Hampton

We approached the event building and my heart beat increased tremendously.

It's been years since I last came here.

I swallowed hard and tried controlling my breath.

I sighed.

Diego is doing me a favor of getting me out of this country....the least I can do is this.

I felt a small squeeze on my hand...

It was Martins.

He noticed I was tensed.

He gave me a reassuring smile and I nodded.

The vehicle stopped.

The door swung open and Diego and Martins stepped out..

They were the center of attention for the moment.

Everyone started taking pictures of them and screaming their name.

Diego stretched out his hand and I took it.

I got out.

"Remember, don't look intimidated, intimidate them" he whispered to me.

I nodded and got into the spotlight.

Everyone froze in shock...

Yes...

They didn't expect it to be me...

Diego, Martins and I walked in boldly into the hall.

As soon as we walked in, everyone froze.

For solid 5 seconds, not a word was made.

Then the hall bursted into intense chattering and whispering.

"Is that Bella?..."

"I heard she was dead!..."

"Is that her ghost?..."

"Is that really her?..."

I took a deep breath in and out...

At this point...my body was present but my soul wasn't.

A huge wave of nostalgia hit me.

In a flash, I was pulled into a trance.

My father was holding my hand and showing me around to all his friends, introducing me as the future Mafian leader of his empire.

"Bella...."

Someone called me out of my trance.

"Are you okay?" Diego asked.

I nodded and we walked pass the crowd, straight to the high table.

There was this woman I knew, very vibrant and fierce those years.

She sat down like a queen that she was on the high table and chatted with her friends.

I knew that woman...my father said she is one of the most respected and feared Mafian leaders in the world.

She's also the first woman to own an empire and be a Mafian leader.

I look up to her as a role model too.

"Hello Aunt Jessie" Diego said walking over to her.

Wait, aunt?!!

oh my God that's his aunt.

"Oh if it isn't my own nephew Damian,how are you, it's been a long time, you seemed to have forgotten me already" she greeted enthusiastically.

"I would never forget you" he said with a small smile.

Then her eyes wandered to me and she froze.

"Oh and this is Bella" he said.

"Impossible" she whispered.

She stood up abruptly and stared at me.

"They said you were dead, they said they wiped out your entire family, how?" she asked too shocked.

I gave a small courageous smile.

"I'm alive, although everyone else is dead but I survived" I replied.

She walked up to me and hugged me.

"Who did this to you?" she whispered.

I was afraid to answer, the name alone brought fear unto me.

I shook my head.

"Tell me and I will finish the person once and for all" she whispered.

I shook my head slowly and struggled not to cry.

"It's my battle, I'll finish it on my own, thank you" I said boldly.

I was saying these words not even knowing what I was saying.

I had no idea how I was going to do that.

I wasn't even sure if I could even do it on my own.

She nodded.

"If you ever need help, I'm here, I'll help you through it all" she said and I nodded.

Then, she quickly lightened the mood.

"So, you're dating my nephew huh?

what do you see in him anyway?" she asked with a smirk.

Martins bursted into laughter, Diego rolled his eyes.

"You know, it's a surprise, because like, after your emotional saga of that time, I thought you would never find love...but hey here you are now" she said talking to Diego.

Her friends laughed.

"It's not... it's not exactly what it looks like" he said picking his words one after the other.

"So what then? you're married already? that was quicker than I thought" she said.

"Aunt Jessie" he whined.

Martins still kept on laughing, making Diego upset.

But Martins didn't care.

He groaned.

"Anyways, there's something I need to talk to you about privately, can your girlfriend and Best friend give us a moment?" she asked with an annoying smile plastered on her face.

He groaned again and handed me over to Martins who was still laughing.

We walked towards the wine bar.

You need to see the intense stares and looks people were giving me.

The whispers, the shock, everything.

"Everything here is so nostalgic" I said to Martins after he handed me a glass of wine.

"Really?" he asked.

"yeah, I mean almost everyone here knows me and all" I said taking a deep breath in.

"Just be careful too, your enemy might be here too". he said.

Just as if he was some I don't know... seer or something, I heard someone call my name.

And it wasn't Diego.

I looked up and my heart froze.

I swallowed hard trying to hide my fear.

It wasn't Mario...it was his right hand man.

Casio...

"Well well well...if it isn't little Miss Bella" he said in mockery walking over to me

"who's that?" Martins asked.

I swallowed.

"He works for my enemy" I replied.

"So , you still came back huh?, you're no longer running?" he asked.

He looked and smelled disgusting.

"I'm not afraid of you anymore" I said sternly.

He laughed out loudly.

By now, he had gotten everyone's attention.

He walked up to me and looked me straight in the eye.

"The boss wants you, immediately" he said sternly.

I hissed.

Be the intimidation, not the intimidated.

"And I'm going to just follow you and go back to him right?" I asked with disgust.

"Tell your boss that I'm someone else's property now" I added showing him the Ring.

He frowned,"So back off" I added.

"The boss, gets what he wants, whether you like it or not" he said sternly.

"Did she stutter? she said she's someone else's property now" I heard Diego's calm but thunderous voice from behind him.

Casio turned around slowly.

He paused and looked at bit afraid,but he tried to act normal.

"You....Diego Damian...I've heard of you.... I've...."

He quickly cut him off.

"I don't fucken care...not walk away from my girl" he said.

Okay....whhhaaaatttt???

like did he just call me his girl?!!

Oh my God...I mean oh my God....

Is it me or is it just hot in here

Calm your self Bella geez, you're overreacting shit...

"You don't know what your getting yourself with, you don't know, my boss is way bloodier than even yourself, I'm going to spread words that we've found her, if you don't give her back nicely, then be prepared for war..." he said and staggered away.

Diego looked at me and rubbed his temples.

"Martins please take her to the car, let the driver drop her off at home before things get out of hands" he said calmly and walked away.

💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

So this is me moving up and down the house, waiting for Martins and Diego to get back.

I'm tensed, I'm very tensed...

I don't even know what to think or say, I know Mario too well he's coming first thing in the morning to get me... forcefully or not.

I heard the door open and they walked in.

"Bella my office, now" Diego said.

He didn't seem fine..

His voice was Stern.

I swallowed... exhaled... sighed...

I took off my heels and sat on the chair and dug my nails into my hair.

If anything happens to Diego or his empire, I'll never forgive myself.

I tried to calm myself down.

I'll have to tell him to release me even if it's this night.

I can't risk it .

I walked upstairs and went into his office.

He and Martins were patiently waiting for me.

I didn't even wait for them, I just started talking.

"Look I'm grateful for everything you've done but I can't put you in a more danger than this... because-"

"Look I'm not intimidated by any casual clown and whatever, I'm not, and I don't care what he's capable of doing or not, I can handle anything, But you can't expect me to help you when you're not telling me what I'm supposed to help you with.

God Bella if you want me to help you at least tell me who I'm dealing with, you can't do this on your own, you don't understand it, currently, you have nothing on you, you need help!! and if you want my help at least tell me what I'm helping you with and who I'm fighting against-"

"Mario kart"

It just came out, I don't know how it did, but it happened.

I can't keep doing this anymore.

I need to air it all out.

I looked at his face, there was a touch of hate, shock and disgust.

I don't wait for him to finish, I just started talking.

"My father and Mario were very close friends, their union was too close, too close that my dad promised to give me to him son for marriage.

His son... his son was an abuser, I hated him with my life.

He was wicked and he..." my voice trailed off and I swallowed hard and kept my eyes on the table.

"...he use to molest me...abuse me....

I told my parents about it, they told Mario about it and he said I was lying and that I was just looking for an avenue not to marry his son.

One day I...I went to deliver something in their empire, in their house and... and his son attempted to rape me...

My protective instinct kicked in and I got a dagger and stabbed him continuously.

I quickly ran home and told my parents what happened and they summoned Mario.

But he didn't believe, he said I killed his only son and I wiped out his entire lineage.

That's what caused the war.

He enslaved all the people in our Empire till this very date, he burnt down our house, he killed my dad, buried my mother alive and beheaded my brother right in front of me..."

Diego stood up abruptly, I didn't still look up at him, I continued talking.

"I escaped that day with my life through the help of one of the security guards that told me he saw what happened that day when Mario's son tried to rape me.

Ever since then, I've been running, hiding, surviving and praying everyday that I'll get my revenge and avenge my parents"

"Wait wait... please just hold on, is your father's name Hampton?" he asked.

I quickly looked at him.

He looked like he had seen a ghost.

How did he know?

"Yes" I replied.

"Fuuckkk" he exclaimed holding his head.

Ok now I was confused.

"Oh my God" Martins muttered.

He looked look I said something crazy...I don't even know what's going on.

"Okay what's wrong? what's going on?" I asked.

"Your dad? that's Diego's godfather" Martins said.

"He's been the one tutoring Diego right from when his parents died, the reason Diego is what he is today is because of your father" Martins said.

Diego let out a long sigh and walked out of his office, shutting the door behind him.

What just happened