(Lorenzo)I sat in my study, empty bottles of bourbon and whiskey lined up on my table while I stared into space. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I couldn't work and so I locked myself up in here until I got my shit together. Which obviously has not been successful, I kept replayng everything in my head, the death of Ben , the death of Declan, the death of Margot. I had used my own hands to kill my own family and now I knew there wasn't any form of redemption for me, I was a lost soul. All that killing was finally taking a toll in me. I had ignored it all before, burying myself in work and switching off any kind of emotion I was meant to feel. I did all that so I couldn't get buried in the sinking hole of the people that have died by my hand. All the demons I had kept at bay came swarming in, all the voices haunting me."No, he died because of you. He died protecting you Lorenzo so this wasn't my fault, it was yours.""Listen to yourself. How could I understand you killing my fianc

(Lorenzo)Waking up early for the purpose of work felt a little off to me, I thought of going back to bed and just laying around lazily like I’d been going but remembering the deal with Giovanni made me jump to my feet and immediately take a bath. I thought a good place to start would be in the club since Margot is no longer there to manage it. I got in my car and headed to club, I thought about Mariana on the way and began to smile at the fact that she’d be back in my arms soon enough. I called Giovanni and asked what the update was on Mariana. “Chill man, I know where she’s headed and I’ll be waiting for her. She’s not getting anywhere. Meanwhile you need to get your shit together before she comes You know she’s not going to take defeat easily.” He was right, Mariana should not see me in this sorry state. I need to be the feared Lorenzo she’s always known, that is the only way she would want me back. With that resolve in mind, I drive faster, eager to get to the club and fix w

(Mariana)As soon as Lorenzo steps out, I remain on his bed. He says he stepped out to take care of a business but why do I feel like he's only avoiding telling me the truth? And the look I saw in his eyes while he insisted I eat food before he began confessing, it was a look of fear.A part of me wanted to hope that it was a fear of losing me and not simply a fear of letting me know the truth about why he's always so eager to keep me in his arms. Why he has always wanted me around or desired me.The aggressive voice in my head kept trying to emphasize on the negative things, telling me it's reality and I shouldn't be clouded by love. That I might be blinded by love and not be seeing the urgent need to escape. It went on and on, instilling fear in me."He's giving an excuse to make you stay. There's no truth that he wants to tell you. He kidnapped you mainly to use you! Why can't you see that? What truth are you expecting? What?!"I became restless and I sat up. Should I leave? Shoul

(Mariana)I feel the sunlight hit my face through the windows as I turn onto my side on the bed. For the third time during my sleep hours, I reach forward on the bed like I'm expecting my hands to touch Lorenzo. My hands simply sweep in emptiness and endeavor in vain, feeling nothing but the soft materials of the sheets and duvet.Why do I long for him to have joined me halfway through the night? I already told him I was done, so why do I feel empty inside?I remember what the nurse told me, yesterday. The next time I'm able to escape, I'm to go as far as possible and never look back. And I also know better to discard my feelings before it's too late. I don't want it drawing me back.I remember the time of the sewer. I had hesitated as well. Things like that weren’t good for me, at all. Lorenzo isn't good for me.My eyes open up and I see Lorenzo in a towel he tied around his waist. The rest of his body upward is wet and he has another towel he's using to dry his hair, denoting that h

(Mariana)"You can do this Mariana."I keep motivating myself for work, but Giovanni just has to ruin everything."... and Princess, it's nice to see you didn't chicken out." His voice rings in my head as I leave him and Lorenzo behind to get on with their usual business.I know what he's trying to do. He wants me to be scared and lose courage. And I know it's not going to be easy for him to readily accept me as a Margot replacement, never minding that she had eventually betrayed them, but I'm determined not to give him want he wants.The thought of Margot watching me from the afterlife baffles me because it sends a shiver up my spine. She would definitely consider it an insult. It's even worse when I get to the office because now it looks neater that I've ever met it and more empty than I've ever seen it.Margot's things are gone. God knows where they were taken. There are still some files left on the table and I assume they are files connected to the club itself. I approach the chai