“$1 MILLION GOING ONCE…” The announcer’s voice was starting to fade in my ears. I bowed my head, hiding my expression with my hair, and stared at the ground.“Going twice…Thrice…No more bidders? Alright, sold! Item 34 sold to Number 456!”So far, so good, I thought. I couldn’t help the smirk that curled up to one side of my mouth. The plan was proceeding smoothly. The men yanked me up and I had to clench my fists behind me to restrain myself from going out of character and flinching away from them. My cuffed wrists were starting to itch so I quietly thanked God they took it off of me once I got back inside the cell with the other girls. I fixed the skirt of my dirty janitress outfit and sat properly. Immediately, one of them came up to me and asked, “Did someone buy you?”I slowly nodded.“For how much?”“$1 million.”“Wow, good for you,” she dreamily mumbled as her shoulders slumped. “I was only worth $300,000. I can’t believe it. I even showed them my boobs!”I remained staring bla
I craned my neck around the place to look for a familiar face. Remembering her favorite place in the mall, I made my way to the ice cream shop and indeed found a redhead sitting gleefully on one corner, eating the strawberry ice cream in delight with not a care in the world. Scoffing at her childishness, I entered the shop and abruptly sat down in front of her. She curiously followed my every move while licking her ice cream, not bothering to pause and greet me at all. “You lose your manners when eating ice cream?” I raised a brow at her. She grinned and tore the cone away from her face after one more lick.She beamed, “Hi, Hawk! I’m the first one to arrive here so I thought a little snack wouldn’t hurt.”“For all I know, you wanted to come first so you can eat your ice cream. You can’t tell me otherwise, Leo,” I replied, crossing my arms over my chest. She merely giggled and finished her cone. Her codename is the complete opposite of her personality. She wou
A week before my flight to Las Vegas, I was summoned to the HQ.I had just finished digesting the information Fox sent me when the Director said he wanted to see me for an important matter. I went there midday, my head already swarming with ideas of the said important matter. Ever since I was appointed in the elites unit, I have always been given fairly dangerous missions. Although this might be my most dangerous one yet, the Director has never asked to see me before I went to any of the past missions. This would be the first. The last time I visited the HQ was a few days ago already when I sought after Fox for information. Today, it was the usual environment. Buzzing voices busy with cases, known figures of the government going in and out of the building probably visiting for some investigation, and of course, the commotions every now and then whenever significant information about a major case is freshly received. The usual FBI HQ at the heart of the Big Apple, Manhattan. I went
I counted down the days until I started my mission.The three with the supporting tasks were told to move two days after I infiltrated the Rios Mafia. Until the day before my flight came, I was already itching to get myself to the airport.I had packed only a handful of clothing that was thrifted to make sure I looked like the new Fallon I had created for this mission – the frail, penniless, and desperate Fallon Ravestreen. Orphaned at 16, worked as a club maintenance for ten years to make a living, and now fired, forced to come as a girl-for-hire at an auction house. Now, 28 years old and still penniless, I’m supposed to feel defeated by the world and have given up on life, surrendering my pride to the auction. It’s a good story, and it’s not entirely lies. I found out about the new Rios head looking for a wife when Fox found out about his mother’s fortune’s terms.The young Boss, Jett Rios, was eligible for all the terms but one – where he was required to be marrie
No one expects an angel to set the world on fire.That was the first thing that came to mind when I thought about the character of the Fallon that would ensure me an entry to the Rios Mafia. A frail girl fortunate enough to be sold to a millionaire. Some might suspect me, but I’ll make sure to be consistent with my personality and just wait until they give up their suspicions on me. But in front of this man, Jett Rios, I find it hard to pretend to be weak when his stare is burning my soul. Not dangerous, just intense. It makes me uneasy, and the inner Hawk doesn’t want to back down to the stare and fight back but I’m not someone who has a large ego and a tall pride. So I bit my lower lip as if preventing it from trembling and lowered my gaze. “Didn’t you hear me?” He spoke again and lightly chuckled. “Did I accidentally purchase a deaf girl? I knew you were homeless but I didn’t know you were impaired too.”I looked back at him and muttered in a quiet voice, “I-I hea
I figured some time ago that this is like a game. A dangerous game of chess. Where Jett Rios is the Queen of the enemy piece, and I...my position in this game is yet to be revealed. Either I'm a loyal knight or bishop to my Queen or a mere pawn. Everyone playing a role in this game is individually dangerous and takes every move with thorough planning.After we discussed our deal, I was led to the west wing of this mansion by a housemaid, while Jett's colleagues who were waiting outside came back in. Just before I turned a corner, I heard a familiar loud, baritone laugh echo from the room I came from. That was probably him. I maintained my vigilant expression, my sneer almost surfacing. What a loud man.His childish attitude replayed in my mind. It didn't seem like a façade, nor did it seem genuine. Was that how he irked his opponents? Purposely getting under their skin by throwing backhanded compliments and subtle threats while maintaining a casual tone? Even his grins are like double
My wedding, I heard, was today.My first day in Casa Rios and it's already my wedding. He didn't want to waste time, it appears. Of course. They've been planning on welcoming their master's wife for so long, that they've already prepared the wedding. Like I was the last missing key to finish this all."The mansion's garden has been prepared for this special event, Madame. I have arranged everything nearly to perfection that any bride would find this wedding dreamy," said Linda as we made our way to the event place.It didn't surprise me at all that they chose the garden, not a church. Their rivals might take advantage of this peaceful event and ruin it—either by attempting to assassinate Jett or me. The floral pink dress I wore had a sheer pink veil over it that ended at my waist, with a wreath on top of my head. This is a very feminine dress, although not extravagant.As we reached the glass double doors to the garden, the mellow orchestra reached my ears. I almost winced. A servant
The celebration lasted all day. I was tired from the intense partying and was bewildered beyond belief by the childish party games they played. Linda, who was standing at a safe distance from me was the one to inform me of what they were doing. She said they were mostly traditional party games of the Hispanic culture. When she said that, realization dawned upon me. They were a very traditional sort."That's Veo Veo, Madame," said Linda. "Similar to the game 'I Spy'."I nodded understandingly. The jerk was the one in the middle, looking around, while his subordinates were the ones that are to look for what he said. He was saying something Spanish, although there was a repetitive phrase he said every time.Another game was similar to fencing. But, they used real swords. Probably a more dangerous rendition of the game befitting their organization."We call that La Verdadera Destreza. It is the true art and skill of Spanish swordsmanship.""I see. They're good with words too." Not just gu