With a heavy sigh, I enter my dimly lit bedroom, seeking solace and a moment of respite from the confusion swirling around me. I gingerly sit down on the edge of my bed, the mattress sinking under my weight. I rest my elbows on my knees and place my head in my hands as I close my eyes, attempting to alleviate the throbbing pain that is clouding my thoughts. As I take slow, deep breaths, I recall my early days with Mia and the happiness we shared I cannot fathom why Mia and her mother, both loving and honest individuals, will keep such a crucial secret from me, especially after everythding that happened. "I need answers. It's time to find out the truth." I whisper over my breath to no one in particular. My mind begin to clear as I mentally prepare myself to face the forthcoming challenges head-on. I won't let fear or doubts overpower my resolve. Adjusting my position on the bed, I straighten my posture, ready to confront the complex web of secrecy that had enveloped Mia's past. With
Among us is seated Dr. Reynolds a respected physician known for his dedication and compassion. He have always been a source of calm and stability to everyone around him, but tonight, something weighed heavily on his mind. As the night wore on, the alcohol flowing freely, an unspoken tension filled the room. I notice him taking a sip of his drink before placing it down with a heavy sigh, the change in his demeanor clearly visible and the game pause for a moment, sensing that something is amiss. Paul, CEO of a big clothing company and many food destributers, break the silence, concern inscribed on his voice."Tom, is everything alright? You seem troubled tonight."Dr. Reynolds lean back in his chair, running a hand through his graying hair. His usually composed face betraying a combination of exhaustion and fear and with a deep breath, he begin his tale, his voice laced with sadness."I need to share something with all of you – something that has been tearing me apart for years." He hes
As the two of us engross in a passionate discussion about the thrilling boxing match that is happening tonight, the phone ring abruptly, interrupting our competitive banter. I glance at the caller ID, Luigi's name flicker across the screen. Knowing Luigi's serious demeanor, my curiosity pique, wondering what he found out in such short time that so urgently require my immediate attention. "Hey, it's Luigi," I inform Tomasso, my voice ting with a combination of concern and curiosity. "I wonder what news he has for me." Tomasso, obviously sensing the change in my expression, raise an eyebrow. He knows that Luigi never contact me unless something important demanded my attention. "Well, don't keep him waiting. Answer the call and find out what he learned." I nod and quickly accept the call, my mind brimming with possibilities of where Mia is or what she is hiding. "Ciao, Luigi. What is it that you have for me?" The usually steady and composed Luigi sound noticeably flustered on the oth
I storm through my front door, my briefcase sling over my shoulder, and make a beeline for my office. I have a lot of work to do and couldn't afford to waste any time. As I pass through the kitchen, I hear Clarisse's voice calling out to me, but I ignore her, not wanting to be distracted from my task. "Hey, Ben! Where are you off to?" Clarisse call out, her voice following me into the hallway. "Are you okay? You look a bit flustered." I grit on my teeth, feeling my irritation grow. I have forgotten that Clarisse is staying with me for a few days, and now she is bothering me at the worst possible time. I do not have time for this. "I'm fine, Clarisse," he call back over my shoulder, not stopping to acknowledge her. "I have a lot of work to do." Clarisse's voice follow me into the office, her footsteps padding behind me. "But Ben, you're not even going to say hello? You're just going to ignore me?" I sigh, my frustration growing. Why couldn't she just leave me alone? I have important
The tenacious look on my face doesn't go unnoticed by this man who I assume just figured out he is in the wrong place at the wrong time. "Did you follow me?" My informant frown as he furrow his brows."Did you think I was just going to hand you a bag of cash with no real answers?" I reply, keeping my focus on the guy dressed in black."You should not have done that." Mr.Black threatens as he take a step back. "Kill him." He instruct the man on my side who swings at me with a wavering arm which I catch mid air with my one arm while my other elbow come down on it and with that known sound it snaps and he quickly quiver towards the wall grabbing his injured arm with his free hand. "Who is next?" I grin, my body flood with adrenaline, reminding me that I don't do this enough. Feeling eager to put my skills to the test."Alright tough guy. Let's see what you got." He grin taking three steps back for me to enter the room completely before two others join him, their aggressive stances givin
Clarisse just settled comfortably into the passenger seat when an idea pop into my mind and a mischievous grin spread across my face. An impulsive thought crosses my mind, and in the moment, I cannot resist the temptation to add a little spontaneity our drive and without warning, I step on the brake and expertly swirl the car around, veering onto a different path. The sudden maneuver send an immediate jolt of adrenaline through Clarisse, causing her to grip onto the armrest tightly. A blend of surprise and fear glow from her face as she struggle to make sense of my impromptu decision."Grazie, what are you doing? Where are we going?" Clarisse ask, her voice sprinkled with concern as she desperately seek answers, wanting to understand the reason behind my spontaneous change of heart. Ignoring her questioning, a mischievous sparkle dance in eyes and I continue to drive with determination, taking us further away from my initially planned destination. The wind rush through the windows, pl
I sit across from her, the air between us feeling heavy, as a storm brews silently beneath the surface and I take a sip of my coffee, trying to calm my own growing annoyance. I observe her closely, her eyes darting nervously around the room, avoiding my gaze. "Clarisse," I finally speak up, leaning forward slightly. "Do not lie to me. I knew you had some alternative motive from the moment you came back into my life and now is the time for you to tell me the truth. What are you not telling me?"Clarisse fidget with her coffee cup, her fingers tracing patterns on the ceramic surface. Her voice wavering slightly as she respond, "Grazie, it's complicated. I've been going through some things, and I'm just not ready to talk about it yet." I feel a mix of frustration and anger bubbling inside me. At a time I was the one Clarisse turned to when she needed support, but that is also a long time ago, now she seems closed off, shutting me out and I can understand why she wouldn't confide in me, b
I do as I promise bending over the table after Simon has thrown out some of the white powder onto the mirror like glass table. I have never done this before, but I have seen it been done many times. This is how Clarisse first started long before she moved onto injecting herself with cheaper drugs. I gatehr a small amount of the powder to one side, before shaping it into a line of around three cenitmetres. I do the same with the second line using the card he handed me and once I am done I remove a bill from my own pocket role it into a staw like object and sniff the powder right into my nose. The burning effect quickly replaced with a feeling that feels to me like I have snorted all the self confidence, not that I needed any of it. He have heard stories of people experiencing profound changes in their mental state after taking cocaine, but to me other than feeling like myself, but a hightened I dont exactly feel very different until I did the second line. The cocaine started to take ef
As the soft dawn hues brush against the horizon, I find myself drawn to the kitchen, seeking solace in the familiar routine of making coffee. The previous night has been filled with turmoil, grief, and unexpected moments of connection, leaving me yearning for a moment of calm amidst the storm. As I enter the kitchen, a gentle hush settle over the house, permeating the air with a serenity that seems to hug me in its embrace. I glance around the spotless space, as if the remnants of the chaos from the previous night have been meticulously tidied away or never happened. Achille, the steadfast and caring presence in my life, has made sure that everything is in order before he departed. Job well done. A faint smile curve on my lips as I prepare the coffee, the rich aroma soon filling the kitchen. The rhythmic sounds of the brewing process echoe in the stillness, a gentle symphony that complement the emerging sunlight that starts to flood the room and just as I finish pouring the coffee int
Rather than attempt to keep my burning need for her under control like I know I should or at least to a middle-of-the-roader, I submit myself to it, rather encourage it to be be completely truthful. There is slight gentleness to none left in the kiss we share, but a clear discretion to conquer. My lips press hard against Mia's.My internal struggle, whether to turn her around and fuck her hard, force myself to be gentle with her or push her away is utterly hopeless.I walk her towards the bedroom wall drawing power from her quick and ineffective breaths that clearly indicates how much she wants this. Wants me! I slightly push her away from me, needing to look at her. To make sure she wants this, we stare at one another, both of us taking deep, erratic breaths. Where onetime there was remoteness there is now pain. I yank her from the wall and press her backwards onto the bed before I come out and tear the straps of her shirt, revealing her perfect breasts. She slightly move a way fro
The air droop heavy with despair as my hands rhythmically apply chest compressions to Clarisse's lifeless body. The room is loaded with an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of desperate breaths escaping my lips. I have given everything I have, pouring every ounce of strength into trying to breathe life back into Clarisse when suddenly, something shifts within me. A dreadful realization washes over me, casting a dark shadow upon my trembling heart. I glance at Clarisse's face, her vacant eyes, searching for a glimmer of hope that I know deep down had faded away. It is in this very moment that time seems to stand still for me and a chill crawl up my spine, a heaviness settling in my chest. The room around me becoming a mere backdrop to the overwhelming grief that consume my entire being. The world continue its chaotic dance, yet I feel completely detached from it all and with a shaking hand, I gently press my fingers against Clarisse's motionless wrist. No pulse. No warmth. Only a
The room fall into an eerie silence as Isabelle stand dead quiet, her eyes widened in shock. In her trembling hands, she is holding a gun, aimed directly at me. The weight of the moment drooping heavily in the air, as if time has frozen, and the mere act of breathing seems impossible. Mia's heart pounds loudly in her chest synchronize with mine as the fear for both me and herself course through my veins. In a split second, my instincts kick in and I knew I needed to protect Mia, no matter the cost. With a swift motion, I push her behind me, shielding her from the danger that loom before us. Mia fight against my protective grip, desperate to stand in front of me, to get between her mother and the man she loves."Mama, please, don't do this!" Mia's voice quivere with a mix of fear and desperation. She reach out, tears streaming down her face, longing to connect with her mother's humanity. But I stand firm, my eyes crammed with a combination of judgement and despair. I cannot let Mia ste
Achille's entrance is abrupt, catching me off guard as I release Maya from her pain. My eyes meet Achille's, and in this brief moment, we share an unspoken understanding. Achille approach me, his steps echoing in the room as his gaze never leave Maya's lifeless body lying on the bed. Without a word, Achille places a supportive hand on my shoulder, offering me both physical and emotional strength. We stand side by side, when I break the silence. "She looks so much like Mia, doesn't she?" My voice is filled with a blend of sorrow and recollection, reminding me of the parallel journey we had all been on and he nods, agreeingly, my eyes briefly dart towards him, before returning to the bed where Maya lies."Yes, Ben, she does. Seeing her like this stirs unwanted feelings of Mia, and how she suffered. But Mia is safe now, with Tomasso," he whisper, desperately clinging to the image of hope. Our shared connection deepen as Achille squeezes my shoulder, silently conveying my support and unde
Me, Achille, and Tomasso stand in the concealment of the nearby woods, our breaths masked by the rhythmic rustle of leaves. The time has come to execute our plan to infiltrate the estate where Mia is being held captive. We anxiously watch as my security team move stealthily towards the imposing gates. With the team's well-honed expertise, they approach the perimeter of the estate. Their mission is to disable the security cameras, rendering the enemy blind and creating a clear path for me and my allies to enter undetected. It is a critical moment, one that requires precision and agility.As we approach, the security team divide into smaller groups, each assigned to different sections of the estate's electronic surveillance system. They move swiftly, their movements synchronized like a well-rehearsed dance. Carefully avoiding any motion sensors, they expertly disable the cameras one by one, their actions seamless and silent, while me, Achille, and Tomasso remain still, our hearts poundi
I storm out of Dr. Reynolds' office, my face twisted with anger as I yank open the car door and slam myself inside. Achille, sitting behind the wheel, I imagine, notices my intense demeanorand bracing himself for what's to come. Tomasso, sitting in the backseat, is all too eager to join in the action. "Achille, get everyone ready. We're going on a saving mission. We're bringing Mia home, no matter what it takes." I order my voice mirroring my anger and Achille accustomed to my strong-willed nature, nods with unwavering determination."Understood, Brother. I'll assemble the team right away. We're with you, every step of the way." He nod as he starts to scroll across the screen sending our a broadcast message.Tomasso, unable to contain his excitement, chimes in with a hint of humor and an enormous grin on his face. "Finally, a real adventure! I've been waiting for this moment, Ben. Ready to rescue damsels in distress!"Achille chuckles, realizing the gravity of the situation yet apprec
Achille appears to be very frustrated and determined as he takes a step closer to me as I take in a deep breath in an attempt to get my breathing under control. "Ben, listen. I phoned Manfredio. I had to try to reach Mia, to know if she's safe. But he denied my attempts, he wouldn't let me see her." "Are you out of your fucking mind, Achille? What were you thinking? You've put Mia in danger by contacting Manfredio! How could you do something so reckless?" Anger burst through me and my voice rise as a result. "I know, Ben! I know I took a risk by reaching out to Manfredio. But I had to try! We've exhausted all our options, and I couldn't just sit back and do nothing while Mia is missing." Achilles tries to defend himself taking in a deep breath as he acknowledges my anger."Did he say anything? Is Mia okay?" I question him hopefully. "No, Ben. He didn't say a word about Mia's well-being. But I'm telling you this now so that you know Manfredio might be expecting you. When you do deci
I stand in the crowded and vibrant nightclub's kitchen, music booming in the background when I take out my phone and dials Achille's number. "Ciao, brother. What's up? Why are you calling me when you know it is time for my novela and what is that noise in the background?" His voice ring into the phone laced with some humor. "Brother, you won't believe it, man. I'm at the club, and something incredible has happened. I need your help, and I have some new information to share with you regarding Mia.""Woah, slow down, Ben." He interject. "Take a deep breath and start from the beginning. What happened and are you okay? You sound... Different." Even over the phone Achille notices that I am not one hundred percent completely myself."I can't explain it, Achille. I'm not feeling like myself tonight. It's... It's something I cannot explain." I lie, and poorly at it too."You don't say?" I can hear the judgment in his voice, maybe mixed with some concern. "That's...unexpected. Are you sure ev