Brinda's POV
“…That’s it. There’s nothing more I can do.” Dr. McMasters’ voice was calm—too calm—like the words didn’t just tear through the last thread of my sanity.
My vision blurred, not from tears—those had long dried up—but from the sheer weight of his finality.
It felt like he had just sealed my fate.
Have you ever been in a situation where it feels like everything you’ve ever known—everything you’ve ever loved—is slipping away right before your eyes?
Have you ever had a near-death experience so real, so raw, that you looked up and asked the heavens why you were still here?
Have you ever searched for answers or for a way out of the storm in your soul—only to find silence?
That… is life.
That… is fate.
Yours can never be mine, and mine can never be yours—not even if we share the same blood. Not even if we were born on the same day.
No matter how hard we try, fate always takes its course—leading us either to destruction or to salvation.
The truth can be buried in the darkest grave. Flesh can burn in the cruelest of flames. But reality… reality always rises. And when it does, it comes to collect.
“You need to start looking for the money, Brinda. There's nothing much the hospital can do.” He said, his voice dropping drastically. I watched closely enough to see that he couldn't stop the tears that he was trying so hard to control.
“Please… I have no one. Who will I turn to?” I asked him, my voice gentle.
“I can't help you. You've just worked with us for a month. Your salary can't cover it nor can the hospital cover your expenses. You have to find a way to save your mother yourself.”
The room fell dead as he threw his words at me before he staggered into his personal bathroom while I gripped the hem of my scrub.
My knees buckled as the door shut behind him. I stood there, caught in a silence so thick it choked me. My thoughts spiraled—how do you process the kind of news that rips your soul from your body?
I pressed my back against the cold wall, willing myself to breathe. My mother... The one person I had left in this world. And now…
She has just been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A condition so cruel, it crushes your lungs while you’re still alive. And she needs surgery. Seventy-two hours. That’s all I’ve been given.
A month ago, I started working in Greenfield hospital after my graduation from college. I was hoping to receive my salary then go on some shopping spree with my mother but that was a dream that would never come true.
Earlier today, I ended my shift and bought some food on my way home. Stepping into the living room, I met my mother coughing and holding on tight to her chest at the same time.
I had to rush her to the hospital here only to be told she has COPD.
And whose fault is it?
Mine!
I had not paid much attention to her for the past few days. I have been so preoccupied with work that I barely had time to focus on her though I noticed that she had lost some weight.
With no family, no friends, no accomplice, I picked up my phone and headed to the ward where my mother was laid but when I got to the entrance, I couldn't enter. The tears that had dried up inside me began to flow out and I covered my mouth to stop me from shouting before I stormed out of the hospital.
Everything is coming to an end…
My breath quickened as I ran further from the hospital building. I headed towards the main road at full speed and when I was about to cross the road, a familiar hand pulled me back.
I bit his hand, instructing him to leave me alone and let me do what I had in mind but he wouldn't. He just remained calm as usual while I dug my teeth into his flesh.
“It's okay. Bite me as much as you can.” Peter whispered his soft manly voice into my ears.
I let out a sigh as I got my sanity back. I pushed back from his body before I covered my mouth with my hands while I stepped backward.
“I'm sorry.”
That was all I could say before I darted towards the main road again but he pulled me back into his warm arms.
“It will be fine.” He muttered, his voice soothing like that of a baby just learning how to speak.
I almost lost a footing but he was able to grab me and carry me in his arms to the nearby roadside eatery. We sat in the dimly lit room before I started to sneeze. He offered me a handkerchief.
“I know you must be devastated with the news. But it's not the end, Brinda.” He wrapped his hands around mine as he crouched down beside me. “You have to live well.”
“I can't let her die.” I teared up again.
“She may not be your biological mother, but she’s the one who raised you. She picked you up from a junkyard when no one else would. She ran with you, hid you, and sacrificed everything for you.”
Peter’s eyes held mine, unwavering. “She didn’t just try her best, Brinda… she became your mother. Through every tear, every scar, every struggle… she made you hers. And if you want her to survive, then you must live to find a solution, right?”
I nodded my head in response.
“And we will find the solution together. How much time do we have left?” He asked, sniffing.
“Seventy two hours,” I retorted.
His face went pale instantly though, he tried to hide it but he has always been a bad liar. He can't lie. He doesn't know how to.
“We will find a way out.”
I watched him move away from my side while I gulped down some water. He raised his phone to his ear, dialing some numbers.
After some minutes, I saw him stomp his feet on the ground in disappointment. He raised his phone up in the air and he was about to smash it on the floor when I shouted his name.
Hearing that, he stilled.
I got to where he was and placed my hand on his shoulder, “I can't watch you grieve like this because of me. It's not worth it. I'm not worth it.”
“You are the one grieving,” tears rolled down his cheeks. “And it's worth it. Is our love not strong enough? Your mother, Sarah, took me as her child. How can I leave you in such a critical time like this? How can I let her die?”
I swallowed hard and closed my eyes simultaneously. “I will find the money. I will be right back. Please, make sure you keep an eye on my mother”
“Where will you go? What will you do? How will you get the money?”He grabbed my arm.
Where do I tell him? No. I can't. Some secrets are better off kept. There is only one solution now and that will be what I will follow. After all, living in this world feels meaningless…
“To the place it all started.”
Brinda's POV The city lights blurred past the taxi window like fading memories I didn’t want to remember. My fingers tapped against my thighs, restless, my breath shallow. Each turn of the tires brought me closer to a place I had buried—the club. The place I had once called survival. The place I had promised never to return to.But desperation doesn’t ask for permission. It just drags you by the throat.My stomach twisted, a cocktail of shame and dread. My heart pounded against my ribs, not in fear, but in a sick rhythm of remembrance—The music, the smoke, and the hands that reached for me in the dark. I had walked away from all of it. Yet here I was, willingly crawling back. Not for myself but for the woman who gave everything for me to have a better life.But I couldn’t stop the way my hands trembled, how every breath felt like glass scraping my lungs. I wasn’t just heading to a club—I was walking into my past, into every piece of myself I swore I would outgrow.And I was scared t
Brinda's POV I didn’t know how I got back to the hospital. One moment, I was leaving that hellhole with tears rolling out of my eyes to my cheeks, and the next, Peter was gently shaking me awake. I yawned effortlessly as the sun rays radiated on my skin. “It's morning.”Morning?How the fuck is it morning already? Why had I not confronted Donald? Why was I crying out of the club like a fool? What the hell happened immediately I stepped out of that club? I grabbed my head, trying to see if I could remember anything.Peter crouched down beside me. I heaved a sigh of relief before I hugged him tightly for some minutes. His sweet saint reeked my nose. He also rubbed my back gently. “You went back there, didn't you?” He asked, his voice calm. He released his body from mine and gave me a sad smile. I swallowed hard, my heart beating faster. He could see through me, and it wasn’t hard for him to guess what I had done. Wait.. don't tell me… “I brought you back here. There's no need to l
Brinda's POV The weight of yesterday’s trauma pressed heavily on me. My mother had been thrown out of the hospital, and I was left with nothing but remnants that could ruin me. The little money I saw in my locker at the club was gone. All the people who promised Peter some money had refused to give him. And the balance from my salary had been paid to the hospital which can't be reversed anymore. At that moment, I sealed my fate. It is finished. Amidst that, Peter's cold hands wrapped around me from behind, my skin froze but his hot breath melted the cold away quickly. “Don't worry. We will save her.” “What will you do?” I asked, my voice calm. “Will you trade your life for hers? There's barely twelve hours left. What miracle can happen?” “I understand this is taking a toll on you but we will have to keep trying. As long as there is life, we can't lose hope until the last minute.” Peter's words gave me some encouragement and I understood that we would have to keep on trying till
Brinda's POV “The Black Rose… The most wanted spy and criminal in New York City. The one who had executed over a hundred assassinations in three years. Who hasn't heard of the Black Rose? As for me knowing that you are Black Rose, you shouldn't be surprised. Did you forget how we were? I simply went through your things but… I kept it a secret.”“You're a cheater. And why was the need to kill Peter?” I demanded as color drained out of my face. “All cheaters should die.” He said acerbically. “Put that aside. All I need you for is to help me find my father's killer, retrieve the crypt key to open the Black Book, and sideline my opponents in the Mafia…”“Mafia? What the hell have you gotten yourself into?” “I am trying to be nice to you because of our past. Don't take advantage of it and look me in the eye while I'm talking.” He growled and pulled my head downward. “In return, I promise to save your mother.”When I realized I had just few hours left, I made up my mind but I won't do the
Brinda Feeling a series of hard rhythmic taps on my cheeks and Francesco's deep male voice that instructed, “Wake up,” I struggled before my eyes flipped open after some seconds. “I wonder how someone could be this useless. You've had enough sleep. Time to work, damsel.” My body jerked forward, my arms flew in the air and my hair came falling covering my face in the process. I tapped my forehead for some time then I raised my head only to meet Francesco with a smirking expression. All what he did yesterday came running in my head. I just wanted to stand and point a gun at his head but who am I? A suppressed lady with no choice. The only way I can free myself from him is to achieve his goals then also help him to bury the secrets he intends to. Hold on! What are his secrets? That's exactly where I'm supposed to start thinking from. Francesco wants me to work for him but I don't know the type of errands I will be running for him. “Are you deaf or are you trying to let me yell on
Brinda Stepping into the expansive living room of the mansion, my breath hitched. The space oozed luxury — everything in sight screamed money, from the opulent furniture to the gleaming marble floors. A part of me couldn’t help but envy the grandeur of this place. What would it have been like to live here? I wondered bitterly.I cursed my parents under my breath, the frustration of my past life bubbling up once again. But before I could dive deeper into those thoughts, I heard noises coming from upstairs. Curiosity pricked at my senses, urging me to find the source.I hurried up the staircase, following the sounds, and soon I found myself standing outside a door that creaked open, revealing a scene that made my stomach twist. Inside, a man with a bulging belly knelt close to a plush chair, surrounded by three women — prostitutes by the look of them — also kneeling on the floor.Francesco stood by the door, flanked by his men, his presence as commanding as ever. His gaze was sharp,
Brinda"The mission was smooth, Boss." Bullet's voice was flat, yet her eyes glinted with an edge that made me wonder just how much of her soul was buried under the mask she wore.Francesco’s gaze didn’t leave her, his eyes cold and calculating. “And you ensured all the evidence was cleared?" he asked again. The tension in the air was palpable. Bullet didn’t respond verbally, but I could feel the answer in the silence. She nodded.Francesco's grip on my hand tightened, his fingers digging into my skin as I fought to free myself. “Whether you want it or not, Bullet is your partner now. She’ll be by your side on all operations. Your mission begins once we touch down in New York.” His words were sharp, as though he’d already decided my fate.I pretended not to hear him, staring out the jet window, the cold wind biting at my resolve. The minutes dragged on, stretching into what felt like hours. I was trapped. There was no escaping the web Francesco had spun around me.Soon, we were at th
Brinda As we stealthily made our way into Fernandez's hideout, we slaughtered his men to clear our way into the underground apartment. When we finally reached the tunnel to the underground, Bullet instructed me to be very cautious as more secrets would be revealed. I braced myself for whatever is to come.We faced the apartment, four guards were there. Their eyes clearly opened to catch every glimpse of unclear activities. Without wasting time, knowing we can't go round them, Bullet and I sprung into action. The men, alerted by our hideous presence, brought out their guns but we prevented them from using it as we all battled to gain the upper hand. I knocked one of them out when he tried to stab Bullet from behind while I punched another in the nose. I was less worried if he had a broken nose or not. Bullet's words were already at play as I sought only for survival. The guard with a broken nose held onto his nose for a while before he attempted to escape into the apartment. I went
FrancescoThe morning light filtered through the curtains, but peace didn’t follow it. As I descended the stairs, the moment my foot hit the last step, I saw them.Bullet. Guerrero. Brinda.She was at the center of it all, like the sun around which everyone revolved — even when she was chaos.They were gathered in the living room with some of my men. But the moment I walked in, silence sliced through the room like a guillotine. Their formation shifted. Their conversation snapped shut like a forbidden book.I didn’t need to ask. I knew.Brinda hadn’t liked the finality in my voice yesterday. I knew her too well — and now, I saw it clearly. She must have called them. She was going to take the Santinis down herself if I didn’t move fast enough.I scanned the room, eyes locking onto the one person I could never seem to control — her.She was biting her nails. A nervous tic.I smirked. Got you, Damsel.I
“Francesco, what do we do now?” Brinda’s voice cracked as she gripped his shoulder, her fingers trembling. “Before we even blink, everything will spiral out of control. We need to plan something big. Something Alessia won’t see coming. It has to catch her off guard… it has to.” Francesco’s jaw clenched, the veins on his neck twitching. His eyes were cold — so cold they looked carved from frozen steel. “I don’t know,” he muttered, his voice low, haunted. “I can’t say this is what we should do. I’m… I’m confused, Brinda. Any wrong step right now could destroy us all. One wrong move, and it’s over.” Brinda exhaled, slowly, almost as if her lungs were caving in. “What if I said I had a plan?” “No.” His response cut the air like a blade. “Whatever you are thinking — keep it locked in your mind. I won’t put anyone at risk again. Enough is enough.” Her eyes burned as she stared at him. “How do you know what I’m thinking, Francesco
FrancescoMy hands trembled as I placed them on The Black Book.This isn't going to be easy. But I have to do it.I sucked in a sharp breath and flipped open the cover.Deadly Sins. Wild Secrets. Mafia Rules.Do You Dare To Enter?A chill ran down my spine. What the hell does that mean?I swallowed hard and turned the first page.Nothing.A frown creased my forehead. I flipped to the next.Still nothing.Page after page — Blank.My pulse pounded in my ears. No, this had to be some kind of joke. The Black Book — The book so many had bled and died for, the book that could shift the balance of power in the mafia world… was empty?Impossible.Am I the first human to open it? Or had someone else erased its secrets?My left fist clenched, nails biting into my palm as my breathing turned erratic. Rage coiled inside me, hot and uncontrollable, but I for
Brinda slowly climbed out of bed, her pulse hammering against her ribs as a thousand thoughts raced through her mind. If Francesco had truly pranked Marshall and Alessia with The Black Book, then they were walking a razor-thin edge of disaster. She could already picture the storm brewing on the horizon, a tempest of blood and vengeance waiting to swallow them whole.She turned sharply toward him, her voice low, uncertain. “Is this really The Black Book?”Francesco, lounging against the headboard, stretched his arm out lazily, dangling the infamous book between his fingers. A knowing smirk played on his lips. “Why don’t you check for yourself?”Hesitant yet eager, Brinda stepped forward and took the book from him, her fingers grazing his for a fleeting second. She let out a sharp breath, the weight of secrets pressing against her chest. When she was satisfied, a bright smile of relief tugged at her lips, though it quickly faded into susp
Brinda carefully assisted Francesco, guiding his battered body until he sat upright beside her on the bed. His muscles tensed with the effort, but she was there, her touch light yet steady. As soon as he was settled, she curled into his arms, her body melting against his as if she belonged nowhere else. He pulled her in, his hold instinctively protective, like he was cradling something precious — Something he couldn’t afford to lose again.Their heartbeats found a rhythm, syncing in the quiet intimacy of the moment.“I never thought you would come to save me,” Brinda murmured against his chest, her voice still hoarse but gaining strength. “I thought you wouldn’t want to.”Francesco inhaled sharply, his fingers absently threading through her hair, twining the strands around his calloused fingertips. The weight of her words settled deep in his chest.“You should know better,” he muttered, his voice edged with quiet reprimand. “You should k
Seconds have turned to minutes and minutes have turned to hours and hours have turned to days since Francesco had brought Brinda back to the Dante's mansion. Elizabeth, on the other hand has not returned from her sexcapades while Guerrero has been in charge of Francesco's men who had returned after they heard of the return of The Mafia's Black Rose. Bullet had also urged Francesco to get more women to work in the house, especially in the kitchen. The food cooked by Francesco’s men is nothing to write home about. Bullet had also started to forget about her lover, Mark while she was also saddled with the responsibility of taking care of Brinda. Francesco had also gone back to work to attend to a lot of work he had left undone. He struck a deal with Charlotte Kavanaugh who seemed delighted to work with Dante Group of Companies. Their life had finally taken a new toll of longing for peace. Alessia, on the other hand, was still
Francesco alighted from his car as he clutched the black bag to his chest. His eyes were fixed on the red Range Rover parked a few metres from where he was. A few minutes later, Alessia and Marshall emerged from the backseat of the car with smiles radiating on their faces. Francesco’s breathing quickened as he laid his eyes on his once-upon-a-time lover. He studied her for a moment before he concealed his emotions. “Where is The Black Book?” Marshall asked, while he puffed smoke into the air. “Where is she?” Francesco demanded. “I need to see her before dropping the item.”“Trust is essential in our world. By now, you should know that I don't go back on my words.” Alessia spoke up. Francesco glanced at the bag for a moment. Coming alone to get Brinda from the two bloody past friends of his was already a risk. Would he take another risk of dropping The Black Book without seeing Brinda to know if she was still fine?
“What do you say about the deal?” Leopard Russo’s voice echoed through the room. His brother, Tiger Russo, was seated beside him on the sofa smoking as he enjoyed the conversation his brother was striking with Alessia Santini and Marshall Fernandez. They had come to meet the duo — Alessia and Marshall — With the high hope of getting them to side with them to fight the Dante family. However, can they strike the deal as they had planned? Could it be possible that they have a motive behind the collaboration they want? Will Alessia and Marshall let their guard down and seal the deal? Alessia's laughter was a cold, mirthless sound. “Without anything to offer, you dare call it a deal? I don't see it as one.” “Exactly what I was thinking. What are you willing to offer?” Marshall who had been sitting quietly all along finally let some words slip out of his mouth. “Really?” Tiger scoffed. “Are you going to w
Francesco “Why are you silent? Are you so shocked to hear my voice? It's me. The woman you left broken.”My blood turned to ice.Alessia Santini.Of all my enemies, she shouldn’t be back.My breath came in short, sharp gasps, my legs rooted to the floor. Move, I told myself, but my body wouldn’t obey.“Could it be…?” My voice cracked as I forced the words out.A soft chuckle came from the other end. Cold. Mocking.“You guessed it right. I am the real mastermind. Do you love the plot twist?”A jolt of guilt shot through me. No. No, this isn’t happening.I made a mistake. I made a fucking mistake.Five years ago, when I returned on The Dark Night, I should have killed her.I found Alessia near the mountain’s edge, The Black Book clutched in her hands. The crypt key was with her too. My men overpowered hers. I took back what belonged to me. But later lost the crypt key too