Chapter 21: PrisonerRegina’s P.O.VThe first thing I felt as I came back to consciousness was the heavy weight of something on my waist.Even though I felt too weak to open my eyes, I knew that I was no longer cuffed to bedpost since the strain on my wrist was now gone. I could also feel the weight of something on my middle and I was definitely no longer lying half on the floor in my many attempts to try and escape.Opening my eyes, I had to blink several times to adjust to the bright sunlight pouring in through the open curtains before I could see anything around me. And what do you know…the Capo dei Capi was back.Frowning, I turned to face Draco, trying not to wake him up as I moved my head to the side to look at him. He looked different somehow and it was before I even noticed the sling that was attached to his left arm. My frown deepened when I noticed that he kinda smelled like that distinct smell that you could only find in a hospital. Did he get hurt?And why did the thought

Chapter 23: Rico and Paris 5Rico’s P.O.VI parked the car next to the bank of the Hudson River, the Mid-Hudson Bridge in full sight as I cut off the engine and turned to look at Paris at the passenger’s seat. “Let’s go for a walk, shall we?”Paris nodded and I noticed him being unusually quiet as he unbuckled his seatbelt and got off the car to wait for me at the railing overlooking the river as I got out myself and locked the car.The evening was a bit chilly and I saw that Paris was only wearing a blue and white checkered shirt with dark blue denims. Taking off my coat, I placed it over his shoulders when I saw him rubbing his arms as the cold wind blew his hair back from his face.“Thank you.” Paris looks over his shoulders at me, a little startled at first. “Why did you bring me here?”“I thought a change of scenery would help clear your mind.&

Chapter 24: Un-Friendly BanterRegina’s P.O.V“You.” I narrowed my eyes at the red haired man named Joel, who stood in front of me like a statue, without saying a single word. “Take me to the kitchen. I’m famished!”Joel simply turned and started walking.I blinked several times, trying to process the situation. “Well…that was easier than I thought.”I ran behind the tall man, taking longer strides to keep up with him as he led me down the spiral staircase once again before taking a right turn to a different hallway and before I knew it, I was standing in the middle of a huge modern kitchen with all the latest gadgets that I could possibly imagine, laid out in front of me.Joel went to the side counter that was made of polished black marble and took a seat at one of the high chairs, making me frown once again.“Why are you sitting there? Whe

Chapter 26: Getting Closer  Regina’s P.O.V“You must be bored of listening to literally nothing for the past few days, right?” I spoke next to the tracker, knowing that it could record sounds to some extent for being such a tiny device.Well, at least the person on the other side will be able to hear my voice…know that I was doing ok.“Truth is, I’m trying to get close to him, to get him to open up and show me around the mansion,” I sighed heavily, leaning my head against the drawers. “But it’s not an easy job. I have to be more than just a mistress, more than a person he sleeps with for him to actually lead me to anything useful.”Truth was, after Draco’s bodyguard, Joel, had left me in the room today after lunch, I had to tiptoe around the room and look through all the drawers I could open without a lock to try and find something that I migh

Chapter 28: ConditionsDraco’s P.O.V“Joel, take care of the art room supplies and tell me about its progress when it’s over.” I told Regina’s bodyguard. “Make sure it’s ready by this afternoon.”When I was hanging up the phone, my eyes met Rico’s in the rear-view mirror for a short instant before he averted his eyes and went back to driving the car in silence.I was heading to the warehouse once again, but this time to check on the consignment that contained all the weapons that were sent in this morning by Donatello from Detroit.The coast was finally clear after Cheng Li’s death as the last of the opposition left Detroit to head back to their own Syndicates all over the US. It wasn’t exactly convenient for them to stay away from their territory any longer because in the criminal underworld, no one knew who was going to backstab you next. No one co