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Cracking The Code
Huling Na-update:
2023-01-06 09:11:21
Mariam El-HafiWriter's Note The story is slowly undergoing edits.
Kaugnay na kabanata
The Devil's Fire Run
AlthaiaI slipped into my favorite midnight blue satin nightgown with a matching robe and made my way downstairs. My mother had made a small fire in the fireplace for some coziness. It was a bit funny that we had a fireplace, even though it was unnecessary in Florida. But my mother loved them, and they had grown on me.“I made some tea. It’s decaf.” My mother smiled warmly as she handed me a steaming mug, then settled down next to me on the couch, cradling her own cup.“Thank you.” I said gratefully.We sat quietly together as we sipped our tea, but it was a comfortable silence with the burning wood crackling. I turned to look at my mother when she let out a sigh.“I must say, they are a lot more different from what I had expected.” She admitted. I raised my brows in surprise before a smile appeared on my lips.“They are. Especially Arianna and Raffaele.” I chuckled, and she rolled her eyes at the mention of Raffaele.“That boy needs a good smacking or two with my wooden spoon. Shamele
Huling Na-update : 2023-01-07The Devil's Fire Baby, Hang On
Damiano Bullets flew over our heads while we stayed on the floor. I focused on listening to how many were currently firing. Based on the direction of the bullets coming through the windows, my guess was around eight people. Two people on each side of the warehouse, surrounding the building. Now, the question was how many were out with them, not firing at us. The fire suddenly stopped, and I glanced over at Lorenzo and Raffaele to find them unharmed. I signaled to them to spread out as I got up on my feet quietly. In these situations, the best strategy was to play dead. It would give us time to work quietly and take them down once they came for confirmation of our dead bodies. I looked around the warehouse and made my way to a corner where I would be able to take cover. It was now completely dark outside, with no light to be seen from streetlights or headlights. It was perfection, for I was the Devil, and within my heart, darkness reigned supreme. I crouched down when the
Huling Na-update : 2023-01-08The Devil's Fire Deep Into the Woods
Althaia We kept running deeper into the depths of the dark woods. Our bare feet pounded on the forest floor, trying to escape the people chasing us and the bullets flying by. But my pace had slowed down. My body begged for even a small gulp of air, my lungs burning for a break, but I had to keep going. I still hadn’t fully recovered despite what I told Damiano. My body was weak and heavy, covered in sweat as my legs threatened to collapse. If it wasn’t for my mother's tight grip on my hand, pushing me to keep going, I would be dead. “Over here.” My mother led us behind a towering tree, its trunk wide enough to hide us. My body gave out, and I crumpled to the ground. I gasped for air, feeling a sharp pain with each breath. Nausea threatened to overpower me, but I somehow held it at bay and shifted my attention to calming my breath. My mother sat down on the ground and rubbed my back, trying to help me as best she could. I rested my back against the tree, closing my eyes when I
Huling Na-update : 2023-01-09The Devil's Fire The Next Move
Damiano I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she lay on the hospital bed. Needles were injected into her arms, while her forehead, legs, and feet were all bandaged. Her feet were badly cut up from running through the woods barefoot. Her entire body was bruised and slowly showed discoloration. She looked almost… lifeless. “When will she wake up?” I asked Ellie while she changed Althaia’s blood-soaked bandages. “It’s hard to tell… Her body shut down and is trying its best to recover after experiencing extensive trauma. And with the blood loss, too, I wouldn’t be surprised if she needed another day or two.” Ellie sighed, and I gave a short nod. I couldn’t help but look down at Ellie’s small baby bump and then glance at Althaia’s flat stomach. My chest tightened at the sight. I averted my eyes and looked out the window, trying to shut down from feeling anything at the moment. But fucking hell, it was hitting hard. I was happy for Antonio and his wife. Still, the universe was
Huling Na-update : 2023-01-10The Devil's Fire Emptiness
Althaia I was surrounded by an impenetrable darkness, my entire body burdened with a crushing heaviness that imprisoned every limb. There were muffled voices in the distance, but my mouth refused to let out a sound for help. What’s happening to me? An overwhelming fatigue swept over me. Too weak to fight it, I let it drag me into a deep slumber, leaving my question unanswered. ֎ ֎ ֎ I was slowly waking up, but my body still felt heavy and... in pain. Aches resonated throughout my entire body. My head pounded, and my stomach writhed, making it hard for me to move. A distinct weight pressed down on my hand. It was a different heaviness from the rest of my body. I tried to move my hand, but only a finger responded. I heard some shuffling before my hand received a gentle squeeze, and something brushed against my face. I leaned slightly into the touch; a small sound escaped my lips as I attempted to speak. “Althaia baby, wake up.” “Everything hurts.” I wanted to say, but my
Huling Na-update : 2023-01-12The Devil's Fire Dead Inside
Althaia “She’s going back with us.” Michael asserted firmly. “No.” Damiano replied in his cold tone. “No? Who do you think you are to make that decision?!” Michael erupted angrily. “If you don’t keep your voice down, I will kill you.” Damiano’s voice was low and calm but filled with promise as they continued to argue about me. I wasn’t sure if they were aware I was awake and could hear them. My back was to the door, but I guess it was slightly open as I heard everything they said, arguing about where I should stay. It made me realize I didn’t have a place I could call home anymore. Even though I had stayed a few weeks in my father’s mansion before, I still didn’t consider it home because for a long time, it wasn’t. It wasn’t the same home I grew up in, and so much had changed. It didn’t have that homey feeling it used to have when I was living there with my mother. “She’s staying with me.” Damiano stated firmly, giving no room for discussion. I could hear how Michael wa
Huling Na-update : 2023-01-12The Devil's Fire Letting You Go
Damiano “Are you getting any sleep?” Arianna asked me, a concerned expression on her face. “How do you expect me to sleep when she’s going through hell?” I snapped at her, but my tone did not bother her. I had stepped outside to smoke once Althaia fell asleep. She hadn’t slept properly, and I had secretly given her a sleeping pill just so she could get a little rest. I had never been this stressed or lost in my life before. I had quit smoking because she couldn’t tolerate the smell of it when she was pregnant, but I picked it up again. It was the only thing that could help me relax a little and prevent me from going out and slaughtering people. I couldn’t be a ticking bomb right now. I had to be patient, even though it was killing me to wait and watch her suffer like this. “How are you?” Arianna asked again, and I let out a humorless chuckle at her question. “Does it even matter?” I inhaled the cigarette smoke deeply, but it was not giving me the fill I wanted. “It does.
Huling Na-update : 2023-01-13The Devil's Fire A Safe-House
Althaia “You’re leaving?” Cara asked. Her words made my stomach knot, and a lump formed in my throat at the way she looked at me. “I... just need to be alone for a bit,” I muttered to her. She bit down on her lips as her eyes glistened. “I understand. Take care of yourself.” She embraced me in a tight hug, and this time, I hugged her back just as tightly before saying goodbye. I took a deep breath and made my way outside. Arianna was standing next to an SUV, waiting for me, but she wasn’t alone. Antonio, Giovanni, Luca, and more men were outside as well. “Ready?” Arianna asked, and I gave her a small nod before she opened the backseat door, waiting for me to get in. Before sliding into the backseat, I couldn’t help but look around, and a pang of sadness hit me even more when I didn’t see him anywhere. “Damiano is... busy.” Arianna said, noticing my gaze. “I’m never too busy when it comes to you.” His words echoed in my mind, but I guess that day became today. I gave o
Huling Na-update : 2023-01-13
Pinakabagong kabanata
The Devil's Fire (BONUS) A Birthday To Remember
Althaia“Maybe we should have gotten me a change of clothes before coming here.” I said as I walked out to them while looking down at the tank top I had taken from Damiano, pretending to be fixing it. I was actually fixing it because my nipples were almost showing.Damiano looked up from his phone. His eyes slowly trailed down my body and his gaze stopped at my barely covered breasts. Whatever he was doing on his phone could wait as he carelessly tossed it on the couch.He gave me a lazy smirk and motioned for me to come closer to him. With a gentle yet firm grip, Damiano wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me flush against his body.“What’s the need for clothes when I plan to have you naked the entire time?” He said with a mischievous grin on his lips. I blushed, not expecting him to say something like this in front of them.As if remembering there were other people in our room, he looked at them with a blank look.“What are you still doing here? Get out.” He told them sharply.
The Devil's Fire Our Beautiful New Life
Althaia I huffed and looked at the time. It was a quarter to four in the morning, and I was wide awake. Feeling horny. I turned to look at Damiano, who was sleeping peacefully next to me. I wanted him, but I didn't want to wake him up just to take care of my needs. He had a long day ahead of him, flying out to a meeting with Mr. Roberts, and other high-end restaurant owners. They saw the custom-designed wine bottles for Mr. Robert's restaurants, and how they attracted more customers. Customers loved the whole idea of taking a unique wine bottle home with them as a souvenir. Some even started to collect them. The sales went crazy and landed us a few more deals. I suggested that each restaurant have its distinct design as a trademark, but with Damiano's wine business name engraved. And he was going to meet them all and show them my sketch ideas. I would have gone with him, but since I was heavily pregnant, I couldn’t fly. Maybe it was because I knew he would be gone, and wouldn’t b
The Devil's Fire Forever & Always
Five months later The sun was high up in the clear sky, shining over the crystal blue water in the most enchanting way. Calilo was always a beautiful island, but today, it was even more breathtaking. The beach was elegantly decorated and rows of chairs lined up endlessly on the bright green grass. A mirrored aisle had been set up in the middle with either side decorated so stunningly with Angel’s and Devil’s trumpet flowers. At the end of the aisle was a grand gazebo with pillars decorated with colorful flowers. A crowd of people was present, chatting and finding their seats. By the gazebo stood Damiano, overlooking the crowd of their friends and families. Everyone had flown out to make sure to witness this special day. Damiano had a small crease between his brows, shuffling around on his feet for the first time in his life as he kept fixing his tie, double-checking to make sure he at least looked decent enough on such a meaningful day. “Nervous, brother?” Lorenzo walked up to him
The Devil's Fire Let It Burn
Althaia Ellie was already at the clinic, waiting for us when we arrived. The closer we got to the examination room, the more anxious I got. I was dreading it more than ever. To get that confirmation that it was another miscarriage. That another life was lost in me. I felt suffocated. Damiano, Antonio, and Giovanni were just as worried. No one bothered to mask their emotions as they were concerned for my well-being and what was going to happen. “So, what are we dealing with?” Ellie asked once she closed the door to give us some privacy while Antonio and Giovanni waited outside. “I took a pregnancy test, it was positive but… I’m bleeding and cramping.” I swallowed hard as Ellie listened carefully to me. Damiano stayed close to me, holding me as if I would collapse at any moment. What I loved about Ellie was that even though she knew us, she was still being professional and not letting us see if she was concerned as she listened to me. “Okay, we will do a blood test and do a transv
The Devil's Fire The Truth
Althaia My eyes welled as I could feel the pain, and my heart ached for them both. The fact that my mother was going to tell them, maybe even holding onto the hope that they could finally be together. But no. For her own protection, mine even, she had to accept that was how her life was going to be. And I couldn’t even imagine what Alexei must be feeling now. To know he was close to being told he was going to have a child with the woman he loved. But his own mother stood in his way and took the truth with her to the grave. Nestor looked completely taken aback as he looked at my mother and followed Alexei once he came to his senses. I was sure Alexei needed some time to think it all through. I didn’t say anything, giving my mother some time to gather herself. I looked at Damiano, he was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, already looking at me. I couldn’t tell if he was truly interested in the story or not as he wore a straight face. Then I knew he wasn’t interested wh
The Devil's Fire An Old Flame
Althaia As soon as Alexei drew out his gun, Damiano pulled me behind him and he and his men pulled out their guns as well, finger on the trigger and ready to fire. But then Nestor quickly pushed Alexei away when a knife flew right in between them, missing Alexei’s head by a hair. Surprised and confused, everyone turned to look in the direction where the knife came from. My mother had her brows pinched with her gaze locked on Alexei, ready with another knife in her hand. “Did you forget how she loved to do that to you?” Nestor sighed at Alexei. But he was too focused on my mother with a furious gaze. “Seems like her aim is off.” He sneered. “It’s not off, it was simply a warning. I got you once, and I can do it again.” My mother spoke calmly but had a whole different demeanor to her. My jaw was on the floor as I looked at them back and forth in pure shock. This whole damn thing had me completely dumbfounded. Wasn’t Alexei the one who had demanded to see her, and almost started a
The Devil's Fire Let It End
AlthaiaI didn’t think it was possible to feel more miserable than this. But I kept being dragged down into an endless, dark hole while drowning in fear and pure devastation.I was exhausted.Exhausted from everything that happened and exhausted from every single piece of information thrown at me. I still haven’t even processed the fact that Gaetano wasn’t my father. And then everything else followed as if trying to give me a heart attack by exposing the brutal truth to me.That my entire life has been a fucking lie.Twenty-five years old and I was suddenly having an identity crisis that appeared out of the blue. For so many years where it has just been me and my mother, living life together. But it turned out I didn’t even know who she truly was.My mother, who I thought I witnessed die, was somewhere in this safe-house.Well, and alive.I thought I was hallucinating when I saw her. Or maybe I was seeing a ghost. Or maybe I ended up in hell and this was my punishment. To be tormented
The Devil's Fire No More Secrets
Damiano“No. Stay here.” I stopped Jacinta when she tried to go after Althaia. I knew she would be shocked and in denial but I wasn’t prepared for this kind of reaction and run away.I gritted my teeth, walking as fast as I could in the direction she ran off. This fucking gunshot wound was limiting me too much.I stepped outside to the garden, watching her leaning against a tree to catch her breath.“Althaia.” I frowned, looking at the state she was in.“Stop! Just.. please stop. Don’t come any closer.” She closed her eyes, trying her best to control her breathing. I clenched my fists in frustration. Frustrated with me that I was the cause of this. I stood still, watching her cry and gasp for air. And I would rather get shot a hundred times more than see her like this.“How… How could you do this to me?!” Althaia shouted at me with so much anger than I had ever seen from her. Her innocent, green eyes turned into ones with a rage-filled storm.And betrayal.“I did what I believed was t
The Devil's Fire The Aftermath
DamianoAlthaia was shocked.Shocked to the point her body gave up under her and collapsed to the ground. I grabbed her and pulled her into me, gritting my teeth as I ignored my own pain when I saw the state she was in. I didn’t give two shits about Alexei at this moment, only worrying about her. She looked numb, lost, as she tried to comprehend what I just said. For once, Alexei kept quiet and had his men stand by as he looked at Althaia.His daughter.He hadn’t expressed what he thought of the situation. About him having a daughter. But he was pissed at her mother for keeping away and not telling him. Twenty-five years had he lived on with his life without knowing he had a child out in the world. And to make it worse for him, his daughter thought Gaetano was her father.An Italian man who married his woman“Come on, breathe, Althaia… There you go… Breathe.” She gasped for air and I felt how her entire body was shaking against mine. I held her tightly, even though I was struggling to
