It was past midnight. I was sitting in a semi-circle booth seating, alone, in a lavished nightclub. This nightclub had a modern and luxurious design that was sure to put someone in awe. The seating area is plush and comfortable, with velvety couches and ottomans. The walls were painted in a rich black, with colourful accent lighting that changes to the beat of the music to give it an extra bit of vibrancy. The dance floor is a glossy black, with a star-studded ceiling that has flashing lights to give it a sparkly feel while illuminating the room. I watched the dancefloor while tracing the rim of the half-empty wine glass which was on the table with my fingers. The dancefloor was full of people, some dancing and others swaying to the music. Near the dance floor, a small stage had been set up with a DJ spinning the latest tunes. The crowd was captivated by the music and the energy in the room was palpable. The atmosphere was electric. Everyone was having a great time. I looked to my r
A few days have passed. Today was Alonso's wedding. He had finally gotten Lizzy, Odette's mother to say yes. Alonso didn't want to waste any time in getting official with Lizzy, he planned a small wedding. it was just going to be some members of the mafia and a few relatives of Lizzy. I sat among the congregation in the wedding venue, my uncle was waiting by the altar alongside his groomsmen with a priest standing on it. As soon as Lizzy's presence was acknowledged we all stood up. The flower girls first walked in, Odette was among them, and then the bridesmaid walked in, I was asked to be one of them but I hated that shit but Bianca gladly accepted it, heck she was the chief bridesmaid. Then, Lizzy walked down the aisle slowly. she was putting on a simple wedding gown, holding a small bouquet with her other arm wrapped around her father's arm"You know, I've always dreamt of watching my daughter walk down the aisle but you took that dream from me" I heard someone speak in a shaky vo
Present times:"Wake up sleepyhead!!"I heard a high-pitched voice piercing through my ears, I opened my eyes immediately but squinted them as someone opened the curtains, letting the early morning sun shine on my face."What the heck?" I grudgingly sat on the bed rubbing my eyes, I yawned and eventually looked up at the person who decided to ruin my sleep"I can't believe you're in bed at this time... Geez, it's past eight a.m" Alexa tucked in a strand of her purple hair behind her ears then placed her hands on her waist."It's still too early" I got up from the bed... "I like waking up somewhere around ten or maybe eleven but definitely not eight-ish" I complained as I neatly arranged the blanket on the bed."Well, you're in our house and we have rules… everyone is up and breakfast is ready" Alexa rolled her eyes "I don't follow rules and I can eat my breakfast whenever I wake up" I threw myself back on the bed"You just arranged that" Alexa chuckled as she facepalmed"Ugh!" I got
Lorenzo's povI watched Jacqueline as she fought Ali with everything she had in her. I had never seen someone as fierce, strong and courageous as her… she wasn't scared of the fact that Ali was bigger than she was and the doubtfulness of the crowd didn't make her lose hope in fighting against Ali.. This girl never ceased to amaze me. When Ali had given her that blow to her midsection, it took alot of self control to stop myself from breaking into that cage to give him the beating of his life. I wanted to rush in there and carry her out of that bloody fight, I don't know why but the thought of Jacqueline getting hurt pissed me off.. I felt relieved when she had her comeback, it felt like a heavy weight on your chest had been lifted up. The genuine smile that beamed on her face as she was announced the winner was contagious. God, this has got to be the most beautiful woman I've laid my eyes on. Jacqueline was very attractive, it's hard to keep your eyes off her.. my eyes were glued
"you were a total blast today, everyone's still talking about your big fight, you've earned yourself some reputation girl!" Alexa spoke with excitement"Mhmm" I simply replied, not paying much attention to what she was sayingwe had just taken our shower, we were in the locker room changing our clothes. today has been one heck of a hectic and painful day, from fighting to pain simulation tests to shooting range. I wanted to get over all this tests and get into real action in the underworld"Ali must've been so embarrassed, he hasn't shown his face ever since the fight. poor dude" Alexa chuckled but this time, I didn't answer her "Earth to Jacqueline!!! Are you even listening to me?" she snapped her fingers at my face causing me to startle "Of course I'm listening to you" I sheepishly scratched the back of my neck. "I'm all done here, let's go" I turned to leave "Okay, then what did I say earlier?" Alexa folded her arms "What?" I gave her an are-you-serious? Look, she understood it
""I didn't need your help Enzo, I would've dealt with her just fine" I broke the awkward silence between us as we walked down the hall"I know, that's why I dragged you away from her" he answered "So?""We still need Avery alive" he simply answered. I don't know why but that almost made me to burst into laughterWe took a lift to the top floor of the warehouse. Lorenzo placed his thumb on the biometric scanner which was at the corner of a black majestic door."Welcome, Lorenzo Hernandez" the robotic voice spoke as the door automatically opened up."where are we?" I asked curiously as we stepped into the room."This is my office" he spoke proudly as the door shut itself.The office was adorned with dark wood paneling, intricately patterned rugs, plush leather chairs and tall windows sealed in heavy, luxurious curtains, well-stocked bar which reflected his taste for the finer things in life . classical framed paintings and sculptures lines the wall exuding wealth and refinement. Soft a
The ride to the hospital was a quiet one, at first, I thought Lorenzo wouldn't let me go with him but surprisingly he agreed without hesitation. As soon as he parked his Porsche in the parking lot, Lorenzo quickly got down from his car, slamming the door. He walked as fast as he could through the hall angrily, not minding the nurses and doctors he bumped, I tried my best to keep up with him but it was almost impossible, I had to run after him. We eventually got to room 87 which Lorenzo barged into.Mrs Alma Hernandez, was unconscious on the hospital bed, she was intubated with a tube inserted into her trachea. She also had IV cannula fixed to her hand and a heart monitor which was beside her bed monitoring her heart beat. Alexa was sitting on the chair besides the bed, holding her mother's hand as tears fell out from her eyes."What happened to her?" Lorenzo asked in an angry tone but Alexa remained quiet, trying to stop herself from crying"God damnit.. answer me for fuck's sake Alex
"Mum? is that really you?" I asked with teary eyes, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, my mum was standing right in front of me, she wasn't looking hurt in any form, she looked very much healthy and most of all, she was alive "Yes it's me baby" She held both my hands as tear drops effortlessly escaped from her eyes "I've missed you mum... all my life, I prayed to God to bring you and dad back to me" I spoke in a shaky voice, I enjoyed the warmth of her hand on mine "we wouldn't have died in the first place if it wasn't for you" the tone of her voice became harsh"what... what do you mean?" I became confused"You killed your father Jacqueline. What kind of daughter does that? If you hadn't pull that trigger, your father would've come up with something and rescued all three of us" My mother's voice became fierce and loud, I didn't know who this person was anymoreI instantly removed my hands from hers. "It's... it's not like that, I... I never meant to kill dad" I began to cry pr
Lorenzo's POV I sat in my private study, staring at the glass of whiskey in my hand, Jacqueline’s words replaying in my mind like a broken record. “Your family murdered mine.” It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be. My family’s sins were plenty, but slaughtering the Cattaneo family wasn’t one of them. I knew every dark secret, every body buried in our name. The Cattaneos weren’t part of that bloody ledger. But as much as I tried to dismiss her accusations, her voice, raw and broken, stuck with me. Still, doubt lingered like a shadow I couldn’t shake. Her pain, her anger… It felt too raw to be a lie. And yet... I knew the history of my family. I’d made it my business to know every skeleton in the Hernandezes’ closet, every bloody handprint left behind. I slammed the glass down, the sharp clink breaking the silence. Why was I even giving her words this much weight? Jacqueline was a liar, a manipulator. She’d infiltrated my family under false pretenses, tangled herself in my life with her v
The night air was cold, the kind of chill that seeped into your bones and refused to leave. My breath came out in ragged puffs as I ran deeper into the forest, my bare feet crunching against the damp leaves and twigs below. I couldn’t feel the pain anymore… not in my legs, not in my lungs. Adrenaline was my only companion, driving me forward as I clutched the stolen keys in my trembling hand. I could still hear Lorenzo’s voice echoing in my mind, that smug tone he always used when he thought he had me under control. But I was free now… or so I thought. A crack of a branch snapped behind me, freezing me in place. I whipped around, scanning the shadows. My heart pounded in my chest as fear clawed at the edges of my mind. "Jacqueline." The voice was sharp, cutting through the stillness like a blade. I recognized it instantly, and dread flooded my veins. I spun back and started running again, faster this time, but it was useless. His footsteps were closer now, relentless and unfo
“Enough is enough!!” I muttered to myself as I sat on the bed.. I looked hopeless, and I hated it. I was treated like a slave, If not even worse.. I hadn't taken a good shower in days, I was starving and that's mostly because I refused to eat whatever was served to me… but I can't keep on living like this! I am Jacqueline Cattaneo and I won't sit here and wait for my death like a turkey in its cage waiting for Thanksgiving. I had been trying to think of an escape plan but nothing… The metal door was impenetrable and bolted tightly, there was a camera at the corner, watching me… judging me.. and then the small window which could barely fit me to jump off.While on the bed, my gaze moved from blank space to the CCTV camera… the camera’s red light blinked steadily, I've been watching it for days and I just realized I'd memorized it's angle and timing, the seconds it would pan slightly off the bed, leaving just enough blind spot.“I have to get out of here… I don't care if I die trying”
The following dayThe door creaked opened, I didn't bother to look at who it was, I fixed my gaze outside the window. it was probably Lorenzo or one of his men and I didn't want to deal with them. my mind was racing, I wonder what Alonso was planning, I could think of how panicked Sophie would be since she hadn't heard from me in days and mostly I wondered how Théo was doing."Jacqueline" a familiar voice I hadn't heard in years called out in a soft tone, cutting me from my thoughts.I turned slowly toward the door, and for a moment, I thought I was hallucinating. But there he was, standing at the entrance of the room like a shadow from the past.Haze.The moment I saw him, a whirlwind of emotions hit me all at once: shock, relief, confusion. I hadn’t heard from him since the fallout. No one had. And now, after everything, here he was.“Haze…” My voice faltered, and I swallowed hard. “What are you doing here?”He stood there, his expression unreadable. "I came to finally see you, Jacq
The door creaked open, and I froze. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. His presence was heavy, oppressive, the air itself growing colder the moment he stepped inside.I kept my gaze fixed on the small window at the far end of the room, the only source of light in this cold, suffocating prison. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing my fear. He walked in slowly, his steps measured, his presence suffocating. Lorenzo didn’t need to shout or threaten—his silence was far worse. I kept my expression blank, my chin high, even though my heart pounded against my ribs.“You’ve been silent for days,” he said, his voice calm but cutting. The sound of the door closing echoed in the room, making my skin crawl.I didn’t respond.“Still loyal to Alonso, I see.” His footsteps were deliberate, measured. I could feel him circling me, a predator toying with its prey. “Even though he hasn’t come for you. Even though he won’t.”My jaw clenched, but I refused to rise to the bait.“You’re
It had been days since Lorenzo dragged me across the ocean and locked me away in this secluded estate deep in the woods. Every hour in this prison felt heavier than the last, the oppressive silence gnawing at my sanity. I could still feel the lingering ache in my arm from his iron grip, a painful reminder of how far he was willing to go to extract the truth from me. Lorenzo’s interrogations had ceased for now, but the tension between us simmered like a storm waiting to erupt. I wasn’t naïve—I knew his silence wasn’t mercy. He was planning something, and whatever it was, I knew it wouldn’t end well for me. The simplicity of the room grated on my nerves, reminding me of how much I had lost. My life back in Australia felt like a distant dream—a life of luxury and freedom. The sprawling estates, exotic cars, multi-million-dollar businesses and the bustling casinos I owned all felt like a distant dream now. Back there, I had built a life of power and wealth—a legitimate empire that thr
The room Lorenzo had shoved me into was plain, almost insultingly so, given the luxurious lifestyle I was used to. Four bare walls, a wooden bed with a thin mattress, and a small window with a view of endless trees. It was a prison dressed as simplicity. Lorenzo had gone out of his way to strip me of any comfort, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.I perched on the edge of the bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. Outside the small window, the thick woods stretched endlessly, a maze of greenery that seemed to mock any thought of escape.I had spent hours pacing the room, cursing under my breath, replaying every wrong turn that had brought me here. The sound of heavy boots against the wooden floor outside the door pulled me from my thoughts.The door swung open, and there he was—Lorenzo, towering and dangerous, his eyes dark and filled with calculated fury. He didn’t say a word at first, just stood there, holding his phone in one hand and a cold smirk on
I didn’t see it coming.The last time I saw Lorenzo, I was certain he was dead.Revenge drove me then. The fire in my veins wouldn’t let me stop until the Matrix was in ruins, just like they had ruined my family. It didn’t matter who stood in my way. Lorenzo, Anthony, the entire organization—they were all targets. Sydney had been my sanctuary for five years, a quiet haven where I rebuilt my life far from the chaos I once knew. I built walls around myself after it all ended, both literal and figurative with the billions my father left behind—his legacy of wealth and power—I crafted a world of luxury and independence at just the age of twenty-three.The casinos he once owned became a foundation, generating consistent revenue, but I didn’t stop there. I poured my resources into high-end fashion boutiques across Australia and Europe, luxury real estates, and even a thriving art gallery in Sydney. Every venture was legitimate, every dollar clean.My life in Australia was built to forget,
Five Years Later I’d had a strange feeling all day, like a dark cloud hanging over me. My instincts screamed that something bad was coming. It wasn’t a feeling I got often, but tonight, I couldn’t shake it. It was a drizzling night, and under normal circumstances, I would be tucked away in my luxury penthouse, sipping on a glass of wine. Instead I found myself stepping into Elite Emporium, an upscale boutique grocery store known for catering to the city's wealthiest clientele. My heels clicked against the polished marble floor as I approached the counter, my basket laden with the finest wines, imported chocolates and cheese, and delicacies most people couldn't even pronounce. The cashier, a poised young woman in a sleek black uniform, flashed me a practiced, polite smile. "That will be twenty five thousand dollars", she said, her tone smooth and professional. I handed her my sleek black card with a faint smile, though my hands trembled slightly. Something felt off tonight but I p