MasukZARIA 143:He grinned wolfishly.And just like that, everything inside me snapped.Hatred rose so fast, so sharp, it almost choked me. It burned through my chest, clawing its way up my throat, mixing with something… something that made my fingers twitch with the urge to either touch him… or tear him apart.God.I wanted to slash him open and demand answers until his blood spelled them out for me. Renzo deserved to die or something for all the emotional torment he made me go through.Who the fuck did he think he was to summon me here? I wanted to run at him.But I didn’t move. I stayed seated, my nails digging slightly into my palm as I forced myself to remain still… even as everything in me screamed.What would I do to make him feel the heat of the past eight years? To feel him watching every move I made helplessly?While I was thinking of several ways to end him, Renzo shifted lazily in his chair, as none of this fazed him.I narrowed my eyes at him. Why was he acting like my presen
ZARIA 142:I eyed the man I had initially assumed was Renzo’s third-in-command.No, don’t get me wrong.There were two of them constantly hovering around me. One had been there since the very first night I arrived, familiar and watchful. The other was the head of security—the one who made it clear I couldn’t do as I pleased.Between the two of them, my every move was monitored, and it didn’t take much to guess they ranked high in his hierarchy.Nicholas was the familiar one, younger and unsettlingly similar to the VIP. Then there was Delt, the annoyingly stoic one who never let me step outside the rules.Right now, it was just the annoying one with me.Who knew where Nicholas had gone? Probably off to update Renzo about my every decision.I couldn’t believe this was happening to me.A bitter laugh slipped past my lips.Why did it feel like I had been dragged right back into Renzo’s life?Caged.Restricted.Cared for.That was the reality of being around Renzo Dominico. And honestly, I
RENZO 141:“What's going on?”“Have you told Elix the truth? You only told her you were sick.”“And I am receiving treatments. She doesn't need to know shit.” I gave Hawk a pointed look. “Leave it at that.”“But…”“Next,” I said, shifting slightly in my seat. He was becoming talkative day by day. I should separate Asher's mission from his. No one needs two Ashers in a day. Besides, Elix Vescari had her father's empire to manage. Our marriage wasn't one of love but a stable family. Anything outside the wedding was none of her business. After all, she had worked hard to get to this point with me. I shouldn't be the one to burst her balloon. “Talk about the Red Dragon.”Hawk’s gaze sharpened immediately. “Boss?”“What? Did you think I'd forget the stunt they pulled? I almost went to jail just because they had the judge in the palm of their hands.”Hawk swallowed hard. “The second in command,” I added, my tone turning colder. “Silva. Has he agreed to meet?”Hawk exhaled slowly.I cou
RENZO 140:My eyes snapped open only to meet the overhead light, cutting straight into my skull like needles. “Turn off that fucking light!” I thundered to whoever was in charge. To make matters worse than they already were, the white glare swallowed every other thing.Including the noise. There has been no response yet to my order. Jesus. I could feel ten people drumming the maiti dance in my head. Whatever the fuck that meant.These idiots.“I said—” Unfortunately, as I dragged in a breath, my head pounded harder. “—turn it off!”The light didn’t go off immediately.Instead, it dimmed.Slowly.Too slow.“Fuck!” I snapped.“Boss, I am trying to get the hang of it.” Nichole’s voice reached me.“I swear to God, Nichole…” My hand tightened against the edge of the bed as I thought of two different ways to end him.But with the discomfort in my body and the growing frustration that nothing seemed to go the way I wanted today.“…why can’t I see his face?”The voice was faint at first
ZARIA 139:This was certainly not the body of an old man. It wasn't even close. Yet the body I saw that introduced me as VIP was old. Not only that. This body was also strangely familiar. Then who the fuck did I greet a week ago? Who had been talking to me over the phone…Slowly… very slowly… I straightened, pulled off my gloves, and stepped back.“No,” I said quietly. “Call the person who brought him in.”The man who had been watching me took a deep breath. Then he left and in came another who looked taller and more composed. He watched me in the same way that the assassin Renzo's mother sent me.“What happened? No more Daniel Wu?“Nicholas,” he said instead.What was I supposed to do with the information about his name? I looked him up and down, feeling irritated.“Are you his son?”Daniel Wu opened his mouth but then closed it. After a minute and a half, he finally said: “Yes,” he said.That was a lie. Or at least not the full truth.I exhaled sharply. “Fine. Listen carefully,”
ZARIA 138:As much as I'd like to watch Wang and Anne bicker like kids… There was no time to argue because the faint hum of an approaching vehicle rose from below.I walked toward the balcony edge and glanced down. Thankfully, my sharp eyes caught the sleek black vehicle sliding into position. Its windows were tinted so deeply they reflected nothing but darkness.“They’re early,” Wang murmured.“Of course they are,” I replied under my breath. “People like this don’t wait.”I turned back quickly. “No more talking. Anne, take Rai. Follow the plan exactly. Please.”There was hesitation, fear, and something else in her eyes, but she nodded anyway, gripping Rai’s hand tighter than necessary.“Mom?” Rai called softly.“You remember everything I told you?”He nodded.“Good. You’re brave. Just do it once, and don’t look down.”Now that advice was just ridiculous. I've never taught Rai how to monkey jump before.Ever. But my baby boy doesn't look as scared as I was within. Was this all worth
RENZO My fist connected again.The man didn’t even try to block it this time. Blood sprayed sideways, dark and wet, hitting the concrete floor and the lower leg of a crate stacked with rifles.The sound echoed through the warehouse—meat on bone…“You failed your fucking job!” I roared.The man cri
RENZO A week changed everything.And it was not because time healed or any of that bullshit, but because my body finally stopped lagging behind my head. On the second day of my recovery, the shaking eased and the weakness stopped embarrassing me. I could walk without the crutches by the fifth day
ELIX “I’m sorry, ma’am,” Grace continued. “She’s been under a lot of stress.”I nodded once. “It’s fine. Accidents happen.”“Come, I’ll attend to that.” Grace gave May a worried look and gently guided her away, still apologizing, completely unaware of how close she had been to witnessing something
ELIX “Fucking idiots.” I kept my hand on the wheelchair handle long after the car doors shut with the engines still running because I needed the pressure under my palm.The doctor said Renzo was listening. Thankfully, I was present enough to catch those words. My lips curled delightfully at the fa







