Chelsea felt her heart skip a bit at those words. She had expected to see a regular prisoner, or worse, a tortured captive who was either unconscious or bleeding his soul out. But this was different. The prisoner was the secret lover of Dylan's ex-wife, Clara. And he had no marks whatsoever that showed evidence of torture or beatings. "Every day I've held back the urge to slit his throat" Dylan said calmly, hatred brewing in his voice. The man kept on looking at Chelsea, not saying a word. His nose twitched occasionally but his eyes were fixed on Chelsea. Then he suddenly smirked. She stepped back in fright. "What's he doing?" she asked Dylan nervously."He's just a demented asshole. Maybe that was the look he used to give Clara before they had intercourse" Dylan replied with contempt. His grip on the bars tightened and Chelsea could see the vein on his hand. His sleeves were rolled up as though he was ready to land deadly punches at any time."This could have been Fred Martin had
Chelsea reached for Dylan's lap as they rode to work the next day. He turned to her and smirked slyly. She bit her lower lip and looked at him ignorantly. She gently caressed his lap, sliding her hand slowly back and forth on it. He grabbed her hand and stroked the back of her palm. "What are you doing?" he calmly asked her as he stroked her hand."Nothing. Just playing around" she replied innocently. He chuckled. "We both now where such plays lead to, don't we?" he asked."I'm not scared to go there. Are you?" she asked in return. He smiled broadly. "Not in the slightest" he replied and placed her hand back on his lap. She resumed her caressing while he sat back, smiling as he enjoyed it.They got to the office and walked in together. As they ascended the flight of stairs, several stares of admiration were directed at Chelsea. She locked back at some of them, a look of confusion appearing on her face. Dylan took a few glances around before heading for his office. They got to his of
Chelsea was frozen to her bones. Her gaze was fixed on the man for almost a minute after she heard him call her birth name. It was a name that seemed as distant as the life attached to it. Laura Christian was a version of her that died several years ago. The death of that version bore life to who she was now, Chelsea Landore. The last thing she expected was someone digging up her past and the skeletons she buried with it. She had done many notorious things as Chelsea Landore. But Laura Christian was the most notorious. She had pulled her first scam when she was nineteen and she accidentally killed the man when he tried to kill her. She abandoned her home city of California and made her way to Atlanta, seeking a new life, a new identity from the place she had committed her first murder. Or so she thought. Because sitting here across her, with glass of whiskey in his hand and an evil smirk across his lips was the man she had supposedly killed, her first scam victim. Alex Shaw.She had
FlashbackOne Year Ago Chelsea walked into a dark room elegantly, swaying her hips from side to side. She sported a bob-cut hairstyle and together with her all-black-themed make up, her entire appearance gave off a rebellious vibe. The room was dimly lit with hues of dark blue and red glowing out of certain areas. A dark-skinned man sat on a bed in the middle of the room.She walked seductively, giving off a raunchy air. As she approached the dark-skinned man, she smirked slyly, eyeing him in an alluring manner. She got to the bed in the middle of the room and gripped the parts of its frame on either side of the man, leaning forward to kiss the dark-skinned man. He gave her a plain expression and turned away."What's wrong C?" she asked, taking hold of his face in her hands.He exhaled and withdrew his face from her grip immediately. She tried to repeat the gesture again but he repeated his reaction. She smiled and climbed the bed, crawling to the empty space behind him. She knelt up
Chelsea sat quietly, observing Alex's every move. He stood at the other end of the room, leaning on a table with a glass cup clutched between his hands. She had seen him make a call some minutes ago and she deciphered that he was calling either a pickup driver or his search partner. Either way, she had to leave here, and fast.She gently stood up with a calm expression. Alex watched her skeptically through the space between his eyes and the rim of the glass cup he drank his drink from. She slowly walked towards him with her hands clasped behind her, a smile curving on her lips. He brought the drink down. "What do you think you're doing?" he scoffed with a smirk. "Walking" she replied elegantly, steady in her steps as she approached him.He abruptly straightened up. "Stay back!" he ordered calmly but seriously, putting the glass cup down.She ignored the order and continued walking slowly toward him. Her smile curved more as she got closer.He reached into his inner suit jacket and p
Dylan looked at his watch for the thousandth time and confirmed its current reading with the clock on the wall above the door that led to Chelsea's office. Both readings matched, reassuring him once more that his watch was correct. He sighed in resignation and took his eyes off the clock.His eyes fell on the door and he sighed again. He leaned forward on his desk, resting his elbows on it. He gently caressed his glabella, closing his eyes in reflection. He was worried and there was no way he could hide it. The situation made him upset, worried and restless. He felt that a bad thing might have happened to Chelsea and he was here sitting, doing nothing. He deeply regretted not offering to go with her when he knew she would have readily and eagerly accepted. At least that would save him the torment of frustration he was undergoing right now. He had thought that him offering such would paint him as weak, clingy or jealous. But deep inside he knew he was all those things when it came to
Dylan walked gently towards Chelsea, staring intently at her with disbelief in his eyes. Not that he didn't believe her report. No, he disbelieved the fact that a person in his or her right thinking senses would dare to rape someone in a hotel in Miami. Worse still, that the person would think of doing it to a staff of Cross Enterprises. And at the apex of that, even to his Chief Assistant. Whether as the Pope in the underworld or as Dylan Cross in the regular society, he was a colossal force that even the wildest of tigers dared not provoke. It was public knowledge that those who crossed Dylan Cross ended up devastated or destroyed. In the underworld, he could handle it instantly and in the most lethal way befitting of a mafia don that he was. Just a gesture and the unfortunate opponent would be laying dead at his feet in less than an hour. He had slain men who did far more less.In the regular society, he tended to handle it more civil. If the threat was from a fellow businessman,
Alex peeped out the window one more time before returning to his original sitting position. He had repeatedly done the same thing previously at several intervals. He gave himself a space of five to ten minutes before repeating the process. He clutched his hands together as he sat, expectantly waiting for his assigned pickup driver. He sniffed occasionally and exhaled repeatedly, rubbing his hands against each other as though under a certain tension. His eyes hurt him excruciatingly but he had learned to get used to pain. Whatever it was Chelsea had thrown into his eyes was really poisonous. He could feel it eating into his eye sockets but he maintained composure. He had moved away from the hotel immediately after the incident with Chelsea. He knew he would be compromised if he stayed there. So immediately he saw Chelsea leave in the Urus, he boarded a taxi and drove to a remote location he had previously paid for.True to it, he was actually under tension. And for two reasons. First
Dylan got to the mansion alighted the Urus. His entire clothing was roughed up and covered in blood. He looked around and noticed the Bentley Continental missing. He immediately had a bad feeling and dashed inside the mansion. None of the guards asked him any questions. This made him even more worried. He got to Chelsea's room and opened the door without knocking. It was empty. He found the safe open and empty as well. His heart began racing. He dashed to his room but he didn't see her in there either. He felt his knees getting weak. He checked the study and all then rooms on the down floor but he didn't find her inside any. He got upstairs and checked the accessible rooms and halls in the mansion but still nothing. "Chelsea!" he yelled. His voice echoed throughout the entire hallway, back and forth. There was no response. "Chelsea!" "Chelsea!!" "Chelsea!!!" Dylan slowly came down from the steps. He got to the base of the steps and sat down on the last step. His face was deje
Chelsea shuddered on hearing his name. Was this fate playing games with her? Just when she had finally gotten a shot at a happy life. Just when she had decided to start anew. Now her past had come to haunt her future. Why was life cruel? Dylan continued. "He just attacked one of my warehouses. He has challenged me to come face him or he'll destroy my name with the evidence and proof he has on me. I never expected him to stoop so low but I guess Ceaza has always been a scumbag. "I've already made arrangements for Joyce and Derek to be taken to a safehouse. You'll be safer here. I'll be going to face him off at the warehouse now" he added. "Why are you going? It's obvious he just wants to kill you. Why not send someone else? You have capable hands" Chelsea fired. Dylan smiled. "No. This is a personal battle that started years ago. I have to finish it myself" he replied. "I don't want anything happening to you, Dylan. Please don't go?" Chelsea begged. Her eyes became teary. She trul
Chelsea was dumbstruck. She had been expecting it but it still came as a shock to her. There he was, Dylan Cross, the King of Miami, the kingpin of the most notorious mafia cartel, the leading businessman in the city, on one of his knees, asking for her hand in marriage. It all seemed so surreal to her. She was stuck in a blur that she didn't know when time flew by. She returned to reality and saw Dylan still positioned on one knee, his hands holding out the box that contained the shiny diamond ring in it. He was patiently waiting for her answer. She was still contemplating. Was this what she really wanted? Was this really her way out from the life she had been living? To be a wife and mother now? Her life events flashed before her eyes. It was a big decision. One that would change her life forever. She had to make the right choice. As she was still thinking about it, she heard a familiar voice behind her and turned. "Aunty Chelsea!" It was Derek. He wore the same suit as his fath
Decorations were at their most glamorous. The lighting, the music and every aspect of the hall depicted a billionaire's taste. The guests had already started arriving. And true to Dylan's words, they were really the most prominent and powerful people in the society. Business tycoons, politicians, powerful billionaire families, and people of equal calibre were in attendance. In the garage, there were no cars less than the best of the best. Most cars there were even the only pieces ever produced. Customized and special editions. Chelsea stood from the balcony above as she observed the guests. She had her hair done at the last hour and put on her special dress that Dylan had imported without her even knowing. It was a white gown with designs of gold on it. She didn't even know when he planned and organized everything without her having a hint. What even surprised her more was the hall. She never knew the mansion had such an enormous hall within it. There were places she hadn't explored
Chapter 144 - An Introductory Party Two Months Later Dylan and Chelsea were now a public item. The news, social and other media carried it in droves. It was a blast. Different stories rose up. Several hypothesis were raised and conclusions drawn. It was a highlight for the city of Miami and Florida at large. Both the public society and the underground world were taken by surprise. They went to parties together. They shopped and dined together. They went on trips together. They practically did everything a couple did together. Always holding hands as they walked. They shared kisses in public. Even on interviews, Dylan always mentioned her name and called her his partner. There was never a shortage of pictures and clips on the media. The news also transcended the borders of Miami, Florida and America, reaching far across the globe. Dylan's cell and inboxes were flooded with calls and texts from both old acquaintances and new. Some were subtle with their questions while others went st
Inside The Hades Room Dylan held Clara's body as it gradually turned cold. Her eyes still stared at him with pure hate and intense resentment. He gradually dropped to his knees, his eyes fixed on the face of his ex-wife. She was beautiful, there wasn't a doubt about that. She had to be beautiful to be Dylan Cross's wife of course. But she also had a darkness in her that was too contaminating, it eroded her beauty. He couldn't quite understand why she hated him so much. People tend to accept society as it is and live with it. But she had to go out of her way to hate him and want him dead. Not that it was possible anymore. But still, she was once his wife. "But... you could have at least shot her in the leg. You could have rendered her immobile. You didn't have to kill her, Victor" Dylan said gently. It was plainly obvious he didn't didn't her dead. Maybe he still had a soft spot for her. "I'm sorry Pope. But I doubted that would have stopped her. I'd rather prefer you lose your ex-
Clara opened her eyes and met Dylan's cold stare. She could see the steam from the nose if the pistol. Her ears still whirred a little. She turned slowly and saw a hole in the space beside he head on the chair she sat on. A bullet was embedded in it. A real bullet! He had deliberately missed her head. Even so, this was unexpected. Did he really just shoot at her? "Is that supposed to scare me?" she mustered up the courage to say. Dylan smiled. "It wasn't meant to scare you. It was simply meant to warn you. My patience is simply a thread. And like all threads, it runs out. I'd hate for you to be the person who makes the last pull" he said calmly. He was so calm that it sounded too dark and evil. Clara knew it was best not to provoke him further. She was already aware that he didn't love her anymore. All he had for her was just out of regard for her being Derek's biological mother. That aside, she was just like any other lady in his eyes. She knew how bad he was when he snapped. Sh
"What did you say?" Dylan's pupils were dilated. Victor immediately turned around and saw Dylan already up from his sit. He had grabbed Nick by the neck, lifting him and shaking him vehemently. "What did you damn say, Nick?!" Dylan screamed. Nick was still dejected. His face still dropped downwards everytime Dylan shook him. He couldn't look Dylan in the eyes. He couldn't look the boss he had betrayed in the eyes. "It's the truth, Pope. Madam Clara was the one who hired us" he replied quietly. Dylan gritted his teeth. He couldn't believe his ears. The same woman he had once called his wife had sent an assassin to kill him. The same woman who had born his child. It sounded rather inconceivable to him. True, he was dark and bloody. He had done many despicable things to people. But this one outdid him. To think that Clara would go this far. And Nick just said "us". There were more? "Us?" he gently asked, his teeth still gritting against each other. "How many of you did she hire?"
Dylan and Chelsea laughed and discussed as they ate and drank, occasionally having their little disagreements and fights until one conceded to the other, of course always Dylan. He knew Chelsea would never accept defeat. So if he didn't, the argument would continue. He wasn't ready for that. After much pleasant talks and exchange of passionate words, Dylan felt it was time to do the deed. If he didn't do it now, the date would drag on for long and Chelsea would grow even more suspicious. He had to quell her curiosity now while still stalling for time so the assassin would make his move. Just as he reached into his inner coat pocket, they heard a loud sound. Bang! It was a gun shot. If Dylan heard well, it was a sniper. That was it! The assassin had taken the bait. He stood up abruptly, much to the confusion of Chelsea. His hand dropped the ring case and took hold of his phone instead. He brought it out and immediately dialed Victor. "Vic" he spoke into the phone. "Already on it,