SARAHI spent the next few days studying the guards’ patterns. Every moment was an opportunity to observe, to find the weak spots in their routines. I felt like I was going crazy, but I knew it was the only way out.Every morning, I positioned myself near a window with a clear view of the front gate. I noted the times they manned the gates, their shift changes, and when they seemed less vigilant. I had to be meticulous. I had to know every detail.“Alright, they switch shifts at 8 a.m.,” I muttered to myself, scribbling down notes. “The next shift comes at 4 p.m., and the night shift starts at midnight.” It felt like I was planning a heist, but instead of stealing something, I was trying to steal my freedom.I noticed that around noon., the guards gathered near the gate for a smoke break. They would chat and laugh, momentarily distracted. “This is good,” I thought. “A potential opening.” I couldn’t help but feel a small thrill of excitement.During meal times, the number of guards dec
I spent the morning making the final preparations for my escape. Every moment felt like an unsafe balancing act, but I had to maintain my composure. My hidden stash was still intact: the maid’s uniform, a small container of gasoline, a lighter, and a makeshift rope. I checked each item, my heart racing as I imagined the steps I would need to take.I planned to hide in the back of one of the trucks, slipping out when the opportunity arose. The image of freedom beyond these gates was the only thing keeping me focused. I reviewed my plan in my head, ensuring I remembered every step, every detail. There was no room for error.The day began like any other, with the usual hustle and bustle around the house. I forced myself to interact with the maids as usual, maintaining my act. It was crucial that no one suspected anything. As I walked through the kitchen, I ran into Maria, occupied in her work. Stepping in she turned to me. “You look tired, Miss Sarah. Everything okay?” Maria asked, her
The adrenaline running through my veins felt to good to be true. I couldn’t believe I’d actually pulled it off. I had planned a heist and executed it without a single hitch. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself, a mixture of relief and disbelief. “Who would have thought?” I whispered. “All that time under Marco must have toughened me up.”I ducked into an alley, my heart still racing. My mind was buzzing with a million thoughts. I had to be careful now, more than ever. I needed to stay off Marco’s radar. “The last thing I want is to get caught and dragged back to that prison after all of this” I gritted.The first thought that crossed my mind was to call Nicole. She’d know what to do. She’d help me figure out the next steps. But then I stopped myself. Marco might find a way to trace the call and maybe even harm her too, he's that heartless. He had eyes and ears everywhere. I couldn’t risk it.Suddenly my thoughts drifted to my father. A wave of panic washed over me. Would Marco hurt
MARCOThe dimly lit room of my office buzzed with the low hum of conversation. I leaned back in my chair, observing the men around the table. Each of them had their own piece of the empire, their own slice of power. We were discussing territory disputes, something that always seemed to be on the agenda.“Vinny, how’s the situation on the east side?” I asked, my tone casual but firm.Vinny leaned forward, his voice gravelly. “We’ve had a few issues with the Rossi family. They’re trying to muscle in on our turf. I’ve got a meeting set up with the heads of the 5 families tomorrow. I’m gonna make it clear they need to back off.”I nodded. “Good. We can’t afford to show any weakness. If they don’t back down, we’ll handle it our way.”Tony, a heavyset man with a scar across his cheek, chimed in. “What about the shipments coming in next week? Any word from our contacts at the docks?”I smirked. “Everything’s on schedule. We’ve got the port authority in our pocket. There won’t be any issues.”
SARAH “Dad, we don’t have time to argue. Just pack a bag!” My voice shook as I tossed a duffel bag at him. The urgency in my tone must have jolted him because he finally started moving, albeit slowly.“Sarah, what’s going on? Why do we need to run?” he asked, eyes wide with confusion and worry.“I’ve done something big, Dad. I had to get away from Marco, and this was the only way. I set a fire at the mansion to create a distraction. It worked, but he’ll figure it out soon, and then he’ll come for us. We need to leave now before they start looking for us.”He stopped packing and stared at me. “A fire? Sarah, you can’t be serious.”“I am serious, Dad. Marco is dangerous. He’s not going to let this go. We have to stay ahead of him.”“But where will we go? We can’t just run without a plan.”“I don’t care where we go, as long as it’s far from here. We’ll figure it out on the way,” I said, my voice rising in panic. “We just need to move.”He looked at me, his face etched with concern. “Sar
SARAHI woke up feeling like I had been hit by a truck. My head throbbed with a sharp, relentless pain, and every muscle in my body ached. I groaned, trying to make sense of my surroundings. Everything was blurry, my vision still adjusting.The floor beneath me was hard and cold, the air stale and musty. I blinked a few times, trying to clear my head. The dim light made it difficult to see much, but I could make out the outlines of a small, windowless room. The walls were bare, the only furniture a rickety chair in one corner.I struggled to sit up, my movements slow and clumsy. My wrists were sore, and as I looked down, I realized they were bruised from the bindings. I tried to piece together what had happened, but my mind was a foggy mess.Groaning, I managed to pull myself into a sitting position. My head felt like it was splitting open, and I had to close my eyes for a moment to keep from being sick. I took a few deep breaths, trying to steady myself.“Where am I?” I whispered to
MARCOI paced around my office, frustration boiling over. Papers and maps were strewn across my desk, each one mocking me with the failure to pinpoint Sarah’s location. My fists clenched at my sides, the tension coiled tightly in my muscles.“How could she just vanish like that?” I slammed my fist on the desk, sending a few papers flying. “We had every possible lead!”Tony stood by the door, looking nervous. “Boss, we did everything we could. She’s quite smart it seems, and she knows how to cover her tracks.”“Smart?” I snapped, turning to face him. “She’s playing a dangerous game. She doesn’t know what she’s up against.”Tony nodded, swallowing hard. “I understand, boss. But we’re dealing with just a girl we’d find her. She’s managed to stay one step ahead of us, but not for long.”“That’s not good enough, Tony!” I shouted. “We can’t let her slip through our fingers. We have too much riding on this.”“We’ve checked every lead, every contact,” Tony said, trying to keep his voice stead
SARAHCold water splashed onto my face, shocking me awake. I jolted up, gasping, my head pounding like a drum. The memory of their hands all over me, groping and squeezing, played in my mind like a horror movie on repeat. I took a deep breath, trying to stabilize myself, blinking away the water and tears."Rise and shine," one of the goons sneered, the one who had thrown the water. I glared at him, pure hatred burning in my eyes."Fuck you," I spat, my voice shaky but defiant."Watch your tongue, bitch," he snapped back, his face hardening. "You're in no position to mouth off."I ignored the throbbing in my head and focused on him, rage boiling inside me. "You think you can just treat me like this? You think you can get away with it?"He laughed, a cold, cruel sound. "Honey, we already have. No one's coming to save you. You’re ours to do with as we please."The way he said it made my skin crawl. I wanted to scream, to fight, but I knew it would only get me hurt again. I forced myself
MARCOThe office was a wreck. Empty bottles everywhere. Ashtrays full. Blinds shut so tight, barely a sliver of light came through. I hadn’t left the room in days. Didn’t need to. Didn’t want to. The air was thick, stale, like everything inside here had died and no one bothered to bury it.I sat slouched in my chair, suit wrinkled, shirt halfway unbuttoned, tie somewhere on the floor. My gun sat on the desk. Right next to the photo of me and Sarah. She was smiling in it. Big, bright smile. I couldn’t even look straight at it without my stomach turning.I pressed play on the voicemail again.Her laugh filled the room.I leaned back, eyes closed, letting it wash over me.Her laugh.God, that laugh.She’d left that message on a random Tuesday. Just her laughing about something dumb I’d said, telling me to bring home milk or something. I couldn’t even remember the rest. Didn’t matter. It was her voice. Her warmth. That softness she had when she was happy and safe.I pressed play again.An
SARAHThe door creaked open slowly.I squinted as little light spilled in from the hallway, making my already pounding head throb harder. The room had been nothing but darkness, filth, and whispered threats. Now, the light cut through it like a blade, sharp and blinding. My eyes struggled to adjust, but I didn’t need to see to know something had shifted.The guards straightened immediately, their lazy arrogance vanishing. Their boots scraped against the floor as they stepped back, backs stiff, shoulders squared.Someone important had arrived.Then I heard it. Heels clicking against the grimy floor. A slow, confident rhythm. Each step deliberate, unhurried. Whoever it was, they weren’t afraid of this place, of the stench, of the filth.I forced my eyes open, blinking hard as my vision cleared. And then I saw her.Isabella.She stood there, perfectly put together, draped in luxury that didn’t belong in this pit. A silk dress that clung to her figure, nails painted a deep red, makeup fla
SARAHI woke up groggy, my head pounding like someone had taken a hammer to it, over and over again. My skull throbbed with each slow beat of my heart, a dull, crushing pain that made it hard to think. Everything was heavy. My eyelids, my limbs, even my breath felt like it took too much effort.The air pressed down on me, thick and suffocating. It smelled awful—sweat, dampness, something rotten. The kind of stink that clung to a place, to the walls, to the people trapped inside. It crawled into my lungs, making my stomach churn.I tried to move, but a sharp ache shot up my arms. My wrists pulsed with pain. Tied? No. Just stiff, numb from how I had been lying. My fingers tingled as I flexed them. The cold floor bit into my skin, rough and unwelcoming.My thoughts were sluggish, crawling through a thick fog. I blinked hard, trying to push past it, to make sense of anything. My head was too clouded, my body too weak. It felt like waking up from a deep, drugged sleep, the kind where reali
MARCOThe phone nearly cracked in my grip as I rushed into the SUV. My hands were steady, but my heart was beating like a war drum. I jammed the key into the ignition, twisting hard, and the engine roared to life. I didn’t waste a second. I slammed my foot on the gas, tires screeching against the pavement as I tore out of the parking lot.The streets blurred past me. Headlights flashed. Horns blared. I didn’t care. I pushed the speed, weaving through cars like they were standing still. The city was a mess of moving lights, but I only had one thought in my head.Sarah.She had to be safe.I prayed, gripping the wheel tighter. I never prayed, but right now, I did. Let me get there in time. Let her be alive.My knuckles were white on the wheel as I cut through traffic, dodging between cars, taking turns so sharp the tires nearly lifted off the pavement. A semi braked hard ahead of me. I spun the wheel, the SUV sliding through a gap so small I felt the side mirror graze metal. The moment
FLASHBACK: The Attack on Marco’s HouseMarcel’s POV⸻I had been waiting for this moment. Watching, studying, knowing that Marco would retaliate the second he got the chance. That was the kind of man he was. If he got hit, he didn’t rest until he hit back harder. It made him predictable.That’s why I wasn’t going to wait for his move. I was going to make the first one.No spies. No informants. No middlemen. Just patience. Observation. And now, execution.I stood with my men in the darkness, watching Marco’s house. The place was locked down tight. Armed men patrolling the perimeter. Cameras on every corner. Motion sensors near the fence line. He thought this would keep him safe.It wouldn’t.I turned to Matteo, my second for this mission. He was calm, like always. He lived for this.“Marco just left,” I said. “Now we move.”No one questioned me. They were waiting for this order.“The objective is clear. No survivors except for Sarah. You see someone moving, you drop them. Fast. No game
MARCOI slid into the SUV, the door shutting with a heavy thud. The weight of it felt final, like the closing of a chapter. The engine rumbled beneath me as we pulled out, cutting through the quiet streets, heading straight for the Rossi base. The city passed by in a blur of lights and shadows, but I wasn’t looking. My mind wasn’t here. It was already ahead, in that warehouse, already seeing how this was going to play out.Hopefully, this was it.This war had dragged on too long. The back and forth, the blood, the bodies—enough. I was tired of the cycle, tired of waiting for the next move, tired of watching the Rossis breathe when they should’ve been six feet under. Tonight, that changed. No more counterattacks. No more back and forth. Just an end.I sighed, pulling out a cigarette, lighting it with one flick of my lighter. The first drag burned just right. My body knew what was coming, and the nicotine settled me just enough.I thought about Sarah.She was probably still sitting at t
MARCOThe chessboard was already set when I walked into the living room. Sarah sat across from my chair, arms crossed, a smug little smirk playing at her lips.“You’re late,” she said.I raised an eyebrow. “Late for what?”She nodded at the board. “For your loss.”I let out a short laugh, shaking my head as I took my seat. “That so?”“Mm-hm,” she hummed, moving a pawn forward. “I’ve been studying.”I glanced down at the board, already seeing how she had set up her pieces. She wasn’t playing like she normally did—impulsive, eager to attack before she had control. No, this time, she had structure. Her knights were placed well, her pawns controlling the center. It was actually… decent.I moved my own piece, slow, measured. “You know studying only gets you so far, right?”Sarah shrugged. “Says the man who’s about to lose.”I smirked, letting her have her confidence. She moved again, faster this time, her fingers light on the pieces. The game picked up, back and forth, each of us watching,
************The Rossi estate was quiet, but inside, the air was thick with frustration and failure. Damien stood near the fireplace, his jaw clenched so tight it ached, hands curled into fists at his sides. The ambush was supposed to end Marco. They had planned everything down to the second, every angle covered, every escape route cut off. And still, he survived. Their men weren’t just beaten. They were slaughtered. It was more than a loss. It was humiliation, and the weight of it sat heavy on Damien’s shoulders.Across the room, Isabella was pacing like a caged predator, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. The anger rolling off her was almost suffocating. She stopped suddenly, raking a hand through her dark hair, her breath coming in sharp bursts.“Unbelievable,” she spat, eyes burning as she turned toward Damien. “We had him. We fucking had him. And now look at us—sitting here like cowards while he reloads.” She took a step closer, voice slicing through the room. “
MARCOThe city blurred past me as I drove, headlights cutting through the darkness. My fingers tapped against the steering wheel, slow, steady. My pulse didn’t spike. My breathing didn’t change. But inside, something cold settled in my chest.They really tried to kill me. Again.And I wasn’t surprised. That was the thing. It didn’t shock me. It didn’t make me pause. This life, this war, it only ended one way. You either take out the enemy, or they take you out. No in-between. No second chances. And last night? They took their shot. Sarah had to pull the trigger to survive. My wife. My unborn kid in the middle of it. Because of them.The Rossis thought they could take something from me. They thought they could shake me. And maybe years ago, I would’ve given them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe I would’ve given Damien Rossi a call, laid it out, given him a chance to fix it before I burned his whole fucking house down.But those days were gone.This wasn’t business anymore. It wasn’t neg