A big yawn escapes Melina's lips as the car pulls to a stop at a traffic light. She forces her eyes open as her eyelids drop on their own. I don’t understand. I just woke up a few minutes ago. How can I be feeling sleepy again? Melina looks out the window, blinking her eyes to drive the sleep away, when she sees that they have stopped not too far from a pharmacy. Melina remembers she needs tampons. She was going to ask Thomas to get it tomorrow morning, but she has started spotting, so it would be safer to get it now. She’s unsure when her period will begin. Melina takes a deep breath and moves closer to Thomas to ask him if they can stop by the pharmacy so she can get some tampons. "Thomas, can I ask for something?" "Why are you suddenly so close to me, and did you say something?" Thomas looks between their touching thighs and Melina's face. Melina moved closer to him so that Leo and the driver wouldn’t hear her question. She doesn't feel comfortable lettin

Melina knocks softly on Franky’s door and waits eagerly for her to open it. Franky gasps the second she opens the door. She looks at Melina like she’s a ghost standing in front of her. Melina smiles and pulls her in for a hug. Franky hesitates to hug Melina back for a second but quickly wraps her arms around her and squeezes the life out of her. Tears fill Melina’s eyes as she takes in the scent of Franky, which reminds her of home. Melina has missed her sister a lot. She wishes she would never have to part with her.“Let me take a look at you,” Franky says, pulling away from Melina. She takes a step back and scans her from head to toe. “Thank God you’re fine. I was so worried about you, Mel. Where have you been?”“Italy.”“Italy? What the hell were you doing there, and why didn’t you tell me you were going there? I reported you missing to the police, Mel. A text would have been enough to let me know you were fine.”“I’ll explain everything. Can we go inside and talk?”“Of course, com

"Ciao Tom," Aurora greets, hugging Thomas once he gets to her table."How're you doing, Aurora?" Thomas pecks her cheeks before taking his seat across from her."Good, and you?""I'm good. Have you eaten?" Thomas motions to a waiter, who is standing close by to their table."No, but the food can wait. I need to talk to you about something important.""Oh, what's up?" Thomas waves the waiter away and sits up."I wanted to ask, do you think our family can afford to go to war with another Russian gang?""Why are you asking?" Thomas furrows his brows. He didn't expect his sister to say that."Let's say Kirill is having problems with another Russian gang. Will we be able to help if a war breaks out between them?""Unfortunately, we won't.""Really, why?" Aurora appears deeply disappointed, which Thomas finds a little odd given that she hasn't been dating Kirill for long enough to care that much about him.

Melina gets down from the kitchen stool, swallowing a lump in her throat. She takes a look at James and notices he’s dressed in the Givenchy suit she bought for him before they split. That can’t be a good sign.“James, w-wh-h-a-at are you doing here?”“I heard you were in town, so I thought I’d stop by and say hi,” James says, walking closer to Melina, his scent drifting through her nose. Melina’s brain immediately recalls how she would smell like him for days, despite doing everything she could to scrub his scent off her body. Tears well up in her eyes, remembering why she even had his scent on her body in the first place.“Really? That’s so nice of you,” Melina says, blinking away tears. Her nose stings, telling Melina she’s not doing a good job of suppressing her emotions. It’s hard for Melina because she recalls all the times she cried silently, staring at the ceiling as J

As the first punch is thrown at her belly, Melina doesn't even pretend it doesn't hurt. Screaming at the top of her lungs as his iron-ringed knuckles punch her stomach, Melina hunches forward, forcing her stomach in as her ribs burn; her face snaps backward as James punches her chin."James, please, I am beg…." Melina's words get choked in her throat as James punches her square in the face. A splitting pain shoots through Melina's nose as it breaks in two. Melina tastes the metal in her mouth as blood pours out of her nose."I wonder if he will still love you once I make you ugly," James says, punching her in the stomach again.“Please” she rasps."This is just the beginning, love. By the time I'm done with you, Thomas will know never to mess with the Mexican cartel again."The punches continue until Melina’s black eyes can no longer stay open. Every part of her body hurts beyond words. Melina feels as if she's being ripped