding out a high God I missed this. How long had it been since I last tortured anyone? I'd made a lot of coffee and cakes to keep myself occupied but it was always so monotonous. It got boring too. This. This was exactly what I needed. Dropping the rod onto the burning coal, I raked my hand through my hair and stared down at the man on the table. His body was covered with my brand, his skin bruised and burnt.It was a work of art, really, but there were still some spaces that I hadn't marked, and my fingers itched to pick up the rod and fill it up."Please" he gasped, spitting out more blood. "Don't kill me. I
BELSHAR NESSAR ABED POV My heart was in my throat. Fuck! I slammed my hand on the steering wheel. I was speeding through the highway but I didn't care. I should have known that something like this was going to happen. "Argh" I roared, my hand clenching on the steering wheel. "I'm going to make you pay bastard"Just how was Celine feeling right now? My heart raced with every terrible scenario, Fear clawing at my chest, its icy grip suffocating me. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't fucking wrap my mind around the fact that she had almost been hurt.I watched it all happen too.I veered off the road, my tires screeching as I turned a sharp corner. Kail's cafe loomed in the distance.When I arrived at the spot, I noticed that the car the hitmen had used was still parked out front. The windows were shattered and bullet holes riddled the door. My hands trembled, the rage in my chest suffocating. The guards were still standing around. Their greeting went unheard as the roaring
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 Chris
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