Andrey. "He could take down any of us," Ezio mused, his voice tinged with apprehension."Or bomb our car," Brando added, his brow furrowed in concern."Or hijack one of us, he's unpredictable," Luca chimed in, his expression grave."Or frame us," Jayden concluded, his tone heavy with worry.While they fretted over worst-case scenarios, I remained seated in my office chair, scrolling through my phone with practiced calmness. "He could take us down, but he can't take down Andrey," Brando declared, catching my attention.I lifted my gaze, fixing it on him. He must have sensed my annoyance because his expression faltered. I hated it when they insinuated that I was somehow superior to them. We were equals, in every sense of the word. When one of us stumbled, we all stumbled. When one of us faced trouble, we were all plunged into the depths."You're not saying anything, like this isn't something to give two shits about," Jayden remarked, his gaze shifting to me.I turned my attenti
Hazel."I'll take a look at it first thing tomorrow morning, Lucia. Right now, I've got to get home," I declare, gathering my belongings as I prepare to depart. "Sure thing, I'll send you an email tomorrow," Lucia replies, and with that, I bid her farewell and show her out of my office. Grabbing my handbag, I make my way out of the Palm Angels building. Exhaustion weighs heavily on my shoulders, but the thought of a relaxing shower followed by one of Andrey's heavenly massages brings a smile to my face. Exiting the building, I'm met by the sight of the two bodyguards Andrey has assigned to me. I let out a sigh as I climb into my car. It's a constant reminder of the measures he takes to ensure my safety, though sometimes it feels like I'm being smothered. I pull out of the parking lot, the two guards follow closely behind in their vehicle. It's comforting in a way, knowing they're there, but at the same time, it's a reminder of how much my life has changed since Andrey entered
Hazel.My stomach was churning like a stormy sea, and I couldn't tell if it was from anxiety or if I was coming down with something. The air was thick with a foul odor that made me want to retch. I took a slow, deep breath, trying to calm myself, and wrapped my arms tightly around my knees. Tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably. I was utterly terrified, not knowing what fate awaited me in this grim place.Hours had dragged by, and I hadn't seen a soul pass through the heavy metal door. Voices echoed from beyond, but no one entered. Were they deliberately ignoring me? Were they plotting something sinister? Maybe they intended to abandon me here, alone and helpless. I blame myself for leaving Andrey's house out of anger. Maybe I should have listened to his constant warnings. Maybe I should have asked Sam to drop me at a hotel instead of storming out alone into the unknown streets, vulnerable like prey. Now, I was trapped in this grimy, blood-and-sweat-scented dungeon.The
Andrey."You should eat something before you blackout," Jayden suggested, his tone surprisingly gentle considering the circumstances. I shot him a glare, unable to fathom how he could even think about food when Hazel's life was hanging in the balance. The very idea of eating made my stomach churn with guilt and anxiety."How can I eat when I know my girlfriend is out there in serious danger?" I snapped, my frustration boiling over. Despite not knowing the full extent of the peril she faced, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at my insides."Look, are you sure this girl didn't just run away and leave town?" Jayden pressed, his skepticism evident in his tone. I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lash out at him. Enough was enough."If you're not going to help, then I suggest you get the fuck out of here," I retorted, my voice laced with bitterness. He shrugged indifferently, as if my distress meant nothing to him."You said the kidnappers didn't demand money or
HazelJayden's hatred for Andrey runs deep, deeper than I could have ever imagined. It's not just me he despises; it's everything Andrey represents. He resents Andrey's wealth, his power, his seemingly charmed life. While Andrey considered him a brother, Jayden nursed a bitter grudge, praying for his downfall at every turn.And why? Because of a tragedy that tore his family apart, a tragedy I knew little about until now. It seems Andrey's actions, or lack thereof, led to the loss of Jayden's sister, Madison. She had been carrying Andrey's child, a fact he denied, and the subsequent abortion cost her life. It's a cruel twist of fate, one that has left Jayden consumed by vengeance.But as he stands before me now, spewing venomous words, I can't help but see him in a different light. He's no longer the friend I once knew; he's become a monster, driven by hatred and a thirst for revenge.I sit on the cold, dirty floor, my eyes locked on him with a mixture of awe and fear, as he contin
Andrey. Omaha, Nebraska.I stare at the cigarette that was between my fingers for couple of seconds as the ashes fall off it. Maybe if I shove it into his mouth, he’d tell me the truth. He would tell me who he’s working for and who sent him to spy on me when I’m on my five days vacation. I can’t believe I have to deal with work while I’m not even in my office. I kick his chest with my foot and watch him fall and wince in pain. It doesn’t do much to the anger I feel because of him. “You’re going to fucking speak up and tell me who sent you,” I snarled, grabbing his collar to raise him up. His face was swollen and sweaty with a mix of blood. I don’t care about that—I gave him a sharp round punch to the chin. He stared at the river of blood that appeared and flowed down his torso. He’s crying riotously but I don’t feel even the slightest sympathy toward him. He falls on his back and closed his eyes. The tears were gushing out the sides of his face and it makes me more aggravated. “I
Hazel.The sunlight peeping from the curtains, gradually brought me awake. I slowly scanned the room, trying to process everything that had happened and why I was in an unacquainted room. This is definitely not my room because I don’t remember booking a suite. Am I even in the right hotel?I don’t usually drink heavy but I was so wasted last night that I can’t even recall what happened after Ann dragged me to the club. I could remember that I left Ann at the club and hailed a cab. I could remember walking into the lobby and maybe I pressed on the wrong floor…I sat upright briskly as everything came crashing back into my throbbing head all at once. I pressed the wrong floor on the elevator and I ended up here in the suite floor. I must’ve tried all the doors on the floor and this was the only room unlocked and I entered. “What the fuck have I done?” I say lowly to myself. This is the reason why I stay away from drinking too much. I always end up doing the most insane things. My stom
Andrey. “I was worried about you…”“That was the fucking reason why you have to send a goddamn patrol to search for me all over town?” Jayden and I were walking towards my suite. “You weren’t answering your phone,” he says, clearly frustrated. “I was busy last night.”When I say that, Jayden sighs and waves it off because he knew what I meant by busy last night. We enter the elevator to the top floor and head toward my room. He pauses when we reach the door and leaned his back on the wall. I’m content that he knows he’s not meant to follow me in unless I ask him to. If someone was in there and were to shoot, it’s better he kills one of us not the two at once. It would be waste and a great loss. I use my access card to gain entree to my suite. Cautiously walking in, I close the door behind me and make my way to my bedroom. I breathe in deeply and breathe out because I am nervous. My throat is dry all because I am nervous to see a girl. It’s insane that I feel this way about her. I