ANNAAs I sat on the rock, catching my breath and allowing my weary muscles to relax, a glimmer of curiosity caught my eye. Not too far from where I stood, nestled amidst the foliage, was a cave entrance. Its dark recesses beckoned to me, despite the inherent dangers that caves often held. Yet, an irresistible pull urged me forward, compelling me to explore its mysterious depths. How could we have missed this during John and his crew's cleanup? Were they as oblivious to its presence as I had been?I couldn't resist the temptation any longer. With a mix of trepidation and intrigue, I rose from the rock and cautiously made my way towards the cave. Each step carried a hint of apprehension, my mind flooded with thoughts of hidden treasures or a fantastical encounter awaiting me within. Absurd as it may seem, a part of me half-expected a whimsical figure resembling the Wizard of Oz to materialize before my eyes.Shaking off the whimsical notion, I pressed on, my heart pounding in anticipat
ANNAOur journey back to New York unfolded smoothly, with laughter and camaraderie filling the helicopter cabin. The guys cracked jokes, Dante engrossed in his phone, and I found solace in immersing myself in a romance novel on Booknet. It was a rare moment of tranquility amidst the chaos we had faced.As we approached our destination, Xavier expressed his need to be dropped off so he could catch a flight back to California. We obliged, landing on the rooftop of a hotel where he bid us farewell. With a final wave, he disappeared into the building, leaving Dante and me to continue our journey.Once we landed and stepped out of the helicopter, I suddenly found myself enveloped in a tight hug. Startled, I looked up to see Mateo wearing a broad smile on his face."So happy to have you back, Anna," Mateo exclaimed, his eyes scanning my face before embracing me once more.Returning his hug, I couldn't help but be touched by his warmth and genuine joy. "I'm happy to be back," I replied, my v
ANNA More than a month had passed since that harrowing incident, yet its memories remained as vivid as if it had occurred just yesterday. The echoes of gunshots still reverberated in the depths of my mind, and the fear of losing Dante clung to me like an unwelcome shadow. He had risked everything for me, shielding me with his own body, taking a bullet for me and in that moment, I made a solemn vow to love him endlessly if he fought his way out of the coma that consumed him. The mere thought of losing him sent waves of anguish through my soul. Dante... my brave, selfless Dante.But it wasn't just the anguish of losing him that consumed me; it was the seething rage that burned within me, directed at the one responsible for this tragedy. That vile woman had sent Dante, the great Dante Williams, into a coma. If I could resurrect her just to take her life once more, I would do it without hesitation.Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, Xavier, a man who had been a constant presence in my lif
PrologueAnna needed any form of distraction; she needed anything that will shield her from the angry-looking men that were running after her. Anna fully well understood why they were running after her, but then they should cut her some slack; whatever happened these past few days isn’t her fault, so they have no reason to chase her like she stole their Christmas presents.Speaking of Christmas, Anna cringed when she remembered her childhood, those pathetic days when she would sit under the Christmas tree, waiting and hoping that Santa will bring her presents. The most amusing thing that happened to Anna was that she did see Santa; just that it wasn’t the old man with a long white beard. The Santa that brought gifts to Anna happened to be her father Ford Smith, and she found him dead on their porch that night.Shaking her head to get rid of the unwanted thoughts, Anna looked back only to discover that the angry men were closing in on her and the only place to hide at the moment was th
DANTE Before me kneels a man who may very well be the epitome of stupidity. Perhaps I've met others who rival his idiocy, but he unquestionably sits at the top of the list. How else can one justify his audacity to steal from me, despite being aware of the severe consequences that come with such actions?As I sit here, pinching my brows in frustration, I shoot a withering glare in his direction. For over an hour now, I've repeated the same question to him without any satisfactory response. "Where is my money, Jet?" I refuse to waste my breath asking him again. "You are aware of my disdain for repetition, yet you seem determined to force me to repeat myself."As I stood there, gazing down at Jet's bloodied face on the ground, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy. It was almost convincing, the way he kept repeating that he had nothing to do with the missing diamonds. If I didn't know any better, I might have believed him. But I've been in this game for far too long to fall for
AnnaOnce I discovered that Santa Claus had long since passed away, decades before my own arrival into this world, nothing seemed to catch me off guard anymore. Frankly, it both perplexes and irritates me when people anticipate my feigned shock and amazement, when in fact I had long predicted the outcome.Allow me to recount a comparable experience. On the eve of my birthday, my ex-boyfriend, now proudly labeled as such, posed the classic question: “What would you like for your birthday?” I requested a bracelet, and as anticipated, he handed me one the following day. However, he expected me to put on an act of surprise and astonishment, as if I were an impressionable child on Christmas morning. What absurdity! I had long known he would purchase a bracelet for me.As I bade farewell to my colleague at the coffee shop, I brushed aside a nagging thought that had been troubling me all day. The crisp air outside the cozy interior of the cafe hit me like a slap in the face, making me regret
AnnaIt’s been five days, five long torturous days since I got that letter from those men. I’ve taken all the safety measures that I could think of; getting extra locks, and buying a silly breast knife that I do not even know how to use. How can I harm someone with a knife when more often than not, I trip on my own feet?Even though I knew deep down that I won’t be able to defend myself with that knife, I felt a little rest assured that the extra locks will keep them out, but the image before me shows that my efforts were nothing but stupid and useless.I wasted the little money I had on those locks, only for them to come out useless.Staring at those two words, boldly written in fat serial letters which simply say ‘TWO DAYS’, I felt nothing but chills run through my blood, turning it cold with fear.Frozen with fear, my brain thought of the best action to take, but the only thing that came to mind was ‘RUN’ I have to run for my life if at all I want to survive these men. Paying what
AnnaAs I held the ID in my hand, I began to experience doubt about my decision to sell the jacket. I have never had a predisposition towards theft; the notion of taking things that don't belong to me has never once crossed my mind. The decision to sell the jacket was a product of sheer desperation. With a heavy heart, I looked at the ID card once more and let out a sigh. Dante Williams is a force to be reckoned with, and his reputation extends far beyond the confines of New York City.Returning the jacket was an imperative, and I must do so with all its contents intact. Men of a menacing nature were already scouring the streets of New York for me, and I had no intention of inviting Dante William's crew to join the hunt. Seated on the bed, I scowled at the old wall clock. Why had all the wrongdoing in New York singled me out as the target, as though I were cursed since childhood?As I lifted the ID card, I smiled at a thought that crossed my mind. Amidst all this chaos, one fact remai