*Natasha* I couldn't believe what I saw. Bruno had kissed Lucia. I dug my fingers into my palm. I was more than angry. This wasn't the first time Bruno had kissed a girl, but it was the first time I feared that this kiss wasn't just any kiss. I have lost Bruno. The thought didn't sit well in my heart. It was bitter in my mouth. I dug my fingers into my palm. I was hurt but more angry than pained. I couldn't lose Bruno, especially to that type of girl. She wasn't worth him. She wasn't worthy of standing beside him. I watched as Bruno pulled away and brushed some hair strands away from her face. It was evident that he was attracted to her and attracted to her in the wrong way. I saw the way he treated her with so much care. I wanted him to care for me in the same way. I wanted to be in Lucia's place. I wanted him to look at me with so much warmth and not just want me in bed.’ I don't know when It happened, but I had fallen hard for this man and wasn't sure I could stand it. No, I
*Bruno* I didn't want Lucia to go anywhere with Natasha. Because honestly, I didn't trust Natasha. I have known her for a very long time, and she wasn't one to give up on something. I had made it clear where she stood. I didn't know where she got the guts from the other day she held me back from going away. I knew she was aware that I had no such feelings whatsoever with her. I was always clear with her. Whatever we had had no title. She made me feel good, and I did the same. There were no emotions attached to it. When I saw her walk into my office, I made up my mind to throw her out if she sprouted nonsense from her mouth. Over the past few days, Lucia and I have been on good terms, and the last thing I wanted was for someone to say anything to pull us apart. Lucia was opening up to me. She had taken the lead the other night. I had seen the part of her that I didn't know existed. The part that was fierce and dominant. We had made out immensely on the sofa. I had to confess that
*Lucia* I didn't expect Natasha to be so violent. Honestly, I wasn't expecting her to be calm either. She bent down, raising my head with the tip of her hands. I shook her hands off. I didn't bother to struggle as I knew it would be useless. Seeing that I didn't allow her to touch my face, she grabbed it, pressing it tightly with her finger. "You piece of trash, you dare to talk back at me?" She asked, squeezing each word with anger out of her mouth. I didn't bother fighting her to free my face, "the nerve of you," she said, pushing my face to the side. "I would see if you will still have such nerves after I'm done with you," some of my hair covered my view for some moment. "Do your worst; I am not afraid of you. I just hope you know some shame," I paused, hoping she understood what I was saying, "but it seems like you don't," I said, holding back a laugh. "I feel ashamed on your behalf. How can you keep throwing yourself at a man and fighting off your fellow woman? How much lowe
*Lucia* I had another plan for Natasha. I wasn't going to play the nice girl and forgive her. Never. She has hurt me too much for me to let it go. The drive back to the club was silent. I leaned into my seat and closed my eyes. My body felt sore all over. Opening my eyes felt like a chore. Bruno understood and didn't try to strike up a conversation with me. He didn't say anything aside from apologizing from time to time. I couldn't help thinking about what could have happened if he hadn't come to save me. Once again, I owe him my life. I turned and opened my eyes for a few seconds to stare at him. He was still very much angry. I adjusted and closed my eyes, not sure who exactly he was angry at. Was Natasha because of what she did to me, or was it himself? I couldn't help but wonder. He pulled up beside the building. The sun was beginning to set. Its golden rays were cast on the side of the building. Bruno stepped out of the car and walked around to open the door. He carried me o
*Bruno* I knew Lucia would not be able to hurt Natasha. She was that soft. And I liked her that way. I don't mind doing all the bad jobs. She can be a softee, and I am the bad guy as long as she is by my side. When my lips threshers, I could barely pull away. I wanted to kiss her for eternity. She was the one and only girl I wanted, and I was pretty sure she knew that. I was sure I had as much effect as she had on me. I didn't want to let her go. My tongue tasted every part of her mouth. She moaned into the kiss. We didn't pull away until we heard a knock on the door. I cursed under my breath. Why was anyone knocking now of all times? It was one of the guards. He informed me about my meeting with one of the VIPs that was in the club. I had to pull away from Lucia completely, though I didn't want to let her go. The following days flowed as usual. But this time, the only unusual thing about it was that Lucia was no longer a receptionist. She was my personal, more like a P. A. She w
*Bruno* I didn't know what went through Lucia's mind when she saw the kids. She thought I was holding them hostage and using them to work in a drug house. I wanted to laugh at what went through her mind. I hugged the childrens. Their warmth bathed me. Hugging these childrens was one of the things I loved doing best in this life. They were lovely kids. Lucia froze where she stood. She probably wasn't expecting them to come to hug me. She had misunderstood, and I understood perfectly. I counted the children, making sure all twelve were here with me. They were all here, but one person was still missing. I raised my head and searched around. I knew Tina did not like to be around the crowds at all times. She liked to be at the side, watching as other children got close to me. But I didn't want that. I wanted to be close to all of them. Especially Tina. She has been through a lot at a young age, and all I can do is draw her closer to me. I called out to her. She was leaning on the wall.
*Lucia* Well, no one had ever asked me that question before, so for a while, I was quiet. I have never thought about this question. But I had to answer it honestly. There was nothing to hide. It was my plain truth. After my parent's death, I lived each day hoping it wouldn't be my last. Praying I would be able to stay alive and eat. I prayed there was. Kind-hearted human somewhere who would offer me food so I don't have to steal and get beaten. Well, that was in the past now. I had enough. And though I was happier than I had ever been all my life, I didn't think about the future; I lived each day as it came. “How about you? What are your dreams?” I asked Bruno. I wanted to know his. The car was quiet once more. The wind rushed into the car, ruffling my hair, and I straightened it from time to time. I waited patiently for Bruno to speak, but he didn't. He only smiled and turned to me when he stopped in front of a red light. “You didn't have to ask back,” he said. I scoffed. “So you
*Bruno* The wind rushed into the car, tousling our hair. Lucia had a big smile on her face as we drove around the bustling city, which never sleeps. “Wow, I never thought this part of the city would be so beautiful at night,” she says. “You never know a lot of things,”. I said, and she turned to look at me. The car stopped in front of a red light. She looked beside her to see a place which was crowded by people in pairs. “What's that place?” She asked. I looked at it, stretching my neck to get a clearer view of it. “That's the famous soul bond,” I said. She arched her brow, still staring at it. “What's that?” She asked. “A place where two lovers go. They bond their souls there. It is said that their love lasts forever when they do,” I said. “Is it like a ritual thing?” She asked curiously. “Well, it seems…” The blaring of horns by the car behind us interrupted me. The light had turned green. I moved the car, driving away from the spot we were in. Lucia kept looking at it until
*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