Desperate Measures

Liya Glensdale stared blankly at her untouched coffee while the rain washed against the windows of the little diner she sat in. She constantly picked at her nails with nerves unsettled as the minutes flew by on the wall clock, drawing the inevitable meeting with the man who could decide her brother's fate, closer. When the bell above the diner rang, Liya’s eyes popped up as she watched a man enter and shake the rain off his trench coat, his presence immediately changing the atmosphere of the entire room. Her heart began racing as she watched Damian Viktor approach her table. He was by far taller than she had thought, with a scrawny face and a smile that made him look more sinister and cruel than kind. Even with his sharp suit that emphasized he was well-off, his appearance screamed that he was a dangerous man, the kind you don't get involved with. He sat down across from her, skin spread like he owned the place. “Liya Glensdale,” he said with a flat yet rough voice. “I’ve been anti

The atmosphere outside the mansion seemed strangely silent compared to the chaos that just happened in the study. The storm had passed leaving the night wet and calm, but Liya’s heart was anything but still. The scene repeatedly played in her mind. Every detail troubled her mind as she followed Aldo and Melinda down the shadowy hallway, her movement quick to keep up with them.Liya’s breath came out in pants, her palms sweaty as she wrapped her arms around herself. She had never felt so uncomfortable, so totally exposed. The beauty of the mansion, with its spotless floors and grand chandelier, felt more like a sugar-coated cage rather than a shelter.Aldo stopped suddenly, turning to her. His fierce gaze on her and for a minute, her breath stopped. “We don't have a lot of time,” he said in a low but firm voice.”Damian won’t stop just after a single attack. This was the first of many, so we need to hurry.”Liya’s stomach knotted. Thoughts of the lifeless human in the study filled her m

The days after the attack went by in a blur for Liya. The broken window had been fixed but flashbacks from that night continued playing in her head like a broken record. She had finally seen the dangerous world he lived in, a world she was no part of. Liya roamed the wide halls of Aldo’s mansion, the fanciness around her a total opposite of the storm inside her. Even with the expensive crystal chandeliers and paintings that decorated the walls, the air was still filled with tension. She felt like a prisoner in a golden cage, her every move watched by Melinda or one of Aldo’s men. Her brain kept returning to Aldo’s words from the night of the attack: you're a party to the game now. She couldn't figure out what he was saying. What role did she play and what game was he talking about?While roaming, she came across a library, the room was filled with books from floor to ceiling, it was every girl's dream. She ran her fingers over them, inhaling the smell of leather and paper which was

The strong grip over her mouth made Liya tremble in fear–she couldn't scream nor could she call for help. “Don’t try to scream,” her attacker said as he removed his hand that was pressed over her mouth. Before Liya could turn around, she felt something sharp and cold like a knife press into her side, and she stiffened, fear gripping her. “Walk,” the man steered her towards the staircase which led down to the garden. Her mind busied itself with thoughts of an escape. She searched around for a way out. She looked at the door, contemplating if she could make a run for it and get help. Like he read her mind, he pressed the knife harder into her sides. “Don’t even dream about it. One wrong move from you and you'll be ending up tonight in a body bag and not on a bed with your husband,” he warned her. Liya gulped, her throat suddenly dry from fear as she nodded, allowing him to guide her.They moved through the garden in silence, the constant rustling of leaves and crickets the only th

Aldo straightened his suit and cufflinks while standing in front of the mirror. The black tux was correctly designed to fit his broad frame. Exiting his room, he went to his home bar to have a drink while he waited for Liya. Women usually took their precious time while getting ready and he was sure she wasn't any different. He had also just dumped the news of the gala on her just the other night, not giving her enough time to prepare her mind. Thinking of the other night, his mind went back to the conversation they had about the locked room and he could only pray she didn't go snooping around and digging into areas of his life he had long buried.The clicking of heels coming down the stairs called his attention as he turned to see Liya descending the stairs. Her presence commanded his attention and awakened something in him that he didn't want to acknowledge. She was stunning in her dark red dress that filled out in the right places, not too much but enough cleavage and the smooth ski