Antonio dragged the man to his feet, pushing him towards River, who stood up slowly, his body shaking either from rage or loss, it was hard to tell. As the man stumbled in front of him, River stared into his eyes, searching for any sign of remorse. There was none."Look at her!" River roared, pointing at Ellie's body. "Look at what you've done!"The man's eyes darted toward Ellie, then quickly away, but not before a flash of satisfaction flickered across his face.That was all River needed. He lunged forward, grabbing the man by the collar and connecting his fist with the man's jaw.The man groaned. Blood trickled down his nose, but the smirk on his face didn't change.River pulled back his fist and struck the man again. And then again."River! Stop!" Antonio intervened, pulling him back. "Not here."He paused, breathing heavily, his fist still raised. Slowly, the fire in his eyes dimmed as he looked over at Ellie again."You're right," River said hoarsely, turning away from his capti
Valerie was overcome by grief. Ellie was not just a sister-in-law to her. She was also her best friend. They had been friends since high school, she was River's first love and now...She was gone.Will River be okay? Valerie sobbed at her brother's loss. And the kids. Oh my god, they lost their mother!She had tucked Tiffany and Lucas into their beds. They were all cried out for the night, and exhaustion slowly took over them. And now, she was standing outside of their closed door, contemplating."Mi amore." Antonio's voice brought her back.She looked at him with her eyes full of tears. "What will happen to River and the kids? How will they cope?"Antonio stroked her cheek. "It will get easier with time. And we will be there for them."Valerie nodded. "I am sorry."Antonio lifted his brow. "For what?""I can't help but feel responsible for Ellie's death. She died because...because she tried to save me," she choked out.Antonio suddenly bent down and lifted Valerie into his arms, crad
Valerie stepped out into the crisp air and looked around the area. There was nothing but woods all around them.They decided to have their honeymoon by the lake, away from the city. Nothing fancy, nothing big, just simple peace and quiet. That's what Valerie needed.Antonio closed the door behind them. Valerie looked around the room, her eyes drinking in the simplicity of the rustic decor, the quilt-covered armchairs, and the braided rugs."Feels like we can breathe here," Antonio murmured.Valerie nodded, feeling the truth of his words settle around her heart. "Are you sure it's okay to leave the children behind?"It had been two weeks since the incident at the wedding. During those two weeks, Both Antonio and River had their men watch them like hawks. During that time, Valerie felt like a prisoner but she didn't want to risk going outside either."No one had attacked the house for the past weeks and we still have them guarded. They will be fine for two days, trust me," Antonio said.
River's heart pounded in his chest like a caged animal desperate for escape."I will punish him for you, Ellie," he whispered to himself, his breath a thin mist in the cold air. His mind was a whirlwind of memories - her laughter, her smile, her touch. But now, all that remained were the haunting echoes of their love, and the bitter taste of vengeance consuming him from within."Ellie," he said again, louder this time. "I will find justice for you. I swear it."The prisoner's silhouette was barely visible, chained to a chair in the farthest corner of the dimly lit basement. River could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he approached."Tell me," River began, his voice low but firm, "why did you attack Antonio?"The prisoner lifted his head slowly, revealing a face bruised from earlier interrogations. His eyes locked onto River's with a cold, unyielding defiance."None of your business," the man spat.River clenched his fists, feeling the anger building inside him. He took a deep
Valerie settled into her new routine at the mansion. It had been four months, and things had been quiet since their wedding night, and there had been no more problems.The mansion was still and serene, but there was a lingering sense of emptiness that Valerie couldn’t ignore. After a month of living with her, River sent Tiffany to a prestigious boarding school. The decision, though necessary, left a void in Valerie’s life. At least he was allowing Lucas to live with her since he was only five years old.She missed Tiffany’s presence. She was so much like her mother, Ellie. But Valerie understood that the school would be good for her. Tiffany needed to be far from where her mother was killed. She needed to heal.Antonio was devoted to her and Landon as always. He tried to do things to cheer her up, but Valerie still felt gloomy.“You alright, mi amore?” he asked as he watched her play with her scrambled eggs.“Yes,” she said quietly.“Are you lying to me?” he asked.Her eyes snapped up
River kicked at Marco's jaw again.Marco groaned, slowly coming to as River towered over him, eyes cold as ice. Blood trickled from the traitor's broken nose, pooling on the grimy concrete. River seized the front of Marco's shirt, hauling him up to stare directly into those dazed, fearful eyes."Start talking," River growled through clenched teeth. "I want to know everything about Alexander Torres and his operation. Now."Marco coughed, crimson spattering his lips. "I'll tell you nothing," he spat defiantly, though his voice shook. "You think I'm scared of you?"A humorless smile twisted River's mouth. "Oh, you will be."With ruthless efficiency, he set to work, each calculated blow fueled by the searing pain of loss. Images of Ellie's lifeless casket being lowered into the earth, flashed through his mind as his knuckles split and bones cracked beneath them.After enduring a relentless barrage of beatings for what felt like an eternity, Nolan finally broke down and confessed the ident
The heavy oak door splintered under River’s boot as he stormed into Alexander’s sprawling mansion. His heart pounded with pure adrenaline, blood roaring in his ears.Following the sound of music and laughter, River burst into the main hall. An extravagant engagement party was in full swing. They all looked so happy. Happiness that River forgot how to feel.Then the screams began.Guests frantically dove for cover as River advanced, his eyes wild with barely contained rage. How dare Alexander celebrate while Ellie lay cold in her grave? The bastard’s time had run out.Scanning the panicked crowd, River caught no sign of his target. Alexander was a coward, no doubt slinking away to safety while his innocent guests took the fall. But there would be no escape this time.“Where is Alexander Torres?” River bellowed, his deep voice cutting through the din. “Show yourself, you spineless piece of sh**!”An older man in a tuxedo stepped forward, hands raised in supplication. “Please, señor, I b
Being kidnapped was not as exciting as the books and movies made it sound.That was what Riley Torres thought when she was thrown into a tiny room after a long drive.Okay, she WAS terrified the first half hour of the kidnapping. But after sitting in the car for who knows how long and then in this room for an even longer period of time, she was starting to feel rather...Bored.Riley looked around the dimly lit room, noting the lack of any remarkable features. The walls were a bland beige, the floor was a cracked concrete, and the only furniture was a rickety old chair in the corner. She sighed and rolled her eyes."Seriously? This is what kidnapping looks like? I was expecting a bit more... flair," she muttered to herself.She glanced at the door, which had been shut with a rather anticlimactic thud. "He didn't even bother with a dramatic slam," she thought, feeling slightly insulted by the lack of enthusiasm from her captor.Apparently, he was some big-shot Mafia boss. Well, so was
Lucas turned to Amy and smirked. “Well…”Amy raised an eyebrow. “Well?”Lucas sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Some date night, huh?”Amy let out a laugh that was half-exhaustion, half-hysteria. “Oh yeah. Kidnapping, gunfights, your sister going all James Bond on us. Is this really what your life is like?” she asked, sinking onto a nearby sofa.Lucas sat beside her, close enough that their shoulders touched. “Not usually this dramatic.”“Says the man who kidnapped me the first time we met,” Amy pointed out.“That was a special circumstance,” he defended with a small smile.Amy leaned her head against his shoulder. “I should be running for the hills right now.”“Are you going to?” he asked softly.She turned to look at him, her eyes meeting his. “Not after your confession. Did you really mean it?”Lucas’s face. “I meant what I said back there, Amy. I love you.”Amy put her arms around him, drawing him closer. “When did you know?”Lucas leaned down and brushed his lips over hers
Taking a deep breath, Lucas reached for the bar. His hand hesitated for only a second before he pushed it.The door groaned open, and for a split second, neither of them breathed.No alarm.Lucas let out a sharp exhale and grabbed her hand. “Move.”They bolted outside into the chill night air, the sharp scent of gasoline and metal in the wind. The alley was empty, dimly lit by a single flickering streetlamp at the far end.“Which way?” Amy whispered, adrenaline surging through her veins.Lucas pointed left. “There’s a road a few blocks down. If we can make it there, we can steal a car or flag someone—”A gunshot cracked through the air, splintering the bricks near their heads. They both ducked instinctively, pressing themselves against the side of the building.“They know,” Amy gasped.Lucas clenched his jaw. “Run.”They took off, weaving through trash bins and broken crates. Another shot rang out, ricocheting off metal behind them.“STOP! Or I will shoot your head this time!” A voice
Lucas shifted in his chair, the zip ties digging into his wrists as he avoided her gaze. “Not exactly the most romantic setting for this conversation.”“I think we’re past worrying about ambiance,” Amy said dryly. “So?”He exhaled slowly. “I was going to say… I love you, Amy.”No one said anything for a while.“You… what?” Amy finally asked.“I love you,” he repeated, his voice steadier now. “Have for a while. It’s why I couldn’t stand seeing you with Asa. Why I acted like such an idiot.” He gave a short, self-deprecating laugh. “And now I’ve gotten you kidnapped by the mafia. Stellar boyfriend material.”Amy blinked rapidly, processing his words. “You love me.”“Yes.”“And your way of showing it was to tell me to kiss another man?”Lucas winced. “It was a stupid thing to say.”“So you stalked my date and then jumped me in a bathroom to prove it?” she asked, unable to hide her amusement. And her happiness.“When you put it that way…”“And now we’re tied to chairs in some abandoned war
Amy and Lucas were marched across the parking lot toward a black SUV with heavily tinted windows. Two more men in suits opened the rear doors.“Ladies first,” Scar-face sneered, shoving Amy forward.“Touch her again and I’ll kill you,” Lucas growled, the threat so cold and certain that even the thug hesitated.“Big words for a man in zip ties,” Baldy laughed.They were forced into the backseat, the leather cool and buttery soft against Amy’s bare legs. The door slammed behind them. The bearded man slid into the passenger seat while Scar-face took the wheel.“Where are you taking us?” Amy asked, her voice steadier than she felt.No one answered.Lucas shifted closer to Amy, his bound hands awkwardly seeking hers. When their fingers touched, she clung to him, drawing strength from the contact.“I’m sorry,” he whispered, so quietly only she could hear. “I never wanted you involved in this.”“Involved in what, exactly?” she whispered back.Before Lucas could answer, the bearded man turned
Amy knew she should stop this madness. They were in a public bathroom, for God’s sake, with her date sitting just outside. But Lucas’s fingers were working magic, and rational thought was rapidly abandoning her.“This doesn’t change anything,” she gasped as he slid one finger inside her, her hands still fumbling with his zipper.Lucas smirked against her neck. “Doesn’t it?”“No,” she insisted, even as her body arched into his touch. “You can’t just—oh!—show up and expect me to—”He curled his finger just right, and whatever argument she was building dissolved into a soft moan.“What was that?” he murmured, adding a second finger.“You are insufferable,” she managed to say, finally getting his zipper down.Lucas chuckled, the sound vibrating against her skin. “And you’re still on a date with the wrong man.”He entered her in one smooth thrust, swallowing her cry with his mouth. The feeling of fullness, of rightness, was overwhelming. Amy clung to him, her nails digging into his shoulde
“Oh, Hi, Harpy,” Lucas said casually as he leaned against the closed door.He drove as fast as he could to get there, and he would not leave until he got a real answer from Amy. He was tired of playing games.“Lucas. What the actual fuck? You can’t be here. This is the women’s restroom,” Amy hissed.“Actually. This is a unisex bathroom,” Lucas declared.“It doesn’t matter!” she screeched.Lucas moved fast, and soon, he was towering over her, pressing his palm to muffle her voice. “Shh…you want us to get caught?”Amy’s golden hazel eyes widened above his palm. She pried his fingers away from her mouth.“Caught?” she whispered fiercely. “You’re the one barging into bathrooms like some deranged stalker! How did you even know I was here?”Lucas ran a hand through his hair. “I had someone watch you.”“You had someone—” Amy closed her eyes briefly. “You are insane.”“How could you kiss him?” Lucas asked abruptly, his jaw clenching.Amy stared at him, incredulous. “Are you kidding me right n
Asa paused before getting in the car and looked at Amy, a small smile teasing his lips.“What?” Amy narrowed her eyes and asked.“You’ve got something in your hair,” Asa said, reaching out to pluck a tiny piece of confetti from her curls. “Looks like the victory fountain at the eighteenth hole got a little enthusiastic.”Amy touched her hair self-consciously. “Is there more?”“No, just that one.” His fingers lingered near her temple for a heartbeat longer than necessary.Amy felt a flutter in her chest that had nothing to do with the strange man who’d been following them. “Thanks for getting it.”“No problem,” he said. “I’m having a really good time,” Asa said, his voice genuine.“Me too,” Amy said.“I’ve been wanting to ask you out for a while.”“You have?” Amy couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice.“Since the day you helped me carry groceries up the stairs when the elevator broke. You were wearing paint-splattered overalls and complaining about your sister borrowing your car wit
“What are they doing now, Jimmy?” Lucas texted the man he hired to spy on Amy and Asa.Lucas stared at his phone as the message sent, his fingers tapping impatiently against the edge of his desk. His thoughts churned, the irritation growing with every passing second.His phone buzzed with a reply.Jimmy: They’re still on the mini golf course. No sign of anything strange. They’re just playing, talking, looks like having fun. She seems relaxed.Lucas narrowed his eyes, his mind racing.Lucas: Keep watching. I want to know if they kiss.Jimmy: They are on the last hole now. Looks like they’re finishing up. Could be wrapping up soon.Lucas: I want to know everything. Stay close, don’t miss anything.He stared at the screen, watching the little dots indicating Jimmy was typing. The delay felt agonizing, each second stretching longer than the last. Finally, the message came through.Jimmy: They are finishing up now. No kiss yet, though. She’s laughing at something he said. Looks like a prett
Amy paced across the bedroom.Seventeen steps to the window, pivot, fifteen steps back to the mirror. Her new sundress swished around her knees – impulse purchase, one size too optimistic. Twenty-seven minutes until he arrived. Twenty-six, actually. The clock on her microwave was fast.“You are a grown woman,” she told her reflection, which stared back with unconvinced eyes. “You’ve been on dates before.”“Why am I so nervous?” she asked herself in the mirror. “It’s just Asa, your nice neighbor.The sundress was yellow – “Daffodil Dream” according to the tag – with tiny white flowers scattered across the fabric like stars on a summer night.She’d spent forty-three minutes and all her remaining dignity in the fitting room deciding between this one and a blue number that made her look like a corporate retreat brochure. The yellow won because it didn’t take itself too seriously. Amy wasn’t sure she could say the same about herself right now.Amy paused at the window, fingers fidgeting wi