Adrian"How did he die?" I asked Kael a few hours later as we walked to my car, and he started the car once we got into it."Assassination. His family is investigating the perpetrator.""Do you have an idea who it is?"He shook his head. "Maybe the Bellini family. Everyone knew he had problems with them."Right, I could just imagine."Our men are on it also." He added"Okay, but why would they kill a major supplier like that instead of turning him over to their side? I mean, that would make more sense even if they had problems.""Well, the Bellini's are known for their unreasonable actions, so...""Right."But this was going to be quite a huge problem for me considering the fact that he was one of our main suppliers and a close associate of mine.I turned to my window when we passed by Adrian in the driveway."Hey," he called out and came to meet us.He was about to go make friends with Lyra and her friends, and even though I was anxious about that, I didn't show it.I had more import
Adrian"Do you think this is a good idea?" Kael asked me as we walked into the cemetery quite close to Enzo's family house two days later, and I nodded."I'm not going to shy away from paying my respects just because some people think I killed him."He smiled, "Uhm... that 'people' is his family.""And I didn't kill him, so..."He shrugged and left the argument, and I walked ahead of him to the people that were gathered in front of Enzo's graveyard.There weren't a lot of people, but the people there were mostly important associates. Most of them were people I knew, and the rest were people that knew me.I ignored their stares and whispers as I walked towards the front where his coffin had been lowered, and I paused in front of the grave, trying to pick up a flower from the bunch, when his son approached me."Didn't I make myself clear the last time? I don't want you here!"I smiled and faced him, my hand picking up the flower I had intended to pick, and I patted his chest gently afte
Lyra"Hey"I rolled my eyes at the guy that approached me, his red hair unmistakable among the dancing crowd—I was pretty sure that was not his real hair color—and he sat down beside me.Alfredo."Are you stalking me now or what?" His lips turned up slightly in a smile. "Just enjoying the club.""Yeah, and every other place I've been to?"He picked up a drink, still smiling, "Just wanted to join your little party.""Why? Because Adrian put you up to it."His smile dimmed a little. "My brother doesn't tell me what to do.""Oh, he's your brother?""Yes." He obviously missed my sarcasm because he added, "I thought you would have known that by now."I rolled my eyes.Of course, I had guessed that already. They looked quite similar, except for the blonde hair, of course, but apart from that, they had pretty much the same features."So are you the youngest or oldest?"He turned fully to me, "Take a guess."I pursed my lips, "Youngest.""Why?""Because you look immature."I smirked at the d
LyraI was still quite shaken when I got back to the house, the tremors going through my body lightly, and I went out to the beach once Bella and Greg slept off in their beds."Lyra?" Bethany asked once she picked up the video call I had placed to her, sounding sleepy, and I checked the time."Yeah, sorry to wake you up." It should be around six over there."No. No. Is everything alright?""Yeah. Yes. I think so...""What is it?""I... I almost got raped today.""What?! Are you okay?!""Yup."The laugh left my mouth before I could even stop myself."Lyra...""I'm fine. I'm fine. Seriously."I hadn't even realized how shaken up I was by the whole thing until I got back into a taxi that brought us home, but I was fine now."Are you sure?""Yes. Just wanted to hear your voice and... talk to you."You do know I have to be in school in a few hours, though."I rolled my eyes, "You and your academic passion.""Fine. Spill."Thirty minutes later, she went totally silent on the phone and tried
AdrianI glanced down at the pajamas she clearly was in and waited for her to give me a response."Uhm... I... I was just sightseeing.""In your pajamas"She stared at me for a while before pushing me away from her. "Why should I tell you where I'm headed? It's none of your business.""Okay. Good luck then."I walked away from her, heading past the receptionist that bowed slightly in greeting, and I smiled knowingly when she called for me."Wait!""Ma'am, you can't..."I stopped the security that tried to stop her and turned to her, "What?""I... Where are we?"I shook my head in disbelief. "You don't even know where you are?"She shrugged and folded her arms, and I nodded for her to follow me. "What? Where are we going?""My hotel room"I backed her against the wall once we got into the elevator and trailed my fingers down her neck."W-what are you doing?"I gave her no answer as I continued my descent down the middle of her collarbone and to the button that showed off too much of he
LyraBella and Greg were waiting for me in the living room, concerned when I got back, and they both hurried to my side before I stepped in properly."What happened?""Where did you go?""Right. I'm sorry, guys. I quickly went to meet someone and got back just now."Jeez," Bella collapsed on a couch with a sigh and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "And I thought you had gotten attacked or eaten by a shark."I chuckled, "You know there are no sharks here.""Well, men could very well pass as sharks too."Greg touched his chest as if hurt, "Ouch, that hit home."She smiled, "Don't worry, sweetheart. You're more of my princess than a man."She chuckled as Greg hit her with a throw pillow, and I went up the stairs to change my clothes and dress up while smiling too.Until I got to my room, though.The smile left my face.My plan had gone to waste.The stalking or following.I was sure I would have heard something if I hadn't been caught by that asshole, but I had, and now I was back
Lyra"So tell me, what does this... special lady like, and what is her height, size, and..." I trailed as I looked around the store, taking in its luxurious feel.It was expensive, high class, and also empty, which was strange because I had seen a lot of people here the last time I walked in a few days ago."She's about your height, size, and width."He sat on a chair and brought out his phone. "Hmm, are you trying to say I'm that special lady?"It was a tease, definitely a tease, but the way he scrunched up his face like I had said an abomination made my stomach sink for some reason again."Uhm... Not in your wildest dreams."I scowled and walked away."Well, since we're almost the same in everything, I'll be checking the clothes on myself and you'll give your approval. Okay?"He nodded absentmindedly, still going through his phone, and I seized it before he could comprehend what I was doing."You called me here; no way you think I'll let you be on your phone."He sighed and stretche
Adrian"What?!"What?!There was no way."What do you mean?" I asked, stepping forward with alarm written all over my face, and she raised up her phone."My birthday isn't until tomorrow, the 16th. Today is the 15th."I felt like burying myself under the ground."What?! So you're telling me I did that all for nothing?"The dresses, allowing her to dress me up and her antics. I had only agreed to get her out of the house because the three of them had requested it of me. They needed her out of the house to get the decorations going, and they had preferred to have Alfredo as an extra hand instead of me.But it was all for nothing?!And to think I had done it because I felt guilty for taking her away from her life in New York.I groaned and ran a hand through my hair again, quite pissed and disappointed."But..." Greg stepped forward. "...I thought it said on your file the 15th.""Which file?""Your file in school.""No, it's the 16th. Guys..." She smiled."...it's okay, though; we can s
Bella"My God, I'm so sorry." I immediately glanced around for a napkin or something.He brought one out of his pocket."No, it's fine. I actually forgot you speak English too."Okay, seems like I'm meant to know him.Fuck!"Sorry for startling you.""No, it's fine."Thankfully the stain reduced, but it was still evident to my eyes that I spilled my drink on this dude."So..."I put on a smile and accepted his kiss on both of my cheeks before stepping back again."Nice to see you again.""Yeah..."I nodded, trying desperately to keep my smile as bright as I could."Dance?"I glanced at the dancing floor he pointed to and accepted his offer after seeing him now politely with his hand stretched forward.Oh fuck me!"Do you know him?" I jumped yet again, this time more subtly, as Gary's voice filled my ear, and I glanced at my new partner to see if he noticed or heard that."Shut the fuck up, Gary. How is she meant to answer you?I know, right?For once, we were on the same page."So...
BellaGod, I am so nervous.The party was today, and Quinn telling me now that I'm actually to meet her at the party and not go together today was making it even worse."So that's that, okay?""What?" I glanced up at her confused, the last few sentences she heard completely in the air because I didn't hear any of it."I'm asking if you remember the plan.""Yes, yes, I do.""Great." She picked up a bag of tools and devices she had packed together before heading to the door, and as if on cue, a car pulled up in front of the door outside."Baby girl!" I stood up to glance outside when I heard the voice.Oh, it's that guy.The guy from the borderline who had come with another police officer or commissioner or something.Gary.He was wearing a simple shirt and pants now."Don't call me that."I watched as the guy gave her a hug or tried to until she jabbed him in the ribs."Fuck! Really?"She strapped the large bag over her shoulders and turned back to face me before looking at him."Don'
Bella"Why are you closing your eyes?"I popped them open when her voice asked that question."N-nothing. The water was getting into my eyes."I pushed her back and stood under the water properly to wash the bleach off.I could feel her eyes on me.Fuck.I was wet and hot and bothered, and her staring at me like this was not going to make it any better.We headed back to the mirror, both drenched when I finished with the wash.Now it was time for the dye.Thankfully, I was wearing a sports bra underneath my shirt, so she wouldn't know how hard my nipples were; besides, it seemed like she was nonchalant enough.Like she hadn't felt that.That tension.I washed and blow-dried my hair after the dye had sat a while in my hair, then we were done.Or so I thought until..."We're going to give you a little haircut too."To say the least, at the end of everything, about two hours later, I stared at a different face in the mirror.Short hair, wolf edges, and bangs.It was crazy how talented sh
BellaThe next few days were uneventful.Just me, lying around and watching some TV while my captor paced around and did some workouts. She had this gym/workout room in the basement and never had the nightmare episode again.I wonder what could have made me have such an intense nightmare the other night.By day six of staying after my running away episode, I could say my leg was feeling better.It was still painful if I put too much pressure on the injured leg, but not enough for me to yelp or scream.It was definitely getting better."Let me see."I jumped, startled, when my captor suddenly appeared in front of me while I was testing out the level of pain my leg could accept the next afternoon.It was even better than yesterday and less painful now.I flinched when her hands wrapped around it."What? Is it still painful?""No." I averted my gaze.Just... Her hand felt cold against my—I would say warm—leg.I tried to remain still and not have any other reaction as she pressed on parti
QuinnI took out my phone to call Jose once I finished washing the dishes."Quinn." He coughed repeatedly and sighed when the episode ended."Are you okay?""Just managing as much as I can."Which isn't a lot.It's crazy how much the sickness had taken its toll on him."And Riley?""She's okay. She hasn't run away in the past few hours, so we can be grateful for that, but I still don't think the operation is a good idea. She seems like she isn't ready for this world at all.""No one is ever ready.""But don't you think you should tell her everything first?"I just felt like she deserves to know, even though I don't normally deal with stuff like this, but there was also the possibility of her crashing out on Jose, which I didn't want.To say the least, I just don't have a good feeling about this, and it was making me anxious."After the operation, I'll tell her.""You're sure."He gave a hum, which we both knew wasn't certain, and cut the call after a few moments.It is dynamic, the re
Bella"Here is the plan...""Alessio is as much a party-thrower as he is a general. Father to two children, a beautiful wife..." She pointed to the woman's picture under the guy's picture, "Yet he loves to fuck around.""He has various houses across the states, thanks to his connections and corruption, I'll say, but this..." She sorted out the document to bring on too the blueprint I had mentioned earlier."...is where he would be holding the next party. His birthday party."This was still ridiculous to me, but as long as it's just hacking... right? I could do that remotely but something was telling me that that is not going to be the case.Ugh!"This is the ballroom where the party will be held." She pointed to a section on the paper, "Then this is the passageway that leads to the main living room.""Here, we have his bedroom and study, and that is where our prize is. The study."I glanced at the many rooms and floors sitting in between the main living room and study.This wasn't al
Bella"Uhm... A party is the mission?" I made an incredulous face that portrayed just exactly what I thought about that."Yes. A party.""What am I meant to do there? Hack into the DJ's playlist.""And that's the thing about having a short-circuit brain. You just can't seem to think outside the box.""Haaa..." I gasped, flabbergasted. "Did you just call me short-circuit?""No. Your brain."She dipped her hand into the water to test the temperature and turned back to me."Your leg.""Huh?"I yelped and winced when she held my badly injured leg.It felt shattered, which it should, considering how hard that bitch had stepped on it."Fuck!""This is so going to set us back.""Um... You already said that like a million times, and it isn't even my fault.""Oh, you think so? You're the one who decided it was a good idea to run away, yet again!"She laid so much emphasis on that "yet again.""Ugh, whatever!"She removed the shoes on my leg quite aggressively until I yelped again; then she pla
Quinn I felt the relief in her composure even before she showed it. She laid her head back on the ground and sighed. Uh-oh. She couldn't be more wrong. I felt angry and betrayed. Who would have thought she would run away after being so complacent and cooperative? I had actually thought we were on the same page, but I guess not. So... I nodded to Aria. She needed to be taught a lesson. "Okay. We have the go-ahead and can start the party." "Wait, what? Quinn!" Her eyes widened in panic as two guys pulled her up, and I cocked my eyebrows. "What? You're the one who chose to do this the hard way." "Quinn!" She had no time to protest before her mouth was gagged with some ropes tied around her feet and leg, and I stood to the side with my arms folded while Aria and her men strapped her to a chair. "Mmm! Mmm!" She protested through the tape even though it sounded muffled. "And... here we go." I watched as the two men brought her chair to a basin of water t
BellaI stood in front of the house hours later once I got down from the cab.Ring ring.I waited patiently by the gate while the bell announced my presence to the owners.It wasn't long before a hand was pulling me into the compound and holding me against the wall."Who are you?"I glanced up at the guy when he pointed a light at my face and grunted out, "Bella. Tell Adrian that it's Bella.""Bella?"Both I and the guy turned when a voice repeated my name behind him.As it was dark, I couldn't really see the person's face until he moved closer to me.It was Adrian, and he looked pissed."Did you break out of prison?"The first guy took it as his cue to leave and disappeared into the shadows."It's a long story.""Long story?"I winced and groaned when my back hit the wall again suddenly with his face in my space, "You steal from a dangerous gang, escape from prison, and call it a long story? You literally just brought trouble to my house and family."Right."I know that, and I'm sorr