DAMON Panic clawed at my throat, suffocating me. I paced the length of the warehouse, my fingers digging into my scalp as I tried to silence the chaos in my head. The room smelled of gunpowder and damp concrete, the flickering overhead lights casting shadows that seemed to grow. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Luciano wasn’t supposed to get this far. He was supposed to be dead. I should have killed him a long time ago! I raked my hands through my hair, my breaths coming in sharp, uneven gasps. "Calm down Damon" "Mother, don't tell me to calm down . You have no idea what's going to on.. if Luciano decides to crush me after all this, it won't take more than 24 hours " " Glad you know that well enough before you started your obsession with your ex wife , whom is now his wife. stay clear of those people, I warned. For your sake, I will pray that his grandfather never gets involved because if he does, your name will change to Damon doom and GED will change from being b
Eloise’s POv Five days later, I was finally getting ready to be released. Dr. Sage had run every test imaginable, seemed satisfied with the results, and now I was just waiting for the paperwork and a ride. The door to my hospital room creaked open, and a man poked his head inside. “Mrs. Eloise?” he asked. “I’m Detective Lazio, Firenze Provincia Police Department.” My heart plummeted. He stepped inside, dressed in dark slacks with a jacket tossed over a casual shirt. He would be full of questions. Questions I had no answers for. My head was clearer now, but the glimpses I had into my past were like the flame of a lighter running out of fuel—images would spark and sputter, flicker and die, leaving me with nothing. He flashed his badge, and my stomach twisted. “Sorry to bother you here at the hospital,” Lazio apologized. He had a hound-dog face, deep brown eyes, and a solemn, concerned expression. He seemed like a nice enough guy, but I wasn’t buying it. I remembered Lau
ELOISE I remember this place. The car sped up a narrow, winding street to the summit of Pian dei Giullari and my heart leaped as I caught my first glimpse of the house mounted at the most prestigious point on the ridge. Yes, yes, yes! I’d been here before—I was sure of it. Since leaving the hospital, I’d been in a foul mood, but some of that was dissipating as fragments of memory—tickles of my past—flashed behind my eyes. There was a ring… I glanced down at my left hand, frowning. Not the diamonds glittering there, but a simpler band I recalled. And there were other things, walking in a building filled with different paintings. I was a curator after all. so I was told. Less than thirty minutes ago, when I’d been driven out of the hospital, trepidation had settled deep inside me. Even as Alex helped me to calm, , I couldn’t shake the unease curling in my gut. he’d driven us away, past the lush greenery of Golden Gate Park, through the gingerbread Victorians of Ha
The lab coat was a couple of sizes too big, but it didn’t matter. It was all the camouflage I needed. One of the burn ward nurses hadn’t shown up for duty tonight—her car had been disabled, her cell phone stolen—and the other two were run ragged as the hospital searched for staff to fill the void. By the time they managed that, I’d be finished. The lights were too bright for my liking, but there wasn’t much I could do about that. I shoved a pair of tortoise-rimmed glasses onto my nose. Slipping into my role of intern easily, I walked with confidence. The name tag on my lapel and picture were of Charles Steve. I figured no one would notice that the image on the card didn’t match my face as I strode with the authority of someone who knew what they were doing. That I belonged. What a joke. I’d never belonged anywhere. Had always been on the outside looking in. Well now I wasn’t only looking, I was fucking pounding on the window. Near the burn ward, I lingered in an alcove, then
LUCIANO.“Had Eloise been drinking on the night that she lost control of the car?” Lazio asked. I and Alex sat in an Irish pub a few blocks from my office.. Alex was on his second scotch and water. “Nope. For some reasons she had sworn not to take alcohol anymore " “What about Florence?” he asked, wondering about the woman who no one seemed to know. Eloise's employee. “No one knows what she’d been doing but there was a little alcohol in her bloodstream. Not much.” From the booth where we sat, my gaze followed a couple of guys who were throwing darts near the back of the bar."Eloise and she were close?” “As close as Eloise gets I suppose, but from work I think she's the one that relates more with Eloise” Alex swirled his drink. Ice cubes danced in the weak light. “El, didn’t have a lot of friends.”That surprised Lazio “She sure as hell got a lot of cards and flowers in the hospital”“It’s expected. We’re pretty high-profile around here.” I yanked at the knot of my tie .C
ELOISELuciano wouldn't have sex with me and it still bothers me. Does he chest on me or something? I'm sure I know men enough to realize that they never keep their stuff under their pants. I didn't want to lose my husband to the hands of a random slut . Even though I insisted that we stay in the same room, he sleeps on the couch and leaves the king sized bed for him But tonight I won't let him. I'm a human too and I'm sure he is! I was about to break the king silence before luckily he spoke up. "It's unlike you to insist on sharing the same room with me. I guess the accident really messed with your head" Luciano said with a chuckle as he lay on the couch close to the television. " No. I just feel a married couple should share a bed. I don't know how shitty my personality have been while we are married but I do appreciate that you saved me from my ex-husband. That asshole would have manipulated his way into my life again" I said . I already heard from the news about all that hap
LUCIANO"I don't know why she's here but it's definitely unlike her. She never visited you before" James said trembling on his feet. "Well let her in ofcourse" Eloise was probably trying to get to know more about herself. She was always busy running her museum and I am always the one visiting to help out and strategize but today she came and I am glad she found time to visit. "I wasn't expecting you El" I said with a smile ushering her to seat at the cushion while I abandoned my work to join her. However instead of reciprocated smile, I got a slap on my cheek instead and I could only scoff. "Did you know about this?" She asked and hands her tabs over to me. " If you were going to lie to me, to deceive me just because of money, you could have atleast had a rethink. I almost died but all you and your family care about is purchasing every piece of land around the museum "I got really annoyed but I won't blame her. She was at her most vulnerable state that she could easily be decei
LUCIANO"You need to see this boss" James said as soon as Jonathan left. "I did my own research and looking at the land registers..." I brought out a landscape and placed the photo in my desk.."Do you remember the VIPs at the museum opening party?" He asked and I nodded. "Their name came up quiet often on the register" James said with total certainty. I couldn't help but scoff. This was exactly what i guessed. It was weird enough that the museum that had no visitors at all suddenly got flooded on the opening party even though all those that Eloise invited turned down her invitation. They ended up coming. I should have know judging by the fact that they all arrived at the same exact time..So to them it was like land surveying Instead of open party? Those scumbags! "Sir... I'm sorry to bring this up again. Your grand father insist you visit him today"..I raised a brow in annoyance and then leaned back in my chair, drumming my fingers against the desk. Of course my grandfather
DAMIEN POVWe moved quickly, staying low, and taking cover behind the nearest warehouse. My heart thudded in my chest, but I didn’t let it show. Every muscle was coiled with anticipation. Eva was close. I could feel it. And I was going to make sure Marcus didn’t get away with what he had done.I signaled to Marco to take the left side, while I led the team to the right, the area where Marcus’s phone had been traced to. The building was run-down, the kind of place where people went to disappear. But this wouldn’t be where Marcus disappeared. This was where his story would end.I couldn’t let him hurt Eva.As we closed the distance, I signaled to my men to stay alert. I was just a few feet from the entrance when I heard a noise. It was a slight scuffle followed by a faint whimper. It was enough to make my blood run cold. Eva.I moved forward, silently, my hand on the grip of my gun, eyes scanning for any sign of Marcus. There was no room for error. We couldn’t risk a standoff. We had t
DAMIEN"No,’ Chairman Huxley said. ‘We found out late tonight. A call came through, and the man on the phone threatened to kill Eva if the FBI or the cops are brought in.I need your help,’ he said, appealing to me ‘I have to get my daughter back safely.I clenched my fist. Marcus just doesn't know the boundaries that are not meant to be crossed. How dare he kidnap my wife in my absence. He didn't even try to be anonymous. He fucking told her father he was Marcus. Which means he has so much guts and no fear. "Well, ‘this is unusual. Of course, I understand the situation, and if you wish to pay him in that fashion, I can arrange it. However, I never recommend paying kidnappers and, believe me, I’ve had my share of threats.’‘What would you do?’ Chairman Huxley asked."I wouldn’t call in the FBI, they’re useless,’ I said. ‘I have my own people who use the latest technology. When he phones again, we can put that into action."He’s calling tomorrow at 10 a.m.""Where?""L.A.," Chairma
Eva.Finally I got it. This was no joke.When I’d started to struggle with the short man, he’d run out of the room, slamming the door in my face and locking it so I couldn’t get out.Shit! I thought, looking around. I really am a captive.There were no windows, a stone floor, a big old heavy door, a rickety cot with a stained mattress in the corner, an old blanket and a bucket.I'm screwed.How had this happened?I shut my eyes for a moment, trying to summon all the strength I could. Don’t panic, A little voice whispered in my head. Stay calm. You will get out of this.The short man with the pop eyes had tried to force some pills into my mouth. I’d kicked him in the balls and the pills had scattered on the ground. If I’d been quicker, I might have reached the door before him, but he was fast for such an unfit-looking man. Strong and smelly, too. I wrinkled my nose in disgust.Kidnapped. It seemed like a plot from a movie. No wonder I felt so sick, they’d obviously used somethi
A year later.Brenda's pov"From the moment we met, I liked you. I think about you all the time and I even dreamt about you at night. I know this might seem sudden but I don't think I can wait any longer"I smiled. Watching Micheal from across the table in the fancy exquisite restaurant. He knelt on one knee and brought a ring box out of his jacket pocket, the velvet catching the soft candlelight between us. My breath hitched as he opened it to reveal a delicate diamond solitaire, shimmering like a secret under the stars."Will you marry me?" he asked, with a low earnest voice , his eyes locked on mine like I was the only person in his world.For a heartbeat, the whole restaurant seemed to fade away the clink of glasses, the low hum of conversation, even the soft classical music floating through the air. All I could see was him, his trembling hand, and the hope in his eyes.Tears welled up before I could stop them. Not because I was surprised—but because I had waited so long to hear
Eva I woke up two weeks later “Eva, come home right now.”The urgency in my father’s voice froze me in place. I dropped my phone and rushed out, not even bothering to change out of Damien's pajamas. Yes his own because they are bigger and thicker and the weather is just damn too cold. Within seconds, I was behind the wheel of my Land Rover, tearing down the road, my heart pounding with worry.This wasn’t like Chairman Huxley. My father never called like that—never sounded that rattled. A thousand thoughts flooded my mind, each worse than the last. Was he sick again? Had something happened? I imagined him on the bed whimpering about how he loves me and that I should take care of myself. Oh God! I dreaded that thought. I must agree that the worst part of having parents is watching them grow old I parked haphazardly in front of the house, not caring that the tires weren’t straight or that I’d blocked part of the driveway. Kicking the door open, I ran up the stairs, two s
EvaThis isn’t what I was expecting at all. Ever since I got back, I’ve been starving myself. Not on purpose, okay, maybe a little out of pride. I've texted Damien for his address so I can easily order something to eat but he won't reply and I wasn't going to call him Gosh I literally haven’t eaten a single thing today and I slept off only to wake up by past 11pm. my stomach is punishing me for my negligence. The growling is so loud it could probably summon the dead. I tried to sleep, I really did, but the hunger pangs were too painful to ignore.It was too late to order anything. No restaurants will be open for delivery. So I was left with the one option I always end up taking a midnight snack.I tiptoed to the kitchen like a thief, praying not to wake anyone. The first time I tried this at home, Chairman Huxley nearly turned my head into a pancake with a frying pan. He thought I was a burglar. I still don’t understand why he chose a frying pan of all things. What if
Eva’s POV“What am I doing? Seriously?” I asked, trying not to let the irritation in my voice rise too much. His cold tone had sparked an ache I couldn’t quite describe. I only wanted to celebrate with him, to share in his moment and maybe, just for a second, pretend there was something real between us.But apparently, even pretending was asking too much.The audience hadn’t picked up on the tension between us yet. We were both still smiling like a picture-perfect couple. All fake. All for show.“You should stop acting up, Eva,” Damien muttered under his breath, though his smile remained intact, perfectly sculpted for the cameras that wouldn’t stop clicking. "Or else I will do this" He pulled me closer, his arm tightening around my waist as if this moment actually meant something. His lips cut mine I was so flustered by the sudden kiss . What was he doing. This is going overboard To the watching world, we were the romantic headline of the week: Office Romance Goals—The Alexa
Eva's POV"Get up."The deep voice cut through my sleep. Blinking my eyes open, I saw Damien standing in front of me. My surroundings felt unfamiliar—this wasn’t the plush hotel suite we’d stayed in the night before."Where…?" I began to ask, startled and confused. I felt embarrassed to be so disoriented.“We’re back in the States. Now get up. The car is already waiting,” Damien said, his tone sharp and devoid of warmth.Back in the States? My mind raced. I didn’t remember boarding a plane, let alone arriving here. The last thing I recalled was collapsing into bed, exhausted from the gala night. We were supposed to stay for two weeks, not just one. So why the sudden change?I covered my face with my hands, trying to wake up fully—and to hide the panic rising inside me. Something didn’t feel right.“Come on! I have things to do,” Damien snapped, grabbing my wrist and dragging me toward the exit. I stumbled down the stairs, still groggy and struggling to keep up with his long strides.W
Eva’s POVThe suite was quiet . The kind of silence that presses against your ears, heavy and watchful. I stared at the three dresses laid out on the bed, each more extravagant than the last. velvet. Midnight blue silk. Gold sequins.All picked by Damien not me. Apparently, even my wardrobe was part of the arrangement.I chose the midnight blue one. It was elegant but simple, the kind of gown that didn’t scream for attention, but still turned heads. As I stepped into the walk-in closet and zipped it up, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.My makeup was flawless. My hair swept into soft waves. I looked… expensive. But I didn’t feel that way.Not when my heart was still sore from this morning. Not when I still heard Damien’s voice in my head like a cruel echo. “After the divorce, I doubt I’ll even remember your face.”I grabbed the silver heels from the box on the wardrobe and slipped them on just as the door creaked open.Damien stepped in.He wore a black tux, with a dark bo