Do you think time heals pain?
E L L EShe didn't push it further, but I could see she wasn't too happy about the fact."Okay. Well, let's get your fever down and I'll go make you the soup. You should eat something.""Thank you, Gio.""Anything for my best friend. Now, give me the towel."Best friend? I liked the sound of that. She placed the small bowl of water on the table, and sat next to me, and dipped the towel inside the water.Once she was done, she wrung the water out and placed the towel on my forehead. The water was cold, and it felt soothing against my hot skin."How's that? Does it feel good?""It does, thanks." I said with a relieved sigh. I turned and laid in a more comfortable position, with my head resting on the pillow and the towel still on my forehead."I'm gonna go make you the soup, okay? You lie here and rest, and I'll bring it for you.""You're an angel, Gio. I'll owe you.""Nonsense. That's what friends are for. And, I'm your best friend." She winked and I laughed."I don't remember you ask
G I O V A N N AI ran towards Elle and caught her just before she could hit the floor. Her eyes lulled back and her whole body was limp.I immediately picked her up, grabbed my car keys and hurried outside."It's okay, Elle. I'm gonna get you help, okay?"The moment I buckled her inside, I got behind the wheel and drove off towards the hospital.My heart was hammering in my chest, and I could hear my blood rushing through my veins.I was scared. Scared for my best friend.She looked sick and pale and it had only gotten worse.I didn't even waste any time in the waiting area, and rushed straight to the reception."Please help. My friend is really sick, and she fainted. I need help."The lady immediately pressed the button and the doctors rushed to the scene."What's her name?""Elle.""Her surname?""Marino."They placed her on a stretcher and asked me to wait outside the room while they checked her.The moment I left the room, I called Avery."Hey, baby. How's Elle?""I'm at the hospi
G I O V A N N A"Do not put words in my mouth, Giovanna. I love Elle and she's like a sister to me, and you know how much I'm worried.""Then focus on why we're here and nothing else, do you fucking get it? Claire and I had an history, it's all in the past now. I'm not going to put her life on pause just because I fucked her. She's doing her job and it isnt my fault that we'll always get to see her, I can't wipe her off the face of earth. So, get the fuck over yourself and stop bringing up this bullshit every damn chance you get. It's fucking annoying.""Fine." She muttered, and let go of my hand.She didn't say a word to me again after that, and I was grateful for the silence. I couldn't deal with her dramatic ass anymore.When the Marino family came back out, Avery and I walked inside.The sight of her, so weak and helpless, was heartbreaking.Her skin was pale white and her eyes were dull, she had an IV injected in her vein and the monitor beeped every second, recording her heartbe
S E B A S T I A NThe moment I stepped into the house, a foul smell greeted me. The living room was a mess, leftover pizza, opened drink, and candy wrappers were strewn on the floor.I shook my head.No matter how much I've gone through this for the past five years, I still couldn't get used to it.I walked into the bedroom and it was just as expected. Empty plates of food, used underwear, and clothes littered the floor. It looked like a pigsty.On the bed lay a woman, my wife. Her arms and legs spread out, in a drunken slumber. The stench that emanated from the bed made me grimace.I looked at the sleeping figure and sighed. I'd always hoped she'd clean up her act one day, but now, looking at her, all I felt was a dull anger and frustration.My pregnant wife would rather sleep all day, than take a shower. Don't get me wrong, it would be totally understandable if she only became dirty and lazy before pregnancy, because it takes a lot to carry a human inside of you, but this started eve
S E B A S T I A NI left the bedroom and walked around the house, searching for her. I finally found her in the guest bedroom, she was freshly showered and putting on her nightgown.She looked at me and rolled her eyes."Em," I said, taking a step forward."Don't come near me," she snapped.I sighed. "Em, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. You know, I'm going through a lot and I'm very frustrated. But, you have no idea how grateful I am to have you in my life, and how much I care about you and the baby. I just want the best for the two of you, and I want to give you the life you deserve. Let me hire the maid, Em. Please. You don't have to do anything, except take care of yourself and the baby. You've helped me a lot, and I'm trying to return the favor. Okay?"She stared at me, and I couldn't tell what was going through her mind."I know I'm not the best wife, Seb. I know I'm lazy, and irresponsible, and I drink a lot, but I'm trying. I'm trying to make myself better,
E M O R YI parked my car in the factory's garage, and walked towards the building."Good morning, Mrs. Black," the security said, as he held the door open for me."Good morning," I said, before walking into the building.We were making new products since the old ones were sold out, and I needed to make sure the manufacturers are following my rules.I put on a pair of gloves and a mask before walking in, the smell of chemicals was strong."Hello, ladies and gentlemen," I said, and all the workers greeted me back."How's the work going?""Great," one of the workers said, "we've finished making 200 units of the cream. It'll be delivered by tomorrow, as per the order.""And the special stuff? Did you add it to the 200?""Yes, madam. Just as you instructed. But, ma'am, I think it's high time we stopped applying them to the products as they could be quite harmful to the human skin. We can't just give people cancer and call it a day, that's not a good way to run a business. And the FDA woul
E M O R Y"Money?" I laughed. "You need money? I gave you one million dollars five months ago from my new business so you can stay out of my life and build something for yourself. And you're standing here asking for money?""I spent it," he said, shrugging his shoulders."How the fuck did you spend it? How much did you gamble and drink with the money, Michael? Tell me, please.""It's not my fault, okay? I needed money. I'm a man. I have a lot of debts and—""No, Michael. That's your own damn fault. You're a grown ass man, and you gambled away my hard-earned money. I don't owe you shit. Get the hell out of my sight.""I'm not leaving until I get my money," he said, and grabbed my arm, his grip strong and painful.I looked at him, square in his eyes. "I have no money to give you, Michael. One penny, I'm not giving. Now, get the fuck out of my office.""You don't have the money, or you won't give it to me? Don't forget, Em. I have the evidence of the crimes you committed. That's why you
S E B A S T I A NEmory sat beside me in the backseat of the car, her hands were on her pregnant belly, and her lips were moving but, I couldn't hear a word.My eyes were fixed on the road, my mind was far away.It had been five years since we started our lives together.I was a married man.Married to a woman who is carrying my child.Yet, I didn't feel complete.I was just existing.There was an emptiness in me. A cold void, hollow and empty.I felt like something was missing, like a part of me was taken away.I didn't understand what it was.All I knew was, there was an emptiness inside me, and nothing was filling the void.I sighed, closing my eyes and resting my head against the seat.Why did this feeling keep haunting me?It wasn't supposed to be this way.Emory was a beautiful woman, she was intelligent, and had a great personality. She was carrying my baby, and we were starting our own family. I couldn't raise a child in a home where her father is not content.So, why was this
E L L EBlood drained from my face as an excruciating pain hit the bottom of my belly, and blood rolled down my legs.My heart jumped in my chest as Mikhail flew to my side, and helped me off the bed."What's happening? I think something is wrong with the baby, Mikhail. I- I aah!" I screamed as the pain intensified, and I bent over, feeling lightheaded.Mikhail was talking to someone on the phone, and he was yelling, his voice panicked."Elle, love. Listen to me, okay. We have to go.""Where are we going?""To the hospital, love. We have to get you there. It's going to be okay.""O-o-k-kay," I managed to choke out.He picked me up, and carried me out of the house, and straight into the car.He strapped me in, and closed the door, getting in on the other side. He started the engine, and drove down the road."Is- is- the- the baby gonna be okay?" I said, watching the blood spread, and the pain increased."Yes, love. The baby is gonna be fine. Just hang in there, baby."I nodded, and clo
M I K H A I LAs the weeks flew by, we were getting closer and closer to Elle's due date. In two weeks time, she'd be entering the very last month of her pregnancy.And I've been angsty, Michael hasn't got much information on Emory, and we still have no idea where the threats were coming from, and what we were dealing with.Everything had been quiet, and there were no news. It was as if we had entered a state of limbo.A weird, calm, limbo.I wanted to be hopeful, but my gut was telling me that she was up to something, and whatever it was, wasn't good.And, I was right.Elle was at home, and safe, and I had decided to spend the day with her. She was in the kitchen, which I had frowned upon but she had insisted that she was craving 'Her' own food. She was making cookies, and I was watching her, and making sure she wasn't overdoing it.Her bump had gotten bigger, and she was looking more and more like a balloon.She was wearing a grey, oversized t-shirt, and black sweatpants, and her ha
G I O V A N N ASebastian left a couple of minutes ago, to go get ready for our flight tonight. I placed back and forth, tugging my hair in frustration.I should have known that allowing Laura go to Italy all on her own was a bad idea. But for some reason, she has insisted on nobody coming with her, which was quite suspicious, because everyone knows how much Laura hayes bring in Italy, because of the horrid memories it holds for her.Something was off, and I had no idea what it was.I could have insisted more on her to let Sebastian come with her, or maybe me. Or even, one of my trusted security men.But, she had refused, saying it was important that she was alone, and now, look what had happened.She was gone.With no trace of who had abducted her, and no single lead.I was losing my mind.I was worried sick, and had been calling non-stop, asking for updates, and I had none. Avery came up to me, stopping my movements. "Relax. You will find her."I groaned. "This is so frustrating. Th
S E B A S T I A NIt's been exactly twenty four hours of calling Laura's number non-stop, and no response.Something was wrong.Really, fucking, wrong.Laura had never missed a call from me, and especially since she had promised to keep communication open. I have dropped more than 300 missed calls, and several texts, yet no response.Where was she?The last text she had sent me was twenty six hours , telling me that the funeral was ongoing and she would facetime me when she gets back home. But, she didn't. Something was definitely wrong.My heart was pounding in my chest, and anxiety was slowly taking over. Where was she?I was having a really bad feeling about her, and I didn't know if I was worrying for nothing or my worries were indeed valid. Laura wouldn't intentionally ignore my calls, knowing I'm sick with worry.What if something happened to her?What if she was attacked?What if her father's funeral had taken a turn for the worse? What if someone was holding her captive?Or, w
L A U R AThe shot rang in my ears, and I watched in horror as blood spurted from Marco's mouth and his body slumped to the floor."What did you do?!" Bile rose in my throat as I watched the horrific sight in front of me, a cold shiver and a feeling of deja vu running through my body.I have seen Viktor take people's life like it was nothing too many times. He kills humans faster than he kills a mosquito. He has no compassion, no emotions, no remorse. He's a monster.If you think my father was horrible, Viktor is ten times worse than him. He's the devil incarnate."Why? Why did you do that? He was innocent.""What he deserved. No one, and I mean, no one, will ever defy me. If he can't do his job, he is useless. There's no use keeping a man who's a coward. I'll have to get another one who is not a pussy like Marco to get the job done, sí?"My mind ran fast, and I had to think of a way to convince him against this. "What's the point of allowing another man to touch what is yours? It's o
L A U R AI felt a pinch on my arm, and I snapped my head to the side, to watch Viktor piercing a needle in my arm."What the fuck are you doing?""This is going to help you relax. You're tense, and nervous, and I don't want you to make a scene. Not now. Not when we're so close to finally being together again. So, stop struggling, and enjoy the ride. You will get there, eventually."He injected the contents into my blood stream, and I watched him, and the man driving, as the world around me started spinning.And, the last thing I saw was Viktor's smiling face.A face that had haunted me every single day, and a face that was the last thing I had ever wanted to see again.It was a nightmare.I slumped on the seat, and blacked out."Wakey, wakey, sleeping beauty. Wake the fuck up. I've waited too long for this."I heard Viktor's voice, and I struggled to open my eyes. I blinked a few times, and the room came into focus.I was in a room, sitting in a chair, with my hands tied behind me, an
L A U R AToday is my father's funeral.I woke up, feeling a dar, gloomy cloud over my head. It was screaming danger. Something was about to happen. Something big. I could feel it.But, I didn't let my fear get the best of me. I got out of bed, walking into my bathroom to take a shower. As the warm water cascaded down my skin, I couldn't help but remember the first time Viktor took me, and he made me bleed."Viktor, please..." I cried, trying to pull my wrists free. He was holding them down, hovering over me, and spreading my legs with his own as he smiled sadistically. No single remorse in his eyes."No."He took me forcefully, my frail sixteen year old body unable to withstand the strength and power of a thirty two year old man.It felt like he was splitting me open. My eyes filled with tears, and I begged him to stop. And when I saw that I didn't have a choice, I begged him to go slowly that he was hurting me, I screamed for help, but he slapped a hand over my mouth, and shoved hi
L A U R AMy phone rang, as Sebastian's name appeared on the screen."Hey, baby." I smiled, and walked out onto the balcony, and sat on the chair."How are you doing, Laura? Are you holding up okay?""Yeah. I'm fine." I lied, and he sighed."I know you're not okay, baby. Please, tell me the truth."I knew i had to keep lying to him. For his own sake. He didn't deserve to be dragged into my Mafia world, full of hatred, chaos, violence, and danger. He was an innocent, and his only mistake was loving me."It's just the stress from the funeral arrangements. We're having a wake for my father, and then a burial in the family cemetery. And, there are a lot of preparations that need to be made. The board, and the family members have to attend, and we have to make sure everything is perfect.""Do you want me to come? I can take some time off work, and stay for a few days, and help you. Then we'd come back to America together. How does that sound?""It's alright, Seb. You don't have to come. I'
L A U R AThe next day, I was forced to go see my father's body at the morgue. Not really forced, but it's kind of like a family tradition where a child has to see and pray on the father's body, to send him off for an eternal rest in heaven.If only they knew that even my prayers wouldn't stop God's plans for that man. He was going to make him suffer and rot in hell with the devil, exactly where he belongs. He's a devil, and the devil's family.The coroner pulled the body out of the freezer, and I had to keep myself from retching, and rolling my eyes. He was so pale, and his skin was almost blue. He was wearing an oversized shirt, and his arms were folded on top of his stomach.Fabian held my arm, and I took a deep breath, and watched as the coroner pulled the cloth off his face.He was covered in scars, and stitches, and looked like a corpse.And, the moment I saw his face, I felt nothing.Nothing at all.My heart didn't sink, and tears didn't roll down my cheeks, and no regrets or r