MARCOI sat in my study, the morning light filtering through the large windows, casting shadows across the room. The newspaper lay on my desk, and I picked it up, skimming through the headlines. It was the usual mix of political drama, business failures, and celebrity scandals. Nothing particularly interesting, nothing that couldn’t be solved with a few well-placed threats or a strategic buyout.“Idiots,” I muttered, shaking my head at the ineptitude of the so-called leaders in this city. They always managed to screw things up, no matter how easy the solution seemed. Setting the paper down, I leaned back in my chair, letting out a breath. The world outside might be chaotic, but in here, I controlled everything. Or at least, I liked to think I did.But then my thoughts drifted, and I found myself thinking about Sarah again. More specifically, about that bastard Cain, the one who had dared to lay a hand on her at Lemuel’s party. The thought of it made my blood boil. I could still see th
MARCOI narrowed my eyes, taking a step closer to Cain. His words replayed in my mind, over and over, like a broken record. Marcel. I couldn’t afford to take this lightly.“Where did you hear that name?” I demanded, my voice low and dangerous. I needed to know if this scum had any real connection to Marcel or if he was just trying to save his own skin.Cain’s eyes darted around the room, wild with desperation. “Everyone in the dark side of society knows the name Marcel,” he stammered, his voice trembling. “But I… I can lead you to him. Just… please, spare my life.”For a moment, I said nothing, weighing his words carefully. Then I signaled to Tony to put his gun away. The room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. I turned to Tony and Carlos, searching their faces for any sign of what they thought.“What do you think?” I asked, keeping my voice steady. “Is he bluffing?”Carlos didn’t hesitate. “He could be faking it, boss. Trying to buy himself time. For all we kno
SARAHMartha had already started trimming the hedges when I joined her in the garden. The sun was warm, not too harsh, and a light breeze made the leaves dance gently around us. I watched her for a moment, admiring the precision of her work. But there was something about just sitting around doing nothing that drove me insane, especially lately. I needed to keep my hands busy, to feel like I was contributing something, anything, to this place.“Martha,” I called out, walking over to her. “Let me help you with that.”She looked up, startled, and immediately shook her head. “Oh no, Miss Sarah. Please, you shouldn’t trouble yourself with this. It’s my job. I can handle it.”I smiled, trying to reassure her. “I know it’s your job, but I’m bored out of my mind. I need something to do, and helping you here seems like a good way to pass the time.”Martha’s eyes widened in alarm, and she stepped in front of the hedge clippers as if to guard them from me. “No, Miss Sarah. I couldn’t possibly al
MARCOI sat in my office, spinning a pocket knife between my fingers, the faint glint of the blade catching the dim light. The motion helped me think, a small distraction from the conversation we were about to have. Tony, Carlos, and Luis stood before me, waiting for my signal to start. “Alright, Tony, what have you got?” I asked, not taking my eyes off the blade.Tony cleared his throat, stepping forward slightly. “According to Cain, this Marcel guy works as a mercenary for various families. That’s about all he knows. Why Marcel’s interested in us or what he’s doing in New York? No clue. Cain wasn’t much help beyond that.”I stopped the blade mid-spin, gripping the handle firmly as I looked up. “So, we’re dealing with a ghost, huh? No clear motives, just someone lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.”Carlos chimed in, trying to downplay the situation. “Look, Marco, we don’t have to get worked up over this. We pop in, take the small fry out, and go about our
MARCOI had Cain sit in the middle of the room, his hands shaking as Tony and the others surrounded him. His face was pale, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead as he tried to keep himself together. I walked up to him slowly, my gun hanging loosely from my hand, swinging slightly as I moved. The room was dead silent except for the sound of Cain’s shaky breaths.I stopped in front of him, tilting my head slightly as I studied him. “So, Cain,” I started, my voice low, almost a whisper, “you still want to lead us to Marcel? Or should I just put a bullet in you right now and save us all the trouble?”Cain’s eyes widened, and he immediately started to beg, his voice quivering with fear. “Please, Marco… I’ll lead you to Marcel. I swear. Just… just spare my life, alright? I’ll do whatever it takes, just don’t kill me.”I looked at him for a long moment, weighing his words. He was desperate, that much was clear, but desperation could make a man dangerous—or it could make him useful. I nee
MARCOI paced back and forth across the room, the tension building with each step. My mind raced through every possible scenario, every potential snag that could derail this plan. There wasn’t room for mistakes. Not now.Petrov sat hunched over his laptop, his fingers flying across the keyboard. He had been at it for hours, trying to get eyes on the address Marcel had sent. It was a waiting game, but my patience was wearing thin.I stopped mid-step and turned to him, my voice edged with urgency. “Petrov, you got surveillance on the address yet?”Without looking up, Petrov grunted. “Almost there, Marco. Just a few more minutes.”I clenched my fists, trying to keep my frustration in check. Every minute that passed felt like an eternity. “Hurry up,” I snapped. “We don’t have time to waste.”Petrov didn’t respond, too focused on his task. I resumed my pacing, the floorboards creaking under my boots. The room was stifling, the air thick with anticipation. I couldn’t shake the feeling that
MARCOI paced around the control room, feeling the weight of the plan on my shoulders. The surveillance monitors blinked with static and video feeds from various cameras around the target area. Tony was hunched over a desk, scribbling notes, his eyes never leaving the screens. We were all on edge, waiting for Cain to make his move.“Keep your eyes sharp,” I said to Tony. “We need every detail.”He nodded, adjusting the volume on the mic. “Got it.”The screens showed a steady stream of people passing by, along with a few suspicious cars. I tried to ignore the gnawing worry in my gut. This was a delicate operation. One slip-up, and it could all fall apart.Suddenly, I spotted Cain walking into the frame. My heart skipped a beat. I glanced at Tony, who was already focusing on the feed.Petrov’s voice crackled through the speakers. “Cain, do you read me?”Cain’s reply came through clearly. “Loud and clear.”“Good,” Petrov said, sounding calm but authoritative. “Describe the place for me.
MARCOI watched the screen, my pulse quickening as I saw Cain stepping out of Marcel’s roaming the building. Petrov was still fiddling with the equipment, cursing under his breath as he tried to reconnect the wiretap that had suddenly gone silent.Tony paced the room, a deep frown etched on his face. “Marco, we should wait. Cain might be leading us into a trap. Let’s give this some time, observe what Marcel does next.”I shook my head, not even entertaining the idea. “I’ve waited long enough, Tony. Marcel’s right there, and I’m not about to let this opportunity slip through my fingers because Cain decided to pull a stunt.”“Marco,” Tony said, his tone more urgent. “This could be exactly what Marcel wants—get you angry, reckless. You go in there, and it could be a one-way ticket.”I glared at the screen, my jaw tight. I’d worked too hard, come too close to let fear hold me back now. “I don’t care if it’s a trap. Marcel’s been a ghost, always two steps ahead of us. Now, I’ve got a chanc
MARCOShe walked away.Just like that.I stood there, staring at the door, my mind barely registering that she was gone. My chest was tight, my breathing uneven, my hands still clenched at my sides like I was holding onto something that had already slipped through my fingers.What the hell just happened?One minute, we were happy—expecting a child, building a future, introducing our pregnancy to the world. And now? Now we were on the verge of breaking up, of completely falling apart. It didn’t make sense. None of this made sense.I ran a hand through my hair, gripping at the strands, trying to piece together what had gone so wrong. My perfect family—my life—was slipping out of my grasp, and I had no idea how to fix it.A heavy hand landed on my shoulder.“Take it easy, Marco,” Petrov said, his voice calm, like he wasn’t witnessing my entire world crash down.I let out a sharp, humorless laugh, shrugging his hand off. “Take it easy? Did you not just see what the fuck happened?” My voic
SARAHI couldn’t breathe. The air felt thick, suffocating, like it was being sucked out of the room as I stared at my phone screen, my hands trembling so hard that I could barely keep hold of it. My chest tightened, the pressure unbearable, like someone had wrapped a fist around my heart and was squeezing.The words blurred before my eyes, but they were already seared into my mind, each letter carving itself deep into my soul, leaving behind nothing but devastation.Marco De Luca Caught in a Late-Night Rendezvous with His Secretary—Compromising Photos Emerge from the Party.I swallowed hard, my throat dry, my stomach twisting violently as I scrolled down. Maybe I was seeing things wrong. Maybe there was some ridiculous explanation for this. Maybe—But no.There he was.Marco.My Marco.His shirt undone, his arm hanging lazily around Aisha’s waist, her lips too close to his ear, whispering something that made his lips curl into that damn smirk—the one I used to think was just for me. M
SARAHI woke up to a pounding headache, the kind that made it feel like my skull was being split open. My entire body felt heavy, sluggish, and for a moment, I just lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling, trying to piece together why I felt like I’d been hit by a truck. My mouth was dry, my limbs ached, and my mind was clouded with a strange, disoriented fog.Something was off.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push past the grogginess. Then, like a slap to the face, it all hit me at once.The party.The drinks.Marco.Him disappearing.Me looking for him.Me finding him.Shirtless.Drunk.And mumbling her name.Aisha.My stomach twisted violently.I sat up so fast the room spun around me, a wave of dizziness crashing over me. I gripped the sheets, my breathing uneven as I tried to steady myself. But my mind was already running a mile a minute, shoving painful reminders to the surface.Marco had been laying there, barely able to hold himself up, his body swaying, his words slurred
SARAHI sat on the edge of the bed, watching Marco’s unconscious form. His chest rose and fell steadily, his face slack with sleep, completely unaware of the storm he had left in my head.I should have just walked away. I should have left the second I saw him like that—drunk, shirtless, and muttering her name. Aisha. His so-called secretary.If that was even true.A bitter laugh bubbled in my throat, but I swallowed it down. The thought alone made my stomach twist. My mind wouldn’t stop running through the possibilities. What if he had been lying to me all along? What if she wasn’t just his secretary? What if I had been stupid enough to believe all of his excuses while they—I squeezed my eyes shut and exhaled through my nose.No. I needed to calm down. I needed to wait. Jumping to conclusions wouldn’t help anything.But God, how could I not?Everything about tonight had been wrong. The party, the forced smiles, the tension in the air I hadn’t been able to shake. And then to find him
SARAHI stared at Marco, my entire body frozen.Did I just hear that right?His voice had been slurred, thick with alcohol, but the name he mumbled was as clear as day.Aisha.Something inside me cracked, sharp and painful, like glass shattering.I swallowed, trying to steady myself, but my hands trembled as I reached for his shoulder, shaking him harder this time. “Marco, wake up,” I said, my voice uneven, breathless. “Get up, dammit.”He barely moved. His head lolled to the side, his lips parting slightly before another mumble slipped out.“…Aisha…”I sucked in a sharp breath, my nails digging into his arm.No.My heart slammed against my ribs, a sickening weight settling in my stomach.I shook him again, harder this time. “Marco, wake up! What the fuck is wrong with you?”Still, nothing.Just a groggy groan, his brows twitching slightly, his face slack. He was completely out of it.I clenched my jaw, my eyes burning as I stared at him, at the way he lay there so carelessly, unaware
SARAHThe party was alive—music blasting, laughter ringing out, people moving around with drinks in their hands. I was caught up in it, letting the distractions pull me in. The energy was infectious, and for a while, I didn’t think about anything else. But then, out of nowhere, a nagging feeling crept up on me.Marco.I hadn’t seen him in a while.I glanced around the crowded room, scanning the faces, but there was no sign of him. My stomach tightened slightly, but I tried to brush it off. Maybe he had just stepped out for air. Or maybe he had gone to take a call. It wasn’t a big deal.Except… it was unlike him.Marco didn’t just disappear without a word. If he needed to step away, he usually let me know. And the last time I had seen him, he had been with Aisha.I swallowed, my unease growing. Something wasn’t right.I turned my head again, trying to spot him through the mass of people. Nothing. No glimpse of his dark suit, no familiar presence near the bar or in the corners where he
AISHAMarco’s weight leaned into me as I carefully guided him through the grand hallways of his mansion. His steps were sluggish, his body heavy, but I kept moving, dragging him forward as subtly as I could. Every few steps, he mumbled something—half-slurred directions that barely made sense, but I forced myself to listen.“Left,” he muttered, pointing vaguely with his free hand. “Then, uh… another left.”I nodded like I was paying attention, though my focus was split between keeping us moving and making sure we weren’t being watched. My eyes flicked around constantly, scanning for any sign of Sarah or anyone else who might get in the way. The last thing I needed was someone questioning why I was hauling Marco through the halls like this.My heart pounded so hard it felt like I could hear it in my ears.Not from fear—at least, that’s what I told myself—but from the sheer pressure of the situation. I needed to get this over with. Fast.Isabella was waiting.And once I was done with thi
AISHAMarco took a seat beside me, stretching his arms across the back of the barstool, looking way too relaxed for someone who had just thrown a man out of his own party. His eyes flickered toward me, then to his drink, then back to me again.“You okay?” His voice was low, steady, but there was something else beneath it. Something unreadable.I exhaled through my nose, picking up my glass and taking a slow sip. “I’m fine.”Marco hummed, not entirely convinced. “Bastard’s lucky I didn’t break his nose.”I let out a small laugh. “What, one punch wasn’t enough?”He smirked. “You think he deserved more?”“I think men like that deserve worse.” I took another sip before setting my glass down. “But he’s not worth it.”Marco nodded slightly, rubbing his jaw as he glanced toward the bartender. “What are you drinking?”“Whiskey.”His brows lifted slightly. “Didn’t take you for a whiskey person.”“I’m full of surprises.”Marco chuckled under his breath, then signaled for the bartender. “I’ll ta
AISHAMarco took a seat beside me, stretching his arms across the back of the barstool, looking way too relaxed for someone who had just thrown a man out of his own party. His eyes flickered toward me, then to his drink, then back to me again.“You okay?” His voice was low, steady, but there was something else beneath it. Something unreadable.I exhaled through my nose, picking up my glass and taking a slow sip. “I’m fine.”Marco hummed, not entirely convinced. “Bastard’s lucky I didn’t break his nose.”I let out a small laugh. “What, one punch wasn’t enough?”He smirked. “You think he deserved more?”“I think men like that deserve worse.” I took another sip before setting my glass down. “But he’s not worth it.”Marco nodded slightly, rubbing his jaw as he glanced toward the bartender. “What are you drinking?”“Whiskey.”His brows lifted slightly. “Didn’t take you for a whiskey person.”“I’m full of surprises.”Marco chuckled under his breath, then signaled for the bartender. “I’ll ta