Novels by Bernice

Sophia's POV“No,” he said. “I'm not going to stop talking until you tell me what I want to hear. You're going to end this once and for all.”“I don't have anything to end…” I said but his voice interrupted me.“Do you love me?”“What?” I aksed, startled.“Do you love me?” He asked again.“Flynn, stop it,” I replied.“Just answer the damn question. Do you love me?”“It doesn't matter if I…”“Do you freaking love me?!” He yelled.“I…I…,” I stuttered.“Say it. Say you don't and I'll kill all my emotions for you. Say it,” he said.His voice got deeper and I got more conflicted.“Flynn,” I called him once more. My heart pounded and I couldn't get it to calm down.“Answer me!”“No!” I yelled back.His face fell and he blinked. Then, he nodded. “Fine, then.”“Flynn, I…” I said.“No, it's okay. I finally know my place.”“That's not what I…” I stated but he began to leave.I felt terrible. I couldn't let him go. It hurt. For some damn reason it hurt more than when Dominic ignored me. It hurt

Sophia's POVMy heels annouced my welcome as I strolled to the clinic.I pushed the door open, and walked in.My eyes searched everywhere for Flynn like flash. He had better be here and not leave or I would kill him.“Flynn,” I called.That was a stupid thing to do, but it worked. The Vet came out. He was a retired undercover agent and spy who sometimes helped me.I chose to buy him to my side many times but he refused each time saying. “I don't want no smokes. But I can help you out if I can handle it. I only care about the animals now.”I hadn't given up on him but I didn't push him.“You came,” he said. My eyes greeted him and he pointed his thumb backwards to the thick transparent door behind him.“He's in there. Don't make any noise, please. I don't want the animals I got to sleep waking up.”“Sure,” I said and moved towards the direction.My heels became awfully louder and I squealed at the noise.“Quieter, please,” he said and I stopped to take the heels off then held it in my

Sophia's POVThis was bad. Very bad. Why and how did she get that? What was this? Everything is supposed to be going my way?I sighed inwardly and counted to five before switching my countenance to being unbothered.“Is that the best you can do? Bring a used test kit to me. You want me to accept that I am pregnant so badly that you got someone else positive stick to force your point on me.”“Oh,” Martina muttered. “Force you?”“I'm done with this,” I said, ready to walk away. “And you.”“How do you explain going to the doctor's office?” Martina’s voice greeted me.“So, you have been following me around the city? Why don't you become a dog instead?” I spat.“I don't have time for that. Just bear in mind that I'll be watching you. Every single minute.”I didn't wait and left. That was enough problems for today.I still had time to get rid of her before Dominic came, but first I had to find a way to get out of this house without being noticed.Marching down the hallway, I progressed quic

Sophia's POVSometimes, madness was easy to get without trying. Martina was in my space every damn minute.I had been trying to get out of the house to see Flynn but I couldn't because her eyes were everywhere.I knew her. She was here for a reason.After breakfast, I walked into the living room to watch the news. She was outside playing golf and winning.My eyes focused on the screen. Just then Dominic's arrest came on the television.“The shady billionaire has been arrested by the NYPD force this afternoon in his office. Reporters aren't allowed to see. He's been granted access to a lawyer and is expected to cooperate in the interrogation.”That had happened fast.“How the mighty have fallen. I didn't think it would be that fast, husband,” I murmured.“You sure didn't,” Martina's voice came from behind.I turned with my heart in my skin. I hadn't expected anyone there.“You know you should be pained that your husband is in jail,” she continued and smirked.“Of course I am, sister,”

Dominic's POVThe phone dropped carefully to the table from my hand as I locked eyes with Alessia.Her face had horror and concern for me. She didn't completely hate me. There was still hope for me. But I didn't intend to exploit it.I deserved every single pain. That's why I hadn't done anything yet. I didn't bother to catch the culprit or stop the news because I wanted to suffer.For everything I did to her.“Open up. Now!” The officers yelled. They were here for me.Alessia turned her gaze from me for a second then back at me.“Open it,” I said. “They're here for me.”“What?” She asked in a gentle voice.The police started banging on the door wildly. “You have ten seconds to open up or I'll break the door down.”“Open it,” I said.“No, they'll take you away. That's not what I want,” she complained in a gentle voice.“Alessia, open the door or they'll break it,” I said.She shook her head gently, refusing.“This isn't the time to feel pity,” I said.“Ten,” the officer began to count

Alessia's POVMy heart stupidly tingled as I stared into his eyes. This wasn't the time. He destroyed my life. That was the only thing my heart thought of.“Why are you here?” Dominic asked, and got out of his seat to stand and watch me.“You aren't pleased to see me?” I asked in a taunting tone.“Don't patronize me, Alessia. What are you doing back here?”I scoffed and ignored his question.“I'm talking to you,” he said.“I know that. I'm not deaf,” I responded.“Dear Lord, I think I should leave,” Diego murmured.“No, you stay right there,” I said.“Leave us,” Dominic ordered.I grew madder. “He stays.”Dominic only turned his gaze slightly towards Diego who took a step back.“He doesn't,” Dominic repeated in a low, deadly voice.Diego raised his hands in defeat. “Yo, you two should leave me out of this. I didn't sign up to be you people's dragging doll. Just pretend I ain't here.”Diego’s smile disappeared, and his eyes popped a bit after a second.“Leave him alone,” I said to Domi

Adam’s POVI sat in the study room, tired from checking the business file and reached for the television's remote.I pressed a button and the television came on. I was watching the news and I returned to reading the documents.The second I heard the name Clayridge on the news ticker, I stopped breathing.I stood frozen, my eyes locked on the television screen like it held the keys to the next war.A riot. At Clayridge.I didn’t need to wait for confirmation.My gut knew before my brain did.Richard was gone."Confirmed reports that Mafia suspect Richard Mitch, elder brother to the notorious underworld figure Adam Mitch, escaped the facility early this morning along with six other inmates..."Notorious? Oh damn it.I never went above my own lane and I was making the news because of Richard.The voice of the news anchor turned to static in my ears. I saw the headline. I saw the flames. The chaos. The confusion on the guards’ faces. It all looked staged. Because it was.I’d know Richard’

Elizabeth’s POVThe first time I pressed the panic button in the elevator, I wasn’t panicking. I was just curious how long it would take for them to get to me.I counted slowly and when it got to none seconds, I got my answer.Eight men came charging into the hallway, guns drawn. One of them even barked my name like I was under attack.But I wasn’t.I just needed proof. Proof that this place had stopped being a house a long time ago.Now, it was a cage. Pretty curtains didn’t hide the bars. I wasn't locked up. I was free but I was sick and tired of staying put in this house.I didn’t bother apologizing. I just walked past the guards and headed toward the basement. Their footsteps followed, but I didn’t look back. I kept walking, down the staircase, past the secured corridor with fingerprint locks, straight to the cell where Corinth was held.She sat on the floor like a dead person with her head leaned back against the wall.Somehow I felt pity for her, but I was still mad she had trie

Lily's POVI didn’t talk to Lance during the whole flight. I didn’t have to. He didn’t expect me to.We sat in silence, an ocean between us despite sitting only one seat apart. In one hand he swirled a whiskey glass slowly. I had nothing. Not even sleep. I hated that I was in this position.When we landed in the States, I braced for the worst. I thought I would be taken directly to some basement then given a gun, a file and told to clean up someone else’s mess. Or even killed. But instead, Lance handed me a manila folder.Inside were fake credentials. It had given me a new name so I could not be easily tracked. New background. I was officially now Samantha Carson, federal corrections officer, Clayridge Maximum Security Prison.My stomach twisted."What is this?" I asked.Lance didn’t smile. "Your clean slate. Your one final task."I really didn't want to and I complained. "This isn’t what I do."Lance picked up and did not care. "You do now."I stared at the folder again. One of the d

Lily's POVJosh propped back on the couch, half-squinting, with sweat beaded on his brow.He took his phone from his pocket and texted someone before returning his gaze to me.“I asked you a question,” he said. His voice went deeper.“No, I didn't,” I said. He looked relieved.“So, he's blackmailing you. Why?” He asked.“Because I shot my friend. Yes, I shot Elizabeth and ran,” I confessed.“Lily,” Josh called in disbelief. “So, it was you?”“I don't know if she's dead. I checked the news. There's no record of her death. It was selfish of me, but I didn't kill her. I know that,” I said.It didn't make sense to me, but I didn't want to cry in front of him.He stared at me. None of us broke eye contact. Then the knock came.Josh sat up and pointed to the door. "That's him. Let him in."I opened it quickly to find a lanky man with a box of supplies tucked under one arm. His scruffy beard and bleary eyes belied the crispness of the white gloves he donned as he entered.“I can’t believe yo

Lily's POVThe gun didn’t move. It remained pointed toward Josh’s head.My heart raced as I leapt between them, my arms outstretched. My voice cracked, but I pushed the words out. "What do you want?"The man laughed and cocked his head, as if I’d just asked the dumbest question in the world. His lips curled slowly in a cruel smile. "It’s easy. You should have guessed it."I gulped.“You did better than I hoped bringing him here,” the man said.“You sent that message?” I asked, and he smiled.Josh sat up, and the man ticked his fingers warning him not to move.“Lily, what in the hell is happening?” Josh asked.“You'll know soon enough,” the man answered.The soft click from the black SUV behind the man caught our attention.My heart began to race. Its headlights blinked. The doors released with a muffled thump. I froze, a chill wrapping around my back.The driver's door opened.No. Please, God, no. Don't let it be him.But it was him. The first thing that hit my eye was his polished sh

Lily's POVMy scream was loud and sharp as the closet door flew open. I didn’t think. I just reacted. I shot my fist out and into a man’s face with a sickening thud. The figure reeled back, groaning."Ow! Lily, what the hell!"Josh’s voice pierced through my mind and I opened my eyes. My heart sank the second I saw who I hit."Josh?" I asked.He held his nose with his left hand, and rubbed the spot. "Yeah, it’s me. You throw one hell of a punch. What was that?"I stumbled out of the closet, still shaking. "Jesus. Don't scare me like that. I thought you were him. I heard him. He called my name. I swear he was here.”Josh glanced around the room, his face turning a bit red. He moved fast, checking the windows, every corner, under the bed, behind the door.“There's no one here now,” he said.He glanced at me then, the concern carved deep into his face. “That’s it. I’m done playing defense.”He pulled out his phone and called someone. In less than an hour, a locksmith came and changed eve