MADELINE I experienced a familiar melody as I emerged from a state resembling a coma. The Spanish guitar music flowed through my mind, its beauty resonating within me. Descending the stairs at a leisurely pace, I relished in the sound for a precious few moments, savoring my own company. Gone were the disheveled shorts and oversized shirt; now clad in a fluffy robe, I felt a semblance of femininity. Even before entering the kitchen, the enticing aromas aroused my appetite, causing my mouth to water and my stomach to rumble. I hadn't realized just how hungry I was. The air was filled with the incredible scents of garlic, tomatoes, cilantro, and what seemed to be steak. Standing in the doorway, I observed him. He had changed his attire, now wearing tight black jeans and a fitting red polo that complemented him well. And he was humming. This was unlike him, and the contrast fascinated me, especially considering the presence of a gun discreetly tucked beneath his belt at the small of hi
"Then your father will face the consequences. It's as simple as that," he said, inching closer, waiting for my response. I clenched my fist tightly in my lap, determined not to fall into his trap again. Why did I still have feelings for this man? Everything was a game to him. "I genuinely don't know anything. You'll have to accept that. Punishing me won't get you the answers you're seeking. Not now, not ever." I felt a shift in my demeanor, perhaps at the wrong time. I caught a glimpse of true anger in his eyes, a familiar rage I had seen in my father many times before. However, Victor backed away, clenching his jaw and distancing himself from me, controlling his anger. "Tell me how your father convinced you to marry Ernesto," he demanded, his tone softer this time. He wasn't going to let this go. I could see it in his eyes that he was determined to push this, to press on to the matter until I give in. "My father surprised me by coming to America. We went out for lunch, and he men
"I'm simply a mourning son searching for the culprit behind this atrocious act," I heard the sarcasm dripping from Victor's voice. There was a pause before the officer cleared his throat. "I appreciate that, and I'll make a note of it in my report. I'll reach out to my contacts and see if I can gather any information. If you remember anything, please inform me." "Oh, I definitely will," Victor replied with a hint of bitterness. I heard footsteps receding, and I swiftly entered the room, closing the door quietly. It took at least ten minutes before Victor joined me, his demeanor appearing more worn and troubled than before. "Is everything alright?" I asked, concern lacing my voice. "Maybe. Let's continue where we left off," he responded, waiting for me as we descended the stairs. His mood had shifted once again, now solely focused on business. Fatigue was setting in. I wasn't prepared for more questions that I couldn't answer. He refilled our wine glasses, taking several sips bef
VICTOR Murder. That was the precise thought consuming my mind. I must admit, I despised acknowledging it, but any denial would be a blatant lie. Perhaps "vengeance" would be a more accurate term. Retribution. The urge clawed its way to the surface. "Grinder," I said quietly as we stood outside Dominick's house, "I've discovered Satori's whereabouts." I glanced briefly in his direction. "He's taken up residence in San Diego," Grinder continued, his voice low. "Of course he has." "I've sent a couple of soldiers down there. What do you want me to do?" "Keep a close watch on him. I want detailed reports on his every move, every visitor. I want to know everything, down to the most trivial details. When he eats, I want to know what he puts in his stomach." Grinder widened his eyes, clearly taken aback. He needed to get accustomed to seeing me in this state. "You don't want to proceed with... eliminating him?" "Not yet. I've received new information that needs to be verified. Ther
I hesitated for a moment, maintaining a stoic expression. The men in the room murmured to themselves, trying to adjust to the fact that I was now in charge. "We have business to take care of, and we have quotas to meet. That will happen, without excuses," I asserted firmly. "There will be no undermining of our operations. We will continue as if nothing has changed. Any information you gather must be reported immediately to Grinder or myself. Any delays or disruptions in shipments will be brought to my attention, and I will handle the responsible parties. All land transactions will go through me alone. If any developers try to back out, they need to understand the consequences. Is that clear?" I let the silence linger, uncertain of how my announcement was being received. They were smart enough to hide their true feelings. "Yes, boss," a few of them mumbled in response. "What about the hit?" Joey asked, breaking the silence. I looked directly at him. He had been around for years and r
I applied more pressure, attempting to regain control over my breathing and anger, even finding some satisfaction in witnessing the change of color on his face. After a few moments, a rational part of me intervened. What was I doing? I let go, swiftly taking a step back. I inhaled deeply, running my hands through my hair. Carlo bent over, coughing and gasping for a few seconds, his shoulders heaving. Once again, I approached him, speaking softly. "There was a doctor present, although I doubt this individual had any affiliation with the hospital. They were trying to finish the job." Carlo straightened up, his eyes watery as he rubbed his neck. "The doctor... told me... suggested that I..." Another fit of coughing interrupted him. I slammed my hand against the wall, attempting to release my fury. As a security guard appeared around the corner, heading in our direction, I gave him a look that froze him in his tracks. "Just a friendly discussion. I suggest you step away." The securit
Shane maintained his grip on my arm. "Don't make any reckless moves, Victor." I chuckled. "You know exactly who we're dealing with here." "That's what worries me," he replied, raising an eyebrow. "Now, give me a rundown of what happened." I recounted the events in detail, keeping a close eye on the doctors' actions. Shane sighed. "Not much to go on at the moment. I'll spread the information, but it seems like everyone is too afraid to talk. This is going to be a difficult situation to contain." "Yeah, I figured." The fear in their hearts was well-deserved. "Call me if you come across any other leads." Shane's voice lacked conviction. He knew I wouldn't seek his assistance. When I remained silent, he sighed again. "I mean it, don't do anything foolish. I'll send two officers up here. Your father will have constant protection." That is, until he was stable enough to be moved to a safer location. The assassin would keep coming until the job was done. That was their modus operandi.
"This is not solely about material gain. It concerns your safety," I insisted, determined to continue despite the growing intensity and adrenaline coursing through me. Only when her bottom turned a rosy shade of red did she finally relax in my arms, taking deep breaths. The realization that she could have been discovered or worse, killed, made me feel even more protective of her. Taking care of this captivating yet exasperating woman had not been part of my plans. But my body and emotions had betrayed me. "Fine. Whatever," she whispered. I continued to administer a few more smacks to her bottom until my hand began to ache, almost as much as my own desire. "But you don't believe me," I said, easing her against my chest and soothingly running my hand down her arms. "Why should I? Once you achieve your goals, you'll probably just eliminate me. You're filled with anger and bitterness. The rage consumes you," she said, managing to elbow me in the gut and slipping out of my grasp. Swiftl
I went for a drive to visit Stefan at the hospital before returning home. Upon entering the house, I immediately sensed its coldness and stillness. It seemed as though Emily had left, and although I would have been devastated, I couldn't bring myself to be angry. She deserved to have a happy life. With a heavy heart, I dropped my keys on the hallway table, finding it difficult to proceed further into my own lifeless dwelling. Without Emily, there was no love, no brightness. I made my way towards my office, and as I approached the open door, I froze. She had discovered the papers I had signed, another secret I had kept from her. Frustration welled up inside me. Then, a delightful aroma of vanilla and cinnamon caught my attention, emanating from the kitchen. Confused, I ventured closer, and my senses were greeted by additional scents that made my mouth water: garlic, tomatoes, onions, and the fragrance of fresh bread. Taking cautious steps, I continued towards the kitchen, and amidst
"Mmmm... And I love you," I replied, my heart filled with the weight of those words. We remained wrapped in each other's embrace for several minutes, and when he finally eased away, I felt an unexpected sense of emptiness, a subtle pang of loneliness. An irrational fear crept into my mind—that I would always worry about his return, that I would never feel completely safe. But as if he sensed my unease, he zipped up his jeans and gathered me into his arms, disregarding our disheveled state as he led me back to the living room. Tenderly, he settled me on the couch, pulling a blanket over my naked body. Then, he simply disappeared. Confusion and worry washed over me. Had I done something wrong? I waited anxiously for a few minutes, contemplating getting up from the couch, when he reappeared. In his hands, he held an open bottle of champagne and two crystal glasses. It was a moment of enchantment, especially coming from a man who claimed not to have a romantic bone in his body. He pour
I also came to understand that Rafael had his limits when it came to sharing details about his business and his involvement in certain matters. He had mentioned before that it was partly to protect me, although I couldn't be certain if it was solely due to a lack of trust. Regardless, I decided not to push the issue at that moment. Instead, I cherished the time we spent together, enjoying our dinners and the comfort of his embrace. Amidst the chaos of bullets and death, a realization nagged at me, refusing to be ignored. Sensing an opportunity to lighten the mood, I playfully said, "What if I promise that I'll never let that happen again?" Rafael pulled me up from the ground, a skeptical look on his face. "Do you honestly think I would fall for such a promise?" he replied. "Not at all. You're a wise old man," I teased, unable to suppress a grin. Despite his guarded nature, Rafael had shown me various facets of his personality, including his vulnerability. My love for him was profoun
EMILY Love. That single word had replaced the suffocating fear that had nearly drained me of the will to survive, even though thoughts of death still lingered. Despite being assured that the nightmare was over. From the moment that bastard had forcibly taken me from William's house, I had resigned myself to never seeing Rafael again. While the monster had not followed through on his threat, instead locking me away until he eventually dragged me to the club, I couldn't shake his cowardly face from my mind. But amidst the haunting images that I knew would fade with time, Rafael's heartfelt words echoed in my ears. The horror in his eyes when he laid eyes on me confirmed that he would move heaven and earth to find me, if need be. Curled up under a blanket on the couch, my legs tucked close to my chest, I gazed at the crackling fire he had built. The uncharacteristic cold snap had given him an excuse to pamper me with hot chocolate, the fire perpetually ablaze. I would never have exp
As I made my way towards the elevator, I noticed the attention I was receiving from those present in the club. Although some of my soldiers were discreetly positioned throughout the venue, it was much easier to identify the members of the Kadik gang with their leather jackets and dark jeans. I confidently approached a group of them, extending my arms. "I have an appointment with Konstantin." As I had expected, they conducted a search for weapons before allowing me to enter the empty elevator. The doors opened, and I could hear classical music playing from the speakers, an intriguing choice considering the nature of the individual I was about to meet. There he was, seated like a king, reclining in an opulent velour chair with one leg casually draped over the armrest. Dressed in a flowing white shirt and loose dark trousers, his appearance would have been almost comical if not for the underlying tension. "Konstantin Solntsevskaya," I greeted him, noting that Emily was nowhere to be s
He followed closely behind me, mirroring my confident stride. The time for this relentless war to reach its conclusion had arrived. And we were determined to emerge victorious. I inserted the drive into my computer, accessing the array of files it contained. "What are we up against?" Aleksei inquired, his customary vodka in hand. "Lists of names, supporters of our respective organizations," I replied. It was evident that someone had gone to great lengths, investing significant time and effort, to compile such an extensive and incriminating roster. "Blackmail," Miguel murmured, his voice barely audible. Indeed, it was a form of blackmail, but not the kind Armando had previously hinted at. "A weapon of sorts," Victor suggested. I glanced at him, acknowledging his insight. "You're correct. It targets those who work for us, placing them in impossible positions. They are left with no choice but to either yield or flee, eradicating crucial support from the police, city councils, atto
Despite the enjoyable moments we shared watching games and sharing drinks, we had neglected to engage in meaningful conversations. In all honesty, I found myself somewhat intimidated by him – his amiable nature, kindness, and passion for life, which was completely devoid of violence. Perhaps it was time to change that. "Hey there. I heard you're improving," I said, unsure if I expected him to open his eyes or not, but I sensed that he heard me. "Everything will be alright. Just know that I have my best men protecting you." All I heard in response were the various sounds of the machines. Frustrating. Swallowing hard, aware that I didn't have as much time as I would have liked, I held his hand tightly as a solitary tear rolled down my cheek. What had become of our family? "Anyway, I can't stay long, but I'll be back, alright?" There was no response, no acknowledgement of any kind. "Stefan, know that I love you, brother." I squeezed his hand once more, finally letting go. For some in
"Who? Who the hell took her?" Through a series of strained breaths, he managed to utter, "Ra..." Blood-tinged bubbles escaped his lips, followed by a violent cough that wracked his body. It was evident that time was running out for him. "Russian." A chill ran down my spine, and I bristled at the revelation. Axel could never be mistaken for a Russian. "Okay, just rest," I urged, despite the conflicting emotions within me. I realized that he might still hold valuable information. Refusing to release my arm, he tugged me down closer to him. "Desk. Look. Drive." I glanced towards his desk, trying to comprehend his words. "Take... it." "Alright." Rising to my feet, I walked over to his desk, methodically opening each drawer. Finally, I discovered a solitary jump drive. It had to be what he was referring to. Returning to his side, I held the drive in front of his face. "Is this what Lucas was going to give Emily?" "Ya... yes. A copy." He began coughing up more blood, his chest heaving
The others looked on silently, aware that the day had come when we would have to reveal our secret meetings. There was no avoiding it any longer. "Then we work together until this is resolved, regardless of the consequences," I declared. Each person in the room nodded in agreement. We had received assistance and information, but what we faced was unprecedented. The fact that sworn enemies had formed an alliance meant someone knew we were working together, and they saw it as a weakness. But we knew better. We were a formidable force, and we had much to lose if we failed, especially the safety of our loved ones. After ending the call with Dante, I walked away from the others, dialing the number again to relay the necessary information to my father. It was a futile gesture, as I knew he would never forgive his impulsive son. "Dante, things are getting intense. We need to organize the soldiers immediately," I said urgently. "Rafael, we have a problem," Dante replied, his voice laced w