MasukI was in disbelief that Xander's family would go that far. I immediately began to wonder if I had married right.Almost as if he read my thoughts, he said, "They're not me. You're married to me, not them.""But they're still your family. We all share the same name." Inasmuch as he did not have a good rapport with most of them, it did not change the fact that they were all bound by blood. Xander thought otherwise."You're my family. You, Arya and my nonna are the only family I know. No one else." "I can't believe Antonio finally gave in to his father's demands. I thought you two were like brothers." I said with a long exhale. The facts kept slapping me in the face.He shrugged. "Even brothers betray one another. His father betrayed mine too.""So what do we do?" I needed to know what our next line of action would be. If we were gonna sit back and let it slide or confront them."You and Arya have to stay here for a while until everything is sorted. You're much safer here." He said, s
~ Olive~I had paced the floor so much, it felt like I would burn holes through them. "Olive relax." Maya said."Why hasn't he returned any of my calls or texts? It's been twenty four hours!" I exclaimed. I had done everything in my power to reach him but it was a dead end all through."Maya, do you think something happened?" I looked at her, ready to cry."No no, let's think positive thoughts only. He's alright and I'm sure everything is fine.""Okay." I nodded, heaving deep breaths. Positive thoughts only.~Day Two...It had been two days. Two hectic and gut-wrenching days without a word from Xander."Someone has to know something." I wept loudly as I dropped my phone yet again."Olive you have to eat something," Roy said. He had tried calling too."I don't know what I'd do if anything happens to them. I won't be able to live.""Were you able to reach his assistant?" Maya asked her husband."Yes. All he said was that Mr Giovanni is currently unavailable." He shrugged.I shuddered,
"I'll kill them both." I gritted out angrily."Er erm." The detective cleared his throat. "Not literally." I corrected myself immediately. "But we have to get to action now.""We have to ensure your daughter's safety and we need more proof than word of mouth before taking them in.""What?! She lives in the same house as that beast!""I only spent the night there." Chloe interrupted, raising her hand like a school child."Same difference." I shrugged. Nonna's call came in just then. "Alexander," She sounded breathless and I immediately panicked."Nonna what's wrong?""You have to be careful. Your enemy is closer than you think." Her voice sounded eerie and distant, almost like she was talking from the other side."What do you mean?" I asked, fighting off the feeling of trepidation that was slowly making its way to my heart."Just be careful. Trust no one. Not even me. I do not know what your plans may be but do not disclose it to anyone." She said.I nodded, swallowing hard as I sh
Nothing could beat the fulfillment on Tasha's face when she saw the news. Now they just had to wait for the transfer. Her phone rang just then."You kidnapped her too soon. If you release her now, how are you so sure they would not go ahead with the marriage?""You worry too much." She laughed. "They would be too scared to do anything. I have a reliable source who tells me that they are not in good terms and she is preparing to move out of the city. No girl wants to be with a man that comes with so much drama. And there's no way he would be married by his thirty fifth birthday."His deep rumbling baritone filled her ears once again. "Your plan had better work. Release the girl two days from now.""Yes I will." She smirked.What he didn't know was that she was waiting on the cash transaction so she could give Malik his cut and then they would let the girl go.~"Tasha I just want this to end already." He growled lowly, trying to not wake Chloe who had stirred in her sleep a few times.
The notifications would not stop coming when I opened any our social media apps. We had announced the end of our engagement to the press and of course they had taken it up. "What happened?" Maya asked when I finally took her call."This was a bad idea." I said, holding back my tears."I'm so sorry. I wish I could hug you." She empathised with me, sounding as devastated as I would be if this was not just a ploy to save my daughter."I'm going to be in Atlanta soon." I let her know."What about Arya?" "Xander is working on the transfer to the abductors and once she's released, we'll move." By 'we', I meant Arya and I would leave Los Angeles because her father and I had broken up."I'm sorry Olive. This is too much for you." "Thank you. I have to go now." I said, my voice heavy with emotion at the worry in her tone.As soon as I dropped the call, my brother's call came in. "Hey Roy,""I just saw the news." He said, going straight to it. "Are you okay?""I don't know." I said honest
The rustic sounds of farm animals filled her ears and the stench of cow dung all over the field had her nose scrunching up in irritation. Why did he have to pick this place as a hideout? Her fancy cowgirl boots were not cut out for this place."This place stinks." She said, making her way further down the compound. "Bones!" She yelled for the guard manning the entrance."Where is she?""Upstairs with him."Briskly, she mounted the stairs, letting her footsteps echo on the wood boards of the sparsely furnished house."I didn't know you were here." Her lips curled into a wry smile as she spotted him carrying her over his shoulder."I just came in. What have you been feeding her?" He asked, sounding accusatory. "Food."She dropped the grocery bag to show that she had not been starving the girl."I already got her something to eat.""Okay daddy." She teased with mockery tainting her tone."Arya is just a child and she is not the enemy." He said, not finding any of it funny."Yeah I know.







