Bianca"Reset?" I echo his words, overwhelmed by a surge of emotions, including anger rising to the surface like a temptress. "You can't just reset a human," I shout, snatching my hand away to create a palpable distance between us—a barrier for my turbulent thoughts.He regards me with an expression of concern, his posture shifting as he widens his stance. He leans slightly forward, as if ready to spring into action at any moment.With each cautious step backwards, I carve out the space I desperately need, the distance mirrored in his anxious gaze."Bambi," he warns softly, a hint of urgency in his voice."I just need space. I need to breathe," I insist, my words tumbling out like waves crashing against the shore. To calm my racing heart, I lower myself onto the soft, golden grains of sand, sinking my toes into the warmth the sun generously spreads beneath me. The gentle sound of the rolling waves provides a soothing backdrop, momentarily easing my turbulent thoughts."I'm sorry. I d
Continued: I suspect the old men never truly intended to relinquish their titles. It seems they've conspired among themselves, weaving a complex scheme to return with greater strength than ever before. But if that's the case, why resort to faking their own deaths? Was that elaborate ruse simply another piece in their master plan, or was there something more sinister at play? If I'm right, the layers of deception hint at a deeper game, one where power is clung to with an iron grip, even from beyond the grave. "Aurelio was no ordinary demon; calling him a demon barely scratched the surface of his malevolence. He ruled with an iron fist, a relentless grip that allowed for no semblance of error or defiance. His edicts were equally unforgiving, crafted from a mindset that thrived on domination. Frequently, he would rattle on about "puro" this and "puro" that, an insatiable obsession with bloodlines that consumed his very being. He surrounded himself with loyal henchmen, tasked with the m
NikoI absolutely need to get my hands on some, and I have a pretty good idea of where to find it. Besides, Mitchel owes me a favour, and it's about time he paid up.I negotiate the boat's expansive main deck, the salty breeze tousling my hair, and soon spot Jacob leaning against the railing. He's cradling a thin, rolled spliff between his fingers, the very drug I find myself craving at this moment. With a light-hearted grin, I approach him, my mood buoyed by the prospect of using him. "Care to share?" I ask, my voice cheerful, making an effort to mask the lingering edge of tension from my earlier altercation with his boss over the dire threat I had just dismissed—that Bianca might be better off dead."Here, have your own," he said, pulling out a tin that mirrored the one I kept stashed at home."Thanks," I replied, accepting it with a nod."So you decked him, huh?" His voice carried a teasing edge, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips."Oh, you caught that?" I said, realising
Continued:I watch, captivated, as Benji pulls out a small, intricate device hidden in his jeans pocket, his fingers moving deftly over the buttons while he mutters numbers under his breath. A flickering green light illuminates the door, bathing us in an eerie glow as it swings open, creaking softly as it reveals a passage shrouded in darkness."Keep an eye out for my father. When he starts coming back from Giovani's, we need to have enough time to bring her back," Benji instructs, urgency lacing his tone as he addresses the men that accompanied us here."And the loop?" One of the men interjects, his brow furrowed in concern."It's an hour. Don't let me be late," Benji replies, determination etched on his face.He seizes my hand with a sudden, firm grip, pulling me through the threshold into the shadowy tunnel that looms before us like a gaping hole. The air is thick with the earthy scent of moist soil, and the temperature drops rapidly the further we walk. Tiny droplets of water clin
Bianca"Bambi," Benji's voice breaks the stillness, echoing softly from the bedroom a while later. I remain seated on the cold, tiled floor of the bathroom, my mind swirling with thoughts of the unsettling encounter I had with Derek.The damp air carries a faint scent of soap, but I barely notice it as I grapple with the chaos in my head. Everything's hazy, and there only seems to be a mirage of memories that hint at something I can't quite reach. Looking down at my hand, I repeatedly look at the ring on my third finger on my left hand.Is it an engagement ring or a marriage ring?Is Derek my husband, or was it that boy from before? Something tells me it wasn't the boy I woke up to.Why can't I grasp the details of what happened? Each time a fragment of memory resurfaces, my heart races faster, pounding like a wild drum against my chest. Then they just disappear, and I have to grapple to find some sense of belonging. It's as if my mind is trying to protect me, yet the urgency of thes
"What's your father got to do with all this?" I interjected, my curiosity piqued by the tangled web of their relationships."His name carries weight in the Puro organisation," he replied, his voice tinged with frustration. "He has always harboured a disdain for any mixing of blood that doesn't ensure our lineage remains purely Italian. All those arguments centred around Alexandra must have sent him reeling into the depths of her family's past. His supposed change of heart was nothing more than a pretence; he knew exactly who fathered her and grudgingly accepted her heritage, even if it bruised his pride in the process. And as an act of defiance, he never revealed to me who the fuck I married and honestly what that meant for his sideline organisation.""So?" I frowned, feeling the gravity of his words sink in, the implications heavy in the air between us. Aurelio fucking Debois is behind this as much as Derek Densel is? And where does Giovanni fit into all this?"Alex is... was a Dense