★JANIE★Wiping off the tears from every corner of my eyes with the back of my hands, I expelled a sharp air out of my lungs.Breathe, Janie! Exhale! In out, in, out, I schooled myself. I knew with time everything was going to get better. I just had to make sure I calmly strategize my plan and figure my way around here. Then I can make a move. But all this wouldn't be possible if I don't eat, would it? Reluctantly, I dropped the knife on the floor and stared blankly at it. I could not believe I had set up my mind on killing myself a few moments ago. I still had a lot of life in front of me; I haven't attended college, and I have not gotten married. And to say the least, I haven't gotten someone to pop my cherry yet. So where the hell was I hurrying to? No, Janie. You can do this. Luciano is no match for you, just avoid him like a plaque until you can get the hell out of here, I thought to myself. Then I shuffled to my feet, switched on the faucet, and washed off my teary face. When
★JANIE★I bit down on my lower lip. Damn! Why would I offer to treat him? I could care less if he bled to death, that would make everything a whole lot easier for me.Somehow, my thoughts don't correspond with what my mom had taught me. Part of her lessons was to be good no matter the circumstances, or how much the person was bad to you. Luciano stared at me in shock, and he twitched his lips without uttering a word. He walked past me slowly and I followed right behind. I heard Romano clear his throat as we walked away. Perhaps, they might be as stunned as I was at the moment for offering to treat someone who caused me so much pain and ripped me of my dreams. Maybe, this might turn out well, I thought to myself. Alas, I could treat him in exchange to be set free. There was no damn way I was going to render such a benevolent act without expecting anything in return. I'd be damned. Out of sympathy, I walked up to him and encircled my arm around his waist, then we ambled into his roo
★JANIE★"What are your reasons, huh?" I fired back. "What are your fucking reasons?"Hot tears poured down my cheeks as I glared at him. With my lips curled in disdain, I took a couple of steps backward. "Look at me, Janie," Luciano said softly as he tried to touch me, but I pulled away. "I don't want to look at you!" I bellowed angrily. "You are a monster!" With a swift maneuver, Luciano grasped me and wrapped his good arm around my waist. My breath hitched at that impact then I started struggling with him to set me free. But the more I did, the more his grip tightened. "Call me whatever you want, Janie. But I want to protect you. I want you to be under my wings where I can reach you." He moved to cup my chin, but I tilted my head sideways. "Protect me?" I scoffed. "You of all people don't know how to protect anyone. Rather you would just kill, kill and kill!" I seethed angrily. Luciano retracted his hand and sighed. "I promise not to ever hurt you, Janie." "Too late. You alrea
★LUCIANO★“Okay, the merchandise record is clean,” I informed Romano. “Get some men to deliver what Jonas wants. And they should tell him - I want my money in full.” “Yes, Boss.” Romano walked away to do my bidding. And then Francesco walked up to me. “Boss, we are running out of fuel for the vehicles.” He bowed in deference.“Okay. Meet Romano to hand you the credit card for fuel. And do not purchase more than this month's budget." “Yes, Boss.” he stomped off. I arranged the record book neatly in my stack. Went around once more to observe the warehouse and the goods, then I paused. Heaving a sigh, I looked around, wondering what I was missing. An empty feeling clouded my guts and I didn't know what that was— could I have missed something while checking the rate of my merchandise? Just then, the thought of Janie grazed my mind. It was then I understood why I felt somewhat empty and miserable. I hadn't seen her since yesterday morning after our little scuffle. I didn't even know i
★LUCIANO★A stab of hurt cut through my veins. Instantly, tears welled up in my eyes, but I closed them shut to suppress my tumultuous nerves. Although, I expected something like this to happen eventually. Yet, at some point, I decided to cling to the ray of hope I had left. I hoped she could fight it and come out victorious.Visiting my mother every month, my heart usually clench in pain whenever I saw her. She couldn't speak. She couldn't move. Painfully, she couldn't hear whatever I had to say. Why now? For seven freaking years, my mother slipped into a vegetative state. After we lost my sister, father, house, and everything we owned ten years ago, she had never been the same again. Unluckily for her, she traveled from Italy to China just to purchase some products for her company. Only to hear of the unfortunate attack, the next day. Because of that terrible news, she slumped. And that was how my uncle had to help her get admitted before his death. She had been on several me
★LUCIANO★Without remorse, I turned to the second captive. “Now where were we?” “Please, I promise to do whatever you ask me to do. If you ask me to serve you for the rest of my life, I will. Please just spare me, sir.” His voice shook with fear. I leaned towards him and asked; “And why should I believe you?” He fidgeted back and forth. “Because I have never wanted to be part of Ramos Ashton's army. I am just a young boy trying to navigate my way and purpose in life. Alas, I went to him because I needed help with my mother's hospital bills. She had stage four cancer, but Ramos gave me a condition that I enlarge his coast by becoming a part of his henchmen so he could assist me. However, he didn't.” What? For the first time in history, I felt pity for someone. Perhaps, it was because he mentioned the word mother and I knew how much they meant to every individual, or maybe because I just lost mine. So I removed his blindfolds and hardened my jaw. “Why?” His eyes flickered with fe
★LUCIANO★“She has no choice but to do what I ask of her.” I paused, aiming steadily at the bull's eye target. Instinctively, I released the arrow and it went flying until it landed in the bull's eye. Then I continued. “She belongs to me now.” Romano cleared his throat and hand me another arrow. “And If I may ask – why are you so interested in Janie?” Narrowing my gaze to his, I dropped the bow on the table and hardened my jaw as I faced him squarely. “And why do you ask?” “Well......because the girl is so young and pretty, but this world we live in.” He gestured at me and him. “.... ain't for her.” Rummaging through my muzzled hair, I inhaled deeply and exhaled afterward. “That's where you are wrong, Romano. The life I want to create for Janie is quite befitting for her. And very soon, I will begin to unfold them one by one.”Romano gave me a playful jab on my arm. “I hope you are not falling for the pretty girl?” He said amidst a series of teasing chuckles. “No, she looks lik
★JANIE★A wave of shock skimmed through me. Leave with him to Italy? What? Why? He didn't inform me about this beforehand and he doesn't expect me to follow him wherever he goes. I immediately shook my head and refused. “I don't want to go to Italy.” From where I was, I could feel Luciano's heated gaze piercing my skin. It seemed as though he was studying me. Like he was trying to browse through me and I began to wonder what was going on in his head. Tension. That was the only thing swirling around in the atmosphere. He hardened his jaw and his face revealed nothing but irritation as he said. “I don't remember asking for your opinion. I gave an order that you are coming with me and that's final.” I shook my head again. “No, I won't come with —” “You better stop whining like a child and do my bidding, Janie!” He bellowed angrily, pointing a finger at me to show he wasn't pleased.Nevertheless, I didn't give a damn. “And I don't want to do your bidding.” looking at him dead-st