*Jason* I still couldn't believe Sarah was dead. She's gone. Gone for good. How is it possible to die from a stab? This isn't the first time she has been stabbed. So why did this time? My heart ached. I had cried uncontrollably when I held her close. This was a blow I didn't think I would be able to get through. I should be comforting Steve, who is sitting and staring into space. He has not said a word since we left the hospital. My chest tightened as I watched him. His eyes were hollow, devoid of any emotions. He had stopped crying, and now I felt like he was going to do something stupid. Sarah was his only family. She had raised him, loved him, and defended him. He had nothing to fear because she would always protect him. Even If it meant walking through the pit of hell, Sarah would stand up for him. But I had taken her away from him. She died because of me; how could I possibly forgive myself for what I have done? Though she had hurt Lucia and I was angry at her, I didn't want
*Lucia* I walked out of my room, hurrying down the stairs. My slippers hit the heels of my feet as I held the rail, trailing my hands on it. Bruno was already downstairs when I got there. I heaved a sigh of relief. “I thought you had gone,” I said as I walked towards him. He was still in his gym clothes. A towel around his neck. His skin was tanned with sweat. “I would not go out without eating the dish you prepared for anything.” He said. That brought a smile to my lips. He closed the gap between them and gave me a quick peek on my cheeks. He smelled of cologne and a faint smell of sweat. “Come down in thirty minutes. I should be done by then,” I said. He nods. “Go take a bath, you reek,” I moved closer to his ears to whisper. I walked past him before he could react and pin me down there. The last thing I wanted was to go back to bed and get punished. Not that I don't enjoy the punishment, but my legs are still sore from last night. I heard his receding footsteps. He had gone a
*Jason* I walked back and forth in my hotel room. After two days of staying with Steve, I returned to the hotel. I couldn't stay in the house. Not when everything I looked at reminded me of Sarah. I had hoped we would get revenge on Bruno soon so I could take Lucia and get the hell out of this country. I miss my life. And my base needed me. But I've been pushing my duties around and doing all I can from here. I looked at my phone umpteen times in a while, waiting for a text from Michael. For two weeks now, I have not been able to contact Steve. He has not contacted me either. I wanted to know if he still wanted to work together in getting back at Bruno. I thought I'd be able to settle everything soon, but he has been delaying the plan. I didn't want it to seem as if Bruno’s threat was the reason why I didn't carry out the plan. When Steve had asked me for help the other day, well… not ask technically… I had agreed, but now he was chickening out? My phone beeped. Finally, a mes
*Lucia* The night was longer than expected. I had woken up at different intervals and looked through my window, only to be faced with darkness and cold air that slipped into the room. I jumped out of bed at the sound of my alarm. My heart beats rapidly as I step down, placing my legs on the slippers beside the bed. The clock on the side of the room ticked slowly. Five minutes past five. It was still early, and everywhere was still dark. I sat on my bed, rubbing my sleepy eyes with the back of my hands. I raised my hands, bringing them up to my eyes level as I studied the ring on my left hand. Today, this ring sitting on my finger will be replaced. My smile widened, and I couldn't help but think about Bruno. Was he awake? Could he sleep all through the night? Was he nervous? Different thoughts ran through my head. Bringing my hands down, I stood up. There was a knock on the door at that moment. I didn't need anyone to tell me it was the makeup artist. They had slept over. Bruno an
*Jason* I drove as fast as I could, honking and overtaking the cars in front of me. Steve is a psycho, and I don't know what he may do to Lucia. I don't care if he does anything to Bruno, but Lucia must not get hurt. “Get out of my way, you mother fucker,” I cursed a blue Bugatti who refused to take the other lane. The venue for the wedding was a hotel. I had my men research it to make sure it was safe for the wedding, and I was surprised when I heard that Bruno owned the hotel. That guy was rich. I don't have to worry about Lucia not being given enough. Thinking about her being with another man made my chest ache, but there was nothing I could do. I have already let her go, and I will save her from any plan Steve has. I drove into the hotel like a madman, getting weird stares from some of the people who walked around. I pulled my car in front of the hotel, flung the door open, and stepped out. The morning sun was already up in the sky; bright clouds moved slowly past it. I didn
*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
*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
*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
*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