ISABELLA Thoughts of Natalia, Damien's ex-fiancée, loomed large in my mind, casting a shadow of uncertainty over my every thought and action. I knew all too well the depths of Natalia's wealth and influence, the power she wielded like a weapon against anyone who dared to stand in her way.Natalia was a force to be reckoned with, a woman accustomed to getting what she wanted, when she wanted it. Her family's wealth and connections afforded her a level of influence that was unrivaled, her every whim catered to by an army of loyal servants and sycophants.I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at the thought of crossing paths with Natalia once again, knowing full well the danger she posed to me and those I held dear. She was a master manipulator, skilled at weaving webs of deception and intrigue to ensnare her prey, and I knew that I stood no chance against her formidable arsenal of weapons.But even as fear gnawed at the edges of my consciousness, I refused to let it consume me. I
Damien I was getting impatient with the way this man was baiting me. I was feeling a little self-conscious because I did not like being baited."What exactly is the problem?" I demanded."You are my problem, Damien. Ever since you walked into that police station, everything I built right from scratch is gone!" He said."So you sent me a secret rendezvous just to bitch to me," I let out maliciously before I turned to leave."I know where Robert is," He called after me and I stopped abruptly in my track. I sighed. I wondered why him of all people could was playing such an expensive joke."Michael Stryker. Are you shitting me?" I firmly asked.He walked over to where I stood and stopped. It was a little bit dramatic the way he did but I was too pissed to care."Damien Moretti, I shit you not," Michael said in a low tone. I could tell that he was serious."I am guessing that you do not want to tell me without a price," I said."You know me so well," He spat maliciously.I scoffed at him.
Damien As I sat behind the wheel of my car, the phone call from Natalia sent a shiver down my spine, a chill that lingered despite the warmth of the afternoon sun filtering through the windshield. I hesitated for a moment, my thumb hovering over the accept button, torn between the desire to confront her and the instinct to ignore her call altogether.Against my better judgment, I finally answered, the familiar sound of her voice sending a wave of apprehension washing over me. "What do you want, Natalia?" I asked, my tone laced with a mixture of irritation and resignation."I need to see you, Damien," she replied, her voice smooth and persuasive, like honey dripping from her lips. "There are things we need to discuss, things that can't wait any longer."I scoffed, the bitterness of our past encounters still fresh in my mind. "I have nothing to say to you, Natalia," I retorted, my voice tinged with frustration. "You made your choice when you decided to betray Isabella and me. There's n
Isabella The weight of unease settled heavily upon my shoulders, pressing down with an oppressive force that seemed to suffocate me. My thoughts swirled in a tumultuous whirlwind of fear and uncertainty, as I grappled with the harsh reality of the danger that lurked just beyond the safety of our home.I couldn't shake the nagging feeling of dread that gnawed at the edges of my consciousness, a relentless reminder of the precariousness of our situation. Damien's recent encounters with adversaries from his past had left me feeling more vulnerable than ever, as if the walls of our sanctuary were closing in around me, trapping me in a prison of fear and apprehension.With each passing day, I found myself growing more and more uneasy, haunted by the specter of danger that seemed to loom over us like a dark cloud on the horizon. I knew that Damien's unwavering determination to protect me often put him in harm's way, risking his safety for the sake of mine. And while I admired his courage
Damien "I am guessing you two are a thing now," I said as I watched my dad and Camilla step into the elevator."Jealous?" Vito asked."Disgusted," I gruffly replied. Vito chuckled.The silence that followed after was so loud and uneasy but I was not going to bend to the pressure of breaking first. I fixed my eyes to the numbers counting up to reach my floor.I braced myself for the confrontation that I knew was inevitable, steeling my resolve as the doors slid shut behind us."Damien," Vito's voice was like ice, cutting through the silence with a chilling precision. "We need to talk."I glanced at him warily, the resentment that simmered between us bubbling to the surface once more. "What do you want, Vito?" I asked, my tone tinged with a hint of defiance.Vito's gaze bore into mine, his expression unreadable as he squared his shoulders and took a step closer to me. "I want you to understand the gravity of the situation, Damien," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Your position a
Isabella Ava had been reluctant to go home but I assured her that I would be fine with Emilio. "I do not trust that man, Isabella," Ava cautiously said and looked around to see if my Dad heard her."It is alright, Ava, he means well," I assured her with a smile."You know that you can always come back and stay with me, us girls got to stick together," She said."I would love to stay with you more than anything in the world, but I just can't stay with you knowing that Vito can pay you a visit anytime he likes," I told her.Ava nodded a little bit sadly. I hoped that she did not think I was avoiding her because that was far from the reason. Flashbacks of Vito's large hands around my neck played over and over again in my head as I dreadfully recalled the attack.As Ava gently urged me to come back home with her, I felt a wave of apprehension wash over me, my heart pounding with fear at the mere thought of facing Vito again. "I appreciate your concern, Ava," I said, my voice trembling
Damien I was fool. I knew that now. I had been too lenient with my stance on Natalia moving on. I was in no mood to exchange words with her. I hardened my gaze as I laid eyes on her."This better be about work, Natalia," I said as I perched on my work desk, waiting. There was no reason we did not have to be civilized. Besides, whether we liked it or not, we were business partners and she played a huge role in bringing Renaissance to where it was today.Natalia sat down on the office couch that faced the large windows which displayed a nice view of the city landscape. "By all means, make yourself, comfortable," I said gruffly. Natalia said nothing for a while as she looked outside."I always forgot how beautiful the view from here was," She said looking, looking wistfully at the city from where she sat.I said nothing. She finally turned to me and looked at me for a while. I meant she really gazed deep into my soul and it got me a bit uneasy."You need someone at your side, Damien,"
Damien I was glad he was not yet dead. The mission I had assigned to him was a very dangerous one and I had half heartedly believe that he would not make it.The Burger joint at the dock was situated at the southern part of the city. It was a long drive and on the way, I had enough time to think. I made a mental note of the people that were coming for me. The first was Monroe from my army days, the second was Robert, my wife's ex, the third was Michael, a captain from the military who joined the police to become the head of a precinct. The most personal was my father, Vito Moretti.I made sure that I was not being followed as I drove. I knew that things were only going to get more and more difficult. I did not want to admit it but they were all going six feet if they did not desist from coming after me. It would not be the first time I had blood on my hands and with the way things were going, It was not going to be my last.My back was against the wall and I was running out of option