The figure that stood at the doorway was tall, shoulders wide, and somewhat hidden by the dim lighting in the room. Her pulse pumped and her head ached. Didn't they say this was a safe place, reinforced and impenetrable? So what was this man doing standing inside the supposedly secured room and glaring at her? How did he break through the mansion’s security?
“Who…who are you? What do you want?” Her voice cracked, shaking with fear. He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he fixed his sharp eyes on her, assessing her like a predator examining its prey. He stepped forward and Liya willed herself to move but her legs refused to cooperate. Her eyes flitted to the monitors but they were black and without any image. The room which had once felt like a refuge suddenly felt like a snare. “I–I’ll scream,” she stuttered in a quivering but feisty voice. The man raised his brows, a light smile on his lips. “You could, but I wouldn't advise it,” he said in a smooth and calm voice, sounding bored by the interaction. Before she could respond, rushed footsteps sounded from the hallway. She let out a sigh of relief as Aldo appeared in the doorway, his body filling the room with a bossy energy. She felt slightly at ease with Aldo’s presence. The intruder turned to face Aldo, his gaze unclear. Aldo’s hand grazed the gun tucked in his holster, ready to strike if it got to it. “You’ve made an error coming here today,” Aldo said in a low and threatening voice. The intruder raised his hand slightly in mock surrender. “Chill Marino, I'm not here to exchange blows, I don't have time for that.” “Then what’s your mission here, what part do you play in this game?” Aldo questioned in a bone-chilling voice. The intruder smirked, loving to see Aldo riled up. “To deliver a message from Damian.” At the mention of his name again, Liya paled and felt irritation building inside her at the same time. What was this charade? What exactly was Damian playing at? The entire game didn't make sense to her. First, the man at the study tried to attack her and then took his life after delivering a message from Damian. Now, this man who looked unafraid and like he wasn't here to harm her came bearing another message from Damian. What kind of setup was this? “Careful,” Aldo warned pulling out his gun as the man reached into his jacket, slowly pulling out a folded piece of paper and holding it up. “Relax, it’s just a letter,” his tone taunting. Aldo pulled the paper from his hand with his gun still aimed at the man. He opened it, eyes sweeping through the page, and Liya watched his jaw tightening and posture tensing as he read the contents. “What does it say?” Liya asked, her voice eager. Aldo didn't answer. He continued to analyze the letter with a calm expression. He then folded the letter attentively and kept it in his pocket. “Leave,” he said to the intruder in a commanding and final tone. The man chuckled, the sound uneasy. “Always so blunt, Marino. You haven't changed at all.” He turned his attention to Liya, his eyes remaining on her for a while longer. “Take care, Mrs. Marino. I'm sure we'll meet again. Soon.” Liya’s stomach rolled as the man exited the room, his confidence unnerving. The nerves in her body didn't settle until his footsteps faded down the hall. Aldo sheathed his gun but avoided her eyes. His demeanor was colder than she had seen in the last few hours. “What did the letter say?” she asked as she took cautious steps towards him. “It doesn't matter to you,” Aldo said sharply, cutting off any further arguments she had but she wasn't backing down. “It definitely does! I'm caught in the crossfire so it does.’ she snapped, her panic giving way to rage. “If Damian keeps sending people after us then I am entitled to know.” Aldo snapped his gaze to her, his eyes filled with a mix of exasperation and something deeper that she couldn't quite put her finger on. “This isn't about entitlement Liya, it's about survival. The more you know, the more involved you get and the less you know, the safer you’ll be.” She shook her head in defiance, hands fisting at her side. “You can't keep protecting me from the truth Aldo, I didn't want to be here, but here I am. I deserve to know what's happening.” Aldo's gaze softened a bit, and the hard edges of his appearance seemed to lessen. “You believe knowing will make you safer?” he asked in a calm voice. Not waiting for her reply he continued, “It won't. It'll only make you a bigger target.” Liya stared at him with an intense look, her chest rising and falling like waves in a storm. She hated how little he saw her, how helpless she felt in a world where Damian and Aldo controlled the strings. “I’m already a target. The least you can do is make me understand what I'm up against.” Aldo's eyes scrutinized her carefully and for a moment she thought he’d open up to her. But then he shook his head, his cold mask taking its place. “You should rest. Melinda will show you to your room.” He said dismissively. Liya opened her mouth to argue but the look he gave her silenced the words in her throat. He was only shutting out, he was protecting her the only way he could. ——————————— Seconds flew by as Liya sat at the foot of the giant bed in the room Melinda had shown her, staring at the elaborate design on the rug. The mansion was surprisingly silent but she couldn't for a moment let go of the thought that the threat still prowling outside the walls. Her mind filled with dread, confusion, and irritation. She replayed the day in her head and remembered the intruder in the study, the man in the “secured” room who delivered Damian’s letter, and Aldo and his change in expression as he read the letter. And then her mind drifted to her brother, Liam, the reason she was here with Aldo, and in the middle of all this. Was he safe? What was he up to? Had Damian gone back on his word and was holding him hostage, to have leverage over her? Soft tapping on the door broke her out of her thoughts, frightening her. She got up, her heart in her mouth as she approached the door. She should know better, but before she could get closer, Aldo stepped into the room. He appeared…different. The cold aura he usually carried was replaced by another expression she couldn't quite put her finger on. He held a glass of whisky in one hand and the first three buttons of his shirt undone, displaying a glimpse of his well-defined chest. “Having issues sleeping?” he asked in a calm voice, nothing like the one she had gotten used to. Liya nodded hesitantly, “yeah, I've got too much on my mind.” Aldo stepped further into the room, putting his glass on the nearby table. He glanced around the room, his attention focused on the window. “I have tightened the security outside. No one is getting to you again.” “I’ve heard that before, but it's not the house I'm scared of.” She said, her eyes briefly moving to look at him. Aldo looked at her, not saying anything for a moment. “You’re stronger than I'd thought,” he finally said, ignoring her taunting. Liya was surprised by what he just said. “I don't feel that way,” she said. “Strength is not about how you feel. It's more about what you do, and you proved how strong you are tonight,” Aldo said. Liya suddenly felt shy as he looked at her. “ Trust me, I was terrified,” she said. “Good, fear will keep you alive,” he said with an almost unnoticeable smile. Their eyes met again and she witnessed another emotion aside from the usually cold one. “What are you keeping from me, Aldo?” she could see the conflict in his eyes about wanting to keep her in the dark or bringing to light what he was hiding. Before he could answer, his phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket, a frown taking over his face as he looked at the screen. He answered the call, anger filling his face. “Understood,” Aldo said in a cold voice. “What's wrong,” Liya asked, her fear returning. “Damian just made another move.” Having said that he turned and exited the room before she could ask more questions.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 day finally arrived—the day she married Aldo Marino. When she visualized her wedding, she would always think of happiness, a soon-to-be husband that she loved, and an intimate ceremony with her loved ones. This wasn't what she had dreamed of. She stared at herself in the mirror, dressed in a beautiful satin dress that clung perfectly to her curves, the soft lace brushing softly over her skin, the beauty contrasting her heavy heart.“Ready to go?” Melinda’s voice cut through her thoughts.Liya turned to face Melinda who stood at the doorway with a neutral expression. The woman had been her shadow since the attack and while Liya was thankful for the support, her presence only pointed out that she was continuously in danger.“I'm not sure I could say that but I can't back out either,” Liya said in a resolved voice. Melinda looked at her with soft eyes only for a moment. “It’s not about being ready, it’s about doing what you can to survive.”With that, Liya nodded and followed Melind
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 was up before sunrise since he couldn't sleep– he spent his night tossing and turning and wondering how his security was constantly breached. He enjoyed the silence in his mansion, especially in the early hours of the morning. But as he sat in his study, he could hear Liya moving in the hallway and wondered what she was up to. He thought she would not be able to leave her room today and was ready to have her meal sent to her but he was wrong. Last night was scary for her– he had rushed to her room in the middle of the night when he heard her scream from a bad dream. He didn't want to leave her again but at the same time he didn't want her to make this out to be something it was not, so he reluctantly returned to his room even though all he wanted was to get in bed with her and hold her in his arms. The pull to her was intense.He got up and went to the door to catch a glimpse of her. He leaned against the doorframe as he watched her study the antique furniture and old paintings
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
Seated in the back seat of the car and Liya by his side, Aldo couldn't help but notice how her body turned away from him. As she gazed out the window, the streetlights brightened her features giving her a charming glow. They hadn't said a word to each other the entire ride from the gala and he could only wonder what was going through her mind. He couldn't help but feel a bit of pride at the way she handled herself with Tomas even though she was out of her setting.He also recalled her question— just two words that left him overthinking— should I?She was only supposed to be a tool in this game but she was gradually becoming something more. His train of thought was cut as the car stopped in front of the mansion. He got out and went to open the door for Liya but she was already out of the car.“At least let me get the door for you,” he said, moving to stand before her.“That's okay, I can do that,” she said, smiling softly.“Of course you can. But what kind of man would I be if I let m
Aldo stood in his study, his gaze lost in the fireplace while the rain beat heavily against the windows and roof. The whiskey in his hand was barely touched as he recalled what he had said to Liya and he felt like kicking himself in the leg. He remembered the hurt on her face and concluded that he was such a jerk. He didn't mean to blurt out what he had said to her but she was tearing down walls that had been erected for a long time with so much ease that she barely noticed and he didn't want that or did he?His thoughts however shifted to what he had been trying to ignore, the reason why he seemed so lost. Despite locking up the past, some ghosts still slipped through the cracks, and the night was one of those nights.The door to his study opened and he knew only one person could enter his study unannounced. Liya. He didn't turn around, ashamed to face her after what he said in the Library.“I knew I'd find you here,” Liya’s voice was soft when she spoke. He'd expected her not to bot
Liya was up early the next morning even though she barely slept after her conversation with Aldo. She still couldn't believe he had told her something so personal and though it wasn't much, it was an improvement in their relationship— she would take whatever she could. It wasn't every time he let his guard down.And then the electricity in the room had changed when he grabbed her hand. Even now she could still feel his light touch on her wrist but she did what she knew best— she left before she could make a fool of herself. She didn't want them to blur lines seeing as what they had was only an arrangement, a marriage in name and paper only. Besides he had told her she wasn't there to stay so she didn't want to get attached. That didn't stop them from having a cordial relationship while they lived together.She was standing by the window, going over her thoughts when her phone rang. When she saw the number on the screen, her heart stopped and she wished he wasn't in trouble. She didn't
Liya quickly had her bath and headed to Aria's room. She was barely in the mood for breakfast. All she wanted to do was spend some time with the little girl. Just as she was heading there, she walked past Aldo in the hallway. She opened her mouth to greet him, but the look that he gave her made her shut her mouth immediately. She wanted to go after him and ask him what was wrong, but she knew better than to do that. She couldn't push away the feeling that something had happened. Something that had shaken him. Something that couldn't have been easily fixed. Liya knocked, trying to smile as she got into Aria's room. Aria was already up and refreshed, reading a book on her bed. Liya tried observing every single action that Aria made, trying to see if she noticed that something was going on with her brother. But Aria seemed like she was oblivious to whatever had happened to Aldo. “Have you read Frieda McFadden's newest book?” She asked out of excitement. “Yes, I have,” Liya said, try
After talking to Liya, Aldo knew that nothing would ever remain the same. He wanted to head to his room, but he knew that sleep was the last thing on his mind at the moment. He ended up going to his study to see if he would be able to go through some files that needed his attention. Business was the only thing that seemed to save him whenever he was drowning in thoughts. He tried going through them, but he couldn't get Liya’s voice out of his head. Her calm voice when she said she just wanted him to be real with her. He didn't know if all the answers that he had given her were the best but at least he was truthful to her. It was true that he and Damian were close. Very close allies and businessmen back then. Damian was more like an older brother and that was due to their age difference. He was a mentor but now Damian was more like a wolf hunting Aldo down. Aldo ran his hands through his hair in frustration, as he tried not to groan. A knock on the door brought him out of his dilemm
After checking up on Aria and going back to his office to check on the security cameras that Melinda had said she put in place, Aldo headed back to his study to go through a few documents that needed his attention. He checked up on Aria again and this time, she was really asleep. He couldn’t hold back his chuckle. He was glad she could sleep after all that they had been throughout that day. Liya decided to keep herself busy with something after Aria had left her room for hers. As she walked down the halls, she noticed the door to Aldo’s room was open. She had never been in there so she didn’t bother knocking as she walked into the room. It was the first time so she took time to admire it. The room was covered in white. Like a hospital. The only things that were of a different color were the mahogany doors and tables. She wondered how he managed to stay in an almost monochrome room. She was so lost in thought, that she didn’t even notice when he walked into the room. He tapped her sh
Aria walked into Liya’s room. Liya had been able to regulate her breathing and stop herself from freaking out, panicking, and flinching at every single sound by some miracle. She didn’t know how she was able to do it, but she did it. Aldo had already left her to herself after he had hugged her and promised to protect her. She knew that he was either in his study or in his room, reading over a few files just as usual. It was like she had almost been right in front of death but was somehow lucky. For how long though?Aria’s knock on the door was able to bring her back to reality. She managed to smile at the girl, who returned the smile with the brightest one she could muster. “Do you need something?” Liya asked, and she shook her head. “I just wanted to see you before I go to bed,” Aria whispered, tip-toeing until she got to Liya’s bed, and sat down, taking her hand in her smaller ones.“That’s okay,” Liya whispered back, making both of them laugh. But then, Liya had other things in m
Aldo walked down to the basement. He could finally breathe after so long. After making sure that his girls were okay, he could finally pay attention to things that were a threat to their safety. His men pushed the iron door aside, and he walked in, inspecting the room. He noticed the man they had captured sitting in a corner, tied to the chair. Aldo felt his hands ball into fists as he walked up to the guy immediately. His head was cocked to the side, as blood flowed from the sides of his mouth. Aldo looked over to the men who were standing behind the attacker. “Has he said anything?” he asked, and they shook their heads. “He just kept saying that he won't say a word until his boss feels like he is worth saving.”Aldo tried his best to hold back his laughter at the mention of that. The attacker obviously didn’t know the kind of person he worked for. He was just going to be one of the countless souls who lost their lives all because they were sent on missions that they couldn’t retu
Aldo was going through some of the files that had been sitting at his table for the longest time. It was time that he focused on work properly, at least to take his mind off all the things that had been happening at home. His phone suddenly rang, and he rushed to pick it up. Melinda’s name flashed on the screen, and he frowned. He hurried to answer, hoping that there was nothing wrong happening at home. “What’s wrong?” he asked, with a sense of urgency in his tone.“Sir,” Melinda answered, panting. “The warehouse at the harbor is on fire.”“What?” he asked, hoping that he didn’t hear her properly, but she repeated the same statement. That alone made anger fill his body immediately. He managed to regain himself. He couldn’t be caught slipping. He hurried out of the office, into his car, and drove to the harbor.On his way there, Aldo hoped to God that Melinda was playing some kind of joke. He promised himself that he wasn’t going to react negatively if it turned out that she was telli
Liya woke up and she could instantly tell that something was wrong before she even properly opened her eyes. Her blanket slowly slipped off her shoulders as she stood up. She hurried downstairs to check where Melinda and Aldo were but everywhere was quiet. She didn’t want to panic. She hurried back to her room, bracing herself to call him and ask where he was. She didn't know why but she had a strong feeling of danger.Liya walked into the room just in time to hear the phone ping. Cautiously, she picked it up. She was slightly relieved when she saw that it was just a text from Melinda. That meant they were fine, right?Stay inside today. It’s not safe. The text said.Liya had to roll her eyes. Like it was ever safe at the house. They were always assuring her that the estate was safe and secure but somehow, someone always managed to breach the security. Going past the gates, going past the guards, making it through the alarm sensor, and sometimes, even crossing the electric fence. The
Liya walked back to the mansion as she wrung her hands together. She still couldn’t make sense of the fact that Liam was there, trying to talk to her and then he was gone in a flash. The fear was obvious in his voice. Maybe if he hadn’t shown her how stupid he was, she might have believed him and trusted him to take care of himself. She was fighting a silent battle, trying to see if she wanted to tell Aldo about everything that Liam had just told her. But he specifically asked her not to trust Aldo. Not yet at least. Just as she was about to walk into the mansion, a blaring sound went off immediately, making her flinch and panic. It was the alarm. She hurried inside before any of the guards could come and see her outside. She looked around as she made her way up the stairs. She waited for Aldo to show up at any minute. Things were extremely unpredictable when it came to the man.Liya hurried to her room, changing her clothes which were now soaking wet. Just as she tied the comfortabl
The rain hadn’t stopped since dawn as Liya sat in the library, a blanket wrapped tightly around her shoulders. The fireplace crackled low, adding warmth but not comfort. There was a stillness to the house today, the kind that makes silence feel louder. Outside, the guards were posted under the arches of the front gate, unmoving, rain dotting their coats. No one came in. No one left. Not that anyone could, not without Aldo’s permission.The message still haunted her. Two of them now, from the same anonymous number. Military-grade encryption, Mason had said. The kind of thing that could get someone killed just by tracing it. But what haunted her more was that lingering sense that the sender wasn’t a stranger.The way they wrote… it felt personal.She hadn’t spoken to Aldo since after their walk in the garden. He’d disappeared again. His absence left the mansion hollow in a way that didn’t make sense, considering it had always been too large for two people.Liya tucked her legs under her