L A N AI walked into the hotel bar, my golden dress catching the attention of everyone in the room. But, I had my target for tonight.I graciously sat on the barstool and waved the bartender over."Hi, can I have a vodka, please.""Of course, ma'am." I smiled and crossed my legs, looking at the people sitting at the tables, or drinking at the bar.This was a perfect opportunity to get what I needed."Here's your drink, ma'am." The bartender set the drink down in front of me and I nodded."Thanks." I grabbed the glass and sipped the bitter alcohol, my eyes scanning the room.There.The perfect one.His eyes were already on me, his beer belly protruding. There was no physical attraction, but I needed to do what needed to be done. And which other person to drop the case against trying to find my ken than the Data Protection Officer himself (DPO) himself?He wasn't the head of the department, but he had the information I needed. The case against trying to find me and the people behind the
M I K H A I LThe past few weeks have been hectic, and taking a huge toll on Elle, mentally, physically and emotionally.We had hired the best investigators and the top security guards, and the search was still going. But, they have found nothing. It's almost as if the person was a ghost, or had someone covering up for them.The news about the case being dropped had spread like wildfire and Elle was devastated.I was also furious, and I couldn't help but think about the mayor and his shady dealings. The system was corrupt, and the police department and the authorities were full of crooks.They could care less about their citizens and only wanted money.This is why the case is dropped.Because the mayor is in their pockets and they're willing to drop the case and protect the person who's trying to kill Elle.This was a fucking joke.We were fighting an invisible enemy.Their excuse was that it could have been just a regular thief who tried to steal from her. If they truly just tried t
E L L EI woke up on a queen sized bedroom, that was definitely not mine. And definitely not on land. I woke up on a plane."What the hell?" I muttered, trying to remember how I ended up on a plane.I remember going to my bedroom with Mikhail and falling asleep right after, only for me to wake up now, and in a private jet."Finally awake?"I turned to my right and saw Mikhail walking into the room."What the hell happened?""Good afternoon, sweetheart.""Afternoon? Mikhail, what's going on? Why am I on a plane? Where are we going?""We're going to Italy.""What? Why?""I don't want you in danger anymore. And, we can't keep you safe in America. We've decided that you'll be safer away from America, and away from your parents. Your safety and well-being is top priority. You need a break."And it made sense.And I didn't know how I felt about this.I was conflicted and happy at the same time. Happy because I was leaving the country, where a person is out to kill me, and conflicted because
E L L EA shiny black BMW SUV was parked and waiting for us. We piled into the car and drove off.It felt good to be back to my hometown, even though I wasn't born here. But it was the country where I had family, and it will always have a special place in my heart. I could see the buildings, and the beautiful landscape.The roads were wide, and it was just so peaceful and relaxing.Mikhail was at the front seat with the driver, while Giovanna, Avery and I were sitting at the back. We were in a car, and we had guards following behind us.I didn't mind, as long as we were safe.And I had a feeling that we were in good hands."It's so beautiful here.""Right? I love it." Giovanna smiled."I do too." Avery said. "It's been a while since I've been here." I said, watching the beautiful nature as the car sped past the forest. "And we're going to make sure that you enjoy every moment. We'll have a great time. Trust me. Just relax."I nodded and smiled. "Thank you for being here. All of you
A V E R YI walked into our bedroom, sighting Giovanna straight away. She seemed to be having an important call as she paced back and forth."Yes yes, I will only be able to deliver them after a few days. I need to get settled first, before any business. And besides, we can't do anything here. We're on vacation. I don't have to answer to anyone here. But seeing as it's urgent and you're a loyal customer, I'll get back to you soon." She said and ended the call. "Who was that?" I asked, walking towards her. She seemed tensed and I could tell something was wrong."Oh, no one.""It doesn't seem like no one.""It's business, baby. You know I can't tell you much. But, I have to deliver some goods to this client.""When are you going to tell Elle about what you do?" I've been meaning to ask her this, but I was never able to get a chance."Not now, babe. Not yet. I can't tell her right now. She has a lot on her plate and knowing her, she'll worry too much. I don't want her to have to deal wi
E L L EHow did I only just discover that there was literally a huge library room full of books in this mansion. It was like living in a dream, where all you have to do is ask for something, and it would be done.The library had all sorts of books.Novels, short stories, history, biographies, self-help books, poetry, and many more.It was truly heaven.Mikhail was out to get some of our luggages that weren’t complete from the airport. Avery and Gio were in their bedroom.I made myself a cup of coffee, locking myself inside the library and searching for a book that would satisfy my craving.I came across a novel titled 'The Black Dahlia' by James Ellroy. The title was quite interesting, so I grabbed the book and sat on one of the armchairs, making myself comfortable and beginning to read.The story was intense. I was sucked into it.i was so invested in the crime fiction book that I almost missed the sound of a knock coming from the door. I used my pen to keep track of the page number,
S E B A S T I A NThe last few months have been depressing to say the least. I was slowly losing myself right in front of my own eyes and I couldn't do anything about it.I couldn't find a way to stop the change that was happening, even after everything I did to try to get her back. It wasn't enough, and I didn't understand it. I tried to make things better for her, but somehow they kept getting worse.It was as if there was some other force out there, some unknown entity that didn't want me to have her, and the more I tried to get her back, the harder this unseen force pushed against me.It was my fault for not believing her and blindly living with the real devil for years. But, wasn't the suffering and pain I felt during my time with her supposed to mean something?My entire life had been about making sure that the people I love, stayed safe and were happy.I gave up the only thing that mattered to me out of stupidity and no matter how much I've changed and regretted my actions, Kar
E L L EI was applying sunscreen on my body when I felt someone sit down beside me."Let me." Mikhail said softly, taking the bottle from my hands."Sure." I grinned.He squeezed some onto his palm, then began spreading it on my back."You're so beautiful, Elle. And your skin is glowing. The weather agrees with you." He said.I smiled at his comment. "Thank you. But, it's not the weather that makes me glow. It's you. You're the reason I feel good."He placed a sweet kiss on my shoulder, making my stomach do backflips. Several months with this man and he still makes me feel all warm inside.I was wearing my two piece swimsuit. It was yellow and black, with ruffled sleeves and a bow on the top of the bikini top. It had a thong and made me look hot.We were going to the beach behind the house, Avery, Giovanna, Mikhail and I. Avery and Giovanni were also getting ready.I leaned into him, sighing as he applied sunscreen on my shoulders."What is it?" he asked."Nothing. Just thinking about
G I O V A N N AI smiled, and put the phone away, before heading down the stairs with Sebastian who had also freshened up. He was wearing a gray shirt, and a pair of dark pants. We found Fabian seated at the dinner table, eating his food, and a maid served Sebastian and I our plates.I hadn't realized how hungry I was, so I dug in, and didn't stop eating, until my plate was empty.Sebastian also cleaned his plate, and the maid came to remove our plates. Fabian was looking at Sebastian with amusement, and I was curious as to what he was thinking."So, young man. What do you do for a living?""I'm a businessman, sir.""A businessman? That's interesting. What is it that you do?""Well, I own a lot of businesses, and have several investments around the world.""Ah, I see. Well, let's get straight into business, shall we? Sebastian, I need you to be prepared, because once we find Laura, she might not be the same girl you met and fell in love with. The kidnappers, they don't care about how
G I O V A N N AThe plane landed in Italy, and it was registered in my blood that I was back here again. Not for good this time.For a blood war. I was either going to return home alive with Laura, or I die trying to save her. But, it will take a whole village to think they could kill me.I was Giovanna Vause, a mafia princess, and daughter of a powerful mafia boss. And, the most notorious and feared one.My father's reputation preceded him, and his enemies feared him, and the power he had.He was ruthless and cold-blooded before he died, and me not taking over his empire was a matter of choice, because his blood ran through my body.Sebastian and I stepped out of the plane, and we were greeted by two men, both holding guns, and wearing the black suit that identified them as part of the Vause's Mafia Family."Miss Vause. We are happy to have you back home. I hope your flight was smooth.""Yes, it was. Thank you."He smiled, and then, he was looking at Sebastian. "Ma'am, we made prepar
E L L EMy heart rate went up as the doctor and nurses prepared me for labor. They gave me instructions, and told me what was going to happen.The doctor and the nurse put on their gloves, and the nurse helped me put my feet up in the stirrups, and the doctor positioned himself between my legs.I gripped Mikhail's hand tightly, and he held my hand, whispering words of encouragement."Alright, Elle. I want you to start pushing now. You can do it. Just push.""Come on, baby. Push. You can do it. Just listen to the doctor's orders. Listen, and do whatever he says. Everything is going to be just fine." Mikhail whispered comfortingly as he stroked my hair, giving me strength. I nodded, and bit down on my lip as I started pushing. It hurt so bad, but the thought of finally seeing my baby in the flesh gave me the strength I needed to keep going."The baby is crowning, Elle. Keep going. Keep pushing." "Come on, love. You're doing so great.""Baby's head is out. Alright, Elle. One more big p
E L L EBlood drained from my face as an excruciating pain hit the bottom of my belly, and blood rolled down my legs.My heart jumped in my chest as Mikhail flew to my side, and helped me off the bed."What's happening? I think something is wrong with the baby, Mikhail. I- I aah!" I screamed as the pain intensified, and I bent over, feeling lightheaded.Mikhail was talking to someone on the phone, and he was yelling, his voice panicked."Elle, love. Listen to me, okay. We have to go.""Where are we going?""To the hospital, love. We have to get you there. It's going to be okay.""O-o-k-kay," I managed to choke out.He picked me up, and carried me out of the house, and straight into the car.He strapped me in, and closed the door, getting in on the other side. He started the engine, and drove down the road."Is- is- the- the baby gonna be okay?" I said, watching the blood spread, and the pain increased."Yes, love. The baby is gonna be fine. Just hang in there, baby."I nodded, and clo
M I K H A I LAs the weeks flew by, we were getting closer and closer to Elle's due date. In two weeks time, she'd be entering the very last month of her pregnancy.And I've been angsty, Michael hasn't got much information on Emory, and we still have no idea where the threats were coming from, and what we were dealing with.Everything had been quiet, and there were no news. It was as if we had entered a state of limbo.A weird, calm, limbo.I wanted to be hopeful, but my gut was telling me that she was up to something, and whatever it was, wasn't good.And, I was right.Elle was at home, and safe, and I had decided to spend the day with her. She was in the kitchen, which I had frowned upon but she had insisted that she was craving 'Her' own food. She was making cookies, and I was watching her, and making sure she wasn't overdoing it.Her bump had gotten bigger, and she was looking more and more like a balloon.She was wearing a grey, oversized t-shirt, and black sweatpants, and her ha
G I O V A N N ASebastian left a couple of minutes ago, to go get ready for our flight tonight. I placed back and forth, tugging my hair in frustration.I should have known that allowing Laura go to Italy all on her own was a bad idea. But for some reason, she has insisted on nobody coming with her, which was quite suspicious, because everyone knows how much Laura hayes bring in Italy, because of the horrid memories it holds for her.Something was off, and I had no idea what it was.I could have insisted more on her to let Sebastian come with her, or maybe me. Or even, one of my trusted security men.But, she had refused, saying it was important that she was alone, and now, look what had happened.She was gone.With no trace of who had abducted her, and no single lead.I was losing my mind.I was worried sick, and had been calling non-stop, asking for updates, and I had none. Avery came up to me, stopping my movements. "Relax. You will find her."I groaned. "This is so frustrating. Th
S E B A S T I A NIt's been exactly twenty four hours of calling Laura's number non-stop, and no response.Something was wrong.Really, fucking, wrong.Laura had never missed a call from me, and especially since she had promised to keep communication open. I have dropped more than 300 missed calls, and several texts, yet no response.Where was she?The last text she had sent me was twenty six hours , telling me that the funeral was ongoing and she would facetime me when she gets back home. But, she didn't. Something was definitely wrong.My heart was pounding in my chest, and anxiety was slowly taking over. Where was she?I was having a really bad feeling about her, and I didn't know if I was worrying for nothing or my worries were indeed valid. Laura wouldn't intentionally ignore my calls, knowing I'm sick with worry.What if something happened to her?What if she was attacked?What if her father's funeral had taken a turn for the worse? What if someone was holding her captive?Or, w
L A U R AThe shot rang in my ears, and I watched in horror as blood spurted from Marco's mouth and his body slumped to the floor."What did you do?!" Bile rose in my throat as I watched the horrific sight in front of me, a cold shiver and a feeling of deja vu running through my body.I have seen Viktor take people's life like it was nothing too many times. He kills humans faster than he kills a mosquito. He has no compassion, no emotions, no remorse. He's a monster.If you think my father was horrible, Viktor is ten times worse than him. He's the devil incarnate."Why? Why did you do that? He was innocent.""What he deserved. No one, and I mean, no one, will ever defy me. If he can't do his job, he is useless. There's no use keeping a man who's a coward. I'll have to get another one who is not a pussy like Marco to get the job done, sí?"My mind ran fast, and I had to think of a way to convince him against this. "What's the point of allowing another man to touch what is yours? It's o
L A U R AI felt a pinch on my arm, and I snapped my head to the side, to watch Viktor piercing a needle in my arm."What the fuck are you doing?""This is going to help you relax. You're tense, and nervous, and I don't want you to make a scene. Not now. Not when we're so close to finally being together again. So, stop struggling, and enjoy the ride. You will get there, eventually."He injected the contents into my blood stream, and I watched him, and the man driving, as the world around me started spinning.And, the last thing I saw was Viktor's smiling face.A face that had haunted me every single day, and a face that was the last thing I had ever wanted to see again.It was a nightmare.I slumped on the seat, and blacked out."Wakey, wakey, sleeping beauty. Wake the fuck up. I've waited too long for this."I heard Viktor's voice, and I struggled to open my eyes. I blinked a few times, and the room came into focus.I was in a room, sitting in a chair, with my hands tied behind me, an