ZESA RUSSO The hairs on my neck stood on edge as if sensing an unseen danger. I didn’t see the danger, but I felt it. Something didn’t seem right. As Levi and I walked out of the hospital, it became stronger. I glanced around, searching for what made me uncomfortable until Levi’s voice pulled me away from my thoughts. I glanced down at Jaylen. My heart ached when I remembered what we were told at the hospital. The doctor suspected leukemia. A blood sample and we would go back for the result in two days. For the first time, I prayed for a negative outcome. It would break me if it came out positive. He felt like my son and the thought of him being in pain hurt me. Levi drove us home, frequently checking the rear-view mirror to see if I was doing okay. While he was worried about me, I was much more worried about Jaylen who was in the back seat with me.“I’ll be going to see my mother today. She’s been asking to see me.” he informed me, his grip tightening on the steering wheel

ZESA RUSSO “I have a confession to make.”Eric’s full attention was on me, a hint of confusion sparkling in his green eyes as I came to stand in front of him, bouncing on my toes. I felt bad. I’d lied to him or simply did not tell him who I was. Either way, I felt awful. If Finn had kept quiet, I would have gotten to know more about this man.“I am actually Zesa Russo.” I confessed.There was silence between us for some seconds.“What?” he asked after a moment, as if he hadn’t heard what I had said.“I am Zesa Russo. I own Techya.”His eyes were blank. Their owner was alive, but it was only visible by the shallow rise and fall of their chest. Was what I said that shocking to be able to destroy him so thoroughly he didn’t even seem present in his own mind?“Eric.” I called, joggling him while Finn exhaled like a drama queen behind me.“How?” he asked, looking at Finn as though hoping he would say otherwise.“She is Zesa Russo.” Said Finn in a nonchalant tone. “Now, if you do

ZESA RUSSO My eyes were bloodshot from too many days without enough sleep, and from the weight of all I’d had taken on. I had to find time for my work and take turns to watch Jaylen during his treatment. I felt bitter and hopeless when the doctor told us that neither me nor Levi were a match. It stirred up a bit of frustration in me as I drove to the orphanage to see the kids after a long day at work. I brought with me gifts of which some were specially prepared for Celine and Christoph. By the time I arrived at the orphanage, there were some kids outside playing outside in thick layers of clothing to keep them warm. Then I glimpsed Christoph holding a ball. He grinned when he caught my eyes before disappearing into the orphanage. What was that? I got down from the car just as Juliane came out alongside two older boys. I guessed they would be around sixteen or seventeen. One had shaggy brown hair and the other one had a buzz cut. Juliane went around the car to meet me, h

NINA MEYERS I was seated in the living room, watching an opera, when Alejandro came into the house. The little fucker had a key for himself. Unmoving, I watched him enter the house until he was right in front of me, obstructing my view of the TV. I lowered my gaze to the black suitcase in his hand and then to his face. He stared at me for a solid eight seconds without as much as a word. “Are you going to just stand there and not talk? What’s in the bag?” Evil wasn’t just in his eyes, but in the smile that curled back like a predator ready to snap. “A gun.” “A gun?” “Why, I believe I just said so.” He sat down on the coffee table. “I got it for you.” “Why would I need a gun?” “I didn’t bring you here to watch movies and eat. I brought you here because you have a lot of things to do for me. One of which includes killing Levi Del Campa.” I opened my mouth to speak, but he put out his index finger, asking me to be quiet. “And before you complain and say, ‘but he is the f

ALEJANDRO ORTEGADISCLAIMER: Acts of abuse. A bit kinky, but yeah… just in case it makes you uncomfortable, please skip. I apologize in advance if this brings back any negative memory. Useless! Absolutely useless!I paced the apartment I’d gotten Nina, impatiently waiting for her to arrive. What was so hard about luring one man to a secluded place and getting rid of him? Absolutely nothing! But Nina fucking Meyers had to mess it up. Not only did she ruin everything. She got Sophia shot when she should have buried a bullet deep into the skull of that prick.As I waited for her, I busied myself with the bottle of whiskey I found in the kitchen. It delivered the needed burn to my throat and chest. On my third glass, the doorknob twisted and the little bitch came in, her hoodie covering her head. She froze when she saw my shoes in the doorway. Slowly, she lifted her head from my shoes to meet my heated glare.She swallowed thickly. “Alejandro,”I studied her with unforgiving ju