جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 99

Arlari's POVSleep did not come easy that night. Severiano's touch still burned on my skin, his scent still clung to me like shadows, and the look in his eyes hunted me each time I shut my eyes.I was supposed to be relieved that Danny was safe, or was he. I wasn't sure yet, because I hadn't spoken with him, but somehow I trusted him. Damn. I do trust him, not just now. Seeing how quickly I eased up when he said Danny was okay made me realize I trusted him.Then why did I reach out to Esteban? Why did I doubt Severiano's ability to protect Danny? Thinking about it now really made me realize how much of an insult that was to him.I tossed and churned on the bed, and finally, I drifted into a sound sleep.***“Where do you think you're going?,” a voice asked from behind, startling me.I spun around. Rafael.My heart dropped to my stomach. " I…I'm going to work," I replied, breathlessly.He raised a brow. " Is that why you're scared? Careful Arlari, you're beginning to act like someone

Arlari's POVSeveriano grabbed her by the neck and pulled her up, her legs dangling mid air. She clung to his hand to ease his grip but she couldn't pull any of his fingers off her neck.“I don't do so well with cops," he said through gritted teeth.I grabbed my skirt, breathing heavily like I could spare her some air if I did. She struggled for a few seconds then he dropped her, allowing her to hit the ground with a heavy thud.I let out a heavy breath I didn't realize I was holding.He walked away to the shelf and lifted something. A whip. Not the kind he used on me in the playroom. This one was meant for animals. Cows. When she saw him walking back to her, she moved backwards until her back collided with the door.He approached and locked the door, hovering over her like a tower. I stared at her, trying to understand why she would put herself in such great danger. For work.Severiano did not waste time in pulling her back to the middle of the room. By her hair.She winced and gr

Arlari's POV“Your hands in the air," he ordered, his voice now low.I obeyed.He reached for one of the ropes hanging from the ceiling and pulled it down, tying my hands together above my head. Next, he blindfolded me. He leaned forward and whispered in my ear.“You'll stay here until I return. If you move, you'll have yourself to blame for whatever happens to your brother.”My heart dropped at the mention of Danny. I knew he wasn't bluffing, I recognized that tone, but the breath from his mouth felt…different.His footsteps faded into his room, then I heard an unmistakable sound of the door click. He was gone.I stayed on my knees, the grains digging into my skin. They were small, but prickling. My arm was beginning to ache, and I was surrounded by darkness.Seconds crept into minutes, and minutes into an hour. He still wasn't back, the room was enveloped by a thick silence with only the sound of my heavy breathing.I kept sighing and shifting my weight, looking for a little comfort

Severiano’s POVI couldn't sleep a wink that night. Everything kept replaying in my head. From the playroom down to Ariana's visit, the look on Arlari's eyes when she asked if I was firing her, the tone in her voice when she said I was still punishing her.She thought she wasn't the best and would never be, like my standards and expectations of her were too high. Or were they? Standards and expectations make people sit up. She'd adjust. I shook my head vehemently several times, but her face wouldn't leave my mind.At the break of dawn I was all ready to leave for work, but as I moved around getting ready, one thing tugged at my mind. Arlari's face.I stepped into the hallway and it felt…different. Usually she would be ready and waiting, but the hallway was empty. I glanced at her door and it was shut, I listened for movements in her room but there were none.When I walked downstairs, the men were already awake, gathered around the security screens. Whispering in low voices, casting ca

Arlari's POV“There you are, big guy," one of them sneered. “You thought you could hide forever?"Severiano was standing beside my window, cold eyes fixed on the men. " Stay low, Arlari. No matter what you see, do not make a sound.”That was it. He took slow steps towards the men. I slid down my chair, squatting down to hide myself, my body trembling so much I nearly peed myself.“You always thought you were untouchable, huh?," another man said.Severiano still didn't reply. I peeped up just a little to see him standing in front of one of the men, the one that looked like the leader among them.“What do you want, scorpion?" He finally spoke, voice deep and cold.“Still acting tough? Don't be foolish, Severiano. You're surrounded.”" I'll take it that you're now jobless. Seeing how you followed me down here,” Severiano shot back.The men circled and gathered behind him, while he stood face to face with the boss.“Hand over what belongs to me and I'll let you go,” the man suggested.Sev