*Bruno*The time I spent with Lucia last night felt like a dream. I had craved her and rushed home. When I pulled her in for a kiss, I expected her to refuse. I knew she would push me off, but I half expected her to give in, and slowly, she drifted lost. A slight grin adorned my lips. I toss the lighter in my hand, opening and closing it. I had just finished walking around the bar. I kept turning around on the chair in front of my desk.I wanted to spend time with Lucia.She drove me insane. I left her room early this morning. She would be a little embarrassed when she woke up, and I didn't want to worsen it, not that I would not want to see her red like a tomato, though. I turned around and kept the lighter on the table with a light thud. I tried to push the thought of Lucia away from my mind, but I had to. But I couldn't.I felt she had me wrapped around her fingers, though she had no idea about it. I will see her later. Maybe she would allow me to hold her. Perhaps she craves my tou
*Lucia*The ride to the Hotel the driver mentioned was not as bumpy as I expected. I couldn't stop glancing back to see if we were being followed. The driver gave me weird looks from the rear mirror. I took a deep breath after a while and relaxed. The ride to the King Hotel was over three hours from the mall. I felt sleepy but had to keep my eyes wide open. The last thing I wanted was to be taken somewhere other than the hotel.The car came to a stop at the entrance of the hotel. I paid the man and hopped out of the car. I have never been to a hotel before. This was my first time, and to think that I had started with a hotel this big? I touched my pocket. I had to make sure that my money was in there. Feeling it there, I walked in.My eyes darted around the magnificent building.I tried not to gawk like a peasant. I took a deep breath; the air in the hotel felt different. Maybe it was because it was the air of freedom. At last, I was finally free from the clutches of Bruno. I felt warm
*Lucia*Watching Sarah rush towards me with a dagger filled my heart with different thoughts. Was this how I was going to die? I asked. I had been so eager to end my life a few days back, but now, seeing death in front of me, I was scared of dying. I didn't want to die. I wanted to live. I closed my eyes, expecting the dagger to pass through my chest, but it didn't.I opened my eyes to see that it was a few inches away from my chest. She had paused. Steve held her back. "You shouldn't stain your hand with her blood," he said. I knew he thought that I was too unimportant to die by her hands. Sarah was reluctant to drop the dagger and kept clenching it tightly for some time before flinging it to the side. I was relieved. I let out a breath I had not realized I was holding.Before I could comprehend what was happening, Sarah slapped me. She kept landing one slap after another on my face. I didn't know where the energy was coming from. Maybe it was from the so much hate she had towards me
*Bruno*I got into the car with Rave sitting on the driver's side. Lucia was in the King Hotel. That piece of information calmed me a little. It was funny how she thought she could escape from me. I still couldn't wrap up the fact that she was able to get that far. The car sped across other cars on the highway, but I wasn't satisfied. I wanted it to go faster. Rave concentrated on driving. When a black truck suddenly lurched to our side, he moved to the side and slowed down.I glared at the truck driver, who didn't bother to apologize and just drove off, "fuck you, son of a bitch," Rave cursed as he watched the driver speed off. He got on the road and started moving. We were in front of the other men. I got fed up with Rave's driving when he stopped at the traffic light. I was pissed. Why would he stop?I got down and asked him to get down, too. We would exchange seats. If we drive like this, it may take us forever to get to the King Hotel. I pulled him down as he was wasting time. Imm
*Lucia* I didn't want to die. At least not yet. This would be an unjust death. I wanted to at least pay them back. I wanted to pay all those who hurt me back. Who told them they could hurt me and go Scot-free? I tried to lose the rope I was tied with at the back. When his hand rested on my left breast, I felt disgusted. And it was worse when his breath fell on my skin. From the corner of my eyes, I could see the other guy trying to light up the lamp or something. Once the lamb clicked with the gallon. My chest tightened; I feared for my life. No matter how bold I was, no one was above the fear of death. I had to act and act fast. I spat on his eyes when he brought his face closer. It covered his vision for a moment. I guess that was my only resort now that my hands were tied. He moved back to wipe his face with the back of his hands. Before he could recover, my eyes wandered around the room. The dim light made it difficult to see across the room. "You little bitch" he yelled and sl
*Bruno* I was walking forward when I heard Lucía's scream. I was now certain that she was in this room somewhere. Maybe she was trapped inside. With the flames at the side spreading, I couldn't help but think that she might be engulfed in it if I were to go a bit later. When I pushed open a door after minutes of trying to find her. The room was stuffy and filled with smoke. I saved Lucia and brought her back. Rave and my men tied up the two fools who had tried to kidnap her. I took Lucia to my room. I laid her on my bed. There was a blood stain on my hand. She had been hit with a stick on her head and had lost consciousness. I clenched my fist. I was going to deal with those two fools. I called for the doctor who treated us as I didn't want to take her to the hospital or involve the police. She was treated in my room. The doctor said she would be alright as she didn't get anything damaged. I was relieved to hear the news. After changing her clothes and cleaning the dirt away from he
*Lucia* I've always known that Bruno is a merciless, cold, and heartless man. But I had never thought I'd witness his brutality. How could he have killed that man so ruthlessly? And now his filthy bloody hands were all over me. I knew the man deserved it for all he had done to me, but a part of me still wished he had not died just like that. "Bruno, let me go!" I demanded as we got to the room I had been in earlier. My voice echoed through the dimly lit room as I yelled at him in anger and frustration. He was an enigma, a cold-hearted man dressed in a black tailored shirt with a few buttons undone and his sleeves rolled up. He dropped me onto the bed, and I gazed into his dark, cold eyes, which were slightly masked by the shadows. "Silly girl," he replied, a smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth. "You tried running away once, and look where that got you." My cheeks burned, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. It was true. My escape attempt had landed me in the clutch
*Bruno* Lucia looked so surprised when I told her she would be my cook. It was obvious she didn't want to at first. She may wonder why I made her my cook. But I had my reasons for everything I did. "Why?" She asked, just as I knew she would. She was one curious being. How could I tell her that I wanted her close to me? As my cook, she was in charge of all my meals. "Since when do I have to explain to you, Lucia?" I asked her. She gritted her teeth as she had nothing to resort to. "I tell you what you do, not the other way round," I said sternly. There was no room for dispute. She frowned. If there was one thing that I have noticed about her, it was the fact that she hated being controlled. I wonder how it must make her feel to not be able to do what she wants, but at the same time, I couldn't give her all the freedom she wants now. I have to be sure that she will be beside me first before letting her make some decisions for herself. She swallowed her anger and spoke, "Did you eve
*Lucia* Three weeks passed by in the twinkle of an eye. Everything seems to be a dream. Bruno and I would have been married if it wasn't for Steve's unwelcome visit and me getting kidnapped. Sigh. It was a tough one. And I think I was affected by the kidnapping. We had decided to push back the time for our wedding. We haven't discussed the particular date but I hoped it was soon. I twitched my lips, staring out my bedroom window and getting lost in thought. It seemed like it had only been yesterday when Steve had stormed back into our lives and I'd been kidnapped, Bruno and I would have been married if it wasn't for Steve. I shivered just remembering everything I'd gone through being away and alone for so long. I couldn't even walk around the house without looking to see if anyone was walking behind me. Not to mention, I've also been feeling extremely nauseous lately. And I wasn't even on my. . . My breath stopped. I felt my heart pound as I rushed to the nightstand to pick up my
*Bruno* It was the longest night of my life. I was finally able to bring Lucia home. Looking at her as she lay on the bed, her eyes closed, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I hate the fact that our wedding was interrupted. If Steve had not interrupted our wedding, then we'd have been in each other's arms. I squeezed the water from the small napkin I held and used it to wipe her face. Her white wedding gown was now brown. She had been in that dress all day. I helped her out of the gown. I didn't want her to be lonely, so I stayed with her all night. She kept tossing and turning. She couldn't sleep comfortably. That I notice. So I took her to the bathtub and placed her in it. She didn't wake up. She must have been so stressed, tired, and hurt. I had failed to take care of her. I dressed her up and placed her on the bed. My hands ached. It was past 5 am when I finally woke up and went downstairs. I had lost three men in the fight yesterday. I was hurt and wished I could go back a
*Lucia* I had given up. I didn't think any miracle would happen. I just realized that this place I was in with Steve may be very far, a place Bruno would never have been able to figure out so easily. Steve had unexplainable joy in his eyes, as if the world was doing him the biggest favor by allowing him to wrap his hands on me. His grip around my neck turned tighter, and air seemed difficult; strength seeped away from me with each minute. But I never stopped struggling, even though it seemed fruitless. Just when I thought it was all over for me, there was a thud; Steve was distracted for a while. He turned to the door quickly, but that thud wasn't enough for him to let me go. But he didn't need to ask, he was soon wrapped and thrown away from me. Bruno. I felt I was seeing things; Bruno was here. Steve's grip around my neck loosened, and I fell to the ground. My hands wrapped around my neck as I struggled for air. “Lucia, are you alright?” Bruno asked, walking to me. I tried to s
*Lucia* He sensed me coming with the rope, but it was too late to duck as I wrapped it firmly around his neck. He wiggled, trying to turn the table, and sure, he was strong, but I didn't want to give him the pleasure of seeing me weak or thinking he was stronger. The light dimmed. “How do you feel now?” I asked. He was low, and his hand was on the rope. I held him tighter. If I allowed him to overpower me for just one moment, I didn't know what he would do. He stopped wiggling. “Having fun?” He asked. His hands were still on the rope. “You bet,” I responded. “You may have to tighten this rope to kill me,” he says, struggling a bit. I liked the fact that he was struggling. “Okay, fun time is over,” he said. His hands moved to mine, and he pressed my hands. His grip was tight and solid. Then, one of his hands moved to the rope, and he easily moved it over his head. I put up a fight. I wasn't going to allow him to get away so easily. So, I quickly wrapped my hands around his ne
*Lucia* His hands fell on the side. He ended the call before Bruno could ask for the location. I struggled on the chair where I was tied. “How did it feel to see your love? I know you've missed him, but don't worry, I'm sure he does too and will soon come to pick you up,” he said. His voice rang in my head. “I never knew your voice could be so irritating. Do you think Bruno is stupid? He will come for me, and you better be prepared,” I said, one side of my lips lifting to the side as I stared directly into his eyes. He didn't react to what I said. He tilted his head to the side and then straightened it. He burst out laughing, his laugh piercing the air. He flung his head from side to side, a big, wide smile on his lips. He was indeed a psycho. “You are being delusional. I wish there was anything I could do to help you. You think Bruno will come for you?” “He will. He always has,” I said, puffing my chest out despite the rope he tied me with. “Don't tell me you are scared of him com
*Bruno* I furrowed my brows when I saw his message. This bastard, my grip around the phone tightened. “What does he want?” Rave asked, stepping close to me to take a look at the text. I extended the phone, giving him a better view but not leaving it completely. “What? He wants to talk over a video call. The nerve of him,” said Rave, his voice a little bit over the top. I dropped my hands to the side. “Let's give him what he wants,” said Jason, standing at the side. It's just a video call; it shouldn't change much.” He sounded sure that there would be changes or that the call would lead us somewhere. The curtains by the window on the other side danced in the air. “Do you even know what you are saying? You want us to agree with his terms, no. We are not going to make him feel superior. He won't tell us what to do," said Rave at the same time. He was facing Jason, who didn't seem to want to stop. “So you say we ignore his message and keep searching for Lucia ourselves?” Rave raised a
*Lucia* My body felt sore all over. The last thing I remember was that I was hit on the head with a gun. Where the hell am I right now? I was laying on something hard and rough. I turned slowly; my body felt trapped in the white gown that I was wearing. I wanted to get rid of the gown. I opened my eyes slowly. It was dark. Wherever this place was, there was no single light. It was pitch black—that dick. I'll skin him alive. I cursed through gritted teeth as I tried to sit up. And the gown was making all my movements uncomfortable. I may not know where I was, but one thing was clear: it wasn't somewhere I'd like. And the smell. It smelled so much like rotten meat in condemned kitchen water. I almost threw up but held myself. I'll kill this idiot. He should wait and be patient. I won't end up here. I refused to give up. I believe that Bruno would come for me. I am confident. Bruno. I sigh at the thought of him. I sat, holding my legs to my chest and laying my head on it. I can
*Bruno* I felt sore all over my body. I was lying on something soft. I wanted to open my eyes, but I couldn't. Opening my eyes felt like a chore. I moved my fingertip. From the smell of the bedsheets, I knew I was in my room. I had a hard time trying to remember why I was lying here. Fuck. My memories came flooding back to me. I was supposed to get married to Lucia. We didn't get married. I opened my eyes. It wasn't as hard as it was before. It was as if I was filled with a different energy. The room was bright from the bulbs that hung in the middle of the room. I blinked twice in succession, adjusting to the light. Lucia Where was she? Why was I here? The last thing I remember was being shot and Lucia; I couldn't see her; I didn't know what happened to her. Did Rave come to save her? And that bastard, Steve, I'll rip him limb by limb. I sat up slowly, my shoulder aches to my hand. My hands were bandaged. This wasn't the first time I was shot; it wasn't much of a big deal to me
*Steve* Since I watched Sarah die in front of me, I have always envisaged how Lucia would die. Although I had gotten the report from the autopsy done on Sarah, and they claimed that she had died from something other than the stab, I still couldn't bring myself to accept it if she hadn't met Lucia that evening if Lucia hadn't stabbed her. If she had not been pushed by Bruno, I believe she would still be alive. Someone needed to be blamed for her death, and Lucia would. I left Jason. Once he knew that Lucia didn't kill Sarah, he would surely take a step back and refrain from helping me. I didn't know what I wanted from him yet, but all I knew was that he was still very useful to me, and I didn't want to lose him yet. I bid my time. I was waiting for the perfect time to attack them. When I heard about their wedding, I thought that was the best place to visit them and settle the scores, so I went to the wedding. I didn't need to be invited. It was sufficient that I knew the venue. No