“Pretty little thing like you shouldn’t be alone.”“He’s right, you look like you need some company,” he murmured lowly, as they both circled her. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest so fast that she couldn’t think straight.She glanced towards where Luca was and noticed that he was now on another phone call, totally distracted. She instinctively took a step back from the guys, moving into the barely lit alleyway.“S-step away from me.” Her voice trembled as she gripped the canned drinks tightly, ready to throw them if she had to. That was the only way she could defend herself right now.“Oh, feisty, we’re gonna have fun with you.” Tallie chuckled, flicking his tongue out lewdly. Kiara grimaced, disgusted by his mannerisms. She felt fingertips crawl up her skin, and that sent shivers down her spine.Not the good kind of shivers.They closed in on her, and one grabbed her wrist tightly. Panic shot through her body, but before she could even scream, she saw a quick blur of mo
As Kiara and Luca made their way down the street, she could feel little drops of water dancing on her skin. Underneath the streetlights, it looked like a rush of sprayed water was depending on them.“Oh, I think it's about to rain!” She giggled, loosening up a bit and swinging Luca's hand back and forth. Luca pulled out his phone, glancing at the weather forecast, “Well, it says right here that we should be expecting a bit of heavy downpour this evening.” He wrinkled his brows. He never liked the rain, he preferred to stay indoors, looking out at the window. Kiara, on the other hand, loved rain and everything about it. As the rain started to fall at a steady pace, Kiara smiled, leading him off the sidewalk. There were no cars around and it wasn't a busy street. “There is no way I'm doing this right now, Kiara,” he grumbled, firmly planting his feet on the ground. “Come on, let's go,” She playfully tugged on his arm, and loomed up at him with pleading eyes and a quivering bottom lip
Kiara went on her knees, and locked her fingers together, placing her hands flat on the girl’s chest. She let out deep sighs as she performed chest compressions on her in order to keep her going. She made sure to take off any loose clothing on the girl.The whole room stared as Damian led the rest of the kids to another room. All of them were scared of what had just happened. “Is she going to be okay?” A little boy asked Damian, tugging on the sleeve of his shirt. Damian looked down at the boy, “She’s going to be just fine. She just decided to fall asleep for a while, okay?” He gave a small smile, reassuring him and the rest of the kids.Beads of sweat trickled down Kiara’s face as she continued to administer rescue breaths to the child. Just then, the paramedics barged into the NGO with a stretcher. Kiara got up and watched as they placed the child on the stretcher and wheeled her into the ambulance. “I’m coming with her,” She informed the paramedics, climbing into the back of the am
"Mrs. Dougherty, there's a matter that requires your attention. Kiara spoke up, standing in front of the head of the NGO. Mrs. Sandra Dougherty, a plump, well-rounded woman, pushed her black-rimmed glasses up her nose, looking away from the monitor in front of her.She smacked her bright, red-painted lips with distaste, "With whom, if I may ask, Miss Lux?" She moved her hands to the top of her table, clasping them together.Sarah stepped out from behind Kiara, with her tear-stricken face, "I, ma'am."Sandra pulled her glasses off, narrowing her eyes, "aren't you Sarah? Well, what's the matter now?" She averted her gaze and redirected it towards Kiara."Her wayward and ungovernable behavior. Tolerating bad behavior is not the way we help people do better," Kiara stated, keeping her face firm and her head high. She wasn't backing down without a fight, and that fight would only end with one person walking out of the room dejected-and it most certainly wouldn't be her."What exactly is the
“Come in,” Damian answered, flipping through the daily newspaper. His eyes skimmed the headlines for the day:‘Dwindling in 2024, here are the companies to look out for:’‘Struggling to boost revenue? Here are a few tips and tricks as an Entrepreneur!’Damian’s stomach ached, as his thoughts roamed back to his own company, Lux. Luca stepped into his office and he stood up almost immediately, “L-boy! Been a while since I saw your face around here.” He extended his hand, pulling Luca’s into a firm grip, pulling him in for a “bro-hug”, and clapping his back before pulling away. “It has. I’ve been busy—you know, the kids and all.”“I understand bro,” Damian settled back into his comfortable seat, “Well, you know how I am, yeah? Work all the time.” They both shared a chuckle. A moment of silence ensued, as Damian thought of how to start out. Luca noticed this odd behavior, “What’s going on then?”Damian cleared his throat, signaling that he was about to begin a serious conversation, “The c
“Good news! You know the conversation we were having just last week?” Damian grinned, nudging Luca’s shoulder.“Yeah?” Luca averted his gaze from his phone, looking up at his friend.“There was someone I may or may not have forgotten about. Completely slipped my mind!”Luca’s brows furrowed together as he tried to think about who it could be, “Who? No need to keep me in suspense, let the cat out of the bag already.” He rolled his eyes.“Sam Bronx.”Luca’s head whipped so fast that he almost suffered whiplash. “Who?”“You heard me, huh? Sam. Bronx.” Damian enunciated each word, a small grin spreading on his face.“Wow, that’s a…catch.” Luca nodded, tightening his lips. Sam Bronx was the son of one of the most influential men in Texas. He and Kiara would make a great fit, which is exactly what Luca dreaded.Damian popped a cracker and cheese into his mouth, relaxing in the recliner. “I invited him over… and he’s on his way right now. I can’t wait to see Kiara’s reaction.” He said in bet
“What’s the matter with you?” Damian yelled, shooting up from his seat. His anger was rising each minute. Kiara grimaced slightly, looking away from Sam before she finally rested her gaze on her father.“Dad, I-”“No Kiara, is this how you treat a guest?” He fumed, clenching his fists by his side. Kiara looked at him, unwavering. She meant every word she said, but maybe she had crossed the line.“Sam, I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you,” Kiara said firmly, redirecting her gaze at him. He stared into her emotionless eyes, “Right…” He said slowly, dragging out the word.“I mean, you don’t have to do all this if you don’t want to. Though, I personally would’ve loved to.” He explained, resting his elbow on his knee and leaning forward.Luca watched on from his chair as the scene unfolded right in front of his eyes. He was happy—thrilled that Kiara liked him enough to turn a suitor down. It said a lot, and it also meant that his plan was working just the way he had expected it to.Damian
Kiara felt a smooth metal go over her wrists. Her hands and mouth were now bound with black cloth, and she was pushed into the back of a van.She tried to scream, but it was aimless. Nobody would hear her anyway. She cried silently as she remained in complete darkness, oblivious to whatever was going on around her. All she knew was that she had been in the back of that van for damn too long, and it was starting to affect her. Her neatly straightened hair was now frizzy and rough, and her face was stained with black specks of mascara as a result of her crying.All of a sudden, she heard a click and could feel sunlight back on her skin again. She was pulled out of the van and left to stumble to her feet. Her hands were handcuffed behind her back, and she could barely walk after being curled in a fetal position for so long.She heard the jingle of keys, and the shifting in gears of the door lock. They were at a house.‘Are they going to lock me up here?’ Kiara thought to herself as she t
“What?” Luca exclaimed, terrified Harrison had more things to interrogate him about. Harrison closed in the distance again. It’s obvious it makes Luca very uncomfortable every time he does that. “At Eric’s house, we found a mask—a perfect match to the one used in the kidnapping of Kiara Lux, and a file that had the name Thompson Greco. Then there’s the CCTV footage.”Luca’s heart pounded in his chest. “CCTV footage?” he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief.Harrison nodded, pulling his phone from his pocket. He tapped the screen a few times and turned it toward Luca. “Take a look. Recognize that car? It was out there when Kiara entered that restaurant. Can you see it’s the same car Kiara and this mysterious man who was obviously hiding from the CCTV returned to? The same vehicle that took her? Funny thing, it’s registered under an alias we’ve traced back to one Thompson—Thompson Greco. Rings a bell?”“And guess what?” Harrison scoffed. “The car that chased Kiara’s the other day
Luca froze, stool in hand, as the loud bang on the door reverberated through the room. Open up. It’s the police.” The voice cut through everything that made sound in his house. His pulse quickened, anger and paranoia blending into a volatile mix. He knew that voice—Detective Harrison.The last person he wanted to see.Luca tossed the stool aside, its legs clattering against the broken glass on the floor. He stalked to the door and yanked it open, his face a mask of barely controlled rage.“What the hell do you want, Harrison?”Detective Harrison stood there, his imposing frame casting a shadow over Luca’s disheveled entrance. “Detective, sir! I love to be referred to as Detective Harrison.” Harrison corrected him subtly. His sharp eyes took in the state of the house—broken bottles, shards of glass, the remains of a demolished TV. His lips curled in disdain.“I address you however I deem fit, detective—I mean, Harrison.“Well, well,” he drawled, stepping inside without waiting for an
Luca slumped in the leather armchair in his living room, his hands gripping the armrests so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The echoes of Annie’s words reverberated in his mind: “I’m going to fight for full custody, Luca. And this time, you won’t win.”His jaw clenched as he stared at the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the desk. The house, once his pride, now felt like a hollow monument to his failures. The silence was deafening—a stark reminder of what he’d lost.Luca wasn’t angry because he loved the children that much or even because he wanted them around. No, his rage stemmed from something deeper, something darker. He’d lost control. Katie and Sam had always been pawns in his game—a way to keep Annie tethered, a means to assert dominance. Winning custody had been a symbolic victory, proof that he still held power over her. But now, that power was slipping through his fingers.“Damn it!” he roared, sweeping the whiskey bottle off the desk. It shattered against the wall, a
Maria sat down beside Kiara on the bed. She’s trying to persuade her to give the therapist another chance. It's been days since the last time it resulted in chaos. They hadn’t even gone through any form of therapy before it happened. She recounted the incident from that day in her mind. “Tell me, baby, who’s the driver guy?” Kiara’s panic attack escalated quickly. Her breathing grew rapid and shallow, her body trembling uncontrollably as she clutched her chest. Damian carried her into the house, his movements frantic but careful. Maria followed closely, her hands shaking as she dialed the family doctor.Within minutes, Dr. Rourke, their trusted physician, arrived at the mansion. He examined Kiara, who was still hyperventilating and crying softly. After administering a mild sedative to calm her, he turned to Damian and Maria.“She’s having a severe panic attack,” Dr. Rourke explained gently. “This isn’t just fear—it’s deep psychological trauma. It’s crucial that we get her to open up
Katie pulled out her phone with trembling hands, her fingers fumbling over the screen as she dialed their mother’s number. The pounding on the door was relentless, the sound reverberating through their tiny room. Sam clung to Katie’s side, her stuffed animal crushed against her chest."Mom, pick up," Katie whispered, her voice shaking as she stared at the phone. The ringing felt endless, each second dragging out painfully. Finally, Annie's voice came through the line."Katie darling. How…” Katie’s shaky voice interrupted her usual questions about their well-being. What's wrong?" Annie's voice was filled with concern."Mom, it's Dad," Katie said quickly, her voice cracking. "He's out of control. He’s drunk—I think, and... and he's trying to break into our room!""What?!" Annie’s tone turned sharp with alarm. "Are you and Sam okay? Did he hurt you?""We’re okay for now," Katie replied, her voice breaking. "But the door... it's not going to hold much longer. You have to come home. Ple
Luca’s eyes darkened as the table crashed to the ground, spilling its contents in a noisy heap. His jaw clenched, and a vein throbbed at his temple. The air in the room seemed to thicken with tension as Sam stood frozen, her small hands trembling at her sides."You clumsy little brat!" Luca bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls. "Can't you do anything right?"Sam’s eyes filled with tears as she stumbled backward, her small frame trembling. "I-I’m sorry, Dad," she stammered, her voice barely audible. "I didn’t mean to... I promise I’ll fix it."But Luca wasn’t hearing her. His rage blinded him, fueled by his own frustrations and fears. He took a step forward, his injured hand throbbing but forgotten in the storm of his anger.“Sorry isn’t good enough!” he roared, raising his uninjured hand. Before Sam could react, the first blow landed—a harsh slap across her cheek that sent her sprawling to the floor. She whimpered, clutching her face, her tears streaming freely now.“Get up!” he
Meanwhile, back at Luca's, it's been turmoil. He had been on the run, unsure of what his fate would be. He has been hiding away, scared that the police are looking for him. When he realized that there had been no search or warrant for him, he decided to return to his house. "That betrayal must have gotten away with Kiara. If they are unable to find Kiara, they might never find out that I've been the one behind the kidnapping all along." He thought. However. That afternoon, word came from one of the boys he forced out to find Kiara, that Kiara had been found and, as in fact, been discharged from the hospital and now home with Damian. Luca stormed into his room, his injured hand hastily wrapped in a bloodied cloth. His face was a mask of fury and frustration as he paced back and forth. He couldn't even go to the hospital to have proper treatment. The faint smell of antiseptic from his poorly tended wound mingled with the scent of whiskey he had poured himself moments ago. He gulped
Well, that’s because he might be a culprit,” Harrison declared. “What?” “We’ve traced the missing funds from your accounts—millions of dollars—directly back to him.”Damian’s eyes widened, and he swung his legs over the side of the bed, fully awake now. “You’re saying Eric embezzled the money?”“Yes,” Harrison confirmed. “He used sophisticated software to launder the funds and make them untraceable. We were just about to bring him in for questioning when we found his body.”Maria sat up, her expression a mix of confusion and alarm. “What is it?” she whispered.Damian held up a hand to silence her, his focus still on the call. “Tell me you’re kidding.” “I’m afraid it’s the truth, Mr. Lux.” Harrison continued. “The missing papers have also been in his possession. But the mysterious thing is, not a dime is missing from the money. It was a new account he opened. He kept the documents also, under the same name. I don’t think he saved the money for himself.” “Do you think someone else w
Maria stood at the edge of the room, her face pale but resolute as she watched Damian absorb her words. His expression hardened, and his jaw set tight like a coiled spring.“What do you mean Luca called again?” Damian asked, his voice dangerously low.“He called to check on Kiara,” Maria replied cautiously. “That’s what he said. He added that he was relieved to hear she’s safe.”“Relieved?” Damian scoffed, his tone bitter. “That snake doesn’t deserve to say her name. He’s no friend of mine. My daughter was kidnapped, and he did nothing.”Maria sighed, stepping closer. “Darling, he called several times you were away, he called to check if we'd decided to hand over the company to them as they demanded. He said he couldn’t reach you. He even pleaded with me to convince you to do as they say so we can get Kiara back safely.” “Oh really? What a wonderful job he did. Giving a piece of advice from the comfort of his home when in reality he did nothing. If you don’t know, that amounts to not