A scream broke the quiet night. Nicholas jolted awake, alert suddenly. His thought was of one person. Alison.He reached for his gun as he heard another scream, louder than the first.He rushed out of his office and dashed towards Alison's room. He could still remember their argument. Damn, he shouldn't have left her alone. He kicked the door open with so much force.No one, he didn't see anyone in the room, and for the first time,, he felt a feeling he didn't think he would feel for a long time.Fear.His eyes drifted to the broken window and the remnant glasses on the floor.She was gone. Alison was gone. He caught sight of blood on the floor. She was injured. Those assholes hurt her, he was going to make them pay. The hands that dared her hurt her, be it whoever Adrian or whatever.His mind was racing as he stared at the blood. He could feel himself getting furious. Now wasn't the time to lose control, he had to find her and whoever took her.He called one of the men who was suppos
Nicholas stared at the almost lifeless body in his arms. His heart nearly stopped beating when she fell into his arms. The image triggered a memory,but a different time, different person, similar situation, and striking resemblance. Alison wasn't going to; he wouldn't let that happen. He ignored the chaos and fighting from the men and picked her up. She needed to be taken to the hospital. He knew it was risky considering they were in the run but that was the only option. "I'll get Luca," Tristan said, aid probably sensing how lost Nicholas was. Luca was a doctor who also helped if any of the gang members got injured. Soon Alison was out of his arms and was being attended to. He didn't want to leave her with Luca but something was really bothering him. He left her with Tristan before going to meet the men who abducted her. He marched towards them with a burning fury in his chest threatening to burst. The men were already tied up and injured. He brought out a sharp knife from his pock
Alison woke up again, she didn't know when she fell asleep again. She didn't see Nicholas which made her to feel panicked till she saw him lying on the couch. It looked a little odd considering his tall frame. She didn't know where they are. She monitored the unfamiliar room with intent trying to know whether she could guess the place.She stared at Nicholas again, she got off the bed and moved closer to him. A half blanket covered him.His gun was kept to his side. He looked so....tired yet still handsome. This was the first time she has ever seen him sleep.He looked so gorgeous. Alison watched me closely. He looked different. He seemed more... human unlike before. She walked back to her bed sitting on it. She glanced at the half glass of water placed on the table remembering how he took care of her.She wondered why he chose to be in the same room with her. He could have gone to another room. But he didn't. He was still here.A voice in her mind was reminding her she looked like his
Allison's life changed with just a brush stroke.She sat in her chair surrounded by a familiar chaos of unfinished canvases and splattered paint tubes in her small studio apartment. Her new project, Sunset View, half-finished, lay on the easel. She dipped her brush into a touch of pink and orange letting the colors bleed into each other. She smiled at her nearly finished creation. Painting was her only way of escaping reality. It was like freeing herself from the hard reality of life.But even it couldn't shield her from what happened next.A loud noise from outside distracted her. She ignored it and continued painting but the noise persisted. Curiosity filled her and she found herself walking to her open window.Below her apartment lay a dark alley, a kind of place people normally avoided in the nighttime. She saw a trashcan roll from the side. She traced her eyes in that direction, and she saw two men heavily tattooed, their hands holding the arms of a man kneeling before them with
Nicholas stared at the unconscious girl sleeping in the passenger seat. He injected her with something to make her unconscious.He hated loose ends which was why he had no idea why he was planning on doing what he was about to do.Even while asleep, she braced herself in such a way that she was ready to fight even though it was pretty obvious she wasn't going to win.Nicholas felt his phone buzz in his trousers. He grabbed his phone from his pockets. It was a text from Adrian Castellano.“What's the update-is it done“Still confirming loose ends” He typed before putting down his phone. He knew he was probably making a mistake. It was foolish to lie or betray the Castellanos, especially Adrian. A part of him was telling him to hand her over to Adrian and not make things complicated but it couldn't help feeling it was a big mistake. He knew Adrian would hurt her, not that he cared; she is practically a stranger to him, and he's been killing the Castellanos for years.But he couldn't sh
Alison stood still, her breath halting in her throat. The faint noise of footsteps near the cabin sent a chilling shiver down her spine. She clutched the sides of the sofa, her mind racing. Nicholas had vanished into the hallway, leaving her to confront whatever—or whoever—was awaiting her. The shadow moved once again, gliding past the window. Alison felt her heart beating faster as the soft sound of crunching leaves grew louder. She gulped nervously, her instincts screaming at her to remain quiet. However, the footsteps came to a halt. The abrupt quiet was more frightening than the sound. She focused her hearing, paying close attention, but the only sound she detected was her own shallow breath. The seconds dragged on like hours. There was a gentle tap at the door. Her body tensed, and she fixed her gaze on the door, yearning for it to remain closed. Whoever was outside hadn’t arrived for a pleasant visit. “Open up,” a deep voice called from the other side. It wasn't Nicholas.
The gunshot rang out, deafening the silence of the night. Alison flinched, her hands moving to cover her ears to prevent the penetrating sound. The body let out a thud as it touched the ground.Nicholas stood frozen in the doorway, the gun still raised. The man lay on the floor, blood streaming from him, his gun half-drawn.“Stay there,” Nicholas said, not even sparing her a glance.Alison’s chest rose as she tried to take in what had just happened. Nicholas stepped over the body, scanning the darkness beyond the cabin. His movements were deliberate, and each step he made was very calculated.He put down his weapon after a long pause. He turned to her, his expression completely unreadable.“He came alone,” he said flatly, shutting the door.Alison was still dumbfounded. With how the night went, she should have expected it but she couldn't help feeling surprised. “You… you, you killed him”Nicholas’s gray eyes locked into her. “ He was going to kill you or worse”His words sent chills
It became even more terrifying to Son when the headlights behind started to beam in the mirrors; Alison felt fear gripping her as she held onto her seat so tightly.“We’re being followed.” Alison’s voice wobbled from fear. “I know,” He replied, his jaws clenched as he glanced into the rearview mirror. He pressed the gas harder and the car let out a frightened roar in response as it moved faster. The pooling of thick clouds rolling across a soft bluish light illuminated the curvy and hilly streets allowing them to take sharp turns. “Who could it be?” “Adrian’s men,” Nicholas curtly responded, “they must have tracked us somehow.” Alison’s mind raced in unison with her heartbeat. She thought they could at least be safe for a little while. She didn't expect to be in danger immediately. “What now?”Nicholas’s expression became glum. “We won't get caught.” The car behind increased its speed, the lights blinding. Alison could feel the fury radiating from Nicholas as he worked out their
Alison woke up again, she didn't know when she fell asleep again. She didn't see Nicholas which made her to feel panicked till she saw him lying on the couch. It looked a little odd considering his tall frame. She didn't know where they are. She monitored the unfamiliar room with intent trying to know whether she could guess the place.She stared at Nicholas again, she got off the bed and moved closer to him. A half blanket covered him.His gun was kept to his side. He looked so....tired yet still handsome. This was the first time she has ever seen him sleep.He looked so gorgeous. Alison watched me closely. He looked different. He seemed more... human unlike before. She walked back to her bed sitting on it. She glanced at the half glass of water placed on the table remembering how he took care of her.She wondered why he chose to be in the same room with her. He could have gone to another room. But he didn't. He was still here.A voice in her mind was reminding her she looked like his
Nicholas stared at the almost lifeless body in his arms. His heart nearly stopped beating when she fell into his arms. The image triggered a memory,but a different time, different person, similar situation, and striking resemblance. Alison wasn't going to; he wouldn't let that happen. He ignored the chaos and fighting from the men and picked her up. She needed to be taken to the hospital. He knew it was risky considering they were in the run but that was the only option. "I'll get Luca," Tristan said, aid probably sensing how lost Nicholas was. Luca was a doctor who also helped if any of the gang members got injured. Soon Alison was out of his arms and was being attended to. He didn't want to leave her with Luca but something was really bothering him. He left her with Tristan before going to meet the men who abducted her. He marched towards them with a burning fury in his chest threatening to burst. The men were already tied up and injured. He brought out a sharp knife from his pock
A scream broke the quiet night. Nicholas jolted awake, alert suddenly. His thought was of one person. Alison.He reached for his gun as he heard another scream, louder than the first.He rushed out of his office and dashed towards Alison's room. He could still remember their argument. Damn, he shouldn't have left her alone. He kicked the door open with so much force.No one, he didn't see anyone in the room, and for the first time,, he felt a feeling he didn't think he would feel for a long time.Fear.His eyes drifted to the broken window and the remnant glasses on the floor.She was gone. Alison was gone. He caught sight of blood on the floor. She was injured. Those assholes hurt her, he was going to make them pay. The hands that dared her hurt her, be it whoever Adrian or whatever.His mind was racing as he stared at the blood. He could feel himself getting furious. Now wasn't the time to lose control, he had to find her and whoever took her.He called one of the men who was suppos
Nicholas could barely sleep that night.The image of Alison pressed against the wall with pure anger in her eyes kept interrupting his sleep. Damn it. He shouldn't be thinking about her, he had more pressing matters to deal with.He shouldn't have gotten that close to her. Or touched her in the first place. The look in her eyes stirred something in him. Something he didn't want to feel more like wouldn't accept himself to feel. He nearly lost control and it terrified him.His control was the only thing keeping them alive at the moment. He couldn't afford to lose it.He didn't know what Adrian was planning and he suspected he had something to do with the symbol. He wasn't sure but that was all he could come up with for now. He didn't need Alison digging around. It would just get her killed or force him to do things he wasn't ready for.He couldn't afford for that to happen.Yet... he found himself thinking about her even though he tried to hide it.He loved how she challenged him and
The night passed with Alison experiencing no sleep. Frustration wove through her thoughts as she lay in bed staring at the ceiling. The way Nicholas was acting was still on her mind. It made her uneasy. He had pulled back once again just when she thought she was drawing nearer to him. The silence in the house felt eerie. It was as if the world beyond her bedroom had vanished. Something was definitely wrong. She suddenly sat up from the bed and ran a hand through her hair. The tension in the house was already suffocating, how could she lie here and act as if nothing was happening? She had already made her choice before she had had time to think it through. If Nicholas doesn't tell her anything, she is going to find out for herself. She got up quietly and padded across the room toward the door, swinging her legs over the bed. She slowly opened it and looked into the dark corridor. She felt a slight excitement. She shouldn't have been out here.Her bare feet hardly made a sound on the c
Alison could tell something was clearly wrong. She sensed a shift with how Nicholas was behaving but she couldn't place a finger on what it was.Nicholas definitely wasn't acting like himself, not that she knew well enough to actually know he's like. But she knew something happened to him. He's like he was waiting for someone to burst right through the door. He was colder than ever all of a sudden. Things were just going well between them. She wondered where the change came from.He was paranoid,he didn't let her go outside. She now had her training at the basement and she did them alone. He was more distant. She was sure something happened and it terrified her for some reason. She knew Nicholas wouldn't tell her anything. When has he ever told her anything?He was constantly working in his office and making a bunch of calls. She didn't know the kind of work but she imagined something dreadful. She noticed he was busier than before. She rarely sees him, mostly when she eats breakfast.
The light turned on in the warehouse as soon as Adrian entered, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the room with every steps he took. His men were ready, their weapons positioned to shoot if needed. The message he received was simple: We need to talk.Adrian wasn't the type to be summoned, he summons people, no one dare summons him maybe that was why he found the message intriguing. This was no ordinary informant. This person knew Nicholas and they knew him well.A figure stepped into the light emerging from the shadows. The man had a relaxed posture and was fully clothed in dark clothings. Adrian's eyes narrowed. He had anticipated a low-level mole, an unnamed traitor. Not the person he was seeing.The man before him was thought to be dead. Luke. It took a while before Adrian spoke, studying him for signs of deceit. Adrian folded his arms with ease and remarked, "So," he paused "You're the one feeding me information from.”Luke smirked. “Took you long enough to figure it out.”Adri
Nicholas didn't sleep at all. He couldn't allow himself to sleep. He guarded the window, his eyes glued outside in search of any movement or hidden shadows. The symbol craved in Alison's window was plainly on his mind. He knew they were watching, they were waiting and Nicholas was ready for them whenever they were ready to strike.The hours dragged on yet nothing happened. No movement or attack at all. Just pure silence. This was the hardest part. The certainty that something was meant to happen but nothing was happening at all.By morning, the house remained untouched. Nicholas understood assuming they were out of danger would be a big mistake. The moment he was about to sleep, his phone let out a buzz. It was the same number.Unknown Number: You didn’t sleep, did you? His fingers tightened around the phone. Whoever was behind this wanted to mess with him. They wanted to make him doubt his own security.Unknown Number: Nicholas, you're slipping. You can't keep her safe forever.He a
Nicholas's grip tightened around his phone as he reread the messages. “You don't know how close we are.”He stared into his phone as the word reverberated in his ears. The statement was straightforward, but it was as if a knife had been driven into his heart.As he inhaled, his jaw tightened as he felt repressed wrath wanting to surface. This person wasn't merely making fun of him. It served as a warning. It was more like a statement. They were aware of her she was here. Could it be Adrian? Adrian don't bother using a burner phone. He texts him directly.Nicholas was aware he had so many people. He had killed a lot of people and he wouldn't be surprised if their loved ones goes out seeking revenge. He doesn't have time to think whether it was Adrian or not. Whoever it was. They are probably on their way by now Nicholas's first impulse was to summon his men and order everyone in the vicinity to return right away.However, he stopped himself. No. Adrian could not afford to alert his sold