I rushed out of Sonia's room and quickly made my way upstairs to Nicholas's room. I knocked on the door with urgency, hoping he would be able to help."Nicholas! Nicholas!" I called out. He opened the door, shirtless, and I couldn't help but feel a bit flustered."What's the matter, Laura?" he asked, a confused expression on his face."I... I can't find Sonia. She's not in her room," I stuttered, my voice filled with worry."What do you mean?" he questioned."She's missing," I cried."How is that possible? We saw her go upstairs, and she never came back down. Hold on, I'm coming," Nicholas responded. He went back inside his room and quickly put on a shirt. With determined strides, he headed downstairs, and I followed closely behind. He opened Sonia's room and searched every corner, just as I had done earlier, but she was nowhere to be found. He stepped out of the room and entered mine. And there she was, lying on the bed. A sigh of relief escaped me."You mean you didn't bother to che
"If Mark confesses and tells you all you need to know," she stared at me, waiting for my reaction, "can you please forgive him and grant him a place in your gang?" Her words caught me off guard. I had anticipated her request to be different, but what she asked for was far more challenging.Taking a glass of water, I paused to gather my thoughts before replying, "I can't make any promises, Sonia. Let's see how things unfold first." She nodded in understanding. Without knowing which Mafia organization I was dealing with, I couldn't grant her request right away. I needed to identify the group Mark was involved with in order to determine the best course of action.After finishing my meal, I left the secret hideout accompanied by my driver and two guards. Carlos and some of my men were already waiting for me in the basement where Mark was being held.******A few minutes later, I arrived at the basement. Memories of the events that had transpired there a few weeks ago flooded my mind. It h
I couldn't comprehend what Laura could have done to provoke a man as powerful as Juarez. I waited patiently as Mark gathered enough strength to speak."It's not Laura's fault. She has to pay the price for her father's sins." I was utterly confused."Pay the price for her father's sins?" I asked."Yes, her father wronged my boss.""What could Laura's late father have done to make someone like Juarez demand his daughter pay with her life?"Mark weakly looked up at me, a look of confusion on his face."Sorry, did you say 'late father'?" he asked. Of course, I said "late father." Laura had mentioned that she lost her dad a long time ago and only had her mother, who currently lives in a small town. Which town was that? Oh, I can't remember. So why was Mark asking me if I had indeed said "late father"?I stared at him and replied, "Yes, that's what I said.""Laura's father is not dead," he coughed again, and blood followed."That's it. Get the cars ready. We need to leave for the hospital i
Laura's POVWhat had he just said? Did I hear him correctly?"Pl... Please come again," I stuttered.He looked at me, concern etched on his face."Your father is not dead, Laura," he replied. I couldn't believe it."A joke can only go so far. This is not the kind of matter to joke about, Nicholas," I said sternly."I wish it were a joke too, Laura. But Mark didn't have any reason to lie to me. I saw honesty in his eyes," he calmly responded."How is Mark? Where is Mark?" Sonia, who had been silent, spoke up.Nicholas heaved a sigh. I knew whatever he was about to say wasn't going to be good. It must not have been easy extracting information from Mark, even though the information was as absurd as what I had just heard."Mark is at the hospital. He sustained some injuries, but he will be fine," Sonia heaved a sigh of relief. Hearing that Mark would be fine was all she needed to calm down. I'm pretty sure she also understood the consequences of what Mark did and how impossible it would b
Nicholas's POVWhile sitting at the lounge with Sonia and Laura, discussing our next course of action, my phone rang. I noticed it was Wilson calling. I had instructed him to contact me if there were any new developments. I answered the call."Hello, Wilson. What's up?" I asked. His words took me by surprise."Nicholas, Mark might not make it. He isn't responding well to treatment," I glanced at Sonia, who seemed lost in her own thoughts. Then I looked at Laura, who was staring at me intently. I stood up and moved away from them slightly. I didn't want Laura to hear what was being said or see how shocked I was."What's wrong?" I asked Wilson."I'll tell you when you come. Mark asked to see Sonia before undergoing surgery," I clenched my hands tightly around the phone. Surgery? I thought, was the beating that severe? I knew I had hit him in anger a few times, but I didn't expect it to be that bad."Are you still there, Nicholas?" he asked. I must have been silent for too long."Yes, I
We all exchanged glances, taken aback by his unexpected statement. "Please don't say that, babe," Sonia exclaimed in a panic. Mark shifted his gaze towards her. "I would willingly embrace the remaining two months I have and spend them with you rather than undergo a surgery that could potentially cost me my life," his words pierced my heart. He had carefully evaluated his options and chosen what he believed was best for him. I looked over at Nicholas and saw him sharing silent glances with Wilson. "No, I won't allow that," Sonia asserted. "You will undergo the surgery, and you will survive." "Fine, if you insist, then I will go through with it," Mark said, holding Sonia's hand and tenderly kissing it. She leaned down and kissed his forehead and lips. "You will be fine, babe. I feel it deep within me. You will be fine." He nodded in response. "Well then, the surgery will take place tomorrow," Dr. Wilson declared. "For now, our patient needs as much rest as possible." He approached Ma
My knees nearly buckled beneath me. The Nicholas Effect had taken hold once again. I couldn't blame myself for feeling this way, not when he was so incredibly attractive. Resisting a man like him would be an immense challenge.He placed his hand on mine, which was resting on the table, holding the flask, and gently lifted it, intertwining our fingers."What are you doing?" I asked, although I knew exactly what he was doing and secretly enjoyed it. I wanted to appear somewhat disinterested when, in reality, he ignited a burning desire within me. I longed for nothing more than to have him inside me."Doing what I've wanted to do for the past few days," his voice was filled with desire, making me incredibly aroused. He locked his eyes with mine, hesitating for a moment, before his fingers sensually caressed my face, then traced my lips. I couldn't bear it any longer. It was torture enough. I pulled his face down and devoured his lips. We kissed each other passionately. His hands roamed a
Laura's POV:Sonia stared at me for a long time while I pretended not to notice."What was that about, Laura?" she finally asked."What was what about?" I feigned ignorance, knowing she was referring to the incident with Nicholas in the room before he stormed out in anger."Why did you talk to Nicholas like that?""Sonia, you know I couldn't let you visit Mark alone," I said, standing up from the bed and walking towards her. I crouched in front of the chair where she was seated and placed my hands on her lap."You and I are in this together. You're my best friend. What Nicholas suggested was preposterous.""I understand, Laura, but he was only looking out for you," she said, her voice filled with concern. I knew she was right. I had overreacted, but it wasn't entirely my fault. Maybe if Nicholas hadn't acted the way he did the previous night, I wouldn't have reacted so strongly. I was still hurt by the incident. It stirred up emotions in me. I had foolishly thought that acting indiffe