[KHALI]
“She doesn’t want to negotiate,” Teddy said over the phone a few hours after I asked him to communicate with Carmine. I heaved a sigh and gulped. I have to try for one last time.
“Direct me to her line; I’ll talk to her,” I told Teddy. This will be the last time I’ll negotiate with her. I’ve been planning this for a long time, and I thought of using this plan when there’s no other way to reach an agreement with her.
“Alright, I’m dialing her number,” Teddy remarked. After a few moments of silence, I heard the other line ring. There’s a static noise in the background, and finally, she answered.
“I said, I don’t want to negotiate. It’s either I die, or she dies!” I heard her voice at the end of the line. I scoffed and laughed cynically.
“If you prolong this, you’ll lose everything. Are you that insane enough
[JANE]“You stay here. I’ll have to deal with her,” she told me before she pulled her gun and went out of the room. I was apprehensive about what was about to happen. It came as a shock to me to know that Carmine has a son, and Nicholas is probably the father. As much as I want her to pay for all the bad things she’d done, her child has nothing to do with it. The child shouldn’t suffer for what his mother did.I just stayed inside the room and waited for Khali to come back. I’ve been imagining things in my head that maybe Khali already killed Carmine, yet I haven’t heard any gunshots. I took my phone out to see if any of my friends texted or called me. I felt worried about Reese since she told me she was heading to Paris to see me, but I hadn't informed her I was already with Khali. What if Carmine’s underlings got her?I won’t be able to forgive myself if something happens to her. I sighed a
[KHALI] A loud gunshot roared in the middle of our conversation. I was trying to calm Carmine down, who had a slew of bombs strapped to her body, ready to detonate at any moment. I couldn’t risk everyone’s safety in here. The gunshot, however, did not come from our side. I didn't give the order to kill Carmine. I was about to go near her when the sniper aimed near my foot. I couldn’t get the detonator from her. It seems like the sniper was preventing me to do so. Carmine was shot in the head. She collapsed like a log, and I couldn’t do anything at all. I looked around to see where the sniper was hiding. The bullet definitely came from behind from where Carmine was standing earlier. “Find the sniper!” I yelled. Carmine was already lying on the ground, lifeless. Another gunshot echoed in the field, and one of my subordinates was shot dead. Shit! I’m certain that the sniper wants us all dead. I ran inside the house to find Jane. We need to survi
[KHALI] As soon as we walked in, the suite seemed warm and inviting. I wasn't exhausted earlier, but the instant I saw our bed, it felt so tempting that I wanted to take a nap for a while. However, I can’t do that as I have to call my dad and inform him what had happened today. I need to know who the mysterious sniper was because I have a feeling that he’ll come after us. If the sniper knows where we are, hiding in this hotel won't help, and I still don't know his face. Jane was already settled on our bed, and it made me somehow feel at ease that she could finally rest. I'm well aware that I've put her in a difficult situation, and a part of me still feels responsible for risking her life. “You can take a rest. I'll just talk to dad,” I told Jane who just nodded in response. I smiled and kissed her on the forehead. As I headed back to the living room of the suite, so many things were running in my mind. I tri
[JANE]A week passed after the incident happened. For me, the last two years have been a roller coaster journey. I never thought my life would change after I met Khali. My life had turned upside down, but I have never regretted it because I met the most amazing person in my life.I felt a pair of soft lips kissing my cheek as I opened my eyes. My favorite set of brown eyes was staring at me lovingly.“Good morning,” she whispered and gave me a peck on the lips this time. I found myself smiling unconsciously. I could get used to this, waking up with her by my side. This is the life I could always wish for, and now, I’m living with it.I wrapped my arms around her torso and leaned my head on her chest. I don’t want to get up yet. I just want us to stay like this for a little while. She kissed the top of my head and brushed my hair, making me feel sleepy once again, but before I could drift into sleep, she
[KHALI] "Monkey!" Jey shouted for the nth time. I laughed at her as she was trying to call for a winning card. Unfortunately, she has lost countless times before, and this is her final opportunity. I have 8, she got a soft 17, and I only need 9 or 10 to beat or just get a push. I triumphantly grinned when I saw the Queen of Spades on the flipped card. "Oh, man!" She groaned and leaned on the table, her head drooping. "I told you, you have to always keep the running count. You shouldn't have doubled down in that round. You're not going to win if you're just going to rely on your luck," I scolded her as I started shuffling the cards. Jey is my best friend. She's a professional gamer, but she doesn't like to play cards in casinos. She spends most of her time snoozing and adoring chicken. She's strange and quirky, yet anybody who sees her knows she's a goddess. Her visual is ethereal. Many people were smitten by the long-haired girl with
[KHALI] "You seriously don't want to date that girl?" Steven, one of the Casino dealers and a friend of mine, asked me. He's always too friendly to any girl, but he's a womanizer, and this handsome blonde guy's face and charisma always get those girls on their knees. I just shook my head, ignoring his stupid questions. "Dude, that's a hot chick right there! You're a jerk if you don't see she's hitting on you," he continued. He is adamant that I date all of the girls who have shown interest in me. For the love of God, promiscuity is not my thing. "Steven, I don't have time for that; now, let's just get back to work, shall we?" I walked back to my place, leaving him standing by the poker table. L Hotels and Casino is my kingdom, and this is where I have all of my fun, but guess what? Girls aren't invited to join in the fun. Cards, numbers, money, and alcohol are all enjoyable and thrilling to me. I enjoy girls, but I'm not the kind to f
[JANE] I grumbled as I moved my position on the cold yet comfortable bed. My time in dreamland had been cut short due to constant throbbing pain in my head. The agony spread from the bottom of my brows to my temples and forehead. Ugh! I'm never going to get drunk again. My eyes fluttered open, and they began to adjust to the light flowing in through the side window. When did I get such a small window? I ignored my initial bewilderment and went back to sleep, only to be startled awake by the alarm clock's loud ringing. Before I finally allowed my eyes open wide, I snarled and ruffled my hair. The ceiling is white and blue, the covers are blue, the walls are foreign, and the door is different! Oh my fucking God! I sat up right away, but that only made my headache worse. My headache is killing me. "God! It hurts!" I sighed and cast my gaze about the room. "Where the hell am I?" I wondered aloud, disregarding the pounding of my heart caus
[KHALI] ~Flashback~ My schedule had already ended, so I was simply strolling around the casino, as usual, taking in the sights. It's a requirement of my pitboss job. I reached the slot machine section as I continued walking. Those who dislike playing cards prefer to use a slot machine. It is, in fact, simple. You just have to load up your machine, choose your pay lines, set your bet, hit the button, and have fun. Easy, right? But I couldn't fully enjoy my evening since the thoughts of that Jane Casanova— yeah, whatever her name is— irritated me. Not only did she humiliate me in that round, but I was also compelled to be her property. Nobody has any claim to me. I own myself, and I've never intended to be someone else's property. I despise it when someone forces me to do something I didn't want to begin with. I decided to leave the noisy slot machines alone and call it a night. I noticed a guy forcing a girl to get up from where she was sittin
[JANE]A week passed after the incident happened. For me, the last two years have been a roller coaster journey. I never thought my life would change after I met Khali. My life had turned upside down, but I have never regretted it because I met the most amazing person in my life.I felt a pair of soft lips kissing my cheek as I opened my eyes. My favorite set of brown eyes was staring at me lovingly.“Good morning,” she whispered and gave me a peck on the lips this time. I found myself smiling unconsciously. I could get used to this, waking up with her by my side. This is the life I could always wish for, and now, I’m living with it.I wrapped my arms around her torso and leaned my head on her chest. I don’t want to get up yet. I just want us to stay like this for a little while. She kissed the top of my head and brushed my hair, making me feel sleepy once again, but before I could drift into sleep, she
[KHALI] As soon as we walked in, the suite seemed warm and inviting. I wasn't exhausted earlier, but the instant I saw our bed, it felt so tempting that I wanted to take a nap for a while. However, I can’t do that as I have to call my dad and inform him what had happened today. I need to know who the mysterious sniper was because I have a feeling that he’ll come after us. If the sniper knows where we are, hiding in this hotel won't help, and I still don't know his face. Jane was already settled on our bed, and it made me somehow feel at ease that she could finally rest. I'm well aware that I've put her in a difficult situation, and a part of me still feels responsible for risking her life. “You can take a rest. I'll just talk to dad,” I told Jane who just nodded in response. I smiled and kissed her on the forehead. As I headed back to the living room of the suite, so many things were running in my mind. I tri
[KHALI] A loud gunshot roared in the middle of our conversation. I was trying to calm Carmine down, who had a slew of bombs strapped to her body, ready to detonate at any moment. I couldn’t risk everyone’s safety in here. The gunshot, however, did not come from our side. I didn't give the order to kill Carmine. I was about to go near her when the sniper aimed near my foot. I couldn’t get the detonator from her. It seems like the sniper was preventing me to do so. Carmine was shot in the head. She collapsed like a log, and I couldn’t do anything at all. I looked around to see where the sniper was hiding. The bullet definitely came from behind from where Carmine was standing earlier. “Find the sniper!” I yelled. Carmine was already lying on the ground, lifeless. Another gunshot echoed in the field, and one of my subordinates was shot dead. Shit! I’m certain that the sniper wants us all dead. I ran inside the house to find Jane. We need to survi
[JANE]“You stay here. I’ll have to deal with her,” she told me before she pulled her gun and went out of the room. I was apprehensive about what was about to happen. It came as a shock to me to know that Carmine has a son, and Nicholas is probably the father. As much as I want her to pay for all the bad things she’d done, her child has nothing to do with it. The child shouldn’t suffer for what his mother did.I just stayed inside the room and waited for Khali to come back. I’ve been imagining things in my head that maybe Khali already killed Carmine, yet I haven’t heard any gunshots. I took my phone out to see if any of my friends texted or called me. I felt worried about Reese since she told me she was heading to Paris to see me, but I hadn't informed her I was already with Khali. What if Carmine’s underlings got her?I won’t be able to forgive myself if something happens to her. I sighed a
[KHALI]“She doesn’t want to negotiate,” Teddy said over the phone a few hours after I asked him to communicate with Carmine. I heaved a sigh and gulped. I have to try for one last time.“Direct me to her line; I’ll talk to her,” I told Teddy. This will be the last time I’ll negotiate with her. I’ve been planning this for a long time, and I thought of using this plan when there’s no other way to reach an agreement with her.“Alright, I’m dialing her number,” Teddy remarked. After a few moments of silence, I heard the other line ring. There’s a static noise in the background, and finally, she answered.“I said, I don’t want to negotiate. It’s either I die, or she dies!” I heard her voice at the end of the line. I scoffed and laughed cynically.“If you prolong this, you’ll lose everything. Are you that insane enough
[KHALI] I almost regret agreeing to punish her. I was worried she'd hate me again once she woke up. But then she's mumbling my name, saying "I love you" over and over. Hearing such words from her made my heart leap with delight. She meant it. She meant it when she said she loves me and accepts me wholeheartedly. After I untied her wrists and ankles, I went beside her and scooped her in my arms. I never knew cuddling with her could make me feel contented and happy. She's the only person whom I wanted to spend my life with, and at that moment, it's as if everything fast-forwards. I could see myself with her in the future. I'll support whatever she wants to do in life as long as she's here with me. There's just one person I need to get rid of before I can feel at ease. I need to find Carmine and kill her. As long as she's alive, I can't guarantee Jane's safety. I won't be able to forgive myself if something bad would happen to Jane.
[JANE] “I want you to tie me up and punish me,” I told her, and I pulled her close to capture her lips again. I wanted to show her that I love her and I accept her; that rather than changing for me, she can embrace her flaws, and I will gladly accept her wholeheartedly. I understand that she told me not to tolerate her darker side, but I can’t deny that I needed the dominant Khali in my life. I’ve learned to love her sadistic side. There must be something wrong with me, but I couldn’t care less. I love her so much. I could sense a loud thumping of pulses in my ear, and I’m not sure if it’s hers or mine. She gasped for air and pulled away. She was panting as she looked at me. Her eyes were dark in lust, and I could tell I finally pulled her out, the Khali I’ve always loved. She took my hand in hers as she slid off the bed, leaving me seated on the edge. “Hold out your hand,” she ordered. She was looking intently at me as she to
[KHALI] This time, our roles were reversed. I looked for Carmine for days, but she was nowhere to be found. My subordinates were unable to locate her, but I'm not going to give up looking for her, and if I do, she’ll be dead. There's no other way to put an end to this game of hide and seek. Jane stayed on the ranch with me. When she's with me, the days pass by, and there was never a dull moment. It felt like a dream come true for me, having her in my arms when I wake up in the morning. It seemed unthinkable just a year ago, but now, I’m living my life with her. I went to the stable early in the morning. Checking on my horses has become a habit of mine. I named my favorite horse ‘Santiago’. Among the other horses, he is the most well-behaved and powerful. I was patting his head and brushing his long silky hair when I felt a pair of arms wrapped around my waist. I looked back, and there she is, the love of my life. She kissed my nape an
[JANE] I had a nice dream, but it faded the moment I opened my eyes. I was sure I heard someone speak those words.Was it all just a dream? Or did it actually happen? The sunshine streaming in through the window lit up the room where I was resting. Perhaps it wasn't a dream after all. I'm lying in an unfamiliar bed, in an unfamiliar room. I stared too long at the wooden ceiling before I decided to get up and bring my feet to the cold wooden floor. The atmosphere wasn't eerie or spooky. Since meeting Khali, I've grown accustomed to waking up in a different bed, in a different place.Oh, Khali! Where is she? My eyes were all over the place, and my feet brought me out of the room. Her warm gaze greeted me as soon as I opened the door. She's standing there with a tray of food in her hand, which I assumed she had prepared for me.Thoughtful. It wasn’t a dream. Maybe it happened. She u