Alicia’s POVOnly a couple of seconds after, and already Mikael’s absence made me a little uncomfortable. A part of me wished dearly to get up and find a way to reach Mikael but I stopped myself.One, I wasn’t a baby who was going to cry at such a small thing.Two, he was busy.I just had to be patient and wait for him to return from his meeting. The mesh dress I was wearing thankfully covered my knees, so I crossed my legs and sighed heavily, aware of all the stares from each angle. Whoever Victor Brazio was, his men certainly hadn’t learnt how to turn their eyes away.Don’t worry about it, Alicia, I told myself. Just enjoy the music.“Excuse me,” I heard a voice close to me and my heart rate spiked up a little as I turned only to find it was Bernito, the manager. He was holding a tray to my surprise, and when he dropped it on the small table next to me I saw that it contained a few snacks.I smiled at him gratefully.“Thank you,” I told him and he dismissed it with a wave.“It’s onl

Acker’s POVThe apartment was dark as i entered. Sounds of the still-busy Parisian street got dimmed and i began to remove my coat until I heard a felt my phone vibrate.I reached for it and answered the call upon seeing who it was, placing it to my ear.“What happened?” I asked.“How the fuck do you do that?” Javier’s voice sounded leisurely, and my hackles lowered. “You always seem to know when something happened. What, do you have a network I don’t know about?”“Javier, tell me what happened.”He sighed and began moments after, while I toed off my shoes and began the act of undressing one handed.“You know how Cross has been so silent for the last month or so after his stunt with Alicia. Well I hear he’s making deals with the Spaniards by the coast,” Javier sounded miffed. “At first I thought it was a joke but he’s been spotted in Spain.”“That’s unusual,” i murmured, dropping my bloodied shirt in the laundry hamper for my maid to take care of. “Cross and Pedro have a tenuous relati

Alicia’s POVThe restaurant’s ambience blew me away and I could understand why Acker would have come here many times.“Monsieur, what a pleasure to have you here tonight again,” a grey haired man with a full beard and wearing a chef’s uniform came to our table as servers dropped plates of mouth watering dishes on the table. I assumed he was the chef or the manager of the restaurant and greeted him with a faint smile and nod.Acker took the lead, “Merci.” And then he said something in French which the chef responded to likewise in French. The man then bowed, about to turn and leave but then he paused.“The meal tonight will be on the house, sir?” It sounded more like a question and I noticed Acker’s slight frown at it.“No need, Raoul. Next time, perhaps,” Acker’s tone sounded serious for a second I wondered why, but the moment passed quickly and the chef left with another bow and a low murmur of ‘Bon appétit’.Love piano music played to entertain us patrons accompanying our meals. It

Alicia’s POV“Alicia!”Daya’s full bodied hug surprised me and i returned it a little, before letting go. She was beaming and I nearly thought she appeared to not be the Daya that I knew.I smiled at her a little, injecting warmth into my tone as I asked, “How are you? You look good!”And, yes, she really did.She had a tan on her that glowed, and was decked from top to bottom in glittering jewels, a sparkling headband, gold earrings and necklace, and a white fur coat that looked expensive based on the feel.It would have looked gaudy on anyone else but somehow it just fit her, and I knew“I’m doing great,” she enthused as we sat down, across from each other with the round table between us.The restaurant ambience was wonderful for a late brunch, and I noticed the patrons were few and far between, upon gazing about a little while a waiter walked up to us.“What will you have?” The waiter asked with a smile on his face.“I’ll have a martini and some steak with a salad,” Daya ordered fir

Alicia’s POVIt was a rough tug at my arms that made my eyes shoot open. As soon as I did I let out a cry, pulling my arm back to hold at my chest.“Oh look, she’s awake,” i heard someone say.That wasn’t my concern right that moment as the memories of the last time I was awake flooded my mind so quickly.Daya! And cross!My alarm rose and instantly I was alert and stood up, or rather, tried to stand, for my legs still felt like jelly and I sat right back down, panting heavily.The drug was probably just wearing off.Where was I?I raised my gaze then, to meet the eyes of the person that was next to me and saw the unfazed, annoyed face of a man.“Well, you’re being quite the problem, aren’t you?” I heard the man say. “Se non fosse stato per il fatto che il Don ti voleva vivo, non ti avrei accolto.”It took some time for my mind to process that, all due to the still sluggish effects of the drug on my mind.“Dove sono? Cosa sta succedendo?” I asked the man who looked surprised to hear m