I trembled as his bloodstained hands caressed my cheeks, my body weak from crying nonstop.
"Please, I want to leave here," I murmured, twisting my hands in the cords. "Please let me go." I begged.Something danced in his orbs—amusement.He said nothing for a moment, but his next words knocked the winds right out of me."The only way I'd let you go is by killing you, amor. You know too much now," he stated, and with that, he turned to leave.At his signal, Hugo untied me and led me back to my room. My feet wobbled as I walked.All I wanted to do was disappear. Luca hadn't shown it if he believed all that Ricci had said, so I didn't know what to expect.Thankfully, Hugo was a bit more patient with me and didn't drag me like Luca had. I winced at every junction, and he waited for me to catch my breath.When I got to my room, he opened the door and only gave a curt nod of solidarity before shutting the door behindThe crisp autumn air stung my skin as I stepped out of the plane in the country of Spain. My heart pounded with the weight of what lay ahead.This was the price I had to pay for a promotion that I clearly deserved. This was my price for rejecting my boss's advances towards me when I requested a promotion and a raise, all for my sick mother who was battling with sickle cell anaemia.Life they say is unfair, but mine was beyond that. It was cruel. I had become accustomed to struggling ever since my dad decided to just disappear from my life because he couldn't handle my mother's health crisis anymore.I had struggled, working and schooling, just to afford my mother's medication and hospitalisation, and had successfully achieved my dream of being an FBI agent.The dream had slowly become a nightmare when I watched the people who had gotten in at the same time with me get promoted to the position of a senior agent, leaving me at the bottom with a salary that could no longer cover my moth
I jerked awake as ice-cold water slammed into me, breathing heavily like a fish out of water. I coughed and spluttered as the freezing sensation ran through me like electric shock. My clothes clung to me, and the coldness of the water seeped into my skin, weakening me.I tried to lift my hands, but it did not budge. Panic coursed through me as I tried to move, but I couldn't. The chair beneath me creaked as I squirmed. I couldn't see anything either, as a thick blindfold covered my eyes.Slowly, the memories of the past events came back to me. The mission. The target. The murder scene.I had to get out of here. I had a hunch that the people who had captured me had something to do with the murder I had witnessed. Tears burned the back of my eyes. I had to get out of this hell. I had a mission to accomplish. My mother's life was on the line."Hello!" I screamed more out of uncertainty rather than fear. I had long silenced my fear since I chose this mission."Good. You're awake," a dee
His bride?Luca had left the room without giving me much of a choice. What other choice did I have anyway?My stomach churned with sadness and disbelief. I cursed Chief Slade mentally. I had been reduced from a deserving FBI agent to a criminal's bride, all for the sake of my career and my mother's health. If he wasn't so perverted, I would never be in this mess. I wondered how my mother was doing. She was never in support of my career as an agent. She always thought it to be a dangerous job. I was suddenly seeing her point. Was my dream of being a top senior agent just a fantasy?Hot tears rolled down my cheeks. One of the men in the room freed me from the chair of death that I sat in, but I was too weak to stand.The urge to run out of there lingered, but the rational part of me cautioned me against it. I had irrationally gone after the voice outside the club, and it had led me to this mess. Surprisingly, it had also led me straight to my target. As much as I hated the situation
LUCA "Mantén los ojos en ella." My order was clear as I spoke to Hugo, my most trusted soldier. (Keep your eyes on her). He nodded sharply, understanding even the words I didn't say. The soldiers who I had sent to take care of the rat, a mole, in my mafia had been lucky to capture the witness. I hated trails. Anger simmered beneath my skin when they informed me that there was a witness. I was ready to spill their blood to cover my tracks, but they knew me well enough to have captured the witness. I would have wasted her unique beauty by putting a bullet through her head on the first glance if my sixth sense didn't tell me that there was more to her. Besides, she had come just at the right time. Speaking of time, I lifted my wrist to check the time on my wristwatch. My shipment was late by half an hour. A scowl etched itself on my face. I hated delays. The 'coke' was supposed to have arrived and be ready for supply, but it was delayed by the ever punctual suppliers, El Chacal,
ROSEI stared at the wedding dress that hung in the corner of the room like a testament of my doom.The wedding was tomorrow, just four days after I had so tragically met him. I could not understand why Luca wanted us married so soon.A looming sense of dread hung over me like a curtain as I scribbled down my observations into the little notebook I had gotten on my way back from getting the gown. The sooner I got done with this case and Luca was arrested, the better for all of us.My phone was in the purse I had lost when I was cruelly abducted, cutting off my connection to the world completely.I had barely seen Trevor around, but he left me clues around, informing me of his presence.It would be risky for him to be seen as with me, especially when cameras littered the ceiling of almost every room, including mine.I read through the last note he had left for me in my bathroom. It was a kind of clue.'The door at the end of the hallway in the fifth hallways. It's secured by two guard
ROSEI suppressed the urge to throw up as Luca’s eyes locked with mine. Suspicion and rage were written clearly on his face, but he held an unnerving silence.I didn’t need to be told twice to know that I was in a dangerous corner. My next move could determine if that gun in his hand would fire right through my skull like the unfortunate man writhing in pain beside me. His breathing was laboured as he stared at me.“Don, this wh*re is a damned co…”“He tried to rape me,” I breathed out sharply, cutting him short. Luckily, he had yanked my gown off my shoulder in our brawl. Luca’s head cocked sideways as if trying to read the lies on my face and his expression was stern. I contorted my face into a pitiful one.The lighting in the room seemed to grow dimmer under his intense stare.“How did you get here?” he asked in a deadly calm voice, his fingers caressing the trigger of his gun as he aimed it at me. My heart leapt to my throat.Behind him, I caught sight of the shivering Sophia. S
I bowed my face to the ground, wishing it would just swallow me. So much for a good first impression. "Bienvenido, hijo mío," I heard her chirp—obviously to Luca, wrapping her arms around him in a warm embrace. (Welcome, my son.) I stole a glance at her. Her Spanish heritage was very evident from her accent to her dressing and even the aesthetic of the whole estate. "Buenas noches, mamá." Luca's tone was neutral in response. Without waiting for a response, he continued. "Is he in?" She nodded slightly at him. Them she turned to me and I felt my face burn in embarrassment. I had made a mess of their porch and screwed my first impression with them. "¿Quién es esta hermosa dama?" She asked Luca, patting my cheeks to my surprise. I didn't know exactly what she said, but it sounded warm and hearty. (Who is this beautiful lady?) "This is my fiancée, mamá. Marta." Luca deadpanned, taking my hand in his warm ones. I felt shivers run down my spine at the contact." She wore a small
CHAPTER 8The worst day if my life was finally here. I blinked rapidly to keep the tears that threatened to fall at bay.I had always thought marriage to be something sacred. My hopes for my dream wedding which exceeded the clouds had crashed before my eyes.The dreams of my mother pecking my forehead in the dressing room before I walked to the altar. Her arms linked around mine as she led me to the altar, mocking my father wherever he was. The man with the key to my heart at the end of the altar smiling and even tearing up as I walked towards him. It had all disappeared like smoke in the wind.Now, I was a stranger at my own wedding. I took Isabella’s hands as she led me out of the to the altar. I walked with my head bowed, staring sideways at the unfamiliar sea of faces seated on the pews as I walked to the altar where Luca stood.Alonso obviously was repulsed by my very presen
I trembled as his bloodstained hands caressed my cheeks, my body weak from crying nonstop."Please, I want to leave here," I murmured, twisting my hands in the cords. "Please let me go." I begged.Something danced in his orbs—amusement. He said nothing for a moment, but his next words knocked the winds right out of me."The only way I'd let you go is by killing you, amor. You know too much now," he stated, and with that, he turned to leave.At his signal, Hugo untied me and led me back to my room. My feet wobbled as I walked. All I wanted to do was disappear. Luca hadn't shown it if he believed all that Ricci had said, so I didn't know what to expect.Thankfully, Hugo was a bit more patient with me and didn't drag me like Luca had. I winced at every junction, and he waited for me to catch my breath.When I got to my room, he opened the door and only gave a curt nod of solidarity before shutting the door behind
I gulped, shivering under his gaze. There was nothing in his eyes other than anger and betrayal."What happened?" He snapped. I held the sheets against myself more tightly, looking away from him. He obviously didn't care what happened to me. He was just looking for clues.I looked away from him, trying to stop myself from shivering like a drenched chicken."Answer me!" He demanded. His eyes were dark and held a dangerous glint in them. His hands were tucked in his pockets as he glared at me."You want to know what happened," I suddenly snapped, my voice coming out squeaky due to my screams. "You left me in the hands of a criminal who tried to rape and kill me."His eye darkened even more. "Don't you dare talk to me like that. Tell me what happened before I make you." The harshness of his words drew me back to reality. He wasn't some sort of knight on shining armour. He was the evil itself. And if I as much as let a loophole appe
Ricci was a pervert. He had barely shut the door behind him before he began to roughly touch me like I was some toy he had just obtained from a store.I did my best to hide my disgust and annoyance as I pushed him away gently."Slow down. I'm not running away," I murmured in a sweet voice that made me feel sick. "Are you sure there are no cameras here?" He frowned. "I know his house like the back of my palm. Do you think I'm stupid?"I chuckled, embracing him again. If only he knew how stupid he was about to be. His hands danced along my body, and he nearly sucked out the life from me like he was some kind of carnivore. I heard a loud rip as he began to take off my clothes and I paused him. "Are you crazy? What do you think Luca would say if he saw me walking around in a ripped dress with my bodyguard?"A cruel smirk appeared on his lips. "That wouldn't matter. Either way, you'll be dead before he can even realise it.
My breathing came in rough spasms as I coughed repeatedly. I slapped my palm on my chest repeatedly.Ricci’s eyes were dark, and his arms remained folded across his chest as he glared at me. My eyes widened. How would I get out of this mess? What did he even know? How much had he overheard?"I have no idea what you're talking about," my voice came out raspy. An evil smirk spread across his cheek. "Don't play dumb with me, Rose!"At this point, I felt like my world was quickly turning black. Who was this guy, and why had Luca left him in charge of me? Was this some kind of trick? Was this some kind of investigation?"Excuse me? Who is Rose?" I snapped, letting anger take over me. "How dare you even enter my room without my permission?"He smirked, reclining against the door. "Drop the act and speak. Who are you?"My heart was racing frantically, but I painstakingly maintained a calm expression. "I believe you m
ROSEI was getting to the brink of losing my sanity. How much longer could I bear with having a traitor outside my door and guarding meFor all I knew, he could be the one who would open the door to my enemy and have me killed in the middle of the night.Every time I slept, I was always partly awake to keep a lookout for whoever it wanted to take my life.Slowly, I was missing Luca. He was terrifying and disgusting, but at least his presence gave a form of assurance that no one could harm me. At least, not it he didn't approve of it.Could that be why he had left for over a week? Could he have told Ricci to kill me?Gosh, I was going crazy with these thoughts. I knew I couldn't do this anymore.Trevor had barely even spoken with me after the last time. I had not even been able to sneak out to meet him because I couldn't afford to arouse Ricci’s suspicions.As the night fell again, tears stung the back of my eyes
LUCA "So talk to me, hijo," my father stated in clear English with a smirk on his face. "Tell me about this mole in your territory that I'm hearing about and what you're doing about it."I took a deep breath. This old man would not have the satisfaction of seeing me break... not ever.Adjusting my suit, I reclined in my seat opposite him. "I'm working on it."His jaw ticked slightly. "I want to know exactly what you're doing about it. You can't just sit here telling me you're working on it. I need results to be sure I didn't make a mistake leaving the mafia in my son's hands." He was getting riled up. Good. He could give himself a heart attack for all I cared. I had never met anyone as selfish and insatiable as he was. "Yes. I am working on it. You'll get an update when I'm done fishing the mole out."He slammed his hands onto his desk. "Are you in your right senses? For all I know, the stupid lady you randomly brough
I stared at the diva looking lady at the door whose face had a cruel smirk plastered on it.With just a sweep of her eyes, she sect Sophia scampering out of the room. I felt anger rise in me towards her."You..." I mumbled, packing up the untouched cookies. So much for bonding time with Sophia. I had even hoped to get a bit more information about Luca from her.Her smirk grew even wider. "Yes, it's me."I rolled my eyes. "And what do you want this time, Rosa?!" I snapped. Ignoring her, I walked over to my vanity stand. I didn't have anything to do there, but I just wanted to ignore my physical nemesis in the room."I thought you and my baby were staying in the same room," she smirked, strutting over to the bed. Annoyance swirled in me as I watched her through the mirror while brushing my hair."Well, your baby is my husband," I bit back, just to spite her. She wasn't the only one who could be petty. She was yet to meet
My pulse shot to an abnormal rate. I tried to read his eyes as I collected the slip from him, but it was completely neutral.It was almost hooded, and that sent shivers down my spine."T-Thank you," I muttered in a barely audible voice as he led me down the hallways.He said nothing. "You know, if you'll be my personal bodyguard for the next couple of days, I'd have to know your name," I mumbled, lost in thoughts. His face was gard as he stared ahead for a long moment before answering, "Ricci."I forced a smile. If I was going to be stuck with this man for who-knows-how-long, I'd have to at least talk to him and try to dig up some things he might now. He was connected to Ivanov after all, and Ivanov appeared to be an important person in this mission for the time being."Nice to meet you, Ricci. I'm Marta. Why have I not seen you around the mansion for a while?"He face seemed to grow distressed by the second.
Luca didn't return home for the next two days, and a part of me felt worried.As a matter of fact, I was worried about many things. My dress with the recording device, which I was yet to find. The maid who had spoken to me and how I'd meet her again. Trevor's suspense and how I'd not seen him in over a week now. Sofia's fright. And now, Luca's absence.I just wanted to complete this mission on time, but without all these things in place, it seemed like I'd have to be here for a while.I raked my hands through my tangled hair. 'Think, Rose, think!' I screamed to myself mentally. Brushing it into a much neater wave, I struggled with putting the whole hair into a bun. Not having the strength to try again after a number of failed attempts, I gave up and tied a scarf over it. I was just going for breakfast after all.I'd also ask Hugo for some books. This boredom was getting toxic.Before I could knock at the door, it swung open, and