“What did you expect, that my past could be as good as yours?” he screamed at her.“I don't care. It's none of my business. You can sleep with anyone you want, ”“You don't get to say that. You don't know what I've been through-”“Is that supposed to justify you sleeping with a hundred women?” she snapped back. “Oh, so you do care after all?”“Am not doing this with you,” she warned in a calmer tone. “Just get out of my room or do you prefer to take away my privacy too as you have done my life?” He glowered at her. “You are going to regret this”“What more can you possibly do to ruin my life mister?” she opposed.“From what I gathered, you had a deplorable life and I just saved you from it.” “Did your little files tell you that?” she mocked with eyes of contempt.“Yes, I've got files on you and everyone else if that's what you want to hear,” he told her, “And I don't have you here by choice. My brother is dying, that's the only reason you have to save your purpose-”“Then what happ

A heavy thud somewhere in the room woke her up. Selena could feel two strong arms pressing her down in bed. She opened her eyes and there he was, Matthew Fernandez, the first love of her life. He had a grey hood over his head, covering his face but she could never mistake that malevolent grin for anyone‟s in the whole world. His oversized hand moved up to her face and covered her mouth and nose.Gasping, she kicked her legs desperately but the bedding blocked such movement. She scratched and clawed as much as she could but he was too strong for her. As he leaned in closer to her face, a hellish fear took over her and she could do nothing but wait as his stubbed face came in contact with hers. He breathed in the smell of her before licking her temple, making her moan silently.When he pressed hard enough to block her breathing completely, she woke up frantically in bed. A nightmare. She could feel sweat dripping from her cheek. Why did she dream of him, now, at such a late hour of the

GIFTS*. *. *. *. *Racing up the stairs, Isabella rehearsed the apology that needed to sound more earnest than the last few days she had said it. She padded through the corridor and got to Selena‟s door, breathless. She knocked and waited a while before she repeated another few strikes. She could almost feel Selena about to open the door halfheartedly.The door opened and, “Am not in love with Don Hassien” she confessed right away. That came out impulsively and she bit back a curse. “I am sorry for everything I said. I spoke harshly and falsely because I was caught in a moment.” She waited, cringing.“Come on in Selena permitted finally. There were plenty of wrapped boxes all over the room and she had to move a few out of place before finally sitting down with her. “I don't understand what's happening. A few days ago you came up to me saying I should stay away from Don. Now you are telling me you're not in love with him--”“I know how this looks and I blame myself because I didn't te

Deep in the quiet of the mild December night, a fog came over the scene, conceiving a moment of awful foreboding as the hours slowly faded away. On a night like this one, months ago, Don could have lost his brother to a far more dangerous man than he thought he was. But now, in this cruel portion of the night, he had come one step closer to getting to the man that did this. He had made it to his fortress.If he had found him here, in his hideout, his fortress, then he would have put a bullet through his heart.Deep in the quiet of the night, Don entered his car once more, wincing from the damage on his shoulders and the pain on the back of his hand which he got from killing a few men in an insatiable rage, leaving them to chill in the embrace of the endless night.The chaplain did this. These dead men were his and many more men would face the same fate if they would stand between vengeance. Don swore inside his seat that killing these men didn't make him a monster, at least not until

“I thought I heard footsteps going down the stairs. I was investigating,” Isabella explained, holding both hands against her chest as if apprehensive of some strange danger.“It was just me, there is no need to worry. We are in the safest place possible” she assured. “Just go back to bed.”“Why were you up so late?”“I....had.......um “ She coughed, puzzling the quickest lie. “I couldn't sleep.”“Are you not going to explain the man's voice that accompanied you?” she asked, amusement flickering on her face.Selena's face reddened immediately, “How much of the man's voice did you hear?”“I heard enough.” She drew closer, “I need details, tell me what happened, how it happened” she pressed impatiently.“Well.......” She took a quick labored breath, “I finally confessed to him” “And........?”“We made love.” She smiled and quickly stifled squealing laughter of ecstasy. “Was it good? Was it like one of your fantasies?”“Better, it was much better.” She breathed in deeply as more color