I woke up startled. I had a dream, a dream about what happened last night. It felt so real that I woke up all sweaty. In my dream, the man from last night had spotted me behind the recycle bin. His dark eyes held mine as he lifted the gun and pointed it in my direction. Before I could say or do anything, he pulled the trigger and I jumped in fright.
It was at that moment that I woke up. I sat up in bed for a while trying to catch my breath before I stood up and headed for the bathroom. I glanced at the wall clock on my way and my eyes flew wide open in shock."Past ten!" I gasped. I am already late for work. I rushed through my daily routine of getting ready, picked out an outfit and gulped down a cup of coffee. My uncle had already left for work, he always left before me and returned before me. The TV was turned on while I was in the kitchen making toast.I could overhear the news on TV, fear gripped me when the news about the murder came on. I left my toast on the counter and headed to the living room, my eyes glued to the screen.The police were already at the scene and the alley had been taped off. I watched as three men brought out a wrapped dead body on a stroller. I couldn't believe it, they really didn't get rid of the body like that man had ordered.My heart began to race. What could this mean for me? I wanted to forget about that night, but now that the police were calling for witnesses or anyone that could tell them anything about the case, what am I going to do?I turned off the TV, picked up my bag and totally forgot about the toast until I had locked up and was walking down the street.I took another route to the bookstore because I was specifically avoiding that alley. But even though I had avoided the alley, every single person that came to the store wouldn't stop talking about the murder. A particular lady had been so annoying that I had to lie about closing the shop before I could get her to leave.The whole area was swarming with police and reporters. The police had the area taped off and trying to maintain order among the residents of the area while the reporters were pouncing on anyone that so much as walked past, asking them questions, one would think they were the detectives in charge of the case.As if that wasn't enough, detectives went around asking questions about who had seen anything and asking everyone to provide proof about their whereabouts during the time of the murder. It was so bad that I had to turn off the TV in the bookstore and stayed away from my phone like a plague throughout the day.The detectives visited the store but they simply asked to check the CCTV camera footage. I allowed them access but when they asked if I had seen anything last night, I suddenly couldn't talk, my palms were so sweaty, I was surprised that they had not noticed, they mistook my reaction as fear and promised me that they would get to the bottom of the case.Even though I was itching to lock up and go home, I struggled to stay put until the day was over. I locked up the store and headed home, avoiding the usual route like I did in the morning. I couldn't wait to get home and finally confide in my uncle about the whole thing. I had made up my mind earlier in the store to get his opinion about going to the police.The moment I stepped in front of the house, I knew something wasn't right. The lights were turned off, which is not right because my uncle is supposed to be at home. I was about to turn the door knob when the door squeaked open.Goosebumps broke out all over me as fear gripped me. I pushed the door wide open and stepped inside. The darkness enveloped me."Dad!" I call out, but no one replies. "Dad! Are you in there?" I called out again, but no reply. I felt my way around the room to the switch and turned on the lights.I gasped in shock at the state of the apartment, it was as if the whole house had been ransacked, everything was scattered, even the couch was turned upside down, the vases that my uncle cherished so much had been shattered.I couldn't bring myself to look around any further, someone had broken in, but what scared me the most was the whereabouts of my uncle. He always came home before me.I turned around and went back out. I hurried down the road, heading for the factory where he worked. Maybe he had not come home. I told myself as I prayed from the bottom of my heart that nothing had happened to him, he is all I have left. If anything happened to him now, I don't know how I would live through it. He is the reason I have lived through the ordeal of losing my parents.The factory wasn't far off so I got there quite fast. I couldn't find anyone there except for the security man who came out immediately. He spotted me approaching the gate."Is there a problem, ma'am?" He asked, he moved closer to me and his face lit up with a smile when he saw me, "Ally! It's so good to see you. Did Marcello forget something this time?" He said fondly."No... My dad didn't send me here. In fact, that's why I am here. He wasn't at home so I thought he would still be in the factory." I replied, panic visible in my voice."Oh! He isn't here, maybe he wandered off but..." He paused mid way in his sentence, "that's so unlike him, the moment he leaves the factory, he always heads home."That's exactly why I am worried, I know my uncle, he doesn't go anywhere other than the factory and the house. "Maybe you could...." The security man continued but I wasn't even listening, I had turned around and began to walk home.Does this have anything to do with the murder I witnessed last night? I asked myself but I couldn't think of anything that would bring them to my house. They didn't even get a good look at my face, they didn't even see me.I had to talk to someone, I had to do something, maybe I could go to the police and tell them what I had seen and get them to find my uncle or maybe I could... I could....My train of thoughts was interrupted by my cellphone buzzing in my jean pocket. I pulled it out and the caller was none other than my best friend, Bianca. We've been friends since high school.Why didn't I think of her before? I asked myself as I answered the call, her voice rang out from the phone."Hey Ally! Can you help me check out the...""My uncle is missing and I witnessed something I shouldn't have last night." I blurted out before she could complete her sentence. She went silent on the other end. She remained silent for a minute or two, all I could hear was her rapid breaths before she finally spoke."What do you mean by that? What did you witness?" She asked and before I could reply, "Come to my place and we'll talk better." She added rapidly and hung up the phone.I turned in the opposite direction and headed towards Bianca's apartment. She was waiting for me at the doorstep when I arrived. She invited me in and I had not even taken my seat when she began to ask me questions. I patiently recounted everything that had happened for the past two days."You need to be careful, Ally," she said, "I saw the news this morning, it's the talk of the town, every single newspaper and news outlet is looking for something about it. You've really gotten yourself tangled up in a dangerous mess." She added, with a far-away look as if she was lost in thought."I really don't know what to do, I am so worried about my uncle." I could feel a headache coming on but I really couldn't think about myself at the moment."Get some rest, Ally, tomorrow we will go to the station. I am sure the police would be able to help." She replied, stroking my hair gently. I had never felt so indebted to someone than I have to Bianca. This isn't the first time she has supported me like this and she has always been there through some really tough times."Had anything to eat yet?" She asked as she stood up and headed for the kitchen. I didn't reply because I wasn't even listening, "Ally," she called out my name and I was forced to look at her. "Trust me, everything would be fine. We would find your uncle and everything would go back to the way it was." She said reassuringly and I nodded in response, sincerely hoping that she would be right about this one."Excuse me Sir," I looked up with a frown to find my secretary, Anita, looking up at me from her standing position at the door. She knew I hated interruptions like this and that no one could see me without an appointment. "It's Alex and he said it's really important." She added quickly.I sighed and gestured to her to let him in. She went back out and shut the door behind her. Shortly after, the door opened and Alexio, my man in the police force, stepped in. For someone in my kind of business, having eyes and ears in the police force goes a long way in making some things really easy."Why are you here Alexio? It's not that time of the week, or is it?" I asked, pushing away the pile of paperwork in front of me and clearing a space for my outstretched arm on the table. Once again, I gestured for him to take his seat and he obliged."You need to hear this Dante. I had to come tell you myself because I have never heard that you slipped up during a job, that's so unusual." He said with a
I was still trying to wrap my head around what kind of situation Alessia had gotten herself into when my phone buzzed beside me on the couch. I had just managed to get Alessia to go to sleep even though I knew she was just pretending to be asleep. I decided to let her be. I picked up my phone and tapped on the message icon that had just popped onto the screen.My eyes scanned through the properly written message in just a few seconds. I couldn't believe my eyes. I tried to take a look at the number that sent the message but the sender had hidden his or her number. How did they get my contact? How did they know about me? I asked myself, but then I remembered the news I had watched earlier. The man that had been murdered in that alley last night was the only son of Antonio Cappello, a ruthless gang leader that controlled some underground businesses in Verona.So Yes! Alessia had gotten involved with some really big shots.I swallowed hard as I read through the message again. Whoever th
I tapped my feet impatiently as I waited for Marco to arrive. He had left early this morning to finalize the deal he had made with a friend of that girl. According to the update I received from Alexio, the girl only had one friend other than her uncle in Verona. With her uncle missing, then her best friend must know where she is.Alexio got information that Antonio had found out about her friend and reached out to her. They made a deal but Marco was quick to offer double the price and the girl had agreed without a fuss. It wasn't surprising in any way, it was how the world worked. Even a family would betray you for money. Marco knew that and used it to our advantage.I was waiting in my study when my phone buzzed, it was Marco informing me that they had arrived and were in the underground room where we conducted certain businesses. I was still dressed in a sweat shirt and trousers since it was still early in the morning.I hurried downstairs and went outside. I went past the garden
I sat on the bed with my hands wrapped around my legs. I looked like a mess; my hair was all tangled up, and my face looked puffy. I stared into the large mirror in front of the bed; my reflection was a replica of my emotions.I had screamed my lungs out when that man had flung me over his shoulders and brought me here. I had heard him turn the lock the moment he stepped out so I knew that there was no getting out of this one.They had not mentioned anything about my uncle, and that is even scarier. I just need someone to tell me that he is alright; that would at least prevent me from going crazy. I couldn't stop wondering about where they could be keeping him and what they could have done to him. I would never forgive myself if anything happens to him.How did I get tangled up in all this? I asked myself. How did they find me? The last thing I remember was when I was in Bianca's kitchen; I had something to eat and then... and then...I couldn't believe it! It was all beginning to m
Marco pulled up in my Audi RS7 to pick me up from work. I stepped out of the building where I had just finished my last meeting for the day. One of my security men ran up to the car and opened the door for me; I stepped inside, and he closed it gently. Marco, who was in the front seat, turned on the ignition and drove out immediately.I picked up my tablet to check my messages and mail; an email notification popped up on my screen. It's from Alexio.That's weird, I thought. I clicked on it and scanned through, I frowned at the content."Why did Alexio send me a police report?" I asked out loud."The men we sent to Bianca's house were arrested," Marco replied, his eyes glued to the road."You mean Alessia's friend? What about that? Why... Why were they arrested?""When they arrived at her place on your orders, they found her dead. Someone killed her, and before they could get out, the police had already surrounded the place. Apparently, the neighbors had called the cops when they hear
"He is a murderer!" A voice yelled inside my head as I paced back and forth in what is now my room, chewing nervously on my nails. He had shot those men without a second thought and had easily asked Marco to get rid of the bodies without hesitation.What am I still doing here? I can't keep living like this; one day, he might wake up and decide to kill me too. Marco had mentioned that his generosity doesn't last long, and I don't want to be here when it wears off.I have to get out of here. It's bad enough that I witnessed the murder in the alley, but now that I've seen this one, he might not let me walk out alive. I've seen too much. My heart rate increased, and my palms turned sweaty."Oh, Ally! What have you gotten yourself into?" I cried out. The image of Dante with a gun kept flashing before me. The fact that he could easily kill me and dispose of me like he had done with the others terrified me. I can't just wait around for him to decide my fate.Looking around, my eyes settled
I had been in my room for hours now. No one came in, and I couldn't go out even if the door was unlocked. The maids had not brought me anything to eat, so I was expecting them to show up very soon.A loud bang erupted from downstairs. It startled me, but I dismissed it as nothing. Then it came again, louder, closer, and more frequently. I stood up from my bed and hurried to the window. I pushed the curtains aside and was about to put my head out when the door opened, and Rosa rushed in. She spotted me at the window and protested vehemently."No, Ally, stay away from the windows," she pulled me away and quickly escorted me to the bed, "just stay put until I come back, do you understand?" I nodded."What's going on?" I asked."Nothing! It's just the usual, but don't leave this room, okay?""Okay," I replied, and she hurried back out, this time she turned the lock. I sat on my bed, waiting for any sound or anything that would signify what's going on, but nothing. Suddenly, I heard the
I paced around in the hallway nervously as I waited for Rosa to come out of her room; she had been in there for the past hour with the unconscious Alessia. Alessia didn't look like she was hurt when I brought her to Rosa, but she appeared so pale, and that scared the hell out of me.We had been in a meeting with the board members of the new company I had successfully merged mine with, when Marco rushed in with news that Antonio's men were attacking the house. Normally, I wouldn't have been bothered; I would have just asked them to get rid of them and stay somewhere else for the next couple of days. But this time, I jumped to my feet and rushed out."Where is Alessia?" I asked him immediately. Marco assured me that Rosa would ensure she remained in her room. We had barely made it to the car when Rosa called from the panic room that Antonio's men had made it past the gate, and our men couldn't hold them off much longer.I ordered the driver to step on it, and when we arrived and fou