TWENTY FOURDIANAI continued glaring in his direction even after the man was asked to leave and it was only Dante and I.“I am sorry for hurting your head” he told me“Please do not act like you are a fucking saint right now, it is making me want to puke” I snappedHis eyes flashed with anger as he approached me.I was cradling my palm which was still very much hurting from where I had cut myself and I watched his eyes survey me.“You are injured” he commented, reaching for my handI slapped his hand away, moving backwards so I could put as much space as possible between us.“You have to let me treat that” he murmured, turning around and walking to his closet.He came back with a first aid treatment kit and set it on the bed before turning in my direction“I do not want anything from you” I told me“You are under the impression that you have a choice in the matter and for that I apologize. You will let me treat you or I swear to have you bound and complacent while I treat you anyways
TWENTY FIVEDANTEThe woman had a mouth on her, I thought as I walked away from the room when all I wanted to do was show her…let her see me.Well I guess it did not help that I was holding her against her will and had plans to kill her brother but it had to be done and if it wasn’t done by me then someone else in the clan would do it, someone like Alejandro and he would not be too merciful to her or her mother who I had plans to spare after the deal with her brothers was done.This way I get to control the action and reaction of what is going to occur after this is said and done including her reaction to their deaths. I wouldn’t be so wicked as to boast about it to her but she would know when the deed was done so she could mourn accordinglyBastard, her word sprang back up in my head like a stubborn coil, replaying and replaying.If only she knew how true those words she had spat out in anger were. I had been hearing it all my life, being called it by both my mother and father and it
TWENTY SIXDIANAThe asshole… fucking puta, I swore unintelligibly as I paced the room. How dare he lock me up here and put a guard so I couldn’t escape.Granted I had tried to escape the last time and had failed miserably but right now I just wanted to explore my prison and I still could not do that.I continued pacing unable to form coherent thoughts as to what I could do to be out of this situation. I did not think there was anyone looking for me and even if Luca was, I was sure that Dante had reassured him that I was fine.The hotel! My mind dingedNo, it is quitter obvious that Dante had stolen me from there right under their noses. For all I knew, he could even be the owner or shagging the receptionist so she kept her mouth shut about what had happened.I wasn’t going to leave this place except he let me, that was obvious but I also did not think he was going to let me leave this place.I stilled as the conversation at the door got louder and louder and then backed away from the
TWENTY SEVENDANTE“She is gone” A voice interrupted my hiatusShe, could only mean Diana and gone has to be another escape plan pulled by her again. The woman was going to be the death of me.How do I explain to her that running around in a house where nobody liked her family could get her killed, I thought as I got up from my chair“You let her escape again after all my warnings” I slammed the man who had come to inform me of her disappearance“Escape? I would never do that; Alejandro came over and asked me to give him a moment alone with the prisoner and before I got back, she was gone and he was nowhere in sight too”I stilled in my stride and turned back to the man“Alejandro?” I echoed“Yes sir” he mumbled, the rage in my eyes had him taking a step back.“What did I say about not letting anyone except me see her?” I snappedThe man cowered.It was obvious what had happened. This was Alejandro’s way of rebelling against me and I had let him pluck her from under my nose. I walked
TWENTY EIGHTDIANAIt was dark and my head throbbed with renewed intensity anytime I turned or moved. I groaned, trying to get my bearings.We were in a vehicle and I could hear the steady breathing of the man, it had to be a man with me.What is going on? I thought, trying not to move or upset the demons waging war in my skull“Ahh, I see that you are awake” the man saidThe blindfold around my eyes was dragged off and I could see as I blinked repeatedly that it was indeed as bright as day and I was bound in a car.“What are you doing?” I snapped, struggling to sit upright“I warned you not to run but what is it with women and not listening to simple instructions” Alejandro scoffed, shaking his head as he drove with his eyes on the road.“You are a fucking asshole and would rot in hell, bastard” I cursed.It was useless trying to get myself out of the binds and I stopped struggling, resting my head against the seat.“Now, now don’t be so fucking rude, Diana; you do not want to make m
TWENTY NINEDANTEThe bastard… she is fucking nakedI stared at the picture he had sent me of my angel on her knees, her eyes still defiant as she glared at the cameras. Her spirit remained unbroken even in the face of deathI dialed Alejandro’s number fuming as he let it ring without response. He was going to face death and much worse than I would wish on anyoneI was expecting Diana’s brothers and my men were on the way to the airport to escort them safely here. I wasn’t about to take the chance of something happening to either of them.The door to the den opened and they both walked in with Lucien walking faster than his brother Jason. I dropped the phone in my pocket and approached the men with my hand stretched out.“You bastard” Lucien swore, slamming his fist into my face.I reciprocated of course, satisfied at the pop I heard as his head snapped back.“Lucien!” Jason’s voice interrupted us.“Let him be; if he wants to fight me, I have to let him know that he will lose and by t
THIRTYDIANAI was alone for most of the night but managed to keep my eyes open; I did not want to fall asleep and risk Alejandro taking advantage of me while I was asleep.He did not come for me during the night until the next morning when he marched into the room, clapping his hands in delight.“Wake up, today is the day” he sang, unbinding both hands and dragging me to through the hall way, stopping at the corridor.I could only tell that he meant this was the day and Dante was coming for me just as he wanted him too. I was right of course when Dante’s voice echoed through the quiet building. Alejandro chuckled and pushed me in front of him, the cold metal of the gun touching my side and I walked until we were down the stairs.I stared at Dante; my eyes watering at the torn look in his eyes. I wanted to run into his raised arms and tell him it was okay and that I wasn’t angry anymore at him.Please let us get out alive, I prayed in my mindHe had no idea that Alejandro had no plans
EPILOGUEDANTEIt was foggy and I could hardly make sense of where I was.I could not move too even as I struggled to but I could hear her.Diana, I called outShe was talking about so many things and asking me to come back to her.Where are you? I askedI did not think she could hear me; I wanted her to hear me as so I struggled until I slipped into the blackness once more.My eyes snapped open; it wasn’t dark or foggy and I was staring at some white ceiling.Is this heaven, I thought and then smiled stupidlyThere was no way I would be in heaven if I died and this did not look like the hell that the bible spoke of which would be filled with fire and brimstone and where sinners would cry and gnash their teeth until the end of time.I was feeling quite comfortable even though I still could not move without pains shooting up my body and…I moved my head to the side, settling on hair touching my arm.Diana, I thoughtThere was no way Diana who would be in hell with me and it suddenly hi
CAMILLAAfter the previous day encounter and the kiss… I wasn’t sure I wanted to be on the same team with Nathan.In all honesty, I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted.My lips still tingled from the memory of Nathan’s kiss, and yet, the feeling did NOT settle in the way I expected. It wasn’t the passionate rush of desire or the warmth of something more. No, it was an unsettled ache, a reminder that whatever this was between us was anything but simple.I stared at the ceiling, my mind spinning in a hundred different directions. My thoughts kept circling back to that kiss.Why had he gone and kissed me?The last thing I needed was to get caught up in Nathan’s mess, in whatever internal struggle he was going through. I could not afford to lose myself in him. Not again. He had kissed me, and now I had to decide whether to let it go or pull back before things went any further.I dragged myself out of bed, staring at the clock—7:00 AM. My meeting with Nathan was at 9:00, but I had a hundred t
NATHANI was stalling.Her apartment had grown quiet except for the rhythmic ticking of a clock on the wall, but I stayed seated at her table, watching her stack dishes in the sink. My car was fixed. My excuse to linger here was gone. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to leave.She moved with a confidence that was uniquely Camilla. She wasn’t trying to impress anyone…least of all me…but damn, she did. I traced the curve of her spine with my eyes as she walked back into the living room, her bare feet soft against the floorboards.I should have been thinking about Eleanor. About Trish. About Alicent. About the cold-blooded satisfaction I would feel when the truth about Eleanor’s death finally saw the light of day. But all I could think about was how Camilla and how I should be apologizing to her.“You’re awfully quiet,” she said, sitting across from me, tilting her head to study me.“I have been accused of worse.”She rolled her eyes. “You are always like this. Mysterious and brooding. You wou
CAMILLA “Good morning.” I started at him, unsure of exactly what I was looking at. Then it hit me: the smell. Warm and savory, the scent of something cooking drifted through the air…eggs, maybe toast. It was so out of place… he was out of place here. I moved, the motion sending a fresh wave of pain through my skull and a queasiness to my stomach. I groaned again, slower this time, trying to steady myself. “Morning,” I mumbled hoarsely, my voice barely more than a croak. He was standing by the stove, his back to me, a pan in one hand and a spatula in the other. His shirt was untucked, the fabric clinging to his broad shoulders in a way that made him seem even larger than usual. In my tiny kitchen, he looked impossibly big, like he didn’t belong there, yet somehow…he fit. “What are you doing?” I asked, my voice weak but laced with confusion. Nathan glanced over his shoulder, his profile catching the morning light. His hair was a little messy, like he hadn’t bothered t
CAMILLAIt was useless feeling sorry for myself, I thought.The lighting in the club was low as I stepped in with my friend, Bella.“Not bad” I murmured.“Told you” She responded triumphantly. “This is what you need to get over him. Nathan Clark is an asshole and should dump him in the dust where he belongs”I wanted to correct her that he wasn’t an asshole, he was merely disturbed but I did not.I was not here to sympathize with him or even think about him. I was here to have fun and that is what I am going to do.I was putting on a red dress and it complimented my eyes way more than I thought it would.“Come on, we should get a drink” Bella pulled me to the bar.The bartender winked at both of us and then asked what we would likeIt was at the tip of my tongue to say nothing but I was at a club, wasn’t I?“Sex on the beach” I announced.Bella turned to me, surprise in her eyes. I was pretty sure she thought she would have to force me to drink.“I would have the same” She told the ma
NATHANThere was nothing to say as I dropped Camilla off at her home.I waited until I was sure she had gotten in before I headed in the direction of my mother in law’s house.I pushed in Christian’s number, my teeth gritting as it rang.I was furious.I did not want to admit I was more furious at myself than anything.“How did your date go?” Christian’s asked as soon as the phone line clicked.“Send me the name of the witness” I grunted.“What is wrong?”“Send the name, dammit”“You need to calm down, Nathan. Where are you going?”“To settle this once and for all” I told him. “Now send the damned number to me”I hung up before he had the chance to say anything or convince me to back away because I would not.I drove way above the speed limit, stopping only when I had gotten to the mansion’s gate.It brought back memories of family dinners where I had to defend Eleanor over and over again. Where snide remarks about the reason I was with her reached my ears and she said nothing about
CAMILLA“I did not think I was ever going to see you again, Camilla” Sarah smiled as soon as I entered the restaurant.She wagged a finger in Nathan’s direction, shaking her head at him.“With the kind of food you sell? I will be coming in here for a very long time” I smiled back.Nathan and I took our seats and waited.She had a queue as usual and I could not help the smile as I glanced around.“You would have watched your father kill me” Nathan commented.“I admit that would have made me feel better for a bit” I told him.He appeared shocked but I could tell from the way his eyes twinkled with delight that he thought it hilarious.I had not expected he would go over to my parent’s house especially seeing as I wasn’t there in the first place.My father however had called me when he arrived with a gun to his head and asked if I wanted to see him. I had hesitated just for the fun of it“I deserved that”“Yes you did” I agreed.“Thank you for coming here with me”I nodded once.Sarah dr
NATHANI was pacing like a fucking clown.I was expecting Camilla at the office today to discuss the project that we were involved in together and I could not help the restlessness coursing through my body.I wasn’t one to be this nervous about anything.“Deep breaths” I told myself, trying to go along with my instructions but to no avail.So much so that when my receptionist announced her presence, I had worked myself into a frenzy.My breath caught in my throat as she walked in, her eyes taking the room before settling on me with stark clarity.What had I been thinking? I thought.Starved of attention?Who was the blithering idiot now?“You look well” She commented, taking the seat in front of me.“You look beautiful” I murmured.She paused, her eyes meeting mine.Sparks flew, that was for sure.“How do you feel?” She asked instead.“Much better. Thank you for attending to me yesterday. For even accepting the phone call from me”“Of course, I am not a demon even though I do hate you
CAMILLAI stared at my ringing phone with Nathan displayed boldly as the callers ID.What the fuck did he want?I however put it to my ear, my heart jumping at the sound of his voice“Camilla, I know you can hear me” He rasped“What do you want?” I asked.“To talk” He answered.His voice appeared tortured… like there was something wrong with him and for a minute I was concerned before my head overrode my stupidity.“Concerning the project-” I began“Not concerning the-” He sighed, his voice trailing off.“I need you” He muttered softly that if I had not been paying attention, I would have missed that simple statement.“Mr Clark” I stopped when I heard his labored breathing.“Is something wrong with you?”“No, its nothing… I just need to speak with you”“Nathan, what is the matter? You sound distressed”He chuckled and then I heard him cough in the background“You are not concerned about me now, are you?”“This is not a joke, what is wrong with you?” I asked again, feeling panicky.He
CAMILLAMy father drove us straight to the house and I did not argue nor say anything when we arrived and my mother enveloped me in a hug.“Oh baby” She crooned.“I am okay” I reassured her“Come on in”I inhaled the familiar scent of home, my muscles relaxing.“I am going to bed” I announced.Their words fell over themselves as they agreed immediately to my request.My eyes closed as soon as I fell on the bed. I did not want to think of anything, I did not want to begin to analyze the anger in my heart directed at one person in particular.When I finally opened my eyes, it was noon.I made my way downstairs and was met with the searching eyes of both my parents.“Are you okay, baby?” My mother asked.I took a seat beside them.“I am not some fragile child you have to be worried about always, mother” I said.“You are my child and I have every reason to be worried about you” she countered.“I am going to be fine” I told her.My father said nothing but I turned to him anyways.“I have d