Novels by Creative inks

~ETHAN WILDER~Alina picked up the black box and activated the hologram puzzle. Turns out that only her fingerpirnt can actually activate it. If I held the black box nothing happened. I assumed the retina shot I had experienced the last time was to unlock the first part of the box where the hologram was hidden. To turn on the image again, Alina’s right fingers were required.It was starting to make sense now. The message the masked people had given to Alina was starting to make sense. The black box was here because of me but I couldn't work it out alone. I needed her.I watched her as she peered inquisitively at the puzzle and pushed out her lips thoughtfully. On our way back from we had dinner at a seafood restaurant and as we ate, my thoughts drifted towards the talk of marriage I had with Simeon. I allowed myself to imagine what it would be like if I committed to spend the rest of my life with her. I couldn't picture any other future because despite I hadn't popped the question, I

~VINCENZO~“I don't know what to do. I miss him very much.” Renata released a sigh and rested her head on the table, her long dark hair fell around her in depressing waves, covering her arms. She released another sad sigh.We were cousins but I cherished her as my little sister. We were all boys in the family, my mother was the only feminine touch even though she passed out of a failing heart, I always believed that raising seven boys who constantly knocked heads with each other played a major role in her death. In fact, it had to be the main reason she developed a failing heart. Many times she lamented that she wished she at least had three daughters out of us seven.No, my mother wasn't a single mother. She had a husband, our biological dad, who played very little in nurturing us or being half as active as he was in his work. My mother got diagnosed of a failing heart when I was shy of bfing sixteen and died a month after I turned sixteen.As busy as my father was, he was so grief

~ETHAN WILDER~Since the doctor didn't seem interested in letting Simeon go so earlier than he advised, we all decided to watch the footage together at the hospital. Sinclair, Alina, Simeon and myself. It was my first time watching it and Alina’s too but Sinclair had asked for the USB to make a copy. I assumed he has watched it but he was here with us anyway.We started with the one marked with the date when Damian had gone missing. It had started like the usual day, Damian had woken up early, made coffee, checked his kitchen and made a list, probably a list of things he needed to buy. Then he got his phone and Sinclair cleared that up. It was that time Damian had called to tell him what he needed but he didn't make mention of going into town. After that, Damian walked towards the back that led to the garden to tend to his potatoes.“I saw some footprints in the garden when I was here to inspect the place.” Simeon commented with a nod of his head. The video confirmed a part of his the

JULIAN VANCESomething about silence can feel louder than noise. It's the kind that sits with you. Presses. Waits.That was what filled my car as I drove. My fingers tapping once against the steering wheel before stilling again.Sarah hadn’t called.Not when she landed.Not after.Just one message.I’m in Italy.That was it.No explanation. No discussion. No courtesy of looping me in like we both agreed we would.I exhaled through my nose slowly, tightening my grip on the wheel for a second before forcing myself to relax it.I understood.At least, I was supposed to.Sean was her brother. She didn’t need permission from anyone else.But understanding something didn’t make it any less irritating.Didn’t make it sit any better.My jaw ticked faintly as I turned into the entrance of the parking garage, the tires rolling over concrete with a dull crunch.She didn’t even try.That was the part that bothered me.Not the trip.Not even the secrecy.But the fact that she didn’t think she need

~SARAH BENNETT ~Julian didn’t bother with greetings.“You went to Italy.” His voice didn’t sound too happy, I could picture his displeased face as he said that.I leaned back on one arm, dressed in my underwear and sitting on my bed while the other hand pressed my phone against my ear.“I did.”Silence filled the receiver, a stretch so long that I was tempted to confirm if he was still on the phone.“That wasn’t the plan.” He said, bitter and annoyed.I smiled faintly, in spite of Julian “Plans change.”“You didn’t inform me.”“And you don’t inform me every time you take steps of your own.” I replied calmly. “We’ve never operated that way.”His exhale came through the line, sharp but controlled. “Sarah, you’re taking matters into your own hands.”Now it was my turn to frown. I put the phone in front of me and frowned at it as if Julian could see me before returning to my ear and giving my response. “I appreciate your concern Julian but let me remind you that it is my brother we’re ta

~ETHAN WILDER~Alina arrived with the food warm as promised and as I watched her baby Simon under his protest, I wondered if I should tell him about the compartment behind the oval mirror.“I have to go.” I announced. “I'll come by later.”“You don't have to sir, I'll manage.” Simron said.I turned to Alina, thanked her and told her I'd meet her at home before leaving the hospital. My intention was to return to Damian's house and finish what I started. And I did.Back at the safehouse, I looked everywhere for where the key could be. I checked the bed, underneath the bed, the drawers, his wardrobe, his clothes and found nothing. I decided to check the kitchen. There were groceries, cans of beer, cartons of juice and milk, a few bottles of alcohol and packs of bottled water. I checked each kitchen drawer and cabinet but the key wasn't there either.I was panting by the time I slowed down and accepted I wasn't going to find the key. Calling Sinclair crossed my mind. He might not know ab

CHAPTER 4 ~~Matteo Rossi~~ The drive all the way to the cemetery was quiet. I appreciated that Marco didn’t try to involve me in any cliche discussion. “Just drop me at the main gate” I said to him when we were close enough to the funeral home. He did as told, pulled up to the wrought iron gates and halted the car right there. Raindrops were already beginning to speckle the windshield. “I’ll wait here, sir,” Marco said. “No. Go home. I’ll call a cab,” I lied. I wanted him gone. I needed this space to be truly alone Marco hesitated, concern etched around his mouth. “Mr. Rossi, with the weather turning… and your father…” “Go,” I ordered, flatly. The finality in my tone gave room for no argument. He nodded once, acknowledging the dismissal, and watched me until I stepped onto the wet pavement. Only then did the car pull away. I walked toward the marble mausoleum where Joe rested. I reached the stone bench facing the grave, the engraved name, Joseph Almonte, blur

Chapter 3 “He says you have to meet someone, Matteo,” my chauffeur pronounced, his persistence grated on my nerves. “It’s Eleanor Benett. Your arranged bride.” The words struck me. The name too familiar that I wish I'd heard nothing about it. “No,” I whispered "No. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not meeting anyone.” I started towards the double doors to the operating theatre, my legs moving on their own, by am instinct to go see him. To deny the surgeon’s brutal truth. My chauffeur moved faster. He stepped in front of the doors, blocking my path, his stance immovable. “Mr. Rossi. Please. Your father’s orders are absolute.” “My father can go to hell!” I roared, the pain finally exploding into fury. My hands balled into fists, trembling. “Joseph is dead, Marco! Dead! And you want me to go meet some… some bride? Get out of my way!” I lunged, not to fight him, but to push past, to force my way back into that sroom. Marco caught my arms, his grip firm but careful. He was trying to r

CHAPTER 2 The high pitched shriek of the ambulance was the first thing that welcomed me when we arrived the hospital. The car screeched to a halt. I didn't wait for the door to be opened. I flung it open myself, stumbling out into the hospital air. The air was thick with the sterile scent of antiseptic. I stood for a paralyzing moment, disoriented. I fell through the automatic doors and into a brightly lit reception area. My legs felt wobbly as I staggered to the main desk, gripping the counter so hard my knuckles turned white. A woman with tired eyes and a name badge reading ‘Brenda’ looked up, her gaze expectant “I’m here for Joseph Almonte,” I managed to say, my voice a hoarse croak. I barely recognized it as my own. “He… he was in an accident.” Brenda tapped a few keys on her keyboard, her eyes skimming the screen. “Yes, Mr. Almonte. You’re the emergency contact, Mr. Rossi?” I nodded, impatience making my whole body vibrate. “Where is he? Tell me where he is!” She r

PROLOGUE I had buried Joe. I had told my father no. I had chosen the cemetery over my arranged bride. I felt nothing. I’d lost everything that gave my life meaning in the span of a single night; the very night of my third anniversary. So, when that hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my protest, my instinct should have been to fight, to claw my way out of that grip. But I barely tried. When he called himself Rowan Hayes, when he spoke of my father and my arranged bride, it struck me: This man is Chaos, Hatred, and Ruin all in one. He wanted to destroy me. And in that moment, watching the sedative hiss toward my face, a shameful thought surfaced: Maybe I want to feel something. Something other than the silence. I let the darkness take me, yielding to the ruin he promised. I had nothing left to lose. Let him ruin me. I long to see what kind of darkness he intends to bring to my already wrecked life. CHAPTER 1 ~~MATTEO~~ I glanced around the restaurant, taking in every