Chapter 27Kendra's PovUpon my arrival into the country, I looked around, scrutinizing and immediately noticed a significant change in the surroundings. The place looked completely different from what I remembered. Not giving much of my will to figure out its changes, I looked around with a smile on my face. It had been a long time since I left the country, and now my arrival was something I could proudly boast about.“I have arrived…” I stated in composure as I took in the fresh air, exhaling slowly. It was as though it was going to take forever to return. My thoughts revolved around the handsome young man I had left behind, Lucas Gambino. I couldn't help but exaggerate.“Ma'am” A guard of mine offered, stretching his hand towards me. He was actually giving a helping hand to help me get up so as to leave the plane immediately. The warm smile I had on could denote a bossy reaction. I was highly pleased to see how things were going. This was the kind of treatment that royalty like mys
Chapter 28"Did you just frown at me? I asked you a question and instead of giving me a reply, you are giving me an attitude?"Rage was already brewing within me at the sight of him."Ma'am, you just got into the country. You just came back from a long journey. The boss is currently very busy which is why he had asked me to come and welcome you""He should have come by himself, Fernández! It's been years he has seen me. So, why the hell is he not here? This is unlike him and you know it! Stop trying to give excuses for him! He used to be here with roses to welcome me." I mumbled.At first I had thought the roses were given to his guards as a pre-welcome to be handed one by him as soon as I got closer but that turned out to be a wrong guess."I apologies for that, Miss Kendra. This is why I am here to pick you. Master can't choose to leave you here without sending anyone on his behalf if he can't make it. You know this don't you? He cherishes you way too much to let you down. Please..
Chapter 29Kendra's PovFernández stared at me intently through the center mirror, his eyes fixed on me. I couldn't understand why he was behaving so strangely. All I had done was ask a simple question, and now he was acting suspiciously."Why did you suddenly stop the car like that? What if there's an accident? How will you explain it to your boss and my dad? Don't you realize the danger you're putting us in?" I shouted, my voice reaching its highest pitch. I couldn't make sense of his intentions."I'm sorry for that, but why worry about nothing ma'am? You have nothing to be concerned about, Miss Kendra. The boss is just busy. There's no reason to be suspicious," he replied.His response seemed more appropriate, but it was clear that he had rehearsed it beforehand, as if something shady was going on. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than meets the eye."You told me not to be suspicious, yet you yourself seem suspicious," I countered.He scoffed and nodded, but
Chapter 30He held me firmly in his arms. I could tell he had missed me too. I watched as he ran his fingers through my hair that feeling alone was unexpected. The last time I experienced such was when I was still a little girl."My little girl... I've missed you," he said, which made me feel even more loved."Father..." I called out."My lovely princess is back, my little girl is back..."I couldn't help but chuckle. He was still referring to me as a little girl."Dad, stop... I am no longer a little girl, I am a grown woman now, father, and a woman."He scoffed and wasn't willing to admit it. "I wish I could get used to that. But you, listen to me now, even if you turn fifty years old this instant, you will always be my little princess.”I rolled my eyes in agreement, acknowledging that fathers always have a knack for finding his way around things. We might end up exchanging words, but in the end, he would always come out on top and emerge the winner."I am your daughter, after all.
CHAPTER ONEShirley's POVGiven the choice between lighting my hair on fire and facing Lucas Gambino, I would not have chosen the former. But I had to remind myself why I was here in the first place.For my father. This was for my father.I let out a short gasp of pain as my feet caught on something hard and painful, and stopped in my tracks. One of the dark-clothed men pushed me roughly from behind."Move, woman!"Suppressing the urge to curse loudly, I kept trudging up the staircase. All I could see was a thick, oppressive darkness, as a blindfold had been wound tightly around my eyes. The cloth was scratchy and made my eyes water, but that was the least of my problems.This Gambino man was rumored to be one of the most powerful and most dangerous men in Seattle. I wondered how I would face him without stuttering and embarrassing myself.For my father....I was led into a large room—I supposed, from the loud echoes I was getting. I tried to memorize our turns around the house, in ca
CHAPTER TWOShirley's POVThe words hung in the air like a poisonous cloud, suffocating me with their toxicity. My heart raced, pounding against my ribcage as if trying to break free from the grip of fear that had taken hold of me."A strip club?" I choked out. "You expect me to degrade myself like some cheap commodity?"Lucas Gambino's icy stare bore into me, as his lips curled into a sneer. "You'll do as I say, rossa," he spat. "Or have you forgotten who holds the power in this room? You owe me money, and you will do as I say!"I clenched my fists, fury coursing through my veins like molten lava. "I'd rather die than submit to your twisted demands! Strip club, my foot!"His laughter echoed off the walls, a chilling sound that sent shivers down my spine. "You think you have a choice, darling?" he taunted, stepping closer until his breath brushed against my cheek like a frigid breeze. "You signed a contract with me when you came for my help, did you not? Did you even read the content
CHAPTER THREELucas' POVI reclined in the driver's seat of my sleek black car, the leather upholstery cool against my skin as I watched the chaos unfolding from inside the strip club.Suddenly, a dark shadow darted out from the alleyway beside the strip club. No, not a shadow. Someone.Shirley McWood.My gaze flickered with amusement as I observed the woman's futile attempt to escape, her form stumbling awkwardly in the tight dress she wore. The light from the street lamps caught her bright red hair in a pretty fashion.Who did she think she was, trying to run away from her debts once again? The audacity of the woman never failed to amuse me.Inside, I felt not a shred of anger, but rather a mild annoyance at her persistent attempts to defy me. She was like a stubborn fly buzzing around my head, refusing to be swatted away.I watched as the woman darted across the street in a desperate bid for freedom, and I made a split-second decision. With a subtle smirk playing on my lips, I star
CHAPTER FOURShirley's POVMy room? Did he just say my room?Would I be living with him in this house, alone?I froze for a second as riotous thoughts attacked my head. Then, ungluing my feet from the ground, I scampered after him.As we walked through the corridors of Lucas Gambino's mansion, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach. The signs of wealth surrounding me felt suffocating, like a gilded cage trapping me in a world I didn't belong to.Unable to contain my curiosity any longer, I turned to Lucas. "What do you mean by 'my room'?" I asked.Lucas shot me a cocky smirk, his eyes glittering with amusement. "Unless you plan on spending the night in my car, I suggest you come inside."I rolled my eyes in frustration. "That's not what I meant," I grumbled under my breath, trailing after him as he led the way.Finally, he stopped before a pristine white door, pushing it open with a flourish. "Here you go," he announced, gesturing for me to enter.