The car was quiet, the only sounds were tiny snores from Alison. She fell asleep immediately after she was brought in, totally exhausted by the whole new experience. Luke and Nicholas remained silent, neither of them saying anything, although it was pretty obvious they had a lot to say to each other, especially Luke.“So are you not going to tell me anything or do I have to get the information from you myself, What's up with the girl, why not give her to Adrian and make things easier for yourself, he'll let you off this once since you guys have history,” Luke said not looking at him at all.Nicholas didn't answer but Luke could feel his glare on him.“Is it because she reminds you of her?” This time, Luke turned to look at him.“Eyes on the road, man,” Nick warned, not answering his question.“That must be it, Right? That must be it,” Luke said but more to himself like a confirmation.“ Be careful man, I'm not in support through”"I didn't ask for your support” Nicholas finally answer
Nicholas tightened hold of his gun as the figure stepped into the faint moonlight. The man was covered by a black hood, and he couldn't see his face yet; his posture seemed calm and unthreatening.“ Don't you dare move,” Nicholas growled.“Easy man, I'm not here to fight,” The man said slowly, raising his hands.Luke stepped out of the cabin, his gun in hand pointing at the man. “ You have ten seconds to explain what you are doing here unless I pull the trigger”The man slowly pulled down his hood revealing his handsome face and piercing green eyes. He resembled more of a hunter than a threat.“Name's Mason; I own this Cabin.” The man stared at them, confused. Luke looked a bit surprised, and Nicholas glanced at Luke, expecting an explanation, although he didn't lower his aim at Mason.“ No offense, man, but I thought you were dead a long time ago; I haven't seen you since,” Luke said after recovering from his surprise.“ It's okay; I didn't want anyone to know I was still alive eithe
The cold night air bit into Alison’s skin as she hurried after Nicholas as they left the cabin, their footsteps muffled by the thick layer of fallen leaves. The forest seemed endless, a maze of shadows and shifting shapes that offered both protection and unease.Nicholas forged forward, his instincts telling him where to go as he felt the cool metal of the gun in his hand. Each sound; each rustle or snap, made Alison jump. "Where are we going?" she asked breathlessly.“Somewhere away from Mason’s cabin,” Nicholas responded abruptly. “We can’t stay here.”Alison nodded, though her legs ached from the relentless pace. Fear was her source of energy now.They got into the car ready to flee. “Dammit,” Nicholas let out a groan in frustration as the car refuses to start. Minutes passed and it didn't work. He tried fixing it but it still didn't work.“Get down, we have to move, we don't have much time,” he said to Alison, and they continued their journey.As they walked, Nick couldn't stop
The morning light seeped in through the windows of the building, creating soft golden beams on the dusty wooden floors. Nicholas didn't sleep, his body stiff as he sat by the window, gun in hand keeping watch.Alison stirred on the old blankets Nicholas had found by the corner. She eventually sat up recalling the dreadful events that occurred the past day.Nicholas glanced toward her. “You’re awake.”She nodded, her voice still sleepy. “You didn’t sleep.”“I didn't need to,” he replied, his voice void of emotion. “ We can't afford a situation where none of us won't be able to fight”Alison wrapped a blanket around her body “How long do you think we can stay here?”“Not for long,” Nicholas confessed. “Adrian’s men won't rest till they find us”Alison’s stomach churned. She hated the feeling of being hunted and being vulnerable, the constant fear that everyone might turn out to be an enemy.Nicholas got up, stretched his arms for a few seconds then moved around the room for some time. “
Alison felt movements, she felt she was moving. She couldn't quite understand. Alison woke up in Nicholas’s arms confused. He was walking extremely fast. She didn't know where he was taking them. She was too sleepy to ask anyway. He stopped and opened something behind him. The next thing she knew, she was dumped like a sack of potatoes in the backseat of a car. Alison quickly sat up. She watched Nicholas as he entered the car and quickly zoomed off. She wanted to ask him where he got the car, but the broken windows were a sign she shouldn't ask. She wasn't used to fast rides and Nicholas was driving too fast. Fast was an understatement but she couldn't bring herself to say anything. He still thought she was sleeping though. “Dammit,” she heard him mutter under his breath, angrily hitting the horn. “What happened,” she asked, filled with curiosity. He ignored but she was sure he heard her. She sat up well and looked out the almost completely broken windows. It was still dark but
Alison couldn't sleep; she forced herself to sleep, but she could not.The house was as quiet as a graveyard. She felt the weight of the silence crushing her. Her room was so dusty, it took a while to clean it. She didn't know what to do. She began to wander about the house desperately trying to do anything that'll keep her busy. Every step she took was just reminding her how empty the house felt.She found herself in the kitchen, scanning through the shelves and cupboards. Dusty cans of food greeted her, mostly expired. She pulled out two that weren't expired. She started to look for a pot.Nicholas entered the kitchen so quietly she didn't want to hear a sound. She turned around only to see him leaning against a doorframe, startling her. He was gazing at her in a way that a predator looked at their prey before turning to a meal. “Do you always invade kitchens unannounced?” she asked, trying to mask her discomfort with humor.“You’re making noise,” he said, ignoring her question.“I
Alison sat at the dining table, slowly eating the food Nicholas made. The silence between her and Nicholas was getting more suffocating as time passed by. She could feel his presence in the room even though he hadn't said anything.He stood by the window, his back facing her, staring out at the surroundings. She could tell his body was tense. He seemed to be thinking.“Do you ever talk?” Alison asked, finally breaking the silence between them.Nicholas turned slightly, his gray eyes narrowing. "Do you ever stop asking questions?"She bit her lip, holding back a reply. His dismissive attitude hurt her, but she reminded herself not to push him."I'm just trying to figure out what's going on," she said this time in a calmer tone.“I don't need you to understand, I just need you to be alive,” he said sharply.“How am I supposed to do anything when you barely say a word, how do you expect me to know what's going on” she could feel herself getting frustrated again.Nicolas turned around com
Alison walked into the living room, her heart racing.She was waiting to hear what he would say. Nicholas was leaning against the window, arms crossed over his chest, his grey eyes fixed on her as she entered. His face was blank, so serious.Sit, he said, pointing to the chair in front of him.She hesitated for a moment before sitting down.The silence was oppressive. Nicolas finally spoke, his voice cold and hard. "You have tested my patience and it’s over. There are rules to live by if you want to stay alive."Alison’s eyebrows furrowed. "Rules?" What rules?"You speak only when necessary," Nicholas said, "Don’t go anywhere without my permission." Get out of my way, and more importantly..." He leaned forward, his eyes boring into hers and her stomach twisted. "Don’t ask questions."He closed his eyes, his disappointment rising to the surface. "I can’t ask questions?" How am I supposed to know what’s going on if you don’t tell me?"That’s none of your business," he said. Your job is t
Alison sat by the window wearing a borrowed hoodie. She freshened up a while ago. She could tell Nicholas was curious about what happened to her. It was like he didn't want to push her. He wanted her to tell him what happened in her accord.She felt his presence in the room, he stood by the door watching her."You know I went out looking for you when some men I didn't know drugged me. When I woke up, I was in this unknown building. I don't know, apparently, you killed their head and they wanted to use me as bait to get you"" The Ortegas" he groaned in annoyance."I managed to escape luckily-" she made a tiny pause not knowing how he would rest to what she wanted to say next. " I met Adrian"There was a cold silence for a while. Nicholas was trying his best to remain calm even though there was a burning anger in his chest and it worked. She stared at his face but she couldn't read it. Soon he was by her side. "Are you okay, did he do anything to you""I'm okay, Nicholas; he didn't man
Alison didn't turn back and continued running. She didn't remember how long she had been running. She couldn't hear any sounds of footsteps but that still didn't give her any reassurance. Adrian's taste still clung to her mouth and she felt the urgent need to wash off everything that reminded her of that monster.She turned a corner and the sudden beam of headlights blinded her.A car screeched to a stop.“Alison?” A voice she'd never forget said. Nicholas.She froze.“Alison!” he was out of the car in a flashShe stumbled backward as he crushed her with his arms pulling her into a tight hug. Tears she didn’t realize she was holding began to fall freely down her cheeks.“I’m so sorry,, Nic” she whispered, “I should have told you about Adrian”“Shh.” Nicholas placed a finger over her lips. “You don’t have to explain. I'm the one at fault. I'm sorry for leaving; I should have never left you alone,” he said, and she nodded.He was in a complete state of shock and disbelief at who he was
Alison gave up trying to get out of his cold. She was so tired at this point. He was the last person she wanted to see at the moment. He smiled at her, reminding her of how welcoming he was when she first saw him. This time she wasn't fooled."You are never going to remain hidden forever ""Get away from me, you monster""I believe you know I am now" Adrian made a sad face. "I'm not going to hurt you" he began. "Unless you misbehave" he gave a look as if warning her."You know if you want to kill me, just do and get this over, I'm tired of hiding "" Ohh, Darling." he tucked a strand of her hair, and Alison pulled her face back."You were never the target; it was Nicholas; the house wasn't the first time we met Alison. I bought paintings from you two years ago. I was stunned by your resemblance with her, so I watched you and I plotted the whole thing. The incident at your house, the murder you witnessed, wasn't a coincidence; I let it happen. It was the only way for Nicholas to meet y
Alison didn't know where she was going or where she was. She was just moving; she was getting tired; she had been running almost the entire night, not stopping to rest or sleeping a wink. Each time she settled down to rest, an unsettling fear they were coming closer struck her.The only lucky thing she liked was the fact she hadn't heard anyone chasing after her. She was sure she was pretty far from there.****Adrian had a feeling where Alison could be.The Ortega Syndicate.He heard from his spies there that there was an appointment of a new Mafia leader, and Nicholas had a lot of enemies there, so it made perfect sense as to where she was going to be if she was indeed abducted.He had to be sure.He confirmed one thing: Nicholas was in love with Alison, and that's what he wanted for him to carry out his plan. He stared at his face in the mirror noticing his bloody lip. Nicholas was so going to pay for laying his hands on him. He was going to take everything he had till he begged fo
Nicholas was still surprised that Luke was alive. He remembered he didn't see the body so clearly, it was staged to fool him, and it worked. He still couldn't believe Luke betrayed him. Of course, he had his suspicions, especially since the cabin incident.Although Nicholas didn't want to admit or act like it. He considered him a friend; they trained and grew together in the Castellanos."You know I love the look on your face?" Luke sneered at him."I tried looking for you""Don’t you lie" Luke snapped. "You didn't do shit""I know, I was busy but I was concerned about you""Liar""I don't care to explain, I don't have time for this, as much as I love that you are alive, I need you to get these men out of my way "Luke laughed bitterly " Now that's the Nicholas I know, it's because of her right, what's her name again, Alison right or what is Angela, you didn't even bother to check if I was alive because of that whore","Watch your tone," Nicholas said through gritted teeth. He was thi
Alison could feel some presence again in the room. She had been sitting down for hours, and she was beginning to get tired of it." Why don't we just kill her and get this over with""No, the boss wants to see her""Your boss, not mine. Her boyfriend Nicholas killed our boss, the only person fit enough to run this gang." Alison could feel a glare aimed in her direction."You think I don't know, the boss, our new boss wants us to bring her, so untie her now," another voice growled. She could hear murmurings and movement in her direction. The ropes loosened around her wrists and ankles and she was free.The person picked her up roughly; her legs were a little weak, probably from sitting down too much. " I still think this is bullshit, man, we should destroy the person that caused the boss's death and clearly Nicholas is smitten by this girl so she'll do" "Lower the gun, man," a voice said after a short pause. Even though she still had a blindfold in her eyes, she could tell the gun was
Adrian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand looking amused."Since you're so desperate for answers," he drawled, "I'm kinda feeling generous today."He gave a signal to his men and a few seconds later, two guards came from a side door dragging a familiar figure with them."Tristan," he muttered under his breath, feeling angry all over again.Tristan’s head was bowed, his hair wet sticking to his face. His shirt was torn soaked in dark stains of dried blood.A sick feeling bloomed in Nicholas’s chest as he watched him. They dropped Tristan in front of him. Nicholas supported him gently on the floor. His body was cold, frightening cold "Nick, the asshole Luke is alive" his words were quiet but loud for Nicholas to hear.The words hit Nicholas like a bullet.No. It couldn’t be. He was sure he was dead. But the look on Tristan's face said otherwise.Nicholas barely had time to process it before Adrian’s voice cut through the heavy silence like a blade.
Only one person came to mind when it came to abducting Alison.Adrian.The name alone filled him with anger. The thought she left came to mind, he brushed it aside. He needed to find her and fast. He never should have left he was feeling guilty and afraid something might happen to her.He stormed out of the room. There was only one place he knew Adrian would be.Nicholas hasn't driven fast the way he drove there. He wasn't focused. All he could think of was how he could have handled the matter differently. If he did, this wouldn't have happened.Amelia's lifeless body flashed in his mind. "No, Alison was going to be fine," he told himself repeatedly, trying to convince himself. All he wanted was to have her in his arms and apologize for how sorry he was.His anger returned so fast as he approached the place. The place he hasn't been for a while. He had a love-hate relationship with this place. The place that practically raced him.He knew he was going on a suicide mission coming here
Alison's emotions were all over the place. She was feeling so many things at the same time. She was sad and angry and felt so many things she didn't understand.Her face was dried with tears, she had been crying. She knew she should have told her. She was hurt, and Nicholas's leaving added to it. She knew he just needed time to cool off but it pained her.The warm once vibrant room was now cold. The night passed with a heavy stillness.Alison couldn't sleep. She stayed seated on the couch waiting for him. The couch reminded her of him. She didn't know when she fell asleep but she woke up and it was already morning.Nicholas still wasn't back. Alison was beginning to get worried. What if something bad happened to him? There's no way she could stay here and continue to wait for him to show up. She needed to do something. "I can't just sit here" she whispered to herself.Grabbing a coat, she slipped on her shoes. She'll be quick. She just needed to check if Nicholas was nearby. The plac