I felt a sharp ray piercing through my eyes, causing them to spring open. "No!" I yelled, letting out a scream only to find myself in what I presumed was a room—from the looks of it—a hotel room. I was sure of it after having visited some of the clients while I had worked at the club.But how was that possible? I could tell it was morning already, but yet, I couldn't place what had happened last night. The last thing I remembered was my eyes going blank after I caught sight of a headlight; I think it was a car.My ears picked up the rushing sound of running water, which was coming from the bathroom. "Wait, who was that?" I questioned in my thoughts. My mind tried to reel in the current change of events and how I had ended up here suddenly.But yet, I just had to leave. I was sure I wasn't the only one here, but I cared less to find out who it was. My life was of the utmost importance at the moment, and I needed a safe place to think first about what to do next.I stood up from the bed
"What are you doing here, Sierra? So the information was right; you were here all along in Las Angeles," Nate uttered as I watched his steps grow closer at the mere sight, my legs almost stumbling as I managed my gaze."What's happening, Nate? Do you know her?" a voice broke out as my gaze turned to meet Dominic stepping out of the room, his eyes' brow raised.No, this couldn't be happening. Why now? Why was this all happening now? I saw no escape, as though it seemed my death lingered in every corner of each wall as they glared at me, ready to strike.Nate's gaze remained fixed on me in that moment as they shifted back to Dominic. "No, boss, it seems I must have mistaken her for someone else," he muttered, letting out a slight chuckle as he left my side, walking into Dominic's room after.I let out a sigh, catching no sight of them anymore as I rushed, making my way to the elevator which took me down. I left the hotel immediately in a rush, almost crumbling to the ground. Grasping fo
[Dominic's POV] "I shall carry out my findings, boss. Don't worry--" Nate was saying as I patted him on the shoulder, watching his gaze return downcast. "I expect nothing less from you, Nate." I interjected, "I want the location of that girl figured out sooner than expected. I don't want any errors like this occurring in my business. If it persists for a while longer, I don't mind getting those who seem to be the cause out of the way." I said, raising a brow as they followed my gaze. "I can assure you, boss, I won't fail you this time. I shall make sure to find out her whereabouts and bring her to you." He said as I let out a slight smirk. "Now that's how a good dog should behave." I whispered, "Go on, get to work, or do you need me to remind you of that?" "No, boss." He said, leaving my side as he made his way back into the mansion. I let out a sigh. "Really, these are flaws I never wished to have seen in my line, but nevertheless, I just had to fix things soon, and I could
"Wait? Her? What is she doing here? I hope she isn't..." I approached her, helping her up, and then I led her to the back seat of my car. "No, no, no," I heard her as she kept on mumbling. I felt relief washing over, taking in the fact that she was still alive, and there were no bruises either. But even so, I found it hard ignoring those words that kept on mumbling out of her mouth. As her hands attempted to raise, she only crumbled back down. But wait, how did she end up here in the first place? I mean, what was she doing roaming around at night on such a street? Yet judging from her staggering and muttering state, I could tell she was high. So she takes pills now? Really, what was wrong with Adrian? How many more of his flaws do I have to keep on fixing? I entered the car's front seat, starting the engine. I can't take her back to the mansion, well, not with her looking like this. That would surely raise questions from Uncle Marc, and that I would want to avoid, and most especi
[Sierra's POV] Arriving back at the mansion, I found myself releasing a breath after finding it hard to get my mind off Nate's words and actions. So he was an enemy—one of the De Santos' enemies—who was also here to take down Dominic. Honestly, this all felt hard to take, more like believing if it was true and he was right about his words of seeking revenge. Back at the club, remembering clearly, Nate had always trembled in fear at the mere mention of Dominic's name or, as I had heard, trembled right in his presence. But now he was here claiming this. Should I believe each and every word he had spoken out of that mouth, or was I just seeing myself fall into another mess? Was he planning something?" I questioned in a whisper, but if he was truly faking it, I should have been dead. So should I just accept that everything he had said was the truth, and he wanted to bring Dominic down? Taking the stairs up, my only hope was getting some rest, as I couldn't deny the sharp pain that
"You?" I questioned, watching him get to his feet as he stood up from the bed, approaching me. "What are you doing here in my room?" he asked, raising a brow.His room? What does he mean by his room?"This is my room, and what are you doing here?" I retorted, my mind still reeling from the fact that he was here and had entered my room without a proper knock."Wait—" I watched his voice trail off as he took a scan around the room. "Oh my!" he blurted. "I am really sorry. I thought this was my room. I mean, the room looks much alike, don't you think so?" he uttered. But really, he thought?"Please leave now," I said, my hands pointed at the room door, urging him to leave my room. But instead, I noticed his glued heels, with his eyes glaring at me, as he took a scan, leaving me uncomfortable at his sight as I tried adjusting the towel, my gaze rising to meet his."Didn't you hear me? Please leave my room now." I said again, but this time, he brought out a lighter and a pack of cigarettes
"Alright..." I replied, managing a few steps as I followed the maid who led me through the passage. We arrived at a room, well, I guessed maybe that was his room."Please wait here," I heard the maid utter. Her words caused a halt. I watched her enter Marc's room after as I waited for some minutes before I caught a sight of her stepping out."He will see you now," she said, making her way as she left. My legs lingered a bit, as though they felt glued to the ground, my hands trembling as they approached the door handle."Why did he call me now again, all of a sudden?" I questioned in my thoughts. Finally, managing a breath, I opened the room door, walking in as my eyes landed on him seated on the couch, his gaze rising as they met mine."Come, sit, dear," he requested, pointing his hands to the couch beside him. I gently made my way, seating, my gaze still fixed on his.As I heard those silence break in after:"So, how is it?" he questioned. "Have you gotten Adrian to give up on this w
"Sophie. It still feels so clear in my head, those days," Marc whispered, his gaze shifting and fixing on me.What was this old man planning, and why did he bring me here? Adrian's mother?My gaze raised to meet the image again, only to find them dropping down after as I shivered in fear, from the eyes of the decapitated bodies surrounding her.This? I knew that everyone in this family was bloodstained and crazy, but yet, why did this image of witnessing those two brothers' mother leave a shocking sight to me?"Are you scared?" A voice snapped me as my eyes were on Marc. His steps grew closer; I found mine retreating only to stumble as beside me gazed upon a bone—wait, they were real! I jolted up immediately, colliding with Marc."What...?" I wanted to utter, only to watch him retreat a bit from my side. His eyes scanned the wall back as I watched a smirk lit from that crazy old man's lips."She was one of a kind, I would say, but really, I thought by now you must have been used to ou
[Sierra's POV]"What do you think you're doing, Dominic?" Marc snapped, but Dominic remained persistent as his fingertips closed in on the trigger.In that moment, I caught sight of some men coming out of nowhere, armed with guns.But their actions afterward left me stunned as they stood in protection, their guns aimed at Dominic, ready to shoot."She is a traitor... I'm sure of it," Dominic uttered, declaring again."What has really gotten into you today? Don't forget she is now the sohoe the De Santos, and you should put some respect into that," Marc said, but even with all the words, they did little to Dominic as his eyes remained narrowed, locked onto mine."Are you going to speak, or do you want me to do that?" he started, making me wonder what he meant.I can't just say it's about the men at the club. I'm sure he doesn't know that; I have to stop showing any suspicious signs. But if it wasn't about that, what could it be?His expression changed for that moment, downcast, before
I heard a screeching sound, which caused my eyes to spring open. I found myself lying in wet mud as I tried to stand up. A sharp sting hit my head, and my legs buckled, causing me to stumble back down.Catching a glimpse, I watched a car drive off. I could hardly get a proper glance through the heavy rainfall blurring my vision.But I was sure it was one of Elena's dad henchmen."I will make sure to make them pay for what they have done. Those bastards, who do they think they are?" I thought."Adrian, sir..." I heard a voice that drew my attention. I had no idea that they had dropped me off right in front of the mansion.To know they even had the guts to do that, not scared if they were sighted and killed. Well, this was to be expected since I was dealing with Elena's father in the line.One of the men came rushing to my side as he helped me up from the muddy ground.I hated the sight of my own weak state. No, I wasn't weak; it was just them that played a cowardly trick. Being, i neve
[Adrian's POV]"Who the hell do you think you are? Do you know who I am?" I threatened, yelling only to cough out more blood as a punch sank deep into my stomach."And how does that matter?" the man who had punched me replied.How dare he lay a finger on me, knowing very well that I am Adrian De Santos? He must surely wish for his death so much.My thoughts went back to leaving the club with those men ambushing me. Now I found myself in this room. They had kept me here for a while now, hitting me repeatedly.But they were nothing but cowards. I would make them pay once I found a way out of here."The boss is on his way, Felix," one of the men walked in saying. "You should stop now. You know he doesn't like messy work.""So their boss is on his way," I thought to myself. Finally, I would be able to know who had the guts to have me, Adrian De Santos, kidnapped.Who could that fool be?The man retreated a bit from my side, but his eyes remained fixed on mine. It was as if he was ready to
"What are you saying, Sierra? Tell me, who was it? Who did you kill? Is it Dominic...?" Nate questioned, but how could it be Dominic?Even though I wished for his death so much, I wouldn't have been so stupid as to go for a straight attack."No, Nate..." I replied, "It's the men...""The what?""I killed them, Nate. I just killed the men from the club; they saw me, so I had no choice. Now, I don't know what to do. What if they find out that I was the one who... no, I can't let that happen," I mumbled, as many thoughts came hitting me, leaving me worried and causing my legs to buckle."Hold on, Sierra. Just calm down; nothing is going to happen. I promised to protect you from any harm. I can't surely allow anything to happen to you now," Nate said. But where was he when the men at the club had sighted me, when I had no other option but to take action and stop them by killing them? Just where was he back then?"What am I going to do, Nate?" I asked again, hoping he would have an answer,
"Wait, you?" one of the men questioned as I watched an exclamation state come over him."No, this can't be possible. They can't see me," I muttered in my thoughts. My legs trembled slightly as they retreated back a little. But where was I intending on running to? They had already sighted my presence."I need..." I stammered, lost of words to say. If possible, I could make them join me. No, that wasn't going to work, would it?"I can't believe this! So, you have been under our very nose all this while. We have to tell the boss. He will surely reward us for this..." the other man said as they left a nod to each other.The two men, without hesitation, left my side. Though I tried stopping them, it proved futile as I watched them leave the mansion. But what was I thinking? That it would be possible to stop them by pleading? They were the same men from the club that I knew. Now it assured me that this news was surely going to reach Dominic if I didn't do something immediately.I made my wa
"Come have a seat, dear," Marc said. As I sat down, I noticed some of the men seated tried avoiding a glance at me. "So now, let's begin," Marc announced after taking a seat also. One of the men brought out what seemed like a suitcase. In it were some files. "Here are the recordings of the companies as requested Marcellus, sir," the man said, handing over the files to Marc as he checked through them. "Good," he uttered. I had no idea what this meeting was for in the first place or why my attention was needed. "It seems the rumors are true, but surely they must have the guts, trying to cheat their way through the system laid down by the De Santos," Marc said, laying the papers on the desk as I caught a glimpse of the headings. It was just a file of some listed companies, even though I couldn't see the list there. "So, what should we do, Marcellus, sir? We are ready to take action and show them the consequences of going against you, boss, but only if you give us the perm
[Sierra's POV] I heard a knock at the door as I stood up, approaching the door. Opening it, I caught sight of a man standing at the doorstep. Guessing from his dressing, I was sure he was one of Marc's men. "Marcellous, sir, seeks your attention," he said. What does this old man want with me again? I recalled his words before I had left the basement the other time, saying that my attention was going to be needed soon, the words about me starting my work as the sohoe. But what work is that? One side told me it was something bloody, a path I saw myself unable to engage in. "I am coming," I replied to the man, shutting the door back. I stepped into the bathroom, splashing some water at my face. Glaring at the mirror, I released a breath. So this was it, the day I found myself unable to escape from. And now that Dominic seems to be gaining an upper hand in finding out secrets about Adrian and me, this was the time for me to act faster than I could before he finds out about me. I mus
[Adrian's POV] Walking through the hall, I found myself unable to believe what Sierra had just told me in the room. The fact that Dominic now knows. But what lingered in my thoughts was Elena. I couldn't deny one word that left Sierra's mouth, but she couldn't, why would she? I had suspected her at first about the stranger who had called me. I can't possibly suspect her about Dominic knowing as well. But then, how? Just how did Dominic know? It can't just be a slip from nowhere; someone must have let the cat out of the bag. What if it was the same stranger? I mean, what if he had called Dominic up, blurting out everything he knew? But that wasn't possible either. Even though I wanted to kill this so-called stranger, I am quite sure he was smarter than to let Dominic know. At least he claims he wants to be my ally, if that is as true as he had said, though. Still lost in thoughts, I found myself standing right at Elena's doorstep. Finding myself here already, I thought, "Why not j
Who could have told Dominic? I mean, how did he find out? I know I should feel at ease that this wasn't about him finding out about my true identity, but this also was something I couldn't just let off so easily. First, he had figured out Adrian's plan, and now he knew that Adrian and my marriage was just a false pretense. Now I know why he didn't tell Marc about any of it—because Adrian was involved. If it was all about me, I was quite sure he would have spilled the beans. Dominic left the room after slamming the door at his back. "Now that he knows, what should I do?" I wondered in my thoughts. "But does Adrian also know that Dominic has figured it out? Oh, wait, Dominic mentioned talking to him about it, so that means he doesn't know either." I stepped out of the room, catching no sight of Dominic. I made my way to my room, entering as Adrian awaited my presence with those raging eyes. He approached me hastily. I felt a tight grasp on my hands as his eyes locked on mine in that