MEL POVFLASH BACK TO THREE YEARS AGO“Firstly, I really think you need to stop working at that club. Let me talk to Steve at dancing stars, I’m sure we can find you a spot there.” Angie nags on the phone as I walk around my tiny room in my parent’s house, getting ready for my outing.“It pays well Angie.” I counter. “Besides Jack help me get it, so there is no way our mother would find out me working there.”“Your Stepmother.” She corrects me. “Also, anything that Jack offers you should be rejected, which why I don’t understand why you decided to meet with him and the guy he talked about this night. “It’s your birthday, darling. The night of your 18th birthday. You should be out having fun, getting drunk and not playing translator for your dumb step brother.”“Just this once, Angie. I need to pay back his kindness, as he calls it, so I will be free of him.”“If you keep on answering all his demands like this you will never be free of him, Mel.” She whines. “Besides why do you need to
MEL POVPRESENT DAY.“The next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital.” My voice cracks a little as I relayed my ordeal. “The doctor there informed me that some good Samaritans who had been camping nearby, found me lying unconscious in the woods and brought me to the hospital. He also said my family had filed a missing report as I was lost for about three days. He then said the police were on their way to take my statement about had happened and I agreed.” I look down at my right fingers when I feel pain in them. I didn’t realize it, but I had pressed my nails so hard into my them that I had made little dents.“Then what?” Dante asks when I stay silent.“I remember the news channel was playing in the ward where I was.” Not looking up from my fingers, I continue. “They were reporting on the fire that happened in the woods. The news lady said the police had done their investigation and had ruled the fire as a camping trip gone wrong. They even had a family on the news who claim
RIO POV She is staying.I don’t usually take bath, but the heat of the water soaking into my skin was definitely what I needed this morning.She is staying.I can’t figure understand why the fact that Mel chose to stay makes me… happy. Afterall, I have gotten what I craved.To have her in my bed. Then why do I feel this immense pleasure at her decision to stay, even after what happened this morning?I couldn’t actually… care for her. No, that is not possible. The sex was good, great in fact, more than what I imagined. So, it’s only natural I would want to her close by, with the hopes of it happening again.You will never touch me again. Mel’s heartfelt warning made me excited.I wouldn’t be who I am if I didn’t get turned on by a challenge.“If you are done moping about being chased out of your room, get out of the bathroom.” Dante bangs on the bathroom door, starling me. “We need to talk.”“Shit!” I curse. I thought I had locked the door. The last thing I need now is Dante’s snide
RIO POV“I thought you don’t let anyone into this room.” I mention when Dante leads me into his dark office. “Or have you finally gotten over your weird kink of not letting people touch your things?”Growing up, Dante had this weird possessiveness over his stuff, that he never let anyone, not even our mother nor Nonna, into his room, to the extent that he cleaned the room by himself. I strongly believed that he had killed people in there, since it was the only soundproof room in the house.“This is not my room.” He turns on the lights and turns on his desk’s computer.“I have never been in here either.” I mutter, looking through the stacks of CDs on a wall shelf.“Mel has.” He says casually, while pressing some keys on the computer.“What?” I glare at him. “You brought her in here?”“More like she fell in.” He murmurs. “Your wife is pretty nosy.”Not willingly to play his games again, I decide to ignore his words. “What did you want to tell me?”“That you were wrong. I didn’t spend al
MEL POVIt smells just like him.Maybe taking Rio’s car wasn’t such a good idea, I realize. I was already having a hard time dealing with flashbacks of our night together, I really didn’t need to breathing in his scent. It is just annoying and very, very distracting.“Arggh!” I blast the horn of the car loudly, taking out my frustration on a black car that suddenly swerves in front of me to enter the next lane, right before we approach a red light stop. “Can’t you f**king see?” I roll down my window to yell at the driver. He, it looks like a man from my end, does not even glance my way, but stays put, even after the light turns green.“Now, you don’t want to go.” I shout. Still no response. “Asshole!” I roll up my window and continue driving.Few minutes later, from my left side mirror, I notice the same car again. This time, he is driving closely behind me, even though the other lanes were practically empty.Is he following me? He couldn’t.Panicking, I increase my driving speed and
MEL POV“Changed?” Angie echoes my words. “Like you don’t dream of that night anymore?”“I still do… sometimes.”“And other times?” She urges me to speak.“I have been dreaming of my childhood, I think.”“You think?” She raises her brow.“Yes, Angie.” I reply. “To be sincere, I don’t really know. I haven’t been able to understand what it is.”“But you think it’s about your childhood?” She asks.I nod in response.“And what normally happens in these nightmares? What do you see?”“Myself, but so much younger. I look just like the little girl in the pictures, Mrs. Park showed me when I asked her about when I was little.”“Interesting.” Angie rubs on her chin. “And what?”“I can’t remember, Angie.”“Let’s try this.” She leans into the table. “Close your eyes. Just do it.” She insists when I frown at her.“You are being silly.” I reply, but still oblige her.“Breathe in. Breathe out. Good. Now just relax.” She takes my hands. “Nice. Now try to picture the image in your head.”“Really, Angi
RIO POV“Where exactly are we headed?” I pull down my window as Dante goes off the highway, we have been on for the past two hours and takes a turn into a small, dirty, one-lane road. “Are we going out of city?”“Not exactly.” He answers, with his eyes glued to the road.“I haven’t been in this part of the city in a while.” I say, looking around the slums and make-shift homes lined up on both sides of the road. “People actually live here?” I ask, marveling at the state of the environs.“Not everybody was born with a silver spoon like you brother.” Dante glances at my face. “What with the look of your face? Feel like helping the poor, already?” He laughs. “You were always too soft, brother. Most of the people here are drug addicts running from their debtors.”“Having a conscience isn’t being soft.” I shift on my seat. “Not everybody can be crazy like you.”“I am pretty sure your wife would disagree.” He jests.“F*** off.” I lean out the window when I feel a cold breeze on my face. “Are
MEL POV“So, what do we do now?” Angie asks as I drove her back to the Dancing Stars for her afternoon shift.“What?”“My shift doesn’t start till in the next hour.”“So…, I shouldn’t take you there now?”“No. Keep going.” She answers. “Just that I will be bored for that hour.”“I’m sure Steve will be glad if you decided to put in that extra hour.” I laugh. “How about you come inside for a little, huh? Say hi to the gang. Maybe flaunt that car key in Steve’s face, make him jealous.” She wiggles her brow. “Also, I’m certain Marty will be glad to whip something up for you. You barely touched your toast at the café, except when you were torturing it, of course.”“Marty still works there?” I ask in shock. Marty is the chef at the bar, but between him and Steve, it was hard to tell who was the boss and who was the employee. “I thought Steve would have given him the boot by now.”“Steve will need to summon up the balls to do that first.” Angie snorts as I park in front of the bar. “Besides
MEL POVI don’t think I have slept so soundly before in my entire life.No nightmares. No headaches. Nothing at all.I could barely even remember what had happened yesterday. Well apart from the part where I found out my mother was abused in her loveless marriage and that I was the love child between her and a mafia lord.I couldn’t never forget that even if tried.“Halo.” Dante opens the room’s door and peeks his head in. “Decent enough in there?”“Hey, you have to knock first.” I yell at him. “I could have been naked in here.”“Rio would have liked that.” He enters and lies on the bed immediately. “I was sent to check if you were still sleeping as you were a no show for breakfast.”“I just woke up.”That is a lie, because I had woken up just in time for breakfast but eventually decided against it. I was not ready to stomach pitying remarks and looks from anyone at the moment.Maybe that’s why Nonna sent Dante, because his sarcasm was definitely more appreciated.“Are you feeling goo
RIO POV“She is finally sleeping.” Nonna walks into the living room where the rest of the family had gathered looking distressed. “The poor girl is in so much pain. I had to give her some sleeping pills just to calm her down.”Mel had cried all the way back to the estate, that I had actually considered calling a doctor, but Nonna had offered to take care of her, while I reported the situation to my family.“Is she going to be alright?” Nick asks. “She did not look fine.”“She will be alright, my love.” Nonna pats his hair to comfort him. “She just has to come to terms with the new situation.”“Am I the only still confused here?” Dante suddenly blurts. “Because this all sounds like a badly written telenovela.”“Dante, this is not the time for jokes.” Nonna scolds him.“But I am not joking, Nonna.” He turns to me. “You are telling me, that Leo Draco showed up at your office with claims of your wife, possibly being the product of a love affair he had years ago, and simultaneously, your w
RIO POVI walk Signor Leo to the elevator. “Have a good day sir.” I say when the doors open.“Thank you.” He answers, but holds my hands before I can turn away. “I know it is hard to believe, but I am serious. If you can just let me talk to her, I am even willingly to take a DNA test to prove.”I am still having a hard time believing what he had told me earlier in the office so I just nod. “Don’t worry, Signor. I will reach out to you.”“Thank you.” He finally let’s go of my hands and walks into the elevator. I remain rooted to the ground even after the doors close.‘I believe your wife is my daughter.’Those were the words that Leo Draco had said that had left me dumbfounded. His reason for thinking so were equally absurd. A striking resemblance to his lost lover. “The man’s old age must be getting to him.” I conclude.But he seemed so certain.I glance to the clock on the hall way. Its 2pm. Almost closing hours, I still haven’t the chance to reach Mel. She should be home by now tho
MEL POV“So, my mother was cheating on her husband?”“I am not trying to justify her actions.” Sister Mary murmurs. “But she was young and naïve. First getting married for money and then falling for the first man who showed some kindness after years of abuse from her marriage. The world dealt her a hard blow.”“Still, she made her choice.” I recall Mrs. Park remarks. If this dumb Ava was my mother, then I am nothing like her. Not really.“Yes, she did.” Sister nods, solemnly. “Anyways after that day, she moved into one of the spare rooms in the church, waiting for the love of her life.”“He didn’t come back, did he? My real father?”“No. I had feared that was going to happen. That he had completely fooled her and taken advantage of her innocence. She would write letters to the address that he gave her but no response. Days turned into weeks turned into months but poor Ava still held faith that he will come for her. She held that faith even after she gave birth to you.” Sister Mary smi
SISTER MARY POVFLASH BACK.“Oh, my dear Sister Mary.” Ava runs to me after the end of service and hugs me. “I have missed you so much.”“I have missed you, dear Ava.” I hug her tight. “It’s been so long. You just vanished. I thought I would never see this pretty smile again.”“I am so sorry, sister. I have been… living.” She laughs.“I can see that. You are have grown but you look so vibrant just like the old Ava I know. It seems being married suits you well. Are you alone?” I look around for the usual pair of watchful eyes, but there was none. “You didn’t come with your husband today?”“No. He is away on a business trip. That is the reason I was able to come here today.”“I heard he wants you to focus on being a good house wife.”“No, sister.” Ava pulls me into my office and locks the door. “He is evil and wicked. He beats me for no reason at all and locks me up in my room for days. I can’t stand it anymore. Look,” She lifts up her sleeves to show scars on her arms, and all over her
MEL POV“What could they be talking about in there?” Angie murmurs, while putting her ear on the door’s peephole, so she could listen to the whispering happening outside the door.“Will you just relax?” I pull her away from the door. “At this rate, you will get us kicked out of here. You should be grateful that Sister Mary told us to wait for her in this office.”“It is called being polite. Nuns are trained to be that way.” She frowns. “But I don’t think Sister Martha attended those lessons. You see the way she just turned on us like we were evil spirit she was trying to cast away. She was all smiling faces and kisses and within a twinkle of the eye, she was so eager to make us leave.”“I noticed it too.” I nod. “And it was after she saw my name and Mrs. Park’s name on the computer.”“Exactly.” Angie yelps. “For a second, I thought she had seen the devil or something. I tell you, something fishy is going on in this place.”“Shh.” I reach over to cover her mouth. “I think they are comi
RIO POVAfter a round of drinks with some of the board members to celebrate my election into the CEO position, I am in great need of some peace and quiet. Drinking during the day is not really my strong suit.So, coming back to find Mr. Jim lurking around my office door is not a pleasing sight. I tiptoe to his back and whisper softly. “Are you looking for someone?”He jumps up like a scared cat. “Oh, Mr. Rio. You startled me.”“What are you doing?”“I wanted to have a word with you, but your secretary is not on seat. So, I was contemplating knocking to know if you were in.”“I am now.” I open the door and step back from him. “Please come in, and take a seat.”“Thank you.” He steps in and I follow him, closing the door behind me. “So which office are you going to occupy? Your father’s office or your mother’s old one?” He says, looking around my office.“I haven’t decided. Drink?” I ask, taking out a bottle of whiskey and a glass.“Sure. Your father’s office will be the better choice
MEL POV“You are awfully quiet.” Angie says, the car glides through the light traffic on the way back home.“I have nothing to say.”“I don’t blame you. After a kiss like that, gurl, I will be speechless too.”“It wasn’t like that.” My cheeks turn red as I remember how Rio had taken over the kiss.“Like what?” Angie asks“I was feeling emotional, okay. Mrs. Park was being…” I hesitate, not sure how to describe the things she had said.“I don’t get why you put up with that old witch. She has always been a nut case.” Angie frowns. “I’m sorry he is dead and all, but she and her son are the same. Always blaming others for their misfortunes.”“You can’t blame her though. She is a mother.”“Hmm, if that is what motherhood is. I don’t want it.” Angie snorts. “Thank God, she isn’t your real mother. Imagine having to grow to be just like her. That would have been a crime on its own.”The wretched woman who…” Mr. Park hadn’t finished the statement, but I know what she wanted to say. The wretch
RIO POVMel’s soft lips on mine is not something I would have ever imagined would happen today, but I am definitely not complaining.I know she is grieving and this wasn’t exactly the appropriate place, but as her tongue slips into my mouth, it didn’t really matter.I mold her body closer to mine and take the one thing I have been craving for, rolling my tongue with hers and swallowing her soft moans, wishing with all my might that we could somehow teleport to my room so I can take this a lot further.“Excuse me.”I have never wanted to kill someone so much, when Mel quickly pulls away due to the interruption. I turn around, ready to rain hell on the intruder.“What the … Oh, Angie.”“Sorry.” She is trying hard to hold in her laughter. “I didn’t know you guys were still here. I heard about your altercation with Mrs. Park and came to check on Mel. Are you alright, baby?” She rubs her hand on Mel’s back. “You shouldn’t have come. I wish I was there to give her a piece of my mind.” She s