NICKI didn’t know what to say, what to think. For two days, I have not said a word. Mother blamed Olivia for father’s death but we both knew that I was to blame. Today was my father’s funeral and as I stared at the casket. My mind took me back to when it all started, Olivia begging me to give her f
OLIVIAI felt better after spending time with Marcus, he had a way of making me feel safe when I am with him. his words warm my heart and the way the man cared for me, made me feel like I could be happy again. But I couldn’t let myself think about such things, not when things were going downhill aga
NICKMother jumped in fright when I yelled. “Nick, open this door!” Ethan sounded on the other side banging the door, but I kept my eyes on my dear mother. The one who thinks she has the right to play God and choose who lives or dies. “What did you expect me to do Nick? If I didn’t choose, he was go
OLIVIAI heard Nick yell, and I turned to see Sandra with the knife held high charging at me. Nick was by the door, I think frozen, and I did the only thing I could do. I covered my son with my body and soon I felt stabbing pain on my shoulder then warm liquid spilled out. “Sandra! what the fuck are
OLIVIAThe guys had no choice but to listen to me. well, I didn’t give them much of a choice. They could both see that Nick was blinded or bias when it came to Sandra. The man was protective of her to a point that he risked his son’s life for her. Even after what she did, right in front of him but N
ELODIELoud defining sound boomed outside, the house shook and the cup I held in my hands fell shuttering into pieces. My first thought was earthquake, I hid under the kitchen counter trying to keep myself safe. Another boom was heard on the outside and the house shook even more. Fear gripped me, my
OLIVIA“At least let me come and help with the pealing!” I yelled from the lounge unable to sit still. Marcus peeked from the kitchen. “You stay right there; I said I am cooking you dinner and that is what I am going to do. I don’t want you in this kitchen until am done.” He was making us dinner.He
OLIVIAI watched as Marcus escorted her out of the house then sat down and continued eating. Lupita raised an eyebrow, but I paid her no mind. Marcus came back and looked at me funny as well. “What?” he shrugged. “I am just wondering if you are okay.” I shoved more food into my mouth and ate.“You s
MARCUSI regret ever listening. I wish I had kept my distance, stayed out of it, and resisted the temptation to eavesdrop on Olivia’s therapy session. I only wanted to understand what that man, Xander, had done to her. I needed to know the depth of the damage he had inflicted upon my wife. Never in
LUKEI stood outside, listening to Nick as he worked on breaking Xander down. The boy was good, too good for my liking. I never intended for those boys to be involved in my line of work. Keeping Nick behind was never meant to have him do this, it was meant to keep him away from Olivia. Being around
NICK“Do your worst, Nick,” Xander sneered, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth as he spat it onto the floor at my feet. “See now? You people shot me, and I haven’t been able to contact my guys. The alert is out. It’s no longer just about Olivia. Now, your whole circle is fair game.”I coul
MARCUS“Olivia, you’re still not well,” I said, my voice firm but laced with concern. “And yet, you want to know about that? I’m not telling you anything right now. Recover first if you want to be included. Until then, I’m not saying a word.”I could feel my frustration rising. We had just gotten ho
OLIVIABy the time we landed back at New Village, Luke’s men were already waiting for us at the airport. The moment we arrived, Marcus spoke with them outside the car, while I settled inside with the kids. My baby girl was still fast asleep in my arms, and her brother had just started to stir as the
Nick“Nick, calm down. There was nothing you were going to do there. You promised not to interfere with her anymore. She left with her husband and kids to fix herself, to fix her marriage. You don’t belong there.”I stopped, the words hitting me like a slap. I turned to glare at him, fury bubbling i
MARCUS“Home. I want to go home.”Those were the first words Olivia spoke when she finally woke up. The urgency and exhaustion in her voice were clear, and it broke something in me to hear it. Home. The place where she could feel safe again, where she could begin to heal. I didn’t hesitate for a sec
OLIVIAI couldn’t tell how long I had been unconscious or why I had lost consciousness in the first place. The confusion lingered in my mind, but when I finally opened my eyes, everything shifted. There, sitting quietly beside me, was Marcus, his head resting on the edge of my bed.His presence felt
MARCUSI trembled with fury as I watched my wife in such a state. The sight of her, broken and trembling, filled me with a rage that burned so intensely, I could barely contain it. The urge to scream, to shout, to lash out at everything and everyone was overwhelming. I wanted to destroy everything,