VINCENTIt had been a whole week, and I still couldn’t get Bella out of my head.She had been distant since the night I ignored her, and for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why.It wasn’t just avoidance. She refused to look at me. She hadn’t gone to school, barely ate, and spent every damn day locked in her room like the world outside didn’t exist.The last time I tried to approach her, it ended in disaster. She acted like I was invisible like my presence didn’t even register. The only time she reacted was when I reached out to touch her.She flinched. Hard.Like my touch was revolting. Like I was something she needed to get away from.I had walked out of her room that day, shaken in a way I couldn’t explain. But I hadn’t stopped trying.I made sure the maids prepared her favorite meals. Stocked the kitchen with her favorite snacks. Left little gestures to remind her that I was still there.She barely touched any of it.I didn’t know exactly what depression looked like, but what
VINCENT“Vincent!”The front door slammed open, and Bella’s excited voice rang through the house.“Vincent!”I barely had time to register the sound of her rushing footsteps before she appeared in the living room, practically bouncing with excitement.“I’m right here, Princess. You don’t have to scream my ears off,” I said lazily from my place on the couch.She didn’t care.With a bright grin, she launched herself onto the couch beside me, her energy filling the entire room.“Dramatic much?” I smirked, setting my phone aside. “Welcome back.”“You won’t believe what happened in school today!” she blurted out, eyes shining.I chuckled. It had been a week since she’d fully come back to being her usual, talkative self since things had gone back to normal. And honestly? I had missed this.“Stop staring and guess!” Bella nudged me, her expectant gaze locked onto mine.“You know I’m terrible at guessing,” I said, shaking my head. “Just tell me.”She huffed dramatically. “Fine, old man.”I sh
BELLA“He slapped my butt!” I yelled for the upteenth time since everybody was forgetting that fact and acting like I was the wrong one for slapping him, “he has no right to do that.”“I know Bella but you work at a bar, these type of things happen with the job and you just have to be reasonable, besides he is a VIP client.” A colleague at work responded.I was taken aback! What did they expect me to do? Stand there and let him touch me even after I had warned him twice to keep his hands to himself. It was bad enough that this was the only job I could find and I had to work my ass off to make enough money to pay for the rent and at the same time settle some of dad’s debts. That was the only thing keeping us alive because the kind of people he got involved with were always the dangerous kind that did not understand the word, please.I was standing beside the bar and waiting for my boss to step out of the VIP’s lounge. He had gone in there to pacify the customer I had slapped since he
BELLA I groaned softly as my eyelids fluttered open slowly. I winced in pain as the slight throbbing in my head turned serious and I couldn’t move as fast as I wanted to.It took a few seconds before I was able to keep my eyes open and take a good look around my surroundings. I was in an unfamiliar room and it wasn’t bright enough for me to take everything in but I knew one thing for sure, I wasn’t in my room.“Where am I?” I whispered to myself as I tried to sit up but something pulled me back down and that was when I noticed the chain and the fact that I had been tied to the bedpost.My heart skipped a beat as I struggled against the chain. I knew it was useless but I was panicking and unable to keep calm any longer. What was going on? I glanced around in fear just as the memories of what had happened earlier began to pop up in my mind.Dad was with some strange men, they had beaten him up badly and when I tried to stand up for him, Dad said something really odd and there was this
BELLAHe really had me locked up in the room like some animal. An entire day went by and he didn’t show up, the maids came up frequently with food but I simply refused to eat or touch anything.All I wanted was for them to just let me go. So when they brought breakfast the next day, I grabbed the table knife in the tray and held it out to them as I yelled at them to stay back.“I don’t want to hurt anyone, I just want to go home. I don’t belong here so let me out.”“You can’t just keep me in here like this when I didn’t do anything wrong. I won’t stop until you let me out.” I kept pleading with them to let me go but the maids kept saying the same thing: that it was their boss’s order that I wasn’t allowed to leave the room.I was so angry! Who did he think he was to take away my freedom like that?They tried to take the knife from me but were unsuccessful so one of the two maids slipped out to get help. I was certain he was going to show up and that was exactly what I wanted. “Let m
BELLA“There’s an event tonight and you’re coming with me,” I stated in an authoritative manner.“And why would I do that?” She shot me a glare.“You’re holding me here against my wish so why on earth would I go anywhere with you?” She clapped back at me angrily.“Because I said so.” I hissed, she opened her mouth to say something again and I just knew she was about to counter me so I grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to me.She tried to shake me off but I held her still by grabbing her chin roughly,“Don’t get me wrong, that wasn’t a request and for your own safety, when I say something, you fucking do it without making a single sound.”I had lost a drug shipment for a client and was not in the right frame of mind at that time plus I hated how she always fought back, she was supposed to be submissive. For a man like me that was used to people being afraid of me, she was definitely different.“So what am I to you? Some kind of puppet or what?” She countered. I scoffed in disbelie
BELLA GEORGECold sweat broke out on my forehead and I felt like I might faint as my heart started beating rapidly in my chest. I felt all the adrenaline melt away and fear take over.I could not bring myself to turn around and look at the person whose hands gripped mine so tightly. It could only be Vincent or his guards, and the thought terrified me.I would be dead before I even stepped outside, why was life so cruel to me?“What's a pretty lady like you doing so far away from the party?” A deep masculine voice cooed.I felt irritated as I turned around and came face-to-face with a gruff-looking man. He had a sweet smile on his face and I glared at him as I tried to pull my hand out of his hold.“I could ask you the same thing but I don't care. Now let go of my hand!” I angrily growled and he smirked as he tightened his hold and pulled me closer to him.He leaned towards my neck and I shivered as he took a whiff of my scent. His eyes clouded with an emotion I couldn't understand as
BELLAI can't live like this!This was not the life I wanted for myself. I had always wanted to take a break from all the hardship and just relax but this was far from what I had in mind.I was trapped in this house and I felt like a prisoner. Every moment of my life I had someone watching my back.I wasn't allowed to go anywhere and eyes were always following my every move.I can't keep staying like this! I need to get away from this house and Vincent. I refused to be treated like a commodity when I was my person.I needed to come up with a plan to leave this hell hole.I wrecked my brain as I paced around the room. I refused to acknowledge it as mine.“I need to go but how do I go about it without getting caught? I need to use my brain or I'll fall into a deeper mess.” I muttered under my breath.My face lit up when an idea crossed my mind. “How could I escape when I'm always confined in my room? It's just like in all the heist movies I've watched! The best way to go in and out of a
VINCENT“Vincent!”The front door slammed open, and Bella’s excited voice rang through the house.“Vincent!”I barely had time to register the sound of her rushing footsteps before she appeared in the living room, practically bouncing with excitement.“I’m right here, Princess. You don’t have to scream my ears off,” I said lazily from my place on the couch.She didn’t care.With a bright grin, she launched herself onto the couch beside me, her energy filling the entire room.“Dramatic much?” I smirked, setting my phone aside. “Welcome back.”“You won’t believe what happened in school today!” she blurted out, eyes shining.I chuckled. It had been a week since she’d fully come back to being her usual, talkative self since things had gone back to normal. And honestly? I had missed this.“Stop staring and guess!” Bella nudged me, her expectant gaze locked onto mine.“You know I’m terrible at guessing,” I said, shaking my head. “Just tell me.”She huffed dramatically. “Fine, old man.”I sh
VINCENTIt had been a whole week, and I still couldn’t get Bella out of my head.She had been distant since the night I ignored her, and for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why.It wasn’t just avoidance. She refused to look at me. She hadn’t gone to school, barely ate, and spent every damn day locked in her room like the world outside didn’t exist.The last time I tried to approach her, it ended in disaster. She acted like I was invisible like my presence didn’t even register. The only time she reacted was when I reached out to touch her.She flinched. Hard.Like my touch was revolting. Like I was something she needed to get away from.I had walked out of her room that day, shaken in a way I couldn’t explain. But I hadn’t stopped trying.I made sure the maids prepared her favorite meals. Stocked the kitchen with her favorite snacks. Left little gestures to remind her that I was still there.She barely touched any of it.I didn’t know exactly what depression looked like, but what
BELLAThe driver dropped me off at school, but the sinking feeling in my stomach still wouldn’t go away. I let out a slow breath, adjusting my bag on my shoulder as I quickened my pace through the gates.I needed to meet Santiago fast.Before I could get far, someone grabbed my arm. I flinched my pulse spiking, only to exhale in relief when I turned and saw Carmen.“Bella. Where is your head? I’ve been calling your name since you stepped through the gates,” she said, eyes narrowing in concern.“Sorry, I didn’t hear you,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.She didn’t look convinced. “Are you okay? You look a bit lost.”I groaned internally. Of course, she’d notice. Carmen was too perceptive for her good. And now I had to find a way out of this conversation without hurting her feelings.“I’m fine, Carmen, but I’m kind of in a hurry. Can we meet up in class?” I forced a smile, hoping she wouldn’t push.Her brow furrowed. “Where are you going? Classes start soon.”I gently pulled
THIRD POVSantiago’s jaw was clenched so tight it felt like it might snap. His fists curled at his sides as he paced the length of his office, his mind spiraling with anger. Vincent had stood right in his own home, his own territory, and dared to threaten him like he was nothing more than a disgusting street rat. The audacity of it burned in his chest like wildfire.The door to his office swung open, and he halted mid-step. His head snapped toward the intruder with a deep scowl on his face.Nathan stepped in, bowing slightly before straightening. “Boss,” he said, his voice calm despite the tension thick in the air. “What are you going to do now that Vincent knows about your plan to use Bella? He didn’t even seem fazed when he found out she went through his phone. It makes me wonder if there was anything valuable in there to begin with. What’s our next move?”Santiago’s frown deepened. Nathan had just voiced the very thoughts gnawing at his mind, but if there was one thing Santiago pri
VINCENT“Don! Wake up!”I felt hands gripping my shoulders, shaking me with a force that rattled my bones. A groan slipped past my lips as I weakly swatted them away.“Don! Vincent!”The voice cut through my drowsiness like a blade. It was familiar, urgent.“Bianchi?” I cracked one eye open, my vision blurring before slowly sharpening to the sight of my right-hand man hovering over me.My head pounded like a drum, heavy and sluggish as if my brain had been stuffed with cotton. I felt like I’d been hit by a truck.“If you weren’t breathing, I would’ve assumed you were dead,” Bianchi muttered, scanning me with wary eyes. “What the hell happened?”I yawned, stretching out my stiff limbs before dragging myself up to rest against the headboard. “What are you doing here?” My voice came out rough, hoarse.“I’ve been calling your phone for hours no answer. I asked the guards if you’d stepped out, and they said you hadn’t left your room all day.”I frowned. “All day? Stop being dramatic, Bianc
VINCENTSomething felt off.Bella had been talking nonstop since I started eating, filling the silence with rants and complaints about being stuck in the house. It wasn’t unusual, Bella loved to talk but there was something too deliberate about it. Like she was keeping me distracted.I eyed her suspiciously as she sighed dramatically. “I’m honestly tired of always being stuck in this house. I need to go outside, make friends, go to parties, and just do everything a college student should do.”I stabbed a piece of pancake with my fork. “I can take you out.” My tone was casual, dismissive.Bella snorted. “So I can end up getting kidnapped again? No, thank you.”She’s joking with me? I reminded myself. It’s Bella. She jokes about everything. Maybe she wanted to go back when we were comfortable just talking about everything while eating.“It’s not funny.” She gave me a pointed look. “I nearly died because you wanted to party. I wonder what would happen the next time you took me anywhere.”
VINCENTSantiago chuckled, the sound low and mocking as he stirred his soup slowly. His indifference only fueled my rage.“You always did enjoy being dramatic Vincent,” he mused, lifting the spoon to his lips. “Tell me, did you rehearse that little entrance, or does your anger just make you naturally a comedian?”I slammed my fist against the table, rattling his bowl and making a few people glance our way. He didn’t even flinch. If anything, he looked mildly entertained.“Don’t test me, Santiago.” My voice was filled with warning. “You think you can use that bastard as a shield? That you can hide behind that flimsy excuse of a father and walk away unscathed?” I leaned in, my voice a low snarl. “You don’t get to slip away this time, I know your fucking plans and I suggest you drop it.”Santiago sighed as if I were an annoying child rather than a man ready to rip his throat out. He dabbed the corner of his mouth with a napkin before meeting my glare with a smirk.“And what exactly do yo
THIRD POV“I told you she couldn’t be trusted,” Bianchi said, spreading a set of photographs across Vincent’s desk.“Take a look at this. That rat had the guts to do this right under our noses.” Bianchi pointed at a picture of Bella and Santiago in the school garden, his voice thick with disgust.“I just want to drag her here and get the truth out of her. What made her think she could betray us and still live comfortably with us? Look at her. So many different meetups, who knows how far she’s gone in executing whatever dirty plan that bastard hatched.” Bianchi seethed, his fingers curling into fists.Vincent didn’t say a word as he went through the pictures. His face was pulled into a deep scowl, his mind reeling. To say he was angry would be an understatement.There was nothing he hated more than betrayal. And the next thing was Santiago. He despised him, and everything that was connected to him. But he forced himself to think rationally, flipping through the images with a cold, calc
BELLA“No! Let me go, you bastard! You are a fucking molester. I’ll kill you!” I angrily yelled.“But your body is saying otherwise, Princess.” He moved his hand faster and the lewd sounds that filled the room made me burn in embarrassment.His voice was a low, sinful drawl against my ear. “Look at how tightly you’re wrapping yourself around me, how wet and welcoming your insides feel. Do you want to see just how much you long for me?”Vincent’s smirk was pure wickedness as he slowly withdrew his fingers from my aching hole. A shudder ran through me, the loss unbearable, but before I could even process it, he lifted his hand between us, his fingers glistening.Heat rushed to my face. I didn’t know if it was embarrassment, desire, or a dizzying mix of both. The air between us felt charged, thick with something dangerous and all-consuming.His grip tightened ever so slightly, holding me in place as his smoldering gaze locked onto mine. Without breaking eye contact, he brought his finger