SARAHIt had been a week since Marco’s cruel stunt, and I did everything in my power to avoid him. Every time I heard his voice, a chill ran down my spine. I couldn’t even bear to look in his direction. Our last encounter was still painfully fresh in my mind, and the humiliation and anger I felt had not subsided.I had become an expert at timing my movements around the house. If I heard his footsteps coming down the hall, I found a reason to be somewhere else. If he entered a room, I made an excuse to leave. It was exhausting, but the alternative—facing him and risking another encounter like the last—was unbearable.“I can’t keep doing this,” I muttered to myself, trying to summon the courage to face him, but my resolve crumbled every time I thought of his mocking laughter. The memory of him edging me, leaving me on the brink, then walking away with that smirk on his face, still haunted me.I sat in the kitchen, pretending to read a magazine, but my mind was elsewhere. The maids bustl
SARAHI spent the next few days studying the guards’ patterns. Every moment was an opportunity to observe, to find the weak spots in their routines. I felt like I was going crazy, but I knew it was the only way out.Every morning, I positioned myself near a window with a clear view of the front gate. I noted the times they manned the gates, their shift changes, and when they seemed less vigilant. I had to be meticulous. I had to know every detail.“Alright, they switch shifts at 8 a.m.,” I muttered to myself, scribbling down notes. “The next shift comes at 4 p.m., and the night shift starts at midnight.” It felt like I was planning a heist, but instead of stealing something, I was trying to steal my freedom.I noticed that around noon., the guards gathered near the gate for a smoke break. They would chat and laugh, momentarily distracted. “This is good,” I thought. “A potential opening.” I couldn’t help but feel a small thrill of excitement.During meal times, the number of guards dec
I spent the morning making the final preparations for my escape. Every moment felt like an unsafe balancing act, but I had to maintain my composure. My hidden stash was still intact: the maid’s uniform, a small container of gasoline, a lighter, and a makeshift rope. I checked each item, my heart racing as I imagined the steps I would need to take.I planned to hide in the back of one of the trucks, slipping out when the opportunity arose. The image of freedom beyond these gates was the only thing keeping me focused. I reviewed my plan in my head, ensuring I remembered every step, every detail. There was no room for error.The day began like any other, with the usual hustle and bustle around the house. I forced myself to interact with the maids as usual, maintaining my act. It was crucial that no one suspected anything. As I walked through the kitchen, I ran into Maria, occupied in her work. Stepping in she turned to me. “You look tired, Miss Sarah. Everything okay?” Maria asked, her
The adrenaline running through my veins felt to good to be true. I couldn’t believe I’d actually pulled it off. I had planned a heist and executed it without a single hitch. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself, a mixture of relief and disbelief. “Who would have thought?” I whispered. “All that time under Marco must have toughened me up.”I ducked into an alley, my heart still racing. My mind was buzzing with a million thoughts. I had to be careful now, more than ever. I needed to stay off Marco’s radar. “The last thing I want is to get caught and dragged back to that prison after all of this” I gritted.The first thought that crossed my mind was to call Nicole. She’d know what to do. She’d help me figure out the next steps. But then I stopped myself. Marco might find a way to trace the call and maybe even harm her too, he's that heartless. He had eyes and ears everywhere. I couldn’t risk it.Suddenly my thoughts drifted to my father. A wave of panic washed over me. Would Marco hurt
MARCOThe dimly lit room of my office buzzed with the low hum of conversation. I leaned back in my chair, observing the men around the table. Each of them had their own piece of the empire, their own slice of power. We were discussing territory disputes, something that always seemed to be on the agenda.“Vinny, how’s the situation on the east side?” I asked, my tone casual but firm.Vinny leaned forward, his voice gravelly. “We’ve had a few issues with the Rossi family. They’re trying to muscle in on our turf. I’ve got a meeting set up with the heads of the 5 families tomorrow. I’m gonna make it clear they need to back off.”I nodded. “Good. We can’t afford to show any weakness. If they don’t back down, we’ll handle it our way.”Tony, a heavyset man with a scar across his cheek, chimed in. “What about the shipments coming in next week? Any word from our contacts at the docks?”I smirked. “Everything’s on schedule. We’ve got the port authority in our pocket. There won’t be any issues.”
SARAH “Dad, we don’t have time to argue. Just pack a bag!” My voice shook as I tossed a duffel bag at him. The urgency in my tone must have jolted him because he finally started moving, albeit slowly.“Sarah, what’s going on? Why do we need to run?” he asked, eyes wide with confusion and worry.“I’ve done something big, Dad. I had to get away from Marco, and this was the only way. I set a fire at the mansion to create a distraction. It worked, but he’ll figure it out soon, and then he’ll come for us. We need to leave now before they start looking for us.”He stopped packing and stared at me. “A fire? Sarah, you can’t be serious.”“I am serious, Dad. Marco is dangerous. He’s not going to let this go. We have to stay ahead of him.”“But where will we go? We can’t just run without a plan.”“I don’t care where we go, as long as it’s far from here. We’ll figure it out on the way,” I said, my voice rising in panic. “We just need to move.”He looked at me, his face etched with concern. “Sar
SARAHI woke up feeling like I had been hit by a truck. My head throbbed with a sharp, relentless pain, and every muscle in my body ached. I groaned, trying to make sense of my surroundings. Everything was blurry, my vision still adjusting.The floor beneath me was hard and cold, the air stale and musty. I blinked a few times, trying to clear my head. The dim light made it difficult to see much, but I could make out the outlines of a small, windowless room. The walls were bare, the only furniture a rickety chair in one corner.I struggled to sit up, my movements slow and clumsy. My wrists were sore, and as I looked down, I realized they were bruised from the bindings. I tried to piece together what had happened, but my mind was a foggy mess.Groaning, I managed to pull myself into a sitting position. My head felt like it was splitting open, and I had to close my eyes for a moment to keep from being sick. I took a few deep breaths, trying to steady myself.“Where am I?” I whispered to
MARCOI paced around my office, frustration boiling over. Papers and maps were strewn across my desk, each one mocking me with the failure to pinpoint Sarah’s location. My fists clenched at my sides, the tension coiled tightly in my muscles.“How could she just vanish like that?” I slammed my fist on the desk, sending a few papers flying. “We had every possible lead!”Tony stood by the door, looking nervous. “Boss, we did everything we could. She’s quite smart it seems, and she knows how to cover her tracks.”“Smart?” I snapped, turning to face him. “She’s playing a dangerous game. She doesn’t know what she’s up against.”Tony nodded, swallowing hard. “I understand, boss. But we’re dealing with just a girl we’d find her. She’s managed to stay one step ahead of us, but not for long.”“That’s not good enough, Tony!” I shouted. “We can’t let her slip through our fingers. We have too much riding on this.”“We’ve checked every lead, every contact,” Tony said, trying to keep his voice stead