ISABELLA’S POVI could see his jaw clench and unclench from time to time while his palm held mine. His eyes were on the road even though he wasn't the one driving, and his feet were tapping against the floorboard. His shoulders looked tensed, and I could tell that he was doing everything to stay in control.I reached out my free hand and raked the back of his hair, causing him to look at me, his eyes void and empty slowly. The liveliness it used to hold was gone.“She isn't going to die, babe,” I muttered, even though I knew that was a lie.Back when Bianca had told me about her illness, my heart was torn between whether she deserved it or not. She had been so cruel to me, despised and judged everything I did, and now that I thought of it, would she have ever accepted me if she wasn't dying?I pushed the thoughts away and focused back on the torn man before me. She was all Alaric had—the only family that loved him—and for that, I wished she would live forever so I could always see him
THIRD PERSON’S POVTwo days had passed when a new inmate walked into Derek’s room. The man was tall and lean, with a scar across his right cheek. His look in his eyes screamed dangerously, and it made Derek wonder what had brought the man there. “You, my new roommate? What happened with the last?” He asked, looking up, but the other guy didnt answer, ignoring him and getting on the other bed. As the night wore on, Derek could tell from the way the air had gotten stiller and calmer. He had spent most nights wishing he would be bailed the next day, and as he got into bed, he wished the same. Suddenly, his inmate stirred, reaching into the hollowness of his mattress and pulling a sharpened toothbrush out. Ever since BX informed him, he had spent a day planning this. He got up from bed and walked over to Derek, his towering shadow threatening to consume him. Derek turned, obviously pissed. “You want something?” The inmate didn't answer, and then it came, a stab on Derek’s chest, righ
THIRD PERSON’S POVDerek gritted his teeth as he sat in the back of the police van, boredom seeping past his bones. Even though his hands were cuffed, nothing seemed to excite him. He knew it would only be a matter of time before he would be rescued. The boss he worked for would never let him go to jail. Never. Because it could cost them everything if he spoke.Mireille…That was her name. He could remember. He could almost taste her on his tongue. Hear her. Her piercing moans every time he ate her out and the way she would look at him with love. Only he had approached her because she was new in town. Bubbly and fit his boring lifestyle. Everything had always bored him right from when he was a child. He had once burnt his sister’s hand in the fire just because he desperately yearned for something to laugh about. But no, that didn't work for him.Until he pushed her down the stairs, her tiny five-year-old body rolled down the stairs, with her head splitting in the end. That was what i
ISABELLA’S POVIt was morning, and the sun was still solidly bright when the cop reached out to us to come to the station. So here we were, in the car, with Alaric holding my hand the entire time, and I didn't pull away. I needed the closure, and I guess he did, too. My mind was spiralling with images of Mireille and the injured Alaric. As though reading my mind, he kept squeezing my hand gently. Soon, he pulled up to the front of the station.“Are you sure you want to go in?” he asked, and I nodded.I was ready to close this chapter of us.“You?” I threw back, and he shrugged his shoulders.“I guess.” He responded with a smile curling his lips. I smiled, too, and dragged in a deep breath. Then, in sync, we stepped out of the car and into the building. The walls smelled like ink and tension, and the lights buzzed ahead as a receptionist led us to the back. The officer in charge nodded towards the room at the end of the hallway.“He is in there.”I nodded, sighed, and stepped in firs
THIRD PERSON’S POV“What do you mean you failed?” Chris yelled, his grip tightening around Jessica’s neck just hard enough to make her gasp. “I put you there for a reason. Just a simple task.” His blood was boiling.They were standing in one of the new apartments he had bought for himself. He had always had life given to him easily, and he wasn't about to lose that privilege.When he found out his stepbrother was building his own company, he vowed to bring him down. “I’m sorry.” She coughed out, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I tried to….” She clawed at his hand. “I paid you to try harder!” He cut in, shoving her backward with enough force that her back hit the wall, sending pain shooting through her. “You call that crying? I had to bail your ass out.”She sank to her knees, coughing as she rubbed her neck, still sobbing. “He didn’t take the fall. He thinks he has someone he loves.”“Of course, he used to be married. You fool. You couldn't do your research.” Chris snapped. “I thoug
ALARIC’S POVI burst in, shoving the door open with full force as rage shot through me. Isabella got up in a startle, and so did he.“You fucker.” I yelled as my fist collided with his cheek, causing him to grunt and stagger. “Stay away from my wife.” Blood was rushing through too loudly that I could hear it, and my heart felt like it had been lit on fire.“Ex-wife. You literally abandoned her for weeks.” He snarled, wiping his blood oozing from his nostrils. “You don’t deserve her!” “And you do?” I glared hard at him, ignoring the ache in my hand. Isabella stood between us, closer to me than him. She looked so confused.“At least I know how to treat a woman right.” The asshole let out, and to heaven, who made me the urge to rip his neck apart, consumed me, and I half stormed towards him, but she held me back.“I can handle this. I’m not a kid, and I know what I want.” I halt in my steps, my eyes trailing to her face.“And he is who you want?” My heart squeezed hard.I watched som
ALARIC’S POVI stepped out to see the staff gathered while she cried, explaining what never really happened. They didn’t have the guts to look me in the eyes, but I could tell they had a whole lot to say. The glances they exchanged, the judging side eyes, or was it the way they clutched their clothes, too? As though they expected me to launch forward and reap it off like the monster she claimed I was. I wouldn't blame them. I have heard worse growing up.“He needs to pay for this.” She screamed, clutching onto her dress. “I’m a woman of dignity and…” She faked a sob again.I let out a dry laugh. “Are you sure I molested you, Miss Jessica?” She glared at me, her lips slightly curling up before turning away.“See. He thinks he can get away because he is the boss. This could be you, or you, or you.” She continued, pointing at every female staff member, and I watched them step back, fear written all over their faces.“Fine. Let us check the cameras then,” I announced, but she didn't fli
THIRD PERSON’S POVAlaric had dozed off on his room’s couch, ignoring the ache that crawled his body. It was better since he was relieved Isabella was sleeping in his bed, which meant he still had control over some things. The morning sun had filtered into the room, filling the air with bearable noises. Alaric grunted, yawned, and pulled his eyes open; his wound ached a bit. He looked up to Isabella and found the bed empty. Dragging in a breath, he headed towards the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face. He was sure she was probably cooking.But he found the house unusually quiet when he stepped outside the room. There were no signs of them, even when he checked the rooms.A ton of thoughts ran through his mind, including a chance that she was kidnapped, but the voice in his head reminded him that she wasn't a kid and could take care of herself. He dialled her number, and her ringtone filled the air. Her phone was sitting on the dining table. He ruffled his hair.Suddenly, t
ISABELLA’S POVI knew asking Kelvin to stay was a tricky move, but it was for the best. My heart was too soft to turn him down, not after knowing his story. I would be like the monsters he feared if I did. Besides, he was there for me on days when no one was willing to show up. Just like Mireille, he was my best friend now, a part of my family, too.But boy, oh boy.Alaric’s face was scrunched in a frown as he sat opposite me, his spoon clinking against the plate. He was barely eating anything, just staring at the food.I knew I shouldn't notice. Nor care because it was seemingly for the best. We needed to keep our sexual urges out of our field of decision-making. I needed to be sure that forgiving and letting him back in was right. The best thing to do. If his mother meant every word or this was just an attempt to get me back in, only to torment me some more. I needed to be sure if what I felt for him was sex-related or if our love was more profound than that.With Kelvin around, no