Looking into her worried eyes, Daisy let Ugo see how worn down she was and received a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder. "We’ll take it easy this weekend. We'll recharge, we both need it. Will you be alright tonight?""I’ve got her." Brett straightened from his perch on the lip of Daisy's bathtub, where he’d taken off his boots. "That doesn’t mean I’m not here." Ugo pressed a quick kiss to Daisy's temple. "Holler if you need me." The look Ugo gave Daisy before she left the room spoke volumes. She wasn’t comfortable with Brett sleeping over. Truth was, even Daisy had some reservations, too. She felt her lingering wariness over Brett's sleep disorder was contributing a lot to her wild emotional state. As Ugo had recently said, the man she loved was a ticking time bomb, and she share a bed with him. She rinsed out her mouth and dropped her toothbrush back into its holder. "I need a shower." She had taken one before she slept off, but now she was feeling dirty again. Cold sweat clung
"Brett.... please." Daisy pleaded.He kissed her temple. "I'll say when." She nodded and her grip loosened automatically. He stepped back and away from her, and his hand dropped to fist his dick. Daisy shifted restlessly, her attention turned to his hand. As the distance between them widened, she began to ache, her body responding to the loss of Brett's. "See something you like?" He purred, pleasuring himself. Astonished that he’d taunt her after denying her, she looked up and her breath caught. Brett was burning slowly, too. She couldn’t think of another word to describe him. He was watching her with a heavy-lidded gaze like he wanted to eat her up, alive. His tongue slid leisurely along the seam of his lips, as if he tasted her. When he caught the full lower curve between his teeth, Daisy curved lowly, feeling warmth between her legs. She knew that look so well..... knew what came after it...... knew how feral he could be when he wanted her that badly. It was a look that scream
It wasn't until a little past seven o’clock in the morning when Daisy slipped out of her bedroom. She had been up most of the night, watching Brett sleep. It was such a rare treat, because she hardly ever managed to wake up before he did. She walked down the hallway until it emptied into the expansive open floor plan of the main living area. It was ridiculous that she lived in an apartment large enough for a family, all by herself. But she'd long ago learned to pick her battles when it came to arguing with her parents over her safety. There was no way they were budging on location or security features like a doorman and front desk, but the idea of exploiting her cooperation on her living arrangements to get them to ease up on other points crossed her mind.She was in the kitchen waiting for the coffee to finish brewing when Ugo joined her. She strolled in looking amazing in a pair of gray sweats. "Morning, Daisy baby," she murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple as she passed her.
"Still, I'm sorry it ended the way it did." Daisy said."He's a great guy. But then, I guess it's fine this way. Besides, I’m not ready for the stress and demands of a complicated relationship right now. I’m working a lot. I’m not stable enough yet to be fucked up in the head. Her lips pursed. "You might want to think about that, too." Daisy nodded, understanding where she was coming from and not disagreeing, but still unwavering in her decision to see her relationship with Brett through. "Brett knows me. He understands and tries to work around my issues. He’s working for this, too, U.U. It’s not easy for him, either." Daisy explained."So, between us, do you think Lexington had sex with his ex? Ugo asked bluntly. "No.""Are you sure, Daisy baby?"Sucking in a deep breath, Daisy took a fortifying gulp and admitted, "Mostly. I think I’m the one doing it for him now. It’s pretty hot with us, you know. But his ex has some kind of hold on him. He says it's guilt....""And that explai
When Monday morning came, Daisy felt recharged, like things were finally settling back into their natural pre-Lana rhythm. While she was trying to settle down in her space at Lex and Gibson. Her phone rang."Hi, Daddy." Geoffrey laughed. "How’s my girl?""Causing trouble and enjoying it." Daisy replied. "How are you?" "I'm doing great and also halting your mother from storming into your office complex. She's terribly upset." "But why is that?" Daisy asked, pretending like she didn't know the answer to her question. She sighed, grateful that she managed to move out of her mom’s suffocating orbit and knowing that it was one of the best decisions she'd ever made. "I miss you, Daddy." She told her father.""You know the road to the house, sweetheart. Why don't you come home for a while. We could and see in about three weeks if that works for you.""Oh my God, Dad. I would love that. I’d love to see you.""Or we'll pay you a visit. Your mom tells me you have enough rooms for five. I'll
Daisy's back hit the mat with enough force to knock the air from her lungs. Stunned, she blinked up at the ceiling, trying to catch her breath. Pith looked at her and shook his head. "I don't think today is a good day for you, Daisy." Around them, a dozen more of Pith's Karate students were hard at work. The studio was alive with noise and activity and Daisy knew her instructor was right. Her thoughts were somehow still stuck on Lana, even though she wanted to let it go. But she was yet to understand why Brett would refuse to offer an explanation. The weekend they spent in Paris had been blissful. They were in sync and when he was done with work, he had joined them in Paris and they got back together just as he stated. Something in her heart had believed that Brett might open up and speak to her about her suspicion but he didn't and it somehow kept her at edge for a very long time. "I’ve got something on my mind." Daisy replied and Pith tapped her gently on the shoulder. "Just
Daisy turned her face away and released him, sad that he was avoiding her question.Reaching for the edges of the tub, she prepared to get out. "I’m done," she muttered, blowing out the nearest candle. "I’m getting out." "No." Brett cupped her breasts, restraining her. Water lapped around them. "Let go, Brett." She said agitated, catching his wrists to pull his hands away. He buried his face in her neck, obstinately holding on. "We’ll get there. Okay. Just. We’ll get there." Daisy deflated, feeling little of the triumph she had hoped to feel when she first asked and anticipated his answer. "Can we give it a rest tonight?" He asked gruffly, still clinging tight. "Give it all a rest. I just want to be with you, all right. Order something for dinner, watch TV, hold you when I sleep. Can we do that."Realizing that something was seriously off, she twisted to face him. "What’s wrong?" "I just want to spend some time with you." He replied and Daisy's eyes stung with tears. There was mo
Daisy felt like she was in the small dark room again. She couldn’t breathe. She tried to scream, but something blocked her nose and covered her mouth. A high-pitched moan was the only sound that managed to escape her lips. Her frantic calls for help were trapped inside her mind. "Get off me! Stop it! Don’t touch me! Oh, God.... please don’t do that to me."Julian's hand covered her mouth, mashing her lips. The weight of his body pressed down on her, squashing her head into the pillow. The more she fought, the more excited he became. Choking her."You haven’t felt pain yet. But you will." Daisy froze. Awareness hit her like a bucket of ice water. She knew that voice. "Brett. No!" Her blood roared in her ears and sickness spread through her gut. Bile flooded her mouth. The feeling this time was worse, so much worse, when the person trying to unalive you was someone you trusted with everything you had. She heard Jason Pith's barked commands and remembered the basics. Quickly she atta
We were now in an open corridor. Rocco stood like a statue at the end of the room, staring into space. Two other guards stood at a reasonable distance, taking the same stance. I snatched my hand back from him, crossing it over my chest. "Good. Then that's settled. But make no mistake, he turned "I'm going to take my pleasure from you, how and when I deem it fit." He threatened. "You dare not!" I challenged, creating a distance between us. "Really," he mused. "Let's see how that goes." "Every single thing about this situation is disappointing," I corrected him, feeling my jaw quiver. I had a temper. So I try so hard to always remain happy and positive. And that was why I surrounded myself with people that really love and care about me. They all knew and understood how bad my temper used to be. As a form of control, I would always remain cold and calm in situations I have no power over. Until I grab a full picture of the situation. But then, in some conditions, I almost alw
I was awakened by the distant sound of the television. Immediately I opened my eyes, I saw Maxine cropped up on a chair at the end of the room. "Welcome back to the land of the living," he muttered. "Where are we?" I croaked, sitting up on the bed and surveying the empty room that had only a bed and a television. Maxine stretched his arms, and sighed. "Home, The Garden." "Thank God." I sighed, before realizing what he meant. "You mean your home is referred to as The Garden?" "Mhmm." He hummed. "Gross." I spat out. "It's a good name." He stood up. "Hollis totally owe me for this." He murmured and left the room, not even saying a goodbye or any other word. My throat felt raw, and my body, emotionally exhausted. I could feel dark isolation seeping through the room like deep depression. I just wanted to go home, to go shopping, boat cruises, clubhouses and the courtroom. I wanted my life back. But even I know I couldn't. Not with the continuous attempt on my life and wi
Maxine gripped the steering wheel and side-glanced me. "Put your seatbelt on, this is going to be fun." I did as I was told, and he hit the red button on the rearview mirror, which caused the garage door to slide open. We drove out onto the gloomy street. Maxine didn't let go of the gas pedal until we were driving well above the speed limit. Darkened street signs flashed by. He sped through a red light, swerving around a car that was patiently waiting for its turn. 'What was the point of making me wear my seatbelt if he was planning on killing the both of us by crashing the car.' With an extended grin, he weaved us in and out of traffic. Eventually we moved away from the city streets and onto a country road. We picked up more speed, but at least there were no other cars to play chicken with. I was able to unclench my teeth and my stranglehold on the security bar against the door, using my free hand to wipe my newly dampened forehead. The car air-conditioner couldn't do anyt
The next time I woke up, the sun was already setting. I was feeling better, rested, though my joints and muscles ached from the lack of movement. As for the bump on my head, it was only sensitive to touch. there was no more throbbing. My hair on the other hand was a tangled mess. My head felt naked when my hair was down. I searched my pockets and then the barren room for anything that I could use to tie it back. The only thing I found was the glass of water that had been refilled, and that I greedily gulped down. The bedroom door had been left open, and hollowed sounds from a Television could still be heard. As soon as the smell of food tickled my nose, my stomach grumbled. The last meal I had eaten was the vegetable sauce my mother made specially for me. How long ago was that? My brain was still too foggy to count back the hours or the days. The thought of my mother sent chills down my spine. I haven't heard from my parents and I knew they would be worried sick. Letting my sto
With a stiff neck, I scanned my surroundings. there wasn't much to decipher. I was in a small room, lit only by the bedside lamp that was on the table next to the bed. There was an armchair with a rose velvet cushion in one corner. The walls were bland and frameless. After waiting for another bout of nausea to pass, I went to the window, holding on to the small table as support for my shaky frame. Outside, the sunsetting sky was of resilient palettes of shady hues, and I was peering over the shadows of endless rooftops. Wherever I was, it was high above a city, at least twenty stories high. Down below, a yellow cab was waiting at a red light on an otherwise empty street. I couldn't decide if I was still in Lilycity. I thought I had a fair recognition of the clock tower that stood at the center of the city square, but it was too distant and I was too tired to be sure. My hand pressed against the glass. I closed my eyes until the dizziness passed, then slowly and painfully moved to
There was a flash of light and distant noises. My head felt like someone was taking an ice pick and pouring heavy chipping on my skull. I decided that death couldn't be this painful, so I was probably not dead or this was what hell was supposed to feel like. My eyes were pried open, and a light came flashing again. This was followed by a groan, like a bear cub. 'was that me?' I managed to flutter my eyes open without anyone's help. Inches away from my face, someone was holding a pen-sized flashlight. I couldn't focus enough to see him, but I could definitely smell him. Light scent of woodberry and some chemicals I remember enduring the mixing process once I snuck into the chemistry laboratory during practicals that were meant for students offering science courses. The ceiling was swimming. I thought I was going to vomit, and I had to let my eyelids drop to stop the spinning. Slowly, the muffled sounds became words. "What's your name, sweetheart." Asked the man with the flashli
I climbed down carefully from the grey van that picked me up from the house. I was going to see a cartel Boss. So there are quite a lot of things that could happen today. It's either I end up dead or I succeed in striking a good deal that will keep my father alive and give my family enough time to pay up the crazy-absurd debt they leveled against my Father. If the stars are in my favor, the money might even be forgiven. But in all, one of these things was going to happen today and I pray my dead body won't be drawn out of the industrial looking premises. As I stood looking around, I got a nudge behind from one of the men. "Move!" He barked at me and like a crippled roach revealed by a light from a handheld torch. I had to put both of my feet to good use. One of the men walked in front, leading the way, while two others walked behind me. "Stop." A baritone voice from a guard stationed at the gate yelled at us. "She's going to go in blindfolded." He read out a rehearsed instruct
The silence at the dinning table felt excruciating and painful. I forced most of the mashed potatoes down my throat and swallowed hurriedly each time, unable to feel the taste of the meal. When the silence became too unbearable, I shifted my meal and turned to my parents. "Let's hear it, what's the problem?" "Eat Ugo." My father said, tapping me gently on the arm. "I'm full, and even if I'm not, I can't take more. I've lost my appetite. What's going on, what's with the silence and brooding, did someone die?" My mother was the first to shake her head. "We didn't lose anyone. But we might as well loose someone if we don't find a solution." She said, "Ada..." My father called in his usual peace-loving manner. "Ugo is not a child, honey. The earlier we start taking....the better." "Please talk to me... anyone. Dad, Mom." "Honey, it's nothing serious....." "Your father was accused of stealing from his company." My mom interrupted. "What?" I looked at my father, hoping he would as
UGO I took in the orderliness of the little room that had always served as my safe space for the longest time. All my childhood memories were still intact, almost as I had left them. My mother had taken it upon herself to preserve all the good memories, making sure not to alter the shape of the room and the position of things as I left them. I tried recalling the last time I visited Lilycity. It's been well over two years. Fairview had found a way to draw me into its tight grasp and sapped me off all my free time. I sighed, recalling my mother's tears at the airport when she came to pick me up. I was initially skeptical that she would be the one to pick me up, but then she somehow managed to convince me with my father's support that she has recovered perfectly since her intestinal surgery. "Poor woman." I murmured regrettably. Pulling my hair into a tight bun, I sat down on the only chair in my room, took in the beauty of the modest-looking room and smiled. What my room lacked in